and Ramung and Hornbog, after the manner of
the Huns. They all bare them boldly before the Burgundians. High over
the king's palace flew the splinters. Yet all they did was but empty
sound. Gunther's men made the house and the castle ring with the clash
of shields. They won great honour. So keen was their pastime that the
foot-cloths ran with the sweat of the horses, as they rode proudly
against the Huns.

Then said stout Folker the fiddler, "These knights dare not confront us,
I ween. I have heard that they hate us. They could not have a fitter
time to prove it."

"Lead the horses to their stalls," said the king. "Toward evening ye may
ride again, if there be time for it. Haply the queen may then give the
prize to the Burgundians."

At that moment a knight rode into the lists, prouder than any other Hun.
Belike he had a dear one at the window. He was rich apparelled like a
bride.

Folker said, "I cannot help it. Yonder woman's darling must have a
stroke. None shall hinder me. Let him look to his life. I care not how
wroth Etzel's wife may be."

"Nay now, for my sake," said the king. "The folk will blame us if we
begin the fray. Let the Huns be the first. It were better so."

Still Etzel sat by the queen.

"I will join thee in the tourney," cried Hagen. "It were well that these
women and these knights saw how we can ride. They give Gunther's men
scant praise."

Bold Folker spurred back into the lists. Thereby many a woman won
heart's dole. He stabbed the proud Hun through the body with his spear.
Many a maid and many a wife was yet to weep for it. Hagen and his sixty
knights followed hard on the fiddler. Etzel and Kriemhild saw it all
plain.

The three kings left not the doughty minstrel alone among his foemen. A
thousand knights rode to the rescue. They were haughty and overweening,
and did as they would.

When the proud Hun was slain, the sound of weeping and wailing rose from
his kinsmen. All asked, "Who hath done it?" and got answer, "It was
Folker, the bold fiddler."

The friends of the Hunnish Margrave called straightway for their swords
and their shields, that they might kill Folker. The host hasted from the
window. There was a mighty uproar among the Huns. The kings and their
followers alighted before the all, and beat back their horses.

Then came Etzel and began to part the fray. He seized a sharp sword out
of the hand of one of the Hun's kinsmen that stood nigh,