shield, and brandished the spear above her head, and the contest began.
Gunther was sore dismayed. If Siegfried had not helped him, certes he
had lost his life; but Siegfried went up to him secretly, and touched his
hand. Gunther fell in fear by reason of his magic, and he thought, "Who
touched me?" He looked round and saw no man. But Siegfried said, "It is
I, Siegfried, thy friend. Fear naught from the queen. Give me the
shield from thy hands, and let me carry it, and give heed to what I say.
Make thou the gestures, and I will do the work." And Gunther was glad
when he knew him. "Guard well the secret of my magic, for all our sakes,
lest the queen slay thee. See how boldly she challengeth thee."

Thereupon the royal maiden hurled her speak against the mickle and broad
shield of Sieglind's child, that sparks flew from it, as before a wind.
The stark spear pierced through the shield, and struck fire from the coat
of mail below. And the mighty man fell, and had perished but for the
_Tarnkappe_. The blood gushed from Siegfried's mouth. But he sprang up
swiftly, and took the spear that she had shot through his buckler, and
threw it back again with a great force. He thought, "I will not slay so
fair a maiden," and he turned the spear, and hurled it wit the haft loud
against her harness. From her mail, also, the sparks flew as on the
wind, for Siegmund's child threw mightily; and her strength failed before
the blow. King Gunther, I ween, had never done it alone.

Brunhild sprang to her feet again, and cried, "I thank thee, Gunther, for
that blow." For she thought he had done it with his own strength, nor
guessed that a far mightier man had felled her.

Then, greatly wroth, she hasted and lifted the stone on high; she flung
it far from her, and leaped after it with loud-ringing armour. The stone
landed twenty and four paces off; but the maid sprang further. Then