TOLD BY THE NORTHMEN:

 Stories from the Eddas and Sagas

 E. M. WILMOT-BUXTON

 George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. , London

 1908

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 Contents

 Hakon's Lay ix

 CHAPTER

 I. How All Things Began 1

 II. How All-Father Odin Became Wise 6

 III. How the Queen of the Sky Gave Gifts to Men 14

 IV. How a Giant Built a Fortress for the Asas 17

 V. The Magic Mead 22

 VI. How Loki Made a Wager with the Dwarfs 29

 VII. The Apples of Youth 34

 VIII. How the Fenris Wolf was Chained 41

 IX. How the Pride of Thor was Brought Low 46

 X. How Thor's Hammer was Lost and Found 56

 XI. The Giant's Daughters 64

 XII. The Story of Balder the Beautiful 69

 XIII. How Hermod Made a Journey to the Underworld 78

 XIV. How Loki was Punished at Last 83

 XV. The Story of the Magic Sword 87

 XVI. How Sigmund Fought His Last Battle 96

 XVII. The Story of the Magic Gold 101

 XVIII. How Sigurd Slew the Dragon 107

 XIX. How Sigurd Won the Hand of Brunhild 114

 XX. How the Curse of the Gold is Fulfilled 116

 XXI. The Boyhood of Frithiof the Bold 123

 XXII. Frithiof and Ingeborg 127

 XXIII. Frithiof Braves the Storm 131

 XXIV. Balder Forgives 134

 XXV. How the End of All Things Came About 140

 Pronouncing Index of Proper Names 145

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Hakon's Lay

_By James Russell Lowell_

 "O Skald, sing now an olden song, Such as our fathers heard who led great lives; And, as the bravest on a shield is borne Along the waving host that shouts him king, So rode their thrones upon the thronging seas!"

 Then the old man arose: white-haired he stood, White-bearded, and with eyes that looked afar From their still region of perpetual snow, Over the little smokes and stirs of men: His head was bowed with gathered flakes of years, As winter bends the sea-foreboding pine, But something triumphed in his brow and eye, Which whoso saw it, could not see and crouch: Loud rang the emptied beakers as he mused, Brooding his eyried thoughts; then, as an eagle Circles smooth-winged above the wind-vexed woods, So wheeled his soul into the air of song High o'er the stormy hall; and thus he sang:

 "The fletcher for his arrow-shaft picks out Wood closest-grained, long-seasoned, straight as light; And, from a quiver full of such as these, The wary bow-man, matched against his peers, Long doubting, singles yet once more the best. Who is it that can make such shafts as Fate? What archer of his arrows is so choice, Or hits the white so surely? They are men, The chosen of her quiver; nor for her Will every reed suffice, or cross-grained stick At random from life's vulgar fagot plucked: Such answer household ends; but she will have Souls straight and clear, of toughest fibre, sound Down to the heart of heat; from these she strips All needless stuff, all sapwood; hardens them, From circumstance untoward feathers plucks Crumpled and cheap, and barbs with iron will: The hour that passes is her quiver-boy; When she draws bow, 'tis not across the wind, Nor 'gainst the sun, her haste-snatched arrow sings, For sun and wind have plighted faith to her: Ere men have heard the sinew twang, behold, In the butt's heart her trembling messenger!

 "The song is old and simple that I sing: Good were the days of yore, when men were tried By ring of shields, as now by ring of gold; But, while the gods are left, and hearts of men, And the free ocean, still the days are good; Through the broad Earth roams Opportunity And knocks at every door of hut or hall, Until she finds the brave soul that she wants. "

 He ceased, and instantly the frothy tide Of interrupted wassail roared along. 

TOLD BY THE NORTHMEN:

CHAPTER I

How All Things Began

_This is the tale which the Northmen tellconcerning the Beginning of Things. _

Once upon a time, before ever this world was made, there was neitherearth nor sea, nor air, nor light, but only a great yawning gulf, fullof twilight, where these things should be. 

To the north of this gulf lay the Home of Mist, a dark and drearyland, out of which flowed a river of water from a spring that neverran dry. As the water in its onward course met the bitter blasts ofwind from the yawning gulf, it hardened into great blocks of ice, which rolled far down into the abyss with a thunderous roar and piledthemselves one on another until they formed mountains of glisteningice. 

South of this gulf lay the Home of Fire, a land of burning heat, guarded by a giant with a flaming sword which, as he flashed it to andfro before the entrance, sent forth showers of sparks. And thesesparks fell upon the ice-blocks and partly melted them, so that theysent up clouds of steam; and these again were frozen into hoar-frost, which filled all the space that was left in the midst of the mountainsof ice. 

Then one day, when the gulf was full to the very top, this great massof frosty rime, warmed by the flames from the Home of Fire and frozenby the cold airs from the Home of Mist, came to life and became theGiant Ymir, with a living, moving body and cruel heart of ice. 

Now there was as yet no tree, nor grass, nor anything that would servefor food, in this gloomy abyss. But when the Giant Ymir began to gropearound for something to satisfy his hunger, he heard a sound as ofsome animal chewing the cud; and there among the ice-hills he saw agigantic cow, from whose udder flowed four great streams of milk, andwith this his craving was easily stilled. 

But the cow was hungry also, and began to lick the salt off the blocksof ice by which she was surrounded. And presently, as she went onlicking with her strong, rough tongue, a head of hair pushed itselfthrough the melting ice. Still the cow went on licking, until she hadat last melted all the icy covering and there stood fully revealed theframe of a mighty man. 

Ymir looked with eyes of hatred at this being, born of snow and ice, for somehow he knew that his heart was warm and kind, and that he andhis sons would always be the enemies of the evil race of the FrostGiants. 

So, indeed, it came to pass. For from the sons of Ymir came a race ofgiants whose pleasure was to work evil on the earth; and from the Sonsof the Iceman sprang the race of the gods, chief of whom was Odin, Father of All Things that ever were made; and Odin and his brothersbegan at once to war against the wicked Frost Giants, and most of allagainst the cold-hearted Ymir, whom in the end they slew. 

Now when, after a hard fight, the Giant Ymir was slain, such a riverof blood flowed forth from his wounds that it drowned all the rest ofthe Frost Giants save one, who escaped in a boat, with only his wifeon board, and sailed away to the edge of the world. And from himsprang all the new race of Frost Giants, who at every opportunityissued from their land of twilight and desolation to harm the gods intheir abode of bliss. 

Now when the giants had been thus driven out, All-Father Odin set towork with his brothers to make the earth, the sea, and the sky; andthese they fashioned out of the great body of the Giant Ymir. 

Out of his flesh they formed Midgard, the earth, which lay in thecentre of the gulf; and all round it they planted his eyebrows to makea high fence which should defend it from the race of giants. 

With his bones they made the lofty hills, with his teeth the cliffs, and his thick curly hair took root and became trees, bushes, and thegreen grass. 

With his blood they made the ocean, and his great skull, poised aloft, became the arching sky. Just below this they scattered his brains, andmade of them the heavy grey clouds that lie between earth and heaven. 

The sky itself was held in place by four strong dwarfs, who support iton their broad shoulders as they stand east and west and south andnorth. 

The next thing was to give light to the new-made world. So the godscaught sparks from the Home of Fire and set them in the sky for stars;and they took the living flame and made of it the sun and moon, whichthey placed in chariots of gold, and harnessed to them beautifulhorses, with flowing manes of gold and silver. Before the horses ofthe sun, they placed a mighty shield to protect them from its hotrays; but the swift moon steeds needed no such protection from itsgentle heat. 

And now all was ready save that there was no one to drive the horsesof the sun and moon. This task was given to Mani and Sol, thebeautiful son and daughter of a giant; and these fair charioteersdrive their fleet steeds along the paths marked out by the gods, andnot only give light to the earth but mark out months and days for thesons of men. 

Then All-Father Odin called forth Night, the gloomy daughter of thecold-hearted giant folk, and set her to drive the dark chariot drawnby the black horse, Frosty-Mane, from whose long wavy hair the dropsof dew and hoar-frost fall upon the earth below. After her drove herradiant son, Day, with his white steed Shining-Mane, from whom thebright beams of daylight shine forth to gladden the hearts of men. 

But the wicked giants were very angry when they saw all these goodthings; and they set in the sky two hungry wolves, that the fierce, grey creatures might for ever pursue the sun and moon, and devourthem, and so bring all things to an end. Sometimes, indeed, or so saythe men of the North, the grey wolves almost succeed in swallowing sunor moon; and then the earth children make such an uproar that thefierce beasts drop their prey in fear. And the sun and moon flee morerapidly than before, still pursued by the hungry monsters. 

One day, so runs the tale, as Mani, the Man in the Moon, was hasteningon his course, he gazed upon the earth and saw two beautiful littlechildren, a boy and a girl, carrying between them a pail of water. They looked very tired and sleepy, and indeed they were, for a cruelgiant made them fetch and carry water all night long, when they shouldhave been in bed. So Mani put out a long, long arm and snatched upthe children and set them in the moon, pail and all; and there you cansee them on any moonlit night for yourself. 

But that happened a long time after the beginning of things; for asyet there was no man or woman or child upon the earth. 

And now that this pleasant Midgard was made, the gods determined tosatisfy their desire for an abode where they might rest and enjoythemselves in their hours of ease. 

They chose a suitable place far above the earth, on the other side ofthe great river which flowed from the Home of Mist where the giantsdwelt, and here they made for their abode Asgard, wherein they dweltin peace and happiness, and from whence they could look down upon thesons of men. 

From Asgard to Midgard they built a beautiful bridge of many colours, to which men gave the name of Rainbow Bridge, and up and down whichthe gods could pass on their journeys to and from the earth. 

Here in Asgard stood the mighty forge where the gods fashioned theirweapons wherewith they fought the giants, and the tools wherewith theybuilt their palaces of gold and silver. 

Meantime, no human creature lived upon the earth, and the giants darednot cross its borders for fear of the gods. But one of them, clad ineagles' plumes, always sat at the north side of Midgard, and, wheneverhe raised his arms and let them fall again, an icy blast rushed forthfrom the Mist Home and nipped all the pleasant things of earth withits cruel breath. In due time the earth was no longer without life, for the ground brought forth thousands of tiny creatures, whichcrawled about and showed signs of great intelligence. And when thegods examined these little people closely, they found that they wereof two kinds. 

Some were ugly, misshapen, and cunning-faced, with great heads, smallbodies, long arms and feet. These they called Trolls or Dwarfs orGnomes, and sent them to live underground, threatening to turn theminto stone should they appear in the daytime. And this is why thetrolls spend all their time in the hidden parts of the earth, diggingfor gold and silver and precious stones, and hiding their spoil awayin secret holes and corners. Sometimes they blow their tiny fires andset to work to make all kinds of wonderful things from this buriedtreasure; and that is what they are doing when, if one listens veryhard on the mountains and hills of the Northland, a sound oftap-tap-tapping is heard far underneath the ground. 

The other small earth creatures were very fair and light and slender, kindly of heart, and full of goodwill. These the gods called Fairiesor Elves, and gave to them a charming place called Elfland in which todwell. Elfland lies between Asgard and Midgard, and since all fairieshave wings they can easily flit down to the earth to play with thebutterflies, teach the young birds to sing, water the flowers, ordance in the moonlight round a fairy ring. 

Last of all, the gods made a man and woman to dwell in fair Midgard;and this is the manner of their creation. 

All-Father Odin was walking with his brothers in Midgard where, by theseashore, they found growing two trees, an ash and an elm. Odin tookthese trees and breathed on them, whereupon a wonderful transformationtook place. Where the trees had stood, there were a living man andwoman, but they were stupid, pale, and speechless, until Hœnir, thegod of Light, touched their fore-heads and gave them sense and wisdom;and Loki, the Fire-god, smoothed their faces, giving them brightcolour and warm blood, and the power to speak and see and hear. Itonly remained that they should be named, and they were called Ask andEmbla, the names of the trees from which they had been formed. Fromthese two people sprang all the race of men which lives upon thisearth. 

And now All-Father Odin completed his work by planting the Tree ofLife. 

This immense tree had its roots in Asgard and Midgard and the MistLand; and it grew to such a marvellous height that the highest bough, the Bough of Peace, hung over the Hall of Odin on the heights ofAsgard; and the other branches overshadowed both Midgard and the MistLand. On the top of the Peace Bough was perched a mighty eagle, andever a falcon sat between his eyes, and kept watch on all thathappened in the world below, that he might tell to Odin what he saw. 

Heidrun, the goat of Odin, who supplied the heavenly mead, browsed onthe leaves of this wonderful tree, and from them fed also the fourmighty stags from whose horns honey-dew dropped on to the earthbeneath and supplied water for all the rivers of Midgard. 

The leaves of the Tree of Life were ever green and fair, despite thedragon which, aided by countless serpents, gnawed perpetually at itsroots, in order that they might kill the Tree of Life and thus bringabout the destruction of the gods. 

Up and down the branches of the tree scampered the squirrel, Ratatosk, a malicious little creature, whose one amusement it was to makemischief by repeating to the eagle the rude remarks of the dragon, andto the dragon those of the eagle, in the hope that one day he mightsee them in actual conflict. 

Near the roots of the Tree of life is a sacred well of sweet waterfrom which the three Weird Sisters, who know all that shall come topass, sprinkle the tree and keep it fresh and green. And the water, asit trickles down from the leaves, falls as drops of honey on theearth, and the bees take it for their food. 

Close to this sacred well is the Council Hall of the gods, to whichevery morning they rode, over the Rainbow Bridge, to hold conversetogether. 

And this is the end of the tale of How All Things began. 

CHAPTER II

How All-Father Odin Became Wise

_These are the tales which the Northmen tellconcerning the wisdom of All-Father Odin. _

On the highest hill of Asgard, upon a great chair, sat All-FatherOdin, watching from thence all that was happening on and above andunder the earth. 

The Father of Asas and of men had long grey locks and thick curlingbeard, and he wore a great blue coat flecked with grey like unto thesky when the fleecy clouds scud across it. 

In his hand he carried a spear, so sacred that, if anyone swore anoath upon its point, that oath could never be broken. 

On his head he wore, when sitting upon his watch-tower throne, ahelmet shaped like an eagle; but when he wandered, as he loved to do, about the earth, he wore a large broad-brimmed hat drawn low over hisforehead. 

Perched on his broad shoulders sat two inky-black ravens, Hugin andMunin, whom every morning he sent to wing their flight about the worldthat they might see what was going on. 

Every evening when they returned, they whispered all that they hadseen and heard in his ears. 

At Odin's feet crouched two great wolves, whom he fed from the meatset before him; for he himself cared not to eat flesh-food, andpreferred rather to drink the sacred mead provided by the goat who fedupon the leaves of the Tree of Life. 

Sometimes Odin left his watch-tower throne for the great Council Hallwhere the twelve Asas sat and took counsel together; but his favouriteseat of all was in his own palace of Valhalla, or the Hall of theChosen Slain. This palace stood in the midst of a wonderful grove oftrees, whose leaves were all of red gold, rustling and shimmering inthe breeze. Five and forty doors opened into it, each wide enough toallow eight hundred warriors to enter abreast, and over the chiefentrance was a boar's head and a great eagle, whose keen gaze lookedforth over all the world. The walls of the palace were built of spearsof polished steel, so bright that they lighted the whole building; andthe roof was made of golden shields. 

 "And wondrous gleamed Valhalla on the heights, -- Her walls shone bright as rows of glittering spears; The roof resplendent like great golden shields; Hundreds of open gates and welcoming doors For myriad warriors from the fields of earth, -- The chosen heroes of the future years, To be great Odin's mighty bodyguard Against the awful prophecies of doom. "

From end to end of the great hall stood long tables and benches loadedwith armour, ready prepared for the fortunate guests. And this was themanner of their selection. Whenever a great battle was about to befought on the earth, Odin sent forth the nine Valkyrs, or BattleMaidens, his especial attendants, to watch the progress of the fightand to choose from the fallen warriors half of their number. These theBattle Maidens carried on their swift steeds over the Rainbow Bridgeinto the great hall of Valhalla, where they were welcomed by the sonsof Odin and taken to the All-Father's throne to receive hisgreeting. But if one had shown himself especially heroic in the fight, Odin would descend from his throne and advance to the door to bid himwelcome. 

And now, seated at the long tables, loaded with great beakers of meadand dishes of boar flesh, the warriors feasted merrily, tended by thefair Battle Maidens. 

 "The blazing roof resounds The genial uproar of those shades who fall In desperate fight, or by some brave attempt. "

When they had eaten all they could, the warriors would call for theirweapons, ride out into the great courtyard, and there wage desperatefights, in the course of which many a man would be sorely wounded. Butthis mattered little, for at the sound of the dinner horn all woundswere healed. 

 "And all day long they there are hacked and hewn 'Mid dust, and groans, and limbs lopped off, and blood But all at night return to Odin's hall Woundless and fresh; such lot is theirs in heaven. "

These warriors were Odin's special joy and delight, and he was neverweary of watching them at feast or in the combat. Sometimes, indeed, when some battle on earth was impending, he would appear, riding uponhis eight-footed grey horse, and with white shield on arm would flinghis glittering spear into the ranks of the warriors as signal for thefight to begin, and would rush into the fray with his war-cry, "Odinhas you all!"

Now, though all this shows very clearly that All-Father Odin was awarlike Asa and delighted in battles, there was another side to hischaracter, for beyond all the other Asas he cared for wisdom. 

Very early in the morn of time All-Father Odin discovered that beneaththe roots of the Tree of Life, just where sky and ocean met, there wasa marvellous spring of water, "the fountain of all wit and wisdom. "Looking into its crystal depths, all that was going to happen in thefuture was revealed, and anyone drinking of it received the gifts ofwisdom, knowledge, and right judgment about all things. Now thisspring was guarded by the Giant Mimir, who prided himself upon beingwiser than any other giants or Asas could be, for he alone had theright to draw water from the well; and every morning, dipping hisglittering horn therein, he drank a long draught, and with everydraught he grew wiser, till he knew everything that was past andpresent and is to come. 

When Odin became aware of the marvellous properties of the spring, hewas eager to drink of it, "for, " said he, "it is not fitting that agiant should know more than the Father of Asas and men. "

So early one morn he entered a dark grove of trees, where, amidstgreat arching roots fantastically intertwined, bubbled the spring; andkeeping watch beside it sat Giant Mimir, his long grey beard sweepingover his knees, and his great piercing eyes shining with fierce lightas the new-comer approached. 

"What do you want here?" he demanded, in a voice that sounded like themuttering of thunder before a storm. 

"I want a drink of yon water from your glittering horn, good Mimir, "said Odin. 

But Giant Mimir sunk his great head upon his chest, and looking fromunder his shaggy eyebrows, growled again:

"Begone, I tell you. I give no man drink from my well. "

Then Odin drew himself up to his full height, and in a voice that wasmore thunderous than that of the giant himself, cried:

"No man am I, O Mimir, but Odin, Father of Asas and men. Refuse not tome the gift of wisdom; for though I can see all things that happen inheaven and earth, I cannot see what lies beneath the deep, nor can Isee what shall happen in the future. Give me, therefore, the draughtof wisdom, and I will pay you whatsoever you demand. "

But Mimir still refused. "We giants are of elder race than ye Asasbe, " he said, "and all the wisdom in the world is in our hands. If Igive you to drink of this water you will become wise even as we are, and an enemy more dangerous than ever. "

"Nevertheless, " replied Odin firmly, "you must give me the water, andI will pay you whatsoever you may ask. "

Then Mimir, feeling sure that such a payment would be refused, said, "I will give you the magic draught in return for one of your eyes. "

But to his amazement, for the god was very proud of his keen vision, Odin at once plucked forth an eye and handed it to him, saying:

"No price is too high to pay for wisdom. "

So Mimir was obliged to hand him the horn filled with precious water, and Odin drank a full draught, caring not at all that henceforth hewas to have but one eye, for he knew that he had gained the preciousgift of wisdom beyond any in the world save Mimir himself. 

Meantime, Mimir dropped the eye of the Asa into the well, where itshines bright as the moon reflected in still waters; and he bade Odindepart, saying heavily, "This day is the beginning of trouble betwixtyour race and mine. "

Determined to put his new-found wisdom to the test, All-Father Odinnow disguised himself as a wandering minstrel and went to visit theMost Learned of all the Giants save Mimir, who, of course, kneweverything in the whole world. And the Most Learned Giant received himgraciously, and consented readily to enter into a contest of wit, andit was agreed that the loser should forfeit his head. 

The Most Learned Giant was the first to begin. He questioned Odin asto the size and colour of the horses which bore the chariots of Nightand Day across the sky; he asked him the source of the river whichseparated the Land of the Giants from Asgard, and finally he demandeddetails about the last battle that was to be fought between Asas andgiants in far-distant days. 

All these questions were fully and promptly answered by Odin, and itwas now his turn. He questioned his rival first as to the Beginning ofAll Things; then he asked what the heroes did in Valhalla, what wasthe work of the Weird Sisters, and who would carry on the work of thegods when they had passed away. 

And all these were fully answered by the Most Learned Giant. 

Then Odin bent down to the Giant's ear as he sat on his great seat, and said softly:

"Tell me, lastly, I pray you, what are the words that the All-Fatherwill whisper to his son Balder as he lies dead upon his funeral pyre?"

At this the Most Learned Giant uprose, and looking hard into the sadand troubled face of his questioner, said:

"No one but Odin himself can answer that question, and no one butOdin would have asked it. For only he who has drunk of the water ofwisdom would foresee the death in the far-off future of his dearestson. Kill me now, therefore, for thou hast triumphed. "

Here the tale comes to an end; but we should like to think that Odinspared the life of the Most Learned Giant, and perhaps he would havedone so the more readily because his heart was softened by theknowledge, born of his new-found wisdom, that Balder, his beautifulson, must die. 

Another story is told in which Odin's great wisdom seemed for a timeat fault. 

We have noticed how fond was the All-Father of watching the affairs ofmortal men. He was especially interested, at one time, in two handsomelittle princes, the sons of a certain king, who were usually to befound playing or wrestling or riding together on the seashore whichbounded their father's kingdom. 

Geirrod and Agnar were the names of these boys, and All-Father Odinand his wife Frigga grew so fond of them both that, disguisingthemselves as an old man and woman, they went to live upon a desertisland which lay far out at sea, opposite the beach where the childrenplayed. Presently it came to pass, exactly as they hoped, that theboys went fishing, and Odin made a storm to arise, and the rough windblew the little boat away from the land, and finally stranded it uponthe island. 

The boys, frightened, wet, and hungry, came timidly to the door of thehut where the old people dwelt and asked for shelter. They werereceived kindly by Odin and Frigga, who kept the boys all the longwinter, making much of them and delighting in their childish fun andmerriment. Geirrod was Odin's favourite. He taught him to fight, toswim, and to use the bow and spear. But Frigga loved best the gentlelittle Agnar, the elder boy, who would sit by her side and rest hishead upon her knee, well contented, while she told him strange talesof beautiful Asgard, the home of the gods. 

Spring came at length, and, when the sea was calm and still, Odin putthe two boys aboard a boat and bade them sail back to their father. And Agnar grieved at leaving his kind old friends, but Geirrod did noteven so much as look back to respond to their farewell. 

The favourable breezes which Odin had called up soon urged the boat toland; but the moment it touched the shore Geirrod sprang out, and, pushing it back into the sea with all his might, bade his brother sailaway to the Land of Giants and never return. 

Odin, feeling sure that all was well with the boys, had resigned hiscare for their safety and had returned to Asgard, and thus the giantswere able to play him a trick, which they did by causing the wind toveer round, whereby Agnar was carried away to the edge of the world. 

Meantime, the hard-hearted Geirrod ran cheerfully into his father'spalace, and announced that he had come back alone from a desert islandupon which his boat had been stranded, his elder brother having beendrowned in the sea. 

His father was overjoyed to see him, for he had given up hope ofsetting eyes on either of his sons again. He made him his heir, and indue time, when some years had passed away, he died, and Geirrod becameking in his stead. 

Now All-Father Odin had so many things to attend to that, as we haveseen, he thought no more of his boy friends for many years. 

Then at length, when Geirrod had sat for some time on his fathersthrone, Odin looked from his high seat in Asgard upon him, and seeingwith pleasure how great a man he had become, his thoughts turned toAgnar. For a time he could see nothing of him, but at last hediscerned that he had returned in disguise to his brother's palace andwas living there, unknown to Geirrod, as a servant. 

Then Odin turned to Frigga, who sat by his side on the high seat, andsaid tauntingly, "Did I not always say that Geirrod was by far thebetter and braver and stronger of those two boys? Behold, although heis the younger, he sits upon his father's throne, while Agnar brewsale for his table. "

To this Frigga quietly replied: "It is better to be a poor servantthan a hard-hearted king. For see how rich is Geirrod; yet he turnsaway the guest from the door, and ill-treats those who ask a kindnessat his hands. "

"I will never believe it, " said Odin, who could be very obstinate whenhe liked; "and to prove you are wrong I will disguise myself again asa wanderer, and ask for food and shelter from the king. "

So he took his blue-grey cloak and broad-brimmed hat, and, with apilgrim's staff in his hand, set off adown the Rainbow Bridge. Meantime, Frigga, determined to show that she was right, and toprevent Geirrod from receiving Odin with favour by mere chance, sent aswift and secret messenger, warning the king to beware of a man in ablue-grey mantle and wide-brimmed hat, for that he, a pretendedwanderer, was an enchanter who would put the king under a spell. 

Scarcely had the messenger fulfilled his mission when Odin knocked atthe great door of the palace and begged for food and shelter. He hadnot the slightest doubt that these would be granted him, forinhospitality to strangers was one of the greatest crimes a Northmancould commit. 

Judge then of his surprise when, instead of being offered a seat atthe supper-table and a bed for the night, he was seized by the beard, and dragged roughly into the presence of Geirrod. 

"Where do you come from, and what is your name, O miserable old man?"asked the angry king. 

"My name is Grimnir, " answered Odin, now well on his guard, "but whereI come from I will not say, since that is my concern alone. "

Then the king's wrath knew no bounds, and finding it impossible tomake the old man speak, he ordered that he should be chained to apillar between two fires, whose flames scorched him on either sidewithout actually burning him. 

For eight days and nights was Odin imprisoned thus, and during allthat time the cruel Geirrod would give him neither food nor drink, andkept close watch to see that he obtained them from no one else. 

But one night, when the watchmen were drowsy from the heat of thefire, a serving-man came stealthily over the floor, a horn of ale inhis hand. Holding this to the parched lips of the prisoner, he gavehim a long, cool drink; and then did Odin recognize the features ofAgnar, brother of the king, who should have been king in his stead. 

The next evening, as Geirrod sat at the head of the table gloatingover the sufferings of his prisoner, Odin suddenly began to sing. Softly the notes began, but soon they grew louder and louder, till thegreat hall echoed and re-echoed the song of triumph. And at length hesang how Geirrod, who had so long enjoyed the favour of the gods, wasnow about to meet the just reward of his misdeeds:

 "Thy life is now run out: Wroth with thee are the gods: Odin thou now shalt see: Draw near me if thou canst. "

With these words the chain fell from off his hands, the flames shot upto the roof and died away, and Odin stood in the midst of the hall, nolonger a poor and suffering wayfarer, but revealed in all the mightand majesty of a god. 

Directly he had understood the meaning of the song, Geirrod had risento his feet with drawn sword, meaning to kill his prisoner, but sostartled was he at the sudden change in his appearance that hestumbled back, and, losing his footing, he fell upon the sharp pointof his own sword and miserably perished. 

When his words had been thus fulfilled, Odin turned to Agnar, who, with the other servants, had rushed into the hall, and bade him takehis rightful place upon his father's throne, and in return for hiskind act in bringing the draught of ale he promised him prosperity andhappiness so long as he should live. 

CHAPTER III

How the Queen of the Sky Gave Gifts to Men

_This is the tale which the Northmen tellof Frigga, Queen of the Asas. _

By the side of All-Father Odin, upon his high seat in Asgard, satFrigga, his wife, the Queen of the Asas. Sometimes she would bedressed in snow-white garments, bound at the waist by a golden girdle, from which hung a great bunch of golden keys. And the earth-dwellers, gazing into the sky, would admire the great white clouds as theyfloated across the blue, not perceiving that these clouds were reallythe folds of Frigga's flowing white robe, as it waved in the wind. 

At other times she would wear dark grey or purple garments; and thenthe earth-dwellers made haste into their houses, for they said, "thesky is lowering to-day, and a storm is nigh at hand. "

Frigga had a palace of her own called Fensalir, or the Hall of Mists, where she spent much of her time at her wheel, spinning golden thread, or weaving web after web of many-coloured clouds. All night long shesat at this golden wheel, and if you look at the sky on a starry nightyou may chance to see it set up where the men of the South show aconstellation called the Girdle of Orion. 

