to
thee what Hagen hath done in his anger, if I win back alive. Have no
fear. Go home, for so it needs must be now. Bear a greeting to my dear
wife, and my other kinsfolk. Tell them the good tidings: that, so far,
all is well."

The horses stood ready, the sumpters were laden. As yet they had
suffered no scathe by the way, save the king's chaplain, that had to
return to the Rhine afoot.

Twenty-Sixth Adventure

How Dankwart Slew Gelfrat

When they were all on the shore, the king asked, "Who will show us the
right way through the country, that we go not astray?"

Whereto bold Folker answered, "I will do it."

"Stop!" said Hagen, "both knights and squires. One must follow one's
friends--that is plain to me, and right. But I have heavy news to tell
you. Never again shall we see Burgundy. Two mermaids told me this
morning early that we should win back to our home nevermore. Now follow
my counsel. Arm ye, ye heroes, and guard your lives well. Stark foemen
are at hand, wherefore ride as to battle. I hoped to prove the words of
the wise mermaids false. They said that none save the chaplain would
return. It was for that I had so gladly drowned him."

The news flew from rank to rank. Many a bold knight grew pale, and fell
in fear of bitter death, whereto he journeyed. Doleful were they and
dreary.

They crossed the river at Moering, where Elsy's ferryman was killed, and
Hagen said further, "I have made enemies by the way, that will shortly
set on us. I slew the boatman this morning; wherefore, if Gelfrat and
Elsy attack us, welcome them on such wise that it shall go hard with
them. They will do it without fail, for I know them for bold men. Ride
softly, that none may say we fly."

"So be it," said young Giselher. "Who will lead us through the land?"

And they answered, "Folker, the bold minstrel; he knoweth all the hills
and the paths."

Or they had time to ask him, the brave fiddler stood before them, armed,
with his helmet on. His harness was bright coloured, and he had bound a
red pennon on his spear. Soon he came, with the kings, in great peril.

The news of his boatman's death had reached Gelfrat. Stark Elsy had
heard it likewise. Wroth were they both. They summoned their knights,
that were soon ready. Straightway, as I will tell you, a mighty host,
strongly armed, rode to them that had suffered scathe. To Gelfrat come
more than seven hundred. When these set out to pursue the