Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/105

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GUDRUN.
99

King Hartmut had carried away from the land of the Hegelings.

At this the young men's eyes filled with tears to see a maiden of their own land standing barefoot in the snow.

When Gudrun saw the tears in their eyes, she told them who she really was. Herwig wanted to take her away at once, hut Ortwein would not let him.

He told Gudrun to go back to the castle and wait till they came with the army.

Gudrun threw the clothes into the sea. The queen saw her coming back without them, and sent a servant to whip her with a rod. But Gudrun said she was ready to be Hartmut's wife. Then beautiful dresses were given to Gudrun and her maidens.

Hartmut sent his best knights away to ask people to come to the wedding.

Herwig and Ortwein went back to the army and told what they had seen. The Hegelings were so angry that they would not wait for daylight, but set off at once.

Early in the morning Gudrun looked out and saw the sun shining on the armor just outside the castle-wall.

Soon the Norman knights were ready. They rode out with Hartmut and his father at the head.