Husbands and wives who had dwelt lovingly together upon earth wereinvited by Frigga to her hall when they died, so that they might befor ever united within its hospitable walls. 

 "There in the glen Fensalir stands, the house Of Frigga, honoured mother of the gods, And shows its lighted windows, and the open doors. "

Frigga was especially interested in all good housewives, and sheherself set them an excellent example in Fensalir. When the snowflakesfell, the earth-dwellers knew it was Frigga shaking her great featherbed, and when it rained they said it was her washing day. It was shewho first gave to them the gift of flax that the women upon earthmight spin, and weave, and bleach their linen as white as the cloudsof her own white robe. 

And this is how it came about. 

There once was a shepherd who lived among the mountains with his wifeand children; and so very poor was he that he often found it hard togive his family enough to satisfy their hunger. But he did notgrumble; he only worked the harder; and his wife, though she hadscarcely any furniture, and never a chance of a new dress, kept thehouse so clean, and the old clothes so well mended, that, all unknownto herself, she rose high in the favour of the all-seeing Frigga. 

Now one day, when the shepherd had driven his few poor sheep up themountain to pasture, a fine reindeer sprang from the rocks above himand began to leap upward along the steep slope. The shepherd snatchedup his crossbow and pursued the animal, thinking to himself: "Now weshall have a better meal than we have had for many a long day. "

Up and up leaped the reindeer, always just out of reach and at lengthdisappeared behind a great boulder just as the shepherd, breathlessand weary, reached the spot. No sign of the reindeer was to be seen, but, on looking round, the shepherd saw that he was among the snowyheights of the mountains, and almost at the top of a great glacier. 

Presently, as he pursued his vain search for the animal, he saw to hisamazement an open door, leading apparently into the heart of theglacier. He was a fearless man, and so, without hesitation, he passedboldly through the doorway and found himself standing in a marvellouscavern, lit up by blazing torches which gleamed upon rich jewelshanging from the roof and walls. And in the midst stood a woman, mostfair to behold, clad in snow-white robes and surrounded by a group oflovely maidens. 

The shepherd's boldness gave way at this awesome sight, and he sank tohis knees before the Asa, Frigga, for she it was. But Frigga bade himbe of good cheer, and said: "Choose now whatsoever you will to carryaway with you as a remembrance of this place. "

The shepherd's eyes wandered over the glittering jewels on the wallsand roof, but they came back to a little bunch of blue flowers whichFrigga held in her hand. They alone looked homelike to him; the restwere hard and cold; so he asked timidly that he might be given thelittle nosegay. 

Then Frigga smiled kindly upon him. 

"Most wise has been your choice, " said she. "Take with the flowersthis measure of seed and sow it in your field, and you shall growflowers of your own. They shall bring prosperity to you and yours. "

So the shepherd took the flowers and the seed, and scarcely had hedone so when a mighty peal of thunder, followed by the shock of anearthquake, rent the cavern, and when he had collected his senses hefound himself once more upon the mountain side. 

When he reached home and had told his tale, his wife scolded himroundly for not bringing home a jewel which would have made them richfor ever. But when she would have thrown the flowers away he preventedher. Next day he sowed the seed in his field, and was surprised tofind how far it went. 

Very soon after this the field was thick with tiny green shoots; andthough his wife reproached him for wasting good ground upon uselessflowers, he watched and waited in hope until the field was blue withthe starry flax blooms. 

Then one night, when the flowers had withered and the seed was ripe, Frigga, in the disguise of an old woman, visited the lowly hut andshowed the shepherd and his astonished wife how to use the flaxstalks; how to spin them into thread, and how to weave the thread intolinen. 

It was not long before all the dwellers in that part of the earth hadheard of the wonderful material, and were hurrying to the shepherd'shut to buy the bleached linen or the seed from which it was obtained. And so the shepherd and his family were soon among the richest peoplein the land; and the promise of Frigga was amply fulfilled. 

CHAPTER IV

How a Giant Built a Fortress for the Asas

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howa giant once built a fortress for the Asas. _

Although their city of Asgard was beautiful beyond compare, the Asaswho lived therein could not forget that the race of the giants keptunwearying watch to do them despite. Even All-Father Odin was troubledwhen he remembered Mimir's warning that the draught of wisdom wouldever work strife between the races of Asas and giants. And so atlength the Asas, meeting in their Council Chamber at the roots of theTree of Life, resolved that something more should be done to guardthemselves. Already, it is true, the watchman Heimdall kept ward overthe Rainbow Bridge by night and day, blowing a soft note on his hornto announce the coming or going of the Asas, but prepared to give aterrible blast should any of the Frost Giants attempt to cross thebridge. 

Heimdall, however, might be overpowered before aid could reach him, and so it was decided to build, just within Asgard, a great fortress, which should be so strong that the Asas could rest safely behind itswalls, even if the Frost Giants should invade their city. 

The next question was, Who should build this fortress?

None of the Asas knew of a likely architect, and while they werediscussing where one should be found, the horn of Heimdall rang out intoken of the approach of a stranger. 

Out rushed the Asas, and there, in parley with Heimdall, stood agigantic figure with powerful limbs, on which the muscles stood outlike ropes of iron. 

Heimdall was speaking sharply, for he did not altogether like thestranger's look. "For what purpose do you come?" he was inquiring. 

"I am a Master Builder, " replied the stranger. "I can build towers andforts more strongly than any other builder in all the world. Have youanything of the kind that wants doing here?"

The eyes of the Asas met as they heard these words, and Odin, steppingforward, said, "Can you build us a fortress so strong that not all thestrength of the Frost Giants could avail against it?"

"Ay, that can I, " replied the stranger. "Look at my strong arms andsee the breadth of my chest. If you will set me to work you shall soonfind my worth as a Master Builder. "

"How long will the fortress take to build?" asked Odin. 

"I will build it for you in three half years, " replied the stranger. 

"And what do you ask as wages?" said Odin, and the Master Builderanswered promptly:

"You must give me the sun, the moon, and Freya for my wife. "

At these words the Asas, who had been pressing forward to hear theconference, fell back with muttered disapproval. For Freya was themost beautiful maiden in Asgard, the joy and pride of the city, everyoung and ever fair; and the sun and moon were the light and life ofmen in the world below. So they bade the Master Builder come againnext day, and meantime retired to their Council Hall to consider thematter. 

All-Father Odin was for sending the Builder promptly about hisbusiness when he returned for their decision, but his brother Lokicounselled a different course. 

Red Loki was a mischievous, sly fellow, full of wiles and deceit, andalways quick to suggest a way out of a difficulty. On this occasionhis plan was to allow the man to build the fortress, and to promisehim the terms demanded, but subject to the condition that he fulfilledhis task in a way that would be impossible for him fully to carry out. 

His eloquence persuaded the Asas, and next day, when the Builderreturned for their decision, Loki, as their spokesman, called to themighty fellow as he crossed the bridge:

"Good man, we cannot wait for three half years for the completion ofour fortress. But if you will undertake to do the work in the courseof one winter, without any assistance, you shall have Freya, and thesun and moon to boot. If, however, on the first day of summer, onestone is missing from its place, the fortress will be ours without anypayment whatever, since you will have broken your plighted word. "

At this the Master Builder did not look well pleased. He pulled hisgreat beard and eyed the speaker doubtfully, muttering that the timewas too short for so great a task; but when Loki pretended to turnaway, as though the matter were ended, he called after him:

"Well, have it so--the fortress shall be built in the time you set. But you must at least let me have the help of my good horse Svadilfareto carry stone. "

When they heard this request the Asas demurred, saying: "He means toplay us some trick. "

But Loki persuaded them to make this trifling concession. 

"For, " said he, "of what use can a horse be in building a fortress? Hewill never be able to finish the place in time, and we shall get ourfort for nothing. At least you can let him have his great clumsy horsefor any use that he may be. "

So the Asas agreed, and went their different ways, leaving the MasterBuilder to his work. 

The winter months passed on, and while the Asas busied themselves withtheir various occupations and amusements, the Master Builder wastoiling with might and main. But he could have done little in the timeif he had not had the help of his wonderful horse Svadilfare, who notonly dragged huge blocks of stone to the spot, but raised them intoposition with his strong forefeet. And this was done with such speedthat, some days before the end of winter, the fortress was finished, with the exception of three blocks of stone which were to form one ofthe gateways. 

Then the Asas suddenly realised what was about to happen. In less thanthree days more the fortress would be finished; it needed, in fact, but one night's work to make all complete. They remembered with horrorthe price they had undertaken to pay; the loss not only of Freya, fairest of maidens, but also of sun and moon, whose light was the joyof their life and the necessity of mankind. 

"It is Red Loki, " said they, "who has brought us to this sad pass. " Sothey began to reproach him very bitterly, threatening even to kill himif he did not find some way to evade the loss which threatened them. 

At length, being really frightened, Loki promised to dosomething--anything, that would prevent the Master Builder fromfinishing the work during the three days that yet remained of winter. 

That same night good Svadilfare was painfully dragging a great blockof stone along the path to the new-built fortress, when Red Loki, changed into the semblance of a pretty little grey mare, came runningup, saying, as plainly as horses can speak:

"Down below there is a delightful green meadow. Do come with me, andtake a holiday from this ever-lasting work. "

Scarcely had he heard her neigh when the steed kicked off his harness, left the block of stone to roll down the steep hill, and rushed afterthe mare. Away ran Loki, away ran Svadilfare, and after them rushedthe Master Builder, shouting and yelling in vain. The noise they madewas terrific, for the gallop of the horses and the _thud_, _thud_, ofthe mighty Builder shook the walls of Asgard and made theearth-dwellers shrink in terror from what they imagined to bethunderstorms and earthquakes. But the Builder never found his horse, for Loki had lured him to a meadow hidden safely away within a secretgrove. 

When the Master Builder returned to the fortress the first day ofsummer had dawned, and lo! the winter was gone, and the gateway of thebuilding was unfinished. 

Before it stood the Asas, and All-Father Odin greeted the Builderwith:

"See, fellow, here is the first day of summer and your task is not yetfulfilled. Begone, then, from Asgard, for we are free from our bond, and would have no further dealing with thee or thy evil brood. "

Then the Builder perceived that Odin knew who he really was, and witha roar of rage he returned to his own form, and stood revealed as amighty Frost Giant, almost as huge as the fortress he had built. 

Shaking his great fist at the Asas, he shouted threateningly:

"Ye have tricked and fooled me enough. Not for nothing does a FrostGiant stand within the walls of Asgard. Were it not so strongly builtI would now tear down this fortress that I have raised; but your ownpalaces are not giant-built, and see to it that they are not soontumbling about your ears!"

And in good sooth he might have torn down the very halls of the Asasin his rage, had not Thor at that moment dashed up the Rainbow Bridgein his chariot drawn by goats. For all this while Thor, the strongestof the Asas, had been away on a long journey; and had this not beenso, the giants would have had little cause to fear. 

Springing from his chariot as the furious giant was about to pull theroof off Valhalla, Thor gave him so mighty a blow on the head with hishuge hammer that his skull broke into little bits and his body felldown into the Land of Mists. 

"Take that for your wages, " roared Thor, as he swung his hammer onhigh, "and in this same manner will I repay all of the race of FrostGiants who seek to set foot in Asgard. "

And so in this way was built for the Asas a fortress so strong thatnone of the giant folk could dare to raise hand against it. But alwaysit lacked three stones in the gateway, for no one except a Frost Giantcould lift such mighty blocks into place. 

CHAPTER V

The Magic Mead

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how All-Father Odinbrought the Magic Mead to Asgard. _

There once lived among the earth-dwellers a certain man named Kvasir, who was very wise. He did not keep his wisdom to himself, as Mimirdid, but went his way through all the world, answering questions andsharing his gift with those who cared for it. And wherever he went menwere the better for his silver words, for Kvasir was a poet, the firstwho ever lived, and by his gift of poetry he made glad the hearts ofgods and men. 

Now when the dwarf people saw how Kvasir was loved and honoured, theygrew jealous of him, and plotted to work him evil. So two of theirnumber, called Fialar and Galar, met Kvasir one day and begged him tovisit their cave under the earth and to take counsel with themconcerning a very secret and important matter. 

Glad, as was his wont, to help others, Kvasir agreed, whereupon thedwarfs conducted him into a dark and dismal place underground; andthere, taking him unawares, they treacherously slew him, and pouredhis blood into three jars. This they mixed with honey, and thus made aMagic Mead, of such a nature that whoever drinks of it receives thegift of poesy, and his speech is silver and his heart is filled withwisdom. 

It was not long before the gods in Asgard, missing the sweet sound ofKvasir's voice throughout the earth, began to make inquiries as towhat had become of him. 

The wicked dwarfs had spread the report that the wise man had chokedby reason of his great wisdom. But All-Father Odin knew well that thisabsurd tale was not true, and was on the watch to see what mischiefFialar and Galar had been brewing. 

Meantime, the dwarfs did not taste a drop of the Magic Mead, but hidit away in a secret place, while they went off in search of furtheradventures. 

After awhile they found the Giant Gilling fast asleep by the seashore, and they began to pinch him till he was wide awake. 

"Take us for a row on the sea, Gilling, " they shouted, in theirimpudent little voices. 

So the Giant Gilling, who was good-natured and stupid, got into aboat, and being very lazy, allowed the dwarfs to take the oars and rowwhere they would. 

Then Fialar and Galar rowed on to an unseen rock and upset the boat, so that the giant, who could not swim, was drowned; but theythemselves perched astride on the keel, and the boat soon driftedashore. 

Hurrying to the giant's house they told his wife, with a fine pretenceof sympathy, that her husband had fallen into the sea and was drowned. At this the poor giantess began to sob and groan until the walls shookwith the noise. Then Fialar said to his brother:

"Tired am I of this bawling. I will now take her out, and as shepasses through the doorway, drop a millstone on her head; and thenthere will be an end to them both. "

Forthwith he asked if it would not comfort her to look upon the seawhere her dear husband lay drowned; and she said it would. But as shepassed through the doorway wicked Galar, who had scrambled up abovethe lintel, dropped a millstone on her head, and so she too fell aneasy victim to the malice of the cruel brothers. 

Now while the two dwarfs were jumping and skipping about in theirwicked glee at the success of their evil plans, the Giant Suttung, sonof Gilling, came home, and finding that his mother and father wereboth dead, he quickly guessed who were at the bottom of the mischief, and determined to put an end to the wretches. 

Before they could evade his wrath, he grasped one of the dwarfs ineach of his great hands, and, wading out into the ocean, he set themdown upon a rock which he knew would be flooded at high tide, andthere left them. 

Then Fialar and Galar began to scream with terror, and to offeranything that Suttung chose to ask for, if only he would spare theirlives. 

Now Suttung had heard, as most people had done, of the Magic Mead, andhe thought that this was a fine opportunity of getting it into hispossession. So he bargained with the dwarfs, and they gladly promisedto give him the whole brew if only he would save them from theirperilous plight. 

Suttung waited till they had had a good fright, and then, as the firstwave washed over them, he waded to the rock and lifted them off. Hetook good care, however, not to give them their liberty until they hadhanded over the three jars of Magic Mead. 

The moment he had got the precious jars into his possession Suttunghid them in a cave deep down in the centre of a mountain, and he sethis daughter, Gunlod, the Giant-Maiden, to keep watch and ward, charging her to guard the cavern night and day, and to allow neithergods nor men to have so much as a sip of the marvellous liquid. 

Meantime, All-Father Odin had sent forth his ravens, Hugin and Munin, to find out what had become of the wise Kvasir. For a while even theywere puzzled by his complete disappearance, but presently they heardmen talk of the Magic Mead that had been made from his blood, and so, little by little, they learned the truth, and flying back to Odin, they perched on his shoulders, and whispered it into his ears. 

Now All-Father Odin was sorry for Kvasir, but he was still more vexedto think that this wonderful gift of poetry should be in the hands ofhis enemies, the giants. He began, therefore, to consider how he couldget it from them, for though he had drained the draught of wisdom inspeech and song, and nothing save a draught of the Magic Mead wouldbring him that gift. 

So once more All-Father Odin disguised himself as an aged wanderer, pulled his grey hat well over his brows, threw his storm-hued cloakaround him, and journeyed to the Land of Giants. 

Searching about for the home of Suttung, Odin presently passed by afield where nine ugly serving-men were mowing hay. Now these were theservants of Baugi, the brother of Suttung, as Odin very well knew; so, after watching them for awhile, he called out:

"Hi, fellows! Your scythes are blunt. Would you like me to whet themfor you?"

Glad of an excuse to stop work, the men shouted, "Yes. "

Then Odin took a whetstone from his belt and whetted the scythes tillthey were sharp as razors. 

The servants were much struck with the speed and skill with which thiswas done, and they all called out together to ask if the whetstone wasfor sale. 

Odin replied that he was willing to sell it if he could get a fairprice; upon which they all yelled at once that they would pay whateverhe asked. 

"Then let him have it who catches it, " said Odin, and with that hethrew the whetstone up in the air. 

And then a tremendous struggle began. Each man fought with hisneighbour for the stone and hacked at him with his keen scythe; andwithin a very few minutes all the nine serving-men lay dead on thefield. 

With a grim smile at the greed and quarrelsome behaviour which hadbrought them to this end, Odin passed on to the house of the GiantBaugi, and begged for supper and shelter for the night. The giantreceived him hospitably enough, and was about to sit down to tablewith him, when word was brought that his nine servants had killed eachother and lay dead in the field. 

Then Baugi began to complain and lament his bad luck, saying: "Herehave I never had a better harvest, and yet there is not a man left togather it in. "

"Suppose you give _me_ a trial, " suggested Odin, "for though I lookold I can do the work of nine men, and that you will soon find. "

"What do you want for your wages?" asked Baugi doubtfully, for heguessed that the stranger was somebody out of the common. 

"Nothing but a draught of the Magic Mead stored away by your brotherSuttung, " answered Odin calmly. 

"'Tis no easy thing you ask of me, good fellow, " replied Baugi, "noris it mine to give. But if you will do my work I will go with you tomy brother when all is done, and we will do our best to get the mead. "

So Odin set to work all that summer-time, and never before had Baugihad such service done. Then, when the first breath of frost touchedthe autumn leaves, the toiler laid aside his tools and, going to hismaster, asked for his reward. 

But Baugi shook his head doubtfully. "'Tis a harder matter than youthink, " said he. "Come with me, however, and I will do my best foryou. "

So they went together to the house of Suttung, and Baugi entered inand boldly asked his brother to give him a drink of the Magic Mead, wherewith to reward his servant. 

At this Suttung flew into a great rage, and reproached Baugi forasking such a thing. "You have been fooled, " he cried, "for this isnone other than one of the gods, our deadly enemies, who, when hedrinks the mead, will use his new-found wisdom in our despite. If youtake my advice, you will do this enemy an ill turn while you have himin your power. "

So Baugi went back to Odin, his heart torn between hatred of the godand fear as to what would happen if he did not keep his promise; buthe only told gloomily that he had failed to get the mead. 

Then Odin said, "If Suttung will not give the mead because of yourpromise, we must get it by some trick. And you will have to help me inthis, because of your plighted word. "

To this Baugi pretended to agree, but all the while he was trying tothink of a plan whereby he could make an end of his troublesomeservant. 

They now made their way to the mountain where Gunlod kept watch overher treasured jars of mead. But her cave was hidden far away in thecentre of the mountain, and none but Suttung knew how to find theentrance. 

Baugi only pretended to join in the long and fruitless search, and atlength, tired out, Odin took from his pocket an auger, wherewith holesare bored, and bade the giant use his great strength to drill a holethrough the mountain to the cave. 

Accordingly Baugi bored away and presently cried out, "See, there isyour hole right into the cave!"

But Odin warily blew into the hole, and immediately chips of rock anddust flew back into his face, showing that the hole extended only alittle way. 

Then Odin knew, what before he had only guessed, that Baugi was tryingto trick him; but he only looked at him grimly and said:

"Bore deeper, master, bore deeper. "

And the giant was so frightened by the gleam in the iron-grey eye thathe seized the auger, and this time made a hole which really piercedthe mountain and penetrated to the hidden cave. 

Directly Odin had made sure that Baugi had fulfilled his task, hechanged himself into a snake and wriggled into the hole before Baugihad realised what had happened. 

The next moment Baugi gave a stab at the snake with the sharp auger, hoping to cut him in two, but Odin was too quick for him, and hewriggled out of sight as the blow fell. 

Odin crept a long way through the mountain until he came at length toa dark cave; and then he took again the form of the Father of Gods andMen. 

Looking about him for awhile in the dimness of the cavern, he saw atlength the beautiful Giant-Maiden, resting her head wearily on herhands and gazing at the great jars of mead which stood before her on aledge as though she hated their very sight. 

Coming softly to her side, Odin bent over her and gently kissed herforehead. Gunlod at this sprang up in terror, but when she saw Odin'skind face, her fears vanished and she smiled back at him. 

"Whence come you?" asked the beautiful Giant-Maiden. 

"I come from a long, long way off, " replied the god, "and I am thirstyafter my journey. May I taste the mead that stands in yon vessels?"

Gunlod shook her head till her long golden locks fell in confusionover her like a shower of laburnum blossom; but Odin set himself sowinningly to coax her that, after she had held out for some long time, she told him at last that he might take one sip from each jar. 

The words were hardly uttered ere Odin seized the first jar and in amoment had drained it dry. Then he snatched up the second and thethird; and before Gunlod realised what had happened he had kissed heragain, and, passing rapidly through the hole, had flown forth into thefresh air in the form of an eagle, and was bearing away the preciousmead in his mouth to Asgard. 

Meanwhile, Baugi had gone back to the Giant Suttung with the tale ofhow he had seen the mysterious serving-man change into a snake andwriggle through a hole in the mountain; and Suttung at once guessedthat they had to deal with Odin himself. So he hurried to the hole andsat there to watch for the return of the snake. 

But he had to wait so long that at length he grew drowsy, and inorder to keep awake he was just pricking himself with the branch of aneighbouring thorn-bush, when _birr! whizz!_ a great bird dashed outof the hole and made off into the upper air. 

This awoke Suttung effectually. He knew he had missed a good chance ofkilling Odin, and that, in all probability, in the very act ofcarrying off the Magic Mead to Asgard; but he would not give up allhope, and next moment, in the form of another eagle, he was pursuinghis enemy in eager flight. 

Now Odin was heavy with the mead he had drunk, and his head was dizzy, so that he did not always fly along the straightest path. Little bylittle Suttung gained on him therefore, till it became very uncertainwhether Odin could first reach the walls of Asgard. 

The loud rush of fast-beating wings through the air attracted theattention of the gods, and they crowded to the walls of Asgard towatch the progress of the eagle, in whom they easily recognised Odin. 

Some prepared great dishes in which to receive the Magic Mead from hismouth; others, seeing that he might be caught by his pursuer before hecould reach the city, gathered a great pile of wood outside the walls, and heaped it with tow and tar and turpentine. To this they set fire, just as Odin flew over the battlements. And the flames shot up andburnt the wings of the pursuing eagle, so that Suttung tumbled to theearth and could fly no more. 

Odin, exhausted and breathless, was meantime filling the dishes whichthe gods held ready for the Magic Mead, but so hurried was he thatsome of it was spilt; a few scattered drops fell on to the earthbelow. 

Men rushed eagerly to catch the precious drops in their mouths; butnone could get enough to be made wise with the true spirit of poesy. Some caught enough to become makers of rhymes and verses, but this isa different thing. 

The Magic Mead was henceforth kept in Asgard under the charge ofwhite-haired Bragi, the son of Odin, he who plays so beautifully uponthe harp that it seems to sing of itself. 

And once or twice in every hundred years or so, the gods allow somevery favoured babe of mortal man to drink a full draught of the MagicMead. Then, when the child grows up, he becomes a great poet, andpeople say he is "inspired. "

CHAPTER VI

How Loki Made a Wager with the Dwarfs

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howLoki once made a Wager with the Dwarfs. _

A most mischievous and tricky god was Loki, always on the look-out toplay some wicked prank which was sure to bring trouble upon himself orothers. It was, indeed, a wonder that the other Asas put up with himso long in Asgard; but then, you see, he was Odin's brother. 

One day, when Loki was looking about him for diversions, he saw asleepin the sunlight Sif, the beautiful wife of Thor the Thunderer. 

Now Sif was noted among all the dwellers in Asgard for her glorioushair, which hung down to her heels and was like a thick web of goldensilk. When she stood up it covered her like a cloak, and when she laydown it was like a golden coverlet; and Thor, her husband, thought itwas the most beautiful thing in all the habitation of the gods. 

Now mischievous Loki saw her sleeping under the gleaming mass ofgolden web, and he took a pair of sharp scissors and cut it all offclose to her head, so that she looked quite bald and ugly. 

When Thor came home and saw what had happened, he was wild with fury, and guessing at once who had done the deed, he stamped off to find RedLoki, vowing that he would break every bone in his body. 

Then Loki, when he heard the thunder of Thor's tramp and saw thelightning flash from his angry eyes, was terrified, and attempted tochange himself into another shape; but before he could do so thewrathful god had gripped him by the throat and was shaking the lifeout of him. 

"Let me go!" gasped Loki. "Let me go, and I will bring new hair forSif ere the daylight's gone. "

"Go, then, " roared Thor, "but mind, if you break your word you willhave not only to reckon with _me_, but with Odin and Frey as well. "

Then, giving Loki a last shake, he sent him flying over thebattlements and down the Rainbow Bridge like a falling star. 

Now Loki was terrified at the result of his trick, and dread of thepunishment that Odin might have in store for him, when he returnedwith the hair, began to assail him. So he determined to take back withhim two presents, one for his mighty brother, and one for Frey, thegod of the Golden Sunshine. 

Leaping on to the earth, he quickly made his way through a hillsideinto the depths of the mountains, never stopping till he had reachedthe dark and gloomy district of Dwarfland. 

For a time Loki could see nothing, though he heard on every side thetapping hammers and heaving bellows of the Little Men. 

Presently, however, he distinguished a tiny furnace with its burningflame, and saw by its light a little squat figure, who pulled off hispeaked cap and asked the visitor what he wanted. 

"I want you to make me three gifts, " said Loki; "one for Odin, and onefor Frey, and the third must be golden hair that will grow upon Sif'shead. "

Now the dwarfs were anxious to keep on good terms with the gods, whocould protect them against the giants; and so, when they heard Loki'srequest, they readily agreed to make the three things. Accordingly, they set to work upon a pile of golden nuggets, and spun from them amass of the finest gold thread, so smooth and soft that it looked likethe loveliest hair. This they gave to Loki, telling him that directlyit touched the head of Sif it would become as a natural growth. 

"Now give me something for Odin, " said Loki, well pleased. 

So the dwarfs set to work again, and presently fashioned the spearcalled Gungnir, which, however badly it might be aimed, was alwayssure to go straight to its mark. 

Loki gratefully took the spear, and there now only remained the giftfor Frey. 

The dwarfs thought awhile, and then set to work upon a ship which, when pressed together, would fold up and go into one's pocket, butwhich, when allowed to expand, would hold all the gods in Asgard andtheir horses, would sail through air as well as on water, and wouldalways get a favourable wind directly it hoisted canvas. 

Loki was immensely pleased with these gifts, and went away, declaringloudly that his dwarf friends were the cleverest smiths in all theworld. 

Now it so fell out that his words were heard by another dwarf, namedBrock, who came and stood in his way and looked with scorn at the shipand the spear and the golden web which he carried in his hands. 

"A clumsy lot of things you have there!" he jeered. "Why, my brotherSindri could make gifts that are far more wonderful than those. "

"My head against yours that he could not!" said Loki, getting angry. 

"Done!" chuckled Brock with a leer, and forthwith they made their wayto the underground cave where Sindri was at work in his forge. 

Now Sindri was quite ready to take up the challenge, but only oncondition that Brock would blow the bellows for him. Loki now began tofeel uneasy, for he had hoped the dwarf would decline to compete whenhe heard what were the gifts he had to improve upon. But Sindri onlywagged his long beard at them contemptuously, and Loki's head began totremble for the result of his wager. 

So he determined to try and hinder the work. 

Meantime Sindri had thrown a pigskin into the furnace, and had goneoutside to find a magic charm, saying as he went:

"Blow, brother, blow with all thy might till I return, and stay notthy hand for an instant. "

Directly Loki heard this he changed himself into a great stinging fly, and lighting on Brock's hand, he stung him with all his might. But thedwarf never stopped blowing, though he stamped and roared with pain. Then Sindri returned, and going to the furnace drew from it a goldenboar of great size, which had the power of flying through the sky andscattering light from his golden bristles as he flew. But Brock didnot know all this, and looked somewhat scornfully at the gift, saying:

"I thought you could do better than this. "

"Wait a bit, " said Sindri, and with that he threw a lump of gold uponthe fire and went out, charging his brother not to stop blowing for aninstant. 

