Then a certain grey-haired hunter in the leash a sleuth-hound led, And he brought those barons, or ever long time in seeking had fled, Where they came on the wildwood's children; whatsoe'er from covert burst Was chased of those merry comrades, as huntsmen have done from the first. Whatsoe'er his sleuth-hound started, that by the swift right hand Was slain of Siegfried the valiant, the Hero of Netherland. So fleet were the feet of his good steed, that nought might his speed outrun; So the praise of cunning woodcraft before them all he won: In all manner of hunter's prowess he stood without a peer. The first of the forest-children that fell before his spear Was a strong young boar, and the javelin of Siegfried drank its blood. Not long thereafter a lion fierce-eyed before him stood. The hound gave tongue--forth leapt he--the hero shot with the bow Speeding the keen-tipped arrow drawn on his woodland foe. The shot struck home, and the lion thereafter leapt but thrice; And the hero's hunting-fellows acclaimed him with gladsome cries. A bison he smote thereafter; a huge elk low hath he laid; Four urochs strong, and a great stag, a giant of the glade. So swiftly his good horse bare him, there was nought that his speed outsped. Harts and hinds uncounted beneath his wood-spear bled. And now, uproused by the sleuth-hound, a wild boar burst from his lair: Even as to flight he turned him, behold, before him there Was the fleet-foot Lord of the Woodland, and Siegfried barred his path. Then charged on the gallant hero the monster foaming in wrath; But the sword of the lord of Kriemhild with a swift thrust laid him low: None other hunter living so featly had dealt the blow. When dead he lay by the thicket, they leashed the hound again. Now marvelled all Burgundians at the wealth of prey he had ta'en. "If the thing may be asked offenceless," his huntsman merrily said, "Leave unto us, Lord Siegfried, of the wild things some few head. Mountain and forest thou makest of tenants dispossessed!" Sunnily smiled the hero at the old rough woodland jest. {P. 128} Then halloo of men and baying of dogs burst forth all round: Uprose so mighty a clamour of voices of huntsman and hound That the mountain-side and the forest rang and rang again, For that four and twenty couples were unleashed by the hunters then. From the hearts of many children of the wild the life was riven, While hoped full many a hunter that unto him should be given The chiefest prize of woodcraft; but such might ne'er have been While yet beside the camp-fire Siegfried the mighty was seen.