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+ background: #ffffff; + padding: 1px 2px; +} + +.figcenter { + margin: 2em auto 2em auto; + text-align: center; +} + +img {padding: 2px 2px .5em 2px;} +img.nopad {padding: 0;} + +a {outline: 0;} +a.ref {text-decoration: none;} + +.caption { + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + margin-top: .5em; +} + +.transnote { + background-color: #EEE; + border: thin dotted; + font-family: sans-serif, serif; + color: #000; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + padding: 1em; +} + +.container { + min-width: 40%; + text-align: center; +} +.box {display: inline-block;} +.box p {margin-left: 0; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} +.sans {font-family: sans-serif, serif;} +.bbox {border: solid 2px black; padding: 1em;} +.narrow {max-width: 22em; padding-left: 0; text-indent: 0;} +.narrow p {padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;} + +.gesperrt1 {letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-right: -0.05em;} + +span.locked {white-space:nowrap;} + +sub {vertical-align: -20%;} + +@media print, handheld +{ + h1, h2, .newpage {page-break-before: always;} + + p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .25em; + } + + table {width: 100%;} + + .tdl { + padding-left: .5em; + text-indent: -.5em; + } + p.drop-cap1, p.drop-cap2, p.drop-cap3, p.drop-cap4, p.drop-cap5 { + text-indent: 1.75em; margin-bottom: .24em; + } + p.drop-cap3 .smcapr1 {margin-left: 0; text-indent: 0;} + p.drop-cap1:first-letter, p.drop-cap2:first-letter, p.drop-cap3:first-letter, + p.drop-cap4:first-letter, p.drop-cap5:first-letter { + float: none; + margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0; + text-indent: 1.75em; + } + +} + +@media handheld +{ + body {margin: 0;} + + hr { + margin-top: .1em; + margin-bottom: .1em; + visibility: hidden; + color: white; + width: .01em; + display: none; + } + + .transnote { + page-break-inside: avoid; + margin-left: 2%; + margin-right: 2%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: .5em; + } + .hidepub {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44622 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hidepub" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="300" height="476" alt="" /> +</div> + +<div class="container"><div class="box bbox"> +<p class="center bold">By Abbie Farwell Brown</p> + +<p class="p1 sans">SONGS OF SIXPENCE. Illustrated.</p> + +<p><span class="sans">THEIR CITY CHRISTMAS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">JOHN OF THE WOODS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">FRESH POSIES. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">FRIENDS AND COUSINS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE STAR JEWELS AND OTHER WONDERS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE FLOWER PRINCESS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE CURIOUS BOOK OF BIRDS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">A POCKETFUL OF POSIES. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><span class="sans">THE LONESOMEST DOLL. Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center"> +HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boston and New York</span><br /> +</p> +</div></div> + +<h1>IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;" id="frontis"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="340" height="550" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"><p>"I AM THE GIANT SKRYMIR" (page 150)</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="p4 container"> +<div class="box large justify"> +<sub><img src="images/fleur3.jpg" width="76" height="24" class="nopad" alt="" /></sub> IN THE DAYS OF<br /> +GIANTS <sub><img src="images/fleur2.jpg" width="46" height="24" class="nopad" alt="" /></sub> A BOOK OF<br /> +NORSE TALES BY ABBIE<br /> +<span class="gesperrt1">FARWELL BROWN <sub><img src="images/fleur2.jpg" width="46" height="24" class="nopad" alt="" /></sub></span><br /> +<span class="gesperrt1">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</span><br /> +BY E. BOYD SMITH <sub><img src="images/fleur2.jpg" width="46" height="24" class="nopad" alt="" /></sub> +</div></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 152px;" id="if_titlepage"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="152" height="150" alt="" /><br /></div> + +<p class="p2 center larger">HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /> +BOSTON AND NEW YORK +</p> + +<p class="p4 center"><span class="smaller">COPYRIGHT 1902 BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN. ALL RIGHTS +RESERVED</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center"><i>Published April, 1902</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="container newpage"> +<div class="box narrow"> +<p class="p4 in0 vspace drop-cap3">N<span class="smcapr1">OW</span> I LIKE A REALLY GOOD SAGA, +ABOUT GODS AND GIANTS, AND THE +FIRE KINGDOMS, AND THE SNOW KINGDOMS, +AND THE ÆSIR MAKING MEN AND +WOMEN OUT OF TWO STICKS, AND ALL +THAT.</p> + +<p class="right"> +KINGSLEY'S HYPATIA +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary="Contents"> + <tr class="small"> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">I.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Beginning of Things</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#p1">1</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">II.</td> + <td class="tdl">How Odin Lost His Eye</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">III.</td> + <td class="tdl">Kvasir's Blood</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Giant Builder</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">V.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Magic Apples</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl">Skadi's Choice</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Dwarf's Gifts</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl">Loki's Children</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Quest of the Hammer</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">X.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Giantess Who Would Not</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl">Thor's Visit to the Giants</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XII.</td> + <td class="tdl">Thor's Fishing</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIII.</td> + <td class="tdl">Thor's Duel</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIV.</td> + <td class="tdl">In the Giant's House</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XV.</td> + <td class="tdl">Balder and the Mistletoe</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVI.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Punishment of Loki</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="p4 newpage"><i>Six of these Tales, namely, The Magic Apples, The +Dwarf's Gifts, The Quest of the Hammer, In the +Giant's House, Balder and the Mistletoe, and The +Punishment of Loki are, by the courteous permission of +the publishers of</i> The Churchman, <i>reprinted from that +magazine.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary="Illustrations"> + <tr class="small"> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">"I am the giant Skrymir" (page 150)</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">He flapped away with her, magic apples and all</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#ip_62">62</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The third gift—an enormous hammer</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#ip_88">88</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">"Ah, what a lovely maid it is!"</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#ip_122">122</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Each arrow overshot his head</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#ip_232">232</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">"Kill him! Kill him!"</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#ip_256">256</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">1</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="larger">IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS</span></h2> + +<hr /> + +<h2 id="p1">THE BEGINNING OF THINGS</h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> oldest stories of every race +of people tell about the Beginning of +Things. But the various folk who +first told them were so very different, the +tales are so very old, and have changed so +greatly in the telling from one generation to +another, that there are almost as many accounts +of the way in which the world began +as there are nations upon the earth. So it is +not strange that the people of the North have +a legend of the Beginning quite different from +that of the Southern, Eastern, and Western +folk.</p> + +<p>This book is made of the stories told by +the Northern folk,—the people who live in +the land of the midnight sun, where summer +is green and pleasant, but winter is a +terrible time of cold and gloom; where rocky +mountains tower like huge giants, over whose +heads the thunder rolls and crashes, and under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">2</a></span> +whose feet are mines of precious metals. +Therefore you will find the tales full of +giants and dwarfs,—spirits of the cold mountains +and dark caverns.</p> + +<p>You will find the hero to be Thor, with +his thunderbolt hammer, who dwells in the +happy heaven of Asgard, where All-Father +Odin is king, and where Balder the beautiful +makes springtime with his smile. In the +north countries, winter, cold, and frost are very +real and terrible enemies; while spring, sunshine, +and warmth are near and dear friends. +So the story of the Beginning of Things is a +story of cold and heat, of the wicked giants +who loved the cold, and of the good Æsir, +who basked in pleasant warmth.</p> + +<p>In the very beginning of things, the stories +say, there were two worlds, one of burning +heat and one of icy cold. The cold world +was in the north, and from it flowed Elivâgar, +a river of poisonous water which hardened +into ice and piled up into great mountains, +filling the space which had no bottom. The +other world in the south was on fire with +bright flame, a place of heat most terrible. +And in those days through all space there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> +nothing beside these two worlds of heat and +cold.</p> + +<p>But then began a fierce combat. Heat +and cold met and strove to destroy each +other, as they have tried to do ever since. +Flaming sparks from the hot world fell upon +the ice river which flowed from the place of +cold. And though the bright sparks were +quenched, in dying they wrought mischief, +as they do to-day; for they melted the ice, +which dripped and dripped, like tears from +the suffering world of cold. And then, wonderful +to say, these chilly drops became alive; +became a huge, breathing mass, a Frost-Giant +with a wicked heart of ice. And he +was the ancestor of all the giants who came +afterwards, a bad and cruel race.</p> + +<p>At that time there was no earth nor sea nor +heaven, nothing but the icy abyss without +bottom, whence Ymir the giant had sprung. +And there he lived, nourished by the milk of +a cow which the heat had formed. Now the +cow had nothing for her food but the snow +and ice of Elivâgar, and that was cold victuals +indeed! One day she was licking the +icy rocks, which tasted salty to her, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> +Ymir noticed that the mass was taking a +strange shape. The more the cow licked it, +the plainer became the outline of the shape. +And when evening came Ymir saw thrusting +itself through the icy rock a head of +hair. The next day the cow went on with +her meal, and at night-time a man's head appeared +above the rock. On the third day +the cow licked away the ice until forth +stepped a man, tall and powerful and handsome. +This was no evil giant, for he was +good; and, strangely, though he came from +the ice his heart was warm. He was the ancestor +of the kind Æsir; for All-Father Odin and +his brothers Vili and Ve, the first of the gods, +were his grandsons, and as soon as they were +born they became the enemies of the race of +giants.</p> + +<p>Now after a few giant years,—ages and +ages of time as we reckon it,—there was a +great battle, for Odin and his brothers wished +to destroy all the evil in the world and to +leave only good. They attacked the wicked +giant Ymir, first of all his race, and after +hard fighting slew him. Ymir was so huge +that when he died a mighty river of blood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span> +flowed from the wounds which Odin had +given him; a stream so large that it flooded +all space, and the frost-giants, his children +and grandchildren, were drowned, except +one who escaped with his wife in a chest. +And but for the saving of these two, that +would have been the end of the race of +giants.</p> + +<p>All-Father and his brothers now had work +to do. Painfully they dragged the great bulk +of Ymir into the bottomless space of ice, and +from it they built the earth, the sea, and the +heavens. Not an atom of his body went +to waste. His blood made the great ocean, +the rivers, lakes, and springs. His mighty +bones became mountains. His teeth and +broken bones made sand and pebbles. From +his skull they fashioned the arching heaven, +which they set up over the earth and sea. +His brain became the heavy clouds. His hair +sprouted into trees, grass, plants, and flowers. +And last of all, the Æsir set his bristling +eyebrows as a high fence around the earth, to +keep the giants away from the race of men +whom they had planned to create for this +pleasant globe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> +So the earth was made. And next the +gods brought light for the heavens. They +caught the sparks and cinders blown from +the world of heat, and set them here and +there, above and below, as sun and moon +and stars. To each they gave its name and +told what its duties were to be, and how it +must perform them, day after day, and year +after year, and century after century, till the +ending of all things; so that the children of +men might reckon time without mistake.</p> + +<p>Sôl and Mâni, who drove the bright chariots +of the sun and moon across the sky, +were a fair sister and brother whose father +named them Sun and Moon because they +were so beautiful. So Odin gave them each +a pair of swift, bright horses to drive, and set +them in the sky forever. Once upon a time,—but +that was many, many years later,—Mâni, +the Man in the Moon, stole two children +from the earth. Hiuki and Bil were +going to a well to draw a pail of water. The +little boy and girl carried a pole and a +bucket across their shoulders, and looked so +pretty that Mâni thrust down a long arm and +snatched them up to his moon. And there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +they are to this day, as you can see on any +moonlight night,—two little black shadows +on the moon's bright face, the boy and the +girl, with the bucket between them.</p> + +<p>The gods also made Day and Night. Day +was fair, bright, and beautiful, for he was of +the warm-hearted Æsir race. But Night was +dark and gloomy, because she was one of the +cold giant-folk. Day and Night had each a +chariot drawn by a swift horse, and each in +turn drove about the world in a twenty-four +hours' journey. Night rode first behind her +dark horse, Hrîmfaxi, who scattered dew from +his bit upon the sleeping earth. After her +came Day with his beautiful horse, Glad, +whose shining mane shot rays of light through +the sky.</p> + +<p>All these wonders the kind gods wrought +that they might make a pleasant world for +men to call their home. And now the gods, +or Æsir as they were called, must choose a +place for their own dwelling, for there were +many of them, a glorious family. Outside of +everything, beyond the great ocean which +surrounded the world, was Jotunheim, the +cold country where the giants lived. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> +green earth was made for men. The gods +therefore decided to build their city above +men in the heavens, where they could watch +the doings of their favorites and protect them +from the wicked giants. Asgard was to be +their city, and from Asgard to Midgard, the +home of men, stretched a wonderful bridge, a +bridge of many colors. For it was the rainbow +that we know and love. Up and down +the rainbow bridge the Æsir could travel to +the earth, and thus keep close to the doings +of men.</p> + +<p>Next, from the remnants of Ymir's body +the gods made the race of little dwarfs, a +wise folk and skillful, but in nature more like +the giants than like the good Æsir; for +they were spiteful and often wicked, and they +loved the dark and the cold better than light +and warmth. They lived deep down below +the ground in caves and rocky dens, and it +was their business to dig the precious metals +and glittering gems that were hidden in the +rocks, and to make wonderful things from +the treasures of the under-world. Pouf! pouf! +went their little bellows. Tink-tank! went +their little hammers on their little anvils all day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +and all night. Sometimes they were friendly +to the giants, and sometimes they did kindly +deeds for the Æsir. But always after men +came upon the earth they hated these new +folk who eagerly sought for the gold and the +jewels which the dwarfs kept hidden in the +ground. The dwarfs lost no chance of doing +evil to the race of men.</p> + +<p>Now the gods were ready for the making +of men. They longed to have a race of +creatures whom they could love and protect +and bless with all kinds of pleasures. So +Odin, with his brothers Hœnir and Loki, +crossed the rainbow bridge and came down +to the earth. They were walking along the +seashore when they found two trees, an ash +and an elm. These would do as well as anything +for their purpose. Odin took the two +trees and warmly breathed upon them; and +lo! they were alive, a man and a woman. +Hœnir then gently touched their foreheads, +and they became wise. Lastly Loki softly +stroked their faces; their skin grew pink +with ruddy color, and they received the gifts +of speech, hearing, and sight. Ask and Embla +were their names, and the ash and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +elm became the father and mother of the +whole human race whose dwelling was Midgard, +under the eyes of the Æsir who had +made them.</p> + +<p>This is the story of the Beginning of +Things.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="HOW_ODIN_LOST_HIS_EYE" id="HOW_ODIN_LOST_HIS_EYE">HOW ODIN LOST HIS EYE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">In</span> the beginning of things, before there +was any world or sun, moon, and stars, +there were the giants; for these were the +oldest creatures that ever breathed. They +lived in Jotunheim, the land of frost and +darkness, and their hearts were evil. Next +came the gods, the good Æsir, who made earth +and sky and sea, and who dwelt in Asgard, +above the heavens. Then were created the +queer little dwarfs, who lived underground +in the caverns of the mountains, working at +their mines of metal and precious stones. +Last of all, the gods made men to dwell in +Midgard, the good world that we know, between +which and the glorious home of the +Æsir stretched Bifröst, the bridge of rainbows.</p> + +<p>In those days, folk say, there was a mighty +ash-tree named Yggdrasil, so vast that its +branches shaded the whole earth and stretched +up into heaven where the Æsir dwelt, while +its roots sank far down below the lowest +depth. In the branches of the big ash-tree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +lived a queer family of creatures. First, there +was a great eagle, who was wiser than any +bird that ever lived—except the two +ravens, Thought and Memory, who sat upon +Father Odin's shoulders and told him the +secrets which they learned in their flight +over the wide world. Near the great eagle +perched a hawk, and four antlered deer +browsed among the buds of Yggdrasil. At +the foot of the tree coiled a huge serpent, who +was always gnawing hungrily at its roots, +with a whole colony of little snakes to keep +him company,—so many that they could +never be counted. The eagle at the top of +the tree and the serpent at its foot were +enemies, always saying hard things of each +other. Between the two skipped up and +down a little squirrel, a tale-bearer and a +gossip, who repeated each unkind remark +and, like the malicious neighbor that he was, +kept their quarrel ever fresh and green.</p> + +<p>In one place at the roots of Yggdrasil was +a fair fountain called the Urdar-well, where +the three Norn-maidens, who knew the past, +present, and future, dwelt with their pets, the +two white swans. This was magic water in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +the fountain, which the Norns sprinkled every +day upon the giant tree to keep it green,—water +so sacred that everything which entered +it became white as the film of an eggshell. +Close beside this sacred well the Æsir had +their council hall, to which they galloped +every morning over the rainbow bridge.</p> + +<p>But Father Odin, the king of all the Æsir, +knew of another fountain more wonderful +still; the two ravens whom he sent forth +to bring him news had told him. This also +was below the roots of Yggdrasil, in the +spot where the sky and ocean met. Here +for centuries and centuries the giant Mimer +had sat keeping guard over his hidden well, +in the bottom of which lay such a treasure +of wisdom as was to be found nowhere else +in the world. Every morning Mimer dipped +his glittering horn Giöll into the fountain +and drew out a draught of the wondrous water, +which he drank to make him wise. Every +day he grew wiser and wiser; and as this had +been going on ever since the beginning of +things, you can scarcely imagine how wise +Mimer was.</p> + +<p>Now it did not seem right to Father Odin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +that a giant should have all this wisdom to +himself; for the giants were the enemies of the +Æsir, and the wisdom which they had been +hoarding for ages before the gods were made +was generally used for evil purposes. Moreover, +Odin longed and longed to become the +wisest being in the world. So he resolved +to win a draught from Mimer's well, if in any +way that could be done.</p> + +<p>One night, when the sun had set behind +the mountains of Midgard, Odin put on his +broad-brimmed hat and his striped cloak, and +taking his famous staff in his hand, trudged +down the long bridge to where it ended by +Mimer's secret grotto.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Mimer," said Odin, entering; +"I have come for a drink from your well."</p> + +<p>The giant was sitting with his knees drawn +up to his chin, his long white beard falling +over his folded arms, and his head nodding; +for Mimer was very old, and he often +fell asleep while watching over his precious +spring. He woke with a frown at Odin's +words. "You want a drink from my well, +do you?" he growled. "Hey! I let no one +drink from my well."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +"Nevertheless, you must let me have a +draught from your glittering horn," insisted +Odin, "and I will pay you for it."</p> + +<p>"Oho, you will pay me for it, will you?" +echoed Mimer, eyeing his visitor keenly. +For now that he was wide awake, his wisdom +taught him that this was no ordinary stranger. +"What will you pay for a drink from my +well, and why do you wish it so much?"</p> + +<p>"I can see with my eyes all that goes on +in heaven and upon earth," said Odin, "but +I cannot see into the depths of ocean. I +lack the hidden wisdom of the deep,—the +wit that lies at the bottom of your fountain. +My ravens tell me many secrets; but I would +know all. And as for payment, ask what you +will, and I will pledge anything in return +for the draught of wisdom."</p> + +<p>Then Mimer's keen glance grew keener. +"You are Odin, of the race of gods," he cried. +"We giants are centuries older than you, +and our wisdom which we have treasured +during these ages, when we were the only +creatures in all space, is a precious thing. If +I grant you a draught from my well, you will +become as one of us, a wise and dangerous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +enemy. It is a goodly price, Odin, which I +shall demand for a boon so great."</p> + +<p>Now Odin was growing impatient for +the sparkling water. "Ask your price," he +frowned. "I have promised that I will pay."</p> + +<p>"What say you, then, to leaving one of +those far-seeing eyes of yours at the bottom +of my well?" asked Mimer, hoping that he +would refuse the bargain. "This is the only +payment I will take."</p> + +<p>Odin hesitated. It was indeed a heavy +price, and one that he could ill afford, for +he was proud of his noble beauty. But he +glanced at the magic fountain bubbling mysteriously +in the shadow, and he knew that he +must have the draught.</p> + +<p>"Give me the glittering horn," he answered. +"I pledge you my eye for a draught +to the brim."</p> + +<p>Very unwillingly Mimer filled the horn +from the fountain of wisdom and handed it +to Odin. "Drink, then," he said; "drink and +grow wise. This hour is the beginning of +trouble between your race and mine." And +wise Mimer foretold the truth.</p> + +<p>Odin thought merely of the wisdom which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +was to be his. He seized the horn eagerly, +and emptied it without delay. From that +moment he became wiser than any one else +in the world except Mimer himself.</p> + +<p>Now he had the price to pay, which was +not so pleasant. When he went away from +the grotto, he left at the bottom of the dark +pool one of his fiery eyes, which twinkled +and winked up through the magic depths +like the reflection of a star. This is how +Odin lost his eye, and why from that day he +was careful to pull his gray hat low over his +face when he wanted to pass unnoticed. For +by this oddity folk could easily recognize the +wise lord of Asgard.</p> + +<p>In the bright morning, when the sun rose +over the mountains of Midgard, old Mimer +drank from his bubbly well a draught of the +wise water that flowed over Odin's pledge. +Doing so, from his underground grotto he +saw all that befell in heaven and on earth. +So that he also was wiser by the bargain. +Mimer seemed to have secured rather the +best of it; for he lost nothing that he could +not spare, while Odin lost what no man can +well part with,—one of the good windows<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> +wherethrough his heart looks out upon the +world. But there was a sequel to these doings +which made the balance swing down in +Odin's favor.</p> + +<p>Not long after this, the Æsir quarreled +with the Vanir, wild enemies of theirs, and +there was a terrible battle. But in the end +the two sides made peace; and to prove that +they meant never to quarrel again, they exchanged +hostages. The Vanir gave to the +Æsir old Niörd the rich, the lord of the sea +and the ocean wind, with his two children, +Frey and Freia. This was indeed a gracious +gift; for Freia was the most beautiful maid +in the world, and her twin brother was almost +as fair. To the Vanir in return Father Odin +gave his own brother Hœnir. And with +Hœnir he sent Mimer the wise, whom he +took from his lonely well.</p> + +<p>Now the Vanir made Hœnir their chief, +thinking that he must be very wise because +he was the brother of great Odin, who had +lately become famous for his wisdom. They +did not know the secret of Mimer's well, +how the hoary old giant was far more wise +than any one who had not quaffed of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +magic water. It is true that in the assemblies +of the Vanir Hœnir gave excellent counsel. +But this was because Mimer whispered in +Hœnir's ear all the wisdom that he uttered. +Witless Hœnir was quite helpless without +his aid, and did not know what to do or say. +Whenever Mimer was absent he would look +nervous and frightened, and if folk questioned +him he always <span class="locked">answered:—</span></p> + +<p>"Yes, ah yes! Now go and consult some +one else."</p> + +<p>Of course the Vanir soon grew very angry +at such silly answers from their chief, and +presently they began to suspect the truth. +"Odin has deceived us," they said. "He has +sent us his foolish brother with a witch to tell +him what to say. Ha! We will show him +that we understand the trick." So they cut +off poor old Mimer's head and sent it to +Odin as a present.</p> + +<p>The tales do not say what Odin thought +of the gift. Perhaps he was glad that now +there was no one in the whole world who +could be called so wise as himself. Perhaps +he was sorry for the danger into which he +had thrust a poor old giant who had never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +done him any wrong, except to be a giant +of the race which the Æsir hated. Perhaps +he was a little ashamed of the trick which he +had played the Vanir. Odin's new wisdom +showed him how to prepare Mimer's head +with herbs and charms, so that it stood up +by itself quite naturally and seemed not dead. +Thenceforth Odin kept it near him, and +learned from it many useful secrets which +it had not forgotten.</p> + +<p>So in the end Odin fared better than +the unhappy Mimer, whose worst fault was +that he knew more than most folk. That +is a dangerous fault, as others have found; +though it is not one for which many of us +need fear being punished.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="KVASIRS_BLOOD" id="KVASIRS_BLOOD">KVASIR'S BLOOD</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Once</span> upon a time there lived a man +named Kvasir, who was so wise that +no one could ask him a question +to which he did not know the answer, and +who was so eloquent that his words dripped +from his lips like notes of music from a lute. +For Kvasir was the first poet who ever lived, +the first of those wise makers of songs whom +the Norse folk named <i xml:lang="no" lang="no">skalds</i>. This Kvasir +received his precious gifts wonderfully; for +he was made by the gods and the Vanir, +those two mighty races, to celebrate the +peace which was evermore to be between +them.</p> + +<p>Up and down the world Kvasir traveled, +lending his wisdom to the use of men, his +brothers; and wherever he went he brought +smiles and joy and comfort, for with his +wisdom he found the cause of all men's +troubles, and with his songs he healed them. +This is what the poets have been doing in +all the ages ever since. Folk declare that +every skald has a drop of Kvasir's blood in +him. This is the tale which is told to show<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +how it happened that Kvasir's blessed skill +has never been lost to the world.</p> + +<p>There were two wicked dwarfs named +Fialar and Galar who envied Kvasir his +power over the hearts of men, and who +plotted to destroy him. So one day they invited +him to dine, and while he was there, +they begged him to come aside with them, +for they had a very secret question to ask, +which only he could answer. Kvasir never +refused to turn his wisdom to another's help; +so, nothing suspecting, he went with them to +hear their trouble.</p> + +<p>Thereupon this sly pair of wicked dwarfs +led him into a lonely corner. Treacherously +they slew Kvasir; and because their cunning +taught them that his blood must be +precious, they saved it in three huge kettles, +and mixing it with honey, made thereof a +magic drink. Truly, a magic drink it was; +for whoever tasted of Kvasir's blood was +straightway filled with Kvasir's spirit, so that +his heart taught wisdom and his lips uttered +the sweetest poesy. Thus the wicked dwarfs +became possessed of a wonderful treasure.</p> + +<p>When the gods missed the silver voice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +of Kvasir echoing up from the world below, +they were alarmed, for Kvasir was very +dear to them. They inquired what had become +of him, and finally the wily dwarfs +answered that the good poet had been +drowned in his own wisdom. But Father +Odin, who had tasted another wise draught +from Mimer's well, knew that this was not +the truth, and kept his watchful eye upon +the dark doings of Fialar and Galar.</p> + +<p>Not long after this the dwarfs committed +another wicked deed. They invited the giant +Gilling to row out to sea with them, and when +they were a long distance from shore, the +wicked fellows upset the boat and drowned +the giant, who could not swim. They rowed +back to land, and told the giant's wife how +the "accident" had happened. Then there +were giant shrieks and howls enough to +deafen all the world, for the poor giantess +was heartbroken, and her grief was a giant +grief. Her sobs annoyed the cruel-hearted +dwarfs. So Fialar, pretending to sympathize, +offered to take her where she could look upon +the spot where her dear husband had last +been seen. As she passed through the gateway,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +the other dwarf, to whom his brother +had made a sign, let a huge millstone fall +upon her head. That was the ending of her, +poor thing, and of her sorrow, which had so +disturbed the little people, crooked in heart +as in body.</p> + +<p>But punishment was in store for them. +Suttung, the huge son of Gilling, learned the +story of his parents' death, and presently, +in a dreadful rage, he came roaring to the +home of the dwarfs. He seized one of them +in each big fist, and wading far out to sea, set +the wretched little fellows on a rock which +at high tide would be covered with water.</p> + +<p>"Stay there," he cried, "and drown as +my father drowned!" The dwarfs screamed +thereat for mercy so loudly that he had to +listen before he went away.</p> + +<p>"Only let us off, Suttung," they begged, +"and you shall have the precious mead +made from Kvasir's blood."</p> + +<p>Now Suttung was very anxious to own +this same mead, so at last he agreed to the +bargain. He carried them back to land, and +they gave him the kettles in which they had +mixed the magic fluid. Suttung took them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +away to his cave in the mountains, and gave +them in charge of his fair daughter Gunnlöd. +All day and all night she watched by +the precious kettles, to see that no one came +to steal or taste of the mead; for Suttung +thought of it as his greatest treasure, and no +wonder.</p> + +<p>Father Odin had seen all these deeds from +his seat above the heavens, and his eye had +followed longingly the passage of the wondrous +mead, for Odin longed to have a +draught of it. Odin had wisdom, he had +drained that draught from the bottom of +Mimer's mystic fountain; but he lacked the +skill of speech which comes of drinking +Kvasir's blood. He wanted the mead for +himself and for his children in Asgard, and +it seemed a shame that this precious treasure +should be wasted upon the wicked giants +who were their enemies. So he resolved to +try if it might not be won in some sly way.</p> + +<p>One day he put on his favorite disguise as +a wandering old man, and set out for Giant Land, +where Suttung dwelt. By and by he +came to a field where nine workmen were +cutting hay. Now these were the servants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +of Baugi, the brother of Suttung, and this +Odin knew. He walked up to the men and +watched them working for a little while.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" he exclaimed at last, "your +scythes are dull. Shall I whet them for +you?" The men were glad enough to accept +his offer, so Odin took a whetstone from +his pocket and sharpened all the scythes +most wonderfully. Then the men wanted to +buy the stone; each man would have it for +his own, and they fell to quarreling over it. +To make matters more exciting, Odin tossed +the whetstone into their midst, <span class="locked">saying:—</span></p> + +<p>"Let him have it who catches it!" Then +indeed there was trouble! The men fought +with one another for the stone, slashing right +and left with their sharp scythes until every +one was killed. Odin hastened away, and went +up to the house where Baugi lived. Presently +home came Baugi, complaining loudly +and bitterly because his quarrelsome servants +had killed one another, so that there was not +one left to do his work.</p> + +<p>"What am I going to do?" he cried. +"Here it is mowing time, and I have not a +single man to help me in the field!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +Then Odin spoke up. "I will help you," +he said. "I am a stout fellow, and I can do +the work of nine men if I am paid the price +I ask."</p> + +<p>"What is the price which you ask?" +queried Baugi eagerly, for he saw that this +stranger was a mighty man, and he thought +that perhaps he could do as he boasted.</p> + +<p>"I ask that you get for me a drink of +Suttung's mead," Odin answered.