nned a rich war-coat, brought
long ago from the far-off Lybian shores,--an armor which, it was said,
no sword could dint, and upon which the heaviest stroke of spear fell
harmless. Her hemlet was edged with golden lace, and sparkled all over
with rich gem-stones. Her lance, of wondrous length, a heavy weight for
three stout men, was brought. Her shield was as broad and as bright as
the sun, and three spans thick with steel and gold.

While the princess was thus arming herself, the heroes looked on with
amazement and fear. But Siegfried, unnoticed, hastened quietly out of
the hall, and through the open castle-gate, and sped like the wind to
the seashore and to their little ship. There he arrayed himself in the
Tarnkappe, and then, silent and unseen, he ran back to his friends in
the great hall.

"Be of good cheer," he whispered in the ears of the trembling Gunther.

But the king could not see who it was that spoke to him, so well was
the hero hidden in the cloak of darkness. Yet he knew that it must be
Siegfried and he felt greatly encouraged.

Hagen's frowning face grew darker, and the uneasy glances which shot
from beneath his shaggy eyebrows were not those of fear, but of anger
and deep anxiety. Dankwart gave up all as lost, and loudly bewailed
their folly.

"Must we, unarmed, stand still and see our liege lord slain for a
woman's whim?" he cried. "Had we only our good swords, we might defy
this maiden-queen and all her Isenland."

Brunhild overheard his words. Scornfully she called to her servants,
"Bring to these boasters their armor, and let them have their keen-edged
swords. Brunhild has no fear of such men, whether they be armed or
unarmed."

When Hagen and Dankwart felt their limbs again enclosed in steel, and
when they held their trusty swords in hand, their uneasiness vanished,
and hope returned.

In the castle-yard a space was cleared, and Brunhild's five hundred
warriors stood around as umpires. The unseen Siegfried kept close by
Gunther's side.

"Fear not," he said. "Do my bidding, and you are safe. Let me take your
shield. When the time comes, make you the movements, and trust me to do
the work."

Then Brunhild threw her spear at Gunther's shield. The mighty weapon
sped through the air with the swiftness of lightning; and, when it
struck the shield, both Gunther and the unseen Siegfried fell to the
ground, borne down by its weight and the force with which it was thrown.
Blood gushed from the