Then in flew Loki again, still disguised as a gadfly, and lighted onBrock's neck and stung him so that the blood flowed. But though thedwarf yelled with pain he did not cease blowing. 

When Sindri returned he pulled out of the fire a fine gold ring. Andthis ring was made in such a marvellous fashion that every ninth nightnine other rings would drop from it, so that its owner would be therichest being in the world. 

But Brock did not know all this, and only growled. 

"Wait a bit, " said Sindri again, and this time he threw a lump of ironon the fire, once more going out, and urging his brother, as he went, to be specially careful this time, or he would spoil all. 

Then in flew Loki and lighted between Brock's eyelids, stinging themso that the blood poured down and blinded him. Raising his hand for asecond the dwarf dashed away the blood, and just for that instant heceased to blow. Presently Sindri was back again, saying gloomily thatwhat lay in the furnace came nigh to being spoilt. Then he put in hishand and pulled out a great hammer; but the handle of the hammer wasan inch too short. 

Now this hammer was so powerful that no one, not even a Frost Giant, could resist its force, and it would smash a mountain as easily as itwould an egg-shell. So Brock, when he knew all that was to be known, took the three gifts and hastened away to Asgard to pit them againstthose of Loki, who had just returned. 

Enthroned in a circle sat the Asas, and in the midst, as judges of thegifts, sat Odin, Thor and Frey. 

Loki of the red beard and cunning eye, bringing forward the magicspear, bowed low to Odin, saying: "Here, brother Odin, is a spear thatwill never miss its mark!"

Then he turned to Frey and handed him the magic ship, saying: "Here isa ship which will never lack a fair wind wherever you wish to go; andthough you may fold it up and carry it in your pocket, it will holdall the gods of Asgard and their steeds besides. "

But to Thor he gave the golden web of hair, and said nothing, for hefeared him. 

Then Brock stood forth and produced his treasures, saying: "Here, mighty Odin, is a ring that will produce nine other gold rings everyninth night. "

Odin laughed with joy, and said: "Spears have I in abundance, but withthis ring I shall never want for gold. "

Next Brock opened the heavy bag with which his shoulders wereburdened, and out of it fell the golden boar, which he laid beforeFrey, saying: "Here, good Frey, is a boar who will carry you throughthe air or over the sea. And wherever you go on his back the sky willbe lighted up by his golden bristles. "

Then Frey laughed with joy, saying: "Better sport is it to ride on agolden boar than in a ship. "

Lastly Brock drew out the short-handled hammer named Miölnir. And thishe gave to Thor, saying: "Most powerful one, here is a hammer whoseblows nothing can withstand, not even mountains or Frost Giants; andhowever far you throw it, this hammer will always return to yourhand. "

Then Thor jumped from his seat joyfully crying out: "Better than thegolden hair of Sif is a weapon against which none of my enemies canstand. Brothers, let us decide this wager forthwith. And for me, Igive my vote in favour of the gifts of Brock. "

Then the gods and goddesses put their heads together and came to theconclusion that the hammer of Thor was worth all the gifts of Lokitwice over; for with it they could be protected against the FrostGiants, who were always their secret dread. So they decided:

"Brock has won the wager. Let Loki lose his head. "

Much dismayed, Red Loki offered to pay a huge ransom, but of thisBrock would not hear. 

Then Loki pretended to give in. "Come and take me then, " he cried, butwhen the dwarf tried to seize him he was already far away, for he worethe shoes with which he could run through the air and over the sea. 

And knowing that he could never catch him, Brock was beside himselfwith rage. Looking round him he saw that, though the others haddispersed, Thor was still playing with his new hammer, smashing amountain here and a great tree there. 

"Mighty Thor, " cried the dwarf, "will you do something for me inreturn for my gift? Bring to me that fellow who has broken his word, that I may slay him forthwith. "

With a nod of his great head Thor jumped into his goat chariot, andwas soon thundering through the air after wicked Loki. Driving withthe speed of lightning he quickly overtook the fugitive, whose pleafor help, however, touched him so that he relented and bethought himof a way in which he might save his life. 

Justice must be done, however, so he dragged the culprit back toAsgard and gave him over to Brock; but he warned the dwarf thatalthough the head of Loki was rightfully his, he must not touch hisneck. 

Now Brock could not possibly cut off the one without touching theother, so he bethought him of another plan. He would at any rate sewup the bragging lips that had caused so much trouble and told so manylies since All Things began. 

So he took a strong piece of string and bored holes with his auger, and firmly stitched up the lips of Red Loki, and broke off the threadat the end of the sewing. 

For a time after this there was peace in Asgard, and this would havelasted for long had not Loki managed at length to cut the string, whenhe became as talkative as ever. 

And this is the end of the tale of How Loki made a Wager with theDwarfs. 

CHAPTER VII

The Apples of Youth

_This is the tale which the Northmen tell of how the Applesof Youth were once very nearly lost to Asgard. _

Sweetest of all the Asa folk was Idun, the fair young goddess ofSpringtime and Youth, and dearly loved was she by the other Asas, bothfor herself and for her magic apples. 

Fast locked in a golden casket were her apples, ripe and sweet androsy. And each day, at dawn, Idun came to the table where the godssat and feasted together, and gave those who wished a taste of thefruit. 

And it came to pass that everyone who ate the magic fruit grew freshand young again, however old and weary he had been before. For eventhe gods of Asgard grew old and weary sometimes; and then nothingwould make them young again but the Apples of Youth. 

So Idun treasured the fruit with the greatest care, and never let itout of her charge for a moment. And however many she took out of hercasket wherewith to feed the gods, there always remained just the samenumber as before. 

 "Bright Iduna, maid immortal! Standing at Valhalla's portal, In her casket has rich store Of rare apples, gilded o'er; Those rare apples, not of earth, To ageing Asas gave new birth. "

It was only to be expected, of course, that the fame of this magicfruit should spread, and as nobody liked to grow old, many of thegiants, as well as the little dwarf people, used to come to the gatesof Asgard and beg that Idun would give them a taste of her apples. Butthis, though they offered her the richest gifts they could think of, she never would do. 

Now one day it so fell out that Odin grew weary of watching his heroesfeast and fight in Valhalla, and determined to go forth and seek anadventure elsewhere. 

So he called for his brother Hœnir, the clear-eyed Asa who firstgave hope to the heart of man, and Loki, the mischievous fellow whoyet by reason of his fun and gaiety was no bad travelling companion, and bade them accompany him on a journey. 

Speeding over the Rainbow Bridge they came down to the world below, and presently found themselves in a desolate region of mountain andmoorland, through which they wandered for a long, long time, withoutcoming across any kind of human habitation. 

At length, grown weary and very hungry, they began to look about forfood, and presently saw, to their great joy, a herd of oxen feedingupon the mountain side. It took no long time to kill a fine bull andto kindle an immense fire; after which the Asas hung up the animal toroast and sat down to wait till it was done. 

But though the fire flamed bravely over the logs, it made nodifference whatever to the meat, which remained raw and cold. 

Heaping on fresh fuel, the three Asas put the carcass still nearer theflame and waited hungrily. All in vain, the meat remained uneatable. 

Looking at each other in dismay, the Asas exclaimed:

"There is some magic spell at work here. "

And at that very moment they heard the loud croak of a bird in thetree above them. 

Hastily searching the branches, the Asas soon found an immense eagleperched there and looking down upon them with an evil expression. 

"Ho!" cried Odin, "is it you who has bewitched our food?"

The eagle nodded and croaked maliciously again. 

"Then come at once and remove the spell, " cried the famished Hœnir. 

"If I do so, will you give me as much as I want to eat?" asked theeagle. 

At this Odin hesitated, for he feared a trick, but Loki's mouth waswatering, and he called out:

"Yes, yes, anything you like if you will only let the meat be cooked. "

Then the great bird swooped down and began to fan the flame with hishuge wings, and behold! in a very few minutes the gravy began to run, a delicious smell of roast beef filled the air, and there was the meatdone to a turn. 

Just as the three Asas were putting out hungry hands to seize theirportions, however, the eagle, which had been hovering overhead, swooped down and seized more than three-quarters of the animal, leaving barely enough for one of the famished gods. 

This was too much for Loki. With a roar of rage like that of an angrylion, he seized a great stake that stood near and struck with all hismight at the greedy bird. 

The eagle shook himself after the blow, but instead of dropping hisbooty he rose slowly into the air. And then, to Loki's dismay, hefound that one end of the pole had stuck fast to the body of the bird, the other to his own hands. 

Try as he would he could not let go, and so found himself beingdragged along over stones and bushes and briers, while his arms werealmost torn out of their sockets. 

In vain he begged and implored the eagle to let him go; it took nonotice of him whatever, but flew on and on, just a little way abovethe earth, until at length Loki, feeling that he could endure nolonger, promised to give him anything he asked if he would onlyrelease him. 

Then at last the eagle spoke, telling him that he would set him freeon one condition only, and that was that he should manage, by sometrick, to tempt Idun out of Asgard, in order that he could obtainpossession of her and of the magic fruit. He told Loki, moreover, thathe was the Storm Giant Thiassi in disguise, and bade him beware of theconsequences if he broke his solemn promise to one of giant race. 

By this time Loki was ready to promise anything to save his life, andso at length he found himself free. 

Bruised and torn he made his way back to Odin and Hœnir, by whom hewas closely questioned concerning his adventures. 

But Loki never hesitated to depart from the truth, and, knowing thatit would not do to tell what he had promised, he answered glibly thatthe eagle had captured him in mistake for someone else, and that whenhe found out it was Red Loki himself, he had set him free, with manyexpressions of sorrow for his error. 

So the three Asas returned to Asgard, and from that moment Loki didnot cease to plot and plan the means by which he could entice Idunoutside the gates. 

And indeed this was no easy matter, for the Apples of Youth were soprecious to the gods that Idun was well guarded by night and day. Sometimes, however, even the Asas were off their guard, and that wasthe opportunity for Loki. 

Strolling one day through the groves of Asgard, Loki found thebeautiful maiden all alone in a sunny corner playing at ball with hergolden fruit. 

"Aha!" cried he, approaching gently so as not to startle her, "what afair game thou playest here, maiden!"

But Idun only smiled at him happily and went on tossing her apples. 

Then Loki pulled a long face, and came nearer, and said:

"Till this day, fair Idun, I had said that nowhere in the wide worldgrew apples like thine. But now have I found a tree whereon the fruitis of finer gold, and of greater size than these, and a taste of itneeds not to be renewed again, but makes one young for evermore. "

Then Idun stopped playing and her blue eyes grew dark and stormy, forshe could not bear to think that her apples would no longer be the joyand delight of the Asas. 

But then she remembered Loki's deceitful ways, and said: "I believethee not. This is one of thy tricks, Red Loki. "

"Ho, you think so, do you?" said the crafty one. "Then come and seethem for yourself, and bring your own to compare with them. "

"Are they near by?" said Idun, rising doubtfully to her feet, andstill holding fast to the casket of fruit. 

"Only just a little way off, " replied Loki, and taking hold of herhand he drew her outside the thicket. 

On and on they went, and when she asked where they were going healways replied that the grove where the apples grew was just a littlefarther than he had thought. 

At length, without noticing that she had passed the boundaries, Idunstood outside the walls of Asgard on a dreary region of barren heath, and then she at last began to suspect mischief. 

"Where am I?" she cried, "and where, O Loki, are the golden apples?"

But she only heard the jeering ha! ha! ha! of the Asa as he returnedto Asgard, and that was soon lost in the _whirr-r-r_ of wings as amighty eagle, swooping down upon her, fixed his talons in her girdleand rose with her into the air. 

And this, of course, was Thiassi, the Storm Giant, who had been on thewatch for her all the time, and who now carried her off, casket andall, to the bleak and desolate abode over which he ruled. Well had itbeen said that Loki was at the bottom of all the misfortunes that everbefell in Asgard. And never until the End of All Things would he workso dire a mischief again. 

Poor Idun grew pale and thin and sad in her captivity, but she wouldnot purchase freedom with a taste of the Apples of Youth, although theStorm Giant coaxed and begged and threatened by turns. 

For a time the Asas took little notice of her absence, for theythought she was amusing herself somewhere in the sunny groves ofAsgard and had forgotten her daily visit. Then they began to feel oldand weary, and at first scarcely knew what was wrong. 

Glancing at each other they saw, with startled eyes, wrinkles andlines and grey hairs where these things were not wont to be. Theiryouth and beauty were disappearing, and then they suddenly awoke tothe need of a thorough search for the missing Idun. 

And, when she could nowhere be found, All-Father Odin, mindful offormer tricks, sent for Red Loki and began very closely to questionhim. Others had seen Idun in his company on that eventful day when shehad been carried away, and so, finding it impossible to keep thematter hidden, Loki confessed, with a mocking laugh, that he hadbetrayed her into the power of the Storm Giant. 

Then all the Asas arose in hot wrath and threatened Loki with death ortorture if he did not at once restore the beautiful Goddess of Youthwith her magic fruit. And at length, being fairly frightened, heundertook to bring her back, if Freya would lend him her falcon plumesthat he might disguise himself as a bird. 

Thus equipped, Loki flew off to Giantland, and arrived, fortunatelyfor him, just as Thiassi had gone out a-fishing. 

High up at the window of a great stone castle fair Idun looked withtearful eyes upon the stormy sea, and, as she thought of the sunnygroves of Asgard, suddenly the plumage of a great falcon almostbrushed against her face. Drawing back in alarm, she saw the cunningred eyes of Loki looking at her from the bird's head. 

"See how kind am I!" he jeered. "I am come to take thee back toAsgard. "

Then Idun almost wept for joy, till she remembered that she was aprisoner, and so cried pitifully:

"I cannot win forth from this cold stone tower, O Loki, and even if Icould, thou canst never carry me and my casket back to Asgard. Andlo! I cannot outrun the wicked Storm Giant, and though the fruit beheavy, I will not leave it behind. "

Then Loki soothed her, and by his magic arts he changed her into anut, which he took up in one talon, while the casket he carried withthe other, and so set off to fly back to Asgard. 

Now Thiassi, the Storm Giant, was ill at ease that day, for he feltthe pangs and pains of old age upon him as he went a-fishing. So hedetermined to return earlier than usual, in order to try once more toget the magic fruit from Idun. 

Judge then of his dismay when he found his prisoner flown!

Hastily transforming himself into an eagle, Thiassi began to scour theregions of the air, looking everywhere for the maiden, and before longhe noted the steady flight of a falcon towards the walls of Asgard. 

Sweeping towards him through the air, the keen eyes of the eagle sawthe gleam of a golden casket in his talons, and he knew that it was anAsa who had come to the rescue of Idun. 

And now it seemed that Loki would be hard put to it to reach Asgardbefore he was overtaken; for the eagle swept through the air with hisgreat wings much faster than the falcon could fly, and the Asas, whohad assembled on the battlements of the city to watch the race, trembled for its issue. 

Then some of them remembered how once before they had played a trickupon the pursuer in a similar conflict, and they collected pineshavings in great abundance and piled them on the walls, and stoodready to fire them when the moment came. 

On, on flew Loki, hard beset; and close behind him came, with steadyrush, the mighty eagle Thiassi. He was almost upon his prey as theyneared the walls, but Loki made a last violent effort, which wassuccessful, and he fell exhausted into the midst of the Asas. 

At the same moment the pile of fuel was lighted, and Thiassi, blindedwith smoke and singed with flame, dropped over the battlements, andthus fell an easy prey to his waiting enemies. In admiration of hisgood race, however, the Asas placed his eyes as stars in the heavens, and there they shine to this day. 

So the Apples of Youth returned to Asgard, and all the Asas hastenedto eat of them and became young and beautiful again. And fair Idunonce more resumed her shape, and never again was tricked by wickedLoki, but played with her magic fruit in the golden groves of Asgardtill the End of All Things. 

And this is how the Apples of Youth were once very nearly lost toAsgard. 

CHAPTER VIII

How the Fenris Wolf was Chained

_This is the tale the Northmen tell ofhow the Fenris Wolf was chained. _

Fair as were the meads of Asgard, we have seen that the Asa folk werefond of wandering far afield in other regions. Most restless of allwas Red Loki, that cunning fellow who was always bringing trouble uponhimself or upon his kindred. And because he loved evil, he would oftenbetake himself to the gloomy halls of Giantland and mingle with thewicked folk of that region. 

Now one day he met a hideous giantess named Angur-Boda. This creaturehad a heart of ice, and because he loved ugliness and evil she had agreat attraction for him, and in the end he married her, and theylived together in a horrible cave in Giantland. 

Three children were born to Loki and Angur-Boda in this dread abode, and they were even more terrible in appearance than their mother. Thefirst was an immense wolf called Fenris, with a huge mouth filled withlong white teeth, which he was constantly gnashing together. 

The second was a wicked-looking serpent with a fiery-tongue lollingfrom its mouth. 

The third was a hideous giantess, partly blue and partly flesh-colour, whose name was Hela. 

No sooner were these three terrible children born than all the wisemen of the earth began to foretell the misery they would bring uponthe Asa folk. 

In vain did Loki try to keep them hidden within the cave whereintheir mother dwelt. They soon grew so immense in size that no dwellingwould contain them, and all the world began to talk of their frightfulappearance. 

It was not long, of course, before All-Father Odin, from his high seatin Asgard, heard of the children of Loki. So he sent for some of theAsas, and said:

"Much evil will come upon us, O my children, from this giant brood, ifwe defend not ourselves against them. For their mother will teach themwickedness, and still more quickly will they learn the cunning wilesof their father. Fetch me them here, therefore, that I may deal withthem forthwith. "

So, after somewhat of a struggle, the Asas captured the threegiant-children and brought them before Odin's judgment-seat. 

Then Odin looked first at Hela, and when he saw her gloomy eyes, fullof misery and despair, he was sorry, and dealt kindly with her, saying: "Thou art the bringer of Pain to man, and Asgard is no placefor such as thou. But I will make thee ruler of the Mist Home, andthere shalt thou rule over that unlighted world, the Region of theDead. "

Forthwith he sent her away over rough roads to the cold, dark regionof the North called the Mist Home. And there did Hela rule over a grimcrew, for all those who had done wickedness in the world above wereimprisoned by her in those gloomy regions. To her came also all thosewho had died, not on the battlefield, but of old age or disease. Andthough these were treated kindly enough, theirs was a joyless life incomparison with that of the dead warriors who were feasting andfighting in the halls of Valhalla, under the kindly rule of All-FatherOdin. 

Having thus disposed of Hela, Odin next turned his attention to theserpent. And when he saw his evil tongue and cunning, wicked eyes, hesaid:

"Thou art he who bringest Sin into the world of men; therefore theocean shall be thy home for ever. "

Then he threw that horrid serpent into the deep sea which surroundsall lands, and there the creature grew so fast that when he stretchedhimself one day he encircled all the earth, and held his own tail fastin his mouth. And sometimes he grew angry to think that he, the son ofa god, had thus been cast out; and at those times he would writhe withhis huge body and lash his tail till the sea spouted up to the sky. And when that happened the men of the North said that a great tempestwas raging. But it was only the Serpent-son of Loki writhing in hiswrath. 

Then Odin turned to the third child. And behold! the Fenris Wolf wasso appalling to look upon that Odin feared to cast him forth, and hedecided to endeavour to tame him by kindness so that he should notwish them ill. 

But when he bade them carry food to the Fenris Wolf, not one of theAsas would do so, for they feared a snap from his great jaws. Only thebrave Tyr had courage enough to feed him, and the wolf ate so much andso fast that the business took him all his time. Meantime, too, theFenris grew so rapidly, and became so fierce, that the gods werecompelled to take counsel and consider how they should get rid of him. They remembered that it would make their peaceful halls unholy if theywere to slay him, and so they resolved instead to bind him fast, thathe should be unable to do them harm. 

So those of the Asa folk who were clever smiths set to work and made avery strong, thick chain; and when it was finished they carried it outto the yard where the wolf dwelt, and said to him, as though in jest:

"Here is a fine proof of thy boasted strength, O Fenris. Let us bindthis about thee, that we may see if thou canst break it asunder. "

Then the wolf gave a great grin with his wide jaws, and came and stoodstill that they might bind the chain about him; for he knew what hecould do. And it came to pass that directly they had fastened thechain, and had slipped aside from him, the great beast gave himself ashake, and the chain fell about him in little bits. 

At this the Asas were much annoyed, but they tried not to show it, andpraised him for his strength. 

Then they set to work again upon a chain much stronger than the last, and brought it to the Fenris Wolf, saying:

"Great will be thy renown, O Fenris, if thou canst break this chain asthou didst the last. "

But the wolf looked at them askance, for the chain they brought wasvery much thicker than the one he had already broken. He reflected, however, that since that time he himself had grown stronger andbigger, and moreover, that one must risk something in order to winrenown. 

So he let them put the chain upon him, and when the Asas said that allwas ready, he gave a good shake and stretched himself a few times, andagain the fetters lay in fragments on the ground. 

Then the gods began to fear that they would never hold the wolf inbonds; and it was All-Father Odin who persuaded them to make one moreattempt. 

So they sent a messenger to Dwarfland bidding him ask the Little Mento make a chain which nothing could possibly destroy. 

Setting at once to work, the clever little smiths soon fashioned aslender silken rope, and gave it to the messenger, saying that nostrength could break it, and that the more it was strained thestronger it would become. 

It was made of the most mysterious things--the sound of a cat'sfootsteps, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breathof fishes, and other such strange materials, which only the dwarfsknew how to use. 

With this chain the messenger hastened back over the Rainbow Bridge toAsgard. 

By this time the Fenris Wolf had grown too big for his yard, so helived on a rocky island in the middle of the lake that lies in themidst of Asgard. And here the Asas now betook themselves with theirchain, and began to play their part with wily words. 

"See, " they cried, "O Fenris! Here is a cord so soft and thin thatnone would think of it binding such strength as thine. "

And they laughed great laughs, and handed it to one another, and triedits strength by pulling at it with all their might, but it did notbreak. 

Then they came nearer and used more wiles, saying:

"We cannot break the cord, though 'tis stronger than it looks, butthou, O mighty one, will be able to snap it in a moment. "

But the wolf tossed his head in scorn, and said:

"Small renown would there be to me, O Asa folk, if I were to break yonslender string. Save, therefore, your breath, and leave me now alone. "

"Aha!" cried the Asas. "Thou fearest the might of the silken cord, thou false one, and that is why thou wilt not let us bind thee!"

"Not I, " said the Fenris Wolf, growing rather suspicious, "but if itis made with craft and guile it shall never come near my feet. "

"But, " said the Asas, "thou wilt surely be able to break this silkencord with ease, since thou hast already broken the great ironfetters. "

To this the wolf made no answer, pretending not to hear. 

"Come!" said the Asas again, "why shouldst thou fear? For even if thoucouldst not break the cord we would immediately let thee free again. To refuse is a coward's piece of work. "

Then the wolf gnashed his teeth at them in anger, and said:

"Well I know you Asas! For if you bind me so fast that I cannot getloose you will skulk away, and it will be long before I get any helpfrom you; and therefore am I loth to let this band be laid upon me. "

But still the Asas continued to persuade him and to twit him withcowardice, until at length the Fenris Wolf said, with a sullen growl:

"Have it your own way then. But, as a pledge that this is done withoutdeceit, let one of you lay his hand in my mouth while you are bindingme, and afterwards while I try to break the bonds. "

Then the Asa folk looked at one another in dismay, for they knew verywell what this would mean. 

And while they consulted together the wolf stood gnashing his teeth atthem with a horrid grin. 

At length Tyr the Brave hesitated no longer. Boldly he stalked up tothe wolf and thrust his arm into his enormous mouth, bidding the Asasbind fast the beast. Scarce had they done so when the wolf began tostrain and pull, but the more he did so the tighter and suffer therope became. 

The gods shouted and laughed with glee when they saw how all hisefforts were in vain. But Tyr did not join in their mirth, for thewolf in his rage snapped his great teeth together and bit off his handat the wrist. 

Now when the Asas discovered that the animal was fast bound, they tookthe chain which was fixed to the rope and drew it through a hugerock, and fastened this rock deep down in the earth, so that it couldnever be moved. And this they fastened to another great rock which wasdriven still deeper into the ground. 

When the Fenris Wolf found that he had been thus secured he opened hismouth terribly wide, and twisted himself right and left, and tried hisbest to bite the Asa folk. He uttered, moreover, such terrible howlsthat at length the gods could bear it no longer. So they took a swordand thrust it into his mouth, so that the hilt rested on his lower, and the point against his upper jaw. And there he was doomed to remainuntil the end of All Things shall come, when he

 "Freed from the Chain Shall range the Earth. "

CHAPTER IX

How the Pride of Thor was Brought low

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how thePride of Thor was once brought low. _

From the sunny heights of Asgard the Asa folk were wont to look uponthe earth and to take pleasure in its welfare and in the happiness ofits people. But all too often they saw with dismay that the FrostGiants from their cold Northern home of ice and snow sent forth cruelblasts which nipped the buds, withered the flowers of spring, andsaddened the hearts of men. So, one day, that mighty Asa who is calledThor determined to go forth and teach these Giant folk how to behavethemselves better. Calling for his chariot of brass, which was drawnby two mighty goats, from whose teeth and hoofs sparks continuallyflew, he was about to drive away, when Red Loki came running up andbegged to be taken too. 

To this Thor agreed, for he had rather a liking for Loki, in spite ofhis mischievous tricks, and in a few minutes they were hurtlingthrough the air at a great rate. 

All day long they drove, and at evening time reached the borders ofGiantland, where stood the hut of a poor peasant. Seeing this, the twoAsas determined to try to obtain shelter for the night. 

The peasant was a good-hearted fellow, and gladly welcomed them underhis roof; but he had only a bit of black bread to offer them forsupper, and this was by no means a satisfactory meal for two hungrygods. 

But Thor was quite equal to the occasion. 

"Fear not, " said he kindly, "I will provide meat in plenty for you andyour family as well as for ourselves. "

Then he went out, killed his two goats, cut them up and threw theminto a great cauldron, which the peasant's wife, at his request, hadset to boil upon the fire. The skins, meantime, he spread with careupon the floor. 

The stew was soon cooked to perfection, whereupon Thor invited the manand his wife and children to eat as much as they would. 

"Be careful, however, " said he, "not to break a single bone, but tothrow them all into the skins spread out on the floor. "

This they promised to do, but during the meal Red Loki, wishing to seewhat would happen if they disobeyed, persuaded the boy, Thialfi, thepeasant's son, to break one of the bones in order to suck out themarrow, saying that no one could possibly know that he had done so. Then they lay down to sleep, the bones of the animals wrapped in thegoat skins being upon the floor. 

Next morning, just before daybreak, Thor arose, and, having stretchedhimself, took up his mighty hammer and gave the goat skins a tap. Immediately the goats sprang up, as much alive as ever they were, andperfectly well, save that one of them limped. 

Then Thor knew at once that his commands had been disobeyed, and thewhole household soon knew it too. His brows sank over his eyes, and hegrasped his hammer so hard that his knuckles grew white. The terrifiedpeasant fell down on his face before him; and when Thor lifted thehammer to destroy him the whole household wept aloud and begged formercy, promising to give him all they had in the world as anatonement. 

When Thor saw their terror, his anger left him, and he agreed to takeas a ransom the children of the peasant, a boy and girl, calledThialfi and Roskva. And they became his servants, and have been alwaysin his company since that time. 

Leaving his goats in charge of the peasant, Thor went forward towardsGiantland, accompanied by Loki and the two children; and the boyThialfi, who was the fleetest of foot of all living creatures, carriedThor's bag. 

After walking all day through a bleak and barren country wrapped in athick mist, they came at nightfall to a great wood, which seemed tooffer neither provisions, nor roof to shelter under for the night. 

At length, after searching about for a very long time, they came towhat seemed to be a large hall of misty and uncertain shape, the doorof which was as wide as the whole building. 

So they entered, and, finding everything within empty and dark, theydetermined to go no farther, and stretched themselves, hungry andweary as they were, upon the ground. 

In the middle of the night they were awakened by what seemed to be agreat earthquake. The earth trembled beneath them and the house shook. 

Calling upon his companions, Thor arose, and fearing lest the roofshould fall upon them he drew them into an inner room and, seatinghimself in the doorway, took up his hammer and prepared to defendhimself and them, if anything should befall. But nothing furtherhappened save a renewed trembling of the ground and a curious, regularly recurring sound, like a loud groan or roar. 

