, she cast it from her twelve fathoms. Leaping after it, she
sprang farther than she had thrown it. Then went Gunther to the stone
and poised it while Siegfried threw it. He cast the stone farther than
Brunhild had done, and so great was his strength that he raised King
Gunther from the earth and leapt with him a greater distance than
Brunhild had leapt herself. Men saw Gunther throw and leap alone.

Red with anger grew Brunhild when she saw herself defeated. Loudly she
addressed her men.

"Ho, ye liegemen of mine," she cried, "now are ye subject to Gunther the
King, for, behold, he has beaten me in the sports."

The knights then acclaimed Gunther as the victor. By his own strength
of arm had he won the games, said they, and he in turn greeted them
lovingly. Brunhild came forward, took him by the hand, and granted to
him full power throughout her dominions. They proceeded to her palace
and Gunther's warriors were now regaled with better cheer than before.
But Siegfried carefully concealed his magic cloak.

Coming to where Gunther and Brunhild sat, he said: "My lord, why do
you tarry? Why are the games of which Queen Brunhild doth speak not yet
begun? I long to see how they may be played." He acted his part so well
that Brunhild really believed that he was not aware the games were over
and that she was the loser.

"Now, Sir Siegfried," said she, "how comes it that you were not present
when the games, which Gunther has won, were being played?"

Hagen, fearing that Siegfried might blunder in his reply, took the
answer out of his mouth and said: "O Queen, the good knight Siegfried
was hard by the ship when Gunther won the games from you. Naught indeed
knew he of them."

Siegfried now expressed great surprise that any man living had been able
to master the mighty war-maid. "Is it possible," he exclaimed, "is it
possible, O Queen, that you have been vanquished at the sports in which
you excel so greatly? But I for one am glad, since now you needs must
follow us home to the Rhineland."

"You are speedy of speech, Sir Siegfried," replied Brunhild. "But there
is much to do ere yet I quit my lands. First must I inform my kindred
and vassals of this thing. Messengers must be sent to many of my kinsmen
ere I depart from Isenstein."

With that she bade couriers ride to all quarters, bidding her kinsmen,
her friends, and her warriors come without delay to Isenstein. For
several days they arrived in troops: early and late th