Nothing that the limehound started could escape Siegfried.  Swift was his steed as the tempest, and whether it was bear or boar he soon came up with it and slew it.  Once he encountered a stark and mighty lion.  Aiming an arrow at the monster, he shot it through the heart.  The forest rang with acclaim at the deed.

Then there fell by his hand a buffalo, an elk, four grim aurochs, and a bear, nor could deer or hind escape him, so swift and wight was he.  Anon he brought a wild boar to bay.  The grisly beast charged him, but, drawing his sword, Siegfried transfixed it with the shining blade.

“I pray thee, lord,” said the huntsman, “leave to us something living, for in truth thy strong arm doth empty both mountain and forest.”

Merrily rang the noise of the chase in the greenwood that day.  The hills and the leafy aisles of the forest resounded with the shouts of the hunters and the baying of dogs.  In that hunting many a beast met its death-day and great was the rivalry.  But when the hunting was over and the heroes met at the tryst-fire, they saw that Siegfried had proved himself the greatest huntsmen of them all.

One by one they returned from the forest to the trysting-place, carrying with them the shaggy fell of the bear, the bristly boar-skin, and the grey pelt of the wolf.  Meat abounded in that place, and the blast of a horn announced to the hungry knights that the King was about to feast.  Said Siegfried’s huntsman to him:  “I hear the blast of a horn bidding us return to the trysting-place,” and raising his bugle to his lips, he answered it.

Siegfried was about to leave the forest, ambling quietly on horseback through the green ways, when he roused a mighty bear.  The limehound was slipped and the bear lumbered off, pursued by Siegfried and his men.  They dashed into a ravine, and here Siegfried thought to run the beast down, but the sides were too steep and the knight could not approach it on horseback.  Lightly he sprang from his steed, and the bear, seeing his approach, once more took flight.  So swift, however, was Siegfried’s pursuit that ere the heavy beast could elude him he had caught it by its shaggy coat and had bound it in such a manner that it was harmless; then, tying it across his horse’s back, he brought it to the tryst-fire for pastime.

Proudly emerged Siegfried from the forest, and Gunther’s men, seeing him coming, ran to hold his horse.  When he had dismounted he dragged the bear from his horse’s back and set it loose.  Immediately the dogs pursued it, and in its efforts to escape into the forest it dashed madly through a band of scullions who were cooking by the great fire.  There was a clatter of iron pots, and burning brands were strewed about.  Many goodly dishes were spoiled.  The King gave order to slip the hounds that were on leash.  Taking their bows and spears, the warriors set off in chase of the bear—­but they feared to shoot at it through fear of wounding any among the great pack of dogs that hung upon its flanks.  The one man who could keep pace with the bear was Siegfried, who, coming up with it, pierced it with his sword and laid it dead on the ground.  Then, lifting the carcass on his shoulders, he carried it back to the fire, to the marvel of all present.