o is fallen
into hard need, for he prayed for the thrall's life, and said that these
shrieks he could not away with, and that it were a lesser matter to him
to play out the play to the end; and therewithal the thrall gat his life
as for that time: but Gunnar and Hogni are both laid in fetters.

Then spake King Atli with Gunnar the king, and bade him tell out
concerning the gold, and where it was, if he would have his life.

But he answered, "Nay, first will I behold the bloody heart of Hogni, my
brother."

So now they caught hold of the thrall again, and cut the heart from out
of him, and bore it unto King Gunnar, but he said--

"The faint heart of Hjalli may ye here behold, little like the proud
heart of Hogni, for as much as it trembleth now, more by the half it
trembled whenas it lay in the breast of him."

So now they fell on Hogni even as Atli urged them, and cut the heart
from out of him, but such was the might of his manhood, that he laughed
while he abode that torment, and all wondered at his worth, and in
perpetual memory is it held sithence. (1)

Then they showed it to Gunnar, and he said--

"The mighty heart of Hogni, little like the faint heart of Hjalli, for
little as it trembleth now, less it trembled whenas in his breast it
lay! But now, O Atli, even as we die so shalt thou die; and lo, I alone
wot where the gold is, nor shall Hogni be to tell thereof now; to and
fro played the matter in my mind whiles we both lived, but now have I
myself determined for myself, and the Rhine river shall rule over the
gold, rather than that the Huns shall bear it on the hands of them."

Then said King Atli, "Have away the bondsman;" and so they did.

But Gudrun called to her men, and came to Atli, and said--

"May it fare ill with thee now and from henceforth, even as thou hast
ill held to thy word with me!"

So Gunnar was cast into a worm-close, and many worms abode him there,
and his hands were fast bound; but Gudrun sent him a harp, and in such
wise did he set forth his craft, that wisely he smote the harp, smiting
it with his toes, and so excellently well he played, that few deemed
they had heard such playing, even when the hand had done it. And with
such might and power he played, that all worms fell asleep in the end,
save one adder only, great and evil of aspect, that crept unto him and
thrust its sting into him until it smote his heart; and in such wise
with great hardihood he ended his life days.