But in that selfsame moment when he laid the ferryman low, The barge slid down the current, which cost him travail enow: Yea, ere he could right her, weary he was with labour sore. In sooth, King Gunther's liegeman mightily plied the oar. He toiled, up-stream to turn her, with many a swift strong stroke, Even till the stubborn oar-shank in his grasp asunder broke, As he strove to steer to the waiting knights at the river-side. Inasmuch as he had none other, swiftly around it he tied His shield-strap, and firmly he spliced it with the narrow steel-strong band; So hard by a certain coppice he guided the barge to the land. There on the river-bank waiting his lords his coming abode, And many a chosen warrior to meet him eagerly strode. With gladsome greeting they hailed him, those noble knights and good; And they looked, and they saw yet reeking on the planks of the barge the blood That welled from the trunk made headless by that swift sweep of the sword; And a torrent of eager questions anent it on Hagen poured. Yea also, when King Gunther beheld the hot blood reek, As within the barge it weltered, he could not choose but speak: "Prithee, what now, Lord Hagen, hath chanced to the ferryman-wight? His life, methinks, hath he yielded to thine overmastering might." But with lying lips he answered: "Nay, sooth, but the barge I found By a river-mead, a waste land, and mine hand her hawser unbound. But as touching ferry-boatmen, this day here saw I none. Of a truth by mine hands unto no man this day hath scathe been done." {P. 214} Straightway thereat did Gernot the Prince Burgundian say: "Lest many a dear friend perish I needs must fear this day, Inasmuch as on all the river we see no boatman here. How we shall win thereover needs must I sorely fear." But cheerly and loud cried Hagen: "Down on the bank do ye cast, O squires, the horses' harness! I mind me that in time past Myself was the deftest boatman that on all the Rhine men knew. Into the land of Gelfrat even I will ferry you."