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


siegfried held his stirrup. This little
and uncalled for display of modesty on
the part of Siegfried-the first and only
one of which he was ever guilty-was
them. When Gunther announced that
he came a-wooing. Brunhilde replied:
'If the King OF Burgundy desires to
marry me, so be It, But first he must
play against me those games which
shall propose. II he wins 1 am his wife.
II he loses he forfeits his life and the
lives of all of you-and with your lives
you lose your knightly honor as well.
Gunther, when he saw the great strength
of Brunhide, wished he were we'll out
OF the adventure, but siegfried whispered
to him not to be afraid-that he would
stand by him, to acceed to anything the
naughty Queen proposed and trust to the
heir of the Netherlands for the rest.
A great circle was drawn and around II
pressed 1000 of Brunhilde's knights In
full aromr. Brunhilde came to the test
as If she were about to fight for the lands
OF all the kings on earth. The mail
dT1IlOT WillCH BIG WOIC ONcI a Siihcn NuiiiN
was of the finest gold WIRE Her shield
was OF polished gold on the outside, but
beneath 1t was a layer of the finest tenn
pered steel. 1t took four men to carry
that shield, but Brunhilde swung 1t over
her shoulder with ease by broad baldric
| thickly studded with emeralds. They
brought her spear which she was to
tn he making M hnad q
gone hundred pounds of iron. Lastly a
great disk was brought in, SO large and
heavy that u men could scarcely carry
1t, though they were strong men. valiant
in battle.
The Queen rolled up her sleeve, took the
spear in her right hand and prepared to
throw it. brandishing her great shield the
while. "If 1 were safely home in Bur-
gundy this woman might long live I'M
wooed by me-" said Gunther. But he
heard a whisper in his ear. Siegfried had
put on the magic tarn-cape and stood in
| visible beside the King. ut is I, Sieg-
| fried" he said, have no fear. Let go
thy shield will hold it. You make the
motions and / will do the work. But
never let the Queen know of this trick or
she will surely be revenged on thee" Just
at that moment Brunhilde threw her
spear, and threw 1t with such force and
accuracy that it pierced through the CEN
ter of the shield of Gunther which Sieg-
fried held before the King, and both men
were borne to the earth by the force of
the blow, though not otherwise harmed
| Then Siegfried pulled the spear out of
the stricken shield and threw 1t, butt for
most, Gunther all the while making the
motions. and threw it with such force
against the shield of Brunhilde that she
was borne to the earth in her turn. Brun-
hide thanked Gunther for his courtesy in
throwing the spear butt foremost, little
dreaming that the spear had been thrown
by one far mightier than the King OF
Burgundy.
She now took up the heavy dish. and,
being on her mettle, put forth all her
strength. She threw 1t SO that it fell
20 fathoms away and leaped as she
threw, her golden armor changing. So
strong was she that she landed on her
feet beside the disk as 1t fell to earth.
Then Gunther went through the motions
Of throwing the disk and leaping with
1t, Siegfried, of course, doing the work.
The throw and leap OF 0unther were
greater than those Of Brunhilde-which
was a great wonder when we consider