When it began to grow light Thor went out and saw, not far off, a hugegiant lying on the ground fast asleep; and he understood that it washis snores which had caused the ground to shake and which had soundedlike a roar or groan. 

Suddenly the giant awoke and sprang up, so quickly that Loki and thechildren, who had followed Thor, jumped behind a tree. But Thor, whowas afraid of nothing, only grasped his hammer tightly and asked hisname. 

"I am called Skrymir, " said the giant, looking down at him, and, catching sight of his hammer, of which all in heaven and earth hadheard, he went on: "I don't need to ask _your_ name, for I see you areThor. But what have you done with my glove?"

As he said these last words, he stretched out a huge hand and pickedup his glove, which Thor, to his great astonishment, found to be thehouse in which he had spent the night; and the inner room was theplace for the thumb. 

Hearing that they were on their way towards Giantland, Skrymir askedif he might accompany them; and as he seemed a good-natured fellowthey agreed. But first they sat down to eat their breakfast. 

Skrymir ate his huge meal out of a great provision sack, and eyed withmuch merriment the wallet which held the food of Thor and hiscompanions. 

"'Tis like a little toy, " said he; but Thialfi answered crossly:

"Toy it may be to you, but it has made my shoulders ache very finely, I can tell you. I could hardly sleep all night for the pain. "

Then Skrymir laughed, and took the bag and put it into his sack, slinging the whole over his shoulder as if it had been afeather-weight. 

After this they all set off together, and that day they covered animmense distance, for the giant took such huge strides that they hadto run the whole time in order to keep up with him. 

When it grew dark, Skrymir led them into a vast wood where nohabitation was to be found, and bade them take up their quarters undera huge oak. The others were weary and hungry beyond words, for theyhad not stopped all day either to eat or rest; but Skrymir seemed onlysleepy, and was preparing to begin his snores when Loki, whom fastinghad put decidedly out of temper, sharply reminded him that they hadhad no supper. Pushing the great sack over to them, the giant sleepilyreplied that they were welcome to all that it contained, andimmediately fell into a deep slumber. 

But when Loki tried to undo the mouth of the sack he could not get oneknot loosened, nor could he even get one of the strings to stir. ThenThor tried with all his strength, but could do nothing. This was aserious matter, for they were all starving with hunger by this time;so Thor, in a great rage, snatched up his hammer in both hands, stepped up to where Skrymir was lying and dashed the hammer, with allhis force, at his head. 

At this blow, which would have smashed the skull of most men, thegiant drowsily opened one eye, saying: "Did a leaf fall on my headjust now? Good-night to all of you. I suppose you have now had yoursupper and are going to bed. "

At this the Asas were so astonished that they meekly replied that theywere just going to do that very thing. And they went and lay downunder another oak. But there was no sleep for them, for, besides theirfear and hunger, the whole wood resounded with the giant's snores, sothat it seemed as though it thundered all the time. 

At last Thor could stand it no longer, so he went over to him, andswinging his hammer with all his skill brought it down with such acrash that he knew by the feel of it that it had sunk deep into thehead. 

But the giant only turned over, saying sleepily: "What was that? Didan acorn fall upon my head? How is it with you, friend Thor?"

Then Thor answered hastily that he had only just waked up, and that itwas midnight and still time to sleep. 

The god was now alarmed, and he decided that, if it were possible, hewould get in a third blow which should put an end altogether to themost extraordinary companion he had ever had. 

So he lay watching for Skrymir to go fast asleep again, and shortlybefore daybreak his chance came. 

Creeping up, he clutched the hammer with all his might and dashed itat the giant's temples with such force that it sank up to the handle. 

Scarcely had he time to pull it out again than Skrymir sat up andbegan to yawn, rubbing his eyes and stroking his temples and saying:

"Are there any birds sitting in the tree above me? I thought, as Iwoke up, that some moss from the branches fell upon my head. Ho, there! Thor, are you awake? You seem to be moving early this morning. Let us all get up and continue our journey, for we are now not farfrom Giant Town. "

Filled with astonished dismay at the failure of his attempts, Thorroused his companions, and all set off, hungry and dispirited, at thegiant's heels. Presently they began to whisper together as to theevents of the night, and of the enormous strength and size of theircompanion, but after awhile Skrymir looked down at them and said:

"We have now come to two ways; mine goes to the north where you seeyon mountains; yours, if you still wish to reach Giant Town, liesthere to the east. So here we part company, but first let me give yousome useful advice. 

"I have heard you whispering to one another that I am not small ofstature; but when you come to Giant Town you will see greater folkstill. So do not brag too much of your own powers, for the Giant folkwill not put up with the boasting of such insignificant little fellowsas you be. 

"But if you want to be quite wise, turn back now to your own place, for that is the best thing you can do. "

So saying, Skrymir shouldered his great sack and, turning his backupon them, went off through the forest with such huge strides that hewas soon lost to sight. 

Now Loki was much disposed to follow the advice of the giant and turnback to Asgard, but of this Thor would not hear. So they continuedtheir journey until noonday, when they saw before them a great townstanding in the midst of an immense plain. The walls and gates of thetown were so high that they had to bend their necks right back beforethey could see to the top of them, and when they came nearer stillthey found the gate was fast shut. 

But this gate had bars, and was made to keep in the Giant folk, not tokeep out smaller people, of whose visits they had never thought. Sothe two Asas and their servants found little difficulty in creepingthrough the bars, and so getting into the town. 

The first thing they saw was a great hall, towards which they went, and finding the door open they entered, and saw in the centre of ittwo benches, enormously high and wide, upon which sat a number ofgiants. In their midst, upon a platform high as the roof of anordinary house, sat the King of the Giants, to whom they advanced andmade their bows. At first the King looked about on the floor as thoughthey were too small for him to see, but at length he cast a scornfulglance upon them, and with a grin that showed all his teeth, said:

"Is this little fellow the great god Thor, of whom we have heard somuch? Perhaps, however, you are bigger in strength than in size. Now, for what feats are you and your companions prepared? For you must knowthis, that no one is allowed to stay here unless he be more skilledin some craft or accomplishment than any other man. "

At this Red Loki, who was so dreadfully hungry that he scarcely knewwhat he was saying, called out: "I know what I can do better thananyone else! I will soon prove that there is no one present who caneat his food faster than I can. "

Then said the King of the Giants: "That is a feat to be proud of, ifyou speak the truth, and you shall try it immediately. "

So he called from the bench a man called Logi, and bade him come outon the floor and try his strength against Loki. 

The others took a huge trough full of meat and set it on the floor, and they put Logi at one end and Loki at the other. 

Both of them ate as fast as they possibly could, and met in the middleof the trough. But though Loki had such an immense appetite, and hadeaten every scrap of meat off the bones, Logi had eaten up the fleshand the bones and the trough as well. 

So Loki had to confess that he had been beaten. 

Then the Giant-King looked at the boy Thialfi and asked: "What use isthat lad in heaven or earth?"

And Thialfi answered that he would run faster than anyone whom theGiant-King liked to name. 

"That is a good feat, " said the King, "but it is to be hoped you canrun _really_ fast, for you will have something to do to win thisrace. "

So saying he took them outside, where there was an excellentracecourse along the flat plain; and he called up a young man, whosename was Hugi, and bade him run a race with Thialfi. 

In the first heat of that race, although Hugi ran so fast, yet, whenhe turned to run back, he met Thialfi face to face. Then the King ofthe Giants encouraged the lad, saying: "Never before has come anyonehither who was swifter of foot than you. "

Then they ran the second heat, and when Hugi reached the goal, Thialfiwas three quarters of the way thither. 

Then said the giant: "Well run, Thialfi; yet I do not think that youwill win this race. However, we shall see what happens in the thirdheat. "

When this was run, Hugi had reached the goal and turned back again erepoor Thialfi was barely halfway there. 

At this all the giants began to applaud Hugi, saying that he hadfairly won the race; and Thialfi was obliged to go sadly away. 

The King of the Giants next inquired what feats Thor could show toprove the truth of the tales men told of his great strength; and theAsa, who was now very thirsty, and at all times a mighty man at thebowl, said that he would drink deeper than anyone in the whole world. 

So they returned to the hall, where the King called upon hiscup-bearer to bring the horn out of which his valiant giants drank;and this was filled with ale and handed to Thor. 

Then said the King of the Giants: "With us 'tis thought that the manis a good drinker who empties this horn at one draught; he who takesit off in two is but moderately thirsty; but he who cannot empty it inthree is but a wretched drinker, and not worthy of the name. "

Thor looked at the horn, and thinking within himself: "This is not adifficult task, for the horn, though it seems deep, is not verylarge, " took a drink which he quite thought would have drained thevessel. But when he could drink no longer, for lack of breath, helooked in the horn, and there was the ale still brimming over theedge. 

Then the giant chuckled and said: "Well drunk, good Thor, but you haveby no means emptied the horn. It seems to me, indeed, that men haveboasted too much of your fine deeds. I would not have believed thatyou would have taken so long to drink up the ale. However, I don'tdoubt you will finish it at the second draught. "

Thor reddened with wrath at these scoffing words, and took up thehorn, intending to drink the ale to the last dregs. But, try as hewould, he could not get the end of the horn to tip up completely, andwhen he set it down it seemed to him that he had drunk less than atthe first time. Yet some difference had been made, for the horn couldnow be carried without spilling. 

"Ha! ha!" laughed the giant. "Is this your skill, good Thor? Are younot leaving rather much for your third draught? It looks to me as ifthat will have to be the greatest of them all. "

Then Thor got very angry indeed, and, setting the horn to his mouth, drank with all his might and main, so that when he could do no moreand had set it down again, the ale had certainly grown less. 

"Ha! ha!" roared the giant. "They think too highly of you in the worldabove, my little Thor. Now what other game would you like to try?"

"Whatever you like, " answered Thor very grumpily, for none of the Asasliked being laughed at. 

So the giant said: "Young lads here think it nothing but play to liftmy cat up from the ground, and I should never have suggested such afeat to the strength of Asa Thor had I not discovered that he is muchless of a man than I thought. "

Then he called: "Puss! Puss!" in a voice that shook the house; uponwhich an enormous grey cat sprang forth on the floor before them. 

Rather annoyed at being asked to do such an easy thing, Thor went overto the animal, put his arm round it and tried to lift it up. But themore he tugged and strained the more the cat arched its back, so thathis strength was exerted vainly; and in the end, when he was black inthe face with the efforts he had made, he had only succeeded inlifting up one paw. 

Then the giant repeated his scornful laugh, saying: "That's just as Iexpected. The cat is rather large, and Thor is small--tiny, indeed, compared with the great men who are here with us. "

"Tiny, indeed!" roared Thor, in great wrath. "Let anyone you like comeand wrestle with me and I will show you if my strength is as tiny asyou seem to think. "

At this the giant pretended to look about him on the benches, saying:"I don't see anyone here who would not think it beneath him to wrestlewith such a puny fellow. Let me see! Let me see! Ah! call hither myold nurse, Elli, and let Thor wrestle with her if he wants to. She hasthrown to the ground before now men who thought themselves as strongas this little Thor. "

At his call there came into the hall an old woman--so old that Thorrefused at first to close with her. But the giants mocked him so thatat length he seized her round the waist. Yet the tighter he graspedher the firmer she stood. At length she began to grip him in her turn. Thor lost his footing almost at once and, though he wrestledvaliantly, she brought him on to his knee. 

At this the giant interfered, saying that no more was necessary toshow who was the stronger, and that it was getting too late for anymore such contests. Then he bade them seat themselves at supper, andafter a royal feast conducted them to their beds with the kindesthospitality. But Thor spent all that night in bitterness, for hispride had been brought very low. 

At daybreak next morning the Asas and their companions arose andprepared to depart. Before they set out, however, their host appearedon the scene and insisted upon their eating a hearty breakfast, afterwhich he offered to show them the most direct way out of the city. 

As they set out, the Giant-King grew strangely silent and thoughtfuland did not speak to them until they stood outside the gates. Then asthey were about to bid him farewell, he suddenly asked Thor how hethought his journey had turned out. 

To this Thor, deeply humbled and mortified by all that had occurred, said that he felt much disgraced at the knowledge that henceforth thegiants would call him a man of little account. But to his intensesurprise the giant shook his head, saying: "Had I my way, you shouldnever enter this city again, and if I had known before how strong youwere, you should never have come into it, for you have very nearlybrought utter ruin upon us all. 

"Know then, first of all, that I have deceived you with magicaldelusions the whole time. For I was that giant Skrymir who met you inthe woods, and who tied up the mouth of the provision sack withinvisible iron threads, so that you could not unloose it. 

"That same night you struck with your hammer three great blows upon myhead, the least of which would have made an end of me if it had hitme. But in the darkness I managed each time to bring a mountainbetween me and your hammer without your seeing it; and if you want tosee the marks you made in it you have but to look at that mountainabove my city, with its top cloven into three great dales. 

"Next, when you came to my hall, Loki contested with Logi, mycourtier, as to who should eat the fastest. But he whose name was Logiis really _Fire_, and in consequence he could eat up trough and bonesand all in no time. When Thialfi ran his race, he ran against Hugi, who is no other than _Thought_, and no one, of course, can run as fastas he. 

"When you yourself drank from that horn, then indeed was seen a marvelwhich I should never have thought possible. You did not see that oneend of the horn stood in the sea, which you were drinking all thetime. And when you reach the shore you will see how much the sea hasebbed by your draughts. 

"Nor was it less marvellous to me that you lifted up the paw of thecat. For that cat was none other than the Serpent which lies aroundthe whole earth with its tail in its mouth. When it took the form of acat you lifted it so that it was obliged to arch itself almost up tothe sky; and then we all trembled, for we feared that you would pullit altogether out of the sea. 

"Your struggle with Elli was perhaps the most amazing of all. For sheis _Old Age_, of whom none has ever got the better. 

"And now depart, O Asa folk, and 'twill be better for us both if wenever see each other again. "

Now when Thor heard how he had been tricked, he grasped his hammerwith intent to dash both the giant and his city in pieces. But when helooked for them, both had disappeared, and he found himself standingwith his companions in the midst of a large plain, on which was nosign of habitation. 

Then he knew that the power of the Giant folk would not yield toforce, and thinking of their strange adventures Thor and hiscompanions returned to Asgard. 

CHAPTER X

How Thor's Hammer was Lost and Found

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howThor's Hammer was lost and found. _

Most precious in the eyes of Thor was his magic hammer, Miölnir, ofwhich even the mighty Frost Giants stood in dread. 

Always he laid it by his side when he went to rest, and always it wasthe first thing for which his hand was outstretched when he awoke. Judge then of his horror and dismay when, on opening his eyes onemorning, the hammer was nowhere to be seen. 

Starting up with a roar of rage, Thor commenced to search everywherefor the missing weapon. Up and down his wonderful palace, built of thethunder clouds, he tramped, with a noise that shook the whole city ofAsgard. But the hammer was not to be found. 

Then he called upon golden-haired Sif, his wife, and bade her help inthe search; and still the hammer was nowhere to be seen. It was clearthat someone must have stolen it, and, when he realised this, Thor'swrath broke all bounds. His bristling red hair and beard stood up onend, and from them flew a whole volley of fiery sparks. 

Presently, as the angry Asa was shaking the palace with his thunderousvoice, Red Loki came along to inquire into the trouble. He was notlikely to sympathise with Thor, but, always brimful of curiosity, heloved to have a part in everything that happened. 

"What's the matter, Asa Thor?" said he; and Thor replied, lowering hisvoice as he spoke, for he did not want his loss to be too widelyknown:

"Now listen to what I tell thee, Loki--'tis a thing which is knownneither on earth below nor in heaven above. My hammer's gone. "

This news was most interesting to Loki, who had long owed Thor agrudge, which he was afraid to pay openly. "Ho, ho!" said he. "Thenshall we soon have the giants turning us out of Asgard, brother Thor. "

"Not if you use your wits as you know how, " growled Thor, still in avery bad temper. "Come, you call yourself a clever fellow. Find outfor me who has robbed me of my thunderbolt, my hammer, my Miölnir. "

Then Loki gave a grin and a wink, and promised to do what hecould--not because he cared for Thor, but because he loved to be ofimportance, and was, moreover, really frightened as to what mighthappen to Asgard if the magic hammer was not at hand. 

It was not long before he noticed that an extraordinary kind oftempest was raging in the regions below--not an orderly kind oftempest, with first some thunder, and then some rain, and then a gustof wind or two, such as Thor was wont to arrange, but a mixture ofhail and wind and thunder and lightning and rain and snow, all ragingtogether in a tremendous muddle, so that the earth folk thought theend of the world was come. 

This gave Loki a hint, and he began to peer about between the clouds, until at length he saw that the trouble was coming from a certain hillwhich stood in the centre of Giantland. 

Now on the top of this hill lived a certain Thrym, prince of the FrostGiants, who for a long time past had been very envious of the might ofThor. He had, indeed, done his best to imitate him as far as he could, and had managed to get up a very good imitation of lightning and hailand rain; but he had not been able to manage the thunderbolts, forthey could only be made by means of Thor's hammer, Miölnir. 

All this was well known to Red Loki, and he was therefore not at allsurprised to find that, somehow or other, Thrym must have got hold ofthe magic weapon; for here were thunderbolts crashing about the earthand sky at a terrible rate. 

When informed of the discovery, Thor flew into a still more tremendousrage, and wanted to rush off at once to try conclusions with thegiant. But Loki, who loved rather to get a thing by trickery anddeceit, persuaded him that violence would never do. 

"Remember, " said he, "that Thrym _with_ the hammer is much strongerthan Thor without it. This is a matter which must be managed by cleverwit and craft, not by force and loud talking. Leave therefore thewhole matter to me. "

To this Thor very reluctantly agreed. 

Then Loki bethought him of some disguise wherein he might visitGiantland in safety, for he was not at all anxious to risk his life. He betook himself to the House of Maidens, over which ruled Freya, fairest of all in Asgard, she who was wont to shake the spring flowersfrom her golden locks as she passed over the frozen uplands, leavingbehind her a region of green and smiling beauty. Loki found thegoddess, and begged the loan of her magic falcon plumes, in which shewas wont to flit to and fro over the earth; and when she learnt forwhat purpose he needed them she gladly assented. 

Then Loki took the appearance of a great brown bird, and spreading hiswings he flew away towards Giantland. 

It was a long journey, as he already knew, and, although the tempesthad now ceased to rage, he found the country of the giants darker andcolder and drearier than ever. 

The longest journey comes to an end, and at length Loki reached amountain where sat the Giant Thrym, his huge legs dangling to theground, playing with a puppy as large as an elephant. 

Perching as near as he dared, Loki gazed at the giant with his bright, round eyes, and was wondering how to begin, when Thrym, who, at aglance, had seen completely through his disguise, said calmly, in avoice as much as possible like Thor's thunderous roar: "Oh, ho! Loki, what are you doing so far from Asgard? Are you not afraid, littlefellow as you are, to venture alone into our country?"

Then Loki, thinking to win his way by flattery, replied: "Sad indeedis it in Asgard, now that Miölnir has vanished. Clever was that onewho spirited it away from the very side of Thor. Methinks none but youcould have done it, O mighty Thrym!"

Pleased with the compliment to his cleverness the giant chuckledbefore admitting: "Ay, Loki, the hammer is mine, 'tis very true; andnow men will know who really is the Thunderer. "

"Ah well!" sighed cunning Loki, "some men are strong by reason oftheir weapons, and some are just as strong without. Small need haveyou, O mighty Thrym, for hammers, but Thor is naught without it. Yet, since all the world knows that you are his master, let him have hisplaything back, that we may cease to be troubled by his peevishoutcry. "

But though Thrym was as stupid as he was big, he was not to be caughtthus. 

"No, no, my little Loki, " he said. "Mine is the hammer, and deep haveI buried it beneath the bottom of the sea. Go, tell this to your Asafolk, and say to them that I will give it back on one conditiononly--and that is, that they send me Freya, that fairest of maidens, to be my wife. "

At this suggestion Loki could scarcely keep from laughing, for theidea of sending the beautiful Freya, the joy and delight of Asgard, tobe the wife of this ill-favoured Frost Giant was too absurd forwords. 

It was not much to him, however, what happened to anyone excepthimself, so he hastened to reply: "Be sure, O Thrym, that everything Ican do to further the matter shall be done. And if Freya is of thesame mind as I you will soon be welcoming that most sweet maiden toGiantland--farewell!"

So saying, he spread his brown wings and flew back to Asgard, delighted to think of the mischief he could now set brewing. 

First of all he visited Thor, and told him of what had passed. And theThunderer, when he heard of Thrym's boastful words, was filled withwild wrath and wanted to start off, then and there, and wrest thehammer from the depths of the sea. But Loki pointed out thedifficulties that stood in the way and, leaving the Asa to ponder overhis words, he hurried off to Freya and informed her of Thrym'sproposal. 

The beautiful Freya was walking in her garden, and round her neck shewore her famous necklet of stars. When she heard Loki's suggestionthat she should wed a hideous giant she fell into such a rage that shebroke her necklace, and all the stars went falling through the sky, sothat men cried: "See how the stars are shooting!"

Meantime the Asa folk had met together to consider all that hadhappened, and, having calmed the fury of Thor, they pointed out to himthat Asgard stood in the gravest danger of an attack which would findthem quite unprotected. When they had said this several times over, Thor began to weary of the subject, and he replied with greatsurliness: "Very well, then. Let Freya go to Thrym as his wife, andthen shall we be as before, with Miölnir to defend us. "

When Freya heard this, her rage turned to tears and lamentations, andshe declared that it would be death to her to send her to the gloomyhalls of Giantland, whence she could never hope to revisit the flowerymeads and grassy slopes of Asgard. And the Asas, unable to bear thesight of her grief, with one voice declared that they would neverspare her from the Home of Bliss. 

Then there stepped forward Heimdall, the watchman who sits on guardover the Rainbow Bridge by night and day. 

Now Heimdall had the gift of seeing into the future, and the Asas werealways ready to hear his words, well knowing them to be wise. 

"My plan is this, " said he. "Let Thor borrow the clothes of Freya andput a thick veil over his face; and let him go thus to Thrym's castleand pass for his bride. And if he cannot by some means manage to gethold of the hammer when he is there--why, he must give it upaltogether. "

At this suggestion the Asas clapped their hands with approval--all, indeed, save Thor, who looked most glum, and was extremely unwillingto agree to the plan. 

"Dress me as a bride!" he grumbled. "A pretty maiden I shall make. Ready enough am I to fight, but I will not make myself alaughing-stock if I know it. "

But the Asas besought him to give way, while Loki twitted him withcowardice. Fair Freya, too, appealed with tearful eyes; and so atlength, with great reluctance, the Thunderer agreed to do what theywished. 

Fortunately the maiden Freya was very tall, but even so it was withsome difficulty that they managed to cover the burly form of Thor withher robes. 

He insisted, moreover, upon wearing his own shirt of mail and hisgirdle of strength; and these took much drapery to hide. Great was thelaughter in the halls of Asgard that night as the Battle Maidensbrushed and curled Thor's long yellow hair, and set a jewelledheaddress upon it; and finally, when the maidens proceeded to cover uphis thick beard and angry eyes with a silken veil, the mirth of theAsas was unrestrained. To complete the disguise, the maidens hunground his neck the famous necklet, which had now been re-strung, andfinally Frigga, the wife of All-Father Odin, secured at his girdle thegreat bunch of keys proper to brides at a wedding in the Northland. 

While this was being done, Loki, more than all, had been convulsedwith merriment at the success of his mischief-making. The very sightof Thor's disgusted looks, and of his great hands clenched with rageunder the delicate veil, nearly killed him with laughter; and when allwas ready he declared himself unable to lose an atom of the fun instore. 

"Let me go with you, " he implored. "See, I will dress myself as yourhandmaiden. Ah, you had better agree, for without me to prompt you, you will never play your part. "

So Loki was dressed as a waiting-maid, and took his seat verydemurely by the side of Thor in the goat-car. Loud was the laughter inAsgard as the Asas watched the two drive off together and heard theroar of the Thunderer's voice issuing from the folds of a meekmaiden's veil as he urged his goats upon their course. Long and stormywas that ride to Giantland, for Thor was still in the worst oftempers, and drove his chariot so furiously that

 "The mountains crashed, The earth stood in flames, "

as the hoofs of the goats clattered over mountains and waters, striking sparks wherever they touched a rock. 

Thrym was much overjoyed when he heard that a chariot containing thetwo maidens was approaching his door. Away ran his servants indifferent directions, some with orders to make ready a grand banquet, some to prepare the chamber of the bride, some to receive her at thedoor. 

The giant himself assisted them to alight, and looked with admirationat the stately figure of his bride; but he made no attempt to see herface, since it is the custom in the Northland for the bride to remainveiled until the marriage has been completed. 

"A bride worthy of a giant!" murmured his servants, as he led her to alofty seat beside his own great throne of gold; and they looked withapproval also on the buxom form of the waiting-maid, who stood, closely veiled, behind her mistress' chair. 

Now the journey had been long and cold, and it was with joy that thenew-comers noticed that the preparations for the banquet werecomplete, for they were exceedingly hungry. 

The giants are huge eaters, and they gathered round the board, whereonwere displayed an enormous ox roasted whole, a vast dish of salmon andvarious other dainties. But because the bride was a woman, and modestwithal, they brought her tiny morsels on a dainty golden plate. 

This was too much for Thor, who had always possessed a most healthyappetite, and was now more than usually ready for his supper. Gradually drawing nearer to the table, whilst the others were busywith the meal, he managed to get hold of the dish of roasted ox, andwithin a few minutes the whole of the animal had disappeared. 

Then he put out his hand to the platter of salmon, and in eightmouthfuls disposed of eight of the great fish. After this he noticed alarge plate full of cakes and sweetmeats, which was set apart for theladies of the party. Of these, too, he made short work. Finally, feeling thirsty after his huge meal, he took up two barrels of mead, and tossed them off, one after another, down his capacious throat. Then he sat back on his chair with a sigh of deep content. 

These proceedings had been watched by Loki with uneasiness, but byThrym with open-mouthed dismay. Was this the usual appetite of thisdainty maiden, who had eaten more than the company of giants? But Lokibent towards him and whispered in his ear that the thought of marryinghad so excited Freya that she had eaten nothing for eight days, andhad therefore been on the point of starvation. 

This reassured the giant, and being now himself filled with mead hedrew nearer and, lifting a corner of the veil, tried to kiss the cheekof his future bride. 

But Thor, who was longing to be at close grips with him, threw himsuch a fiery glance that he drew quickly back, saying: "Why does fairFreya's eye burn like a spark from a furnace?" "Pooh!" whispered Lokiagain, "that is nothing but her love for you, which for eight days hasraged like a flaming fire. "

This news was still more pleasant to hear, and Thrym, in high goodhumour, cried: "Bring in the hammer, my wedding gift, wherewith toplight the maid. For when I have laid it on her lap she will be my ownfor ever, and together we will work dire evil against the Asa folk, whom I hate with all my heart. "

What was that unmaidenly sound that issued from under the silken veilat these words? But though Loki turned pale to hear it, Thrym, busysending for the hammer, did not pay any heed. 

Back came the giant's servants at length, bending under the weight ofMiölnir. And as they bowed before the silent maiden, sitting withmeekly bent head upon the throne, Thrym cried with a merry jest: "See, here is little Thor's tiny plaything--a pretty toy truly for hisfeeble hands. Take it, fair Freya, as my wedding gift. "

"And take _that_ as mine!" roared Thor, in a voice of thunder, as heflung off the veil and rose to his full height. And with the words heswung the hammer once--and ere the eye could follow its movement, ithad crashed through Thrym's skull, and had knocked over a round dozenof his guests. Yet again did it swing in the Asa's hand, and this timeit left not a giant standing in the hall. 

A third time it was swung, and on this occasion the roof and walls ofthe palace came tumbling on every side, and only Thor and Loki wereleft alive amid the ruins. 

"Ha! ha!" laughed Red Loki, "that was neatly done, fair Freya. "

Thor, who was now busily tearing off the hated robes and veil, stayedto look threateningly at his companion. "No more of that, Loki, " saidhe, "the thing had to be done, 'tis true, but talk not to me again ofthis woman's work. We will remember only that I am the Thunderer, andthat my hammer that was lost is found. "

So they drove back peacefully to Asgard. 

And this is the end of the tale of How Thor's Hammer was lost andfound. 

CHAPTER XI

The Giant's Daughters

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howthe Giant's Daughters tried to kill Thor. _

Ugliest and wickedest of all the giants was Geirrod, who lived in agreat gloomy castle away in a dark corner of Giantland, with his twogiant daughters, Gialp and Greip. 

