n. Whoso
rideth onward hath taken death by the hand."

"I heed not thy words," said Hagen, "for how should it be that all of us
die there through the hate of anyone?"

"So must it be," said Sieglind, "for none of you shall live, save the
King's chaplain, who alone will come again safe and sound to Gunther's
land."

"Ye are wise wives," laughed Hagen bitterly. "Well would Gunther and his
lords believe me should I tell him this rede. I pray thee, show us over
the stream."

"So be it," replied Sieglind; "since ye will not turn you from your
journey. See you yonder inn by the water's side? There is the only ferry
over the river."

At once Hagen made off. But Sieglind called after him: "Stay, Sir
Knight; credit me, you are too much in haste. For the lord of these
lands, who is called Else, and his brother, Knight Gelfrat, will make
it go hard with you an ye cross their dominions. Guard you carefully and
deal wisely with the ferryman, for he is liegeman unto Gelfrat, and if
he will not cross the river to you, call for him, and say thou art named
Amelrich, a hero of this land who left it some time agone."

No more spake Hagen to the swan-maidens, but searching up the river
banks, he found an inn upon the farther shore. Loudly he called across
the flood. "Come for me, ferryman," he said, "and I will bestow upon
thee an armlet of ruddy gold."

Now the ferryman was a noble and did not care for service, and those who
helped him were as proud as he. They heard Hagen calling, but recked
not of it. Loudly did he call across the water, which resounded to his
cries. Then, his patience exhausted, he shouted:

"Come hither, for I am Amelrich, liegeman to Else, who left these lands
because of a great feud." As he spake he raised his spear, on which was
an armlet of bright gold, cunningly fashioned.

The haughty ferryman took an oar and rowed across, but when he arrived
at the farther bank he spied not him who had cried for passage.

At last he saw Hagen, and in great anger said: "You may be called
Amelrich, but you are not like him whom I thought to be here, for he was
my brother. You have lied to me and there you may stay."

Hagen attempted to impress the ferryman by kindness, but he refused to
listen to his words, telling the warrior that his lords had enemies,
wherefore he never conveyed strangers across the river. Hagen then
offered him gold, and so angry did the ferryman become that he struck at
the Nibelung with his ru