shing steel, and horses'
hoofs, and soldiers' shouts, filled earth and sky with a horrid din. And
soon the boastful foes of the Burgundians were everywhere worsted, and
thrown into disorder. Siegfried dashed hither and thither, from one part
of the field to another, in search of King Leudiger. Thrice he cut his
way through the ranks, and at last he met face to face the one for whom
he sought.

King Leudiger saw the flashing sunbeams that glanced from Greyfell's
mane, he saw the painted crown upon the hero's broad shield, and then he
felt the fearful stroke of the sword Balmung, as it clashed against
his own, and cut it clean in halves. He dropped his weapons, raised his
visor, and gave himself up as a prisoner.

"Give up the fight, my brave fellows," he cried. "This is Siegfried the
brave, the Prince of the Lowlands, and the Lord of Nibelungen Land. It
were foolishness to fight against him. Save yourselves as best you can."

This was the signal for a frightful panic. All turned and fled. Each
thought of nothing but his own safety; and knights and warriors,
horsemen and foot-soldiers, in one confused mass, throwing shields and
weapons here and there, rushed wildly down the hill, and through the
valley and ravines, and sought, as best they could, their way homeward.
The Burgundian heroes were the masters of the field, and on the morrow
they turned their faces joyfully towards Rhineland. And all joined in
saying that to Siegfried was due the praise for this wonderful victory
which they had gained.

Heralds had been sent on the fleetest horses to carry the glad news to
Burgundy; and when, one morning, they dashed into the court-yard of the
castle, great was the anxiety to know what tidings they brought. And
King Gunther, and the young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild,
came out to welcome them, and eagerly to inquire what had befallen the
heroes. With breathless haste the heralds told the story of all that had
happened.

"And how fares our brother Gernot?" asked Kriemhild.

"There is no happier man on earth," answered the herald. "In truth,
there was not a coward among them all; but the bravest of the brave was
Siegfried. He it was who took the two kings prisoners; and everywhere in
the thickest of the fight there was Siegfried. And now our little army
is on its homeward march, with a thousand prisoners, and large numbers
of the enemy's wounded. Had it not been for the brave Siegfried, no such
victory could have b