But Kriemhild pressed him so sorely in her fear that at length Dietrich promised he would seek to save her; and leaping upon a table, he gave a mighty shout. Clearly above the clash of arms it sounded like the blast of a battle horn. It caught King Günther’s ear, and knowing it for Dietrich’s voice, he commanded the strife to cease till he should learn the will of the hero, who made signal with his hand that he would speak. For a space there was silence while Günther asked whether Dietrich or any of his knights had suffered ill. “Loath were I, noble knight, that such should chance,” said he, “for surely no cause for strife lies ’twixt us two.” Dietrich replied that no evil had befallen them; he did but seek permission to withdraw with all his men. This Günther gladly granted, whereupon Dietrich, taking the Queen on one arm and King Etzel on the other, retired from the hall, followed by his knights; but no Huns were permitted to depart with them. Then Rüdiger, who had welcomed the Burgundians so hospitably on their way thither, also sprang upon the table and asked if no others might pass out. And Giselher, who was betrothed to Rüdiger’s daughter, cried: “Naught is there but peace between us, gallant Rüdiger, for thou hast ever kept true faith with us and never sought to do us harm.” So Rüdiger with his followers also departed from the hall in peace. A Hunnish knight had sought to slip out unseen behind the King, but Volker swiftly smote him dead upon the spot. When King Etzel was once more without he stood and cried aloud in grief: “Now woe unto this peaceful feast! And woe unto this day! For there within is one doth rage Like wild boar brought to bay. This devil fierce is Volker hight A minstrel knight is he. Thanks be to God that by his grace I now in safety be! His fearful melodies ring out O’er all the din and strife; His viol bow is crimson red; Full many a hero’s life Doth answer to its mighty tones. Howe’er his wrath began, Sure ne’er had I so dread a guest As this same minstrelman.” And now fiercer and fiercer raged the strife. The Burgundians showed no mercy. When the last Hun was dead, the victors laid down their arms and sat them down to draw breath, while Hagen and Volker with drawn swords kept guard before the door. _Chapter XXIX_ _Iring’s Fight with Hagen_ Presently Giselher spoke: “Not yet, methinks, dear comrades, are our labors ended, and many hours of warfare lie before us ere we shall be overcome. But these dead Huns greatly encumber us, wherefore let us cast them out!” Hagen smiled grimly when he heard the young prince’s words, for they pleased him well.