leet of foot, and that no one has ever outstripped him in the race.
Time was, when King Gunther and myself were spoken of as very swift
runners; and, though we are now growing old, I fancy that many young men
would, even now, fail to keep pace with us. Suppose we try a race to the
spring, and see which of the three can win."

"Agreed!" cried Siegfried. "We will run; and, if I am beaten, I will
kneel down in the grass to him who wins. I will give the odds in your
favor too; for I will carry with me my spear, and my shield, and my
helmet and sword, and all the trappings of the chase, while you may doff
from your shoulders whatever might hinder your speed."

So Gunther and Hagen laid aside all their arms, and put off their
heavy clothing; but Siegfried took up his bow and quiver, and his heavy
shield, and his beamlike spear. Then the word was given, and all three
ran with wondrous speed. Gunther and his chief flew over the grass as
light-footed as two wild panthers: but Siegfried sped swift as an arrow
shot from the hand of a skilful bowman. He reached the spring when yet
the others were not half way to it. He laid his spear and sword, and
bow and quiver of arrows, upon the ground, and leaned his heavy shield
against the linden-tree; and then he waited courteously for King Gunther
to come up, for his knightly honor would not allow him to drink until
his host had quenched his thirst.

Gunther, when he reached the spring, stooped over, and drank heartily
of the cool, refreshing water; and, after he had risen, Siegfried knelt
upon the grass at the edge of the pool to quaff from the same gushing
fountain. Stealthily then, and with quickness, did chief Hagen hide his
huge bow and his quiver, and his good sword Balmung, and, seizing the
hero's spear, he lifted it in air, and with too steady aim struck the
silken lime-leaf that the loving Kriemhild had embroidered. Never in all
the wide mid-world was known a deed more cowardly, never a baser act.
The hero was pierced with his own weapon by one he had deemed his
friend. His blood gushed forth in torrents, and dyed the green grass
red, and discolored the sparkling water, and even filled the face and
eyes of vile Hagen.

Yet, in the hour of death, King Siegfried showed how noble was his soul,
how great his strength of will. Up he rose from his bended knees, and
fiercely glanced around. Then, had not the evil-eyed chief, who never
before had shunned a foe, fled with fleet-footed f