</p> + +<p>Then Baugi eyed him sharply. "You are +one of the gods," he said, "or you would not +know about the precious mead. Therefore I +know that you can do my work, the work of +nine men. I cannot give you the mead. It is +my brother's, and he is very jealous of it, for +he wishes it all himself. But if you will work +for me all the summer, when winter comes I +will go with you to Suttung's home and try +what I can do to get a draught for you."</p> + +<p>So they made the bargain, and all summer +Father Odin worked in the fields of Baugi, +doing the work of nine men. When the +winter came, he demanded his pay. So then +they set out for Suttung's home, which was +a cave deep down in the mountains, where it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +seems not hard to hide one's treasures. First +Baugi went to his brother and told him of +the agreement between him and the stranger, +begging for a gift of the magic mead wherewith +to pay the stout laborer who had done +the work of nine. But Suttung refused to +spare even a taste of the precious liquor.</p> + +<p>"This laborer of yours is one of the gods, +our enemies," he said. "Indeed, I will not +give him of the precious mead. What are +you thinking of, brother!" Then he talked +to Baugi till the giant was ready to forget +his promise to Odin, and to desire only the +death of the stranger who had come forward +to help him.</p> + +<p>Baugi returned to Odin with the news that +the mead was not to be had with Suttung's +consent. "Then we must get it without his +consent," declared Odin. "We must use our +wits to steal it from under his nose. You +must help me, Baugi, for you have promised."</p> + +<p>Baugi agreed to this; but in his heart he +meant to entrap Odin to his death. Odin +now took from his pocket an auger such as +one uses to bore holes. "Look, now," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +said. "You shall bore a hole into the roof +of Suttung's cave, and when the hole is large +enough, I will crawl through and get the +mead."</p> + +<p>"Very well," nodded Baugi, and he began +to bore into the mountain with all his might +and main. At last he cried, "There, it is +done; the mountain is pierced through!" +But when Odin blew into the hole to see +whether it did indeed go through into the +cave, the dust made by the auger flew into +his face. Thus he knew that Baugi was deceiving +him, and thenceforth he was on his +guard, which was fortunate.</p> + +<p>"Try again," said Odin sternly. "Bore a +little deeper, friend Baugi." So Baugi went +at the work once more, and this time when +he said the hole was finished, Odin found +that his word was true, for the dust blew +through the hole and disappeared in the cave. +Now Odin was ready to try the plan which +he had been forming.</p> + +<p>Odin's wisdom taught him many tricks, +and among them he knew the secret of +changing his form into that of any creature +he chose. He turned himself into a worm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span>—a +long, slender, wiggly worm, just small +enough to be able to enter the hole that +Baugi had pierced. In a moment he had +thrust his head into the opening, and was +wriggling out of sight before Baugi had even +guessed what he meant to do. Baugi jumped +forward and made a stab at him with the +pointed auger, but it was too late. The +worm's striped tail quivered in out of sight, +and Baugi's wicked attempt was spoiled.</p> + +<p>When Odin had crept through the hole, +he found himself in a dark, damp cavern, +where at first he could see nothing. He +changed himself back into his own noble +form, and then he began to hunt about for +the kettles of magic mead. Presently he +came to a little chamber, carefully hidden in +a secret corner of this secret grotto,—a chamber +locked and barred and bolted on the inside, +so that no one could enter by the door. +Suttung had never thought of such a thing +as that a stranger might enter by a hole in the +roof!</p> + +<p>At the back of this tiny room stood three +kettles upon the floor; and beside them, with +her head resting on her elbow, sat a beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +maiden, sound asleep. It was Gunnlöd, Suttung's +daughter, the guardian of the mead. +Odin stepped up to her very softly, and +bending over, kissed her gently upon the +forehead. Gunnlöd awoke with a start, and +at first she was horrified to find a stranger in +the cave where it seemed impossible that a +stranger could enter. But when she saw the +beauty of Odin's face and the kind look of +his eye, she was no longer afraid, but glad +that he had come. For poor Gunnlöd often +grew lonesome in this gloomy cellar-home, +where Suttung kept her prisoner day and +night to watch over the three kettles.</p> + +<p>"Dear maiden," said Odin, "I have come a +long, long distance to see you. Will you not +bid me stay a little while?"</p> + +<p>Gunnlöd looked at him kindly. "Who +are you, and whence do you come so far to +see me?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I am Odin, from Asgard. The way is +long and I am thirsty. Shall I not taste the +liquor which you have there?"</p> + +<p>Gunnlöd hesitated. "My father bade me +never let soul taste of the mead," she said +"I am sorry for you, however, poor fellow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> +You look very tired and thirsty. You may +have one little sip." Then Odin kissed her +and thanked her, and tarried there with such +pleasant words for the maiden that before he +was ready to go she granted him what he +asked,—three draughts, only three draughts +of the mead.</p> + +<p>Now Odin took up the first kettle to drink, +and with one draught he drained the whole. +He did the same by the next, and the next, +till before she knew it, Gunnlöd found herself +guarding three empty kettles. Odin had +gained what he came for, and it was time for +him to be gone before Suttung should come +to seek him in the cave. He kissed fair +Gunnlöd once again, with a sigh to think +that he must treat her so unfairly. Then he +changed himself into an eagle, and away +he flew to carry the precious mead home to +Asgard.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Baugi had told the giant Suttung +how Odin the worm had pierced through +into his treasure-cave; and when Suttung, +who was watching, saw the great eagle fly +forth, he guessed who this eagle must be. +Suttung also put on an eagle's plumage, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +a wonderful chase began. Whirr, whirr! +The two enormous birds winged their way +toward Asgard, Suttung close upon the +other's flight. Over the mountains they flew, +and the world was darkened as if by the passage +of heavy storm-clouds, while the trees, +blown by the breeze from their wings, swayed, +and bent almost to the ground.</p> + +<p>It was a close race; but Odin was the +swifter of the two, and at last he had the mead +safe in Asgard, where the gods were waiting +with huge dishes to receive it from his mouth. +Suttung was so close upon him, however, +that he jostled Odin even as he was filling +the last dish, and some of the mead was +spilled about in every direction over the +world. Men rushed from far and near to taste +of these wasted drops of Kvasir's blood, and +many had just enough to make them dizzy, +but not enough to make them wise. These +folk are the poor poets, the makers of bad +verses, whom one finds to this day satisfied +with their meagre, stolen portion, scattered +drops of the sacred draught.</p> + +<p>The mead that Odin had captured he gave +to the gods, a wondrous gift; and they in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +turn cherished it as their most precious treasure. +It was given into the special charge +of old Bragi of the white beard, because his +taste of the magic mead had made him wise +and eloquent above all others. He was the +sweetest singer of all the Æsir, and his speech +was poetry. Sometimes Bragi gave a draught +of Kvasir's blood to some favored mortal, +and then he also became a great poet. He +did not do this often,—only once or twice +in the memory of an old man; for the +precious mead must be made to last a long, +long time, until the world be ready to drop +to pieces, because this world without its +poets would be too dreadful a place to imagine.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_GIANT_BUILDER" id="THE_GIANT_BUILDER">THE GIANT BUILDER</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">Ages</span> and ages ago, when the world +was first made, the gods decided to +build a beautiful city high above the +heavens, the most glorious and wonderful city +that ever was known. Asgard was to be its +name, and it was to stand on Ida Plain under +the shade of Yggdrasil, the great tree whose +roots were underneath the earth.</p> + +<p>First of all they built a house with a silver +roof, where there were seats for all the twelve +chiefs. In the midst, and high above the +rest, was the wonder-throne of Odin the All-Father, +whence he could see everything that +happened in the sky or on the earth or in the +sea. Next they made a fair house for Queen +Frigg and her lovely daughters. Then they +built a smithy, with its great hammers, tongs, +anvils, and bellows, where the gods could +work at their favorite trade, the making of +beautiful things out of gold; which they did +so well that folk name that time the Golden +Age. Afterwards, as they had more leisure, +they built separate houses for all the Æsir, +each more beautiful than the preceding, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +of course they were continually growing +more skillful. They saved Father Odin's +palace until the last, for they meant this to +be the largest and the most splendid of all.</p> + +<p>Gladsheim, the home of joy, was the name +of Odin's house, and it was built all of gold, +set in the midst of a wood whereof the trees +had leaves of ruddy gold,—like an autumn-gilded +forest. For the safety of All-Father +it was surrounded by a roaring river and by +a high picket fence; and there was a great +courtyard within.</p> + +<p>The glory of Gladsheim was its wondrous +hall, radiant with gold, the most lovely +room that time has ever seen. Valhalla, the +Hall of Heroes, was the name of it, and it +was roofed with the mighty shields of warriors. +The ceiling was made of interlacing +spears, and there was a portal at the west +end before which hung a great gray wolf, +while over him a fierce eagle hovered. The +hall was so huge that it had 540 gates, +through each of which 800 men could march +abreast. Indeed, there needed to be room, +for this was the hall where every morning +Odin received all the brave warriors who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +died in battle on the earth below; and there +were many heroes in those days.</p> + +<p>This was the reward which the gods gave +to courage. When a hero had gloriously +lost his life, the Valkyries, the nine warrior +daughters of Odin, brought his body up to +Valhalla on their white horses that gallop the +clouds. There they lived forever after in +happiness, enjoying the things that they had +most loved upon earth. Every morning they +armed themselves and went out to fight with +one another in the great courtyard. It was +a wondrous game, wondrously played. No +matter how often a hero was killed, he became +alive again in time to return perfectly +well to Valhalla, where he ate a delicious +breakfast with the Æsir; while the beautiful +Valkyries who had first brought him thither +waited at table and poured the blessed mead, +which only the immortal taste. A happy life +it was for the heroes, and a happy life for all +who dwelt in Asgard; for this was before +trouble had come among the gods, following +the mischief of Loki.</p> + +<p>This is how the trouble began. From the +beginning of time, the giants had been unfriendly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> +to the Æsir, because the giants were +older and huger and more wicked; besides, +they were jealous because the good Æsir +were fast gaining more wisdom and power +than the giants had ever known. It was the +Æsir who set the fair brother and sister, Sun +and Moon, in the sky to give light to men; +and it was they also who made the jeweled +stars out of sparks from the place of fire. +The giants hated the Æsir, and tried all in +their power to injure them and the men of +the earth below, whom the Æsir loved and +cared for. The gods had already built a +wall around Midgard, the world of men, to +keep the giants out; built it of the bushy +eyebrows of Ymir, the oldest and hugest of +giants. Between Asgard and the giants flowed +Ifing, the great river on which ice never +formed, and which the gods crossed on the +rainbow bridge. But this was not protection +enough. Their beautiful new city needed a +fortress.</p> + +<p>So the word went forth in Asgard,—"We +must build us a fortress against the giants; +the hugest, strongest, finest fortress that ever +was built."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +Now one day, soon after they had announced +this decision, there came a mighty +man stalking up the rainbow bridge that led +to Asgard city.</p> + +<p>"Who goes there!" cried Heimdal the +watchman, whose eyes were so keen that he +could see for a hundred miles around, and +whose ears were so sharp that he could hear +the grass growing in the meadow and the +wool on the backs of the sheep. "Who goes +there! No one can enter Asgard if I say +no."</p> + +<p>"I am a builder," said the stranger, who +was a huge fellow with sleeves rolled up to +show the iron muscles of his arms. "I am a +builder of strong towers, and I have heard +that the folk of Asgard need one to help them +raise a fair fortress in their city."</p> + +<p>Heimdal looked at the stranger narrowly, +for there was that about him which his sharp +eyes did not like. But he made no answer, +only blew on his golden horn, which was so +loud that it sounded through all the world. +At this signal all the Æsir came running to +the rainbow bridge, from wherever they happened +to be, to find out who was coming to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +Asgard. For it was Heimdal's duty ever to +warn them of the approach of the unknown.</p> + +<p>"This fellow says he is a builder," quoth +Heimdal. "And he would fain build us a +fortress in the city."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that I would," nodded the stranger. +"Look at my iron arm; look at my broad +back; look at my shoulders. Am I not the +workman you need?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, he is a mighty figure," vowed +Odin, looking at him approvingly. "How +long will it take you alone to build our fortress? +We can allow but one stranger at a +time within our city, for safety's sake."</p> + +<p>"In three half-years," replied the stranger, +"I will undertake to build for you a castle so +strong that not even the giants, should they +swarm hither over Midgard,—not even +they could enter without your leave."</p> + +<p>"Aha!" cried Father Odin, well pleased at +this offer. "And what reward do you ask, +friend, for help so timely?"</p> + +<p>The stranger hummed and hawed and +pulled his long beard while he thought. +Then he spoke suddenly, as if the idea had +just come into his mind. "I will name my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +price, friends," he said; "a small price for so +great a deed. I ask you to give me Freia for +my wife, and those two sparkling jewels, the +Sun and Moon."</p> + +<p>At this demand the gods looked grave; +for Freia was their dearest treasure. She was +the most beautiful maid who ever lived, the +light and life of heaven, and if she should +leave Asgard, joy would go with her; while +the Sun and Moon were the light and life +of the Æsir's children, men, who lived in the +little world below. But Loki the sly whispered +that they would be safe enough if they +made another condition on their part, so hard +that the builder could not fulfill it. After +thinking cautiously, he spoke for them all.</p> + +<p>"Mighty man," quoth he, "we are willing +to agree to your price—upon one condition. +It is too long a time that you ask; we cannot +wait three half-years for our castle; that +is equal to three centuries when one is in a +hurry. See that you finish the fort without +help in one winter, one short winter, and you +shall have fair Freia with the Sun and Moon. +But if, on the first day of summer, one stone +is wanting to the walls, or if any one has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +given you aid in the building, then your reward +is lost, and you shall depart without +payment." So spoke Loki, in the name of +all the gods; but the plan was his own.</p> + +<p>At first the stranger shook his head and +frowned, saying that in so short a time no +one unaided could complete the undertaking. +At last he made another offer. "Let +me have but my good horse to help me, and +I will try," he urged. "Let me bring the +useful Svadilföri with me to the task, and +I will finish the work in one winter of short +days, or lose my reward. Surely, you will not +deny me this little help, from one four-footed +friend."</p> + +<p>Then again the Æsir consulted, and the +wiser of them were doubtful whether it were +best to accept the stranger's offer so strangely +made. But again Loki urged them to accept. +"Surely, there is no harm," he said. "Even +with his old horse to help him, he cannot +build the castle in the promised time. We +shall gain a fortress without trouble and with +never a price to pay."</p> + +<p>Loki was so eager that, although the other +Æsir did not like this crafty way of making<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +bargains, they finally consented. Then in +the presence of the heroes, with the Valkyries +and Mimer's head for witnesses, the stranger +and the Æsir gave solemn promise that the +bargain should be kept.</p> + +<p>On the first day of winter the strange +builder began his work, and wondrous was +the way he set about it. His strength seemed +as the strength of a hundred men. As for +his horse Svadilföri, he did more work by +half than even the mighty builder. In the +night he dragged the enormous rocks that +were to be used in building the castle, rocks +as big as mountains of the earth; while in +the daytime the stranger piled them into +place with his iron arms. The Æsir watched +him with amazement; never was seen such +strength in Asgard. Neither Tŷr the stout +nor Thor the strong could match the power +of the stranger. The gods began to look at +one another uneasily. Who was this mighty +one who had come among them, and what +if after all he should win his reward? Freia +trembled in her palace, and the Sun and +Moon grew dim with fear.</p> + +<p>Still the work went on, and the fort was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> +piling higher and higher, by day and by +night. There were but three days left before +the end of winter, and already the building +was so tall and so strong that it was safe from +the attacks of any giant. The Æsir were delighted +with their fine new castle; but their +pride was dimmed by the fear that it must be +paid for at all too costly a price. For only +the gateway remained to be completed, and +unless the stranger should fail to finish that +in the next three days, they must give him +Freia with the Sun and Moon.</p> + +<p>The Æsir held a meeting upon Ida Plain, +a meeting full of fear and anger. At last +they realized what they had done; they had +made a bargain with one of the giants, their +enemies; and if he won the prize, it would +mean sorrow and darkness in heaven and +upon earth. "How did we happen to agree +to so mad a bargain?" they asked one another. +"Who suggested the wicked plan +which bids fair to cost us all that we most +cherish?" Then they remembered that it +was Loki who had made the plan; it was +he who had insisted that it be carried out +and they blamed him for all the trouble.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +"It is your counsels, Loki, that have +brought this danger upon us," quoth Father +Odin, frowning. "You chose the way of +guile, which is not our way. It now remains +for you to help us by guile, if you can. But +if you cannot save for us Freia and the Sun +and Moon, you shall die. This is my word." +All the other Æsir agreed that this was just. +Thor alone was away hunting evil demons +at the other end of the world, so he did not +know what was going on, and what dangers +were threatening Asgard.</p> + +<p>Loki was much frightened at the word of +All-Father. "It was my fault," he cried, "but +how was I to know that he was a giant? +He had disguised himself so that he seemed +but a strong man. And as for his horse,—it +looks much like that of other folk. If it +were not for the horse, he could not finish the +work. Ha! I have a thought! The builder +shall not finish the gate; the giant shall not +receive his payment. I will cheat the fellow."</p> + +<p>Now it was the last night of winter, and +there remained but a few stones to put in +place on the top of the wondrous gateway.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +The giant was sure of his prize, and chuckled +to himself as he went out with his horse to +drag the remaining stones; for he did not +know that the Æsir had guessed at last who +he was, and that Loki was plotting to outwit +him. Hardly had he gone to work when +out of the wood came running a pretty little +mare, who neighed to Svadilföri as if inviting +the tired horse to leave his work and come +to the green fields for a holiday.</p> + +<p>Svadilföri, you must remember, had been +working hard all winter, with never a sight +of four-footed creature of his kind, and he +was very lonesome and tired of dragging +stones. Giving a snort of disobedience, off +he ran after this new friend towards the grassy +meadows. Off went the giant after him, +howling with rage, and running for dear life, +as he saw not only his horse but his chance +of success slipping out of reach. It was a +mad chase, and all Asgard thundered with +the noise of galloping hoofs and the giant's +mighty tread. The mare who raced ahead +was Loki in disguise, and he led Svadilföri +far out of reach, to a hidden meadow that he +knew; so that the giant howled and panted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +up and down all night long, without catching +even a sight of his horse.</p> + +<p>Now when the morning came the gateway +was still unfinished, and night and winter had +ended at the same hour. The giant's time +was over, and he had forfeited his reward. +The Æsir came flocking to the gateway, and +how they laughed and triumphed when they +found three stones wanting to complete the +gate!</p> + +<p>"You have failed, fellow," judged Father +Odin sternly, "and no price shall we pay for +work that is still undone. You have failed. +Leave Asgard quickly; we have seen all we +want of you and of your race."</p> + +<p>Then the giant knew that he was discovered, +and he was mad with rage. "It was +a trick!" he bellowed, assuming his own +proper form, which was huge as a mountain, +and towered high beside the fortress that he +had built. "It was a wicked trick. You +shall pay for this in one way or another. I +cannot tear down the castle which, ungrateful +ones, I have built you, stronger than the +strength of any giant. But I will demolish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +the rest of your shining city!" Indeed, he +would have done so in his mighty rage; +but at this moment Thor, whom Heimdal +had called from the end of the earth by one +blast of the golden horn, came rushing to the +rescue, drawn in his chariot of goats. Thor +jumped to the ground close beside the giant, +and before that huge fellow knew what had +happened, his head was rolling upon the +ground at Father Odin's feet; for with one +blow Thor had put an end to the giant's +wickedness and had saved Asgard.</p> + +<p>"This is the reward you deserve!" Thor +cried. "Not Freia nor the Sun and Moon, +but the death that I have in store for all the +enemies of the Æsir."</p> + +<p>In this extraordinary way the noble city of +Asgard was made safe and complete by the +addition of a fortress which no one, not even +the giant who built it, could injure, it was +so wonder-strong. But always at the top of +the gate were lacking three great stones that +no one was mighty enough to lift. This +was a reminder to the Æsir that now they had +the race of giants for their everlasting enemies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +And though Loki's trick had saved them +Freia, and for the world the Sun and Moon, +it was the beginning of trouble in Asgard +which lasted as long as Loki lived to make +mischief with his guile.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_MAGIC_APPLES" id="THE_MAGIC_APPLES">THE MAGIC APPLES</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">It</span> is not very amusing to be a king. +Father Odin often grew tired of sitting +all day long upon his golden throne in +Valhalla above the heavens. He wearied of +welcoming the new heroes whom the Valkyries +brought him from wars upon the earth, +and of watching the old heroes fight their +daily deathless battles. He wearied of his +wise ravens, and the constant gossip which +they brought him from the four corners of the +world; and he longed to escape from every +one who knew him to some place where he +could pass for a mere stranger, instead of the +great king of the Æsir, the mightiest being +in the whole universe, of whom every one +was afraid.</p> + +<p>Sometimes he longed so much that he +could not bear it. Then—he would run +away. He disguised himself as a tall old +man, with white hair and a long gray beard. +Around his shoulders he threw a huge blue +cloak, that covered him from top to toe, and +over his face he pulled a big slouch hat, to +hide his eyes. For his eyes Odin could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +change—no magician has ever learned how +to do that. One was empty; he had given +the eye to the giant Mimer in exchange for +wisdom.</p> + +<p>Usually Odin loved to go upon these wanderings +alone; for an adventure is a double +adventure when one meets it single-handed. +It was a fine game for Odin to see how near +he could come to danger without feeling the +grip of its teeth. But sometimes, when he +wanted company, he would whisper to his +two brothers, Hœnir and red Loki. They +three would creep out of the palace by the +back way; and, with a finger on the lip to +Heimdal, the watchman, would silently steal +over the rainbow bridge which led from +Asgard into the places of men and dwarfs +and giants.</p> + +<p>Wonderful adventures they had, these +three, with Loki to help make things happen. +Loki was a sly, mischievous fellow, +full of his pranks and his capers, not always +kindly ones. But he was clever, as well as +malicious; and when he had pushed folk +into trouble, he could often help them out +again, as safe as ever. He could be the jolliest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +of companions when he chose, and Odin +liked his merriment and his witty talk.</p> + +<p>One day Loki did something which was +no mere jest nor easily forgiven, for it brought +all Asgard into danger. And after that Father +Odin and his children thought twice +before inviting Loki to join them in any +journey or undertaking. This which I am +about to tell was the first really wicked deed +of which Loki was found guilty, though I +am sure his red beard had dabbled in secret +wrongs before.</p> + +<p>One night the three high gods, Odin, +Hœnir, and Loki, stole away from Asgard +in search of adventure. Over mountains and +deserts, great rivers and stony places, they +wandered until they grew very hungry. But +there was no food to be found—not even a +berry or a nut.</p> + +<p>Oh, how footsore and tired they were! +And oh, how faint! The worst of it ever is +that—as you must often have noticed—the +heavier one's feet grow, the lighter and +more hollow becomes one's stomach; which +seems a strange thing, when you think of it. +If only one's feet became as light as the rest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +of one feels, folk could fairly fly with hunger. +Alas! this is not so.</p> + +<p>The three Æsir drooped and drooped, and +seemed on the point of starving, when they +came to the edge of a valley. Here, looking +down, they saw a herd of oxen feeding on +the grass.</p> + +<p>"Hola!" shouted Loki. "Behold our +supper!" Going down into the valley, they +caught and killed one of the oxen, and, building +a great bonfire, hung up the meat to +roast. Then the three sat around the fire and +smacked their lips, waiting for the meat to +cook. They waited for a long time.</p> + +<p>"Surely, it is done now," said Loki, at +last; and he took the meat from the fire. +Strange to say, however, it was raw as ere +the fire was lighted. What could it mean? +Never before had meat required so long a +time to roast. They made the fire brighter +and re-hung the beef for a thorough basting, +cooking it even longer than they had done +at first. When again they came to carve the +meat, they found it still uneatable. Then, indeed, +they looked at one another in surprise.</p> + +<p>"What can this mean?" cried Loki, with +round eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +"There is some trick!" whispered Hœnir, +looking around as if he expected to see a +fairy or a witch meddling with the food.</p> + +<p>"We must find out what this mystery betokens," +said Odin thoughtfully. Just then +there was a strange sound in the oak-tree +under which they had built their fire.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" Loki shouted, springing +to his feet. They looked up into the tree, +and far above in the branches, near the top, +they spied an enormous eagle, who was staring +down at them, and making a queer sound, +as if he were laughing.</p> + +<p>"Ho-ho!" croaked the eagle. "I know +why your meat will not cook. It is all my +doing, masters."</p> + +<p>The three Æsir stared in surprise. Then +Odin said sternly: "Who are you, Master +Eagle? And what do you mean by those +rude words?"</p> + +<p>"Give me my share of the ox, and you +shall see," rasped the eagle, in his harsh voice. +"Give me my share, and you will find that +your meat will cook as fast as you please."</p> + +<p>Now the three on the ground were nearly +famished. So, although it seemed very strange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +to be arguing with an eagle, they cried, as if +in one voice: "Come down, then, and take +your share." They thought that, being a +mere bird, he would want but a small piece.</p> + +<p>The eagle flapped down from the top of +the tree. Dear me! What a mighty bird he +was! Eight feet across the wings was the +smallest measure, and his claws were as long +and strong as ice-hooks. He fanned the +air like a whirlwind as he flew down to perch +beside the bonfire. Then in his beak and +claws he seized a leg and both shoulders of +the ox, and started to fly away.</p> + +<p>"Hold, thief!" roared Loki angrily, when +he saw how much the eagle was taking. +"That is not your share; you are no lion, but +you are taking the lion's share of our feast. +Begone, Scarecrow, and leave the meat as you +found it!" Thereat, seizing a pole, he struck +at the eagle with all his might.</p> + +<p>Then a strange thing happened. As the +great bird flapped upward with his prey, +giving a scream of malicious laughter, the +pole which Loki still held stuck fast to the +eagle's back, and Loki was unable to let go +of the other end.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +"Help, help!" he shouted to Odin and to +Hœnir, as he felt himself lifted off his feet. +But they could not help him. "Help, help!" +he screamed, as the eagle flew with him, now +high, now low, through brush and bog and +briar, over treetops and the peaks of mountains. +On and on they went, until Loki +thought his arm would be pulled out, like a +weed torn up by the roots. The eagle would +not listen to his cries nor pause in his flight, +until Loki was almost dead with pain and +fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Hark you, Loki," screamed the eagle, +going a little more slowly; "no one can help +you except me. You are bewitched, and you +cannot pull away from this pole, nor loose +the pole from me, until I choose. But if you +will promise what I ask, you shall go free."</p> + +<p>Then Loki groaned: "O eagle, only let +me go, and tell me who you really are, and +I will promise whatever you wish."</p> + +<p>The eagle answered: "I am the giant Thiasse, +the enemy of the Æsir. But you ought +to love me, Loki, for you yourself married +a giantess."</p> + +<p>Loki moaned: "Oh, yes! I dearly love<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +all my wife's family, great Thiasse. Tell me +what you want of me?"</p> + +<p>"I want this," quoth Thiasse gruffly. "I +am growing old, and I want the apples which +Idun keeps in her golden casket, to make me +young again. You must get them for me."</p> + +<p>Now these apples were the fruit of a magic +tree, and were more beautiful to look at and +more delicious to taste than any fruit that +ever grew. The best thing about them was +that whoever tasted one, be he ever so old, +grew young and strong again. The apples +belonged to a beautiful lady named Idun, +who kept them in a golden casket. Every +morning the Æsir came to her to be refreshed +and made over by a bite of her precious +fruit. That is why in Asgard no one ever +waxed old or ugly. Even Father Odin, +Hœnir, and Loki, the three travelers who had +seen the very beginning of everything, when +the world was made, were still sturdy and +young. And so long as Idun kept her apples +safe, the faces of the family who sat about +the table of Valhalla would be rosy and fair +like the faces of children.</p> + +<p>"O friend giant!" cried Loki. "You know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +not what you ask! The apples are the most +precious treasure of Asgard, and Idun keeps +watch over them as if they were dearer to +her than life itself. I never could steal them +from her, Thiasse; for at her call all Asgard +would rush to the rescue, and trouble would +buzz about my ears like a hive of bees let +loose."</p> + +<p>"Then you must steal Idun herself, apples +and all. For the apples I must have, and you +have promised, Loki, to do my bidding."</p> + +<p>Loki sniffed and thought, thought and +sniffed again. Already his mischievous heart +was planning how he might steal Idun away. +He could hardly help laughing to think how +angry the Æsir would be when they found +their beauty-medicine gone forever. But he +hoped that, when he had done this trick for +Thiasse, now and then the giant would let +him have a nibble of the magic apples; so +that Loki himself would remain young long +after the other Æsir were grown old and +feeble. This thought suited Loki's malicious +nature well.</p> + +<p>"I think I can manage it for you, Thiasse," +he said craftily. "In a week I promise to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> +bring Idun and her apples to you. But you +must not forget the great risk which I am +running, nor that I am your relative by marriage. +I may have a favor to ask in return, +Thiasse."</p> + +<p>Then the eagle gently dropped Loki from +his claws. Falling on a soft bed of moss, +Loki jumped up and ran back to his traveling +companions, who were glad and surprised +to see him again. They had feared that the +eagle was carrying him away to feed his +young eaglets in some far-off nest. Ah, you +may be sure that Loki did not tell them who +the eagle really was, nor confess the wicked +promise which he had made about Idun and +her apples.</p> + +<p>After that the three went back to Asgard, +for they had had adventure enough for one +day.</p> + +<p>The days flew by, and the time came +when Loki must fulfill his promise to Thiasse. +So one morning he strolled out into the meadow +where Idun loved to roam among the +flowers. There he found her, sitting by a tiny +spring, and holding her precious casket of +apples on her lap. She was combing her long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +golden hair, which fell from under a wreath +of spring flowers, and she was very beautiful. +Her green robe was embroidered with buds +and blossoms of silk in many colors, and she +wore a golden girdle about her waist. She +smiled as Loki came, and tossed him a posy, +saying: "Good-morrow, red Loki. Have +you come for a bite of my apples? I see a +wrinkle over each of your eyes which I can +smooth away."</p> + +<p>"Nay, fair lady," answered Loki politely, +"I have just nibbled of another apple, which +I found this morning. Verily, I think it is +sweeter and more magical than yours."</p> + +<p>Idun was hurt and surprised.</p> + +<p>"That cannot be, Loki," she cried. "There +are no apples anywhere like mine. Where +found you this fine fruit?" and she wrinkled +up her little nose scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Oho! I will not tell any one the place," +chuckled Loki, "except that it is not far, in +a little wood. There is a gnarled old apple-tree, +and on its branches grow the most beautiful +red-cheeked apples you ever saw. But +you could never find it."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see these apples, Loki,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +if only to prove how far less good they are +than mine. Will you bring me some?"