danger of his life. From his hand he flung the broken shield and
thrust into the sheath a sword, the which was long. He would not
strike his servant dead, but showed his courtly breeding as his
knightly virtue bade him. He rushed at Alberich and with his
powerful hands he seized the gray-haired man by the beard. So
roughly he pulled his beard, that he screamed aloud. The tugging
of the youthful knight hurt Alberich sore.

Loud cried the valiant dwarf: "Now spare my life. And might I be
the vassal of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I
would own him as my lord, I'd serve you till my death." So spake
the cunning (4) man.

He then bound Alberich as he had the giant afore. Full sore the
strength of Siegfried hurt him. The dwarf gan ask: "How are ye
named?"

"My name is Siegfried," he replied; "I deemed ye knew me well."

"Well is me of these tidings," spake Alberich, the dwarf. "Now
have I noted well the knightly deeds, through which ye be by
right the sovran of the land. I'll do whatso ye bid, and ye let
me live."

Then spake Sir Siegfried: "Go quickly now and bring me the best
of knights we have, a thousand Nibelungs, that they may see me
here."

Why he wanted this, none heard him say. He loosed the bonds of
Alberich and the giant. Then ran Alberich swift to where he