eaped further; moreover,
through his magic, he had strength enow to bear King Gunther with him.
The spring was made, the stone lay on the ground, and none was seen there
but Gunther, the knight. Fair Brunhild was red with anger.

So Siegfried saved Gunther from death.

Then Brunhild said aloud to her folk, when she saw the hero at the far
end of the ring unhurt. "Come hither at once, my kinsmen and my lieges.
Ye are subject henceforth to King Gunther."

The bold men laid the weapons from their hands at the feet of great
Gunther of Burgundy. For they deemed he had won the game by his own
strength.

He greeted them fair, for he was a courteous man, and he took the
beautiful maiden by the hand. She gave him power in her kingdom, whereat
bold Hagen rejoiced.

She bade the noble knight to the hall, where a multitude was assembled,
that showed much observance through fear of his prowess. So, by
Siegfried's might, they were delivered from all peril.

But Siegfried was wise, and stowed away his _Tarnkappe_ with care; then
he went back where the women sat, and said feigningly to Gunther,
"Wherefore delayest thou to begin the sports that the queen proposed, let
us now behold the issue thereof"--as if the cunning man knew naught of
the matter.

The queen answered, "How cometh it to pass, Sir Siegfried, that thou
sawest not the game whereat Gunther hath won?"

Said Hagen of Burgundy, "While we were downcast by reason of thee, O
Queen, and afterward, when the king of Rhineland had beaten thee at the
sports, Siegfried was at the ship, and knoweth naught of what hath
passed."

"Right glad am I," said Siegfried, "that thy wooing hath prospered, and
that none is thy master. Now must thou follow us, noble Lady, to the
Rhine."

But Brunhild answered, "Not yet; I must first summon my friends and my
liegemen. Not so lightly can I quit my land. Certes, I will send for my
kinsfolk afore I go."

She dispatched envoys over all, and bade her friends and her lieges haste
to Isenstein. She gave to each princely apparel.

All day long, late and early, troops of knights rode into Brunhild's
castle, till Hagen said, "Alack! What have we done? Some hurt will
befall us from Brunhild's men. We know not her real intent. What if she
spurn us when her forces are gathered together? Then were we all dead
men, and this maiden were born to our woe!"

But stark Siegfried said, "I will see to that, and hinder what thou
fearest. I