Events now march quickly.  Kriemhild offered gold untold to him who would slay Hagen, but although her enemy was within her grasp, so doughty was the warrior and so terrible his appearance that none dared do battle with him.  A Hun was killed by accident in a tournament, but Etzel protected his Burgundian guests.  At length Blodelin was bribed by Kriemhild to attack Dankwart with a thousand followers.  Dankwart’s men were all slain, but he himself made good his escape by fighting his way through the closely packed Hunnish ranks.  Dankwart rushed to the hall where the Burgundians were feasting with the Huns, and in great wrath acquainted Hagen with the treacherous attempt which had been made upon his life.

“Haste ye, brother Hagen,” he cried, “for as ye sit there our knights and squires lie slain in their chambers.”

“Who hath done this deed?” asked Hagen.

“Sir Blodelin with his carles.  But he breathes no longer, for myself I parted his head from his body.”

“If he died as a warrior, then it is well for him,” replied the grim Hagen; “but, brother Dankwart, ye are red with blood.”

“’Tis but my weeds which ye see thus wet,” said Dankwart carelessly.  “The blood is that of other men, so many in sooth that I could not give ye tale of the number.”

“Guard the door, brother,” said Hagen fiercely; “guard it yet so that not a single Hun may escape.  I will hold parley with these brave warriors who have so foully slain defenceless men.”

“Well will I guard the doorway,” laughed Dankwart; “I shall play ye the part of chamberlain, brother, in this great business.”

The Beginning of the Slaughter

Hagen, mortally incensed at the slaughter of the Burgundians by the Huns, and wrongly suspecting Etzel of conspiracy in the affair, drew his sword, and with one blow of the weapon smote off the head of young Ortlieb, the son of Etzel and Kriemhild.  Then began a slaughter grim and great.  The Huns fought at first in self-defence, but as they saw their friends fall they laid on in good earnest and the combat became general.  At length Dietrich of Bern, as a neutral, intervened, and succeeded in bringing about a half-truce, whereby Etzel, Kriemhild, and Ruediger were permitted to leave the hall, the remainder of Etzel’s attendants being slaughtered like sheep.  In great wrath Etzel and Kriemhild offered heavy bribes to any who would slay Hagen.  Several attempts were made, but without avail; and the terrible conflict continued till nightfall, when a truce was called.  From his place of vantage in the hall Giselher reproached his sister with her treachery, and Kriemhild offered to spare her brothers if they would consent to give up Hagen.  But this offer they contemptuously refused, holding death preferable to such dishonour.  Kriemhild, in her bitter hate, set the hall on fire, and most of the Burgundians perished in the conflagration.  Kriemhild and the Huns were astounded, however, when