</p> + +<p>"That I will not," said Loki teasingly. +"Oh, no! I have my own magic apples now, +and folk will be coming to me for help instead +of to you."</p> + +<p>Idun began to coax him, as he had guessed +that she would: "Please, please, Loki, show +me the place!"</p> + +<p>At first he would not, for he was a sly fellow, +and knew how to lead her on. At last, +he pretended to yield.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, because I love you, Idun, +better than all the rest, I will show you the +place, if you will come with me. But it must +be a secret—no one must ever know."</p> + +<p>All girls like secrets.</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes!" cried Idun eagerly. "Let +us steal away now, while no one is looking."</p> + +<p>This was just what Loki hoped for.</p> + +<p>"Bring your own apples," he said, "that +we may compare them with mine. But I +know mine are better."</p> + +<p>"I know mine are the best in all the +world," returned Idun, pouting. "I will +bring them, to show you the difference."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +Off they started together, she with the +golden casket under her arm; and Loki +chuckled wickedly as they went. He led her +for some distance, further than she had ever +strayed before, and at last she grew frightened.</p> + +<p>"Where are you taking me, Loki?" she +cried. "You said it was not far. I see no +little wood, no old apple-tree."</p> + +<p>"It is just beyond, just a little step beyond," +he answered. So on they went. But +that little step took them beyond the boundary +of Asgard—just a little step beyond, +into the space where the giants lurked and +waited for mischief.</p> + +<p>Then there was a rustling of wings, and +<em>whirr-rr-rr</em>! Down came Thiasse in his eagle +dress. Before Idun suspected what was happening, +he fastened his claws into her girdle +and flapped away with her, magic apples +and all, to his palace in Jotunheim, the Land +of Giants.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 334px;" id="ip_62"><img src="images/i001.jpg" width="334" height="550" alt="" /><br /><div class="caption">HE FLAPPED AWAY WITH HER, MAGIC APPLES AND ALL</div></div> + +<p>Loki stole back to Asgard, thinking that +he was quite safe, and that no one would +discover his villainy. At first Idun was not +missed. But after a little the gods began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +feel signs of age, and went for their usual +bite of her apples. Then they found that +she had disappeared, and a great terror fell +upon them. Where had she gone? Suppose +she should not come back!</p> + +<p>The hours and days went by, and still +she did not return. Their fright became almost +a panic. Their hair began to turn gray, +and their limbs grew stiff and gouty so that +they hobbled down Asgard streets. Even +Freia, the loveliest, was afraid to look in her +mirror, and Balder the beautiful grew pale +and haggard. The happy land of Asgard was +like a garden over which a burning wind had +blown,—all the flower-faces were faded and +withered, and springtime was turned into yellow +fall.</p> + +<p>If Idun and her apples were not quickly +found, the gods seemed likely to shrivel and +blow away like autumn leaves. They held +a council to inquire into the matter, endeavoring +to learn who had seen Idun last, and +whither she had gone. It turned out that +one morning Heimdal had seen her strolling +out of Asgard with Loki, and no one had +seen her since. Then the gods understood;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +Loki was the last person who had been with +her—this must be one of Loki's tricks. +They were filled with anger. They seized +and bound Loki and brought him before the +council. They threatened him with torture +and with death unless he should tell the +truth. And Loki was so frightened that +finally he confessed what he had done.</p> + +<p>Then indeed there was horror in Asgard. +Idun stolen away by a wicked giant! Idun +and her apples lost, and Asgard growing +older every minute! What was to be done? +Big Thor seized Loki and threw him up in +the air again and again, so that his heels +touched first the moon and then the sea; +you can still see the marks upon the moon's +white face. "If you do not bring Idun back +from the land of your wicked wife, you shall +have worse than this!" he roared. "Go and +bring her <em>now</em>."</p> + +<p>"How can I do that?" asked Loki, trembling.</p> + +<p>"That is for you to find," growled Thor. +"Bring her you must. Go!"</p> + +<p>Loki thought for a moment. Then he +<span class="locked">said:—</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +"I will bring her back if Freia will loan +me her falcon dress. The giant dresses as +an eagle. I, too, must guise me as a bird, +or we cannot outwit him."</p> + +<p>Then Freia hemmed and hawed. She did +not wish to loan her feather dress, for it was +very precious. But all the Æsir begged; and +finally she consented.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful great dress of brown +feathers and gray, and in it Freia loved to +skim like a falcon among the clouds and +stars. Loki put it on, and when he had done +so he looked exactly like a great brown +hawk. Only his bright black eyes remained +the same, glancing here and there, so that +they lost sight of nothing.</p> + +<p>With a whirr of his wings Loki flew off +to the north, across mountains and valleys +and the great river Ifing, which lay between +Asgard and Giant Land. And at last he +came to the palace of Thiasse the giant.</p> + +<p>It happened, fortunately, that Thiasse had +gone fishing in the sea, and Idun was left +alone, weeping and broken-hearted. Presently +she heard a little tap on her window, +and, looking up, she saw a great brown bird<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +perching on the ledge. He was so big that +Idun was frightened and gave a scream. But +the bird nodded pleasantly and croaked: +"Don't be afraid, Idun. I am a friend. I +am Loki, come to set you free."</p> + +<p>"Loki! Loki is no friend of mine. He +brought me here," she sobbed. "I don't believe +you came to save me."</p> + +<p>"That is indeed why I am here," he replied, +"and a dangerous business it is, if +Thiasse should come back before we start +for home."</p> + +<p>"How will you get me out?" asked Idun +doubtfully. "The door is locked, and the +window is barred."</p> + +<p>"I will change you into a nut," said he, +"and carry you in my claws."</p> + +<p>"What of the casket of apples?" queried +Idun. "Can you carry that also?"</p> + +<p>Then Loki laughed long and loudly.</p> + +<p>"What welcome to Asgard do you think +I should receive without the apples?" he +cried. "Yes, we must take them, indeed."</p> + +<p>Idun came to the window, and Loki, who +was a skillful magician, turned her into a nut +and took her in one claw, while in the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +he seized the casket of apples. Then off he +whirred out of the palace grounds and away +toward Asgard's safety.</p> + +<p>In a little while Thiasse returned home, +and when he found Idun and her apples gone, +there was a hubbub, you may be sure! However, +he lost little time by smashing mountains +and breaking trees in his giant rage; +that fit was soon over. He put on his eagle +plumage and started in pursuit of the falcon.</p> + +<p>Now an eagle is bigger and stronger than +any other bird, and usually in a long race he +can beat even the swift hawk who has an +hour's start. Presently Loki heard behind +him the shrill scream of a giant eagle, and +his heart turned sick. But he had crossed +the great river, and already was in sight of +Asgard. The aged Æsir were gathered on +the rainbow bridge watching eagerly for +Loki's return; and when they spied the falcon +with the nut and the casket in his talons, +they knew who it was. A great cheer went +up, but it was hushed in a moment, for they +saw the eagle close after the falcon; and they +guessed that this must be the giant Thiasse, +the stealer of Idun.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +Then there was a great shouting of commands, +and a rushing to and fro. All the +gods, even Father Odin and his two wise +ravens, were busy gathering chips into great +heaps on the walls of Asgard. As soon as +Loki, with his precious burden, had fluttered +weakly over the wall, dropping to the ground +beyond, the gods lighted the heaps of chips +which they had piled, and soon there was a +wall of fire, over which the eagle must fly. +He was going too fast to stop. The flames +roared and crackled, but Thiasse flew straight +into them, with a scream of fear and rage. +His feathers caught fire and burned, so that +he could no longer fly, but fell headlong to +the ground inside the walls. Then Thor, the +thunder-lord, and Tŷr, the mighty war-king, +fell upon him and slew him, so that he could +never trouble the Æsir any more.</p> + +<p>There was great rejoicing in Asgard that +night, for Loki changed Idun again to a fair +lady; whereupon she gave each of the eager +gods a bite of her life-giving fruit, so that +they grew young and happy once more, as if +all these horrors had never happened.</p> + +<p>Not one of them, however, forgot the evil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +part which Loki had played in these doings. +They hid the memory, like a buried seed, +deep in their hearts. Thenceforward the word +of Loki and the honor of his name were +poor coin in Asgard; which is no wonder.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="SKADIS_CHOICE" id="SKADIS_CHOICE">SKADI'S CHOICE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> giant Thiasse, whom Thor slew +for the theft of Idun and the magic +apples, had a daughter, Skadi, who +was a very good sort of girl, as giantesses go. +Most of them were evil-tempered, spiteful, +and cruel creatures, who desired only to do +harm to the gods and to all who were good. +But Skadi was different. Stronger than the +hatred of her race for the Æsir, stronger even +than her wish to be revenged for her father's +death, was her love for Balder the beautiful, +the pride of all the gods. If she had not +been a giantess, she might have hoped that +he would love her also; but she knew that +no one who lived in Asgard would ever think +kindly of her race, which had caused so much +trouble to Balder and his brothers. After +her father was killed by the Æsir, however, +Skadi had a wise idea.</p> + +<p>Skadi put on her helm and corselet and +set out for Asgard, meaning to ask a noble +price to pay for the sorrow of Thiasse's +death. The gods, who had all grown young +and boyish once again, were sitting in Valhalla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +merrily enjoying a banquet in honor of +Idun's safe return, when Skadi, clattering with +steel, strode into their midst. Heimdal the +watchman, astonished at the sight, had let +this maiden warrior pass him upon the rainbow +bridge. The Æsir set down their cups +hastily, and the laughter died upon their lips; +for though she looked handsome, Skadi was +a terrible figure in her silver armor and with +her spear as long as a ship's mast brandished +in her giant hand.</p> + +<p>The nine Valkyries, Odin's maiden warriors, +hurried away to put on their own helmets +and shields; for they would not have +this other maiden, ten times as huge, see +them meekly waiting at table, while they +had battle-dresses as fine as hers to show the +stranger.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, maiden, and what seek +you here?" asked Father Odin.</p> + +<p>"I am Skadi, the daughter of Thiasse, +whom your folk have slain," answered she, +"and I come here for redress."</p> + +<p>At these words the coward Loki, who +had been at the killing of Thiasse, skulked +low behind the table; but Thor, who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +done the killing, straightened himself and +clenched his fists tightly. He was not afraid +of any giant, however fierce, and this maiden +with her shield and spear only angered him.</p> + +<p>"Well, Skadi," quoth Odin gravely, "your +father was a thief, and died for his sins. He +stole fair Idun and her magic apples, and +for that crime he died, which was only just. +Yet because our righteous deed has left +you an orphan, Skadi, we will grant you a +recompense, so you shall be at peace with +us; for it is not fitting that the Æsir should +quarrel with women. What is it you ask, +O Skadi, as solace for the death of Thiasse?"</p> + +<p>Skadi looked like an orphan who was +well able to take care of herself; and this +indeed her next words showed her to be. +"I ask two things," she said, without a moment's +hesitation: "I ask the husband whom +I shall select from among you; and I ask +that you shall make me laugh, for it is +many days since grief has let me enjoy a +smile."</p> + +<p>At this strange request the Æsir looked +astonished, and some of them seemed rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +startled; for you can fancy that none of +them wanted a giantess, however handsome, +for his wife. They put their heads together +and consulted long whether or not they +should allow Skadi her two wishes.</p> + +<p>"I will agree to make her laugh," grinned +Loki; "but suppose she should choose me +for her husband! I am married to one giantess +already."</p> + +<p>"No fear of that, Loki," said Thor; "you +were too near being the cause of her father's +death for her to love you overmuch. Nor +do I think that she will choose me; so I am +safe."</p> + +<p>Loki chuckled and stole away to think +up a means of making Skadi laugh.</p> + +<p>Finally, the gods agreed that Skadi should +choose one of them for her husband; but +in order that all might have a fair chance +of missing this honor which no one coveted, +she was to choose in a curious way. All +the Æsir were to stand in a row behind the +curtain which was drawn across the end of +the hall, so that only their feet were seen by +Skadi; and by their feet alone Skadi was to +select him who was to be her husband.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +Now Skadi was very ready to agree to +this, for she said to herself, "Surely, I shall +know the feet of Balder, for they will be the +most beautiful of any."</p> + +<p>Amid nervous laughter at this new game, +the Æsir ranged themselves in a row behind +the purple curtain, with only their line of +feet showing below the golden border. There +were Father Odin, Thor the Thunderer, and +Balder his brother; there was old Niörd the +rich, with his fair son Frey; there were Tŷr +the bold, Bragi the poet, blind Höd, and +Vidar the silent; Vali and Ull the archers, +Forseti the wise judge, and Heimdal the gold-toothed +watchman. Loki alone, of all the +Æsir, was not there; and Loki was the only +one who did not shiver as Skadi walked up +and down the hall looking at the row of +feet.</p> + +<p>Up and down, back and forth, went Skadi, +looking carefully; and among all those sandaled +feet there was one pair more white +and fair and beautiful than the rest.</p> + +<p>"Surely, these are Balder's feet!" she +thought, while her heart thumped with +eagerness under her silver corselet. "Oh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +if I guess aright, dear Balder will be my +husband!"</p> + +<p>She paused confidently before the handsomest +pair of feet, and, pointing to them +with her spear, she cried, "I choose here! +Few blemishes are to be found in Balder the +beautiful."</p> + +<p>A shout of laughter arose behind the curtain, +and forth slunk—not young Balder, +but old Niörd the rich, king of the ocean +wind, the father of those fair twins, Frey and +Freia. Skadi had chosen the handsome feet +of old Niörd, and thenceforth he must be her +husband.</p> + +<p>Niörd was little pleased; but Skadi was +heart-broken. Her face grew longer and sadder +than before when he stepped up and +took her hand sulkily, saying, "Well, I am +to be your husband, then, and all my riches +stored in Noatûn, the home of ships, are to +be yours. You would have chosen Balder, +and I wish that this luck had been his! +However, it cannot be helped now."</p> + +<p>"Nay," answered Skadi, frowning, "the +bargain is not yet complete. No one of you +has made me laugh. I am so sad now, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +it will be a merry jest indeed which can wring +laughter from my heavy heart." She sighed, +looking at Balder. But Balder loved only +Nanna in all the world.</p> + +<p>Just then, out came Loki, riding on one +of Thor's goat steeds; and the red-bearded +fellow cut up such ridiculous capers with +the gray-bearded goat that soon not only +Skadi, but all the Æsir and Niörd himself +were holding their sides with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Fairly won, fairly won!" cried Skadi, +wiping the tears from her eyes. "I am +beaten. I shall not forget that it is Loki to +whom I owe this last joke. Some day I shall +be quits with you, red joker!" And this +threat she carried out in the end, on the day +of Loki's punishment.</p> + +<p>Skadi was married to old Niörd, both unwilling; +and they went to live among the +mountains in Skadi's home, which had once +been Thiasse's palace, where he had shut +Idun in a prison cell. As you can imagine, +Niörd and Skadi did not live happily ever +after, like the good prince and princess in +the story-book. For, in the first place, Skadi +was a giantess; and there are few folk, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +fancy, who could live happily with a giantess. +In the second place, she did not love Niörd, +nor did he love Skadi, and neither forgot +that Skadi's choosing had been sorrow to +them both. But the third reason was the +most important of all; and this was because +Skadi and Niörd could not agree upon the +place which should be their home. For +Niörd did not like the mountain palace of +Skadi's people,—the place where roaring +winds rushed down upon the sea and its +ships. The sea with its ships was his friend, +and he wanted to dwell in Noatûn, where +he had greater wealth than any one else in +the world,—where he could rule the fresh +sea-wind and tame the wild ocean, granting +the prayers of fisher-folk and the seafarers, +who loved his name.</p> + +<p>Finally, they agreed to dwell first in one +place, then in the other, so that each might +be happy in turn. For nine days they tarried +in Thrymheim, and then they spent +three in Noatûn. But even this arrangement +could not bring peace. One day they +had a terrible quarrel. It was just after they +had come down from Skadi's mountain home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +for their three days in Niörd's sea palace, and +he was so glad to be back that he <span class="locked">cried,—</span></p> + +<p>"Ah, how I hate your hills! How long +the nine nights seemed, with the wolves howling +until dawn among the dark mountains +of Giant Land! What a discord compared +to the songs of the swans who sail upon my +dear, dear ocean!" Thus rudely he taunted +his wife; but Skadi answered him with spirit.</p> + +<p>"And I—I cannot sleep by your rolling +sea-waves, where the birds are ever calling, +calling, as they come from the woods on the +shore. Each morning the sea-gull's scream +wakes me at some unseemly hour. I will +not stay here even for three nights! I will +not stay!"</p> + +<p>"And I will have no more of your windy +mountain-tops," roared Niörd, beside himself +with rage. "Go, if you wish! Go back +to Thrymheim! I shall not follow you, be +sure!"</p> + +<p>So Skadi went back to her mountains +alone, and dwelt in the empty house of +Thiasse, her father. She became a mighty +huntress, swift on the skees and ice-runners +which she strapped to her feet. Day after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +day she skimmed over the snow-crusted +mountains, bow in hand, to hunt the wild +beasts which roamed there. "Skee-goddess," +she was called; and never again did she +come to Asgard halls. Quite alone in the +cold country, she hunted hardily, keeping +ever in her heart the image of Balder the +beautiful, whom she loved, but whom she +had lost forever by her unlucky choice.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_DWARFS_GIFTS" id="THE_DWARFS_GIFTS">THE DWARF'S GIFTS</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Red</span> Loki had been up to mischief +again! Loki, who made quarrels and +brought trouble wherever he went. +He had a wicked heart, and he loved no one. +He envied Father Odin his wisdom and his +throne above the world. He envied Balder +his beauty, and Tŷr his courage, and Thor +his strength. He envied all the good Æsir +who were happy; but he would not take +the trouble to be good himself. So he was +always unhappy, spiteful, and sour. And if +anything went wrong in Asgard, the kingdom +of the gods, one was almost sure to find +Loki at the bottom of the trouble.</p> + +<p>Now Thor, the strongest of all the gods, +was very proud of his wife's beautiful hair, +which fell in golden waves to her feet, and +covered her like a veil. He loved it better +than anything, except Sif herself. One day, +while Thor was away from home, Loki stole +into Thrudheim, the realm of clouds, and +cut off all Sif's golden hair, till her head +was as round and fuzzy as a yellow dandelion. +Fancy how angry Thor was when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> +came rattling home that night in his thunder-chariot +and found Sif so ugly to look +at! He stamped up and down till the five +hundred and forty floors of his cloud palace +shook like an earthquake, and lightning +flashed from his blue eyes. The people down +in the world below cried: "Dear, dear! What +a terrible thunderstorm! Thor must be very +angry about something. Loki has been up +to mischief, it is likely." You see, they also +knew Loki and his tricks.</p> + +<p>At last Thor calmed himself a little. "Sif, +my love," he said, "you shall be beautiful +again. Red Loki shall make you so, since his +was the unmaking. The villain! He shall +pay for this!"</p> + +<p>Then, without more ado, off set Thor to +find red Loki. He went in his thunder-chariot, +drawn by two goats, and the clouds +rumbled and the lightning flashed wherever +he went; for Thor was the mighty god of +thunder. At last he came upon the sly +rascal, who was trying to hide. Big Thor +seized him by the throat.</p> + +<p>"You scoundrel!" he cried, "I will break +every bone in your body if you do not put +back Sif's beautiful hair upon her head."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +"Ow—ow! You hurt me!" howled +Loki. "Take off your big hand, Thor. +What is done, is done. I cannot put back +Sif's hair. You know that very well."</p> + +<p>"Then you must get her another head of +hair," growled Thor. "That you can do. +You must find for her hair of real gold, and +it must grow upon her head as if it were +her own. Do this, or you shall die."</p> + +<p>"Where shall I get this famous hair?" +whined Loki, though he knew well enough.</p> + +<p>"Get it of the black elves," said Thor; +"they are cunning jewelers, and they are +your friends. Go, Loki, and go quickly, for +I long to see Sif as beautiful as ever."</p> + +<p>Then Loki of the burning beard slunk +away to the hills where, far under ground, the +dwarfs have their furnaces and their workshops. +Among great heaps of gold and silver +and shining jewels, which they have dug up +out of the earth, the little crooked men in +brown blink and chatter and scold one another; +for they are ugly fellows—the dwarfs. +<em>Tink-tank!</em> <em>tink-tank!</em> go their little hammers +all day long and all night long, while they +make wonderful things such as no man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +has ever seen, though you shall hear about +them.</p> + +<p>They had no trouble to make a head of +hair for Sif. It was for them a simple matter, +indeed. The dwarfs work fast for such a customer +as Loki, and in a little while the +golden wires were beaten out, and drawn out, +made smooth and soft and curly, and braided +into a thick golden braid. But when Loki +came away, he carried with him also two +other treasures which the clever dwarfs had +made. One was a golden spear, and the other +was a ship.</p> + +<p>Now these do not sound so very wonderful. +But wait until you hear! The spear, +which was named Gungnir, was bewitched, so +that it made no difference if the person who +held it was clumsy and careless. For it had +this amazing quality, that no matter how +badly it was aimed, or how unskillfully it was +thrown, it was sure to go straight to the mark—which +is a very obliging and convenient +thing in one's weapon, as you will readily +see.</p> + +<p>And Skidbladnir—this was the harsh +name of the ship—was even more wonderful.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +It could be taken to pieces and +folded up so small that it would go into one's +pocket. But when it was unfolded and put +together, it would hold all the gods of Asgard +for a sea-journey. Besides all this, when the +sails were set, the ship was sure always to have +a fair wind, which would make it skim along +like a great bird, which was the best part of +the charm, as any sailor will tell you.</p> + +<p>Now Loki felt very proud of these three +treasures, and left the hill cave stretching his +neck and strutting like a great red turkey +cock. Outside the gate, however, he met +Brock, the black dwarf, who was the brother +of Sindri, the best workman in all the underworld.</p> + +<p>"Hello! what have you there?" asked +Brock of the big head, pointing at the bundles +which Loki was carrying.</p> + +<p>"The three finest gifts in the world," +boasted Loki, hugging his treasures tight.</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said Brock, "I don't believe it. +Did my brother Sindri make them?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Loki; "they were made +by the black elves, the sons of Ivaldi. And +they are the most precious gifts that ever were +seen."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +"Pooh!" again puffed Brock, wagging +his long beard crossly. "Nonsense! Whatever +they be, my brother Sindri can make +three other gifts more precious; that I know."</p> + +<p>"Can he, though?" laughed Loki. "I +will give him my head if he can."</p> + +<p>"Done!" shouted the dwarf. "Let me see +your famous gifts." So Loki showed him the +three wonders: the gold hair for Sif, the spear, +and the ship. But again the dwarf said: +"Pooh! These are nothing. I will show you +what the master-smith can do, and you shall +lose your bragging red head, my Loki."</p> + +<p>Now Loki began to be a little uneasy. +He followed Brock back to the smithy in +the mountain, where they found Sindri at his +forge. Oh, yes! He could beat the poor +gifts of which Loki was so proud. But he +would not tell what his own three gifts were +to be.</p> + +<p>First Sindri took a pig's skin and laid it +on the fire. Then he went away for a little +time; but he set Brock at the bellows and +bade him blow—blow—blow the fire +until Sindri should return. Now when Sindri +was gone, Loki also stole away; for, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +usual, he was up to mischief. He had the +power of changing his shape and of becoming +any creature he chose, which was often +very convenient. Thus he turned himself +into a huge biting fly. Then he flew back +into the smithy where Brock was blow—blow—blowing. +Loki buzzed about the +dwarf's head, and finally lighted on his hand +and stung him, hoping to make him let go +the bellows. But no! Brock only cried out, +"Oh-ee!" and kept on blowing for dear life. +Now soon back came Sindri to the forge and +took the pigskin from the fire. Wonder of +wonders! It had turned into a hog with +golden bristles; a live hog that shone like +the sun. Brock was not satisfied, however.</p> + +<p>"Well! I don't think much of that," he +grumbled.</p> + +<p>"Wait a little," said Sindri mysteriously. +"Wait and see." Then he went on to make +the second gift.</p> + +<p>This time he put a lump of gold into the +fire. And when he went away, as before, he +bade Brock stand at the bellows to blow—blow—blow +without stopping. Again, as +before, in buzzed Loki the gadfly as soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +as the master-smith had gone out. This time +he settled on Brock's swarthy neck, and stung +him so sorely that the blood came and the +dwarf roared till the mountain trembled. +Still Brock did not let go the handle of the +bellows, but blew and howled—blew and +howled with pain till Sindri returned. And +this time the dwarf took from the fire a fine +gold ring, round as roundness.</p> + +<p>"Um! I don't think so much of that," +said Brock, again disappointed, for he had +expected some wonderful jewel. But Sindri +wagged his head wisely.</p> + +<p>"Wait a little," he said. "We shall see +what we shall see." He heaved a great lump +of iron into the fire to make the third gift. +But this time when he went away, leaving +Brock at the bellows, he charged him to blow—blow—blow +without a minute's rest, or +everything would be spoiled. For this was to +be the best gift of all.</p> + +<p>Brock planted himself wide-legged at the +forge and blew—blew—blew. But for +the third time Loki, winged as a fly, came +buzzing into the smithy. This time he fastened +viciously below Brock's bushy eyebrow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> +and stung him so cruelly that the blood +trickled down, a red river, into his eyes and +the poor dwarf was blinded. With a howl +Brock raised his hand to wipe away the +blood, and of course in that minute the bellows +stood still. Then Loki buzzed away +with a sound that seemed like a mocking +laugh. At the same moment in rushed Sindri, +panting with fright, for he had heard that +sound and guessed what it meant.</p> + +<p>"What have you done?" he cried. "You +have let the bellows rest! You have spoiled +everything!"</p> + +<p>"Only a little moment, but one little moment," +pleaded Brock, in a panic. "It has +done no harm, has it?"</p> + +<p>Sindri leaned anxiously over the fire, and +out of the flames he drew the third gift—an +enormous hammer.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Brock, much disappointed, +"only an old iron hammer! I don't think +anything of <em>that</em>. Look how short the handle +is, too."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;" id="ip_88"><img src="images/i002.jpg" width="339" height="550" alt="" /><br /><div class="caption">THE THIRD GIFT—AN ENORMOUS HAMMER</div></div> + +<p>"That is your fault, brother," returned the +smith crossly. "If you had not let the bellows +stand still, the handle would have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> +long enough. Yet as it is—we shall see, we +shall see. I think it will at least win for you +red Loki's head. Take the three gifts, brother, +such as they are, and bear them to Asgard. +Let all the gods be judges between you and +Loki, which gifts are best, his or yours. But +stay—I may as well tell you the secrets of +your three treasures, or you will not know +how to make them work. Your toy that is +not wound up is of no use at all." Which +is very true, as we all know. Then he bent +over and whispered in Brock's ear. And what +he said pleased Brock so much that he +jumped straight up into the air and capered +like one of Thor's goats.</p> + +<p>"What a clever brother you are, to be +sure!" he cried.</p> + +<p>At that moment Loki, who had ceased to +be a gadfly, came in grinning, with his three +gifts. "Well, are you ready?" he asked. +Then he caught sight of the three gifts which +Brock was putting into his sack.</p> + +<p>"Ho! A pig, a ring, and a stub-handled +hammer!" he shouted. "Is that all you +have? Fine gifts, indeed! I was really growing +uneasy, but now I see that my head is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +safe. Let us start for Asgard immediately, +where I promise you that I with my three +treasures shall be thrice more welcome than +you with your stupid pig, your ugly ring, +and your half-made hammer."</p> + +<p>So together they climbed to Asgard, and +there they found the Æsir sitting in the +great judgment hall on Ida Plain. There was +Father Odin on his high throne, with his two +ravens at his head and his two wolves at his +feet. There was Queen Frigg by his side; +and about them were Balder the beautiful, +Frey and Freia, the fair brother and sister; +the mighty Thor, with Sif, his crop-haired +wife, and all the rest of the great Æsir who +lived in the upper world above the homes +of men.</p> + +<p>"Brother Æsir," said Loki, bowing politely, +for he was a smooth rascal, "we have +come each with three gifts, the dwarf and I; +and you shall judge which be the most +worthy of praise. But if I lose,—I, your +brother,—I lose my head to this crooked +little dwarf." So he spoke, hoping to put the +Æsir on his side from the first. For his head +was a very handsome one, and the dwarf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +was indeed an ill-looking fellow. The gods, +however, nodded gravely, and bade the two +show what their gifts might be.</p> + +<p>Then Loki stepped forward to the foot of +Odin's throne. And first he pulled from his +great wallet the spear Gungnir, which could +not miss aim. This he gave to Odin, the all-wise. +And Odin was vastly pleased, as you +may imagine, to find himself thenceforth an +unequaled marksman. So he smiled upon +Loki kindly and said: "Well done, brother."</p> + +<p>Next Loki took out the promised hair for +Sif, which he handed Thor with a grimace. +Now when the golden locks were set upon +her head, they grew there like real hair, long +and soft and curling—but still real gold. +So that Sif was more beautiful than ever before, +and more precious, too. You can fancy +how pleased Thor was with Loki's gift. He +kissed lovely Sif before all the gods and +goddesses, and vowed that he forgave Loki +for the mischief which he had done in the +first place, since he had so nobly made reparation.</p> + +<p>Then Loki took out the third gift, all +folded up like a paper boat; and it was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +ship Skidbladnir,—I am sorry they did not +give it a prettier name. This he presented +to Frey the peaceful. And you can guess +whether or not Frey's blue eyes laughed with +pleasure at such a gift.</p> + +<p>Now when Loki stepped back, all the Æsir +clapped their hands and vowed that he had +done wondrous well.</p> + +<p>"You will have to show us fine things, +you dwarf," quoth Father Odin, "to better the +gifts of red Loki. Come, what have you in +the sack you bear upon your shoulders?"</p> + +<p>Then the crooked little Brock hobbled forward, +bent almost double under the great +load which he carried. "I have what I have," +he said.</p> + +<p>First, out he pulled the ring Draupnir, +round as roundness and shining of gold. This +the dwarf gave to Odin, and though it seemed +but little, yet it was much. For every ninth +night out of this ring, he said, would drop +eight other rings of gold, as large and as fair. +Then Odin clapped his hands and cried: "Oh, +wondrous gift! I like it even better than +the magic spear which Loki gave." And all +the other Æsir agreed with him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +Then out of the sack came grunting Goldbristle, +the hog, all of gold. Brock gave +him to Frey, to match the magic ship of +Loki. This Goldbristle was so marvelously +forged that he could run more swiftly than +any horse, on air or water. Moreover, he +was a living lantern. For on the darkest +night he bristled with light like a million-pointed +star, so that one riding on his back +would light the air and the sea like a firefly, +wherever he went. This idea pleased Frey +mightily, for he was the merriest of the gods, +and he laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a wondrous fine gift," he said. "I +like old Goldbristle even better than the +compressible boat. For on this lusty steed I +can ride about the world when I am tending +the crops and the cattle of men and scattering +the rain upon them. Master dwarf, I give +my vote to you." And all the other Æsir +agreed with him.</p> + +<p>Then out of the sack Brock drew the third +gift. It was the short-handled hammer named +Miölnir. And this was the gift which Sindri +had made for Thor, the mightiest of the gods; +and it was the best gift of all. For with it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> +Thor could burst the hardest metal and +shatter the thickest mountain, and nothing +could withstand its power. But it never could +hurt Thor himself; and no matter how far +or how hard it was thrown, it would always +fly back into Thor's own hand. Last of all, +whenever he so wished, the great hammer +would become so small that he could put it +in his pocket, quite out of sight. But Brock +was sorry that the handle was so short—all +owing to his fault, because he had let the +bellows rest for that one moment.