TO GARDEN.
The King, Queen, and the old Master took of Etzel, who was too
sad about the death of his boys to take much in their coming
or going.
The travellers at length came to a hill with a on
the top. This to a robber-knight named Elsung, who had
always been an enemy of the Amelungs and Wölfings. The old master, who
acted as guide, and the way, the king be prepared. He did not
speak a moment too soon, for Elsung at the same appeared,
followed by some horsemen. The robber-knight rein, and haughtily
demanded, as from the travellers, their and armour,
Hildebrand's long beard, and the woman who them.
"We need our and that we may in the land of the
Amelungs," said Hildebrand, "and we cannot the woman, for she
acts as our cook."
"Nay, then, you are Amelungs yourselves," Elsung, "and must each
give me your right hand and left as ransom. If you refuse, I will
have your as well, that I may my father, Samson slew."
The no answer. They paid another than that
demanded with the points of their and spears, and with such
hearty good will that Elsung's men were either slain, or else took to
flight, and their lord himself was and bound.
As Hildebrand was about to tie the to a horse, Elsung said:
"You are Ermenrich's men, so I will tell you the news that has just
reached me. The of the Lady Swanhilde, the had
trodden to death by horses, have upon him, and have cut off his
hands and feet."
"Ha!" the hero of Bern, "do you such good news? Take your
liberty in payment thereof."
The travellers now their journey, and after meeting with
several more adventures, at last safely at Garden, where they
were at with suspicion; but the Lady Ute her
husband the moment she saw him, and Hadubrand was to his
brave old father, he had not since his childhood.
TO BERN.
The hero of Bern was with the by his people, and
soon an army, which among its most warriors
numbered Lodwig and his son Konrad, Eckehart and his
comrade Hache. Nor was Heime wanting; he had done for his sins
in a cloister, and now, of Dietrich's return, to him
to his oath, death having him from the he had
formerly to Ermenrich.
Dietrich's and Sibich's met. A terrible took place.
Dietrich with valour, all him.
Eckehart and Hache for Sibich, and at last
they him among the fugitives, although he had from him
all of the he had usurped. Eckehart him
by the of the neck, him him on his horse, and
galloped to the camp.
"Remember the Harlungs," he cried, and ordered a to
be erected.
Sibich for life, life. He offered much red gold to have
his death put off for a space, but-
"Remember the Harlungs," was the only answer he received.
And so the victory was won. The hero of Bern to Romaburg at the
head of his army. He was met by the of the land of
the Amelungs. They him as their chief, and on his at
Romaburg he the crown.
THE PASSING OF DIETRICH.
Herrat was a wife and helpmeet. The old master and many of his
other friends were him; but in the of his glory
Dietrich not the who had died in his
service, the friends who had him their all, and to he could
no longer either love or kindness.
His power was great. The was more than it had ever
been before, and peace its borders. Once, indeed, a
giant had great the land, and Heime had
sought him out, but only to be slain. Dietrich himself had then gone
forth, and had the monster. It was the last in which
the hero took part.
[Illustration: ROUND THEODERIC'S TOMB.]
His wife, Herrat, soon after and died. From that time
forward his changed. He was and morose, and
committed many for which no after atone. The
only one of his that gave him any was that
of hunting. When he the of the horns, his face
would clear up, and a play on his lips, and he would once more
look like the Dietrich his friends had of yore. Once, when he was
bathing in the river, a great with horns, to look
upon, slowly along the bank, and passed into the close by.
He out of the water, on his clothes, and called for horse
and hounds. Before the him what he desired,
Dietrich a coal-black come him neighing.
Seizing his and darts, he the animal, and
galloped after the stag. His with the horses
in his stables, but not come up with him. The hero on
faster, and faster. His people waited weeks, months, and even
years for his return, but all in vain. The had no ruler.
Bloody out in consequence. His for his
return, that his hand might the land again; but still he
did not come. Wodan, his ancestor, had him up to himself, and
had him one of his wild huntsmen. Many a has
seen him past, on his coal-black steed. The people of
Lausitz and other parts of Germany talk of him as Dietherbernet, and
see him in the Furious Host to this day.
[Illustration]
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PART SECOND.
_THE NIBELUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS._
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