Into the ring of contest mighty men bore a great stone.  Twelve of them it took to carry it, so ponderous it was.  Woe were they of Burgundy for their lord at sight of the same.

Brunhild advanced on Gunther, brandishing her spear.  Siegfried was by his side and touched him lightly to give him confidence, but Gunther knew not it was he and marvelled, for no one saw him there.

“Who hath touched me?” said he.

“’Tis I, Siegfried,” replied his friend.  “Be of good cheer and fear not the maiden.  Give me thy shield and mark well what I say.  Make thou motions as if to guard and strike, and I will do the deeds.  Above all hearken to my whispered advice.”

Great was Gunther’s joy when he knew that Siegfried was by him.  But he had not long to marvel, for Brunhild was on him, her great spear in hand, the light from its broad blade flashing in his eyes.  She hurled the spear at his shield.  It passed through the iron as if it had been silk and struck on the rings of Gunther’s armour.  Both Gunther and Siegfried staggered at the blow.  But the latter, although bleeding from the mouth with the shock of the thrown weapon, seized it, reversing the point, and cast it at Brunhild with such dreadful might that when it rang on her armour she was overthrown.

Right angry was Brunhild.  But she weened that the blow was Gunther’s, and respected him for his strength.  Her anger, however, overcame her esteem, and seizing the great stone which had been placed in the ring of combat, she cast it from her twelve fathoms.  Leaping after it, she sprang farther than she had thrown it.  Then went Gunther to the stone and poised it while Siegfried threw it.  He cast the stone farther than Brunhild had done, and so great was his strength that he raised King Gunther from the earth and leapt with him a greater distance than Brunhild had leapt herself.  Men saw Gunther throw and leap alone.

Red with anger grew Brunhild when she saw herself defeated.  Loudly she addressed her men.

“Ho, ye liegemen of mine,” she cried, “now are ye subject to Gunther the King, for, behold, he has beaten me in the sports.”

The knights then acclaimed Gunther as the victor.  By his own strength of arm had he won the games, said they, and he in turn greeted them lovingly.  Brunhild came forward, took him by the hand, and granted to him full power throughout her dominions.  They proceeded to her palace and Gunther’s warriors were now regaled with better cheer than before.  But Siegfried carefully concealed his magic cloak.

Coming to where Gunther and Brunhild sat, he said:  “My lord, why do you tarry?  Why are the games of which Queen Brunhild doth speak not yet begun?  I long to see how they may be played.”  He acted his part so well that Brunhild really believed that he was not aware the games were over and that she was the loser.

“Now, Sir Siegfried,” said she, “how comes it that you were not present when the games, which Gunther has won, were being played?”