Hideous, indeed, were they, for, besides being of huge misshapenfigure and clumsy of feature, the one had red eyes and the other hadperfectly black teeth. 

Now, when Geirrod heard of the death of Thrym, his brother, he waxedvery wroth, and swore with a great oath that he would never rest tillhe had wreaked vengeance on Thor. 

Loudly he described the terrible things he would do to him if only hecould catch him without his hammer, his belt of power, and his glovesof might; and one ugly daughter blinked her red eyes, and the othergnashed her black teeth, and both clamoured to have what might be leftof the Asa when their father had finished with him. 

Meantime Thor was not even aware of the existence of these folk, andit did not seem at all likely that he would put himself in their way. 

About the time that Geirrod was thus breathing out threats against theThunderer, Loki grew restless within the walls of Asgard, and, recalling the fun he had had when he visited Giantland in the guise ofa bird, he went to Freya once more with intent to borrow her falcondress. But Freya would not lend it again, for she had no liking forRed Loki. So the mischievous fellow waited for a moment when she wasbusy watering the blades of young corn, and stole the dress. 

Only a few moments passed ere Loki was on the wing. To and fro heflitted for awhile, and then directed his flight towards Giantland, until at length, as luck would have it, he found himself hoveringabove the towers of Geirrod's castle. 

The giant and his family were sitting at their great table as Lokiarrived upon the scene. Peering through the open window he could seethe ugly trio snatching at the joints from the smoking dishes, andhalf choking themselves in their efforts each to eat faster than therest. 

Perching on the window-sill, Loki could not resist a croaking chuckleof amusement, and at the same time his great wings shut out much ofthe light, so that the giant's attention was attracted, and he lookedquickly up. 

"Ho! Catch me yon bird!" he cried to one of his servants, for therewas that about the appearance of the falcon that revealed the truth toGeirrod at a glance. 

The servant leapt at once to the window-sill; but the ledge was toohigh for him, and Loki croaked and chuckled at his vain attempts, keeping all but within reach in order to increase the fun. 

But suddenly the servant, giving an extra high spring, managed to geta grip of the sill, and as Loki spread his wings in flight he foundhis feet firmly caught in some ivy. In vain he struggled to get free, the servant seized him fast and carried him off in triumph to Geirrod. 

"Who are you?" asked the giant; but Loki only blinked and made noreply. 

"What are you doing here?" he demanded again; but still he got only ablink for answer. 

"Who sent you to spy upon us?" roared Geirrod; Loki gave only anotherblink. 

Then the giant arose in wrath, and, declaring that hunger and thirstwere the best things in the world to teach a bird to talk, he lockedthe unfortunate Asa in a strong cage, with neither food nor drink. 

For three whole months he languished, and then at last, being at thepoint of death, he croaked out feebly that he was Asa Loki, andpromised anything in his power if Geirrod would only set him free. 

This was the chance which the giant had been waiting for. 

"Bring me here, " said he, "yon Thor of whom I hear so much, and seethat he comes without his hammer or his belt of strength or his glovesof might. "

And this Loki promised to do. 

As soon as he was able, Loki flew back to Asgard, with a fine storycomposed upon the way. He told Thor that during his three months'absence he had been a welcome guest at the hall of a friendly giant, Geirrod by name; and that, when he had reluctantly torn himself away, the giant had expressed the strongest wish that he would revisit him, along with Thor the Thunderer, of whose brave deeds he had often heardtell. 

Flattered by these honeyed words, Thor readily fell into the trap andagreed to accompany Loki to Geirrod's hall. He even laid aside hishammer, girdle, and gloves, when Loki pointed out that to wear suchthings would not be courteous to their friendly host. 

Then the two set forth together. 

Now on their way they passed the house of Grid, a kindly old giantess, who had long been a friend of Thor's. Sitting in her doorway, she sawthem pass by, and beckoned to Thor to come to her, while Loki, unsuspecting, went on his way. 

"Whence goest thou, Asa Thor?" asked the old giantess. 

"To Geirrod's hall, good mother, " he cheerfully replied. "Do you knowhim?"

"Know him!" said Grid, with a hoarse chuckle. "Is there anyone whodoes not know Geirrod? But why, my son Thor, do you go unarmed to thehall of the strongest and wickedest of all the giants?"

Then Thor ground his teeth, exclaiming: "This is another trick of thatrascal Loki! And now, what is to be done, for if I return to fetchMiölnir, and my girdle of strength and my gloves of might, they willsay that Thor is afraid. "

Now Grid was possessed of a girdle of strength, a staff of power, andgloves of might, and these she produced and gave to Thor, bidding himsay not a word about them. 

And when Thor had thanked her he resumed his way after Loki. 

Presently the two Asas came to the brink of a river which is thelargest in all the world, and the waves were dashing far above theirheads. Then Thor buckled on the belt of strength and, taking the stafffirmly in his grasp, he stepped boldly into the water, while Lokiclung to his belt, for he was afraid. Higher and higher rose thewaves, and if Thor had not kept a firm grip on the staff of power hemust have been washed away. But Loki, overcome with fear, let go ofthe belt and was carried by the waves back whence he came; and fromthence he hastened back to Asgard as fast as he could run. 

When Thor had reached midstream he saw Gialp, the red-eyed daughter ofthe giant, stirring up the water at its source with intent tooverwhelm him. So, stooping quickly, he took up out of the river anenormous rock and threw it at her. He was not wont to miss his mark, and the giantess fled, howling. At once the waters abated, and Thor, seeing a mountain ash over-hanging the river caught at it and pulledhimself safely ashore. 

This is why the mountain ash from that time has been called "Thor'sSalvation. "

Wearied with his journey, Thor gladly turned his steps towardsGeirrod's hall, which loomed out of the darkness near by. He wasreceived with much honour by the giant's servants, though Geirrodhimself had not yet returned home. 

A banquet had been prepared within the hall, and thither Thor wasconducted. But, somewhat to his surprise, he could see only one chair. This, however, was large and roomy, draped round the legs andcomfortably cushioned, so the Asa was glad to throw his tired limbsupon it. 

But scarcely had he done so, when the chair began to rise beneath him, and it ascended towards the rafters with such force and speed that inanother moment Thor would have been crushed to death, had he notretained his hold of the staff of power. This he now pushed againstthe rafters, and at the same time he pressed down on the seat withsuch force that he descended again with a loud crash, which wasmingled with shrieks and screams. For Gialp and Greip, the giant'sdaughters, had hidden themselves under the chair, intending to killThor, and had now met the fate which they had prepared for him. 

After this, Thor proceeded to eat a good supper, and scarcely had hefinished when the Giant Geirrod came striding into the hall. 

He gnashed his teeth horribly when he saw Thor sitting quite at home, but he pretended that he was pleased at his visit, and at once invitedhim into another hall, where a number of large fires were burning. 

Here he proceeded to challenge Thor to a contest of skill in throwing. The Thunderer, nothing loth, bade Geirrod give the signal. 

But Geirrod, thinking to catch Thor off his guard, snatched up ared-hot wedge of iron from the fire and flung it at him. 

Quick as lightning, Thor caught the wedge in his glove of might, andso forcibly did he throw it back that it passed through the giant, through the pillar in front of which he stood, through the wall of hiscastle, and at last buried itself fathoms deep in the rock without. 

Nor was this all, for at the touch of the red-hot iron the body ofGeirrod was turned into stone; this Thor now took and set up on top ofa high mountain in Giantland; and it was long before any of the folkof that country dared try conclusions with the Thunderer again. 

And this is the end of the tale of How the Giant's Daughters tried tokill Thor. 

CHAPTER XII

The Story of Balder the Beautiful

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of thesad fate of Balder the Beautiful. _

Fair beyond all the sons of Odin was Balder the Beautiful, Balder ofthe snow-white brow and golden locks, and he was well beloved not onlyby the Asa folk, but also by the men of the earth below. 

 "Of all the twelve round Odin's throne, Balder, the Beautiful, alone, The Sun-god, good and pure and bright, Was loved by all, as all love light. "

Balder had a twin-brother named Hoder, who was born blind. Gloomy andsilent was he, but none the less he loved his bright sun-brother bestof all in heaven or earth. 

The home of Balder was a palace with silver roof and pillars of gold, and nothing unclean or impure was allowed to come inside its doors. 

Very wise in all magic charms was this radiant young god; and for allothers save himself he could read the future; but "to keep his ownlife safe and see the sun" was not granted to him. 

Now there came a time when Balder's bright face grew sad and downcast;and when his father Odin and his mother Frigga perceived this theyimplored him to tell them the cause of his grief. Then Balder toldthem that he had been troubled by strange dreams; and, since in thosedays men believed that dreams were sent as a warning of what was aboutto happen, he had gone heavily since these visions had come to him. 

First he had dreamt that a dark cloud had arisen which came before thesun and shut out all brightness from the land. 

The next night he dreamt again that Asgard lay in darkness, and thather bright flowers and radiant trees were withered and lifeless, andthat the Asa folk, dull and withered also, were sorrowing as thoughfrom some great calamity. 

The third night he dreamt yet again that Asgard was dark and lifelessand that from out of the gloom one sad voice cried:

"Woe! Woe! Woe! For Balder the Beautiful is dead--is dead!"

Odin listened to the recital of this story with heavy heart, and atits conclusion he mounted his coal-black horse and rode over many ahard and toilsome road till he came to the dark abode of Hela. Andthere he saw, to his surprise, that a great banquet was being preparedin the gloomy hall. Dishes of gold were set upon the table and all thecouches were covered with the richest silken tapestry, as though somehonoured guest were expected. But a throne that stood at the head ofthe table was empty. 

Very thoughtfully Odin rode on through those dim halls till he came toone where dwelt an ancient prophetess, whose voice no man had heardfor many a long year. 

Silent he stood before her, until she asked in a voice that sounded asthough it came from far away: "Who art thou, and from whence dost thoucome to trouble my long rest?"

Now Odin was fearful that she would not answer him did he give hisreal name, so he told her that he was the son of Valtam, and askedanxiously for whom the grim goddess of death was preparing herbanquet. 

Then, to his great grief, the hollow voice of the prophetess repliedthat Balder was the expected guest, and that he would shortly be sentthither, slain by the hand of Hoder, the blind god of darkness. 

"Who then, " asked Odin, in sorrowful tones, "shall avenge the death ofBalder?"

And she answered that the son of the Earth-goddess, Vali by name, should neither

 "Comb his raven hair Nor wash his visage in the stream, Nor see the sun's departing beam, Till he on Hoder's corse shall smile Flaming on the funeral pile. "

And learning thus of the fate of his two favourite sons, All-FatherOdin went sadly back to Asgard. 

Meantime Mother Frigga had not been idle. Filled with anxiety for herdarling son, she decided to send her servants throughout the earth, bidding them exact a promise from all things--not only livingcreatures, but plants, stones, and metals, fire, water, trees anddiseases of all kinds--that they would do harm in no way to Balder theBeautiful. 

Theirs was an easy task, for all things loved the bright Sun-god, andreadily agreed to give the pledge. Nothing was overlooked save onlythe mistletoe, growing upon the oak-tree that shaded the entrance toValhalla. It seemed so insignificant that no one thought it worthwhile to ask this plant to take the oath. 

The servants returned to Frigga with all the vows and compacts thathad been made; and the Mother of Gods and Men went back with heart atease to her spinning-wheel. 

The Asa folk, too, were reassured, and, casting aside the burden ofcare that had fallen upon them, they resumed their favourite game uponthe plains of Idavold, where they were wont to contend with oneanother in the throwing of golden disks. 

And when it became known among them that nothing would hurt Balder theBeautiful they invented a new game. 

Placing the young Sun-god in their midst, they would throw stones athim, or thrust at him with their knives, or strike with their woodenstaves; and the wood or the knife or the stone would glance off fromBalder and leave him quite unhurt. 

This new game delighted both Balder and the Asa folk, and so loud wastheir laughter that Loki, who was some distance away pursuing one ofhis schemes in the disguise of an old woman, shook with rage at thesound. For Loki was jealous of Balder and, as is usual with people whomake themselves disliked, nothing gave him such displeasure as to seea group of the Asas on such happy terms with each other. 

Presently, in his wanderings, Loki passed by the house of Fensalir, inthe doorway of which sat Frigga, at her spinning-wheel. She did notrecognise Red Loki, but greeted him kindly and asked:

"Old woman, dost thou know why the gods are so merry this evening?"

And Loki answered: "They are casting stones and throwing sharp knivesand great clubs at Balder the Beautiful, who stands smiling in theirmidst, daring them to hurt him. "

Then Frigga smiled tranquilly and turned again to her wheel, saying:"Let them play on, for no harm will come to him whom all things inheaven and earth have sworn not to hurt. "

"Art thou sure, good mother, that _all_ things in heaven and earthhave taken this vow?"

"Ay, indeed, " replied Frigga, "all save a harmless little plant, themistletoe, which grows on the oak by Valhalla, and this is far toosmall and weak to be feared. "

And to this Loki replied in musing voice, nodding his head as hespoke: "Yea, thou art right, great Mother of Gods and Men. "

But the wicked Asa had learnt what he desired to know. The instrumentby which he might bring harm to Balder the Beautiful was now awaitinghim, and he determined to use it, to the dire sorrow of Asgard. 

Hastening to the western gate of Valhalla, he pulled a clump of themistletoe from the oak, and fashioned therefrom a little wand, orstick, and with this in his hand he returned to the plain of Idavold. He was far too cunning, however, to attempt to carry out his wickeddesign himself. His malicious heart was too well known to the Asafolk. But he soon found an innocent tool. Leaning against a tree, andtaking no part in the game, was Hoder, the blind god, the twin-brotherof Balder, and to him he began:

"Hark to the Asas--how they laugh! Do you take no share in the game, good Hoder?"

"Not I, " said Hoder gloomily, "for I am blind, and know not where tothrow. "

"I could show you that, " said Loki, assuming a pleasant tone; "'tis nohard matter, Hoder, and methinks the Asas will call you proud andhaughty if you take no share in the fun. "

"But I have nothing to throw, " said poor blind Hoder. 

Then Loki said: "Here, at least, is a small shaft, 'twill serve yourpurpose, " and leading innocent Hoder into the ring he cunningly guidedhis aim. Hoder, well pleased to be able to share in a game with hisbeloved brother, boldly sped the shaft, expecting to hear the usualshouts of joyous laughter which greeted all such attempts. There fellinstead dead silence on his ear, and immediately on this followed awail of bitter agony. For Balder the Beautiful had fallen dead withouta groan, his heart transfixed by the little dart of mistletoe. 

 "So on the floor lay Balder dead; and round Lay thickly strewn swords, axes, darts, and spears, Which all the gods in sport had idly thrown At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove; But in his breast stood fixed the fatal bough Of mistletoe, which Loki the Accuser gave To Hoder, and unwitting Hoder threw-- 'Gainst that alone had Balder's life no charm. "

Dreading he knew not what, Hoder stood in doubt for some moments. Butsoon the meaning of that bitter wail was borne in upon him, piercingthe cloud of darkness in which he always moved. He opened wide hisarms as though to clasp the beloved form, and then with: "I have slainthee, my brother, " despair seized him and he fell prostrate in uttergrief. 

Meantime, the Asa folk crowded round the silent form of Balder, weeping and wailing; but, alas! their moans and tears could not bringBalder back. At length, All-Father Odin, whose grief was too deep forlamentations, bade them be silent and prepare to bear the body of thedead Asa to the seashore. 

The unhappy Hoder, unable to take part in these last offices, made hisway sadly through Asgard, beyond the walls and along the seashore, until he came to the house Fensalir. 

Frigga was seated upon her seat of honour before the fire against theinner wall, and standing before her, with bent head and woefulsightless gaze, Hoder told her of the dread mishap that had befallen. 

"Tell me, O mother, " he cried in ending, and his voice sounded likethe wail of the wind on stormy nights, "tell me, is there aught I cando to bring my brother back? Or can I make agreement with the dreadmother of the Underworld, giving my life in exchange for his?"

Woe crowded upon woe in the heart of Frigga as she listened to thestory. The doom was wrought that she had tried so vainly to avert, and not even her mother's love had availed to safeguard the son sodearly cherished. 

"On Balder Death hath laid her hand, not thee, my son, " she said, "yetthough we fail in the end, there is much that may be tried before allhope is lost. "

Then she told Hoder of a road by which the abode of Hela could bereached, one which had been travelled by none living save Odinhimself. 

 "Who goes that way must take no other horse To ride, but Sleipnir, Odin's horse, alone. Nor must he choose that common path of gods Which every day they come and go in heaven, O'er the bridge Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch. 

 But he must tread a dark untravelled road Which branches from the north of heaven, and ride Nine days, nine nights, toward the northern ice, Through valleys deep engulfed, with roaring streams. And he will reach on the tenth morn a bridge Which spans with golden arches Giöll's stream. Then he will journey through no lighted land, Nor see the sun arise, nor see it set;

 And he must fare across the dismal ice Northward, until he meets a stretching wall Barring his way, and in the wall a grate, But then he must dismount and on the ice Tighten the girths of Sleipnir, Odin's horse, And make him leap the grate, and come within. "

There in that cheerless abode dead Balder was enthroned, but, saidFrigga, he who braves that dread journey must take no heed of him, norof the sad ghosts flitting to and fro, like eddying leaves. First hemust accost their gloomy queen and entreat her with prayers:

 "Telling her all that grief they have in heaven For Balder, whom she holds by right below. "

A bitter groan of anguish escaped from Hoder when Frigga had finishedher recital of the trials which must be undergone:

 "Mother, a dreadful way is this thou showest; No journey for a sightless god to go. "

And she replied:

 "... Thyself thou shalt not go, my son; But he whom first thou meetest when thou com'st To Asgard and declar'st this hidden way, Shall go; and I will be his guide unseen. "

Meantime the Asa folk had felled trees and had carried to the seashoreoutside the walls of Asgard a great pile of fuel, which they laid uponthe deck of Balder's great ship, _Ringhorn_, as it lay stranded highup on the beach. 

 "Seventy ells and four extended On the grass the vessel's keel; High above it, gilt and splendid, Rose the figurehead ferocious With its crest of steel. "

Then they adorned the funeral pyre with garlands of flowers, withgolden vessels and rings, with finely wrought weapons and richnecklets and armlets; and when this was done they carried out the fairbody of Balder the Beautiful, and bearing it reverently upon theirshields they laid it upon the pyre. 

Then they tried to launch the good ship, but so heavily laden was shethat they could not stir her an inch. 

The Mountain-Giants, from their heights afar, had watched the tragedywith eyes that were not unpitying, for even they had no ill-will forBalder, and they sent and told of a giantess called Hyrroken, who wasso strong that she could launch any vessel whatever its weight mightbe. 

So the Asas sent to fetch her from Giantland, and she soon came, riding a wolf for steed and twisted serpents for reins. 

When she alighted, Odin ordered four of his mightiest warriors tohold the wolf, but he was so strong that they could do nothing untilthe giantess had thrown him down and bound him fast. 

Then with a few enormous strides, Hyrroken reached the great vessel, and set her shoulder against the prow, sending the ship rolling intothe deep. The earth shook with the force of the movement as thoughwith an earthquake, and the Asa folk collided with one another likepine-trees during a storm. The ship, too, with its precious weight, was well-nigh lost. At this Thor was wroth and, seizing his hammer, would have slain the giantess had not the other Asas held him back, bidding him not forget the last duty to the dead god. So Thor hallowedthe pyre with a touch of his sacred hammer and kindled it with a thorntwig, which is the emblem of sleep. 

Last of all, before the pyre blazed up, All-Father Odin added to thepile of offerings his magic ring, from which fell eight new ringsevery ninth night, and bending he whispered in Balder's ear. 

But none to this day know the words that Odin spake thus in the ear ofhis dead son. 

Then the flames from the pyre rose high and the great ship drifted outto sea, and the wind caught the sails and fanned the flames till itseemed as though sky and sea were wrapped in golden flame. 

 "And while they gazed, the sun went lurid down Into the smoke-wrapt sea, and night came on. But through the dark they watched the burning ship Still carried o'er the distant waters.... But fainter, as the stars rose high, it flared; And as, in a decaying winter fire, A charr'd log, falling, makes a shower of sparks-- So, with a shower of sparks, the pile fell in, Reddening the sea around; and all was dark. "

And thus did Balder the Beautiful pass from the peaceful steads ofAsgard, as passes the sun when he paints the evening clouds with theglory of his setting. 

 _Note. _--Most of the poetical extracts throughout this chapter are taken from Matthew Arnold's "Balder Dead. "

THE PASSING OF BALDER

 I heard a voice, that cried, "Balder the Beautiful Is dead, is dead!" And through the misty air Passed like the mournful cry Of sunward sailing cranes. 

 I saw the pallid corpse Of the dead sun Borne through the Northern sky. Blasts from Niffelheim Lifted the sheeted mists Around him as he passed. 

 And the voice for ever cried, "Balder the Beautiful Is dead, is dead!" And died away Through the dreary night, In accents of despair. 

 Balder the Beautiful, God of the summer sun, Fairest of all the Gods! Light from his forehead beamed, Runes were upon his tongue, As on the warrior's sword. 

 All things in earth and air Bound were by magic spell Never to do him harm; Even the plants and stones; All save the mistletoe, The sacred mistletoe!

 Hoder, the blind old God, Whose feet are shod with silence, Pierced through that gentle breast With his sharp spear, by fraud Made of the mistletoe, The accursed mistletoe!

 They laid him in his ship, With horse and harness, As on a funeral pyre. Odin placed A ring upon his finger, And whispered in his ear. 

 They launched the burning ship! It floated far away Over the misty sea, Till like the sun it seemed, Sinking beneath the waves. Balder returned no more!

 LONGFELLOW. 

CHAPTER XIII

How Hermod Made a Journey to the Underworld

_This is the tale which the Northmen tell of howHermod journeyed to the Underworld to bringback Balder the Beautiful to Asgard. _

Of all the Asa folk most fleet of foot was Hermod, but on that sad evewhen Balder was laid upon the funeral pyre his step was lagging andslow as he went to his home by the city wall. 

As he approached, there met him in the gloom a vague figure, thatwalked with outstretched hands and faltering steps like one that isblind. And Hermod knew it to be the form of Hoder of the sightlesseyes, brother to Balder and to him. 

But when he would have spoken Hoder brushed past, murmuring in hisear:

 "Take Sleipnir, Hermod, and set forth with dawn To Hela's kingdom, to ask Balder back; and they shall be thy guides who have the power. "

Hermod bowed his head and passed on; but poor blind Hoder, heartbroken, went his way to his own house and shut the door upon hisgrief. 

When the first rosy fingers of dawn touched the clouds of morningHermod led out Sleipnir, the steed of Odin, from Valhalla, and rodeaway. Sleipnir was not wont to permit any to mount him, or even totouch his mane, save the All-Father himself; but he stood meekly asHermod mounted; for he knew upon what errand they were bound. 

Nine long days and nine long nights rode Hermod towards the realms ofice and snow; and on the tenth morn he drew near to the golden bridgewhich spanned Giöll, the greatest river in the world. 

A maiden of pale and downcast mien kept this bridge, with unsleepingvigilance, and she now challenged Hermod as he approached:

 "Who art thou on thy black and fiery horse, Under whose hoofs the bridge o'er Giöll's stream Rumbles and shakes? Tell me thy race and home. But yestermorn, five troops of dead passed by, Bound on their way below to Hela's realm, Nor shook the bridge so much as thou alone. And thou hast flesh and colour on thy cheeks, Like men who live, and draw the vital air; Nor look'st thou pale and wan, like men deceased, Souls bound below, my daily passers here. "

Then Hermod told his name and whence he came, and asked eagerly ifBalder had already crossed that bridge. And the maiden told him thatBalder had indeed passed that way along the road to Hela's kingdom. 

So Hermod galloped over the golden bridge, and resumed his way througha darksome tract of frozen country, and over fields of ice unlightedsave by dim stars that shone uncertainly through the mist. At lengthfurther passage was barred by a high wall in which was a grate. Without hesitation Hermod put Sleipnir to this obstacle, he surmountedit with the ease and grace of a fawn, and they found themselves inHela's realm. 

On passed Hermod, unheeding the murmuring shades that flocked around, and he did not draw rein until, coming to Hela's hall, he saw thereBalder, his brother, and, near by, the awful goddess. 

Leaping from Sleipnir, the young Asa knelt before Hela and besoughther that Balder might ride home with him, that the heavy hearts of allin Asgard might be comforted. 

But dark Hela shook her head, reminding him how Odin had cast her outwith her two brothers, the Serpent and the Fenris Wolf; why should shegrant the Asa folk this boon?

Then Hermod laid his hands upon her knees. "All things in heaven andearth grieve for Balder, therefore restore him, good mother, anddarken not our lives for evermore, " he answered. 

The appeal in his mournful eyes, as well as in his words, somewhatmoved Hela, though her heart was still hardened against Odin, and shesaid: "Come now, let us see if all things love Balder as you say, "Show me through all the world the signs of grief! Fails but one thing to grieve, here Balder stops! Let all that lives and moves upon the earth Weep him, and all that is without life weep: Let gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones. So shall I know the lost was dear indeed, And bend my heart, and give him back to heaven. "

Then Hermod was given permission to greet his brother, and Balderanswered him with faint voice. They spoke of Asgard, the beloved landof living gods and heroes, and at parting Balder charged his brotherto carry the magic ring, Draupnir, back to Odin, and a kerchief andother gifts to Frigga, as tokens of his love. And Hermod rode sadlyback along the weary road to Asgard. 

All-Father Odin from his high seat saw his son returning, and hehastened forth to receive him. 

 "And Hermod came, and leapt from Sleipnir down, And in his father's hand put Sleipnir's rein And greeted Odin and the gods. "

Then all the Asa folk assembled in the Council Hall, at the root ofthe Tree of Life, to hear the message that Hermod had brought from thejoyless realms; and he told them of Hela's reply to his request, saying:

 "... To your prayer she sends you this reply: _Show her through all the world the signs of grief! Fails but one thing to grieve, there Balder stops! Let gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones; So shall she know your loss was dear indeed, And bend her heart, and give you Balder back. _"

When Hermod had ceased speaking, All-Father Odin arose, and leaning onhis great staff he looked slowly around and commanded: "Go ye quicklyforth through all the world and pray all living and unliving things toweep for Balder dead. "

Then the gods arose willingly and went their way through all theworld, Thor in his goat chariot, and Freya in her carriage drawn bywhite cats, but most of the others on swift horses. North, South, East, and West, they rode, entreating all things to weep for Balder'sdeath. 

 "And all that lived, and all without life, wept. "

Just as at the end of winter, before the springtime, when a warmsouth-west wind blows over the land and melts the ice and snow, "A dripping sound is heard In all the forests.... And, in fields sloping to the south, dark plots Of grass peep out amid surrounding snow, And widen, and the peasant's heart is glad"--

so through the whole world was now heard the sound of falling tears, as all things living and dead wept for Balder's sake. 

Hermod rode with the Storm-god, Niörd, who knew all the creeks andhidden bays of the coastline of the earth; and when the sea-creaturesand those that live on the borders of the ocean heard the message theyall added their tribute of tears to the common cause. 

Now, as the Asas rode home together they came to a great wood upon theborders of Giantland, where all the trees are of iron. And in themidst of this wood was a cave, at the mouth of which sat an ancientgiantess, gnashing her teeth at all who passed by. 

This seeming giantess was none other but wicked Loki in disguise, butthis Hermod did not know. 

As the Asas came near, she greeted them with shrill laughter, andasked them if it was dull in Asgard that they came thither to her ironwood. But they answered that they came not for gibes but for tears, that Balder might be saved. Then she laughed louder and cried:

 "Is Balder dead? And do ye come for tears? Weep him all other things, if weep they will: I weep him not! let Hela keep her prey. "

And with these mocking words she fled to the dark recesses of hercave, repeating again and again:

 "Neither in life, nor yet in death, Gave he me gladness. Let Hela keep her prey. "

Heavy were the steps with which Hermod returned to Asgard, and whenthey had heard the news of how one creature had refused her tears, theeager faces of the Asa folk grew dark with woe, for they knew thatnever more would they see Balder--Balder the Beautiful. 

But the future days brought peace to the tormented soul of Hoder, theinnocent cause of all their grief. 

For there was born to Odin a child who grew to his full size within afew short hours. And on the first day that he arrived in Asgard hefared forth with bow and arrow, and one of his shafts found mark inthe heart of Hoder. 

And so, from henceforth, the blind god and his twin-brother aretogether in the realms of Hela. 

