oat-pole over his head,
for he was a strong man. But he did it to his own hurt.

Grimly wroth, Hagen drew a weapon from the sheath, and cut off his head,
and threw it on the ground. The Burgundians were soon ware of the
tidings.

In the same moment that he slew the ferryman, the boat was caught by the
current, which irked him no little, for he was weary or he could bring
her head round, albeit Gunther's man rowed stoutly. With swift strokes
he sought to turn it, till the oar brake in his hand. He strove to reach
the knights on the strand, but had no other oar. Ha! how nimbly he bound
it together with the thong of his shield, a narrow broidered band, and
rowed to a wood down the river.

There he found his masters waiting on the beach. Many a valiant knight
ran to meet him, and greeted him joyfully. But when they saw the boat
full of blood from the grim wound he had given the ferryman, they began
to question him.

When Gunther saw the hot blood heaving in the boat, he said quickly,
"Tell me what thou hast done with the ferryman. I ween he hath fallen by
thy strength."

But he answered with a lie, "I found the boat by a waste meadow, and
loosed it. I have seen no ferryman this day, nor hath any suffered hurt
at my hand."

Then said Sir Gernot of Burgundy, "I am heavy of my cheer because of the
dear friends that must die or night, for boatmen we have none.
Sorrowfully I stand, nor know how we shall win over."

But Hagen cried, "Lay down your burdens on the grass, ye squires. I was
the best boatman by the Rhine, and safe, I trow, I shall bring you into
Gelfrat's land."

That they might cross the quicker, they drave in the horses. These swam
so well that none were drowned, albeit a few, grown weary, were borne
down some length by the tide. Then they carried their gold and harness
on board, since they must needs make the passage. Hagen was the
helmsman, and steered many a gallant knight to the unknown land. First
he took over a thousand, and thereto his own band of warriors. Then
followed more: nine thousand squires. The knight of Trony was not idle
that day. The ship was huge, strongly built and wide enow. Five hundred
of their folk and more, with their meats and weapons, it carried easily
at a time. Many a good warrior that day pulled sturdily at the oar.

When he had brought them safe across the water, the bold knight and good
thought on the strange prophecy of the wild mermaids. Through this