</p> + +<p>When Thor had this gift in his hand, he +jumped up with a shout of joy. "'Tis a +wondrous fine gift," he cried, "with short +handle or with long. And I prize it even +more than I prize the golden hair of Sif +which Loki gave. For with it I shall fight +our enemies, the Frost Giants and the mischievous +Trolls and the other monsters—Loki's +friends. And all the Æsir will be glad +of my gift when they see what deeds I shall +do therewith. Now, if I may have my say, +I judge that the three gifts made by Sindri +the dwarf are the most precious that may be. +So Brock has gained the prize of Loki's red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +head,—a sorry recompense indeed for gifts +so masterly." Then Thor sat down. And all +the other Æsir shouted that he had spoken +well, and that they agreed with him.</p> + +<p>So Loki was like to lose his head. He offered +to pay instead a huge price, if Brock +would let him go. But Brock refused. "The +red head of Loki for my gift," he insisted, +and the gods nodded that it must be so, since +he had earned his wish.</p> + +<p>But when Loki saw that the count was all +against him, his eyes grew crafty. "Well, +take me, then—if you can!" he shouted. And +off he shot like an arrow from a bow. For +Loki had on magic shoes, with which he could +run over sea or land or sky; and the dwarf +could never catch him in the world. Then +Brock was furious. He stood stamping and +chattering, tearing his long beard with rage.</p> + +<p>"I am cheated!" he cried. "I have won—but +I have lost." Then he turned to Thor, +who was playing with his hammer, bursting +a mountain or two and splitting a tree here +and there. "Mighty Thor," begged the +dwarf, "catch me the fellow who has broken +his word. I have given you the best gift,—<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span>your +wonderful hammer. Catch me, then, +the boasting red head which I have fairly +bought."</p> + +<p>Then Thor stopped his game and set out +in pursuit of Loki, for he was ever on the +side of fairness. No one, however fleet, can +escape when Thor follows, for his is the +swiftness of a lightning flash. So he soon +brought Loki back to Ida Plain, and gave +him up a prisoner to the dwarf.</p> + +<p>"I have you now, boaster," said Brock +fiercely, "and I will cut off your red head in +the twinkling of an eye." But just as he was +about to do as he said, Loki had another sly +idea.</p> + +<p>"Hold, sirrah dwarf," he said. "It is true +that you have won my head, but not the +neck, not an inch of the neck." And all the +gods agreed that this was so. Then Brock +was puzzled indeed, for how could he cut +off Loki's head without an inch of the neck, +too? But this he must not do, or he knew +the just Æsir would punish him with death. +So he was forced to be content with stopping +Loki's boasting in another way. He would +sew up the bragging lips.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +He brought a stout, strong thread and an +awl to bore the holes. And in a twinkling +he had stitched up the lips of the sly one, firm +and fast. So for a time, at least, he put an +end to Loki's boasting and his taunts and his +lies.</p> + +<p>It is a pity that those mischief-making lips +were not fastened up forever; for that would +have saved much of the trouble and sorrow +which came after. But at last, after a long +time, Loki got his lips free, and they made +great sorrow in Asgard for the gods and on +earth for men, as you shall hear.</p> + +<p>Now this is the end of the tale which tells +of the dwarf's gifts, and especially of Thor's +hammer, which was afterwards to be of such +service to him and such bane to the enemies +of the Æsir. And that also you shall hear +before all is done.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="LOKIS_CHILDREN" id="LOKIS_CHILDREN">LOKI'S CHILDREN</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Red</span> Loki, the wickedest of all the +Æsir, had done something of which +he was very much ashamed. He +had married a giantess, the ugliest, fiercest, +most dreadful giantess that ever lived; +and of course he wanted no one to find +out what he had done, for he knew that +Father Odin would be indignant with him +for having wedded one of the enemies of the +Æsir, and that none of his brothers would be +grateful to him for giving them a sister-in-law +so hideous.</p> + +<p>But at last All-Father found out the secret +that Loki had been hiding for years. Worst +of all, he found that Loki and the giantess +had three ugly children hidden away in the +dark places of the earth,—three children +of whom Loki was even more ashamed than +of their mother, though he loved them too. +For two of them were the most terrible +monsters which time had ever seen. Hela +his daughter was the least ugly of the three, +though one could scarcely call her attractive. +She was half black and half white, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +must have looked very strange; and she was +not easily mistaken by any one who chanced +to see her, you can well understand. She +was fierce and grim to see, and the very sight +of her caused terror and death to him who +gazed upon her.</p> + +<p>But the other two! One was an enormous +wolf, with long fierce teeth and flashing red +eyes. And the other was a scaly, slimy, horrible +serpent, huger than any serpent that ever +lived, and a hundred times more ferocious. +Can you wonder that Loki was ashamed of +such children as these? The wonder is, how +he could find anything about them to love. +But Loki's heart loved evil in secret, and it +was the evil in these three children of his +which made them so ugly.</p> + +<p>Now when Odin discovered that three +such monsters had been living in the world +without his knowledge, he was both angry +and anxious, for he knew that these children +of mischievous Loki and his wicked giantess-wife +were dangerous to the peace of Asgard. +He consulted the Norns, the three wise +maidens who lived beside the Urdar-well, and +who could see into the future to tell what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> +things were to happen in coming years. And +they bade him beware of Loki's children; +they told him that the three monsters would +bring great sorrow upon Asgard, for the giantess +their mother would teach them all her +hatred of Odin's race, while they would have +their father's sly wisdom to help them in all +mischief. So Odin knew that his fears had +warned him truly. Something must be done +to prevent the dangers which threatened Asgard. +Something must be done to keep the +three out of mischief.</p> + +<p>Father Odin sent for all the gods, and +bade them go forth over the world, find the +children of Loki in the secret places where +they were hidden, and bring them to him. +Then the Æsir mounted their horses and set +out on their difficult errand. They scoured +Asgard, Midgard the world of men, Utgard +and Jotunheim where the giants lived. And +at last they found the three horrible creatures +hiding in their mother's cave. They dragged +them forth and took them up to Asgard, before +Odin's high throne.</p> + +<p>Now All-Father had been considering what +should be done with the three monsters, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +when they came, his mind was made up. +Hela, the daughter, was less evil than the +other two, but her face was dark and gloomy, +and she brought death to those who looked +upon her. She must be prisoned out of +sight in some far place, where her sad eyes +could not look sorrow into men's lives and +death into their hearts. So he sent her down, +down into the dark, cold land of Niflheim, +which lay below one root of the great tree +Yggdrasil. Here she must live forever and +ever. And, because she was not wholly bad, +Odin made her queen of that land, and for +her subjects she was to have all the folk who +died upon the earth,—except the heroes +who perished in battle; for these the Valkyries +carried straight to Valhalla in Asgard. +But all who died of sickness or of old age, +all who met their deaths through accident or +men's cruelty, were sent to Queen Hela, who +gave them lodgings in her gloomy palace. +Vast was her kingdom, huge as nine worlds, +and it was surrounded by a high wall, so that +no one who had once gone thither could ever +return. And here thenceforth Loki's daughter +reigned among the shadows, herself half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +shadow and half light, half good and half +bad.</p> + +<p>But the Midgard serpent was a more dangerous +beast even than Death. Odin frowned +when he looked upon this monster writhing +before his throne. He seized the scaly length +in his mighty arms and hurled it forth over +the wall of Asgard. Down, down went the +great serpent, twisting and twirling as he fell, +while all the sky was black with the smoke +from his nostrils, and the sound of his hissing +made every creature tremble. Down, down +he fell with a great splash into the deep +ocean which surrounded the world. There he +lay writhing and squirming, growing always +larger and larger, until he was so huge that +he stretched like a ring about the whole +earth, with his tail in his mouth, and his +wicked eyes glaring up through the water +towards Asgard which he hated. Sometimes +he heaved himself up, great body and all, +trying to escape from the ocean which was +his prison. At those times there were great +waves in the sea, snow and stormy winds and +rain upon the earth, and every one would +be filled with fear lest he escape and bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +horrors to pass. But he was never able to +drag out his whole hideous length. For the +evil in him had grown with his growth; and +a weight of evil is the heaviest of all things +to lift.</p> + +<p>The third monster was the Fenris wolf, +and this was the most dreadful of the three. +He was so terrible that at first Father Odin +decided not to let him out of his sight. He +lived in Asgard then, among the Æsir. +Only Tŷr the brave had courage enough to +give him food. Day by day he grew huger +and huger, fiercer and fiercer, and finally, +when All-Father saw how mighty he had +become, and how he bid fair to bring destruction +upon all Asgard if he were allowed +to prowl and growl about as he saw fit, Odin +resolved to have the beast chained up. The +Æsir then went to their smithies and forged +a long, strong chain which they thought no +living creature could break. They took it +to the wolf to try its strength, and he, looking +sidewise, chuckled to himself and let +them do what they would with him. But +as soon as he stretched himself, the chain +burst into a thousand pieces, as if it were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +made of twine. Then the Æsir hurried away +and made another chain, far, far stronger than +the first.</p> + +<p>"If you can break this, O Fenrir," they +said, "you will be famous indeed."</p> + +<p>Again the wolf blinked at his chain; +again he chuckled and let them fasten him +without a struggle, for he knew that his +own strength had been increased since he +broke the other; but as soon as the chain +was fastened, he shook his great shoulders, +kicked his mighty legs, and—snap!—the +links of the chain went whirling far and +wide, and once more the fierce beast was +free.</p> + +<p>Then the Æsir were alarmed for fear that +they would never be able to make a chain +mighty enough to hold the wolf, who was +growing stronger every minute; but they +sent Skirnir, Frey's trusty messenger, to the +land of the dwarfs for help. "Make us a +chain," was the message he bore from the +Æsir,—"make us a chain stronger than +any chain that was ever forged; for the +Fenris wolf must be captured and bound, +or all the world must pay the penalty."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +The dwarfs were the finest workmen in +the world, as the Æsir knew; for it was +they who made Thor's hammer, and Odin's +spear, and Balder's famous ship, besides +many other wondrous things that you remember. +So when Skirnir gave them the +message, they set to work with their little +hammers and anvils, and before long they +had welded a wonderful chain, such as no +man had ever before seen. Strange things +went to the making of it,—the sound of +a cat's footsteps, the roots of a mountain, +a bear's sinews, a fish's breath, and other +magic materials that only the dwarfs knew +how to put together; and the result was a +chain as soft and twistable as a silken cord, +but stronger than an iron cable. With this +chain Skirnir galloped back to Asgard, and +with it the gods were sure of chaining +Fenrir; but they meant to go about the +business slyly, so that the wolf should not +suspect the danger which was so near.</p> + +<p>"Ho, Fenrir!" they cried. "Here is a +new chain for you. Do you think you can +snap this as easily as you did the last? +We warn you that it is stronger than it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +looks." They handed it about from one +to another, each trying to break the links, +but in vain. The wolf watched them disdainfully.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! There is little honor in breaking +a thread so slender!" he said. "I know +that I could snap it with one bite of my big +teeth. But there may be some trick about +it; I will not let it bind my feet,—not I."</p> + +<p>"Oho!" cried the Æsir. "He is afraid! +He fears that we shall bind him in cords +that he cannot loose. But see how slender +the chain is. Surely, if you could burst the +chain of iron, O Fenrir, you could break +this far more easily." Still the wolf shook +his head, and refused to let them fasten him, +suspecting some trick. "But even if you +find that you cannot break our chain," they +said, "you need not be afraid. We shall +set you free again."</p> + +<p>"Set me free!" growled the wolf. "Yes, +you will set me free at the end of the world,—not +before! I know your ways, O Æsir; +and if you are able to bind me so fast that +I cannot free myself, I shall wait long to +have the chain made loose. But no one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +shall call me coward. If one of you will +place his hand in my mouth and hold it +there while the others bind me, I will let +the chain be fastened."</p> + +<p>The gods looked at one another, their +mouths drooping. Who would do this +thing and bear the fury of the angry wolf +when he should find himself tricked and +captured? Yet this was their only chance +to bind the monster and protect Asgard +from danger. At last bold Tŷr stepped forward, +the bravest of all the Æsir. "Open +your mouth, Fenrir," he cried, with a laugh. +"I will pledge my hand to the trial."</p> + +<p>Then the wolf yawned his great jaws, +and Tŷr thrust in his good right hand, +knowing full well that he was to lose it +in the game. The Æsir stepped up with +the dwarfs' magic chain, and Fenrir let +them fasten it about his feet. But when +the bonds were drawn tight, he began +to struggle; and the more he tugged, the +tighter drew the chain, so that he soon saw +himself to be entrapped. Then how he +writhed and kicked, howled and growled, in +his terrible rage! How the heavens trembled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +and the earth shook below! The Æsir +set up a laugh to see him so helpless—all +except Tŷr; for at the first sound of laughter +the wolf shut his great mouth with a +click, and poor brave Tŷr had lost the right +hand which had done so many heroic deeds +in battle, and which would never again +wave sword before the warriors whom he +loved and would help to win the victory. +But great was the honor which he won that +day, for without his generous deed the Fenris +wolf could never have been captured.</p> + +<p>And now the monster was safely secured +by the strong chain which the dwarfs had +made, and all his struggles to be free were +in vain, for they only bound the silken rope +all the tighter. The Æsir took one end of +the chain and fastened it through a big rock +which they planted far down in the earth, +as far as they could drive it with a huge +hammer of stone. Into the wolf's great mouth +they thrust a sword crosswise, so that the +hilt pierced his lower jaw while the point +stuck through the upper one; and there in +the heart of the world he lay howling and +growling, but quite unable to move. Only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +the foam which dripped from his angry jaws +trickled away and over the earth until it +formed a mighty river; from his wicked +mouth also came smoke and fire, and the +sound of his horrible growls. And when +men hear this and see this they run away as +fast as they can, for they know that danger +still lurks near where the Fenris wolf lies +chained in the depths of the earth; and here +he will lie until Ragnarök,—until the end +of all things.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_QUEST_OF_THE_HAMMER" id="THE_QUEST_OF_THE_HAMMER">THE QUEST OF THE HAMMER</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">One</span> morning Thor the Thunderer +awoke with a yawn, and stretching +out his knotted arm, felt for +his precious hammer, which he kept always +under his pillow of clouds. But he started +up with a roar of rage, so that all the palace +trembled. The hammer was gone!</p> + +<p>Now this was a very serious matter, for +Thor was the protector of Asgard, and Miölnir, +the magic hammer which the dwarf +had made, was his mighty weapon, of which +the enemies of the Æsir stood so much +in dread that they dared not venture near. +But if they should learn that Miölnir was +gone, who could tell what danger might not +threaten the palaces of heaven?</p> + +<p>Thor darted his flashing eye into every +corner of Cloud Land in search of the hammer. +He called his fair wife, Sif of the +golden hair, to aid in the search, and his +two lovely daughters, Thrude and Lora. +They hunted and they hunted; they turned +Thrudheim upside down, and set the clouds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +to rolling wonderfully, as they peeped and +pried behind and around and under each +billowy mass. But Miölnir was not to be +found. Certainly, some one had stolen it.</p> + +<p>Thor's yellow beard quivered with rage, +and his hair bristled on end like the golden +rays of a star, while all his household trembled.</p> + +<p>"It is Loki again!" he cried. "I am sure +Loki is at the bottom of this mischief!" +For since the time when Thor had captured +Loki for the dwarf Brock and had given +him over to have his bragging lips sewed +up, Loki had looked at him with evil eyes; +and Thor knew that the red rascal hated +him most of all the gods.</p> + +<p>But this time Thor was mistaken. It was +not Loki who had stolen the hammer,—he +was too great a coward for that. And +though he meant, before the end, to be revenged +upon Thor, he was waiting until a +safe chance should come, when Thor himself +might stumble into danger, and Loki +need only to help the evil by a malicious +word or two; and this chance came later, +as you shall hear in another tale.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +Meanwhile Loki was on his best behavior, +trying to appear very kind and obliging; so +when Thor came rumbling and roaring up +to him, demanding, "What have you done +with my hammer, you thief?" Loki looked +surprised, but did not lose his temper nor +answer rudely.</p> + +<p>"Have you indeed missed your hammer, +brother Thor?" he said, mumbling, for his +mouth was still sore where Brock had sewed +the stitches. "That is a pity; for if the +giants hear of this, they will be coming to +try their might against Asgard."</p> + +<p>"Hush!" muttered Thor, grasping him +by the shoulder with his iron fingers. "That +is what I fear. But look you, Loki: I suspect +your hand in the mischief. Come, confess."</p> + +<p>Then Loki protested that he had nothing +to do with so wicked a deed. "But," he +added wheedlingly, "I think I can guess +the thief; and because I love you, Thor, I +will help you to find him."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" growled Thor. "Much love +you bear to me! However, you are a wise +rascal, the nimblest wit of all the Æsir, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +it is better to have you on my side than +on the other, when giants are in the game. +Tell me, then: who has robbed the Thunder-Lord +of his bolt of power?"</p> + +<p>Loki drew near and whispered in Thor's +ear. "Look, how the storms rage and the +winds howl in the world below! Some one +is wielding your thunder-hammer all unskillfully. +Can you not guess the thief? Who +but Thrym, the mighty giant who has ever +been your enemy and your imitator, and +whose fingers have long itched to grasp the +short handle of mighty Miölnir, that the +world may name him Thunder-Lord instead +of you. But look! What a tempest! The +world will be shattered into fragments unless +we soon get the hammer back."</p> + +<p>Then Thor roared with rage. "I will seek +this impudent Thrym!" he cried. "I will +crush him into bits, and teach him to meddle +with the weapon of the Æsir!"</p> + +<p>"Softly, softly," said Loki, smiling maliciously. +"He is a shrewd giant, and a +mighty. Even you, great Thor, cannot go +to him and pluck the hammer from his +hand as one would slip the rattle from a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +baby's pink fist. Nay, you must use craft, +Thor; and it is I who will teach you, if +you will be patient."</p> + +<p>Thor was a brave, blunt fellow, and he +hated the ways of Loki, his lies and his deceit. +He liked best the way of warriors,—the +thundering charge, the flash of weapons, +and the heavy blow; but without the hammer +he could not fight the giants hand to +hand. Loki's advice seemed wise, and he +decided to leave the matter to the Red One.</p> + +<p>Loki was now all eagerness, for he loved +difficulties which would set his wit in play +and bring other folk into danger. "Look, +now," he said. "We must go to Freia and +borrow her falcon dress. But you must ask; +for she loves me so little that she would +scarce listen to me."</p> + +<p>So first they made their way to Folkvang, +the house of maidens, where Freia dwelt, the +loveliest of all in Asgard. She was fairer +than fair, and sweeter than sweet, and the +tears from her flower-eyes made the dew +which blessed the earth-flowers night and +morning. Of her Thor borrowed the magic +dress of feathers in which Freia was wont<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +to clothe herself and flit like a great beautiful +bird all about the world. She was willing +enough to lend it to Thor when he told +her that by its aid he hoped to win back +the hammer which he had lost; for she well +knew the danger threatening herself and all +the Æsir until Miölnir should be found.</p> + +<p>"Now will I fetch the hammer for you," +said Loki. So he put on the falcon plumage, +and, spreading his brown wings, +flapped away up, up, over the world, down, +down, across the great ocean which lies +beyond all things that men know. And he +came to the dark country where there was +no sunshine nor spring, but it was always +dreary winter; where mountains were piled +up like blocks of ice, and where great caverns +yawned hungrily in blackness. And +this was Jotunheim, the land of the Frost +Giants.</p> + +<p>And lo! when Loki came thereto he +found Thrym the Giant King sitting outside +his palace cave, playing with his dogs +and horses. The dogs were as big as elephants, +and the horses were as big as houses, +but Thrym himself was as huge as a mountain;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +and Loki trembled, but he tried to +seem brave.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Loki," said Thrym, with the +terrible voice of which he was so proud, +for he fancied it was as loud as Thor's. +"How fares it, feathered one, with your +little brothers, the Æsir, in Asgard halls? +And how dare you venture alone in this +guise to Giant Land?"</p> + +<p>"It is an ill day in Asgard," sighed Loki, +keeping his eye warily upon the giant, +"and a stormy one in the world of men. +I heard the winds howling and the storms +rushing on the earth as I passed by. Some +mighty one has stolen the hammer of our +Thor. Is it you, Thrym, greatest of all +giants,—greater than Thor himself?"</p> + +<p>This the crafty one said to flatter Thrym, +for Loki well knew the weakness of those +who love to be thought greater than they +are.</p> + +<p>Then Thrym bridled and swelled with +pride, and tried to put on the majesty and +awe of noble Thor; but he only succeeded +in becoming an ugly, puffy monster.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," he admitted. "I have the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +hammer that belonged to your little Thor; +and now how much of a lord is he?"</p> + +<p>"Alack!" sighed Loki again, "weak +enough he is without his magic weapon. +But you, O Thrym,—surely your mightiness +needs no such aid. Give me the hammer, +that Asgard may no longer be shaken +by Thor's grief for his precious toy."</p> + +<p>But Thrym was not so easily to be flattered +into parting with his stolen treasure. +He grinned a dreadful grin, several yards +in width, which his teeth barred like jagged +boulders across the entrance to a mountain +cavern.</p> + +<p>"Miölnir the hammer is mine," he said, +"and I am Thunder-Lord, mightiest of the +mighty. I have hidden it where Thor can +never find it, twelve leagues below the +sea-caves, where Queen Ran lives with her +daughters, the white-capped Waves. But +listen, Loki. Go tell the Æsir that I will +give back Thor's hammer. I will give it +back upon one condition,—that they send +Freia the beautiful to be my wife."</p> + +<p>"Freia the beautiful!" Loki had to stifle +a laugh. Fancy the Æsir giving their fairest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +flower to such an ugly fellow as this! +But he only said politely, "Ah, yes; you +demand our Freia in exchange for the little +hammer? It is a costly price, great Thrym. +But I will be your friend in Asgard. If I +have my way, you shall soon see the fairest +bride in all the world knocking at your +door. Farewell!"</p> + +<p>So Loki whizzed back to Asgard on his +falcon wings; and as he went he chuckled +to think of the evils which were likely to +happen because of his words with Thrym. +First he gave the message to Thor,—not +sparing of Thrym's insolence, to make Thor +angry; and then he went to Freia with the +word for her,—not sparing of Thrym's +ugliness, to make her shudder. The spiteful +fellow!</p> + +<p>Now you can imagine the horror that was +in Asgard as the Æsir listened to Loki's +words. "My hammer!" roared Thor. "The +villain confesses that he has stolen my hammer, +and boasts that he is Thunder-Lord! +Gr-r-r!"</p> + +<p>"The ugly giant!" wailed Freia. "Must +I be the bride of that hideous old monster,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +and live in his gloomy mountain prison all +my life?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; put on your bridal veil, sweet +Freia," said Loki maliciously, "and come +with me to Jotunheim. Hang your famous +starry necklace about your neck, and don +your bravest robe; for in eight days there +will be a wedding, and Thor's hammer is +to pay."</p> + +<p>Then Freia fell to weeping. "I cannot +go! I will not go!" she cried. "I will +not leave the home of gladness and Father +Odin's table to dwell in the land of horrors! +Thor's hammer is mighty, but mightier the +love of the kind Æsir for their little Freia! +Good Odin, dear brother Frey, speak for +me! You will not make me go?"</p> + +<p>The Æsir looked at her and thought how +lonely and bare would Asgard be without +her loveliness; for she was fairer than fair, +and sweeter than sweet.</p> + +<p>"She shall not go!" shouted Frey, putting +his arms about his sister's neck.</p> + +<p>"No, she shall not go!" cried all the +Æsir with one voice.</p> + +<p>"But my hammer," insisted Thor. "I +must have Miölnir back again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +"And my word to Thrym," said Loki, +"that must be made good."</p> + +<p>"You are too generous with your words," +said Father Odin sternly, for he knew his +brother well. "Your word is not a gem of +great price, for you have made it cheap."</p> + +<p>Then spoke Heimdal, the sleepless watchman +who sits on guard at the entrance to +the rainbow bridge which leads to Asgard; +and Heimdal was the wisest of the Æsir, +for he could see into the future, and knew +how things would come to pass. Through +his golden teeth he spoke, for his teeth were +all of gold.</p> + +<p>"I have a plan," he said. "Let us dress +Thor himself like a bride in Freia's robes, +and send him to Jotunheim to talk with +Thrym and to win back his hammer."</p> + +<p>But at this word Thor grew very angry. +"What! dress me like a girl!" he roared. +"I should never hear the last of it! The +Æsir will mock me, and call me 'maiden'! +The giants, and even the puny dwarfs, +will have a lasting jest upon me! I will not +go! I will fight! I will die, if need be! +But dressed as a woman I will not go!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +But Loki answered him with sharp words, +for this was a scheme after his own heart. +"What, Thor!" he said. "Would you lose +your hammer and keep Asgard in danger +for so small a whim? Look, now: if you +go not, Thrym with his giants will come +in a mighty army and drive us from Asgard; +then he will indeed make Freia his +bride, and moreover he will have you for +his slave under the power of his hammer. +How like you this picture, brother of the +thunder? Nay, Heimdal's plan is a good +one, and I myself will help to carry it out."</p> + +<p>Still Thor hesitated; but Freia came and +laid her white hand on his arm, and looked +up into his scowling face pleadingly.</p> + +<p>"To save me, Thor," she begged. And +Thor said he would go.</p> + +<p>Then there was great sport among the +Æsir, while they dressed Thor like a beautiful +maiden. Brunhilde and her sisters, the +nine Valkyrie, daughters of Odin, had the +task in hand. How they laughed as they +brushed and curled his yellow hair, and set +upon it the wondrous headdress of silk and +pearls! They let out seams, and they let<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +down hems, and set on extra pieces, to +make it larger, and so they hid his great +limbs and knotted arms under Freia's fairest +robe of scarlet; but beneath it all he +would wear his shirt of mail and his belt +of power that gave him double strength. +Freia herself twisted about his neck her +famous necklace of starry jewels, and Queen +Frigg, his mother, hung at his girdle a jingling +bunch of keys, such as was the custom +for the bride to wear at Norse weddings. +Last of all, that Thrym might not see +Thor's fierce eyes and the yellow beard, +that ill became a maiden, they threw over +him a long veil of silver white which covered +him to the feet. And there he stood, +as stately and tall a bride as even a giant +might wish to see; but on his hands he +wore his iron gloves, and they ached for +but one thing,—to grasp the handle of the +stolen hammer.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;" id="ip_122"><img src="images/i003.jpg" width="339" height="550" alt="" /><br /><div class="caption">"AH, WHAT A LOVELY MAID IT IS!"</div></div> + +<p>"Ah, what a lovely maid it is!" chuckled +Loki; "and how glad will Thrym be to see +this Freia come! Bride Thor, I will go with +you as your handmaiden, for I would fain +see the fun."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +"Come, then," said Thor sulkily, for he +was ill pleased, and wore his maiden robes +with no good grace. "It is fitting that you +go; for I like not these lies and maskings, +and I may spoil the mummery without you +at my elbow."</p> + +<p>There was loud laughter above the clouds +when Thor, all veiled and dainty seeming, +drove away from Asgard to his wedding, +with maid Loki by his side. Thor cracked +his whip and chirruped fiercely to his twin +goats with golden hoofs, for he wanted to +escape the sounds of mirth that echoed +from the rainbow bridge, where all the Æsir +stood watching. Loki, sitting with his hands +meekly folded like a girl, chuckled as he +glanced up at Thor's angry face; but he +said nothing, for he knew it was not good +to joke too far with Thor, even when Miölnir +was hidden twelve leagues below the sea +in Ran's kingdom.</p> + +<p>So off they dashed to Jotunheim, where +Thrym was waiting and longing for his +beautiful bride. Thor's goats thundered +along above the sea and land and people +far below, who looked up wondering as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +the noise rolled overhead. "Hear how the +thunder rumbles!" they said. "Thor is on +a long journey to-night." And a long journey +it was, as the tired goats found before +they reached the end.</p> + +<p>Thrym heard the sound of their approach, +for his ear was eager. "Hola!" he cried. +"Some one is coming from Asgard,—only +one of Odin's children could make a din so +fearful. Hasten, men, and see if they are +bringing Freia to be my wife."</p> + +<p>Then the lookout giant stepped down from +the top of his mountain, and said that a chariot +was bringing two maidens to the door.</p> + +<p>"Run, giants, run!" shouted Thrym, in +a fever at this news. "My bride is coming! +Put silken cushions on the benches for a +great banquet, and make the house beautiful +for the fairest maid in all space! Bring +in all my golden-horned cows and my coal-black +oxen, that she may see how rich I +am, and heap all my gold and jewels about +to dazzle her sweet eyes! She shall find me +richest of the rich; and when I have her,—fairest +of the fair,—there will be no treasure +that I lack,—not one!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> +The chariot stopped at the gate, and out +stepped the tall bride, hidden from head to +foot, and her handmaiden muffled to the +chin. "How afraid of catching cold they +must be!" whispered the giant ladies, who +were peering over one another's shoulders +to catch a glimpse of the bride, just as the +crowd outside the awning does at a wedding +nowadays.</p> + +<p>Thrym had sent six splendid servants to +escort the maidens: these were the Metal +Kings, who served him as lord of them all. +There was the Gold King, all in cloth of +gold, with fringes of yellow bullion, most +glittering to see; and there was the Silver +King, almost as gorgeous in a suit of spangled +white; and side by side bowed the +dark Kings of Iron and Lead, the one +mighty in black, the other sullen in blue; +and after them were the Copper King, +gleaming ruddy and brave, and the Tin +King, strutting in his trimmings of gaudy +tinsel which looked nearly as well as silver +but were more economical. And this fine +troop of lackey kings most politely led +Thor and Loki into the palace, and gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +them of the best, for they never suspected +who these seeming maidens really were.</p> + +<p>And when evening came there was a +wonderful banquet to celebrate the wedding. +On a golden throne sat Thrym, +uglier than ever in his finery of purple +and gold. Beside him was the bride, of +whose face no one had yet caught even a +glimpse; and at Thrym's other hand stood +Loki, the waiting-maid, for he wanted to +be near to mend the mistakes which Thor +might make.</p> + +<p>Now the dishes at the feast were served +in a huge way, as befitted the table of +giants: great beeves roasted whole, on platters +as wide across as a ship's deck; plum-puddings +as fat as feather-beds, with plums +as big as footballs; and a wedding cake +like a snow-capped haymow. The giants +ate enormously. But to Thor, because they +thought him a dainty maiden, they served +small bits of everything on a tiny gold +dish. Now Thor's long journey had made +him very hungry, and through his veil he +whispered to Loki, "I shall starve, Loki! +I cannot fare on these nibbles. I must eat a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +goodly meal as I do at home." And forthwith +he helped himself to such morsels as +might satisfy his hunger for a little time. +You should have seen the giants stare at +the meal which the dainty bride devoured!</p> + +<p>For first under the silver veil disappeared +by pieces a whole roast ox. Then Thor +made eight mouthfuls of eight pink salmon, +a dish of which he was very fond. And next +he looked about and reached for a platter +of cakes and sweetmeats that was set aside +at one end of the table for the lady guests, +and the bride ate them all. You can fancy +how the damsels drew down their mouths +and looked at one another when they saw +their dessert disappear; and they whispered +about the table, "Alack! if our future mistress +is to sup like this day by day, there +will be poor cheer for the rest of us!" And +to crown it all, Thor was thirsty, as well he +might be; and one after another he raised +to his lips and emptied three great barrels +of mead, the foamy drink of the giants. +Then indeed Thrym was amazed, for Thor's +giant appetite had beaten that of the giants +themselves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +"Never before saw I a bride so hungry," +he cried, "and never before one half so +thirsty!"</p> + +<p>But Loki, the waiting-maid, whispered +to him softly, "The truth is, great Thrym, +that my dear mistress was almost starved. +For eight days Freia has eaten nothing at +all, so eager was she for Jotunheim."