The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-18

see this ring?' 1t was stolen from me
years ago" do you know this girdle
have about my waist7" At the sight
of the girdle Brunhilde broke down
and, with tears and sobs, sent for Gun
Their.
When she told the King what had
happened he frowned and sent for Sieg-
fried. Siegfried took solemn oath be-
fore the assembled multitude that his
wife was liar-he had never made
boasts as she had said he had. Then
he took Kriemhilde to his private
apartments in the castle and gave her a
good trouncing. Domestic discipline
was disciRbne In those days and Gun
Their would have given his wife as
sound thrashing as Siegfried gave
! his, only he hardly felt able to tackle
the job alone. Brumhilde for time
appeared to forget the quarrel with her
sister-in-law, but Siegfried's oath had
not deceived her, and the more she
thought about the matter the nearer
she came to guessing the truth and de-
termined upon revenge. Gunther also
knew that Siegfried must have told his
wife OF the episode OF the overc oming
of Brunhilde, since in no other way
could she have. known 1t. and felt a
growing enmity toward the hero
But the cloud would have passed
away between the King of Burgundy
and the King of the Netherlands in
time had it not been for the cunning
4 .At To- IL.
malicious prompting of old Hagen. Ha-
gen had come to think that Siegfried
was something of a nuisance-that he
assumed too much and great advantage
would accrue to burgundy were he out
of the way. His kingdom would then
store of the Nibelungen gold would come
into his possession. These things he
kept constantly limiting to Gunther and
so party grew up at the court of
Worms which sought the death of
ksiegfricd. Finally Gunther consented
that If the thing could be arranged
he would not oppose the putting to
death Of the hero. But he is invul-
nerable," said the King to Hagen; mo
man can harm him." Leave that to
me-" replied Hagen.
The first desire of the conspirator was
| nerable. He arranged that a false chal-
| lenge of war should come to the court,
and Siegfried was asked to go forth
against the invaders. He readily, even
joyfully. consented, and Hagen, going to
Kriemhilde, told her of the danger her
| lord was about to be in. II also go to
| the war with him, fair lady. Is there any
way in which 1 can serve YOU"
Kriemhilde, much agitated. begged
Hagen to watch carefully over her hus-
band to see that he came to no harm.
But how can he be harmed?" asked
Hagen, when he bathed in the dragon s
blood was he not made invunerable?''
Yes" replied Kriemhilde, except in one
little place. AS he was bathing a leaf
fell down from tree and lighted between
his shoulders, SO that in that little spot
covered by the leaf the blood did not
touch his skin and in that place only can
he be harmed. will sew little cross
upon his coat, Just where the leaf fell,
/ and Hagen, my dearest friend, promise
me that in battle you will cover him in
that place with your shield"
Hagen with secret joy promised. He
had found out what he wanted to know
and Siegfried's death was now only a
matter of detail. At once It was an
nounced that the monarchs who had de-
fled Burgundy had changed their minds
there would be no war. But Gunther pro-
posed that as a substitute, the court
should go on great hunting expedition.
The hunting took place, and one day as
siegfield, who had ridden apart from the
train with Gunther and Hagen, stopped
to drink from a brook, Hagen drove his
spear with all his strength through the
vulnerable spot marked by the little en-
broidered cross between the shoulders of
Siegfried.
Thus fell that mighty warrior by foul
and dastardly conspiracy. They brought
Siegfrieds body back to Worms. giving
cut that he had been killed by outlaws.
But Kriemhilde knew only too well that
her lord had fallen by the hands of con-
spirators. She remained at the court of
her brother, and set herself to work to
| find out who had been concerned in Sieg-
frien's death. Then she would avenge It.
The great store Of Modelling treasure was
hers, now that Siegfried was dead, and
she had 1t brought from its cave and
stored in the castle at Worms. With the
great wealth thus at her disposal she be-
gan to build up for herself party at
court, and gathered to Worms many
brave but needy knights, taking them
into her service with the idea of striking
as soon as she had sufficient force at her
command to render success sure.
Hagen saw her scheme, and warned
Gunther who finally consented that his
sister should be despoiled Of the gold with
which she sought to work mischief. The
| Nibelungen treasure was seized and
thrown into deep place in the Rhine.
where the Rhine maidens guard 1t to this
day. Kriemhilde stayed on at court, wait
ing patiently, planning revenge. She knew
now who the people we're who had been
privy to or had accomplished her hus-
bands death-and she would have their
lives, she vowed. All her brothers were
in the plot-and Hagen did the deed.
When 10 years had passed after the
death of Segfried, Etzel, King of the
health. For one, do not expect to be
riage. She thought the matter over and
returned a favorable answer. Then, part
ing with her brothers with a great show