Men bare their gold-hued shields out to them upon the sands and
brought them all their harness. One bade lead up the steeds, for
they would ride away. Much weeping then was done by comely
dames. The winsome maids stood at the easements. A high wind
stirred the ship and sails; the proud war fellowship embarked
upon the Rhine.

Then spake King Gunther: "Who shall be the captain of the ship?"

"That will I," quoth Siegfried, "I wot well how to steer you on
the flood. That know, good knights, the right water ways be well
known to me."

So they parted merrily from out the Burgundian land. Siegfried
quickly grasped an oar and from the shore the stalwart man gan
push. Bold Gunther took the helm himself, and thus the
worshipful and speedy knights set forth from land. With them
they took rich food and eke good wine, the best that could be
found along the Rhine. Their steeds stood fair; they had good
easement. Their ship rode well; scant harm did hap them. Their
stout sheet-rope was tightened by the breeze. Twenty leagues
they sailed, or ever came the night, with a good wind, downward
toward the sea. These hard toils later brought the high-mettled
warriors pain.

Upon the twelfth-day morning, as we hear say, the winds had borne
them far away to Isenstein in Brunhild's land. To none save
Siegfried was this known; but when King Gunther spied so many
castles and broad marches, too, how soon he spake: "Pray