</p> + +<p>Then Thrym was delighted, you may be +sure. He forgave his hungry bride, and +loved her with all his heart. He leaned forward +to give her a kiss, raising a corner of +her veil; but his hand dropped suddenly, +and he started up in terror, for he had caught +the angry flash of Thor's eye, which was +glaring at him through the bridal veil. +Thor was longing for his hammer.</p> + +<p>"Why has Freia so sharp a look?" +Thrym cried. "It pierces like lightning +and burns like fire."</p> + +<p>But again the sly waiting-maid whispered +timidly, "Oh, Thrym, be not amazed! The +truth is, my poor mistress's eyes are red with +wakefulness and bright with longing. For +eight nights Freia has not known a wink of +sleep, so eager was she for Jotunheim."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +Then again Thrym was doubly delighted, +and he longed to call her his very own +dear wife. "Bring in the wedding gift!" +he cried. "Bring in Thor's hammer, Miölnir, +and give it to Freia, as I promised; for +when I have kept my word she will be +mine,—all mine!"</p> + +<p>Then Thor's big heart laughed under his +woman's dress, and his fierce eyes swept +eagerly down the hall to meet the servant +who was bringing in the hammer on a velvet +cushion. Thor's fingers could hardly +wait to clutch the stubby handle which +they knew so well; but he sat quite still +on the throne beside ugly old Thrym, with +his hands meekly folded and his head bowed +like a bashful bride.</p> + +<p>The giant servant drew nearer, nearer, +puffing and blowing, strong though he was, +beneath the mighty weight. He was about +to lay it at Thor's feet (for he thought it +so heavy that no maiden could lift it or +hold it in her lap), when suddenly Thor's +heart swelled, and he gave a most unmaidenly +shout of rage and triumph. With +one swoop he grasped the hammer in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +iron fingers; with the other arm he tore off +the veil that hid his terrible face, and trampled +it under foot; then he turned to the +frightened king, who cowered beside him +on the throne.</p> + +<p>"Thief!" he cried. "Freia sends you +<em>this</em> as a wedding gift!" And he whirled +the hammer about his head, then hurled it +once, twice, thrice, as it rebounded to his +hand; and in the first stroke, as of lightning, +Thrym rolled dead from his throne; +in the second stroke perished the whole +giant household,—these ugly enemies of +the Æsir; and in the third stroke the palace +itself tumbled together and fell to the +ground like a toppling play-house of blocks.</p> + +<p>But Loki and Thor stood safely among +the ruins, dressed in their tattered maiden +robes, a quaint and curious sight; and +Loki, full of mischief now as ever, burst +out laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Thor! if you could see"—he began; +but Thor held up his hammer and +shook it gently as he <span class="locked">said,—</span></p> + +<p>"Look now, Loki: it was an excellent +joke, and so far you have done well,—<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span>after +your crafty fashion, which likes me +not. But now I have my hammer again, +and the joke is done. From you, nor from +another, I brook no laughter at my expense. +Henceforth we will have no mention of +this masquerade, nor of these rags which +now I throw away. Do you hear, red +laugher?"</p> + +<p>And Loki heard, with a look of hate, and +stifled his laughter as best he could; for it is +not good to laugh at him who holds the +hammer.</p> + +<p>Not once after that was there mention +in Asgard of the time when Thor dressed +him as a girl and won his bridal gift from +Thrym the giant.</p> + +<p>But Miölnir was safe once more in Asgard, +and you and I know how it came +there; so some one must have told. I wonder +if red Loki whispered the tale to some +outsider, after all? Perhaps it may be so, +for now he knew how best to make Thor +angry; and from that day when Thor forbade +his laughing, Loki hated him with the +mean little hatred of a mean little soul.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_GIANTESS_WHO_WOULD_NOT" id="THE_GIANTESS_WHO_WOULD_NOT">THE GIANTESS WHO WOULD NOT</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Of</span> all the Æsir who sat in the twelve +seats about Father Odin's wonder-throne +none was so dear to the people +of Midgard, the world of men, as Frey. +For Frey, the twin brother of Freia the fair, +was the god who sent sunshine and rain upon +the earth that men's crops might grow and +ripen, and the fruits become sweet and mellow. +He gave men cattle, and showed them +how to till the fields; and it was he who +spread peace and prosperity over the world. +For he was lord of the Light-Elves, the spirits +of the upper air, who were more beautiful than +the sun. And these were his servants whom +he sent to answer the prayers of the men +who loved him. Frey was more beautiful, too, +than any of the Æsir except young Balder. +This was another reason why he was so beloved +by all. But there came a time when +Frey found some one who would not love +him; and that was a new experience for him, +a punishment for the only wrong he ever +committed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> +You remember that Father Odin had a +wonderful throne in the silver-roofed house, +a throne whence he could see everything that +was happening in all the world? Well, no +one was allowed to sit upon this throne except +All-Father himself, for he would not +have the others spying into affairs which +only the King of Asgard was wise enough to +understand. But one day, when Odin was +away from home, Frey had such a longing +to climb up where he might gaze upon all +the world which he loved, that he could not +resist the temptation. He stole up to the +great throne when no one was looking, and +mounting the steps, seated himself upon All-Father's +wonder-seat.</p> + +<p>Oh, marvelous, grand, and beautiful! He +looked off into the heavens, and there he saw +all the Æsir busy about their daily work. +He looked above, into the shining realm of +clear air. And there he saw his messengers, +the pretty little Light-Elves, flying about +upon their errands of help for men. Some +were carrying seeds for the farmers to plant. +Some were watering the fields with their +little water-pots, making the summer showers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +Some were pinching the cheeks of the apples +to make them red, and others were reeling +silk for the corn-tassels. Then Frey looked +down upon the earth, where men were scurrying +around like little ants, improving the +blessings which his servants were sending, +and often stopping their work to give thanks +to their beloved Frey. And this made his +kind heart glad.</p> + +<p>Next he turned his gaze down into the +depths of the blue ocean which flowed about +Midgard like a great river. And down in +the sea-caves he saw the mermaids playing, +Queen Ran and her daughters the white-capped +Waves, with their nets ready to catch +the sailors who might be drowned at sea. +And he saw King Œgir, among the whales +and dolphins, with all the myriad wondrous +creatures who lived in his watery empire. +But Frey's father, old Niörd, lord of the +ocean wind, would have been more interested +than he in such a sight.</p> + +<p>Last of all Frey bent his eyes upon the far, +cold land of Jotunheim, beyond the ocean, +where the giants lived; and as he did so, a +beam of brightness dazzled him. He rubbed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +his eyes and looked again; and lo! the +flash was from the bright arms of a beautiful +maiden, who was passing from her father's +hall to her own little bower. When she +raised her arms to open the door, the air +and water reflected their brightness so that +the whole world was flooded with light, and +one shaft shot straight into the heart of Frey, +making him love her and long for her more +than for anything he had ever seen. But because +he knew that she must be a giant's +daughter, how could he win her for his bride? +Frey descended from Odin's throne very +sadly, very hopelessly, and went home with +a heavy heart which would let him neither +eat nor sleep. This was the penalty which +came for his disobedience in presuming to sit +upon Odin's sacred throne.</p> + +<p>For hours no one dared speak to Frey, he +looked so gloomy and forbidding, quite unlike +his own gay self. Niörd his father was +greatly worried, and knew not what to do; at +last he sent for Skirnir, who was Frey's favorite +servant, and bade him find out what was the +matter. Skirnir therefore went to his master, +whom he found sitting all alone in his great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +hall, looking as if there were no more joy for +him.</p> + +<p>"What ails you, master?" asked Skirnir. +"From the beginning of time when we were +very young we two have lived together, and +I have served you with loving care. You +ought, then, to have confidence in me and +tell me all your troubles."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Skirnir, my faithful friend," sighed +Frey, "how shall I tell you my sorrow? The +sun shines every day, but no longer brings +light to my sad heart. And all because I saw +more than was good for me!"</p> + +<p>So then he told Skirnir all the matter: +how he had stolen into Odin's seat, and what +he had seen from there; how he loved a +giant's daughter whose arms were more bright +than silver moonbeams.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Skirnir, I love her very dearly," he +cried; "but because our races are enemies she +would never marry me, I know, even if her +father would allow it. Therefore is it that I +am so sad."</p> + +<p>But Skirnir did not seem to think the case +so hopeless. "Give me but your swift horse," +he said, "which can bear me even through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +flames of fire and thick smoke; give me also +your magic wand and your sword, which +if he be brave who carries it, will smite by +itself any giant who comes in its way,—and +I will see what I can do for you."</p> + +<p>Then Skirnir rode forth upon his dangerous +errand; for a visit to Giant Land was ever a +perilous undertaking, as you may well imagine. +As Skirnir rode, he patted his good +horse's neck and said to him, "Dark it is, +friend, and we have to go over frosty mountains +and among frosty people this night. +Bear me well, good horse; for if you fail me +the giants will catch us both, and neither of +us will return to bring the news to our master +Frey."</p> + +<p>After a long night of hard riding over +mountain and desolate snowfield, Skirnir +came to that part of Jotunheim where the +giant Gymir dwelt. This was the father of +Gerd, the maiden whom Frey had seen and +loved. But first he had to ride through a +hedge of flame, which the horse passed +bravely. Now when he came to the house of +Gymir, he found a pack of fierce dogs chained +about the door to keep strangers away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +"H'm!" thought Skirnir, "I like this little +indeed. I must find out whether there be not +some other entrance." So he looked around, +and soon he saw a herdsman sitting on a +little hill, tending his cattle. Skirnir rode up +to him.</p> + +<p>"Ho, friend," he cried. "Tell me, how +am I to pass these growling curs so that I +may speak with the young maiden who +dwells in this house?"</p> + +<p>"Are you mad, or are you a spirit who is +not afraid of death!" exclaimed the herdsman. +"Know you not that you can never +enter there? That is Gymir's dwelling, and +he lets no one speak with his fair and good +daughter."</p> + +<p>"If I choose to die, you need not weep for +me," quoth Skirnir boldly. "But I do not +think that I am yet to die. The Norn-maidens +spun my fate centuries ago, and they +only can tell what is to be." Now Skirnir's +voice was loud and the hoof-beats of his +horse were mighty. For this was one of the +magic steeds of Asgard, used to bearing Frey +himself on his broad back. And not without +much noise had all these things been said and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +done. From her room in Gymir's mansion +Gerd heard the stranger's voice, and to her +waiting-maid she said, "What are these +sounds that I hear? The earth is trembling +and all the house shakes."</p> + +<p>Then the servant ran to look out of the +window, and in a minute she popped in her +head, crying, "Here is a mighty stranger +who has dismounted from his horse and leads +him by the bridle to crop the grass."</p> + +<p>Gerd was curious to see who this stranger +might be; for her father kept her close and +she saw few visitors.</p> + +<p>"Bid him enter our hall," she said, "and +give him a horn of bright mead to drink. +I will see him, though I fear it is the slayer +of my brother." For Gerd was the sister +of Thiasse whom Thor slew.</p> + +<p>So Skirnir came into the hall, and Gerd +received him coldly. "Who are you?" she +asked. "Which of the wise Æsir are you? +For I know that only one of the mighty ones +from Asgard would have the courage and +the power to pass through the raging flames +that surround my father's land."</p> + +<p>"I come from Frey, O maiden," said Skirnir,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +"from Frey, whom all folk love. I come +to beg that you also will love him and consent +to be his wife. For Frey has seen your +beauty, and you are very dear to him."</p> + +<p>Gerd laughed carelessly. "I have heard +of your fair Frey," she said, "and how he is +more dear to all than sunshine and the sweet +smell of flowers. But he is not dear to me. I +do not wish the love of Frey, nor any of that +race of giant-killers. Tell him that I will not +be his bride."</p> + +<p>"Stay, be not so hasty," urged Skirnir. +"We have more words to exchange before I +start for home. Look, I will give you eleven +golden apples from Asgard's magic tree if +you will go with me to Frey's dwelling."</p> + +<p>Gerd would hear nothing of the golden +apples. Then Skirnir promised her the +golden ring, Draupnir, which the dwarfs had +made for Odin, out of which every ninth +night dropped eight other rings as large and +bright. But neither would Gerd listen to +word of this generous gift. "I have gold +enough in my father's house," she said disdainfully. +"With such trifles you cannot +tempt me to marry your Frey."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +Then Skirnir was very angry, and he began +to storm and threaten. "I will strike you +with the bright sword which I hold in my +hand!" he cried. "It is Frey's magic sword, +under which even that stout old giant your +father must sink if he comes within its reach." +But again Gerd laughed, though with less +mirth in her laughter. "I will tame you with +Frey's magic wand!" he threatened, "the +wand with which he rules the Light-Elves, +and changes folk into strange shapes. You +shall vanish from the sight of men, and pass +your life on the eagle's mount far above the +sky, where you shall sit all day, too sad to +eat. And when you come thence, after countless +ages, you will be a hideous monster at +which all creatures will stare in mockery and +scorn."</p> + +<p>These were dreadful words, and Gerd no +longer laughed when she heard them. But +she was obstinate. "I do not love Frey," +she said, "and I will not be his bride."</p> + +<p>Then Skirnir was angry indeed, and his +fury blazed out in threats most horrible. "If +you will not marry my dear master," he cried, +"you shall be the most unhappy girl that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +ever lived. You shall cry all day long and +never see joy again. You shall marry a +hideous old three-headed giant, and from day +to day you shall ever be in terror of some +still more dreadful fate to come!"</p> + +<p>Now Gerd began to tremble, for she +saw that Frey's servant meant every word +that he spoke. But she was not ready to +yield. "Go back to the land of Elves," she +taunted; "I will not be their Queen at any +cost."</p> + +<p>Now Skirnir grasped the magic wand, and +waving it over her, spoke his last words of +threat and anger. "The gods are angry with +you, evil maiden!" he cried. "Odin sees +your obstinacy from his throne, and will +punish you for your cruelty to kind Frey. +Frey himself, instead of loving, will shun you +when the gods arm themselves to destroy +you and all your race. Listen, Giants, Dwarfs, +Light-Elves, Men, and all friends of the Æsir! +I forbid any one to have aught to do with +this wicked girl,—only the old giant who +shall carry her to his gloomy castle, barred +and bolted and grated across. Misery, pain, +and madness—this, Gerd, is the fate which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +I wave over you with my wand, unless +speedily you repent and do my will."</p> + +<p>Poor Gerd gasped and trembled under this +dreadful doom. Her willfulness was quite +broken, and now she sought only to make +Skirnir unsay the words of horror. "Hold!" +she cried; "be welcome, youth, in the name +of your powerful master, Frey. I cannot afford +to be enemy of such as he. Drink this +icy cup of welcome filled with the giant's +mead, and take with it my consent to be the +bride of Frey. But alas! I never thought to +be a friend to one of Asgard's race."</p> + +<p>"You shall never repent, fair Gerd," said +Skirnir gently. For now that he had won +his will, he was all smiles and friendliness. +"And when you see my dear master, you +will be glad indeed that you did not insist +upon wedding the old three-headed giant. +For Frey is fair,—ay, as fair as are you +yourself. And that is saying much, sweet +lady."</p> + +<p>So Gerd promised that in nine days she +would come to be the bride of Frey. And +the more she thought it over, the less unpleasant +seemed the idea. So that before the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> +was passed, she was almost as eager as Frey +for their happy meeting; not quite so eager, +for you must remember that she had not yet +seen him and knew not all his glory, while +he knew what it was to long and long for +what he had once seen.</p> + +<p>Indeed, when Skirnir galloped back to +Frey as fast as the good horse could take him, +still Frey chided him for being slow. And +when the faithful fellow told the good news +of the bride who was to be his master's in +nine short days, still Frey frowned and grumbled +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"How can I wait to see her?" he cried. +"One day is long; two days are a century; +nine days seem forever. Oh, Skirnir, could +you not have done better than that for your +dear master?"</p> + +<p>But Skirnir forgave Frey for his impatience, +for he knew that thenceforward his +master would love all the better him who +had done so nobly to win the beloved bride.</p> + +<p>When Gerd married Frey and went with +him to live in Elf Land, where he and she +were king and queen, they were the happiest +folk that the world ever saw. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +Gerd was as grateful to Skirnir as Frey himself. +For she could not help thinking of that +dreadful old three-headed giant whom but +for him she might have married, instead of +her beautiful, kind Frey.</p> + +<p>So you see that sometimes one is happier +in the end if she is not allowed to have her +own way.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THORS_VISIT_TO_THE_GIANTS" id="THORS_VISIT_TO_THE_GIANTS">THOR'S VISIT TO THE GIANTS</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Nowadays,</span> since their journey +to get the stolen hammer, Thor +and Loki were good friends, for +Loki seemed to have turned over a new +leaf and to be a very decent sort of fellow; +but really he was the same sly rascal +at heart, only biding his time for mischief. +However, in this tale he behaves well +enough.</p> + +<p>It was a long time since Thor had slain +any giants, and he was growing restless for +an adventure. "Come, Loki," he said one +day, "let us fare forth to Giant Land and +see what news there is among the Big +Folk."</p> + +<p>Loki laughed, saying, "Let us go, Thor. +I know I am safe with you;" which was +a piece of flattery that happened to be +true.</p> + +<p>So they mounted the goat chariot as +they had done so many times before and +rumbled away out of Asgard. All day they +rode; and when evening came they stopped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> +at a little house on the edge of a forest, +where lived a poor peasant with his wife, +his son, and daughter.</p> + +<p>"May we rest here for the night, friend?" +asked Thor; and noting their poverty, he +added, "We bring our own supper, and +ask but a bed to sleep in." So the peasant +was glad to have them stay. Then Thor, +who knew what he was about, killed and +cooked his two goats, and invited the family +of peasants to sup with him and Loki; +but when the meal was ended, he bade them +carefully save all the bones and throw them +into the goatskins which he had laid beside +the hearth. Then Thor and Loki lay +down to sleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning, very early, before the +rest were awake, Thor rose, and taking his +hammer, Miölnir, went into the kitchen, +where were the remains of his faithful goats. +Now the magic hammer was skillful, not +only to slay, but to restore, when Thor's +hand wielded it. He touched with it the +two heaps of skin and bones, and lo! up +sprang the goats, alive and well, and as +good as new. No, not quite as good as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +new. What was this? Thor roared with +anger, for one of the goats was lame in one +of his legs, and limped sorely. "Some one +has meddled with the bones!" he cried. +"Who has touched the bones that I bade +be kept so carefully?"</p> + +<p>Thialfi, the peasant's son, had broken one +of the thigh-bones in order to get at the +sweet marrow, and this Thor soon discovered +by the lad's guilty face; then Thor was +angry indeed. His knuckles grew white as +he clenched the handle of Miölnir, ready +to hurl it and destroy the whole unlucky +house and family; but the peasant and the +other three fell upon their knees, trembling +with fear, and begged him to spare them. +They offered him all that they owned,—they +offered even to become his slaves,—if +he would but spare their wretched lives.</p> + +<p>They looked so miserable that Thor was +sorry for them, and resolved at last to punish +them only by taking away Thialfi, the +son, and Röskva, the daughter, thenceforth +to be his servants. And this was not so bad +a bargain for Thor, for Thialfi was the swiftest +of foot of any man in the whole world.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +So he left the goats behind, and fared +forth with his three attendants straight towards +the east and Jotunheim. Thialfi carried +Thor's wallet with their scanty store +of food. They crossed the sea and came at +last to a great forest, through which they +tramped all day, until once more it was +night; and now they must find a place in +which all could sleep safely until morning. +They wandered about here and there, looking +for some sign of a dwelling, and at +last they came to a big, queer-shaped house. +Very queer indeed it was; for the door at +one end was as broad as the house itself! +They entered, and lay down to sleep; but +at midnight Thor was wakened by a terrible +noise. The ground shook under them +like an earthquake, and the house trembled +as if it would fall to pieces. Thor arose +and called to his companions that there was +danger about, and that they must be on +guard. Groping in the dark, they found a +long, narrow chamber on the right, where +Loki and the two peasants hid trembling, +while Thor guarded the doorway, hammer +in hand. All night long the terrible noises<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +continued, and Thor's attendants were frightened +almost to death; but early in the morning +Thor stole forth to find out what it all +meant. And lo! close at hand in the forest +lay an enormous giant, sound asleep +and snoring loudly. Then Thor understood +whence all their night's terror had proceeded, +for the giant was so huge that his +snoring shook even the trees of the forest, +and made the mountains tremble. So much +the better! Here at last was a giant for +Thor to tackle. He buckled his belt of +power more tightly to increase his strength, +and laid hold of Miölnir to hurl it at the +giant's forehead; but just at that moment +the giant waked, rose slowly to his feet, and +stood staring mildly at Thor. He did not +seem a fierce giant, so Thor did not kill +him at once. "Who are you?" asked Thor +sturdily.</p> + +<p>"I am the giant Skrymir, little fellow," +answered the stranger, "and well I know +who you are, Thor of Asgard. But what +have you been doing with my glove?"</p> + +<p>Then the giant stooped and picked up—what +do you think?—the queer house in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +which Thor and his three companions had +spent the night! Loki and the two others +had run out of their chamber in affright +when they felt it lifted; and their chamber +was the thumb of the giant's glove. That +was a giant indeed, and Thor felt sure that +they must be well upon their way to Giant +Land.</p> + +<p>When Skrymir learned where they were +going, he asked if he might not wend with +them, and Thor said that he was willing. +Now Skrymir untied his wallet and sat +down under a tree to eat his breakfast, while +Thor and his party chose another place, not +far away, for their picnic. When all had +finished, the giant said, "Let us put our +provisions together in one bag, my friends, +and I will carry it for you." This seemed +fair enough, for Thor had so little food left +that he was not afraid to risk losing it; so +he agreed, and Skrymir tied all the provisions +in his bag and strode on before them +with enormous strides, so fast that even Thialfi +could scarcely keep up with him.</p> + +<p>The day passed, and late in the evening +Skrymir halted under a great oak-tree, saying,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +"Let us rest here. I must have a nap, +and you must have your dinner. Here is +the wallet,—open it and help yourselves." +Then he lay down on the moss, and was +soon snoring lustily.</p> + +<p>Thor tried to open the wallet, in vain; +he could not loosen a single knot of the +huge thongs that fastened it. He strained +and tugged, growing angrier and redder +after every useless attempt. This was too +much; the giant was making him appear +absurd before his servants. He seized his +hammer, and bracing his feet with all his +might, struck Skrymir a blow on his head. +Skrymir stirred lazily, yawned, opened one +eye, and asked whether a leaf had fallen on +his forehead, and whether his companions +had dined yet. Thor bit his lip with vexation, +but he answered that they were ready +for bed; so he and his three followers retired +to rest under another oak.</p> + +<p>But Thor did not sleep that night. He +lay thinking how he had been put to shame, +and how Loki had snickered at the sight of +Thor's vain struggles with the giant's wallet, +and he resolved that it should not happen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +again. At about midnight, once more he +heard the giant's snore resounding like thunder +through the forest. Thor arose, clenching +Miölnir tight, and stole over to the tree +where Skrymir slept; then with all his might +he hurled the hammer and struck the giant +on the crown of his head, so hard that the +hammer sank deep into his skull. At this +the giant awoke with a start, exclaiming, +"What is that? Did an acorn fall on my +head? What are you doing there, Thor?"</p> + +<p>Thor stepped back quickly, answering +that he had waked up, but that it was only +midnight, so they might all sleep some +hours longer. "If I can only give him one +more blow before morning," he thought, +"he will never see daylight again." So he +lay watching until Skrymir had fallen asleep +once more, which was near daybreak; then +Thor arose as before, and going very softly +to the giant's side, smote him on the temple +so sore that the hammer sank into his +skull up to the very handle. "Surely, he +is killed now," thought Thor.</p> + +<p>But Skrymir only raised himself on his +elbow, stroked his chin, and said, "There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +are birds above me in the tree. Methinks +that just now a feather fell upon my head. +What, Thor! are you awake? I am afraid +you slept but poorly this night. Come, now, +it is high time to rise and make ready for +the day. You are not far from our giant +city,—Utgard we call it. Aha! I have +heard you whispering together. You think +that I am big; but you will see fellows +taller still when you come to Utgard. And +now I have a piece of advice to give you. +Do not pride yourselves overmuch upon +your importance. The followers of Utgard's +king think little of such manikins as you, +and will not bear any nonsense, I assure +you. Be advised; return homeward before +it is too late. If you will go on, however, +your way lies there to the eastward. Yonder +is my path, over the mountains to the +north."</p> + +<p>So saying, Skrymir hoisted his wallet +upon his shoulders, and turning back upon +the path that led into the forest, left them +staring after him and hoping that they +might never see his big bulk again.</p> + +<p>Thor and his companions journeyed on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> +until noon, when they saw in the distance +a great city, on a lofty plain. As they came +nearer, they found the buildings so high that +the travelers had to bend back their necks +in order to see the tops. "This must be +Utgard, the giant city," said Thor. And +Utgard indeed it was. At the entrance was +a great barred gate, locked so that no one +might enter. It was useless to try to force +a passage in; even Thor's great strength +could not move it on its hinges. But it was +a giant gate, and the bars were made to +keep out other giants, with no thought of +folk so small as these who now were bent +upon finding entrance by one way or another. +It was not dignified, and noble Thor +disliked the idea. Yet it was their only way; +so one by one they squeezed and wriggled +between the bars, until they stood in a row +inside. In front of them was a wonderful +great hall with the door wide open. Thor +and the three entered, and found themselves +in the midst of a company of giants, the +very hugest of their kind. At the end of +the hall sat the king upon an enormous +throne. Thor, who had been in giant companies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> +ere now, went straight up to the +throne and greeted the king with civil +words. But the giant merely glanced at +him with a disagreeable smile, and <span class="locked">said,—</span></p> + +<p>"It is wearying to ask travelers about +their journey. Such little fellows as you +four can scarcely have had any adventures +worth mentioning. Stay, now! Do I guess +aright? Is this manikin Thor of Asgard, +or no? Ah, no! I have heard of Thor's +might. You cannot really be he, unless you +are taller than you seem, and stronger too. +Let us see what feats you and your companions +can perform to amuse us. No one +is allowed here who cannot excel others in +some way or another. What can you do +best?"</p> + +<p>At this word, Loki, who had entered last, +spoke up readily: "There is one thing that +I can do,—I can eat faster than any man." +For Loki was famished with hunger, and +thought he saw a way to win a good meal.</p> + +<p>Then the king answered, "Truly, that +is a noble accomplishment of yours, if you +can prove your words true. Let us make +the test." So he called forth from among his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +men Logi,—whose name means "fire,"—and +bade him match his powers with the +stranger.</p> + +<p>Now a trough full of meat was set upon +the floor, with Loki at one end of it and +the giant Logi at the other. Each began to +gobble the meat as fast as he could, and it +was not a pretty sight to see them. Midway +in the trough they met, and at first it +would seem as if neither had beaten the +other. Loki had indeed done wondrous well +in eating the meat from the bones so fast; +but Logi, the giant, had in the same time +eaten not only meat but bones also, and had +swallowed his half of the trough into the +bargain. Loki was vanquished at his own +game, and retired looking much ashamed +and disgusted.</p> + +<p>The king then pointed at Thialfi, and +asked what that young man could best do. +Thialfi answered that of all men he was the +swiftest runner, and that he was not afraid +to race with any one whom the king might +select.</p> + +<p>"That is a goodly craft," said the king, +smiling; "but you must be a swift runner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +indeed if you can win a race from my +Hugi. Let us go to the racing-ground."</p> + +<p>They followed him out to the plain +where Hugi, whose name means "thought," +was ready to race with young Thialfi. In +the first run Hugi came in so far ahead that +when he reached the goal he turned about +and went back to meet Thialfi. "You must +do better than that, Thialfi, if you hope to +win," said the king, laughing, "though I +must allow that no one ever before came +here who could run so fast as you."</p> + +<p>They ran a second race; and this time +when Hugi reached the goal there was a +long bow-shot between him and Thialfi.</p> + +<p>"You are truly a good runner," exclaimed +the king. "I doubt not that no +man can race like you; but you cannot +win from my giant lad, I think. The last +time shall show." Then they ran for the +third time, and Thialfi put forth all his +strength, speeding like the wind; but all +his skill was in vain. Hardly had he reached +the middle of the course when he heard the +shouts of the giants announcing that Hugi +had won the goal. Thialfi, too, was beaten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +at his own game, and he withdrew, as Loki +had done, shamefaced and sulky.</p> + +<p>There remained now only Thor to redeem +the honor of his party, for Röskva the maiden +was useless here. Thor had watched the result +of these trials with surprise and anger, +though he knew it was no fault of Loki or +of Thialfi that they had been worsted by the +giants. And Thor was resolved to better +even his own former great deeds. The king +called to Thor, and asked him what he +thought he could best do to prove himself +as mighty as the stories told of him. Thor +answered that he would undertake to drink +more mead than any one of the king's men. +At this proposal the king laughed aloud, as +if it were a giant joke. He summoned his +cup-bearer to fetch his horn of punishment, +out of which the giants were wont to drink +in turn. And when they returned to the hall, +the great vessel was brought to the king.</p> + +<p>"When any one empties this horn at one +draught, we call him a famous drinker," said +the king. "Some of my men empty it in +two trials; but no one is so poor a manikin +that he cannot empty it in three. Take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +the horn, Thor, and see what you can do +with it."</p> + +<p>Now Thor was very thirsty, so he seized +the horn eagerly. It did not seem to him +so very large, for he had drunk from other +mighty vessels ere now. But indeed, it was +deep. He raised it to his lips and took a +long pull, saying to himself, "There! I have +emptied it already, I know." Yet when he +set the horn down to see how well he had +done, he found that he seemed scarcely to +have drained a drop; the horn was brimming +as before. The king chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have drunk but little," he said. +"I would never have believed that famous +Thor would lower the horn so soon. But +doubtless you will finish all at a second +draught."</p> + +<p>Instead of answering, Thor raised the horn +once more to his lips, resolved to do better +than before. But for some reason the tip of +the horn seemed hard to raise, and when he +set the vessel down again his heart sank, for +he feared that he had drunk even less than at +his first trial. Yet he had really done better, +for now it was easy to carry the horn without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +spilling. The king smiled grimly. "How +now, Thor!" he cried. "You have left too +much for your third trial. I fear you will +never be able to empty the little horn in +three draughts, as the least of my men can do. +Ho, ho! You will not be thought so great +a hero here as the folk deem you in Asgard, +if you cannot play some other game more +skillfully than you do this one."</p> + +<p>At this speech Thor grew very angry. +He raised the horn to his mouth and drank +lustily, as long as he was able. But when he +looked into the horn, he found that some +drops still remained. He had not been able +to empty it in three draughts. Angrily he +flung down the horn, and said that he would +have no more of it.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Master Thor," taunted the king, +"it is now plain that you are not so mighty +as we thought you. Are you inclined to try +some other feats? For indeed, you are easily +beaten at this one."