readiness, the anchors were hoisted and the sails were set,
and the little fleet, wafted by pleasant winds, sailed out of the bay,
and eastward across the calm blue sea. And Siegfried's vessel, with a
golden dragon banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest.

On the fourth day after Siegfried's departure from Isenland, Dankwart
and grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at Isenstein. Outside and
below they heard the fair-haired warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing to
and fro, and ready, at a word, to seize upon the strangers, and either
to put them to death, or to drive them forever from the land.
Old Hagen's brows were closely knit, and his face was dark as a
thunder-cloud, and his hands played nervously with his sword-hilt, as he
said,--

"Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?"

"He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen and her
maidens," answered Dankwart.

"The craven that he is!" cried Hagen hoarsely. "Once he was a king, and
worthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? That upstart Siegfried has
but to say what shall be done, and our master Gunther, blindly and like
a child, complies. Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailed
safely home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, and
nothing is left for us to do but to fight and die."

"But we are sure of Odin's favor," returned Dankwart; and a wild light
gleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his sword high over his head.
"A place in Valhal is promised to us; for, him who bravely dies with
his blood-stained sword beside him and his heart unrent with fears, the
All-Father's victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks,
I sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the flowing mead."

* * * * *

In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an upper window,
and looked out upon the great sea that spread forever and away towards
the setting sun. And all at once, as if by magic, the water was covered
with white-sailed ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helping
hands of AEgir's daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwart
oarsman, came flying towards the bay.

"What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the dragon-stems?"
asked Brunhild, wondering.

Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, and his eyes
were gladdened with the sight of Siegfried's dragon-banner floating from
the vessel in the van. A great load seemed lifted