ny a dear
friend that was never seen more at Bechlaren. Yet merrily they rode down
the valley by the Danube into the land of the Huns.

Then said noble Rudeger to the Burgundians, "We must delay no longer to
send news of our advance. Nothing could rejoice King Etzel more."

The swift envoys pressed down through Austria, and soon the folk knew,
far and near, that the heroes were on their way from Worms beyond the
Rhine. It was welcome news to the king's vassals. The envoys spurred
forward with the tidings that the Nibelungs were come to the Huns.

"Receive them well, Kriemhild, my wife. Thy brethren are come to show
thee great honour."

Kriemhild stood at a window and looked out as a friend might for
friends. Many drew thither from her father's land. The king was joyful
when he heard the news.

"Glad am I," said Kriemhild, "my kinsmen come with many new shields and
shining bucklers. I will ever be his friend that taketh my gold and
remembereth my wrong."

She thought in her heart, "Now for the reckoning! If I can contrive it,
it will go hard at this hightide with him that killed all my happiness.
Fain would I work his doom. I care not what may come of it: my vengeance
shall fall on the hateful body of him that stole my joy from me. He
shall pay dear for my sorrow."

Twenty-Eighth Adventure

How Kriemhild Received Hagen

When the Burgundians came into the land, old Hildebrand of Bern heard
thereof, and told his master, that was grieved at the news. He bade him
give hearty welcome to the valiant knights.

Bold Wolfhart called for the horses, and many stark warriors rode with
Dietrich to greet them on the plain, where they had pitched their goodly
tents.

When Hagen of Trony saw them from afar, he spake courteously to his
masters, "Arise, ye doughty heroes, and go to meet them that come to
welcome you. A company of warriors that I know well draw hither--the
heroes of the Amelung land. They are men of high courage. Scorn not
their service."

Then, as was seemly, Dietrich, with many knights and squires, sprang to
the ground. They hasted to the guests, and welcomed the heroes of
Burgundy lovingly.

When Dietrich saw them, he was both glad and sorry; he knew what was
toward, and grieved that they were come. He deemed that Rudeger was
privy to it, and had told them. "Ye be welcome, Gunther and Giselher,
Gernot and Hagen; Folker, likewise, and Dankwart the swift. Know ye not
that Kriemhild