CHAPTER XIV

How Loki was Punished at Last

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Red Lokiwas punished at last for his sins. _

When the Asas knew that it was Loki, disguised as Thok, thegiant-woman, who had refused to shed the tears that would have wonBalder's release, they determined to bear with his presence in Asgardno longer. 

So with many a hard word and ugly look they drove him forth, biddinghim never enter those gates again. 

But the Asa folk were still sad and heavy of heart: for at everymoment the gloom that lay over the city reminded them of the loss oftheir bright young Balder. 

Ægir, god of the sea, saw their forlorn condition, and he prepared agreat banquet in the caves of coral that lie underneath the sea, andbade all the Asas attend it as his guests. 

 "That though for Balder every guest Was grieving yet, He might forget Awhile his woe in friendly feast. "

The invitation was pleasing to the gods, and on the day appointed theycame, attired in their richest cloaks of silk and satin, green andblue and yellow and purple, by a path through the waters whereby theyreached the coral caves of the Sea-god. 

Very beautiful were these caves. The walls and ceilings were carvedwith the most delicate fret-work of pink and cream and white, and afaint green light shone into them from the ocean without. 

The floor was covered with the finest silver sand, encrusted withbeautiful sea-shells, and the flowers with which the tables wereadorned were feathery sea-weeds and glowing sea-anemones. In the midstof the floor was a mass of gold, so bright that it lighted up thewhole place as though with fire. 

The dishes upon the table were filled with the most delicious fish, ofevery kind and variety, and the gods sat down to the feast wellpleased, regretting only the absence of the well-loved Balder, and thefact that Thor had been detained by a tempest, which kept him busy inthe regions of the dwarfs, from whence he hoped to travel to thesea-caves directly his work was done. 

Merrily went the banquet, for all the Asas were filled with goodwilltowards one another and towards their burly host, who sat at the headof the board with his long grey beard sweeping his broad chest. 

Suddenly into the midst of this cheerful scene fell a black shadowfrom the entrance to the cave; and there, red and gaunt, and evil ofcountenance, stood Loki, glowering upon them all. 

At first the Asas sat in silence, their anger too deep for words. ThenOdin arose and sternly bade the intruder begone. 

This was the signal for a storm of hatred in words so evil that theypoisoned the air. For a time the Asas pretended not to heed, but wenton quietly with the meal. One of them even tried to drown his speechby talking loudly to old Ægir in praise of the servant who waited sodeftly upon them all. But at the word Loki sprang forward, knife inhand, and killed the unfortunate serving-man before their eyes. 

Then the Asa folk arose and cast out Loki with violence, threateninghim with dire punishment should he appear in their presence again. 

Resuming their seats at the interrupted feast, they made brave effortsto appear gay and cheerful; but scarcely had they begun to eat whenLoki came creeping in again disguised as a sea-serpent. Once in, heresumed his proper form and began as before to revile the gods, taunting them one after another with the mistakes which each had made, and telling his malicious stories, so that the gods were filled withdismay, and with suspicion, each of his neighbour. 

Louder and louder grew the voice of Loki, the Asas all the timesitting as if turned to stone, and now he began to heap abuse on thehead of Sif, the fair-haired wife of Thor. 

Suddenly there was heard outside the noise of goats' feet clatteringover the rocks, and in another moment the Thunderer entered, brandishing his hammer about his head and crying:

"Silence, thou wicked wretch, or my mighty hammer shall put a stop tothy prating. At one blow will I strike thy head from thy neck, andthen will thy evil tongue be silenced once for all!"

But Loki did not wait for Thor to strike. Quick as light he dashed outof the cave and disappeared. He well knew that now at length he hadindeed lost all hope of forgiveness. 

Wandering in dismal wise about the earth, fear seized him after a timelest Odin or the Thunderer should find and slay him, in order toprevent further annoyance. 

So he made his way to the mountains of the North, and there he builtfor himself a hut with four doors, open to every quarter of the earth, that, if need arose, he might be able to escape quickly. 

He built this hut, moreover, close to a mountain side, down whichrushed a mighty cataract of water. For he intended, if the Asas foundhim, to spring into the stream, change himself into a salmon, and somake good his escape. 

But when, sitting within his cold and draughty hut, he began toconsider the matter afresh, he remembered that, even if he carried outthis plan, he would not yet be quite safe. 

For though he could easily avoid any hook that ever was made, he wouldfind it very difficult to evade capture if the gods should think ofmaking a net like that which the Sea-goddess, Ran, spreads for unwarymen when they are fishing or bathing in the sea, and all the time sheis lurking near in some cavern on the shore, or enmeshed in the darkfolds of a giant sea-weed in the ocean depths. 

So much and so long did Loki brood over the thought of Ran'sfishing-net, that at length he began to wonder if such a thing couldreally be made, and then to try to weave one out of twine as much likeit as possible. 

He had not quite finished his curious task when upon the mountain, just above the hut, he suddenly perceived the two mighty figures ofhis dreaded foes. 

Knowing that their intention must be to enter his hut and make himprisoner, Loki hastily threw the half-made net upon the fire, andrushing forth he flung himself into the waterfall, where he quicklychanged himself into a salmon and lurked unseen among the stones inthe torrent's bed. 

Meantime, the two Asas had entered the hut. 

"Ho! ho!" said Odin, as he noted the silence of the place, "our birdhas flown. "

"What fresh mischief doth he plan?" muttered Thor, looking closelyabout him. 

"Let us look further afield, " urged Odin; but Thor kicked over thelogs on the hearth and picked out the half-burned net. 

Now Odin well knew the net of Ran, and the half-burnt strandssuggested to him the truth. So he set to work and, with Thor'sassistance, quickly mended the net, and they proceeded to drag themountain stream with it. 

At their first attempt sly Loki hid between two stones at the bottomof the river, laughing in scorn as the net passed over his head. 

Then the Asas weighted the net with stones and tried again; but Lokigave a great leap over the net, and dashed up stream. 

A third time they made the attempt, and now Loki, grown reckless, leaped out of the water. But this time Thor caught him by his tail, and held it fast in spite of its slipperiness. 

Then the gods forced him to resume his usual shape, and they carriedhim off to an underground cavern, far below the earth, and there theybound him fast to a rock with iron fetters. 

Most things in heaven and earth rejoiced at the downfall of wicked RedLoki, but above all rejoiced Skadi the giantess. Her home was in thecold mountain stream which Loki had invaded, and he had done her manyan ill turn in bygone days. 

This Skadi now took a poisonous serpent and fastened it above hishead, so that the venom of the reptile falling, drop by drop, upon hisface, would cause the most terrible pain. But Sigyn, Loki's loyalwife, the only person in heaven or earth who cared what became of him, took a cup and held it up to catch the burning drops as they fell, andshe only left his side when the cup was full and she had to empty it. 

In these brief periods, the fettered god howled with rage and pain, intones which echoed through the dismal caverns of earth like mightypeals of thunder, and his writhing shook the earth to its foundations, bringing the Northmen from their dwellings in terror of what theythought to be violent earthquakes. 

But his efforts can avail nothing until the day of Ragnarok. Thenshall his bonds be loosed, and he shall fight his last battle andfall, never to rise again. 

CHAPTER XV

The Story of the Magic Sword

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how a great feudarose between the Volsungs and the Goths. _

Sigi, the son of Odin, was a man mighty in the hunt, and he lived inthe house of Skadi. And one day he went out to the woods with Bredi, Skadi's servant, and they hunted deer all day long. But when theygathered their spoil in the evening, it was found that Bredi had slainfar more than Sigi, and it vexed the soul of Sigi that a servantshould hunt better than his master. So, in his jealous rage, he fellupon Bredi and killed him, and hid his body in a snowdrift, afterwhich he rode home in the gloaming, with the tale that Bredi hadridden away from him into the wild woods. 

"Out of the sight of mine eyes he rode, " said he, "and I know not whathas become of him. "

But Skadi did not believe his words--for Sigi's eyes looked sidewaysas he spoke--and he sent and searched the woods, and the body of Brediwas found in a snowdrift. Then, his dark suspicion being confirmed, hetook Sigi and put him forth from the land and commanded that he be anoutlaw for ever. 

Sigi embarked upon the ocean in a small boat, and he had not beensailing long when a little skiff drew near, wherein was an old manwith one eye, wearing a broad-brimmed grey hat. This was none otherthan Odin, who had come to succour his son, and he took the boat intow and brought Sigi to a war vessel manned with a brave crew, wellarmed and provided, which he gave into his charge, promising thatvictory in battle should always be his. 

Then Sigi took fresh heart and, ever aided by the powerful favour ofOdin, he won at length dominion and lordship over the great empire ofthe Huns. 

Yet did he not escape punishment for the evil deed of his youth, forwhen he was very old the favour of Odin forsook him; and the brotherof his wife, whom he trusted above all men, fell upon him withtreachery and slew him. 

But the son of Sigi was now a brave youth, and gathering the warriorsof his land he drove out his mother's kindred and took the kingdom forhimself. When peace had settled upon it he took unto him a wife, andFrigga blessed them with a fine little son, whom they named Volsung. But while the boy was yet quite young Rerir, his father, went out tothe wars and was killed, and the Battle Maidens carried him away toOdin and the festal halls of Valhalla. 

The young Volsung grew mightily in valour and in strength, so thatwhen he had come to man's estate his renown was greater than that ofhis father or grandfather, and all men knew him to be a true son ofthe race of Odin. 

So in due time he became the founder of a great family, and thebuilder of a mighty house. The walls of his dwelling were hung withbattle shields taken from the foe, and in the midst of the floor

 "Sprang up a mighty tree That reared its blessings roofward, and wreathed the roof-tree dear With the glory of the summer and the garland of the year. "

Underneath the branches of this gigantic "Branstock, " as the tree wasnamed, dwelt Volsung and his wife and their eleven children. Tenstalwart sons had he and one fair daughter, Signy by name. 

Now when Signy was become a tall and stately maiden, it came to passthat Siggeir, King of the Goths, sent messages to beg that she mightbe given to him in marriage. And because Volsung had heard a goodreport of his success in war, he promised his daughter to him withoutsetting eyes upon his face. 

But when he came to claim the promise, Signy saw that her bridegroomwas small and dark and evil of countenance, different indeed from thetall, fair, open-faced Northmen, and her heart sank within her. 

The sacred pledge had been given, however, and no Northland maidencould draw back from the plighted word. 

True to her hero-blood, Signy went through the marriage ceremony withseeming cheerfulness, and none but her twin-brother Sigmund knew hergrief. 

The wedding feast was celebrated with magnificence. Great fires burnedbrightly along the hall, and the flickering flames cast a lurid glowupon the huge oak which upreared its massive and fantastic shape inthe centre. 

Now, while the merry-making was at its height, there suddenly entereda tall, old man with hat slouched over his eyes and huge grey cloakaround his majestic shoulders. 

Advancing to the Branstock, he drew his sword, and plunged it to thevery hilt in the great trunk. 

Then, as the assembled guests gazed at him in awe-struck silence, hesaid: "Whoso draweth the sword from this stock shall have the same asa gift from me, and it shall give him victory in every battle. "

There was something so attractive in the voice and mien of the speakerthat all men sat chained to their seats, as in a dream. And noneroused himself as the old man turned and passed through the hall andout of the door. 

But as soon as Odin, for he it was, had vanished, all tongues wereloosed and there arose a great hubbub. And the men of noblest rankwent up one after another to the Branstock and pulled and tugged andstrained at the goodly sword. First of all went up King Siggeir, butthough he pulled till his eyes nearly started from his head, yet thesword moved not an inch. 

Then Volsung put his hand to the sword, but it was not meant for him. Neither could the Volsung princes, who followed one by one, do aughtto move it, until last of them came Sigmund, the youngest, and as soonas he grasped the hilt he pulled the weapon out of the trunk as if ithad lain loose therein. 

It was indeed a weapon worthy of the gods, and when Siggeir lookedupon its shapely proportions his heart was fired with desire, and heoffered to buy it from the youth at thrice its weight in gold. 

But Sigmund answered: "Thou mightst have taken the sword as easily asI if it had been thy lot to wear it. But now it has fallen to me, thoushalt never have it, though thou dost offer all the gold thou hast. "

And thus began the fatal quarrel between the race of Siggeir and theVolsungs, for at the words Siggeir's heart grew bitter againstSigmund; and he determined that, when the time was ripe, he would putan end to the Volsung race and take that sword to himself. 

But outwardly Siggeir was all that was fair and gentle. And when heset sail with his bride to his own land, he begged King Volsung andhis sons to visit him as soon as possible. 

So, at an appointed time, King Volsung and his ten stalwart sons setoff to the kingdom of Siggeir with three brave ships; and after a fairvoyage they cast anchor late one eventide. 

During the night, as they lay on their ships, thinking to land nextmorning, Signy, who had received tidings of their arrival, came insecret to her father and brothers and begged them not to go ashore, saying that her treacherous husband had laid an ambush for them, whence they could not escape alive. She bade them therefore return totheir own land, and together, with a mighty army, come again to takerevenge upon King Siggeir. 

But the brave old Volsung shook his great white head, saying thatnever yet had he or his turned back before fire or sword or hurt--andhe would not play the coward in his old age. 

"A hundred fights have I fought, " said he, "and ever I had thevictory, nor shall it be said of me that I fled from a foe or prayedfor peace. "

Then Signy wept right sore, and prayed that she might stay with herkinsmen, and not return to her husband. 

But this seemed not good in the eyes of Volsung, and he sent her backsadly to her home. 

As soon as it was day, King Volsung went ashore with his folk, and allwere fully armed. But that availed them little; for Siggeir fell uponthem with a great army. The Volsungs were few in number, but theyfought with desperate courage, and no fewer than eight times did theycut their way through their foes. They would have done so yet again, had not Volsung fallen in the midst of his folk, and his followerswith him, save only his ten sons. 

Then the princes were taken and led, fast bound, into the presence ofSiggeir, who had watched the fight from afar; and when he had securedthe sword of Odin he condemned the young men to die. 

But Signy, wild with grief, besought her husband: "I will not praythee to spare their lives, but let them be first set awhile in theforest, chained fast to a fallen oak; for there comes to me an oldsaying--_'Sweet to eye while eye can see. '_ I pray not for longer lifefor them, because well I know that my prayer will avail nothing. "

At this Siggeir laughed an evil laugh: "Surely thou art mad, " he said, "to wish that the suffering of thy brothers should be prolonged. Icare not, however, for the more pain they have to bear the bettershall I be pleased. "

So the ten young men were chained to an oak in the woods with a heavybeam upon their feet, and Signy meantime was shut up in the palaceunder close watch, lest she should try to succour them. 

Now it came to pass that at midnight there came up a great she-wolfout of the wild woods, and she fell upon one of the brothers anddevoured him and went upon her way. 

Next morning Signy sent a trusty servant to bring tidings of herbrothers, and grievously she mourned when she heard that one was dead;for she feared that the same fate would overtake all. 

Every morning she sent the man to the forest, and every morning hereturned with the news that the she-wolf had eaten up another of theVolsung princes, until all save Sigmund were dead. Then Signy, in diredespair, bethought herself of a plan, and she sent the messenger withhoney in his hand to her twin-brother, and bade him smear it overSigmund's face and feet and a little of it in his mouth. And it wasdone as she commanded. 

And that same night, as Sigmund sat alone in the wild woods, theshe-wolf came up, according to her wont, and would have slain andeaten him like his brothers. But first she smelt the honey and beganto lick his face all over, and finally thrust her tongue into hismouth. 

Then Sigmund caught the she-wolf's tongue in his strong teeth and heldfast to it; and she, in her pain and terror, set her feet against thebeam and against the oak, and strained so mightily that beam and oakgave way, and the chain that bound the prince snapped in twain. Andspringing up, he killed the murderer of his brothers, that gauntshe-wolf, and ran through the wild woods a free man. 

Now when Signy knew what had happened she was full of joy; and as herhusband thought that all the Volsungs were dead, and so kept watchover her no longer, she was able to visit her brother where he layhiding in secret. Together they built for him a hut underground in thewild woods, and they covered up the entrance with branches, moss, andleaves, so that it was quite hidden from sight. To this retreat Signybrought food and all things that were needed, and together in secretthey made plans to revenge their father and his nine brave sons. 

Now to Siggeir and Signy had been born two sons who, both in natureand in face, were exactly like their father. When the eldest was tenyears of age, his mother sent him to Sigmund, that he might be trainedby a Volsung to avenge the death of his grandfather. 

Late at eventide he came to the earth-dwelling, and when Sigmund hadwelcomed the boy he bade him make ready the bread for their eveningmeal. "For I, " said he, "must go seek firewood. " And with these wordshe gave the meal bag into his hands and left the hut. 

But he could see no trace of any bread making when he came back, so heasked if the food was ready. 

"No, " said the boy, "I dared not set hand in the meal sack, because Isaw something move in the meal. "

Then Sigmund knew that the boy had the heart of a mouse, and he senthim back to his mother. 

The next winter Signy sent her second son to him, and Sigmund testedhim in like manner. But he too showed his coward's heart, and was senthome again. 

As time went on Signy had another son, whom she called Sinfiotli. Hewas tall and strong and fair of face, like unto the Volsungs; andbefore he was ten years of age, she sent him to Sigmund. But first shetested him herself by sewing his shirt to his skin and then suddenlysnatching it off again, whereat the child did but laugh at her, saying: "Full little would a Volsung care for such a smart as that. "

So the boy came to Sigmund, who bade him knead the meal while he wentto fetch firewood. 

This time the bread stood ready baked upon the hearth when he cameback, whereupon he asked Sinfiotli if he had found nothing in themeal. 

"Ay, " said the boy, "I saw there was something living in the meal whenI first began to knead it; but I have kneaded all together, both themeal and whatever was therein. "

Then Sigmund gave a great laugh, and caught the boy in his arms, saying: "Naught wilt thou eat of this bread to-night, for thou hastkneaded up therewith the most deadly of serpents. "

Though no sting from outside could harm Sinfiotli, he could neithereat nor drink venom and live. But Sigmund could eat of the bread, since no poison could harm him. 

From that day the training of the lad became Sigmund's constant care, and he grudged no pains in the effort to make him worthy of aVolsung's teaching. 

In his desire to make him hardy and daring beyond his years he tookSinfiotli with him on all his expeditions. Together they lived thewild life of outlaws, faring far and wide through the woods, andslaying men for their wealth. And the boy forgot his father andthought as a Volsung. 

Now it befell that on a day, as they roamed through the woods, theycame upon a certain house, wherein lay two men, with great gold ringson wrists and ankles, fast asleep. Over their heads hung the skins oftwo grey wolves, and by this Sigmund knew that they were king's sonswho had been turned into were-wolves. Every tenth night would theycome out of their wolf skins and return to them again at dawn. 

Then did Sigmund and Sinfiotli, half in jest, put on the wolf skinswhile the men lay asleep; and having done this they could in nowiserid themselves of them till the appointed time. They rushed forthhowling as wolves howl, though each knew the meaning of the sound, andthey lay out in the wild woods all that night. 

Next morning each prepared to go his separate way to seek food, andfirst they made a compact that they would risk the attack of sevenmen; but if more set upon them, each would howl for the other inwolfish wise. 

"For thou art young and over-bold, " said Sigmund, "and men will thinkwell of themselves when they take thee. "

Then each went his way, but before Sigmund had gone far he wasattacked by a band of eight men. Then he gave forth the long wolfhowl, and Sinfiotli came and slew them all, and returned his wayagain. 

A few hours later eleven men met Sinfiotli in the woods and tried tokill him, but he fought them in such wise that they were all slain. Then, being weary, he crawled under an oak to take his rest. Soon cameSigmund, and seeing the dead men lying on the ground, he asked: "Whydidst thou not call for help?"

But Sinfiotli only yawned and said: "I was loth to call on thee tohelp me slay so few as eleven men. "

These words so offended Sigmund that he sprang upon Sinfiotli and bithim in the throat so sorely that he lay dead upon the ground. 

Then was Sigmund heavy at heart, for he had grown to love the boy, andhe cursed the wolf skin, from which he could not get free. With muchdifficulty, however, he succeeded in dragging the body to the hut, where he crouched beside it, howling for grief. 

Now, as he sat, he saw two weasels come from behind a tree, and onebit the other in the throat, so that it lay to all appearance deadupon the ground. Then the first weasel ran into a thicket and broughta leaf in its mouth and laid it upon the wound; and immediately itscompanion sprang up and scampered off, perfectly cured. A moment latera raven, in his flight overhead, dropped a leaf of the same kind atSigmund's feet. 

Then he knew that Odin had sent to his aid, and he took the leaf anddrew it over Sinfiotli's hurt, and the lad sprang up quite well andstrong again. 

So they lay down together in their earth-house till the time came toput off their wolf skins; and then they burnt them with fire andprayed the Asa folk to let no further harm come through the spell ofthe evil shapes. 

Now when Sinfiotli was grown to manhood, Sigmund having tried himfairly and found him of true Volsung blood, plotted with him to avengehis kinsmen and exact the penalty from King Siggeir. Wherefore, on acertain day they left the earth-house and came to the palace of theking; and they gained, unperceived, a lurking-place amongst the casksof ale which were stacked in the entrance to the hall. 

Now Signy and the king were sitting in the hall, and two of theiryounger children were trundling a golden ball along the floor. Suddenly a golden ring came off the ball and rolled behind the casksof ale, and the little ones ran after it and discovered the two big, grim men with helmets on their heads and swords in their hands. 

Screaming with fright the children rushed to their father with news ofwhat they had seen. 

Then the king summoned his warriors, and a rush was made to whereSigmund and Sinfiotli lay hidden. They were quickly surrounded; andthough they fought desperately, they were taken and fast bound. 

That night the king pondered what would be the worst and mostlingering death he could mete out to them; and when morning came heordered a great hollow mound of stones and turf to be made, with alarge flat stone, extending from wall to wall, in the midst; and heordered the prisoners to be buried alive, one on each side of thisstone, so that they could hear each other speak but might in nowisepass through to one another. 

Now, while the servants were closing in the mound, came Signy alongwith a bundle of straw in her arms, and this she cast down toSinfiotli, bidding the men say nothing of this to the king; and theypromised, and set the topmost stones, and left the two to die. 

Presently Sinfiotli called to Sigmund and said: "I at anyrate shallnot starve for awhile, for the queen has thrown in a lump of swine'sflesh wrapped in straw. "

A moment later he gave a shout of joy, for hidden in the meat he foundthe magic sword of Sigmund, which he knew by the hilt, for Sigmund hadoften talked to him of this weapon. 

He now drove the point with all his strength into the big stone, andit passed quite through, so that Sigmund caught the point and pulledto and fro; and in this wise they sawed right through that mightystone, and stood together in the mound. But they stayed not there, forwith that good sword they soon cut their way through stones and ironand turf. 

Then, very softly, they crept to the king's hall where all men slept, and set wood around it; and having secured the door they set fire tothe wood. 

It was not long ere the folk within were awakened by the smoke andflames, and the king cried out: "Who kindled this fire in which Iburn?"

"I, " replied Sigmund, "with Sinfiotli, my sister's son, that you mayknow well that all the Volsungs are not yet dead. "

Then he entreated his sister to come out into a place of safety; butshe would not. "Merrily now will I die with King Siggeir, though I wasnot merry to wed him, " said she, and she perished in the fire with herhusband and his men. 

Sigmund and Sinfiotli now gathered together folk and ships andreturned to the land of the Volsungs, where they were warmly welcomed. 

And thus ended the great feud between the Volsungs and the Goths. 

CHAPTER XVI

How Sigmund Fought His Last Battle

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Sigmund tookHiordis to wife, and was slain of the might of Odin. _

Now Sigmund in course of time became the greatest king of all theVolsungs; and Sinfiotli was the captain of his host. 

And it came to pass that Sinfiotli loved a fair woman and desired tohave her for his wife; but the brother of Sigmund's queen was also inlove with her. So they fought together in a distant land, andSinfiotli slew his rival. 

Many another battle did he fight, until he had become renowned aboveall men; and in the autumn-tide he turned home again. 

And when he had told all his news to King Sigmund he went to thequeen, and told how he had slain her brother in fair fight. Now whenshe heard this the queen was wroth, and bade him begone from thekingdom, nor would she listen to his words about the quarrel. ButSigmund forbade him to depart, and, declaring that her brother hadbeen slain in fair fight, offered to his wife much gold in atonementfor the unhappy deed. 

Then the queen, seeing that her will was not likely to prevail, bowedher head, and said: "Have thy way in this matter, my lord, for it isright that so it should be. "

But in her heart she harboured evil thoughts against Sinfiotli. Thenshe held a funeral feast for her dead brother, and bade thither manygreat men. 

And at that feast, as was the custom in those days, the queen carriedhorns of mead to the chief guests. And when she came to Sinfiotli inhis turn she put the mighty horn into his hands, saying, with a smile:"Come now and drink, fair nephew. "

But Sinfiotli looked therein and said: "Nay; for there is a charmwithin the mead. "

"Give it to me, " quoth Sigmund, when he heard those words. And he tookthe horn and drank off the mead. 

But the queen's face darkened, and she taunted Sinfiotli, saying:"Must other men quaff thy drink for thee?"

And she came a second time and gave the horn into his hands, saying:"Art thou a coward after all? Come now and drink. "

But he looked into the horn, and lo: "Guile is in the drink, " said he. 

Sigmund again seized the vessel, saying: "Give it then to me, " anddrank the full draught. 

Then the queen came to Sinfiotli a third time, and mocked him, saying:"How is this that thou fearest to take thy mead like a man? If thouhast the heart of a Volsung, drink now thy portion. "

But again he looked on the horn, and said: "Venom is therein. "

Now Sigmund by this time was weary of drinking, and he said: "Pour itthrough thy beard then, and all will be well. " But Sinfiotli mistookhis meaning, and thought he desired him to drink the mead; and hedrank, and straightway fell down dead to the ground. 

Then the heart of Sigmund was full of grief at his kinsman's end. Hewould let no man touch him, but took him in his arms and fared away tothe wild woods and so to the seashore. And behold, there was an oldman sitting in a little boat; on his head was a grey hat pulled wellover his face, and over his shoulders a blue-grey cloak. 

"Wilt thou be ferried across the bay?" asked the old man; and Sigmundbowed his head. But the boat was too little to carry all at once; soSinfiotli was laid therein and Sigmund stood by on the shore. 

A moment later both boat and ferryman had vanished from before hiseyes. 

Then Sigmund knew that All-Father Odin had himself come for hiskinsman and had carried him to the halls of Asgard, and, after he hadmused awhile upon what had befallen, he returned to his folk; butbecause of the wrong that she had done he would not look upon hisqueen again, and soon afterwards she died. 

Now there lived in a neighbouring kingdom a mighty and famous king, who had a daughter named Hiordis; and she was the fairest and wisestof women. And it came to pass that King Sigmund heard it told of herthat she was the only woman who was fitted to be his wife; and he madea journey to the court of the king her father, and looked on her andloved her. And her father listened graciously to his proposal that heshould marry his daughter. 

But at that same time came King Lygni, son of Hunding; and he alsodemanded the hand of Hiordis in marriage. And the king, fearful lesttrouble should come, called his daughter, and said: "Full wise artthou, my daughter, and it is fitting that thou alone shalt choose thyhusband. Say now which of these two kings thou wilt have, and I willabide by thy choice. "

And Hiordis said: "I will choose King Sigmund, though he is old andstricken in years, for the greater valour has been his. "

So to him she was betrothed, and King Lygni was obliged to depart. Andin due time a great wedding feast was made, and Sigmund and Hiordiswere married with all the rites customary in the Northland, afterwhich they returned to Sigmund's own kingdom. 

But within a few months news was brought that King Lygni had gatheredtogether a vast army, and was marching upon the Volsungs with intentto destroy them utterly. So King Sigmund hastily got together hisfighting men and went out to his enemy, and they met in an open spacein the middle of a wood. And Hiordis carried away the king's treasureand hid herself in the wood with her handmaid, in a place from whenceshe could watch the fight. 

The Vikings that came up from the sea were greater in number by farthan the warriors of Sigmund. But Sigmund was a host in himself, andall the fierce strength of the Volsungs was in his arm that day. Wherever he went his foes made way before him, and full many were theVikings who fell by his magic sword. But the king, who was the fatherof his wife, was killed in the foremost rank. 

Now, when the battle had raged for a long time, suddenly a strangewarrior, tall of form, with slouched hat upon his head, and blue-greycloak about his shoulders, was seen making his way through the pressto where Sigmund towered above the host of those who came against him. Soon he confronted Sigmund, and his flashing weapon whirled like aflail ere it descended. The Volsung king lifted his magic sword toward off the blow, but it fell with terrific force upon the blade andbroke it in two pieces. From that moment the fortune of the battleturned against the Volsungs, and they fell fast around their king. ButSigmund stood as in a trance, and the war rage faded from his face. All-Father Odin had come to claim the sword he had given all thosemany years ago, and had left him defenceless against the foe who nowpressed hot upon him. 

