und of a bugle was heard, and then
of the swift clattering of horses' hoofs coming up the hill towards the
castle.

"Who are they who come thus to join us at the last moment?" asked Hagen
of the watchman above the gate.

"They are strangers," answered the watchman; "and they carry a
peace-flag."

In a few moments the strange horsemen dashed up, and halted some
distance from the castle-gate, where Siegfried and his heroes stood.

"Who are you? and what is your errand?" cried Hagen, in the king's name.

They answered that they were heralds from the North-land kings, sent
quickly to correct the message of the day before; for their liege
lords, Leudiger and Leudigast, they said, had given up warring against
Burgundy, and had gone back to their homes. And they had sent humbly to
ask the Rhineland kings to forget the rash threats which they had made,
and to allow them to swear fealty to Gunther, and henceforth to be his
humble vassals, if only they might be forgiven.

"Right cheerfully do we forgive them!" cried Gunther, not waiting to
consult with his wise men. "And our forgiveness shall be so full, that
we shall ask neither fealty nor tribute from them."

Then he turned to Siegfried, and said, "You hear, friend Siegfried, how
this troublesome matter has been happily ended. Accept our thanks, we
pray you, for your proffered help; for, without it, it might have gone
but roughly with us in a second war with the Northland kings. But now
you are free to do what pleases you. If, as you said yesterday, you
would fain return to Nibelungen Land, you may send your warriors on the
way to-day, for they are already equipped for the journey. But abide you
with us another day, and to-morrow we will bid you God-speed, and you
may easily overtake your Nibelungen friends ere they have reached our
own boundaries."

Siegfried was not well pleased to give up an undertaking scarce begun,
and still less could he understand why the king should be so ready to
forgive the affront which the North-land kings had offered him. And
he was not slow in reading the look of shame and guilt that lurked in
Gunther's face, or the smile of jealous hate that Hagen could no longer
hide. Yet no word of displeasure spoke he, nor seemed he to understand
that any mischief was brewing; for he feared neither force nor guile.
So he bade his Nibelungens to begin their homeward march, saying that he
and Kriemhild, and the ladies of her train, would follow swiftly