</p> + +<p>"I will try whatever you like," said Thor; +"but your horn is a wondrous one, and +among the Æsir such a draught as mine +would be called far from little. Come, now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span>—what +game do you next propose, O +King?"</p> + +<p>The king thought a moment, then answered +carelessly, "There is a little game +with which my youngsters amuse themselves, +though it is so simple as to be almost childish. +It is merely the exercise of lifting my cat +from the ground. I should never have dared +suggest such a feat as this to you, Thor of +Asgard, had I not seen that great tasks are +beyond your skill. It may be that you will +find this hard enough." So he spoke, smiling +slyly, and at that moment there came stalking +into the hall a monstrous gray cat, with +eyes of yellow fire.</p> + +<p>"Ho! Is this the creature I am to lift?" +queried Thor. And when they said that it +was, he seized the cat around its gray, huge +body and tugged with all his might to lift it +from the floor. Then the wretched cat, lengthening +and lengthening, arched its back like +the span of a bridge; and though Thor tugged +and heaved his best, he could manage to lift +but one of its huge feet off the floor. The +other three remained as firmly planted as iron +pillars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +"Oho, oho!" laughed the king, delighted +at this sight. "It is just as I thought it would +be. Poor little Thor! My cat is too big for +him."</p> + +<p>"Little I may seem in this land of monsters," +cried Thor wrathfully, "but now let +him who dares come hither and try a hug +with me."</p> + +<p>"Nay, little Thor," said the king, seeking +to make him yet more angry, "there is not +one of my men who would wrestle with you. +Why, they would call it child's play, my +little fellow. But, for the joke of it, call in +my old foster-mother, Elli. She has wrestled +with and worsted many a man who seemed +no weaker than you, O Thor. She shall try +a fall with you."</p> + +<p>Now in came the old crone, Elli, whose +very name meant "age." She was wrinkled +and gray, and her back was bent nearly +double with the weight of the years which +she carried, but she chuckled when she saw +Thor standing with bared arm in the middle +of the floor. "Come and be thrown, dearie," +she cried in her cracked voice, grinning +horribly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> +"I will not wrestle with a woman!" exclaimed +Thor, eyeing her with pity and disgust, +for she was an ugly creature to behold. +But the old woman taunted him to his face +and the giants clapped their hands, howling +that he was "afraid." So there was no way +but that Thor must grapple with the hag.</p> + +<p>The game began. Thor rushed at the old +woman and gripped her tightly in his iron +arms, thinking that as soon as she screamed +with the pain of his mighty hug, he would +give over. But the crone seemed not to mind +it at all. Indeed, the more he crushed her +old ribs together the firmer and stronger she +stood. Now in her turn the witch attempted +to trip up Thor's heels, and it was wonderful +to see her power and agility. Thor soon +began to totter, great Thor, in the hands of +a poor old woman! He struggled hard, he +braced himself, he turned and twisted. It was +no use; the old woman's arms were as strong +as knotted oak. In a few moments Thor +sank upon one knee, and that was a sign that +he was beaten. The king signaled for them +to stop. "You need wrestle no more, Thor," +he said, with a curl to his lip, "we see what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +sort of fellow you are. I thought that old +Elli would have no difficulty in bringing to +his knees him who could not lift my cat. But +come, now, night is almost here. We will +think no more of contests. You and your +companions shall sup with us as welcome +guests and bide here till the morrow."</p> + +<p>Now as soon as the king had pleased +himself in proving how small and weak were +these strangers who had come to the giant +city, he became very gracious and kind. But +you can fancy whether or no Thor and the +others had a good appetite for the banquet +where all the giants ate so merrily. You can +fancy whether or no they were happy when +they went to bed after the day of defeats, and +you can guess what sweet dreams they had.</p> + +<p>The next morning at daybreak the four +guests arose and made ready to steal back to +Asgard without attracting any more attention. +For this adventure alone of all those in which +Thor had taken part had been a disgraceful +failure. Silently and with bowed heads they +were slipping away from the hall when the +king himself came to them and begged them +to stay.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +"You shall not leave Utgard without +breakfast," he said kindly, "nor would I have +you depart feeling unfriendly to me."</p> + +<p>Then he ordered a goodly breakfast for the +travelers, with store of choicest dainties for +them to eat and drink. When the four had +broken fast, he escorted them to the city gate +where they were to say farewell. But at the +last moment he turned to Thor with a sly, +strange smile and <span class="locked">asked,—</span></p> + +<p>"Tell me now truly, brother Thor; what +think you of your visit to the giant city? +Do you feel as mighty a fellow as you did +before you entered our gates, or are you satisfied +that there are folk even sturdier than +yourself?"</p> + +<p>At this question Thor flushed scarlet, and +the lightning flashed angrily in his eye. Briefly +enough he answered that he must confess to +small pride in his last adventure, for that his +visit to the king had been full of shame to +the hero of Asgard. "My name will become +a joke among your people," quoth he. "You +will call me Thor the puny little fellow, +which vexes me more than anything; for I +have not been wont to blush at my name."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +Then the king looked at him frankly, +pleased with the humble manner of Thor's +speech. "Nay," he said slowly, "hang not +your head so shamedly, brave Thor. You +have not done so ill as you think. Listen, I +have somewhat to tell you, now that you are +outside Utgard,—which, if I live, you shall +never enter again. Indeed, you should not +have entered at all had I guessed what noble +strength was really yours,—strength which +very nearly brought me and my whole city +to destruction."</p> + +<p>To these words Thor and his companions +listened with open-mouthed astonishment. +What could the king mean, they wondered? +The giant <span class="locked">continued:—</span></p> + +<p>"By magic alone were you beaten, Thor. +Of magic alone were my triumphs,—not +real, but seeming to be so. Do you remember +the giant Skrymir whom you found +sleeping and snoring in the forest? That +was I. I learned your errand and resolved to +lower your pride. When you vainly strove +to untie my wallet, you did not know that I +had fastened it with invisible iron wire, in +order that you might be baffled by the knots.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> +Thrice you struck me with your hammer,—ah! +what mighty blows were those! The +least one would have killed me, had it fallen +on my head as you deemed it did. In my +hall is a rock with three square hollows in +it, one of them deeper than the others. +These are the dents of your wondrous hammer, +my Thor. For, while you thought I +slept, I slipped the rock under the hammer-strokes, +and into this hard crust Miölnir bit. +Ha, ha! It was a pretty jest."</p> + +<p>Now Thor's brow was growing black at +this tale of the giant's trickery, but at the +same time he held up his head and seemed +less ashamed of his weakness, knowing now +that it had been no weakness, but lack of +guile. He listened frowningly for the rest +of the tale. The king went <span class="locked">on:—</span></p> + +<p>"When you came to my city, still it was +magic that worsted your party at every turn. +Loki was certainly the hungriest fellow I +ever saw, and his deeds at the trencher were +marvelous to behold. But the Logi who ate +with him was Fire, and easily enough fire can +consume your meat, bones, and wood itself. +Thialfi, my boy, you are a runner swift as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +the wind. Never before saw I such a race +as yours. But the Hugi who ran with you +was Thought, my thought. And who can +keep pace with the speed of winged thought? +Next, Thor, it was your turn to show your +might. Bravely indeed you strove. My heart +is sick with envy of your strength and skill. +But they availed you naught against my +magic. When you drank from the long horn, +thinking you had done so ill, in truth you +had performed a miracle,—never thought I +to behold the like. You guessed not that the +end of the horn was out in the ocean, which +no one might drain dry. Yet, mighty one, +the draughts you swallowed have lowered the +tide upon the shore. Henceforth at certain +times the sea will ebb; and this is by great +Thor's drinking. The cat also which you +almost lifted,—it was no cat, but the great +Midgard serpent himself who encircles the +whole world. He had barely length enough +for his head and tail to touch in a circle +about the sea. But you raised him so high +that he almost touched heaven. How terrified +we were when we saw you heave one of +his mighty feet from the ground! For who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +could tell what horror might happen had you +raised him bodily. Ah, and your wrestling +with old Elli! That was the most marvelous +act of all. You had nearly overthrown +Age itself; yet there has never lived one, +nor will such ever be found, whom Elli, old +age, will not cast to earth at last. So you +were beaten, Thor, but by a mere trick. Ha, +ha! How angry you looked,—I shall never +forget! But now we must part, and I think +you see that it will be best for both of us +that we should not meet again. As I have +done once, so can I always protect my city +by magic spells. Yes, should you come +again to visit us, even better prepared than +now, yet you could never do us serious harm. +Yet the wear and tear upon the nerves of +both of us is something not lightly forgotten."</p> + +<p>He ceased, smiling pleasantly, but with a +threatening look in his eye. Thor's wrath +had been slowly rising during this tedious, +grim speech, and he could control it no +longer.</p> + +<p>"Cheat and trickster!" he cried, "your +wiles shall avail you nothing now that I know +your true self. You have put me to shame,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +now my hammer shall shame you beyond all +reckoning!" and he raised Miölnir to smite +the giant deathfully. But at that moment +the king faded before his very eyes. And +when he turned to look for the giant city +that he might destroy it,—as he had so many +giant dwellings,—there was in the place +where it had been but a broad, fair plain, +with no sign of any palace, wall, or gate. +Utgard had vanished. The king had kept +one trick of magic for the last.</p> + +<p>Then Thor and his three companions +wended their way back to Asgard. But they +were slower than usual about answering questions +concerning their last adventure, their +wondrous visit to the giant city. Truth to +tell, magic or no magic, Thor and Loki had +showed but a poor figure that day. For the +first time in all their meeting with Thor the +giants had not come off any the worse for +the encounter. Perhaps it was a lesson that +he sorely needed. I am afraid that he was +rather inclined to think well of himself. But +then, he had reason, had he not?</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THORS_FISHING" id="THORS_FISHING">THOR'S FISHING</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Once</span> upon a time the Æsir went +to take dinner with old Œgir, the +king of the ocean. Down under +the green waves they went to the coral palace +where Œgir lived with his wife, Queen +Ran, and his daughters, the Waves. But +Œgir was not expecting so large a party +to dinner, and he had not mead enough +for them all to drink. "I must brew some +more mead," he said to himself. But when +he came to look for a kettle in which to +make the brew, there was none in all the +sea large enough for the purpose. At first +Œgir did not know what to do; but at +last he decided to consult the gods themselves, +for he knew how wise and powerful +his guests were, and he hoped that they +might help him to a kettle.</p> + +<p>Now when he told the Æsir his trouble +they were much interested, for they were +hungry and thirsty, and longed for some of +Œgir's good mead. "Where can we find a +kettle?" they said to one another. "Who +has a kettle huge enough to hold mead for +all the Æsir?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +Then Tŷr the brave turned to Thor with +a grand idea. "My father, the giant Hymir, +has such a kettle," he said. "I have seen it +often in his great palace near Elivâgar, the +river of ice. This famous kettle is a mile +deep, and surely that is large enough to brew +all the mead we may need."</p> + +<p>"Surely, surely it is large enough," +laughed Œgir. "But how are we to get +the kettle, my distinguished guests? Who +will go to Giant Land to fetch the kettle a +mile deep?"</p> + +<p>"That will I," said brave Thor. "I will +go to Hymir's dwelling and bring thence +the little kettle, if Tŷr will go with me to +show me the way." So Thor and Tŷr set +out together for the land of snow and ice, +where the giant Hymir lived. They traveled +long and they traveled fast, and finally +they came to the huge house which had +once been Tŷr's home, before he went to +live with the good folk in Asgard.</p> + +<p>Well Tŷr knew the way to enter, and it +was not long before they found themselves +in the hall of Hymir's dwelling, peering +about for some sign of the kettle which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +had come so far to seek; and sure enough, +presently they discovered eight huge kettles +hanging in a row from one of the beams +in the ceiling. While the two were wondering +which kettle might be the one they +sought, there came in Tŷr's grandmother,—and +a terrible grandmother she was. No +wonder that Tŷr had run away from home +when he was very little; for this dreadful +creature was a giantess with nine hundred +heads, each more ugly than the others, and +her temper was as bad as were her looks. +She began to roar and bellow; and no one +knows what this evil old person would +have done to her grandson and his friend +had not there come into the hall at this +moment another woman, fair and sweet, and +glittering with golden ornaments. This was +Tŷr's good mother, who loved him dearly, +and who had mourned his absence during +long years.</p> + +<p>With a cry of joy she threw herself upon +her son's neck, bidding him welcome forty +times over. She welcomed Thor also when +she found out who he was; but she sent +away the wicked old grandmother, that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +might not hear, for Thor's name was not +dear to the race of giants, to so many of +whom he had brought dole and death.</p> + +<p>"Why have you come, dear son, after +so many years?" she cried. "I know that +some great undertaking calls you and this +noble fellow to your father's hall. Danger +and death wait here for such as you and +he; and only some quest with glory for its +reward could have brought you to such +risks. Tell me your secret, Tŷr, and I will +not betray it."</p> + +<p>Then they told her how that they had +come to carry away the giant kettle; and +Tŷr's mother promised that she would help +them all she could. But she warned them +that it would be dangerous indeed, for that +Hymir had been in a terrible temper for +many days, and that the very sight of a +stranger made him wild with rage. Hastily +she gave them meat and drink, for they +were nearly famished after their long journey; +and then she looked around to see +where she should hide them against Hymir's +return, who was now away at the hunt.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" she cried. "The very thing! You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +shall hide in the great kettle itself; and if +you escape Hymir's terrible eye, it may hap +that you will find a way to make off with +your hiding-place, which is what you want." +So the kind creature helped them to climb +into the great kettle where it hung from one +of the rafters in a row with seven others; +but this one was the biggest and the strongest +of them all.</p> + +<p>Hardly had they snuggled down out of +sight when Tŷr's mother began to tremble. +"Hist!" she cried. "I hear him coming. +Keep as still as ever you can, O Tŷr and +Thor!" The floor also began to tremble, +and the eight kettles to clatter against one +another, as Hymir's giant footsteps approached +the house. Outside they could +hear the icebergs shaking with a sound like +thunder; indeed, the whole earth quivered +as if with fear when the terrible giant Hymir +strode home from the hunt. He came +into the hall puffing and blowing, and immediately +the air of the room grew chilly; +for his beard was hung with icicles and his +face was frosted hard, while his breath was +a winter wind,—a freezing blast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +"Ho! wife," he growled, "what news, +what news? For I see by the footprints in +the snow outside that you have had visitors +to-day."</p> + +<p>Then indeed the poor woman trembled; +but she tried not to look frightened as she +answered, "Yes, you have a guest, O Hymir!—a +guest whom you have long wished +to see. Your son Tŷr has returned to visit +his father's hall."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" growled Hymir, with a terrible +frown. "Whom has he brought here +with him, the rascal? There are prints of +two persons' feet in the snow. Come, wife, +tell me all; for I shall soon find out the +truth, whether or no."</p> + +<p>"He has brought a friend of his,—a +dear friend, O Hymir!" faltered the mother. +"Surely, our son's friends are welcome when +he brings them to this our home, after so +long an absence."</p> + +<p>But Hymir howled with rage at the word +"friend." "Where are they hidden?" he +cried. "Friend, indeed! It is one of those +bloody fellows from Asgard, I know,—one +of those giant-killers whom my good mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +taught me to hate with all my might. Let +me get at him! Tell me instantly where he +is hidden, or I will pull down the hall about +your ears!"</p> + +<p>Now when the wicked old giant spoke +like this, his wife knew that he must be +obeyed. Still she tried to put off the fateful +moment of the discovery. "They are standing +over there behind that pillar," she said. +Instantly Hymir glared at the pillar towards +which she pointed, and at his frosty glance—snick-snack!—the +marble pillar cracked +in two, and down crashed the great roof-beam +which held the eight kettles. Smash! +went the kettles; and there they lay shivered +into little pieces at Hymir's feet,—all +except one, the largest of them all, and that +was the kettle in which Thor and Tŷr lay +hidden, scarcely daring to breathe lest the +giant should guess where they were. Tŷr's +mother screamed when she saw the big kettle +fall with the others: but when she found +that this one, alone of them all, lay on its +side unbroken, because it was so tough and +strong, she held her breath to see what +would happen next.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +And what happened was this: out stepped +Thor and Tŷr, and making low bows to +Hymir, they stood side by side, smiling and +looking as unconcerned as if they really +enjoyed all this hubbub; and I dare say +that they did indeed, being Tŷr the bold +and Thor the thunderer, who had been in +Giant Land many times ere this.</p> + +<p>Hymir gave scarcely a glance at his son, +but he eyed Thor with a frown of hatred +and suspicion, for he knew that this was +one of Father Odin's brave family, though +he could not tell which one. However, he +thought best to be civil, now that Thor was +actually before him. So with gruff politeness +he invited the two guests to supper.</p> + +<p>Now Thor was a valiant fellow at the +table as well as in war, as you remember; +and at sight of the good things on the board +his eyes sparkled. Three roast oxen there +were upon the giant's table, and Thor fell +to with a will and finished two of them +himself! You should have seen the giant +stare.</p> + +<p>"Truly, friend, you have a goodly appetite," +he said. "You have eaten all the meat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +that I have in my larder; and if you dine +with us to-morrow, I must insist that you +catch your own dinner of fish. I cannot +undertake to provide food for such an appetite!"</p> + +<p>Now this was not hospitable of Hymir, +but Thor did not mind. "I like well to fish, +good Hymir," he laughed; "and when you +fare forth with your boat in the morning, I +will go with you and see what I can find for +my dinner at the bottom of the sea."</p> + +<p>When the morning came, the giant made +ready for the fishing, and Thor rose early to +go with him.</p> + +<p>"Ho, Hymir," exclaimed Thor, "have +you bait enough for us both?"</p> + +<p>Hymir answered gruffly, "You must dig +your own bait when you go fishing with me. +I have no time to waste on you, sirrah."</p> + +<p>Then Thor looked about to see what he +could use for bait; and presently he spied +a herd of Hymir's oxen feeding in the +meadow. "Aha! just the thing!" he cried; +and seizing the hugest ox of all, he trotted +down to the shore with it under his arm, +as easily as you would carry a handful of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +clams for bait. When Hymir saw this, he +was very angry. He pushed the boat off +from shore and began to row away as fast +as he could, so that Thor might not have +a chance to come aboard. But Thor made +one long step and planted himself snugly +in the stern of the boat.</p> + +<p>"No, no, brother Hymir," he said, laughing. +"You invited me to go fishing, and +a-fishing I will go; for I have my bait, and +my hope is high that great luck I shall see +this day." So he took an oar and rowed +mightily in the stern, while Hymir the giant +rowed mightily at the prow; and no one +ever saw boat skip over the water so fast +as this one did on the day when these two +big fellows went fishing together.</p> + +<p>Far and fast they rowed, until they came +to a spot where Hymir cried, "Hold! Let +us anchor here and fish; this is the place +where I have best fortune."</p> + +<p>"And what sort of little fish do you catch +here, O Hymir?" asked Thor.</p> + +<p>"Whales!" answered the giant proudly. +"I fish for nothing smaller than whales."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" cried Thor. "Who would fish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +for such small fry! Whales, indeed; let us +row out further, where we can find something +really worth catching," and he began +to pull even faster than before.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop!" roared the giant. "You +do not know what you are doing. These +are the haunts of the dreadful Midgard +serpent, and it is not safe to fish in these +waters."</p> + +<p>"Oho! The Midgard serpent!" said +Thor, delighted. "That is the very fish I +am after. Let us drop in our lines here."</p> + +<p>Thor baited his great hook with the whole +head of the ox which he had brought, and +cast his line, big round as a man's arm, over +the side of the boat. Hymir also cast his +line, for he did not wish Thor to think him +a coward; but his hand trembled as he +waited for a bite, and he glanced down into +the blue depths with eyes rounded as big +as dinner-plates through fear of the horrible +creature who lived down below those +waves.</p> + +<p>"Look! You have a bite!" cried Thor, +so suddenly that Hymir started and nearly +tumbled out of the boat. Hand over hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +he pulled in his line, and lo! he had caught +two whales—two great flopping whales—on +his one hook! That was a catch indeed.</p> + +<p>Hymir smiled proudly, forgetting his fear +as he said, "How is that, my friend? Let us +see you beat this catch in your morning's +fishing."</p> + +<p>Lo, just at that moment Thor also had +a bite—such a bite! The boat rocked to +and fro, and seemed ready to capsize every +minute. Then the waves began to roll high +and to be lashed into foam for yards and +yards about the boat, as if some huge creature +were struggling hard below the water.</p> + +<p>"I have him!" shouted Thor; "I have +the old serpent, the brother of the Fenris +wolf! Pull, pull, monster! But you shall +not escape me now!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, the Midgard serpent had +Thor's hook fixed in his jaw, and struggle +as he might, there was no freeing himself +from the line; for the harder he pulled the +stronger grew Thor. In his Æsir-might Thor +waxed so huge and so forceful that his legs +went straight through the bottom of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +boat and his feet stood on the bottom of +the sea. With firm bottom as a brace for his +strength, Thor pulled and pulled, and at last +up came the head of the Midgard serpent, +up to the side of the boat, where it thrust +out of the water mountain high, dreadful to +behold; his monstrous red eyes were rolling +fiercely, his nostrils spouted fire, and from +his terrible sharp teeth dripped poison, that +sizzled as it fell into the sea. Angrily they +glared at each other, Thor and the serpent, +while the water streamed into the boat, and +the giant turned pale with fear at the danger +threatening him on all sides.</p> + +<p>Thor seized his hammer, preparing to smite +the creature's head; but even as he swung +Miölnir high for the fatal blow, Hymir cut +the fish-line with his knife, and down into +the depths of ocean sank the Midgard serpent +amid a whirlpool of eddies. But the +hammer had sped from Thor's iron fingers. +It crushed the serpent's head as he sank +downward to his lair on the sandy bottom; +it crushed, but did not kill him, thanks to +the giant's treachery. Terrible was the disturbance +it caused beneath the waves. It burst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +the rocks and made the caverns of the ocean +shiver into bits. It wrecked the coral groves +and tore loose the draperies of sea-weed. The +fishes scurried about in every direction, and +the sea-monsters wildly sought new places +to hide themselves when they found their +homes destroyed. The sea itself was stirred +to its lowest depths, and the waves ran +trembling into one another's arms. The earth, +too, shrank and shivered. Hymir, cowering +low in the boat, was glad of one thing, which +was that the terrible Midgard serpent had +vanished out of sight. And that was the last +that was ever seen of him, though he still +lived, wounded and sore from the shock of +Thor's hammer.</p> + +<p>Now it was time to return home. Silently +and sulkily the giant swam back to land; +Thor, bearing the boat upon his shoulders, +filled with water and weighted as it was with +the great whales which Hymir had caught, +waded ashore, and brought his burden to the +giant's hall. Here Hymir met him crossly +enough, for he was ashamed of the whole +morning's work, in which Thor had appeared +so much more of a hero than he. Indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +he was tired of even pretending hospitality +towards this unwelcome guest, and was resolved +to be rid of him; but first he would +put Thor to shame.</p> + +<p>"You are a strong fellow," he said, "good +at the oar and at the fishing; most wondrously +good at the hammer, by which I +know that you are Thor. But there is one +thing which you cannot do, I warrant,—you +cannot break this little cup of mine, +hard though you may try."</p> + +<p>"That I shall see for myself," answered +Thor; and he took the cup in his hand. +Now this was a magic cup, and there was +but one way of breaking it, but one thing +hard enough to shatter its mightiness. Thor +threw it with all his force against a stone +of the flooring; but instead of breaking the +cup, the stone itself was cracked into splinters. +Then Thor grew angry, for the giant +and all his servants were laughing as if this +were the greatest joke ever played.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! Try again, Thor!" cried Hymir, +nearly bursting with delight; for he +thought that now he should prove how +much mightier he was than the visitor from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> +Asgard. Thor clutched the cup more firmly +and hurled it against one of the iron pillars +of the hall; but like a rubber ball the magic +cup merely bounded back straight into +Hymir's hand. At this second failure the +giants were full of merriment and danced +about, making all manner of fun at the expense +of Thor. You can fancy how well +Thor the mighty enjoyed this! His brow +grew black, and the glance of his eye was +terrible. He knew there was some magic in +the trick, but he knew not how to meet it. +Just then he felt the soft touch of a woman's +hand upon his arm, and the voice of Tŷr's +mother whispered in his <span class="locked">ear,—</span></p> + +<p>"Cast the cup against Hymir's own forehead, +which is the hardest substance in the +world." No one except Thor heard the +woman say these words, for all the giant +folk were doubled up with mirth over their +famous joke. But Thor dropped upon one +knee, and seizing the cup fiercely, whirled +it about his head, then dashed it with all +his might straight at Hymir's forehead. +Smash! Crash! What had happened? +Thor looked eagerly to see. There stood the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +giant, looking surprised and a little dazed; +but his forehead showed not even a +scratch, while the strong cup was shivered +into little pieces.</p> + +<p>"Well done!" exclaimed Hymir hastily, +when he had recovered a little from his surprise. +But he was mortified at Thor's success, +and set about to think up a new task +to try his strength. "That was very well," +he remarked patronizingly; "now you must +perform a harder task. Let us see you carry +the mead kettle out of the hall. Do that, my +fine fellow, and I shall say you are strong +indeed."</p> + +<p>The mead kettle! The very thing Thor +had come to get! He glanced at Tŷr; he +shot a look at Tŷr's mother; and both of +them caught the sparkle, which was very +like a wink. To himself Thor muttered, +"I must not fail in this! I must not, will +not fail!"</p> + +<p>"First let me try," cried Tŷr; for he +wanted to give Thor time for a resting-spell. +Twice Tŷr the mighty strained at +the great kettle, but he could not so much +as stir one leg of it from the floor where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +it rested. He tugged and heaved in vain, +growing red in the face, till his mother +begged him to give over, for it was quite +useless.</p> + +<p>Then Thor stepped forth upon the floor. +He grasped the rim of the kettle, and +stamped his feet through the stone of the +flooring as he braced himself to lift. One, +two, three! Thor straightened himself, and +up swung the giant kettle to his head, while +the iron handle clattered about his feet. It +was a mighty burden, and Thor staggered +as he started for the door; but Tŷr was +close beside him, and they had covered long +leagues of ground on their way home before +the astonished giants had recovered sufficiently +to follow them. When Thor and +Tŷr looked back, however, they saw a vast +crowd of horrible giants, some of them with +a hundred heads, swarming out of the caverns +in Hymir's land, howling and prowling +upon their track.</p> + +<p>"You must stop them, Thor, or they will +never let us get away with their precious +kettle,—they take such long strides!" cried +Tŷr. So Thor set down the kettle, and from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +his pocket drew out Miölnir, his wondrous +hammer. Terribly it flashed in the air as he +swung it over his head; then forth it flew +towards Jotunheim; and before it returned +to Thor's hand it had crushed all the heads +of those many-headed giants, Hymir's ugly +mother and Hymir himself among them. +The only one who escaped was the good +and beautiful mother of Tŷr. And you may +be sure she lived happily ever after in the +palace which Hymir and his wicked old +mother had formerly made so wretched a +home for her.</p> + +<p>Now Tŷr and Thor had the giant kettle +which they had gone so far and had met +so many dangers to obtain. They took it +to Œgir's sea-palace, where the banquet was +still going on, and where the Æsir were still +waiting patiently for their mead; for time +does not go so fast below the quiet waves +as on shore. Now that King Œgir had the +great kettle, he could brew all the mead +they needed. So every one thanked Tŷr +and congratulated Thor upon the success of +their adventure.</p> + +<p>"I was sure that Thor would bring the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +kettle," said fair Sif, smiling upon her brave +husband.</p> + +<p>"What Thor sets out to do, that he +always accomplishes," said Father Odin +gravely. And that was praise enough for +any one.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THORS_DUEL" id="THORS_DUEL">THOR'S DUEL</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">In</span> the days that are past a wonderful race +of horses pastured in the meadows of +heaven, steeds more beautiful and more +swift than any which the world knows to-day. +There was Hrîmfaxi, the black, sleek horse +who drew the chariot of Night across the sky +and scattered the dew from his foaming bit. +There was Glad, behind whose flying heels +sped the swift chariot of Day. His mane was +yellow with gold, and from it beamed light +which made the whole world bright. Then +there were the two shining horses of the sun, +Arvakur the watchful, and Alsvith the rapid; +and the nine fierce battle-chargers of the nine +Valkyries, who bore the bodies of fallen heroes +from the field of fight to the blessedness +of Valhalla. Each of the gods had his own +glorious steed, with such pretty names as +Gold-mane and Silver-top, Light-foot and +Precious-stone; these galloped with their +masters over clouds and through the blue air, +blowing flame from their nostrils and glinting +sparks from their fiery eyes. The Æsir +would have been poor indeed without their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +faithful mounts, and few would be the stories +to tell in which these noble creatures do not +bear at least a part.</p> + +<p>But best of all the horses of heaven was +Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of Father +Odin, who because he was so well supplied +with sturdy feet could gallop faster over land +and sea than any horse which ever lived. +Sleipnir was snow-white and beautiful to see, +and Odin was very fond and proud of him, +you may be sure. He loved to ride forth +upon his good horse's back to meet whatever +adventure might be upon the way, and sometimes +they had wild times together.</p> + +<p>One day Odin galloped off from Asgard +upon Sleipnir straight towards Jotunheim +and the Land of Giants, for it was long since +All-Father had been to the cold country, and +he wished to see how its mountains and ice-rivers +looked. Now as he galloped along a +wild road, he met a huge giant standing beside +his giant steed.</p> + +<p>"Who goes there?" cried the giant gruffly, +blocking the way so that Odin could not +pass. "You with the golden helmet, who are +you, who ride so famously through air and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +water? For I have been watching you from +this mountain-top. Truly, that is a fine horse +which you bestride."</p> + +<p>"There is no finer horse in all the world," +boasted Odin. "Have you not heard of Sleipnir, +the pride of Asgard? I will match him +against any of your big, clumsy giant horses."</p> + +<p>"Ho!" roared the giant angrily, "an excellent +horse he is, your little Sleipnir. But +I warrant he is no match for my Gullfaxi +here. Come, let us try a race; and at its end +I shall pay you for your insult to our horses +of Jotunheim."</p> + +<p>So saying, the giant, whose ugly name +was Hrungnir, sprang upon his horse and +spurred straight at Odin in the narrow way. +Odin turned and galloped back towards Asgard +with all his might; for not only must +he prove his horse's speed, but he must save +himself and Sleipnir from the anger of the +giant, who was one of the fiercest and wickedest +of all his fierce and wicked race.</p> + +<p>How the eight slender legs of Sleipnir +twinkled through the blue sky! How his +nostrils quivered and shot forth fire and +smoke! Like a flash of lightning he darted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +across the sky, and the giant horse rumbled +and thumped along close behind like the +thunder following the flash.</p> + +<p>"Hi, hi!" yelled the giant. "After them, +Gullfaxi! And when we have overtaken the +two, we will crush their bones between us!"</p> + +<p>"Speed, speed, my Sleipnir!" shouted +Odin. "Speed, good horse, or you will never +again feed in the dewy pastures of Asgard +with the other horses. Speed, speed, and bring +us safe within the gates!"