 "And there they smote down Sigmund, the wonder of all lands, On the foemen, on the death-heap his deeds had piled that day. "

When he saw that his rival had fallen, King Lygni made for the king'sabode, meaning to take both queen and treasure for himself. But hefound all empty and silent within. Then, thinking that he had slainevery one of the Volsung race, and that he need dread them no more, hewent through the kingdom to take possession of it. 

When night had fallen upon the scene of bloodshed, Hiordis crept outof the thicket and searched among the dead for her beloved Sigmund. Presently she found him lying, and the life was still in him; andtaking him in her arms she thought to staunch his wounds. But withfaint voice he said: "War have I waged as long as it was Odin's will, but never will I draw sword again, since the blade he gave me hasbroken in two. My good fortune has departed, and I will not suffermyself to be healed. "

Then Hiordis wept sore and answered: "Naught would I care if but oneVolsung was left to avenge thee and my father. "

And Sigmund said: "A son shall be born to thee who shall be mightierthan I. Our boy shall be the noblest and most famed of all the Volsungrace. See to it that thou keep the pieces of my good sword, for fromit he shall fashion a goodly blade, and shall work many a great worktherewith, and his name shall abide and flourish as long as the worldshall endure. 

"But now am I weary, and would fain go to join my kindred that havegone before me. "

All through the night Hiordis kept watch beside him, till, at thedawn, he died. 

And as the queen mourned over the lifeless body she heard the sound ofmany ships upon the seashore, and she said to her handmaid: "Let usnow exchange garments and flee into the woods, and do thou play thepart of king's daughter, and I will be thy handmaid. "

Then there came up a great band of Vikings from the shore, and theirleader was Alf, son of the King of Denmark. And they saw how a greatcompany of men lay slain, and also how two women had escaped into thewoods. 

So Alf bade his followers go seek the maidens, and bring them beforehim. This they did, and when he questioned them, the handmaid spoke asthough she were queen, and answered for both, and told of the fall ofKing Sigmund, and who it was who had brought the war trouble into theland. 

Then the prince asked if they knew where the wealth of the king washidden, and the maiden replied: "Ay, we know full well where it islaid. "

And she guided them to the place, and this pleased the prince, and heput the treasure aboard his ships, and took the women also with him. But first he gave ear to the tale of Sigmund, and it won hisadmiration, and he caused the king to be buried as beseemed his rankand valour. 

Then did Hiordis and the handmaid sail away with Alf to his own land. 

CHAPTER XVII

The Story of the Magic Gold

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howSigurd was nurtured in Denmark. _

When Hiordis and her handmaid came to the kingdom of Prince Alf, theywere treated with all honour and goodwill. But soon the queen-motherof Prince Alf called him to her and said:

"Tell me, my son, why the fairer of these women has the fewer ringsand the commoner garments? For methinks that she whom you have held ofleast account is the nobler of the two. "

And he answered: "I, too, have had my doubts, since she is little likea bond-servant, and when we first met she greeted me in noble wise. But let us make trial of the matter. "

So it came to pass that, as they sat at table, the prince said: "Howis it that you know the hour for rising in the winter mornings, seeingthat there are then no lights in heaven?"

And the handmaid, who was playing the part of mistress, forgotherself, and answered: "At a certain hour I was ever wont to drinkmilk before wending to feed the cows; and now that I no longer dothis, I still awake thereby at that self-same time. "

At this the prince laughed aloud, saying: "That is ill manners for aking's daughter. "

Then he turned to Hiordis and asked her the same question, and sheanswered unthinkingly: "My father once gave me a little gold ring ofsuch a nature that it grows cold on my finger in the day-dawning; andthat is the sign by which I know it is time to rise. "

Then the prince sprang up, saying: "Gold rings for a bond-maid! Comenow, thou has deceived me, for I perceive that thou art a king'sdaughter. "

So the queen told him the whole truth, and then was she held in thegreatest honour. 

Soon after, Prince Alf succeeded to his father's throne and becameKing of Denmark, and about this time a fair son was given to Hiordis, as had been foretold by Sigmund, his father. His hair was fair as themorning light and his eyes were keen and blue. 

And when, as happened shortly afterwards, the king married Hiordis, the young Sigurd, as he was named, was brought up at the palace, withall care and love, as the king's foster-son. Tall and straight did hegrow, and very comely of countenance; and there was no man but lovedhim. 

In due time the young prince was sent to Regin, the wisest man in thatrealm, to be taught by him. 

So old was he that none could recall his first coming to the land, andhis wisdom embraced all things known to men. He had great skill in allthe arts of peace, but chiefly was he famed for the mighty works hehad wrought at the forge and upon the anvil. 

 "The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was he; And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the stilling of the sea. "

But though he was so wise, he had an evil heart, and he soondetermined to use the young Sigurd for his own ends. 

So one day he began to instil a spirit of discontent within the lad, asking him if he knew how much wealth his father Sigmund had and whonow had it in charge. 

And the boy answered: "The king himself has it in charge. "

"Dost thou then trust him so utterly?" sneered Regin. 

"It is but right he should have it so, " answered Sigurd, "for he knowsbetter how to guard it than I. "

So Regin waited awhile, and then tried again, saying: "Surely it is amarvellous thing that thou, a king's son, should run about on thy feetlike a horse-boy, and do the bidding of King Alf!"

"That is not so, " said Sigurd, "for I have my way in all things, andwhatever I desire is granted to me. "

"Well, then, " said Regin, "ask for a horse for thyself. "

"Yes, " said the boy; "and that shall I have when I have need of such athing. "

After this Sigurd went to the king, who smiled on him and said: "Whatwilt thou of me?"

And Sigurd said: "I would have a horse of my very own. "

To which the king replied: "Choose for thyself a horse from any partof the kingdom it seems good to thee. "

So Sigurd went away to the wild woods to consider where he shouldsearch for the finest steed in all the world; and as he pondered hemet in the way a tall, old man, with a grey hat drawn over hisforehead and a grey-blue cloak about his shoulders, who asked himwhere he was going. 

"I want to choose a horse, " said Sigurd. "Come thou with me, old man, and give me thy counsel. "

So they went together to a meadow where all the finest horses in theking's dominions were feeding, in charge of the royal grooms. And thestranger said: "See now, let us drive all these horses into the deepsof the river and choose the one that best can cross the foaming tide. "

And this they did. And it came to pass that, because of the strongswirl of the waters, all but one of the horses turned back andscrambled again to land. 

But one not only breasted the tide as though it were still water, but, having gained the opposite bank, he raced round the meadow as thoughhe were a colt. Then plunging into the river again he swam back quiteeasily and rejoined his companions. 

"That is the horse that I will choose, " said young Sigurd, and runningout, he caught the beautiful creature by the mane. Young of years washe, grey of colour, and very great and fair of limb; and as yet no manhad thrown foot across his back. 

Then said the old man: "This horse is of the kin of Sleipnir, thesteed of Odin. Nourish him well, for he will prove the best of horsesto thee. "

And with those words he vanished. 

Then Sigurd called the steed Greyfell, and he proved, as Odin hadpromised, the best of all horses in the world. 

And after awhile Regin spoke again to Sigurd and said: "It grieves mesore to see thee in this poor and humble guise at the court. But thouart a brave lad, and I will tell thee where there is much wealth to bewon, as well as fame and honour in the winning of it, if thou wilt. "

These words roused Sigurd's curiosity, and he asked where that wealthmight be, and who had watch and ward over it. 

And Regin answered: "Fafnir is his name, and he lies not so far away, on a lonely waste of heath. And when thou comest to that place, thoumayest well say that thou hast never seen or heard of such abundanceof treasure. "

"But I have already heard of Fafnir, " said Sigurd thoughtfully. "Ishe not the most terrible of dragons, so huge and evil that no man darego out against him?"

"Not so, " said the cunning Regin, "he is like unto other dragons ofhis kind. Men make too great a tale about him, that is all. But there, thy forefathers would have thought nothing of such a beast, but 'tishardly to be expected that thou, though thou be of Volsung blood, shall have the heart and mind of those great ones whose deeds of famestill ring throughout the lands. "

Then Sigurd grew angry. "Why shouldst thou lay on me the name ofcoward, who am yet but a child?" he said. "I have had as yet no chanceto win renown. And tell me, why dost thou egg me on to this sostrongly?"

"Hundreds of years ago, " replied Regin, "when I was but a boy, I livedin the house of my father Hreidmar, the king of the dwarfs. His eldestson was named Fafnir, his second Otter, and I was the youngest andleast; for I could never wield a sword in battle, though I was acunning worker in iron and silver and gold. My brother Otter wascleverer than I, for he was a great fisher, and excelled all other menas such. 

"By day he took the form of an otter, and dwelt in the river, andbrought fish in his mouth to the bank. He lived usually thus, cominghome only to eat and slumber, for on dry land he could see nothing. But Fafnir was by far more grim, as he was greater than us all, and hewould have everything we possessed called his. 

"Now in the waterfall hard by our house lived a dwarf called Andvari, who had changed himself into the likeness of a pike; and this he didthat he might eat the smaller fishes, of which the river was full. 

"And one day it came to pass that three of the Asa folk, Odin, Loki, and Hœnir, being on a journey, came to Andvari's waterfall just asOtter, having eaten a large salmon, was slumbering on the river bank. When Loki saw him he took up a stone, and threw it with such forcethat my brother fell dead on the ground. At this the Asas were wellcontent, for they did not know that he was a dwarf's son. And theyflayed off his skin and Loki carried it away with him, hanging it overhis shoulder. 

"Now at eventide they came to the house of my father, and entered in, suspecting no evil. But when Loki, coming last, threw his burden onthe floor, the dwarf king recognised the skin, and his face grewblack with rage. Before the Asas could defend themselves or flee, hemade signs to his servants who bound them fast in the midst of thefloor. 

"Then the Asas asked what ransom they should pay, and Hreidmaranswered and said: 'In the depth of the waterfall lies the Flame ofthe Waters, the Gold of the Sea, hidden there by the dwarfs, andcalled by men Andvari's Hoard. Find this for me, and fill with it theotter skin, and cover it outside with the same red gold, and then, andthen only, will I let you go free. '

"Now this was a heavy ransom indeed, for not only was Andvari's hoardhidden cunningly away, but the otter skin had the property ofstretching itself to an enormous size. 

"The Asas, however, determined to do their best, and they sent Loki, who was set free for the purpose, to find the Magic Gold. 

"So Loki went down to the river bank and peered and poked andsearched. This he did for days, but nowhere could he discover eitherthe dwarf Andvari or his hoard. At length he noticed a wonderfullyfine pike, with gills of gold, which each day sported in the foam ofthe waterfall, and he suspected that this was the dwarf in the form ofa fish. 

"So he went to Ran, the goddess of the sea, and borrowed her magicnet, and taking this to the waterfall he cast it therein; and the pikeswam into the net and was caught. Then said Loki:

 "What fish of all fishes Swims strong in the flood, But hath learnt little wit to unfold? Thine head must thou buy If fate thou would'st fly, And find me the water's red gold. "

"The dwarf now resumed his proper form, and answered sulkily:

 "Andvari folk call me, A dwarf is my father, And deep in the fall is my home. For of ill-luck a fay This fate on me lay, Through wet ways ever to roam. "

"Slowly, and very reluctantly, the dwarf accepted the situation; butat last he consented to yield up the golden hoard as ransom for hislife, and diving into the depths of the waterfall he brought upthence, little by little, his marvellous pile of treasure. 

"Last of all he laid upon the bank, which now shone like a sea ofgold, the glittering Helmet of Dread and a massive breastplate, all ofthe precious metal. 

"'This is the full measure, ' said he, as he laid his burden at Loki'sfeet. 

"But Loki caught sight of a ring gleaming upon his thumb. 'Give mealso that ring, ' said he. 

"Now this ring was a talisman and had the power of attracting to itall precious metal like itself; therefore Andvari would not part withit. 

"Then Loki snatched the ring from him with a wicked laugh, and wenthis way chuckling. But Andvari crept into a cleft of the rocks, andfrom thence called out angry curses upon him. 

 "That gold hoard of mine Shall be to all thine A cause of dissension and woe; And no good at all Shall ever befall The man to whose hands it shall go. "

"Meanwhile, Loki had carried the treasure to Hreidmar, and they placedit on the otter skin, which ever stretched and widened, so that, withall that large store, one hair of the bristle remained uncovered. Andon this Loki placed the magic ring, that was called 'Andvari's Loom, 'because it made much gold, and at last the skin was entirely covered. Then Loki chanted:

 "Gold enow, gold enow, A great treasure hast thou, That our heads on our necks we may hold, But thou and thy son, Are now both undone, For a curse has been placed on the gold. "

"Now scarcely had the Asas departed than the curse began to work. Forthough Hreidmar watched night and day over the treasure, it was plainthat Fafnir coveted it. At last he slew his father, and having thusobtained possession of the hoard he donned the Helmet of Dread and theglittering breastplate, and, " said Regin, "he drove me out when I cameto claim my share, and bade me get my bread as best I could. 

"And so evil did Fafnir grow with gloating over the treasure, begrudging any man a share in his wealth, that he took the shape of avile dragon, and to this day he lies brooding over his hoard. 

"As for me, I went to the king, who made me master smith. "

 "Hast thou hearkened, Sigurd? Wilt thou help a man that is old To avenge him for his father? Wilt thou win the treasure of gold And be more than the kings of the earth? Wilt thou rid the earth of a wrong And heal the woe and the sorrow my heart hath endured o'er long?"

Then Sigurd answered: "Much wrong has been thine and exceeding evilhas thy kinsman been to thee. Make me, therefore, a sword by thycraft, such as none has ever been made before; and with it I will goforth to slay this mighty dragon. "

"Trust me well in that task, " said Regin, "and with that same swordshalt thou slay Fafnir. "

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sigurd Slew the Dragon

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Sigurd slewFafnir and Regin with the Magic Sword. _

Regin set to work, and exercising all his skill as a cunning worker inmetals he fashioned a sword, very fine and keen and strong, and thishe brought to Sigurd. 

Sigurd received it with joy, but the weapon which was to slay Fafnirmust be severely tested; and, raising it aloft, the youth smote withall his might upon the iron anvil, and the sword broke in pieces. 

"Behold thy sword, O Regin!" he laughed. 

Then Regin forged another sword and said: "Surely thou wilt be contentwith this, though thou be hard to please in the matter of a weapon. "

But again Sigurd struck upon the anvil, and again the sword fell topieces. Then he turned wrathfully to Regin: "Art thou also a liar anda traitor like thy father and brother?"

And thus saying he went to his mother, and seating himself at herfeet, he began: "Is it true, my mother, that Sigmund, my father, gavethee the Magic Sword of Odin in two pieces?"

"That is true enough, " said she. 

Then Sigurd entreated: "Give them then to me, I pray thee, for only insuch wise shall I get a sword to my mind. "

Then the queen knew that he looked to win great fame with that weapon, and she gave him the pieces; and he took them to Regin and bade himmake a sword therefrom. 

And though Regin's evil heart was wroth because of the words that theyouth had spoken, he dared not refuse. So he set to work, and when hecarried the finished sword from out the forge, it seemed to hishelpers that fire burned along its edges. 

"Take thy sword, " said the old man, "and if this fails, I have lost myskill in sword-making. "

This time when Sigurd smote upon the anvil the keen steel clove intothe metal right up to the hilt, and he pulled it out unhurt. Then hewent to the river and flung up-stream a tuft of wool, and when thetide carried the wool against the edge of the sword it was cut in two. And then was Sigurd satisfied and his heart rejoiced. 

Upon his return Regin met him. "Now that I have made thee this goodsword, " said he, "wilt thou, for thy part, keep thy word, and goagainst Fafnir the dragon?"

"Surely will I do that thing, " said Sigurd, "but first I must avengemy father. "

So he went to the king, and bowing before him said: "Here have I nowlived all my lifetime, and thanks and gratitude are owing from me toyou, with all due honour. But now will I go hence to meet the sons ofHunding, that they may know that the Volsungs are not all dead; and Iwould have your goodwill go with me upon the journey. "

The king approved of Sigurd's spirit, and said he would give himwhatsoever he desired; and therewith a great army was prepared, withships and weapons, so that he might proceed on his journey in duestate and power. And Sigurd himself steered the ship with the dragon'shead, which was the finest of the fleet. 

At first they ran before a fair wind; but after a few days there arosea great storm, and the sky and sea were red like blood. And as theysailed close along the shore, a certain man hailed them and asked whowas captain of that array; and they told him that their chief wasSigurd, son of Sigmund, on his way to win fame for himself. 

And the stranger said: "There is none like Sigurd, son of Sigmund, onthis earth; so now, I pray thee, take me on board. "

So they made for land and took the man aboard. Old he was andone-eyed; and his grey hat was slouched far over his face. And Sigurdsaw that he was no ordinary traveller, and asked therefore if he couldtell, before ever they reached land, what their fate would be on thosestormy waters and in the battle that was to come. 

Then said the Traveller: "Thou shalt land safe and sound, and victoryshall be thine in the fight if thou shalt see these signs: First, araven sitting on a tree; next, two warriors coming into the courtyardto meet thee, when the tramp of thy feet is heard; third, a wolfhowling under boughs of ash. But see to it, that none of thy warriorslook at the moon as she sets, nor trip up their feet as they march outto meet their foe. Let each warrior be well washed, well combed, andwell fed--and if all these things come to pass, then have no fear asto who shall win the day. "

Even as he spoke the wind abated, and the waves were stilled, and theships were thenceforth wafted by friendly breezes to the shores of therealm of the sons of Hunding. But the instant they landed themysterious stranger vanished, and by this Sigurd knew that once againhe had been visited by All-Father Odin; and he went on his wayrejoicing. 

And as he passed up the strand a raven sitting upon a tree croaked athim; a short way farther on a wolf crouched howling under an ash; andas he approached the court of the king, the two sons of Hundingadvanced from the courtyard to see what was meant by the tramp ofarmed men. 

Now the news of the coming of the strangers soon spread far and wideover the land, and the people rose with one accord in defence of Lygnitheir king. 

So he advanced upon Sigurd with a vast host, and an exceedingly fiercefight began. Skulls were split, helmets shivered, and shields cut intwo, full many times ere that day's work was done. Ever in the frontof the fight rode Sigurd, with his good sword flashing, andwheresoever he went his foes fell back before him, for his like hadnever been seen by any man. 

Then came against him the sons of Hunding, and Sigurd smote them down, one after the other, beginning with Lygni the king, until there werenone left, and very few of their folk. 

Then away sailed Sigurd, flushed with victory, to his mother and hisstepfather, by whom he was received with much honour. But when he hadbeen at home a little while, Regin came to him and said: "Perhaps nowthou wilt have leisure to keep thy word and humble the crest of Fafnirto the earth, since thou hast avenged thy father and others of theVolsung kin. "

And Sigurd answered: "That will I hold to, for I have pledged myword. "

So it came to pass that Sigurd and Regin rode together to the heathwhere Fafnir dwelt; and they passed along the way by which the dragonwas wont to creep down to the water to drink. So long was thisterrible creature that he would lie crouched on a cliff sixty feethigh when he drank of the water below. When Sigurd saw the huge tracksthat he had made he said to Regin: "Sayest thou that this dragon is nogreater than other such beasts? Methinks he leaves tracks behind himthat are strangely well marked. "

"There is naught to fear, " said Regin. "Make thee a hole and sit downin it, and when the dragon comes to drink, smite him through theheart, and so shalt thou win for thyself great fame. "

"But, " said Sigurd, "what will happen when the burning blood of thedragon falls upon me?"

Now Regin well knew that no man could endure that frightful stream andlive, and he wished to make an end of Sigurd when he had slain thebeast. Therefore he answered wrathfully: "Of what use is it to giveadvice if thou art fearful of everything? Not like thy kin art thou, careless of perils. "

With this undeserved taunt he rode away, for he himself was soreafraid, and dared not abide the coming of the dragon. 

So Sigurd rode alone over the heath, and when he came to the markswhere the tracks lay deep he began to dig a pit, as Regin had toldhim. But while he was busy at work an old man, wearing a big grey hatover his face, passed by and asked what he was doing. And when he hadbeen told, he said:

"That was no wise advice that was given thee. Rather dig trenches inthe midst of the dragon track, that the blood may run therein; and dothou then crouch in one of these and run thy sword through his heartas he drags his huge shape overhead. "

And with these words he vanished. 

Sigurd could not doubt the wisdom of this advice and he did as he hadbeen bidden; and when he heard the dragon approaching he hid himself, his sword ready in his hand. 

The roar of the dragon shook the earth for miles around, and Sigurdsaw streams of venom issuing from his jaws as he drew near. But thisdid not affright him; he waited until the huge shape loomed overhead, and then thrust his sword, with all the strength he could command, asfar as it would go into the loathsome breast. 

Then followed a scene of violence beyond the power of words toexpress. A great roar, which shook the very heavens, went up from thecavernous throat, and well it was for Sigurd that he darted aside withthe quickness of light. The huge coils unwound and contracted again inthe monster's agony, and the furious lashing of his enormous tailutterly destroyed the surrounding vegetation, while his cruel talons, all powerless now to do aught else, ploughed deep furrows in the hardand rocky soil. All nature seemed to be undergoing its finalconvulsions in the few moments which elapsed ere the monster at lengthlay limp and gasping in the last throes of death. 

Then, with the voice of Fafnir the dwarf, he asked in feeble accents:"Who art thou, and what is thy kin, that thou wast bold to lift weaponagainst me?"

And his foe made answer: "Sigurd am I called, of Volsung kin. "

Then Fafnir asked: "Who urged thee to this deed, O bright-eyed boy?"

And Sigurd replied: "A bold heart urged me, and a strong hand andsharp sword aided me in the doing thereof. "

But Fafnir's eyes were opened at the approach of death, and he said:"Regin, my brother, has brought about my end, and even now he isplotting to bring about thine also. Full soon shall the red gold ofAndvari's hoard begin to work thy destruction. I give thee counsel, therefore, that thou ridest swiftly away without the gold; for oftenit happens that he who gets a death wound is none the less avenged. "

But Sigurd answered: "I will not follow thy counsel, but even now willI rise to thy lair and take that great treasure which thou hasthoarded there. "

And Fafnir answered: "Have thine own will. Yet shalt that gold be acurse to thee, and a curse to whosoever possesses it hereafter. "

With this warning the loathsome creature breathed his last, and at thesame moment the sun broke through the clouds, casting a glamour overthe heath which only so lately had been the haunt of evil and a placeof desolation. 

Now, when it was plain that nothing more was to be feared from thedragon, came Regin from the place of safety where he lurked. And sincehe feared lest Sigurd should claim the treasure as his reward forslaying Fafnir, he began to accuse him of having murdered his kinsman, and to remind him that, according to the law of the Northmen, he couldnow require Sigurd's own life. 

But Sigurd said: "I did but kill him at thy wish, O Regin, and withthe good sword that thou thyself did make for me. "

"Ah yes, " said the traitor warily, "it was my good sword and not thyarm that has done the deed, and therefore no thanks are due to thee. But now will I count thee guiltless of my brother's blood if thou wiltcut out the heart of the dragon and give me to eat of it. "

This Sigurd promised to do, and he made a fire and set about roastingthe heart of the monster upon a rod. But presently, as he felt theheart to see if it were cooked enough, he burnt his fingers soseverely that at once he set them in his mouth to soothe the smart. And the moment the heart-blood of Fafnir touched his tongue his earswere open to the voices of the birds, and he understood the meaning oftheir songs in the bushes hard by. 

And this was what the woodpeckers sang, chuckling all the time: "Therethou sittest, Sigurd, roasting the heart of Fafnir for another, whereas if thou ate it thyself thou wouldst become wisest of men. "

And the swallows twittered: "See where lies Regin, who is in mind tokill the man who trusts in him. "

And the raven croaked: "Let Sigurd then cut off his head and so haveall the gold-hoard for his own. "

And the eagle screamed: "Why did he not ride away with that hoard atonce? Then might he have found the hill where Brunhild lies. "

And the owl hooted: "Ay, let him now take his chance and slay the manwho will surely kill him if he lets him live. "

Then Sigurd arose, and he scrupled not to slay Regin; for he knew thathe was about to betray him unto his death. 

Then once more the birds began to sing. And this time they sang withglee of a warrior-maiden sleeping fast on a high mountain in the midstof a ring of glittering flames; and through this fiery ring only thebravest of heroes might pass and awake her from sleep. 

 "On a mountain fell A warrior-maid fast sleeps Where a ring of flame Perfect safety keeps. None may take her hence Save a hero bold, For only at a hero's touch Will those fires burn cold. "

Then was Sigurd fired with desire to find that fair maiden. So, afterpartaking of the dragon's heart, he leapt on his horse and rode alongin the monster's tracks till he reached the place where, deep down inthe earth, the gold lay hoarded. And there he found the store oftreasure, which he placed in two great chests upon the back of hisgood horse, meaning to walk along-side. But the horse would not stir afoot until Sigurd, guessing what was in his mind, leapt upon his back;whereat Greyfell galloped away at once as though he were carrying noweight at all. 

CHAPTER XIX

How Sigurd Won the Hand of Brunhild

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howSigurd braved the flames, and what befell. _

On and on, over level plain, by wild marshes, through winding ways, galloped Greyfell, until at last he brought Sigurd to the foot of amountain that is called Hindfell. And before him, on the crest of thatheight, he saw a great light as of a fire burning, so that the flamesseemed to touch the sky. 

Riding up the slope Sigurd found himself at length face to face with aring of lurid fire, crackling and roaring with a noise like thunder. But without a moment's hesitation he plunged into the very midst ofthis. 

Naught did he care for peril who had come to seek such prize, and, asif daunted by the courage of the Volsung, the fierce flames shrankback as he advanced, leaving ever a magic circle in which he rodeunscathed, while all around they roared like some hungry lion robbedof its prey. They rose wave upon wave to the very sky, but theirfierce glare shone with glory upon Sigurd, and his form was as that ofthe Sun-god when he rises from the ever-lasting hills at the dawn ofday. 

And suddenly, as though their work was done, the flames flickered andfell, leaving only a broad ring of pale ashes behind the hero as herode on to where loomed the massive shape of a great castle hung withshields. 

The doors of this castle stood wide open, and not a warrior was to beseen; so, dismounting, Sigurd entered the great hall, and at first sawno one--neither man, woman, nor child. But presently he came to aroom where he saw a figure, clad all in armour, lying stretched upon acouch. Approaching thither, Sigurd removed the helmet, and saw, to hisastonishment, the face of a beautiful maiden fast asleep. He called toher and tried to awaken her, but in vain. Then he cut off thebreastplate, which was fastened so closely that it seemed as though ithad grown into her flesh, and then the sleeves and the long steelboots; and at length she lay before him in her garments of fine whitelinen, over which fell long, thick tresses of golden hair. Sigurd bentover her in admiration, and at that moment she opened her beautifuleyes and gazed in wonder at his face. Then she arose, and looked withjoy at the rising sun, but her gaze returned to Sigurd; and the twoloved each other at first sight. 

When they had communed tenderly together, Sigurd told who he was andwhence he came; and Brunhild rejoiced to hear the tale. "For, " saidshe, "none but a hero might pass through that ring of fire. "

Then said Sigurd: "Tell me now, fair Brunhild, how thou camest to thislonely fire-girt castle. "

And she told him this tale:

"A warrior-maiden am I--chief of those Valkyrs who carry off thevaliant dead to the halls of Valhalla and ply them with mead at thebanquet. But many years ago I gave dire offence to All-Father Odin, asthou shalt hear. 

"Two kings had a quarrel, and determined to put their feud to theissue of the sword. One was named Helm Gunnar. He was an old man and amighty warrior, and to him had Odin promised the victory. 

"But for the other, young Agnar, my heart was filled with pity; and soI disregarded the command of Odin and struck down Helm Gunnar in thefight, the victory thus going to Agnar. 

