palace stood wide open, so that any one who wished might come.
Soon Hagen was made knight. One of the girls who had been on the island became his wife.
When King Sigebancl grew old and died, Hagen was king.
Hagen had one daughter called Hilde. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. Every knight who saw her wished her for his wife.
But Hagen did not think any one good enough. Every one who came had to fight with Hagen. He was the strongest man in the land and he overcame them all.
Hetel, who was king of the Hegelings, heard of Hilde's beauty and wished her for his queen.
He called his vassals, Horant and Prut, from their homes and told them his wish. They told him to send for the wise old warrior, Wat of Sturmland.
When Wat found that Hetel was willing to have him risk his life in a fight with Hagen, he was angry and would not go.
By Frut's advice they built a large ship. In the hold they hid armed men and sailed to Hagen's kingdom.
When they came to that country they showed the costly goods they had brought, and people thought they were merchants.
