nine days the great company journeyed homeward, and then King
Gunther entreated Siegfried to be his herald to Worms.

'Beg Queen Ute and the Princess Kriemhild,' said the King, 'beg them
to ride forth to meet my bride and to prepare to hold high festival in
honour of the wedding feast.'

Thus Siegfried with four-and-twenty knights sailed on more swiftly
than the other ships, and landing at the mouth of the river Rhine,
rode hastily toward the royal city.

The Queen and her daughter, clad in their robes of state, received the
hero, and his heart was glad, for once again he stood in the presence
of his dear lady, Kriemhild.

'Be welcome, my Lord Siegfried,' she cried, 'thou worthy knight, be
welcome. But where is my brother? Has he been vanquished by the
warrior Queen? Oh, woe is me if he is lost, woe is me that ever I was
born,' and the tears rolled down the maiden's cheeks.

'Nay, now,' said the Prince, 'thy brother is well and of good cheer. I
have come, a herald of glad tidings. For even now the King is on his
way to Worms, bringing with him his hard-won bride.'

Then the Princess dried her tears, and graciously did she bid the hero
to sit by her side.

'I would I might give thee a reward for thy services,' said the gentle
maiden, 'but too rich art thou to receive my gold.'

'A gift from thy hands would gladden my heart,' said the gallant
Prince.

Blithely then did Kriemhild send for four-and-twenty buckles, all
inlaid with precious stones, and these did she give to Siegfried.

Siegfried bent low before the lady Kriemhild, for well did he love the
gracious giver, yet would he not keep for himself her gifts, but gave
them, in his courtesy, to her four-and-twenty maidens.

Then the Prince told Queen Ute that the King begged her and the
Princess to ride forth from Worms to greet his bride, and to prepare
to hold high festival in the royal city.

[Illustration: Siegfried bent low before the lady Kriemhild]

'It shall be done even as the King desires,' said the Queen, while
Kriemhild sat silent, smiling with gladness, because her knight Sir
Siegfried had come home.

CHAPTER XII

THE WEDDING FEAST

In joy and merriment the days flew by, while the court at Worms
prepared to hold high festival in honour of King Gunther's matchless
bride.

As the royal ships drew near Queen Ute and the Princess Kriemhild,
accompanied by many a gallant knight, rode along the banks of the
Rhine to greet Queen Brun