</p> + +<p>Well Sleipnir understood what his master +said, and well he knew the way. Already +the rainbow bridge was in sight, with Heimdal +the watchman prepared to let them in. +His sharp eyes had spied them afar, and +had recognized the flash of Sleipnir's white +body and of Odin's golden helmet. Gallop +and thud! The twelve hoofs were upon the +bridge, the giant horse close behind the other. +At last Hrungnir knew where he was, and +into what danger he was rushing. He pulled +at the reins and tried to stop his great beast. +But Gullfaxi was tearing along at too terrible +a speed. He could not stop. Heimdal threw +open the gates of Asgard, and in galloped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +Sleipnir with his precious burden, safe. Close +upon them bolted in Gullfaxi, bearing his +giant master, puffing and purple in the face +from hard riding and anger. Cling-clang! +Heimdal had shut and barred the gates, and +there was the giant prisoned in the castle of +his enemies.</p> + +<p>Now the Æsir were courteous folk, unlike +the giants, and they were not anxious to take +advantage of a single enemy thus thrown +into their power. They invited him to enter +Valhalla with them, to rest and sup before +the long journey of his return. Thor was not +present, so they filled for the giant the great +cups which Thor was wont to drain, for +they were nearest to the giant size. But you +remember that Thor was famous for his +power to drink deep. Hrungnir's head was +not so steady; Thor's draught was too much +for him. He soon lost his wits, of which he +had but few; and a witless giant is a most +dreadful creature. He raged like a madman, +and threatened to pick up Valhalla like a toy +house and carry it home with him to Jotunheim. +He said he would pull Asgard to +pieces and slay all the gods except Freia the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +fair and Sif, the golden-haired wife of Thor, +whom he would carry off like little dolls for +his toy house.</p> + +<p>The Æsir knew not what to do, for Thor +and his hammer were not there to protect +them, and Asgard seemed in danger with this +enemy within its very walls. Hrungnir called +for more and more mead, which Freia alone +dared to bring and set before him. And the +more he drank the fiercer he became. At last +the Æsir could bear no longer his insults and +his violence. Besides, they feared that there +would be no more mead left for their banquets +if this unwelcome visitor should keep +Freia pouring out for him Thor's mighty +goblets. They bade Heimdal blow his horn +and summon Thor; and this Heimdal did in +a trice.</p> + +<p>Now rumbling and thundering in his +chariot of goats came Thor. He dashed into +the hall, hammer in hand, and stared in +amazement at the unwieldy guest whom he +found there.</p> + +<p>"A giant feasting in Asgard hall!" he +roared. "This is a sight which I never saw +before. Who gave the insolent fellow leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> +to sit in my place? And why does fair Freia +wait upon him as if he were some noble +guest at a feast of the high gods? I will slay +him at once!" and he raised the hammer to +keep his word.</p> + +<p>Thor's coming had sobered the giant somewhat, +for he knew that this was no enemy +to be trifled with. He looked at Thor sulkily +and said: "I am Odin's guest. He invited +me to this banquet, and therefore I am under +his protection."</p> + +<p>"You shall be sorry that you accepted the +invitation," cried Thor, balancing his hammer +and looking very fierce; for Sif had sobbed +in his ear how the giant had threatened to +carry her away.</p> + +<p>Hrungnir now rose to his feet and faced +Thor boldly, for the sound of Thor's gruff +voice had restored his scattered wits. "I am +here alone and without weapons," he said. +"You would do ill to slay me now. It would +be little like the noble Thor, of whom we +hear tales, to do such a thing. The world will +count you braver if you let me go and meet +me later in single combat, when we shall +both be fairly armed."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +Thor dropped the hammer to his side. +"Your words are true," he said, for he was a +just and honorable fellow.</p> + +<p>"I was foolish to leave my shield and +stone club at home," went on the giant. "If +I had my arms with me, we would fight at +this moment. But I name you a coward if +you slay me now, an unarmed enemy."</p> + +<p>"Your words are just," quoth Thor again. +"I have never before been challenged by any +foe. I will meet you, Hrungnir, at your +Stone City, midway between heaven and +earth. And there we will fight a duel to see +which of us is the better fellow."</p> + +<p>Hrungnir departed for Stone City in Jotunheim; +and great was the excitement of +the other giants when they heard of the duel +which one of their number was to fight +with Thor, the deadliest enemy of their race.</p> + +<p>"We must be sure that Hrungnir wins the +victory!" they cried. "It will never do to +have Asgard victorious in the first duel that +we have fought with her champion. We +will make a second hero to aid Hrungnir."</p> + +<p>All the giants set to work with a will.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +They brought great buckets of moist clay, +and heaping them up into a huge mound, +moulded the mass with their giant hands as +a sculptor does his image, until they had +made a man of clay, an immense dummy, +nine miles high and three miles wide. "Now +we must make him live; we must put a heart +into him!" they cried. But they could find +no heart big enough until they thought of +taking that of a mare, and that fitted nicely. +A mare's heart is the most cowardly one that +beats.</p> + +<p>Hrungnir's heart was a three-cornered +piece of hard stone. His head also was of +stone, and likewise the great shield which he +held before him when he stood outside of +Stone City waiting for Thor to come to the +duel. Over his shoulder he carried his club, +and that also was of stone, the kind from +which whetstones are made, hard and terrible. +By his side stood the huge clay man, Möckuralfi, +and they were a dreadful sight to see, +these two vast bodies whom Thor must encounter.</p> + +<p>But at the very first sight of Thor, who +came thundering to the place with swift<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +Thialfi his servant, the timid mare's heart +in the man of clay throbbed with fear; he +trembled so that his knees knocked together, +and his nine miles of height rocked unsteadily.</p> + +<p>Thialfi ran up to Hrungnir and began to +mock him, saying, "You are careless, giant. +I fear you do not know what a mighty enemy +has come to fight you. You hold your shield +in front of you; but that will serve you +nothing. Thor has seen this. He has only +to go down into the earth and he can attack +you conveniently from beneath your very +feet."</p> + +<p>At this terrifying news Hrungnir hastened +to throw his shield upon the ground and to +stand upon it, so that he might be safe from +Thor's under-stroke. He grasped his heavy +club with both hands and waited. He had +not long to wait. There came a blinding +flash of lightning and a peal of crashing +thunder. Thor had cast his hammer into +space. Hrungnir raised his club with both +hands and hurled it against the hammer +which he saw flying towards him. The two +mighty weapons met in the air with an earsplitting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +shock. Hard as was the stone of the +giant's club, it was like glass against the +power of Miölnir. The club was dashed into +pieces; some fragments fell upon the earth; +and these, they say, are the rocks from which +whetstones are made unto this day. They +are so hard that men use them to sharpen +knives and axes and scythes. One splinter +of the hard stone struck Thor himself in the +forehead, with so fierce a blow that he fell +forward upon the ground, and Thialfi feared +that he was killed. But Miölnir, not even +stopped in its course by meeting the giant's +club, sped straight to Hrungnir and crushed +his stony skull, so that he fell forward over +Thor, and his foot lay on the fallen hero's +neck. And that was the end of the giant +whose head and heart were of stone.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Thialfi the swift had fought +with the man of clay, and had found little +trouble in toppling him to earth. For the +mare's cowardly heart in his great body gave +him little strength to meet Thor's faithful +servant; and the trembling limbs of Möckuralfi +soon yielded to Thialfi's hearty blows. +He fell like an unsteady tower of blocks, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +his brittle bulk shivered into a thousand +fragments.</p> + +<p>Thialfi ran to his master and tried to raise +him. The giant's great foot still rested upon +his neck, and all Thialfi's strength could not +move it away. Swift as the wind he ran for +the other Æsir, and when they heard that +great Thor, their champion, had fallen and +seemed like one dead, they came rushing to +the spot in horror and confusion. Together +they all attempted to raise Hrungnir's foot +from Thor's neck that they might see +whether their hero lived or no. But all their +efforts were in vain. The foot was not to be +lifted by Æsir-might.</p> + +<p>At this moment a second hero appeared +upon the scene. It was Magni, the son of +Thor himself; Magni, who was but three +days old, yet already in his babyhood he was +almost as big as a giant and had nearly the +strength of his father. This wonderful youngster +came running to the place where his +father lay surrounded by a group of sad-faced +and despairing gods. When Magni +saw what the matter was, he seized Hrungnir's +enormous foot in both his hands, heaved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +his broad young shoulders, and in a moment +Thor's neck was free of the weight which +was crushing it.</p> + +<p>Best of all, it proved that Thor was not +dead, only stunned by the blow of the giant's +club and by his fall. He stirred, sat up painfully, +and looked around him at the group of +eager friends. "Who lifted the weight from +my neck?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It was I, father," answered Magni modestly. +Thor clasped him in his arms and +hugged him tight, beaming with pride and +gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Truly, you are a fine child!" he cried; +"one to make glad your father's heart. Now +as a reward for your first great deed you +shall have a gift from me. The swift horse +of Hrungnir shall be yours,—that same +Gullfaxi who was the beginning of all this +trouble. You shall ride Gullfaxi; only a +giant steed is strong enough to bear the +weight of such an infant prodigy as you, my +Magni."</p> + +<p>Now this word did not wholly please +Father Odin, for he thought that a horse so +excellent ought to belong to him. He took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +Thor aside and argued that but for him there +would have been no duel, no horse to win. +Thor answered <span class="locked">simply,—</span></p> + +<p>"True, Father Odin, you began this trouble. +But I have fought your battle, destroyed +your enemy, and suffered great pain for you. +Surely, I have won the horse fairly and may +give it to whom I choose. My son, who has +saved me, deserves a horse as good as any. +Yet, as you have proved, even Gullfaxi is +scarce a match for your Sleipnir. Verily, +Father Odin, you should be content with the +best." Odin said no more.</p> + +<p>Now Thor went home to his cloud-palace +in Thrudvang. And there he was healed of +all his hurts except that which the splinter +of stone had made in his forehead. For the +stone was imbedded so fast that it could not +be taken out, and Thor suffered sorely therefor. +Sif, his yellow-haired wife, was in despair, +knowing not what to do. At last she +bethought her of the wise woman, Groa, who +had skill in all manner of herbs and witch +charms. Sif sent for Groa, who lived all +alone and sad because her husband Örvandil +had disappeared, she knew not whither. Groa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +came to Thor and, standing beside his bed +while he slept, sang strange songs and gently +waved her hands over him. Immediately the +stone in his forehead began to loosen, and +Thor opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"The stone is loosening, the stone is coming +out!" he cried. "How can I reward you, +gentle dame? Prithee, what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Groa," answered the woman, +weeping, "wife of Örvandil who is lost."</p> + +<p>"Now, then, I can reward you, kind Groa!" +cried Thor, "for I can bring you tidings of +your husband. I met him in the cold country, +in Jotunheim, the Land of Giants, which you +know I sometimes visit for a bit of good +hunting. It was by Elivâgar's icy river that +I met Örvandil, and there was no way for +him to cross. So I put him in an iron basket +and myself bore him over the flood. Br-r-r! +But that is a cold land! His feet stuck out +through the meshes of the basket, and when +we reached the other side one of his toes was +frozen stiff. So I broke it off and tossed +it up into the sky that it might become a +star. To prove that what I relate is true, +Groa, there is the new star shining over us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +at this very moment. Look! From this day +it shall be known to men as Örvandil's Toe. +Do not you weep any longer. After all, the +loss of a toe is a little thing; and I promise +that your husband shall soon return to you, +safe and sound, but for that small token of +his wanderings in the land where visitors are +not welcome."</p> + +<p>At these joyful tidings poor Groa was so +overcome that she fainted. And that put an +end to the charm which she was weaving to +loosen the stone from Thor's forehead. The +stone was not yet wholly free, and thenceforth +it was in vain to attempt its removal; +Thor must always wear the splinter in his +forehead. Groa could never forgive herself +for the carelessness which had thus made her +skill vain to help one to whom she had reason +to be so grateful.</p> + +<p>Now because of the bit of whetstone in +Thor's forehead, folk of olden times were +very careful how they used a whetstone; and +especially they knew that they must not throw +or drop one on the floor. For when they did +so, the splinter in Thor's forehead was jarred, +and the good Asa suffered great pain.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="IN_THE_GIANTS_HOUSE" id="IN_THE_GIANTS_HOUSE">IN THE GIANT'S HOUSE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">Although</span> Thor had slain Thiasse +the giant builder, Thrym the thief, +Hrungnir, and Hymir, and had rid +the world of whole families of wicked giants, +there remained many others in Jotunheim +to do their evil deeds and to plot mischief +against both gods and men; and of these +Geirröd was the fiercest and the wickedest. +He and his two ugly daughters—Gialp of +the red eyes, and Greip of the black teeth—lived +in a large palace among the mountains, +where Geirröd had his treasures of +iron and copper, silver and gold; for, since +the death of Thrym, Geirröd was the Lord +of the Mines, and all the riches that came +out of the earth-caverns belonged to him.</p> + +<p>Thrym had been Geirröd's friend, and the +tale of Thrym's death through the might +of Thor and his hammer had made Geirröd +very sad and angry. "If I could but catch +Thor, now, without his weapons," he said +to his daughters, "what a lesson I would +give him! How I would punish him for +his deeds against us giants!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +"Oh, what would you do, father?" cried +Gialp, twinkling her cruel red eyes, and +working her claw fingers as if she would +like to fasten them in Thor's golden beard.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what would you do, father?" cried +Greip, smacking her lips and grinding her +black teeth as if she would like a bite out +of Thor's stout arm.</p> + +<p>"Do to him!" growled Geirröd fiercely. +"Do to him! Gr-r-r! I would chew him +all up! I would break his bones into little +bits! I would smash him into jelly!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, good, good! Do it, father, and then +give him to us to play with," cried Gialp +and Greip, dancing up and down till the +hills trembled and all the frightened sheep +ran home to their folds thinking that there +must be an earthquake; for Gialp was as +tall as a pine-tree and many times as thick, +while Greip, her little sister, was as large +around as a haystack and high as a flagstaff. +They both hoped some day to be as +huge as their father, whose legs were so +long that he could step across the river valleys +from one hilltop to another, just as +we human folk cross a brook on stepping-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span>stones; +and his arms were so stout that he +could lift a yoke of oxen in each fist, as if +they were red-painted toys.</p> + +<p>Geirröd shook his head at his two playful +daughters and sighed. "We must catch +Master Thor first, my girls, before we do +these fine things to him. We must catch +him without his mighty hammer, that never +fails him, and without his belt, that doubles +his strength whenever he puts it on, or even +I cannot chew and break and smash him as +he deserves; for with these his weapons he +is the mightiest creature in the whole world, +and I would rather meddle with thunder +and lightning than with him. Let us wait, +children."</p> + +<p>Then Gialp and Greip pouted and sulked +like two great babies who cannot have the +new plaything which they want; and very +ugly they were to see, with tears as big as +oranges rolling down their cheeks.</p> + +<p>Sooner than they expected they came +very near to having their heart's desire fulfilled. +And if it had happened as they +wished, and if Asgard had lost its goodliest +hero, its strongest defense, that would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> +have been red Loki's fault, all Loki's evil +planning; for you are now to hear of the +wickedest thing that up to this time Loki +had ever done. As you know, it was Loki +who was Thor's bitterest enemy; and for +many months he had been awaiting the +chance to repay the Thunder Lord for the +dole which Thor had brought upon him at +the time of the dwarf's gifts to Asgard.</p> + +<p>This is how it came about: Loki had +long remembered the fun of skimming as +a great bird in Freia's falcon feathers. He +had longed to borrow the wings once again +and to fly away over the round world to see +what he could see; for he thought that +so he could learn many secrets which he +was not meant to know, and plan wonderful +mischief without being found out. +But Freia would not again loan her feather +dress to Loki. She owed him a grudge for +naming her as Thrym's bride; and besides, +she remembered his treatment of Idun, and +she did not trust his oily tongue and fine +promises. So Loki saw no way but to borrow +the feathers without leave; and this he +did one day when Freia was gone to ride in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +her chariot drawn by white cats. Loki put +on the feather dress, as he had done twice +before,—once when he went to Jotunheim +to bring back stolen Idun and her magic +apples, once when he went to find out about +Thor's hammer.</p> + +<p>Away he flew from Asgard as birdlike +as you please, chuckling to himself with +wicked thoughts. It did not make any particular +difference to him where he went. It +was such fun to flap and fly, skim and +wheel, looking and feeling for all the world +like a big brown falcon. He swooped low, +thinking, "I wonder what Freia would say +to see me now! Whee-e-e! How angry +she would be!" Just then he spied the +high wall of a palace on the mountains.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" said Loki. "I never saw that +place before. It may be a giant's dwelling. +I think this must be Jotunheim, from the +bigness of things. I must just peep to see." +Loki was the most inquisitive of creatures, +as wily minded folk are apt to be.</p> + +<p>Loki the falcon alighted and hopped to +the wall, then giving a flap of his wings he +flew up and up to the window ledge, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> +he perched and peered into the hall. And +there within he saw the giant Geirröd with +his daughters eating their dinner. They +looked so ugly and so greedy, as they sat +there gobbling their food in giant mouthfuls, +that Loki on the window-sill could +not help snickering to himself. Now at that +sound Geirröd looked up and saw the big +brown bird peeping in at the window.</p> + +<p>"Heigha!" cried the giant to one of his +servants. "Go you and fetch me the big +brown bird up yonder in the window."</p> + +<p>Then the servant ran to the wall and tried +to climb up to get at Loki; but the window +was so high that he could not reach. He +jumped and slipped, scrambled and slipped, +again and again, while Loki sat just above +his clutching fingers, and chuckled so that he +nearly fell from his perch. "Te-he! te-he!" +chattered Loki in the falcon tongue. It was +such fun to see the fellow grow black in +the face with trying to reach him that Loki +thought he would wait until the giant's fingers +almost touched him, before flying away.</p> + +<p>But Loki waited too long. At last, with +a quick spring, the giant gained a hold upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +the window ledge, and Loki was within reach. +When Loki flapped his wings to fly, he +found that his feet were tangled in the vine +that grew upon the wall. He struggled and +twisted with all his might,—but in vain. +There he was, caught fast. Then the servant +grasped him by the legs, and so brought +him to Geirröd, where he sat at table. Now +Loki in his feather dress looked exactly like +a falcon—except for his eyes. There was +no hiding the wise and crafty look of Loki's +eyes. As soon as Geirröd looked at him, he +suspected that this was no ordinary bird.</p> + +<p>"You are no falcon, you!" he cried. +"You are spying about my palace in disguise. +Speak, and tell me who you are." +Loki was afraid to tell, because he knew +the giants were angry with him for his part +in Thrym's death,—small though his part +had really been in that great deed. So he +kept his beak closed tight, and refused to +speak. The giant stormed and raged and +threatened to kill him; but still Loki was +silent.</p> + +<p>Then Geirröd locked the falcon up in a +chest for three long months without food or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> +water, to see how that would suit his bird-ship. +You can imagine how hungry and +thirsty Loki was at the end of that time,—ready +to tell anything he knew, and more +also, for the sake of a crumb of bread and +a drop of water.</p> + +<p>So then Geirröd called through the keyhole, +"Well, Sir Falcon, now will you tell +me who you are?" And this time Loki +piped feebly, "I am Loki of Asgard; give +me something to eat!"</p> + +<p>"Oho!" quoth the giant fiercely. "You +are that Loki who went with Thor to kill +my brother Thrym! Oho! Well, you shall +die for that, my feathered friend!"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" screamed Loki. "Thor is no +friend of mine. I love the giants far better! +One of them is my wife!"—which was +indeed true, as were few of Loki's words.</p> + +<p>"Then if Thor is no friend of yours, to +save your life will you bring him into my +power?" asked Geirröd.</p> + +<p>Loki's eyes gleamed wickedly among the +feathers. Here all at once was his chance +to be free, and to have his revenge upon +Thor, his worst enemy. "Ay, that I will!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> +he cried eagerly. "I will bring Thor into +your power."</p> + +<p>So Geirröd made him give a solemn promise +to do that wrong; and upon this he +loosed Loki from the chest and gave him +food. Then they formed the wicked plan +together, while Gialp and Greip, the giant's +ugly daughters, listened and smacked their +lips.</p> + +<p>Loki was to persuade Thor to come with +him to Geirrödsgard. More; he must come +without his mighty hammer, and without +the iron gloves of power, and without the +belt of strength; for so only could the giant +have Thor at his mercy.</p> + +<p>After their wicked plans were made, Loki +bade a friendly farewell to Geirröd and his +daughters and flew back to Asgard as +quickly as he could. You may be sure he +had a sound scolding from Freia for stealing +her feather dress and for keeping it so long. +But he told such a pitiful story of being +kept prisoner by a cruel giant, and he looked +in truth so pale and thin from his long fast, +that the gods were fain to pity him and to +believe his story, in spite of the many times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> +that he had deceived them. Indeed, most of +his tale was true, but he told only half of the +truth; for he spoke no word of his promise +to the giant. This he kept hidden in his +breast.</p> + +<p>Now, one day not long after this, Loki invited +Thor to go on a journey with him to +visit a new friend who, he said, was anxious +to know the Thunder Lord. Loki was so +pleasant in his manner and seemed so frank +in his speech that Thor, whose heart was +simple and unsuspicious, never dreamed of +any wrong, not even when Loki added,—"And +by the bye, my Thor, you must leave +behind your hammer, your belt, and your +gloves; for it would show little courtesy to +wear such weapons in the home of a new +friend."</p> + +<p>Thor carelessly agreed; for he was pleased +with the idea of a new adventure, and with +the thought of making a new friend. Besides, +on their last journey together, Loki +had behaved so well that Thor believed him +to have changed his evil ways and to have +become his friend. So together they set off +in Thor's goat chariot, without weapons of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +any kind except those which Loki secretly +carried. Loki chuckled as they rattled over +the clouds, and if Thor had seen the look in +his eyes, he would have turned the chariot +back to Asgard and to safety, where he had +left gentle Sif his wife. But Thor did not +notice, and so they rumbled on.</p> + +<p>Soon they came to the gate of Giant +Land. Thor thought this strange, for he +knew they were like to find few friends of +his dwelling among the Big Folk. For the +first time he began to suspect Loki of some +treacherous scheme. However, he said nothing, +and pretended to be as gay and careless +as before. But he thought of a plan to +find out the truth.</p> + +<p>Close by the entrance was the cave of +Grid, a good giantess, who alone of all her +race was a friend of Thor and of the folk in +Asgard.</p> + +<p>"I will alight here for a moment, Loki," +said Thor carelessly. "I long for a draught +of water. Hold you the goats tightly by the +reins until I return."</p> + +<p>So he went into the cave and got his +draught of water. But while he was drinking,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +he questioned good mother Grid to +some purpose.</p> + +<p>"Who is this friend Geirröd whom I go +to see?" he asked her.</p> + +<p>"Geirröd your friend! You go to see +Geirröd!" she exclaimed. "He is the wickedest +giant of us all, and no friend to you. +Why do you go, dear Thor?"</p> + +<p>"H'm!" muttered Thor. "Red Loki's +mischief again!" He told her of the visit +that Loki had proposed, and how he had +left at home the belt, the gloves, and the +hammer which made him stronger than any +giant. Then Grid was frightened.</p> + +<p>"Go not, go not, Thor!" she begged. +"Geirröd will kill you, and those ugly girls, +Gialp and Greip, will have the pleasure of +crunching your bones. Oh, I know them +well, the hussies!"</p> + +<p>But Thor declared that he would go, +whether or no. "I have promised Loki that +I will go," he said, "and go I will; for I +always keep my word."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall have three little gifts of +me," quoth she. "Here is my belt of power—for +I also have one like your own." And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +she buckled about his waist a great belt, at +whose touch he felt his strength redoubled. +"This is my iron glove," she said, as she put +one on his mighty hand, "and with it, as +with your own, you can handle lightning and +touch unharmed the hottest of red-hot metal. +And here, last of all," she added, "is Gridarvöll, +my good staff, which you may find +useful. Take them, all three; and may Sif +see you safe at home again by their aid."</p> + +<p>Thor thanked her and went out once more +to join Loki, who never suspected what had +happened in the cave. For the belt and the +glove were hidden under Thor's cloak. And +as for the staff, it was quite ordinary looking, +as if Thor might have picked it up anywhere +along the road.</p> + +<p>On they journeyed until they came to the +river Vimer, the greatest of all rivers, which +roared and tossed in a terrible way between +them and the shore which they wanted to +reach. It seemed impossible to cross. But +Thor drew his belt a little tighter, and planting +Grid's staff firmly on the bottom, stepped +out into the stream. Loki clung behind to +his cloak, frightened out of his wits. But Thor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +waded on bravely, his strength doubled by +Grid's belt, and his steps supported by her +magic staff. Higher and higher the waves +washed over his knees, his waist, his shoulders, +as if they were fierce to drown him. +And Thor <span class="locked">said,—</span></p> + +<p>"Ho there, river Vimer! Do not grow +any larger, I pray. It is of no use. The +more you crowd upon me, the mightier I +grow with my belt and my staff!"</p> + +<p>But lo! as he nearly reached the other +side, Thor spied some one hiding close down +by the bank of the river. It was Gialp of the +red eyes, the big elder daughter of Geirröd. +She was splashing the water upon Thor, +making the great waves that rolled up and +threatened to drown him.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" cried he. "So it is you who are +making the river rise, big little girl. We +must see to that;" and seizing a huge boulder, +he hurled it at her. It hit her with a +thud, for Thor's aim never missed. Giving +a scream as loud as a steam-whistle, Gialp +limped home as best she could to tell her +father, and to prepare a warm reception for +the stranger who bore Loki at his back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +When Thor had pulled himself out of +the river by some bushes, he soon came to the +palace which Loki had first sighted in his +falcon dress. And there he found everything +most courteously made ready for him. He +and Loki were received like dear old friends, +with shouts of rejoicing and ringing of bells. +Geirröd himself came out to meet them, and +would have embraced his new friend Thor; +but the Thunder Lord merely seized him by +the hand and gave him so hearty a squeeze +with the iron glove that the giant howled +with pain. Yet he could say nothing, for Thor +looked pleased and gentle. And Geirröd +said to himself, "Ho, ho, my fine little +Thor! I will soon pay you for that handshake, +and for many things beside."</p> + +<p>All this time Gialp and Greip did not appear, +and Loki also had taken himself away, +to be out of danger when the hour of Thor's +death should come. For he feared that dreadful +things might happen before Thor died; +and he did not want to be remembered by +the big fist of the companion whom he had +betrayed. Loki, having kept his promise to +the giant, was even now far on the road back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> +to Asgard, where he meant with a sad face +to tell the gods that Thor had been slain by a +horrible giant; but never to tell them how.</p> + +<p>So Thor was all alone when the servants +led him to the chamber which Geirröd had +made ready for his dear friend. It was a +wonderfully fine chamber, to be sure; but +the strange thing about it was that among the +furnishings there was but one chair, a giant +chair, with a drapery all about the legs. Now +Thor was very weary with his long journey, +and he sat down in the chair to rest. Then, +wonderful to tell!—if elevators had been invented +in those days, he might have thought +he was in one. For instantly the seat of the +chair shot up towards the roof, and against +this he was in danger of being crushed as +Geirröd had longed to see him. But quick +as a flash Thor raised the staff which good +old Grid had given him, and pushed it +against the rafters with all his might to stop +his upward journey. It was a tremendous +push that he gave. Something cracked; something +crashed; the chair fell to the ground +as Thor leaped off the seat, and there were +two terrible screams.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> +Then Thor found—what do you think? +Why, that Gialp and Greip, the giant's +daughters, had hidden under the seat of the +chair, and had lifted it up on their backs to +crush Thor against the roof! But instead of +that, it was Thor who had broken their backs, +so that they lay dead upon the floor like +limp rag dolls.</p> + +<p>Now this little exercise had only given +Thor an excellent appetite for supper. So +that when word came bidding him to the +banquet, he was very glad.</p> + +<p>"First," said big Geirröd, grinning horribly, +for he did not know what had happened +to his daughters,—"first we will see +some games, friend Thor."</p> + +<p>Then Thor came into the hall, where fires +were burning in great chimney places along +the walls. "It is here that we play our +little games," cried Geirröd. And on the moment, +seizing a pair of tongs, he snatched a +red-hot wedge of iron from one of the fires +and hurled it straight at Thor's head. But +Thor was quicker than he. Swift as a flash +he caught the flying spark in his iron glove, +and calling forth all the might of Grid's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> +belt, he cast the wedge back at the giant. +Geirröd dodged behind an iron pillar, but it +was in vain. Thor's might was such as no +iron could meet. Like a bolt of lightning +the wedge passed through the pillar, through +Geirröd himself, through the thick wall of +the palace, and buried itself deep in the +ground, where it lodges to this day, unless +some one has dug it up to sell for old iron.</p> + +<p>So perished Geirröd and his children, one +of the wickedest families of giants that ever +lived in Jotunheim. And so Thor escaped +from the snares of Loki, who had never done +deed worse than this.</p> + +<p>When Thor returned home to Asgard, +where from Loki's lying tale he found all the +gods mourning him as dead, you can fancy +what a joyful reception he had. But for Loki, +the false-hearted, false-tongued traitor to them +all, there was only hatred. He no longer +had any friends among the good folk. The +wicked giants and the monsters of Utgard +were now his only friends, for he had grown +to be like them, and even these did not trust +him overmuch.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="BALDER_AND_THE_MISTLETOE" id="BALDER_AND_THE_MISTLETOE">BALDER AND THE MISTLETOE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">Loki</span> had given up trying to revenge +himself upon Thor. The Thunder +Lord seemed proof against his tricks. +And indeed nowadays Loki hated him no +more than he did the other gods. He hated +some because they always frowned at him; +he hated others because they only laughed +and jeered. Some he hated for their distrust +and some for their fear. But he hated them +all because they were happy and good and +mighty, while he was wretched, bad, and of +little might. Yet it was all his own fault that +this was so. He might have been an equal +with the best of them, if he had not chosen +to set himself against everything that was +good. He had made them all his enemies, +and the more he did to injure them, the more +he hated them,—which is always the way +with evil-doers. Loki longed to see them +all unhappy. He slunk about in Asgard with +a glum face and wrinkled forehead. He dared +not meet the eyes of any one, lest they should +read his heart. For he was plotting evil, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +greatest of evils, which should bring sorrow +to all his enemies at once and turn Asgard +into a land of mourning. The Æsir did not +guess the whole truth, yet they felt the bitterness +of the thoughts which Loki bore; +and whenever in the dark he passed unseen, +the gods shuddered as if a breath of evil had +blown upon them, and even the flowers +drooped before his steps.</p> + +<p>Now at this time Balder the beautiful had +a strange dream. He dreamed that a cloud +came before the sun, and all Asgard was +dark. He waited for the cloud to drift away, +and for the sun to smile again. But no; the +sun was gone forever, he thought; and Balder +awoke feeling very sad. The next night +Balder had another dream. This time he +dreamed that it was still dark as before; the +flowers were withered and the gods were +growing old; even Idun's magic apples +could not make them young again. And all +were weeping and wringing their hands as +though some dreadful thing had happened. +Balder awoke feeling strangely frightened, +yet he said no word to Nanna his wife, for +he did not want to trouble her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> +When it came night again Balder slept +and dreamed a third dream, a still more terrible +one than the other two had been. He +thought that in the dark, lonely world there +was nothing but a sad voice, which cried, +"The sun is gone! The spring is gone! +Joy is gone! For Balder the beautiful is +dead, dead, dead!"