Herwig had in this encounter proved himself no despicable foe; so Hettel, preferring to have him as a friend, no longer opposed his betrothal, but even promised that the wedding festivities should be celebrated within a year.  Herwig tarried in Matelan with his betrothed until he heard that Siegfried, King of Moorland, jealous of his successful wooing of Gudrun, had invaded his kingdom and was raiding his unprotected lands.

[Sidenote:  Gudrun kidnaped by Hartmut.] These tidings caused the brave young warrior to bid Gudrun a hasty farewell and sail home as quickly as possible, Hettel promising to follow him soon and help him repel the invaders, who were far superior in number to his small but oft-tried host.  While Herwig and Hettel were thus occupied in warring against one of the disappointed suitors, Hartmut, the other, hearing that they were both away, invaded Matelan and carried off Gudrun and all her attendants to Normandy.  He paused only once on his way thither to rest for a short time on an island called Wuelpensand, at the mouth of the Scheldt.

The bereaved Hilde, who had seen her beloved daughter thus carried away, promptly sent messengers to warn Hettel and Herwig of Gudrun’s capture.  These tidings put an immediate stop to their warfare with Siegfried, who, joining forces with them, sailed in pursuit of the Normans in the vessels of a party of pilgrims, for they had none of their own ready for instant departure.

[Sidenote:  The Wuelpensand battle.] Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried reached Wuelpensand before the Normans had left it, and there took place a frightful conflict, in the course of which King Ludwig slew the aged Hettel.  The conflict raged until nightfall, and although there were now but few Hegelings left, they were all ready to renew the struggle on the morrow.  What was not their chagrin, therefore, on discovering that the Normans had sailed away with their captives during the night, and were already out of sight!

It was useless to pursue them with so small an army; so the Hegelings sorrowfully returned home, bearing Hettel’s lifeless body back to the disconsolate Hilde.  Then they took counsel, and discovered that so many able fighting men had perished during the last war that they would be obliged to wait until the rising generation was able to bear arms before they could invade Normandy with any hope of success.

“Then spoke old Wat, the hero:  ’It never can befall
Before this country’s children have grown to manhood all.’”
Gudrun (Dippold’s tr.).

Gudrun, in the mean while, had arrived in Normandy, where she persisted in refusing to marry Hartmut.  On her way thither the haughty princess had even ventured to remind King Ludwig that he had once been her father’s vassal, and so roused his anger that he threw her overboard.  But Hartmut immediately plunged into the water after her, rescued her from drowning, and when he had again seen her safe in the boat, angrily reproved his father for his hasty conduct.