The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

THE SWORD OF THE VOLSUNGS 261
Gunnar and Hogni, and the three made great names for them-
selves, but Sigurd's shone high above the others.
When they came back from that war there were great rejoicings
in the hall of the Nibelungs, and Sigurd's heart was filled with
friendship for aU the Nibelung race; he had love for the Eling's
sons, Gunnar and Hogni, and with Guimar and Hogni he swore
oaths of brotherhood. Henceforward he and they would be as
brethren. King Giuki had a stepson named Guttorm and he
was not bound in the oath that bound Sigurd and the others in
brotherhood.
After the war they had waged Sigurd spent a whole winter
in the hall of the Nibelungs. His heart was full of memories of
Brynhild and of longings to ride to her in the House of Flame and
to take her with him to the kingdom that King Giuki would
have given him. But as yet he would not go back to her, for he
had sworn to give his brethren further help.
One day, as he rode by himself, he heard birds talk to each
other and he knew the words they were saying. One said, "There
is Sigurd who wears the wondrous helmet that he took out of
Fafnir's hoard." And the other bird said, "He knows not that
by that helmet he can change his shape as Fafnir changed his
shape, and make him look like this creature or that creature, or
this man or that man." And the third bird said, "He knows not
that the helmet can do anything so wonderful for him."
He rode back to the hall of the Nibelungs, and at the supper-
board he told them what he had heard the birds say. He showed