suits of garments which fair fingers had wrought were
brought. And when the men tried them on, so faultless was the fit, so
rare and perfect was every piece in richness and beauty, that even the
wearers were amazed, and all declared that such dazzling and kingly
raiment had never before been seen.

At last the spring months had fairly vanquished all the forces of the
cold North-land. The warm breezes had melted the snow and ice, and
unlocked the river; and the time had come for Gunther and his comrades
to embark. The little ship, well victualled, and made stanch and stout
in every part, had been launched upon the Rhine; and she waited with
flying streamers and impatient sails the coming of her crew. Down the
sands at length they came, riding upon their steeds; and behind them
followed a train of vassals bearing their kingly garments and their
gold-red shields. And on the banks stood many of the noblest folk of
Burgundy,--Gernot and the young Giselher, and Ute the queen-mother, and
Kriemhild the peerless, and a number of earl-folk, and warriors, and
fair dames, and blushing damsels. And the heroes bade farewell to their
weeping friends, and went upon the waiting vessel, taking their steeds
with them. And Siegfried seized an oar, and pushed the bark off from the
shore.

"I myself will be the steersman, for I know the way," he said.

And the sails were unfurled to the brisk south wind, and the vessel sped
swiftly toward the sea; and many fair eyes were filled tears as they
watched it until it could be seen no more. And with sighs and gloomy
forebodings the good people went back to their homes, and but few hoped
ever again to see their king and his brave comrades.

Driven by favorable winds, the trusty little vessel sailed gayly down
the Rhine, and, ere many days had passed, was out in the boundless sea.
For a long time the heroes sailed and rowed through Old AEgir's watery
kingdom. But they kept good cheer, and their hearts rose higher and
higher; for each day they drew nearer the end of their voyage and the
goal of their hopes. At length they came in sight of a far-reaching
coast and a lovely land; and not far from the shore they saw a noble
fortress, with a number of tall towers pointing toward the sky.

"What land is that?" asked the king.[EN#25]

And Siegfried answered that it was Isenland, and that the fortress which
they saw was the Castle of Isenstein and the green marble hall of the
Princess Brunhild. But he