</p> + +<p>This time Balder awoke with a cry, and +Nanna asked him what was the matter. So +he had to tell her of his dream, and he was +sadly frightened; for in those days dreams +were often sent to folk as messages, and +what the gods dreamed usually came true. +Nanna ran sobbing to Queen Frigg, who +was Balder's mother, and told her all the +dreadful dream, asking what could be done +to prevent it from coming true.</p> + +<p>Now Balder was Queen Frigg's dearest +son. Thor was older and stronger, and more +famous for his great deeds; but Frigg loved +far better gold-haired Balder. And indeed he +was the best-beloved of all the Æsir; for +he was gentle, fair, and wise, and wherever +he went folk grew happy and light-hearted +at the very sight of him, just as we do when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> +we first catch a glimpse of spring peeping +over the hilltop into Winterland. So when +Frigg heard of Balder's woeful dream, she +was frightened almost out of her wits.</p> + +<p>"He must not die! He shall not die!" +she cried. "He is so dear to all the world, +how could there be anything which would +hurt him?"</p> + +<p>And then a wonderful thought came to +Frigg. "I will travel over the world and +make all things promise not to injure my +boy," she said. "Nothing shall pass my notice. +I will get the word of everything."</p> + +<p>So first she went to the gods themselves, +gathered on Ida Plain for their morning exercise; +and telling them of Balder's dream, +she begged them to give the promise. Oh, +what a shout arose when they heard her +words!</p> + +<p>"Hurt Balder!—our Balder! Not for the +world, we promise! The dream is wrong,—there +is nothing so cruel as to wish harm to +Balder the beautiful!" they cried. But deep +in their hearts they felt a secret fear which +would linger until they should hear that all +things had given their promise. What if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +harm were indeed to come to Balder! The +thought was too dreadful.</p> + +<p>Then Frigg went to see all the beasts +who live in field or forest or rocky den. +Willingly they gave their promise never to +harm hair of gentle Balder. "For he is ever +kind to us," they said, "and we love him as +if he were one of ourselves. Not with claws +or teeth or hoofs or horns will any beast hurt +Balder."</p> + +<p>Next Frigg spoke to the birds and fishes, +reptiles and insects. And all—even the venomous +serpents—cried that Balder was their +friend, and that they would never do aught +to hurt his dear body. "Not with beak or +talon, bite or sting or poison fang, will one +of us hurt Balder," they promised.</p> + +<p>After doing this, the anxious mother traveled +over the whole round world, step by +step; and from all the things that are she +got the same ready promise never to harm +Balder the beautiful. All the trees and plants +promised; all the stones and metals; earth, +air, fire, and water; sun, snow, wind, and +rain, and all diseases that men know,—each +gave to Frigg the word of promise which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> +she wanted. So at last, footsore and weary, +she came back to Asgard with the joyful +news that Balder must be safe, for that there +was nothing in the world but had promised +to be his harmless friend.</p> + +<p>Then there was rejoicing in Asgard, as if +the gods had won one of their great victories +over the giants. The noble Æsir and the +heroes who had died in battle upon the earth, +and who had come to Valhalla to live happily +ever after, gathered on Ida Plain to celebrate +the love of all nature for Balder.</p> + +<p>There they invented a famous game, which +was to prove how safe he was from the bite +of death. They stationed Balder in the midst +of them, his face glowing like the sun with +the bright light which ever shone from him. +And as he stood there all unarmed and smiling, +by turns they tried all sorts of weapons +against him; they made as if to beat him +with sticks, they stoned him with stones, +they shot at him with arrows and hurled +mighty spears straight at his heart.</p> + +<p>It was a merry game, and a shout of +laughter went up as each stone fell harmless +at Balder's feet, each stick broke before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +it touched his shoulders, each arrow overshot +his head, and each spear turned aside. For +neither stone nor wood nor flinty arrow-point +nor barb of iron would break the promise +which each had given. Balder was safe with +them, just as if he were bewitched. He +remained unhurt among the missiles which +whizzed about his head, and which piled up +in a great heap around the charmed spot +whereon he stood.</p> + +<p>Now among the crowd that watched these +games with such enthusiasm, there was one +face that did not smile, one voice that did +not rasp itself hoarse with cheering. Loki +saw how every one and every thing loved +Balder, and he was jealous. He was the only +creature in all the world that hated Balder +and wished for his death. Yet Balder had +never done harm to him. But the wicked +plan that Loki had been cherishing was almost +ripe, and in this poison fruit was the +seed of the greatest sorrow that Asgard had +ever known.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;" id="ip_232"><img src="images/i004.jpg" width="339" height="550" alt="" /><br /><div class="caption">EACH ARROW OVERSHOT HIS HEAD</div></div> + +<p>While the others were enjoying their game +of love, Loki stole away unperceived from +Ida Plain, and with a wig of gray hair, a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> +gown, and a staff, disguised himself as an old +woman. Then he hobbled down Asgard +streets till he came to the palace of Queen +Frigg, the mother of Balder.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, my lady," quoth the old woman, +in a cracked voice. "What is that noisy +crowd doing yonder in the green meadow? +I am so deafened by their shouts that I can +hardly hear myself think."</p> + +<p>"Who are you, good mother, that you +have not heard?" said Queen Frigg in surprise. +"They are shooting at my son Balder. +They are proving the word which all +things have given me,—the promise not to +injure my dear son. And that promise will +be kept."</p> + +<p>The old crone pretended to be full of wonder. +"So, now!" she cried. "Do you mean +to say that <em>every single thing</em> in the whole +world has promised not to hurt your son? +I can scarce believe it; though, to be sure, +he is as fine a fellow as I ever saw." Of +course this flattery pleased Frigg.</p> + +<p>"You say true, mother," she answered +proudly, "he is a noble son. Yes, everything +has promised,—that is, everything except<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +one tiny little plant that is not worth mentioning."</p> + +<p>The old woman's eyes twinkled wickedly. +"And what is that foolish little plant, my +dear?" she asked coaxingly.</p> + +<p>"It is the mistletoe that grows in the +meadow west of Valhalla. It was too young +to promise, and too harmless to bother with," +answered Frigg carelessly.</p> + +<p>After this her questioner hobbled painfully +away. But as soon as she was out of +sight from the Queen's palace, she picked up +the skirts of her gown and ran as fast as she +could to the meadow west of Valhalla. And +there sure enough, as Frigg had said, was a +tiny sprig of mistletoe growing on a gnarled +oak-tree. The false Loki took out a knife +which she carried in some hidden pocket and +cut off the mistletoe very carefully. Then +she trimmed and shaped it so that it was like +a little green arrow, pointed at one end, but +very slender.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" chuckled the old woman. "So +you are the only thing in all the world that +is too young to make a promise, my little +mistletoe. Well, young as you are, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> +must go on an errand for me to-day. And +maybe you shall bear a message of my love +to Balder the beautiful."</p> + +<p>Then she hobbled back to Ida Plain, +where the merry game was still going on +around Balder. Loki quietly passed unnoticed +through the crowd, and came close to +the elbow of a big dark fellow who was +standing lonely outside the circle of weapon-throwers. +He seemed sad and forgotten, and +he hung his head in a pitiful way. It was +Höd, the blind brother of Balder.</p> + +<p>The old woman touched his arm. "Why +do you not join the game with the others?" +she asked, in her cracked voice. "Are you +the only one to do your brother no honor? +Surely, you are big and strong enough to toss +a spear with the best of them yonder."</p> + +<p>Höd touched his sightless eyes madly. +"I am blind," he said. "Strength I have, +greater than belongs to most of the Æsir. +But I cannot see to aim a weapon. Besides, +I have no spear to test upon him. Yet how +gladly would I do honor to dear Balder!" +and he sighed deeply.</p> + +<p>"It were a pity if I could not find you at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> +least a little stick to throw," said Loki sympathetically. +"I am only a poor old woman, +and of course I have no weapon. But ah,—here +is a green twig which you can use as +an arrow, and I will guide your arm, poor +fellow."</p> + +<p>Höd's dark face lighted up, for he was +eager to take his turn in the game. So he +thanked her, and grasped eagerly the little +arrow which she put into his hand. Loki +held him by the arm, and together they +stepped into the circle which surrounded Balder. +And when it was Höd's turn to throw +his weapon, the old woman stood at his elbow +and guided his big arm as it hurled the twig +of mistletoe towards where Balder stood.</p> + +<p>Oh, the sad thing that befell! Straight +through the air flew the little arrow, straight as +magic and Loki's arm could direct it. Straight +to Balder's heart it sped, piercing through +jerkin and shirt and all, to give its bitter +message of "Loki's love," as he had said. +With a cry Balder fell forward on the grass. +And that was the end of sunshine and spring +and joy in Asgard, for the dream had come +true, and Balder the beautiful was dead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +When the Æsir saw what had happened, +there was a great shout of fear and horror, +and they rushed upon Höd, who had thrown +the fatal arrow.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What have I done?" asked +the poor blind brother, trembling at the tumult +which had followed his shot.</p> + +<p>"You have slain Balder!" cried the Æsir. +"Wretched Höd, how could you do it?"</p> + +<p>"It was the old woman—the evil old +woman, who stood at my elbow and gave me +a little twig to throw," gasped Höd. "She +must be a witch."</p> + +<p>Then the Æsir scattered over Ida Plain to +look for the old woman who had done the +evil deed; but she had mysteriously disappeared.</p> + +<p>"It must be Loki," said wise Heimdal. +"It is Loki's last and vilest trick."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Balder, my beautiful Balder!" +wailed Queen Frigg, throwing herself on the +body of her son. "If I had only made the +mistletoe give me the promise, you would +have been saved. It was I who told Loki +of the mistletoe,—so it is I who have killed +you. Oh, my son, my son!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +But Father Odin was speechless with grief. +His sorrow was greater than that of all +the others, for he best understood the dreadful +misfortune which had befallen Asgard. +Already a cloud had come before the sun, +so that it would never be bright day again. +Already the flowers had begun to fade and +the birds had ceased to sing. And already +the Æsir had begun to grow old and joyless,—all +because the little mistletoe had been +too young to give a promise to Queen Frigg.</p> + +<p>"Balder the beautiful is dead!" the cry +went echoing through all the world, and +everything that was sorrowed at the sound +of the Æsir's weeping.</p> + +<p>Balder's brothers lifted up his beautiful +body upon their great war shields and bore +him on their shoulders down to the seashore. +For, as was the custom in those days, they +were going to send him to Hela, the Queen +of Death, with all the things he best had loved +in Asgard. And these were,—after Nanna +his wife,—his beautiful horse, and his ship +Hringhorni. So that they would place Balder's +body upon the ship with his horse beside +him, and set fire to this wonderful funeral<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> +pile. For by fire was the quickest passage to +Hela's kingdom.</p> + +<p>But when they reached the shore, they +found that all the strength of all the Æsir was +unable to move Hringhorni, Balder's ship, +into the water. For it was the largest ship +in the world, and it was stranded far up the +beach.</p> + +<p>"Even the giants bore no ill-will to Balder," +said Father Odin. "I heard the thunder +of their grief but now shaking the hills. Let +us for this once bury our hatred of that race +and send to Jotunheim for help to move the +ship."</p> + +<p>So they sent a messenger to the giantess +Hyrrockin, the hugest of all the Frost People. +She was weeping for Balder when the message +came.</p> + +<p>"I will go, for Balder's sake," she said. +Soon she came riding fast upon a giant wolf, +with a serpent for the bridle; and mighty +she was, with the strength of forty Æsir. She +dismounted from her wolf-steed, and tossed +the wriggling reins to one of the men-heroes +who had followed Balder and the +Æsir from Valhalla. But he could not hold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> +the beast, and it took four heroes to keep +him quiet, which they could only do by +throwing him upon the ground and sitting +upon him in a row. And this mortified them +greatly.</p> + +<p>Then Hyrrockin the giantess strode up +to the great ship and seized it by the prow. +Easily she gave a little pull and presto! it +leaped forward on its rollers with such force +that sparks flew from the flint stones underneath +and the whole earth trembled. The +boat shot into the waves and out toward open +sea so swiftly that the Æsir were likely to +have lost it entirely, had not Hyrrockin +waded out up to her waist and caught it by +the stern just in time.</p> + +<p>Thor was angry at her clumsiness, and +raised his hammer to punish her. But the +other Æsir held his arm.</p> + +<p>"She cannot help being so strong," they +whispered. "She meant to do well. She did +not realize how hard she was pulling. This +is no time for anger, brother Thor." So Thor +spared her life, as indeed he ought, for her +kindness.</p> + +<p>Then Balder's body was borne out to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +ship and laid upon a pile of beautiful silks, +and furs, and cloth-of-gold, and woven sunbeams +which the dwarfs had wrought. So +that his funeral pyre was more grand than +anything which had ever been seen. But +when Nanna, Balder's gentle wife, saw them +ready to kindle the flames under this gorgeous +bed, she could bear her grief no longer. +Her loving heart broke, and they laid her +beside him, that they might comfort each +other on their journey to Hela. Thor touched +the pile gently with his hammer that makes +the lightning, and the flames burst forth, +lighting up the faces of Balder and Nanna +with a glory. Then they cast upon the fire +Balder's war-horse, to serve his master in the +dark country to which he was about to go. +The horse was decked with a harness all of +gold, with jewels studding the bridle and +headstall. Last of all Odin laid upon the +pyre his gift to Balder, Draupnir, the precious +ring of gold which the dwarf had made, from +which every ninth night there dropped eight +other rings as large and brightly golden.</p> + +<p>"Take this with you, dear son, to Hela's +palace," said Odin. "And do not forget the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +friends you leave behind in the now lonely +halls of Asgard."</p> + +<p>Then Hyrrockin pushed the great boat +out to sea, with its bonfire of precious things. +And on the beach stood all the Æsir watching +it out of sight, all the Æsir and many +besides. For there came to Balder's funeral +great crowds of little dwarfs and multitudes +of huge frost giants, all mourning for Balder +the beautiful. For this one time they were +all friends together, forgetting their quarrels +of so many centuries. All of them loved +Balder, and were united to do him honor.</p> + +<p>The great ship moved slowly out to sea, +sending up a red fire to color all the heavens. +At last it slid below the horizon softly, as +you have often seen the sun set upon the +water, leaving a brightness behind to lighten +the dark world for a little while.</p> + +<p>This indeed was the sunset for Asgard. +The darkness of sorrow came in earnest after +the passing of Balder the beautiful.</p> + +<p>But the punishment of Loki was a terrible +thing. And that came soon and sore.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_PUNISHMENT_OF_LOKI" id="THE_PUNISHMENT_OF_LOKI">THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">After</span> the death of Balder the world +grew so dreary that no one had +any heart left for work or play. +The Æsir sat about moping and miserable. +They were growing old,—there was no +doubt about that. There was no longer any +gladness in Valhalla, where the Valkyries +waited on table and poured the foaming +mead. There was no longer any mirth on +Ida Plain, when every morning the bravest +of earth-heroes fought their battles over +again. Odin no longer had any pleasure in +the daily news brought by his wise ravens, +Thought and Memory, nor did Freia enjoy +her falcon dress. Frey forgot to sail in his +ship Skidbladnir, and even Thor had almost +wearied of his hammer, except as he hoped +that it would help him to catch Loki. For +the one thought of all of them now was to +find and punish Loki.</p> + +<p>Yet they waited; for Queen Frigg had +sent a messenger to Queen Hela to find if +they might not even yet win Balder back +from the kingdom of death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> +Odin shook his head. "Queen Hela is +Loki's daughter," he said, "and she will not +let Balder return." But Frigg was hopeful; +she had employed a trusty messenger, whose +silver tongue had won many hearts against +their will.</p> + +<p>It was Hermod, Balder's brother, who galloped +down the steep road to Hela's kingdom, +on Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of +Father Odin. For nine nights and nine days +he rode, through valleys dark and chill, until +he came to the bridge which is paved with +gold. And here the maiden Modgard told +him that Balder had passed that way, and +showed him the path northward to Hela's +city. So he rode, down and down, until he +came to the high wall which surrounded the +grim palace where Hela reigned. Hermod +dismounted and tightened the saddle-girths +of gray Sleipnir, whose eight legs were as +frisky as ever, despite the long journey. +And when he had mounted once more, the +wonderful horse leaped with him over the +wall, twenty feet at least!</p> + +<p>Then Hermod rode straight into the palace +of Hela, straight up to the throne where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +she sat surrounded by gray shadows and +spirit people. She was a dreadful creature +to see, was this daughter of Loki,—half +white like other folk, but half black, which +was not sunburn, for there was no sunshine +in this dark and dismal land. Yet she was +not so bad as she looked; for even Hela +felt kindly towards Balder, whom her father +had slain, and was sorry that the world had +lost so dear a friend. So when Hermod +begged of her to let his brother return with +him to Asgard, she said very <span class="locked">gently,—</span></p> + +<p>"Freely would I let him go, brave Hermod, +if I might. But a queen cannot always +do as she likes, even in her own kingdom. +His life must be bought; the price must be +paid in tears. If everything upon earth will +weep for Balder's death, then may he return, +bringing light and happiness to the upper +world. Should one creature fail to weep, +Balder must remain with me."</p> + +<p>Then Hermod was glad, for he felt sure +that this price was easily paid. He thanked +Hela, and made ready to depart with the +hopeful message. Before he went away he saw +and spoke with Balder himself, who sat with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> +Nanna upon a throne of honor, talking of +the good times that used to be. And Balder +gave him the ring Draupnir to give back +to Father Odin, as a remembrance from his +dear son; while Nanna sent to mother Frigg +her silver veil with other rich presents. It +was hard for Hermod to part with Balder +once again, and Balder also wept to see him +go. But Hermod was in duty bound to bear +the message back to Asgard as swiftly as +might be.</p> + +<p>Now when the Æsir heard from Hermod +this news, they sent messengers forth over +the whole world to bid every creature weep +for Balder's death. Heimdal galloped off +upon Goldtop and Frey upon Goldbristle, +his famous hog; Thor rumbled away in his +goat chariot, and Freia drove her team of +cats,—all spreading the message in one direction +and another. There really seemed +little need for them to do this, for already +there was mourning in every land and clime. +Even the sky was weeping, and the flower +eyes were filled with dewy tears.</p> + +<p>So it seemed likely that Balder would be +ransomed after all, and the Æsir began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> +hope more strongly. For they had not found +one creature who refused to weep. Even the +giants of Jotunheim were sorry to lose the +gentle fellow who had never done them any +harm, and freely added their giant tears to +the salt rivers that were coursing over all the +world into the sea, making it still more salt.</p> + +<p>It was not until the messengers had nearly +reached home, joyful in the surety that Balder +was safe, that they found an ugly old +giantess named Thökt hidden in a black cavern +among the mountains.</p> + +<p>"Weep, mother, weep for Balder!" they +cried. "Balder the beautiful is dead, but +your tears will buy him back to life. Weep, +mother, weep!"</p> + +<p>But the sulky old woman refused to +weep.</p> + +<p>"Balder is nothing to me," she said. "I +care not whether he lives or dies. Let him +bide with Hela—he is out of mischief there. +I weep dry tears for Balder's death."</p> + +<p>So all the work of the messengers was in +vain, because of this one obstinate old woman. +So all the tears of the sorrowing world +were shed in vain. Because there were lacking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> +two salty drops from the eyes of Thökt, +they could not buy back Balder from the +prison of death.</p> + +<p>When the messengers returned and told +Odin their sad news, he was wrathful.</p> + +<p>"Do you not guess who the old woman +was?" he cried. "It was Loki—Loki himself, +disguised as a giantess. He has tricked +us once more, and for a second time has slain +Balder for us; for it is now too late,—Balder +can never return to us after this. But it +shall be the last of Loki's mischief. It is +now time that we put an end to his deeds of +shame."</p> + +<p>"Come, my brothers!" shouted Thor, +flourishing his hammer. "We have wept +and mourned long enough. It is now time +to punish. Let us hasten back to Thökt's +cave, and seize Loki as quickly as may be."</p> + +<p>So they hurried back into the mountains +where they had left the giantess who would +not weep. But when they came to the place, +the cave was empty. Loki was too sharp a +fellow to sit still and wait for punishment to +overtake him. He knew very well that the +Æsir would soon discover who Thökt really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span> +was. And he had taken himself off to a safer +place, to escape the questions which a whole +world of not too gentle folk were anxious to +ask him.</p> + +<p>The one desire of the Æsir was now to +seize and punish Loki. So when they were +unable to find him as easily as they expected, +they were wroth indeed. Why had he left +the cave? Whither had he gone? In what +new disguise even now was he lurking, perhaps +close by?</p> + +<p>The truth was that when Loki found himself +at war with the whole world which he +had injured, he fled away into the mountains, +where he had built a strong castle of rocks. +This castle had four doors, one looking into +the north, one to the south, one to the east, +and one to the west; so that Loki could keep +watch in all directions and see any enemy +who might approach. Besides this, he had +for his protection the many disguises which +he knew so well how to don. Near the castle +was a river and a waterfall, and it was Loki's +favorite game to change himself into a spotted +pink salmon and splash about in the pool +below the fall.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> +"Ho, ho! Let them try to catch me here, +if they can!" he would chuckle to himself. +And indeed, it seemed as if he were safe +enough.</p> + +<p>One day Loki was sitting before the fire +in his castle twisting together threads of flax +and yarn into a great fish-net which was his +own invention. For no one had ever before +thought of catching fish with a net. Loki +was a clever fellow; and with all his faults, +for this one thing at least the fishermen +of to-day ought to be grateful to him. As +Loki sat busily knotting the meshes of the +net, he happened to glance out of the south +door,—and there were the Æsir coming in +a body up the hill towards his castle.</p> + +<p>Now this is what had happened: from +his lookout throne in Asgard, Odin's keen +sight had spied Loki's retreat. This throne, +you remember, was in the house with a silver +roof which Odin had built in the very +beginning of time; and whenever he wanted +to see what was going on in the remotest +corner of Asgard, or to spy into some secret +place beyond the sight of gods or men, he +would mount this magic throne, whence his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> +eye could pierce thick mountains and sound +the deepest sea. So it was that the Æsir had +found out Loki's castle, well-hidden though +it was among the furthest mountains of the +world. They had come to catch him, and +there was nothing left for him but to run.</p> + +<p>Loki jumped up and threw his half-mended +net into the fire, for he did not want +the Æsir to discover his invention; then he +ran down to the river and leaped in with a +great splash. When he was well under water, +he changed himself into a salmon, and flickered +away to bask in his shady pool and +think how safe he was.</p> + +<p>By this time the Æsir had entered his castle +and were poking among the ashes which +they found smouldering on the hearth.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" asked Thor, holding up +a piece of knotted flax which was not quite +burned. "The knave has been making something +with little cords."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it," said Heimdal, the wisest +of the Æsir,—he who once upon a time +had suggested Thor's clever disguise for +winning back his hammer from the giant +Thrym. He took now the little scrap of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span> +fish-net and studied it carefully, picking out +all the knots and twists of it.</p> + +<p>"It is a net," said Heimdal at last. "He +has been making a net, and—pfaugh!—it +smells of fish. The fellow must have used +it to trap fish for his dinner, though I never +before heard of such a device."</p> + +<p>"I saw a big splash in the river just as +we came up," said Thor the keen-eyed,—"a +very big splash indeed. It seemed too +large for any fish."</p> + +<p>"It was Loki," declared Heimdal. "He +must have been here but a moment since, +for this fire has just gone out, and the net +is still smouldering. That shows he did not +wish us to find this new-fangled idea of +his. Why was that? Let me think. Aha! +I have it. Loki has changed himself into +a fish, and did not wish us to discover the +means of catching him."</p> + +<p>"Oho!" cried the Æsir regretfully. "If +only we had another net!"</p> + +<p>"We can make one," said wise Heimdal. +"I know how it is done, for I have studied +out this little sample. Let us make a net to +catch the slyest of all fish."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> +"Let us make a net for Loki," echoed the +Æsir. And they all sat down cross-legged +on the floor to have a lesson in net-weaving +from Heimdal. He found hemp cord in a +cupboard, and soon they had contrived a +goodly net, big enough to catch several +Lokis, if they should have good fisherman's +luck.</p> + +<p>They dragged the net to the river and +cast it in. Thor, being the strongest, held +one end of the net, and all the rest drew the +other end up and down the stream. They +were clumsy and awkward, for they had +never used a net before, and did not know +how to make the best of it. But presently +Thor exclaimed, "Ha! I felt some live thing +touch the meshes!"</p> + +<p>"So did we!" cried the others. "It must +be Loki!" And Loki it was, sure enough; +for the Æsir had happened upon the very +pool where the great salmon lay basking so +peacefully. But when he felt the net touch +him, he darted away and hid in a cleft between +two rocks. So that, although they +dragged the net to and fro again and again, +they could not catch Loki in its meshes;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +for the net was so light that it floated over +his head.</p> + +<p>"We must weight the net," said Heimdal +wisely; "then nothing can pass beneath +it." So they tied heavy stones all along the +under edge, and again they cast the net, a +little below the waterfall. Now Loki had +seized the chance to swim further down the +stream. But ugh! suddenly he tasted salt +water. He was being swept out to sea! +That would never do, for he could not live +an hour in the sea. So he swam back and +leaped straight over the net up into the +waterfall, hoping that no one had noticed +him. But Thor's sharp eyes had spied the +flash of pink and silver, and Thor came running +to the place.</p> + +<p>"He is here!" he shouted. "Cast in the +net above the fall! We have him now!"</p> + +<p>When Loki saw the net cast again, so +that there was no choice for him but to be +swept back over the falls and out to sea, +or to leap the net once more still further +up the river, he hesitated. He saw Thor in +the middle of the stream wading towards +him; but behind him was sure death. So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> +he set his teeth and once more he leaped +the net. There was a huge splash, a scuffle, +a scramble, and the water was churned into +froth all about Thor's feet. He was struggling +with the mighty fish. He caught him +once, but the salmon slipped through his +fingers. He caught him again, and this time +Thor gripped hard. The salmon almost escaped, +but Thor's big fingers kept hold of +the end of his tail, and he flapped and +flopped in vain. It was the grip of Thor's +iron glove; and that is why to this day the +salmon has so pointed a tail. The next time +you see a salmon you must notice this, and +remember that he may be a great-great-great-grand-descendant +of Loki.</p> + +<p>So Loki was captured and changed back +into his own shape, sullen and fierce. But +he had no word of sorrow for his evil deeds; +nor did he ask for mercy, for he knew that +it would be in vain. He kept silent while +the Æsir led him all the weary way back to +Asgard.</p> + +<p>Now the whole world was noisy with the +triumph of his capture. As the procession +passed along it was joined by all the creatures<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> +who had mourned for Balder,—all the +creatures who longed to see Loki punished. +There were the men of Midgard, the place +of human folk, shouting, "Kill him! kill +him!" at the top of their lungs; there were +armies of little mountain dwarfs in their +brown peaked caps, who hobbled along, +prodding Loki with their picks; there were +beasts growling and showing their teeth as +if they longed to tear Loki in pieces; there +were birds who tried to peck his eyes, insects +who came in clouds to sting him, and +serpents that sprang up hissing at his feet to +poison him with their deadly bite.</p> + +<p>But to all these Thor said, "Do not kill +the fellow. We are keeping him for a worse +punishment than you can give." So the creatures +merely followed and jostled Loki into +Asgard, shouting, screaming, howling, growling, +barking, roaring, spitting, squeaking, +hissing, croaking, and buzzing, according to +their different ways of showing hatred and +horror.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 342px;" id="ip_256"><img src="images/i005.jpg" width="342" height="550" alt="" /><br /><div class="caption">"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"</div></div> + +<p>The Æsir met on Ida Plain to decide what +should be done with Loki. There were +Idun whom he had cheated, and Sif whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span> +hair he had cut off. There were Freia +whose falcon dress he had stolen and Thor +whom he had tried to kill. There were Höd +whom he had made a murderer; Frigg and +Odin whose son he had slain. There was +not one of them whom Loki had not injured +in some way; and besides, there was +the whole world into which he had brought +sorrow and darkness; for the sake of all +these Loki must be punished. But it was +hard to think of any doom heavy enough for +him. At last, however, they agreed upon a +punishment which they thought suited to so +wicked a wretch.</p> + +<p>The long procession formed again and +escorted Loki down, down into a damp +cavern underground. Here sunlight never +came, but the cave was full of ugly toads, +snakes, and insects that love the dark. These +were Loki's evil thoughts, who were to live +with him henceforth and torment him always. +In this prison chamber side by side +they placed three sharp stones, not far apart, to +make an uneasy bed. And these were for +Loki's three worst deeds, against Thor and +Höd and Balder. Upon these rocks they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +bound Loki with stout thongs of leather. But +as soon as the cords were fastened they turned +into iron bands, so that no one, though he had +the strength of a hundred giants, could loosen +them. For these were Loki's evil passions, +and the more he strained against them, the +more they cut into him and wounded him +until he howled with pain.</p> + +<p>Over his head Skadi, whose father he had +helped to slay, hung a venomous, wriggling +serpent, from whose mouth dropped poison +into Loki's face, which burned and stung him +like fire. And this was the deceit which all +his life Loki had spoken to draw folk into +trouble and danger. At last it had turned +about to torture him, as deceit always will do +to him who utters it. Yet from this one torment +Loki had some relief; for alone of all +the world Sigyn, his wife, was faithful and +forgiving. She stood by the head of the +painful bed upon which the Red One was +stretched, and held a bowl to catch the poison +which dropped from the serpent's jaws, so +that some of it did not reach Loki's face. +But as often as the bowl became full, Sigyn +had to go out and empty it; and then the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +bitter drops fell and burned till Loki made +the cavern ring with his cries.</p> + +<p>So this was Loki's punishment, and bad +enough it was,—but not too bad for such a +monster. Under the caverns he lies there +still, struggling to be free. And when his +great strength shakes the hills so that the +whole ground trembles, men call it an earthquake. +Sometimes they even see his poisonous +breath blowing from the top of a mountain-chimney, +and amid it the red flame of +wickedness which burns in Loki's heart. +Then all cry, "The volcano, the volcano!" +and run away as fast as they can. For Loki, +poisoned though he is, is still dangerous and +full of mischief, and it is not good to venture +near him in his torment.</p> + +<p>But there for his sins he must bide and +suffer, suffer and bide, until the end of all +sorrow and suffering and sin shall come, +with Ragnarök, the ending of the world.</p> + +<div class="transnote"> +<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes</a></h2> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> + +<p>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_176">176</a>: "You shall hide" was misprinted as "You shall bide". Corrected +here based on the use of "hiding-place" later in the same sentence.</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44622 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |