tood before the King their spokesman said, 'We come
from King Ludegast and King Ludeger, who have gathered together new
armies with which to invade thy land, and forthwith they challenge
thee to combat.'

Then the King pretended that he did not know that these were false
heralds with false tidings. He frowned, and his eyes flashed anger at
the strangers as he listened to their words.

Siegfried, who had heard the strangers' words, cried eagerly, 'Fear
not, O King, I and my warriors will fight for thee, even as afore-time
we have done.'

Well pleased then seemed Gunther at the hero's words. As though he
really feared the armies of the foreign kings, he graciously thanked
Siegfried for his offered aid.

Gaily then did Siegfried summon his thousand warriors and bade them
polish their armour and make their shields shine, for they must go
forth to fight for the realm of Burgundy.

'Now,' thought Hagen, 'is the moment to win from Kriemhild the secret
of her lord's strength,' so he hastened to her apartments to bid her
farewell. For he, too, was going forth to battle.

When Kriemhild saw the grim warrior she cried, 'If thou art near to my
lord in the battlefield, guard him for my sake, and ever shalt thou
have Queen Kriemhild's thanks.'

'Right gladly will I serve Siegfried for thy sake,' said the false
knight. 'Tell me how best I may guard thy lord.'

'Thou art my kinsman, Hagen,' said the noble lady, 'therefore will I
trust thee with the secret of his strength.'

Then the Queen told the warrior of the tiny spot between her husband's
shoulders on which the linden leaf had fallen while he bathed in the
dragon's blood, and how, while all the rest of his body was too tough
to be pierced by spear or arrow, on that spot, he might be wounded as
easily as any other man.

Hagen's eyes glittered. The life of the King was well-nigh in his
hands.

'If this be so, noble lady, I beg of thee sew a token upon his
garment, that I may know the spot which I must guard with my shield,
and if need be with my life,' said the counsellor.

Then Kriemhild promised to sew a tiny cross upon Siegfried's tunic,
that so Hagen might the better be able to shield her lord.

Bowing low, Hagen said farewell, then hastened from the presence of
the gentle lady whose trust he meant to betray and that right cruelly.

The next morning Siegfried set out, merrily as was his wont, at the
head of his warriors, and close behind him rode Hagen, his kee