who they were, and whence they came, and showed the queen's signet-ring,
they were welcomed heartily by the fair-haired folk of Mist Land,
who gladly acknowledged themselves the faithful liegemen of the loved
Kriemhild.

When the Burgundians made known their errand to Alberich the dwarf,
who still held watch and ward over the mountain stronghold, he was much
amazed, and he grieved to part with his cherished treasure.

"But," said he to his little followers, who stood around him by
thousands, each anxious to fight the intruders,--"but there is Queen
Kriemhild's order and her signet-ring, and we must, perforce, obey. Yet
had we again the good Tarnkappe which Siegfried took from us, the Hoard
should never leave us."

Then sadly he gave up the keys, and the Burgundians began to remove the
treasure. For four whole days and nights they toiled, carrying the Hoard
in huge wagons down to the sea. And on the fifth day they set sail, and
without mishap arrived in good time at Worms. And many of Alberich's
people, the swarthy elves of the cave, came with Gernot to Rhineland;
for they could not live away from the Hoard. And it is said, that hidden
among the gold and the gem-stones was the far-famed Wishing-rod, which
would give to its owner the power of becoming the lord of the wide
mid-world.

And the vast treasure was stored in the towers and vaults of the castle.
And Queen Kriemhild alone held the keys, and lavishly she scattered the
gold wherever it was needed most. The hungry were fed, the naked were
clothed, the sick were cared for; and everybody near and far blessed the
peerless Queen of Nibelungen Land.

Then Hagen, always plotting evil, whispered to King Gunther, and said,
"It is dangerous to suffer your sister to hold so vast a treasure. All
the people are even now ready to leave you, and follow her. She will yet
plot to seize the kingdom, and destroy us."

And he urged the king to take the keys and to make the Nibelungen Hoard
his own.

But Gunther answered, "I have already done too great a wrong. And I have
sworn to my sister never to harm her again, or to do aught that will
grieve her."

"Let the guilt, then, rest on me," said Hagen. And he strode away, and
took the keys from Kriemhild by force.

When Gernot and Giselher heard of this last vile act of the evil-eyed
chief, they waxed very angry, and vowed that they would help their
sister regain that which was her own. But the wary Hagen was not to be
foile