mortal maid I should wed
none but him who is the bravest in the world. And so that none but him
might come to me, All-Father put the fire-ring round where I lay in
slumber. And it is thou, Sigurd, son of Sigmund, who hast come to me.
Thou art the bravest and I think thou art the most beautiful too; like
to Tyr, the God who wields the sword."

She told him that whoever rode through the fire and claimed her as his
wife, him she must wed.

They talked to each other fondly and the day flowed by them. Then Sigurd
heard Grani, his horse, neigh for him again and again. He cried to
Brynhild: "Let me go from the gaze of thine eyes. I am that one who is
to have the greatest name in the world. Not yet have I made my name as
great as my father and my father's father made their names great. I have
overcome King Lygni, and I have slain Fafnir the Dragon, but that is
little. I would make my name the greatest in the world, and endure all
that is to be endured in making it so. Then I would come back to thee in
the House of Flame."

Brynhild said to him: "Well dost thou speak. Make thy name great, and
endure what thou hast to endure in making it so. I will wait for thee,
knowing that none but Sigurd will be able to win through the fire that
guards where I abide."

They gazed long on each other, but little more they spoke. Then they
held each other's hands in farewell, and they plighted faith, promising
each other that they would take no other man or maiden for their mate.
And for token of their troth Sigurd took the ring that was on his finger
and placed it on Brynhild's--Andvari's ring it was.

[Illustration]

SIGURD AT THE HOUSE OF THE NIBELUNGS

He left Hindfell and he came into a kingdom that was ruled over by a
people that were called the Nibelungs as Sigurd's people were called the
Volsungs. Giuki was the name of the King of that land.

Giuki and his Queen and all their sons gave a great welcome to Sigurd
when he came to their hall, for he looked such a one as might win the
name of being the world's greatest hero. And Sigurd went to war beside
the King's sons, Gunnar and Hoegni, and the three made great names for
themselves, but Sigurd's shone high above the others.

When they came back from that war there were great rejoicings in the
hall of the Nibelungs, and Sigurd's heart was filled with friendship
for all the Nibelung race; he had love for the King's sons, Gunnar and
Hoegni, and with Gunnar and Hoegni he swo