re, out of the quiet
water, and the wild woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when they
knew that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, they rent
the air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker breeze sprang up, and
filled the sails, and made the ships leap forward over the water, like
glad living creatures.

It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he ought to send
fleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known the happy issue of his
bold emprise, and to tell of his glad home-coming, with Brunhild, the
warrior-maiden, as his queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and told
him of his thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald.

"Nay," answered the frowning chief. "No bearer of glad tidings am I. To
every man Odin has given gifts. To some he has given light hearts, and
cheery faces, and glad voices; and such alone are fitted to carry good
news and happy greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and less
lightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may bear the brunt
of the battle, and rush with Odin's heroes to the slaughter: but they
would be ill at ease standing in the presence of fair ladies, or telling
glad tidings at court. Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrow
ship, and send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He is
well fitted for such a duty."

So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had come, he
said,--

"My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, our voyage
still is a long one; for the river is yet far away, and, when it is
reached, its course is winding, and the current will be against us, and
our progress must needs be slow. The folk at home have had no tidings
from us since we left them in the early spring; and no doubt their
hearts grow anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, and
whether we prosper or no. Now, as we near the headland which juts out
dark and green before us, we will set you on shore, with the noble
Greyfell, and as many comrades as you wish, to haste with all speed to
Burgundy, to tell the glad news of our coming to the loved ones waiting
there."

Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself from
undertaking this errand,--not because he felt any fear of danger, but
because he scorned to be any man's thrall, to go and do at his beck and
bidding. Then Gunther spoke again, and in a different tone.

"Gentle Siegfried," he said, "if you will not do this erran