Hagen, who when a boy had been a hostage amongst the Huns, was their leader.

So on they went across the Rhine, then on to the Maine; and on and on, till on the twelfth morning after their departure from Worms, they reached the banks of the blue Danube.

And then came a great difficulty, for the river was swollen with sudden rains, and there was no ferry-boat to be seen.

So they took counsel, and Hagen was despatched to search along the shore, if perchance a boat might be found.

He searched, and searched, but found nothing, when suddenly he heard sounds like the murmur of a fountain, accompanied with the sweet babbling of Syren-like voices; and gliding through the bushes in the direction from whence the sounds came, he saw mermaids sporting in the limpid waters of a fountain, their golden hair glistening on their swan-like throats, and their white drapery floating behind them.

Then Hagen, always ready for evil or for mischief, seized one of them by her garment, and laughingly told her that she was his captive.

Whereat she, fain to be released, promised him if he would set her free, that she would reveal to him what should be the fate of himself and his brave companions in their present enterprise.

And Hagen, feeling a wondrous longing spring up within him to know his destiny, at once loosened his hold; and Hadberg, for thus was she named, rewarded him by telling him

that he and his companions should win boundless glory in Etzel's land, and that heroic deeds should be performed by them of which bards and minstrels should sing in ages to come.

So Hagen was right glad thereof, and would at once have gone on his way, had not another mermaid bade him stop to hear the end of his fortune, for as yet he knew but one-half of it.

Then she warned him that Death was waiting for him on the other side of the river, that of all the goodly host of warriors who

had left Worms but twelve days before, not one should come back to his Father-land. All should perish by the sword in the strangers' land; only one man, and he a man of peace, to wit, the Chaplain, should return in safety.

Now though Hagen's heart sank somewhat within him, he made light of the warning, and only begged the mermaidens to direct him how to cross the river.

Then they told him that if he would go a little farther up, he would find the ferryman; and if, as was often the case, he should refuse to take the Burgundians over, Hagen must call himself Amelrich, a name which would be all potent to make him do his bidding.

And it all turned out as the Syren said, for Hagen went on and saw the man on the opposite side, and tried to make a bargain with him by offering him a rich clasp of gold if he would come across to him; but the man disdained the payment, and refused to stir.

Then Hagen shouted across the stream: "Man! how dost thou dare to refuse me, Amelrich, what I command thee?"

Whereupon the man at once seized the rudder, and came to him; but great was his anger when he saw that a stranger, and not Amelrich, had shouted to him. It was in vain that Hagen tried to bribe him to take himself and his companions across the river.

He flatly refused, saying that his masters, the lords of the land, had enough enemies on their own side of the river, and

H

last detachment across, he saw the Chaplain at the end of the boat, standing by his pyxes and sacred furniture, and remembering the mermaid's prophecy, that this man should be the only one who should return in safety to his Father-land, he thought he would belie this part of the presage, and thus bring the whole into discredit. So he went straightway up to the holy man, and seizing him in his powerful grasp, threw him overboard. Great was the indignation of the Burgundian princes at this sacrilegious act; but Hagen heeded not their reproaches, only his rage waxed fiercer as he discovered that his wicked deed had been in vain, for the Chaplain, instead of sinking, swam vigorously to the German side of the river, for God helped him in his struggle with the swollen waters; and Hagen, as he watched him at last land safely on the other shore, knew that the mermaid's prophecy was true, and that grim Death was indeed waiting for him on the other side. So the Chaplain journeyed back on foot to Rhineland, thanking God for his deliverance from the wicked Hagen ; and the Burgundians went on their way, and after escaping many dangers, came at last in safety to Etzel's country.

Now when the king knew that his guests had arrived, he sent one of his noblest knights, Dietrich of Berne, with a goodly retinue to meet them, and give them courteous reception into his land.

Then the Burgundian princes enquired of Dietrich how it fared with their sister Criemhild; but when he told them that morning by morning, as he passed through the ante-room that