108 The Story of Stegfried.

 

“Swear it!” said Siegfried. “Swear it, ard thou
shalt live, and be the keeper of my treasures.”

And Alberich made a sign to his elfin host, and
every spear was turned point downwards, and every
tiny shield was thrown to the ground, and the ten
thousand little warriors kneeled, as did also their chief,
and acknowledged Siegfried to be their rightful master,
and the lord of the Nibelungen Land, and the owner of
the Hoard of Andvari.

Then, by Alberich’s orders, the elves carried the
Hoard back into the cavern, and there kept faithful
watch and ward over it. And they buried the starved
bodies of the two princes on the top of the mist-veiled
mountain ; and heralds were sent to all the strongholds
in Nibelungen Land, proclaiming that Siegfried, through
his wisdom and might, had become the true lord and
king of the land. Afterwards the prince, riding on
the beaming Greyfell, went from place to place, scatter-
ing sunshine and smiles where shadows and frowns had
been before. And the Nibelungen folk welcomed him
everywhere with glad shouts and music and dancing ;
and ten thousand warrrors, and many noble earl-folk,
came to meet him, and plighted their faith to him.
And the pure brightness of his hero-soul, and the
gleaming sunbeams from Greyfell’s mane, —the light of
hope and faith, — lifted the curtain of mists and fogs that
had so long darkened the lar 1, and let in the glorious
glad light of day and the genial warmth of summer.