Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/71

Rh Besides, he wanted the gold which Gunnar had taken when Sigurd was killed. So he sent Gunnar an invitation to come to visit Gudrun.

Gudrun, knowing that Atli meant to kill her brother, sent him word not to come. But he never received the message.

When Gunnar came into Atli's palace, he saw many armed men. Atli said, "Give me the golden hoard which by right belongs to Gudrun." Gunnar refused, and Atli's knights sprang upon him and his men.

At last only Gunnar and his brother were left alive. The brother was tortured to death, but he would not tell where the hoard was kept.

Then Gunnar's hands were tied and he was cast into a den of serpents. Gudrun brought him a harp, and he played upon it so sweetly with his toes that all the serpents but one were charmed to sleep. This one, a great adder, crept upon him and stung him to death.

Gunnar had hidden the hoard in the Bhine and no man could find it. In revenge for the death of her kindred, Gudrun killed Atli and his two sons and burned the castle.

Thus Andvare's words came true, and the gold brought only trouble to its possessor.