pened to them. And Leudiger
and Leudigast were very wroth when they heard the answer which the
Burgundians had sent to them; but, when they learned that the noble
Siegfried was at Gunther's castle, they shook their heads, and seemed to
feel more doubtful of success.

Many and busy were the preparations for war, and in a very few days all
things were in readiness for the march northwards. It was settled that
Siegfried with his twelve Nibelungen chiefs, and a thousand picked
men, should go forth to battle against their boastful enemies. The
dark-browed Hagen, as he had always done, rode at the head of the
company, and by his side was Siegfried on the noble horse Greyfell. Next
came Gernot and the bold chief Volker, bearing the standard, upon which
a golden dragon was engraved; then followed Dankwart and Ortwin, and the
twelve worthy comrades of Siegfried; and then the thousand warriors,
the bravest in all Rhineland, mounted on impatient steeds, and clad
in bright steel armor, with broad shields, and plumed helmets, and
burnished swords, and sharp-pointed spears. And all rode proudly out
through the great castle-gate. And Gunther and the young Giselher and
all the fair ladies of the court bade them God-speed.

The little army passed through the forest, and went northwards, until,
on the fifth day, they reached the boundaries of Saxon Land. And
Siegfried gave spur to his horse Greyfell, and, leaving the little army
behind him, hastened forwards to see where the enemy was encamped. As
he reached the top of a high hill, he saw the armies of the North-kings
resting carelessly in the valley beyond. Knights, mounted on their
horses, rode hither and thither: the soldiers sauntered lazily among
the trees, or slept upon the grass; arms were thrown about in great
disorder, or stacked in piles near the smoking camp-fires. No one
dreamed of danger; but all supposed that the Burgundians were still at
home, and would never dare to attack a foe so numerous and so strong.

For it was, indeed, a mighty army which Siegfried saw before him. Full
forty thousand men were there; and they not only filled the valley, but
spread over the hills beyond, and far to the right and left.

While he stood at the top of the hill, and gazed upon this sight, a
warrior, who had spied him from below, rode up, and paused before him.
Like two black thunder-clouds, with lightning flashing between, the
two knights stood facing each other, and casting wrathful g