as of a fire burning, so that the flames
seemed to touch the sky.

Riding up the slope Sigurd found himself at length face to face with a
ring of lurid fire, crackling and roaring with a noise like thunder.
But without a moment's hesitation he plunged into the very midst of
this.

Naught did he care for peril who had come to seek such prize, and, as
if daunted by the courage of the Volsung, the fierce flames shrank
back as he advanced, leaving ever a magic circle in which he rode
unscathed, while all around they roared like some hungry lion robbed
of its prey. They rose wave upon wave to the very sky, but their
fierce glare shone with glory upon Sigurd, and his form was as that of
the Sun-god when he rises from the ever-lasting hills at the dawn of
day.

And suddenly, as though their work was done, the flames flickered and
fell, leaving only a broad ring of pale ashes behind the hero as he
rode on to where loomed the massive shape of a great castle hung with
shields.

The doors of this castle stood wide open, and not a warrior was to be
seen; so, dismounting, Sigurd entered the great hall, and at first saw
no one--neither man, woman, nor child. But presently he came to a
room where he saw a figure, clad all in armour, lying stretched upon a
couch. Approaching thither, Sigurd removed the helmet, and saw, to his
astonishment, the face of a beautiful maiden fast asleep. He called to
her and tried to awaken her, but in vain. Then he cut off the
breastplate, which was fastened so closely that it seemed as though it
had grown into her flesh, and then the sleeves and the long steel
boots; and at length she lay before him in her garments of fine white
linen, over which fell long, thick tresses of golden hair. Sigurd bent
over her in admiration, and at that moment she opened her beautiful
eyes and gazed in wonder at his face. Then she arose, and looked with
joy at the rising sun, but her gaze returned to Sigurd; and the two
loved each other at first sight.

When they had communed tenderly together, Sigurd told who he was and
whence he came; and Brunhild rejoiced to hear the tale. "For," said
she, "none but a hero might pass through that ring of fire."

Then said Sigurd: "Tell me now, fair Brunhild, how thou camest to this
lonely fire-girt castle."

And she told him this tale:

"A warrior-maiden am I--chief of those Valkyrs who carry off the
valiant dead to the halls of Valhalla and ply them with mead at the
banquet.