m India,
rich silks from Zazemang, fine fruits from the Iberian shore, and soft
furs, and ivory tusks of the sea-beast, from the frozen coasts of the
north. Never before was country so richly blessed; for Siegfried taught
his people how to till the soil best, and how to delve far down into the
earth for hidden treasures, and how to work skilfully in iron and bronze
and all other metals, and how to make the winds and the waters, and even
the thunderbolt, their thralls and helpful servants. And he was as great
in war as in peace; for no other people dared harm, or in any way impose
upon, the Nibelungen folk, or any of his faithful liegemen.

It is told how, once on a time, he warred against the Hundings, who
had done his people an injury, and how he sailed against them in a long
dragon-ship of a hundred oars. When he was far out in the mid-sea, and
no land was anywhere in sight, a dreadful storm arose. The lightnings
flashed, and the winds roared, and threatened to carry the ship to
destruction. Quickly the fearful sailors began to reef the sails, but
Siegfried bade them stop.

"Why be afraid?" he cried. "The Norns have woven the woof of every man's
life, and no man can escape his destiny. If the gods will that we should
drown, it is folly for us to strive against fate. We are bound to the
shore of the Hundings' land, and thither must our good ship carry us.
Hoist the sails high on the masts, even though the wind should tear them
into shreds, and split the masts into splinters!"

The sailors did as they were bidden; and the hurricane caught the ship
in its mighty arms, and hurried it over the rolling waves with the speed
of lightning. And Siegfried stood calmly at the helm, and guided the
flying vessel. Presently they saw a rocky point rising up out of the
waters before them; and on it stood an old man, his gray cloak streaming
in the wind, and his blue hood tied tightly down over his head.

"Whose ship is that which comes riding on the storm?" cried the man.

"King Siegfried's ship," answered the man at the prow. "There lives no
braver man on earth than he."

"Thou sayest truly," came back from the rock. "Lay by your oars, reef
the sails, and take me on board!"

"What is your name?" asked the sailor, as the ship swept past him.

"When the raven croaks gladly over his battle-feast, men call me Hnikar.
But call me now Karl from the mountain, Fengr, or Fjolner. Reef, quick,
your sails, and take me in!"

The men, a