ed sometimes the hero's heart misgave him. When would he see the
maiden whom he loved? Had she no pleasure in his knightly games, no
smile to give him for his skill? Nay, she was as great a stranger to
him now as when he had ridden into the royal city of Worms in hope to
gain her favour.

Thus for one whole year Siegfried dwelt with the three Kings of
Burgundy, and during all that time he never once saw the wonder-lady
of his dreams, the Princess Kriemhild.

At the end of the year King Gunther's fair realm of Burgundy was
threatened with invasion and with mighty wars. No longer did the
castle hall at Worms ring with the merry pastimes of the courtiers.
All was grave, silent, for King Gunther and his brothers and his
counsellors were in sore distress.

That day heralds had ridden into the land and demanded audience of
King Gunther.

'Now who hath sent you hither?' said the King in angry mood.

'Our masters,' cried the heralds. 'King Ludegast and King Ludeger have
sent us to warn thee that they hate thee and will invade thy land.
With great armies will they come to thy realm of Burgundy. Within
twelve weeks will they be here, unless thou dost offer a ransom for
thy kingdom.'

'Tarry a little,' said Gunther, 'until I have spoken with my
counsellors, then shall ye carry my answer back to thy masters.'

King Gernot had heard the challenge of the heralds, and dauntless he
cried, 'Our good swords shall defend us. What fear we from the foreign
host!'

But Hagen cried, 'Ludegast and Ludeger are fierce, and evil will
overtake us, for scarce have we time in which to gather our liegemen
together ere the foe will be in our land. Speak thou, O King, unto the
hero Siegfried. It may be that his powers can help us now.'

Meanwhile King Gunther commanded that the heralds should be lodged
with all due courtesy, and this he did for the sake of his fair fame.

Now as Gunther sat brooding over the evil which seemed as though it
would overtake his land, Siegfried came to his side. He knew no reason
for the King's distress.

'What hath come to pass,' said the hero, 'that all our merry pastimes
are ended? For since ever I came into the fair land of Burgundy hath
the castle hall of thy royal city echoed with the ring of knightly
deeds, and tilts and jousts have long held sway. Why, therefore, are
the merry pastimes ended, and wherefore dost thou sit here thus sad
and downcast?'

'Not to everyone,' said King Gunther, 'would I tell