So soon as the barge was unladed, and men had borne ashore The possessions of Gunther's liegemen, and all the treasure-store, Then Hagen shattered the planking, and thrust it forth on the flood To founder: exceedingly marvelled the valiant knights and good. "Why hast thou done this, brother?" did Dankwart wondering say. "How shall we pass hereover on the homeward-faring way, What time from the land of the Hunfolk back to the Rhine we ride?" Thereafter did Hagen tell him that this should never betide; But now said the Hero of Troneg: "Herein was this my thought, That if haply any faint-heart thus far on the way have been brought, Who might think in his fear to forsake us, and return by the way that he came, He should know that in these wild waters there waited a death of shame." {P. 216} There was one in their host who had journeyed forth of Burgundia-land, And his name of renown was Volker, a hero mighty of hand. The thoughts of his fearless spirit with a biting tongue would he tell. Whatsoever was done of Hagen, it liked that minstrel well. (C) Now when King Gunther's chaplain saw the wreck drift down the tide, He lifted his voice, and to Hagen across the water he cried: "Thou murderer and faithless, what had I done unto thee That thine heart should devise the drowning of a guiltless priest, even me?" (C) Fierce answer flung back Hagen: "Shaveling, refrain thee from speech! By my troth, 'tis for this I am sorry, that now thou art out of the reach Of the hands that be fain to slay thee! No gibe, but the truth it is." Made answer the priest all-hapless: "I praise God ever for this! (C) Full little now do I dread thee, know this for verity! Now fare ye on into Hunland, and back over Rhine will I. May God vouchsafe to thee never to come over Rhine again! This is mine heart's petition, for my life well-nigh hast thou ta'en." (C) Then cried aloud King Gunther to the priest there standing lone: "Lo, I will fully requite thee for all that Hagen hath done Unto thee in his evil anger, whensoever back to the Rhine Alive thou shalt see me returning: no fear thereof be thine. (C) Fare homeward unto thy country, for so it must needs be now, And unto my wife, my belovèd, take my greetings thou. And by thee do I greet my kinsfolk, as is meet and right for a king. Bear thou unto them glad tidings of our prosperous wayfaring." Now harnessed the horses waited, and the sumpters each with its load And as yet no scathe had befallen any as onward they rode, Nor cause for fear or for grieving, save the priest, by a deed unmeet Constrained to fare back Rhineward alone upon his feet. XXVI. How Foes fell on them as they journeyed by Night {P. 217}