that the sparks flew
bright. Gunther's man was well-nigh slain. Then he cried aloud to
Dankwart, "Help! dear brother. I perish by the hand of a hero."

Bold Dankwart answered, "I will decide between you." The knight spurred
toward them, and smote Gelfrat such a blow that he fell dead.

Elsy would have avenged him, but he and his followers were overcome. His
brother was slain, and he himself wounded. Full eighty of his warriors
he left there with grim death; the prince had to flee before Gunther's
men.

When the Bavarians gave way, there was heard the echo of grisly strokes.
The men of Trony chased their foes, and they that stayed not to answer
for it had little ease by the way.

But while they pursued them, Dankwart said, "Now turn we, and let them
ride. They are wet with blood. Let us join our friends. Truly it were
best."

When they came again where the fight had been, Hagen of Trony said, "Let
us see now, ye heroes, who are amissing, and whom we have lost through
Gelfrat's anger."

They had four to mourn for, that they had lost. Well they were avenged.
Against these, more than an hundred of them of Bavaria lay slain. The
shields of the men of Trony were dim and wet with blood.

The bright moon shone faintly through the clouds, and Hagen said, "Let
none tell my dear masters what hath befallen us. Let them be free of
trouble till the morrow."

When they that had fought came up with the rest, they found them overcome
with weariness. "How long shall we ride?" asked many among them. Bold
Dankwart answered, "Here is no hostel. Ye must ride till it is day."
Folker, that had the charge, bade ask the marshal, "Where shall we halt
for the night, that the horses and my dear masters may rest?" But
Dankwart said, "I know not. We cannot rest till the dawn. Then we shall
lie down on the grass wherever we find a place." When they heard this
news they were sorry enow!

Of the red blood that reeked on them nothing was said till the sun
greeted the morning on the mountains with his bright beams, and the king
saw that they had fought.

The knight cried angrily, "How now, friend Hagen? Wherefore didst thou
scorn my help when they were wetting thy harness with blood? Who hath
done it?"

Hagen answered, "It was Elsy. He fell on us by night. Because of his
ferryman, he attacked us. My brother's hand slew Gelfrat. Elsy was
forced to flee. An hundred of his men, and four of ours, lie dead, slain
in bat