Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/96

90 Then Hagen hurried to the three brothers with the tale. One of them ordered a great hunt and invited Siegfried.

When the hunt was over they all sat upon the ground to rest. Siegfried called for water. Hagen said no water had been brought, but he knew where there was a spring.

Then Siegfried asked to be directed to the spring. Hagen said, "I have heard that you are the swiftest runner in the land." Siegfried replied, "Let us all run a race to the spring."

The others laid aside their heavy armor. Siegfried kept his on, but he reached the spring first.

As he stooped to drink Hagen drove a spear through the little cross. Siegfried sprang up, and seizing his shield beat Hagen almost to death. Then Siegfried fell dead himself.

Kriemhild cared nothing for the gold after Siegfried's death. To prevent her from giving it to the poor, Hagen hid it in the Rhine, and no man ever saw it again.