Siegfried answered with a feigned voice, "I am a knight. Open to me,
else I will rouse some within that had willingly lain soft abed."

The porter was wroth at Siegfried's word. He did on his armour, and put
his helmet on his head, and grasped his shield, and swung open the door.
Then he ran grimly at Siegfried, saying, "How durst thou waken so many
brave men?" And he smote him hard and swift. The noble stranger made
wary fence, but the porter lifted an iron bar and brake his shield-band.
Then the hero came in scathe, and began to fear grim death when the
porter smote so hard. Yet his master loved him the more for his daring.

They strove so fiercely that the castle rang, and the din thereof was
heard in the hall of the Nibelungs. But Siegfried overcame the porter at
last, and bound him. And the news spread through the Nibelung land.

Albric, a bold and savage dwarf, heard their strife from far off through
the mountain. He did on his armour straightway, and ran where he found
the stranger, that had made an end of binding the giant. Now Albric was
bold and stout, and on his body he had a helmet and coat of mail, and in
his hand a heavy scourge of gold. He hasted and fell on Siegfried. The
scourge had seven heavy knobs hanging from it, wherewith he smote so
heavily to the left upon the shield that he well night brake it. Then
the noble guest came in peril. He threw away the broken shield and stuck
his long sword into the sheath, for he would not slay his chamberlain,
but ever spared his own folk; wherein he did honourably. With his strong
hands he ran at Albric, and grasped the age-hoary man by the beard, and
shook him sore, that he yelled aloud. Certes, the young hero's handling
was dolorous enow to Albric, who cried out, "Spare me. Had I not sworn
fealty to a knight already, I would serve thee till I died." This he
spake craftily. Siegfried bound Albric as he had done to the giant, and