"Then did All-Father Odin, in his wrath, decree that I should be castout from Valhalla and be banished to the earth, there to find ahusband like any other maiden of Midgard. But I was sore afraid, for Ifeared to mate with a coward--I, who had been a warrior-maiden from mybirth. And All-Father Odin was pitiful, and placed me in this castleon Hindfell, and surrounded me with a barrier of flames, through whichnone but a hero would dare to pass. But first he pierced me with theThorn of Sleep, that I might not grow old in the years ofwaiting--that I should awake, as thou seest me, just as I was when Ibegan to sleep, at the touch of a brave man. "

Then Sigurd told her all his story, and when she knew that he wasbound on adventurous quests she would not let him stay long by herside, but bade him go forth and win honour for himself and afterwardsreturn to her again. Meantime she promised to await his return in thecastle, protected by the ring of flames, which should be rekindled onhis departure. "For none but Sigurd, " said she, "will be brave enoughto make his way through such flames as these, and so shall I be safeuntil thy return. "

So Sigurd made ready to depart; but first he took Andvari's goldenring, and placing it upon Brunhild's finger, as they stood together onthe mountain crest, he vowed to love none but her as long as his lifeshould last. 

CHAPTER XX

How the Curse of the Gold is Fulfilled

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Sigurdwas foully slain in the land of the Niblungs. _

Now when Sigurd had ridden far upon his way, he came to the land ofthe Niblungs, a place of eternal mists, ruled over by Giuki and hiswife Grimhild. Three fine sons had they and one daughter, Gudrun, thefairest maiden upon earth. 

But Grimhild was a witch-wife--a fierce-hearted woman, learned inmagic and filled with crafty wile. 

When they saw Sigurd riding into the courtyard with his glitteringarmour and his burden of treasure, the king and queen said to oneanother: "Surely one of the Asas has come hither; for the array ofthis stranger shines with the gold-gleam, and his horse is mightierthan other horses, and the man himself excels in bearing all that wehave ever seen. "

So the king went out with his court to greet Sigurd, and asked: "Whoart thou, who ridest into my kingdom without the leave of my sons, asnone have dared to do before?"

And he answered: "Sigurd am I, the son of Sigmund. "

And the king said: "Be thou welcome here then, and take from our handswhatsoever thou wilt have. "

So for a time Sigurd lived in great honour at the court of theNiblungs, from whence he fared forth upon many adventures with theprinces of that land, and ever was he foremost of them all. 

During this time Brunhild was always in his memory, and he talked sooften of her that at length the evil heart of Grimhild, the queen, wasroused to jealousy. She bethought herself that, could he but be madeto forget the maiden of the Flaming Castle, he might marry Gudrun, herdaughter; and so all the wealth of Andvari's hoard might remain in thecourt of the Niblungs for ever. On a day, therefore, she mixed a magicpotion, and gave it to Sigurd, saying:

"We have great joy in thy visit here, and would give thee the bestthat we enjoy. Now take this horn, and drink therefrom. "

So he drank with gladness; and from that moment all remembrance ofBrunhild was blotted from his mind, as though she had never been. And, as the queen had hoped, he began to look with eyes of affection uponGudrun, the fair maiden whom he saw every day, so that the Niblungprinces, who had grown to love and honour Sigurd more and more, cameto him and said: "Great good thou hast brought us, Sigurd, andexceeding strength thou givest to our realm. We pray thee therefore toabide with us for ever, and thou shalt have rule in our land, and wewill give thee our sister in marriage, whom another man would not getfor all his prayers. " Then the heart of the Volsung responded, andthey swore brotherhood together, even as if they were children of onefather and mother; and in due time Gudrun was married to Sigurd withall joy and festivity. 

Yet, in the midst of all this glee, a strange feeling oppressed theheart of Sigurd. Some old memory seemed to be striving within him, but, try as he would, he could not give it definite shape. 

Time passed and King Giuki died, Gunnar, his son, succeeding him. Andas he had no wife, his mother, Grimhild, said: "Fair is thy life andfortune, O my son, but one thing thou lackest. Go, seek for thyself awife who shall be a joy to thy house. "

"But where can I find one who will be a worthy queen of the Niblungs?"asked Gunnar. 

And his mother answered: "Fair among the daughters of the earth andbravest of warrior-maidens is Brunhild. In her Castle of Flames sheawaits the bridegroom who shall dare to penetrate the barrier of fire. Go then, seek her out, and Sigurd will ride with thee. "

So Gunnar and Sigurd arrayed themselves joyously and rode away, tillon the crest of a high mountain they saw a castle with a golden roofand all about it a ring of flaming fire. 

Then right eagerly they pricked their steeds, but all too long itseemed ere they gained the summit. At length they reached the fierywall, and Gunnar put his tired horse at it without pause. But thehorse trembled and stood stock still. Again and again he tried him, but always with the same result, until, at length, Gunnar cried toSigurd: "Lend me thy steed, Sigurd, for mine will not brave thisfire. "

"With all my heart, " replied Sigurd, leaping off Greyfell. But whenGunnar had mounted the horse, Greyfell would not stir, and he tootrembled before the flames. 

Then Gunnar sprang to earth, and stamped with impatience, for hethought it shame to go afoot into the presence of the maid. Presentlyhe remembered that his witch-mother had given him a magic potion whichwould enable a man to take the face and form of another at will. So heproposed that Sigurd should take his appearance and win Brunhild forhim by proxy, for he knew that Greyfell would dare anything with hisbeloved master astride his back. 

Remembering naught, Sigurd eagerly accepted the mission, and when hehad drunk of the potion prepared by Gunnar he leaped again upon theback of Greyfell, who sprang at once into the heart of the fire. 

Then the flames roared with a thunderous sound, and shot up high intothe sky; but next moment they died away into a heap of grey ashes, andSigurd, unharmed, entered the hall where Brunhild sat and waited forher faithless lover. 

As he entered she started up with a cry of joy, which quickly diedaway when, in place of Sigurd's fair hair and bright blue eyes, shesaw the dark locks and flashing black eyes of Gunnar. 

"What man art thou?" she asked. 

"Gunnar am I called, " said Sigurd, "and through the flames have Iridden to woo thee for my bride. "

But she looked sadly at the floor and said: "Methought none but Sigurdthe Volsung could have dared those awful flames. "

Then Sigurd thought to entice the maiden. "Much gold shall be thine, "said he, "if thou wilt marry Gunnar the Niblung. "

But she said: "Talk not to me of gold. All-Father Odin promised me ahero-husband, and I, a warrior-maiden, will marry no silken knight forgold. "

Now Brunhild had bound herself by a solemn pledge to marry him whoshould ride through the fire, so in the end she was obliged to submitto her wooer's will; wherefore she took off the ring from Andvari'shoard that Sigurd had placed upon her finger, and gave it to him, withher promise to appear at the court of the Niblungs in ten days' time. Sigurd gave her another ring in exchange, and then rejoined Gunnar, with whom he rode back home, after having taken back his own form andlikeness. 

And only to Gudrun, his wife, did Sigurd reveal the secret of howBrunhild had been won for her brother Gunnar, and to her he gave thering from Andvari's hoard which she had returned to him. 

Now, when ten days had passed by, Brunhild came to the land of theNiblungs, and was met in solemn state by Gunnar at the door of hispalace. Then was held high festival at the marriage celebration, afterwhich Gunnar led his bride into the great hall where Sigurd and Gudrunsat side by side upon the high dais. When Brunhild saw her old lovershe trembled violently and her face went ashy pale, then her beautifuleyes met Sigurd's with a look of such intense sadness and meaning thatthe spell was dissolved, and the remembrance of the love he had givenher rushed suddenly back into his mind, well-nigh overwhelming himwith grief. 

Yet was he bound to Gudrun, as Brunhild was to Gunnar, so no morepassed at that time. 

Now one day, when the birds sang pleasantly and all nature rejoiced inthe warmth of the summer sun, the two princesses, Gudrun and Brunhild, went down to the river to bathe; and Gudrun waded the farther into thewater, saying scornfully that thus it became the wife to do whosehusband was the bravest in the world. 

Then the bitter feelings which for long had vexed the soul of Brunhildwould not be restrained, and they poured forth in a torrent of wrathlike some mighty waters when the dam gives way before its constantforce. 

Gudrun retorted upon her by telling how that it was Sigurd, notGunnar, who had braved the fiery flames, and in proof of this sheshowed in triumph the ring from Andvari's hoard which she wore uponher finger. 

Now when she heard this, Brunhild was beside herself with rage thatshe should have been thus tricked, and she went to her husband andsaid: "Never again shalt thou see me glad in thy hall, nor hear mespeak words of peace and gladness within thy borders, for thou hastdeceived me, and art no hero as I thought. "

And for many days after that Brunhild neither ate nor drank, but setwide the doors of her bower and lamented, so that all folk heard andmarvelled. 

In vain they tried to comfort her; she would not hear even thesoothing words of Sigurd, whom Gudrun had sent to her, sayingscornfully, however, as he went: "Give her red gold, forsooth, andsmother up her grief and anger therewith. "

At length Brunhild sent for her husband, and bade him put Sigurd todeath, saying that she had vowed to marry the man who should come toher through the fire, and, since this was now impossible, Sigurd mustsurely die, that she might be released from her oath. 

And at that Gunnar was sorely troubled, for he loved Sigurd verydearly. But he said to himself: "Brunhild is better to me than allthings else, and the fairest of all women, and I will lay down my liferather than lose her love. "

So he sent for his brother and told him that he had made up his mindto kill Sigurd. And Högni, his brother, was very loth, and declaredthat such an act of treachery would bring great shame upon the land. But Gunnar reminded him of the gold-hoard, and of how all would betheirs if Sigurd were out of the way. And at length they determined toincite their younger brother, Guttorm, to do the deed. 

But Guttorm, in his turn, was unwilling until they mixed for him amagic drink, which made him fierce and wild and eager for bloodshed, so that he was ready for whatever might befall. 

At midnight, therefore, Guttorm crept, sword in hand, to Sigurd'schamber; but, as he bent over his pillow, he saw the bright blue eyesof the young hero fixed steadily upon him; and he fled, for so keenand eager were the eyes of Sigurd that few might look upon him. Asecond time he went in, and again the same thing happened. 

But the third time Sigurd lay asleep; then Guttorm took his sword anddrove it through his breast. 

Wounded to death, the young man had just strength to raise himself, seize his good sword and hurl it after Guttorm as he fled, and themagic weapon cut him in two ere he reached the door. Then Sigurd fellback into the arms of Gudrun and died. 

Then did great grief fall upon the land of the Niblungs; and a mightyfuneral pyre was built for Sigurd, and his body was laid thereon. 

Gudrun, his wife, sat silent and apart, her heart breaking for herhero-husband; but Brunhild, when she saw what she had done, was filledwith grief and despair beyond endurance, and snatching a dagger fromher handmaidens, she stabbed herself and so died. 

In such wise had the doom of the Magic Gold descended upon Regin andFafnir, and upon Sigurd and Brunhild. Nor was this the end of themisery it was to work. 

Loathing the thought of life in her brother's palace, Gudrun now fledto the court of Alf, the foster-father of Sigurd, where for some yearsshe remained, busying herself in working a vast piece of tapestry onwhich she embroidered the heroic deeds of Sigurd. 

But after a time Atli, King of the Huns, the brother of Brunhild, sentto Gunnar to demand that compensation should be made to him for hissister's death; and to him Gunnar promised that, in satisfaction forthis, he should receive the hand of his sister Gudrun in marriage. Sothe Niblung princes sent and fetched her from the court of Alf, andforced her to marry Atli, much against her will. 

Now at Atli's court her talk was ever of Sigurd and of the wondrousgold-hoard he had brought to the Niblungs' land. And so it came topass that the greed of Atli was kindled when he heard of thattreasure, and he determined to make it his own. 

So he sent a messenger to invite all the Niblung princes to visit hiscourt, intending, when he had them in his power, to put an end tothem. Now Gudrun guessed what was in Atli's mind, and therefore shetook off the gold ring from Andvari's hoard, and twined about it awolf's hair as a sign of warning; and this she sent by the samemessenger to her brothers. 

But this messenger untwined the wolf's hair and gave only the ring toGunnar, who took it as a signal of good faith and gladly accepted theinvitation. 

Högni alone was unwilling to accept the invitation, but when he foundthat Gunnar would pay no heed to him, he prepared to go along withhim. 

First, however, he persuaded his brother to take that greattreasure-hoard and to cast it into a deep hole at the bottom of amighty river, where none might find it save themselves. 

So Gunnar agreed, and Högni took the gold, and, standing on a greatrock in the midst of the river, he flung it, with a huge splash, intothe water. 

 "Down then and whirling outward the ruddy gold fell forth, As a flame in the dim grey morning flashed out a kingdom's worth; Then the waters roared above it, the wan water and the foam Flew up o'er the face of the rock-wall as the tinkling gold fell home, Unheard, unseen, forever, a wonder and a tale, Till the last of earthly singers from the sons of men shall fail. "

Not yet, however, had the curse of that gold-hoard been entirelyfulfilled. For when the brave Niblungs reached the hall of Atli, theyfound no welcome awaiting them, but sharp swords and hostile looks. Fiercely they fought, but to no avail, and at length all were slainsave only Gunnar and Högni. 

Then Atli had each brought before him in turn, fast bound as theywere, and promised to give freedom to him who would first reveal tohim the hiding-place of the gold-hoard. But they laughed in contempt, even when they were put to the torture in his presence. 

Then Högni, being weary of his life in chains, made an agreement withGunnar, so that when next King Atli asked the latter to tell him thesecret, he replied that he had made an oath not to reveal thehiding-place while Högni lived, but that when he saw his brother wasdead, he would do all that Atli bade him. So they killed Högni, andthe Battle Maidens carried him away to the joys of Valhalla. But whenthey showed proofs of his death to his brother, and bade him tell thewhereabouts of the hoard, Gunnar laughed a proud laugh and declaredthat now the secret rested with him alone, and it should never berevealed. 

So, in his fury of disappointment, the king ordered him to be thrown, with chained hands, into a den full of poisonous serpents; and hisharp was flung in after him. Then did Gunnar sit smiling in theirmidst, and played with his toes upon the instrument until all thecreatures, save one, were fast asleep. 

But this one serpent, whom men say was the witch-mother of Atli indisguise, bit Gunnar in the side, and thus died the last of theNiblungs. 

Of that race Gudrun still remained, and she now planned a thing whichshould avenge the blood of her kinsmen and end her own unhappy life. 

So she took the sword of Sigurd, which Gunnar had given into herhands, and slew Atli and placed him dead upon a ship. And when she hadcast it adrift, she flung herself into the sea; and so died. 

Thus did Andvari's hoard fulfil the curse that had been set upon allthose who should be concerned with it. But the glittering treasureitself lies hidden far beneath the waves of the mighty river Rhine, and only the water-sprites know where it is hid. 

CHAPTER XXI

The Boyhood of Frithiof the Bold

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Frithiofthe Bold asked for the hand of Ingeborg the Fair. _

Once upon a time there lived in Norway a king named Bele, who hadthree children. Helge and Halfdan were his sons, and his daughter wascalled by the name of Ingeborg. 

Now Ingeborg was the fairest of maidens, and had moreover such a finewit and understanding that all men said she was the first and best ofthe good king's children. 

To the west of the settlement in which King Bele lived rose up a greatwhite temple, hedged around with a lofty wall of wood. This temple wassacred to Balder the Beautiful; and so much did men honour him inthose days of old, that they made strict laws that within theenclosure in which his temple stood no man should hold converse with awoman, nor should any harm be done to man or beast. 

On the other side of the inlet on which stood the abode of Bele was avillage ruled by a mighty man of valour named Thorsten. This Thorstenhad a son called Frithiof, who at the time of his birth was bigger andstronger than all other babes, and grew up not only tall but also boldand brave of heart; so that men named him Frithiof the Bold. 

Now Thorsten was a sea-rover. So he sent his little son to a sturdyyeoman called Hilding, that he might be brought up by him and taughtall that a Viking ought to know. For the education of a Viking was nosmall thing. He might not claim the title till he had lifted themighty stone that stood before the door of the king and had borne itacross the pathway. And he had to learn what was meant by the "tripleoath"--that he would not capture woman or child in battle, nor seekrefuge in a tempest, nor wait to bind up his wounds before the fightwas spent. 

Now it so happened that, while the children of the king were stillyoung, their mother died, and the little princess was also placed inthe care of Hilding and his wife. Thus Frithiof and Ingeborg grew uptogether, and were more beautiful and brave and clever than all theother boys and girls of that place. 

Thorsten, Frithiof's father, was the king's right hand, and now thatBele was grown old and feeble he managed most of the affairs of thekingdom. And Frithiof too was useful to the king, more so, indeed, than were his own two sons. 

Thorsten had a famous swift ship, called _Ellida_, which was rowed byfifteen men on each side, and each oar required the strength of twomen to pull it; but Frithiof was so strong that he would row two oarsat once. 

The king's two sons, Helge and Halfden, differed much from each otherin their appearance and characters, but they were alike in theirjealous dispositions. In particular they grudged Frithiof his growingrenown, and hated him in their hearts for his great strength, whichfar exceeded theirs. 

At length King Bele fell very sick, and, knowing that he was about todie, he sent for Thorsten and their three sons and said:

"I know that this sickness will be to my death, and I have called you, my children, to hear the last counsel of your father. 

"My sons, govern the realm in peace, and let force stand sentinel atthe borders. The king is helpless who hath not the confidence andaffection of his people, and the throne is insecure if it rest not ona foundation of just and equal laws. 

"Choose not the forward for your counsellors, but confide, rather, inthe wisdom and valour of one tried friend. Thorsten and I havefaithfully kept friendship's troth in steadfast union, so do ye, inweal or woe, wend together with Frithiof. If ye three will holdtogether as one man, your match shall not be seen through all ourNorthland. 

"Let my last words be for my beloved Ingeborg. She hath grown lovelyin peace as the rose. Helge, be thou her guardian, and let nostorm-wind scatter those fair petals. "

Then Thorsten, in his turn, addressed Frithiof:

"My son, I too must shortly wend to Valhalla, and I rejoice to thinkthat Odin has bestowed upon thee much strength and courage of heart. It is good, but remember that strength without wit is soon brought tonaught, even as the bear, who wields in his paw the strength of twelvemen, is laid low by a thrust from the sword of one. Beware ofarrogance, which goes before a fall, and bend before the will of theking's sons. Above all, will noble deeds and do thou every right. "

After this the old men gave directions for their burial, and theycharged their sons to lay them beneath two barrows or mounds, one oneach side of the narrow firth, whose murmurs would ever be sweet musicas they slept, and across whose waves their spirits would holdconverse as of yore. 

After the death of Thorsten, Frithiof took his land and ruled in hisstead, with the aid of his two foster-brothers, Björn and Osmund. Andhe was now the owner of _Ellida_, the good ship which understood everyword that was spoken to her, as though she were alive; and of twoother heirlooms of priceless value. The first was a sword, Angurvadelit was named, which tradition said had been forged in Eastern lands bythe dwarfs. Its hilt was of hammered gold, and the blade was coveredwith magic runes, which in peace were dull, but which flamed blood-redwhen the sword was brandished in war. The other was a marvellousarm-ring, carved with all the wonders of the heavens. 

It had always been the custom of the House of Thorsten to invite thehousehold of the king each year to a banquet, and so, soon after hehad succeeded to his father's place, Frithiof gave a feast moremagnificent than any that had been given hitherto. For he knew that, with her two brothers, would come also Ingeborg the Fair, whom heloved with his whole heart. And while the two young kings sat at theboard with hostile looks and downcast faces, this sweet princesslaughed among her maidens like a sunny day in June. Her hair was asgolden as the butter-cups in the spring meadows, her eyes were bluelike a summer sea, and her face fair as a hawthorn bush when it firstopens its buds of red and white. 

But Frithiof was silent in her presence, for he had no words save "Ilove thee" in his mind. 

After this festival, the two kings turned home again in deeper wraththan ever, for they saw how all men loved Frithiof and had him inhonour. 

But after their departure, Frithiof grew silent and sad ofcountenance, and when his foster-brother Björn questioned him as tothe cause he answered: "Sad am I because I love the Princess Ingeborgwith all my heart, and now would I ask for her in marriage. But I amnot of royal birth, and much I fear that my suit will be refused. "

"Let us at least make trial, " said practical Björn; and so, togetherwith a band of followers, they set off in the swift dragon-ship_Ellida_ to the strand where, upon their father's burial mound, thekings sat in judgment with their people. 

Then Frithiof stood forth and in manly words made his request for thehand of Ingeborg the Fair. But the kings said scornfully:

"Think not that we would give our sister to a peasant's son. She isfor a proud Northland chieftain, not for such as you, though all menmay boast of your wondrous deeds. "

"Then, " said Frithiof, in slow-gathering wrath, "my errand is soonfinished. Remember, that if this is your final answer, I will nevergive you help in trouble, however much you may require it. "

"Our kingdom requires not your service, " they answered jeeringly, "wecan protect it ourselves. But if you need employment, why, we can giveyou a servant's place among our household men. "

Then Frithiof reared his great head, saying proudly:

"No man of yours am I, but, as my father was, I am a man for myself. And now, were it not for the honour I bear to our fathers' graves, your words would cost you dear. Hereafter come not within range of mysword. "

And as he spoke, with one blow he cleft the golden war shield of Helgewith his good sword, and the two halves fell clashing to the ground. 

CHAPTER XXII

Frithiof and Ingeborg

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howIngeborg went to dwell in Balder's grove. _

Far in the south of that land lived a mighty ruler, whose name wasRing. Wise was he, and king of a land like the groves of the gods, where the corn crops waved each year and peace and justice flourishedwithin its borders. For thirty years had he ruled his kingdom, andeach year his people rose up and called him blessed. 

Now one day this king sat deep in thought upon his golden chair, andwhen he at length pushed it back from the board, his chieftains roseup gladly to hear his words. 

And the king said: "It is now a weary while since the queen, my wife, left me sorrowful upon the earth and went to dwell in the bowers ofthe blessed ones in Asgard. Never again shall I find a queen so goodand fair; but my children cry to me for a mother's care and I mustseek another wife for their sake. 

"Now it comes to my remembrance that often King Bele visited my hall, and with him sometimes came his fair daughter Ingeborg. 'Tis on her mychoice shall fall, for though I am old and she is but a young girl, Iknow that she will be a good mother to my children. "

"Take therefore gold and gems from yon oak presses, and let theminstrels tune their harps and go forth to ask her in marriage fromthe sons of Bele. "

So a long line of harpers went forth, followed by youths in gladarray, and they stood before King Helge and King Halfdan, and gave tothem the message of King Ring. 

Now Helge was nothing loth to give his fair sister to the king, although he was an old man and she but a young girl; but, since he wasalways very heedful of the will of the gods, he offered sacrifice andcarefully consulted the wise men and the wise women and all the omensas to whether this thing should be. And all with one consent answeredthat the marriage must not be allowed. 

So Helge refused the king's request courteously enough, saying thatman must obey when the gods decree; but Halfdan, being rude andwaggish of tongue, said: "King Greybeard himself should have riddenhither for his bride if he is not too old to mount his horse!"

Then the messenger returned wrathful, and King Ring said grimly: "Theyshall soon see if King Greybeard be too old to take revenge, " and withthat he struck his war shield, as it hung on the tree above him, sucha blow that the echo of it was borne even to the hall of Helge andHalfdan. Then he sent messengers, this time in warlike array, to thetwo kings, bidding them submit to his authority and pay him tribute. "If ye refuse, " said they, "our king will send a great army and takethe kingdom and utterly destroy you and your people. "

But Helge and Halfdan answered with spirit:

"Not in our young days will we learn to do that which we will neverknow when old, and that is how to do shameful service to a neighbourking. "

Then they summoned Hilding, their foster-father, and bade him go toFrithiof and pray him to come with his followers to their aid. Andmeantime, being in fear for their sister's safety, they sent her awayto the dim grove where Balder's temple rose grey among the shadows. There, day by day, fair Ingeborg sat among her maidens at herembroidery, and as she drew the thread it was wet with her tears. 

Now when Hilding, that good old yeoman, reached the hall of Frithiof, he found the hero sitting with Björn at a game of chess. Gladly was hegreeted by the young man, who pointed to the High Chair, the chiefseat at the board, and bade him sit and drink a horn of mead whilethey finished their game. 

But Hilding, full of his errand, began at once to speak: "I am sent bythe sons of Bele, " said he. "They now salute thee and pray that thouwouldst go up to their help to battle against King Ring, who is aboutto attack their land with violence. "

But Frithiof seemingly paid no heed to his words, saying only to hisopponent: "Björn, thy king is in danger, beware! Yet a pawn canrecover him even now. "

Then Hilding urged: "Frithiof, my son, anger not the kings. Rememberthat they too have power, and that they threaten thee with a terriblefate if thou wilt not go forth to their aid. "

But Frithiof only said to Björn:

"See how thou threatenest my castle in vain!"

 "Grim and high the fierce wall rises, Bright the Shield-tower shines within. "

Then Hilding tried another argument. 

"Son!" he cried, "knowest thou not how Ingeborg weeps all day withinthe Place of Balder? Wilt thou not fight for her release? Wilt thouleave her blue eyes to melt in vain?"

But Frithiof answered Björn, as though unheeding: "Björn, 'tis in vainthou tryest to take my queen, ever so dear and true to me. She is myfavourite piece in all the game, and, come what will, I'll save myqueen. "

"What!" cried the old man. "Must I go forth unheeded, without even areply, because of this child's game?"

Then Frithiof rose and pressed his hand kindly, saying: "Father, naught will make me change my mind, and what thou hast heard me sayhere in this place, thou mayest tell again to those who sent thee. "

When the kings received the report of Hilding concerning Frithiof, they waited but to see that their sister Ingeborg was safe within thewalls of Balder's grove, and then prepared to march with all theforces they could muster to meet King Ring. 

Meantime Frithiof attired himself in his richest dress, and placed hisgolden ring upon his arm, and called on Björn and his servants tofollow him. 

"Whither now do we go, my brother?" asked Björn. 

"To the grove of Balder, " answered Frithiof shortly. 

"That is not well, " said Björn anxiously. "It will draw down the angerof the gods upon us. "

"That remains to be seen, " replied Frithiof. 

So they rowed over the firth and entered Balder's grove, and madetheir way into Ingeborg's bower. 

Now when she saw Frithiof, the blue eyes of Ingeborg flashed with joy, but she said gravely, as she rose to receive him: "Now wherefore artthou so bold, Frithiof, to come hither against the will of my brothersand to bring the wrath of the gods upon us?"

But Frithiof replied: "Nay, love, no perils attend us. Fear not thewrath of Balder; that gentle god will not punish true lovers. Let uskneel at his shrine. No incense is more grateful to his soul than thefaith of two young hearts vowing eternal love. "

So when they had knelt for a space they sat down side by side, andFrithiof drew the ring from off his arm and gave it to Ingeborg, saying: "This ring will I give thee if thou wilt promise never to partwith it, but to send it to me when thou no longer hast need of it. Andwith it I plight thee my troth. "

And in the same manner did Ingeborg give her own ring to Frithiof. 

And then Ingeborg with fond entreaties implored her lover to seekHelge once again, and offer his hand, lest haply he might bereconciled. Long did Frithiof hesitate, but at last the melting eyesof Ingeborg could be denied no longer, and he promised that once againwould he seek the kings in peace and friendship. 

CHAPTER XXIII

Frithiof Braves the Storm

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Frithiofthe Bold went on a perilous adventure. _

Now when the two young kings met with Ring, and found that his forceswere far stronger than theirs, their hearts failed them and they sentmessengers to sue for peace. And it was arranged that they shouldsubmit to King Ring, and should give Ingeborg their sister to him inmarriage, together with the third part of all their possession. 

Now one morning tidings were brought to Frithiof by Björn, who cried:"The kings are returned home, and short enough will be our time ofpeace, for we have broken the law of Balder, and we shall have topay. "

But Frithiof, who knew no fear, bade him be at rest, saying thatdirectly the kings had taken their seat upon their father'sgrave-mound, to hear the suits brought before them, he intended onceagain to claim the hand of Ingeborg. 

So on the day appointed he sought the place where Helge sat, black asa thunder-cloud, with his warriors around him, and foolish Halfdan, jesting as usual, and playing with his sword, stood by his side. AndFrithiof stood forth and said: "Not yet is thy kingdom free, O Helge, from the threat of battle. Give me then thy sister and my strong rightarm shall fight for thee. Come, let this grudge between us beforgotten, for I am loth to bear myself ill towards the brother ofIngeborg and the sons of Bele. Here is my hand; but by the gods Iswear that, if thou refuse, it shall never be stretched forth to theein peace again. "

At these words a shout broke from the listening throng and the air wasrent with the noise of clashing weapons. 

"Ay! Give him Ingeborg, for what swordsman in our land is like tohim?"

And even foolish Halfdan joined in the prayer. 

But Helge, still cold and hard, made reply:

"The peasant's son might indeed have claimed the Princess Ingeborg, but not he who has broken Balder's peace. Say, Frithiof, hast thounot spurned the law of Balder's house and spoken to my sister withinhis sacred walls?"

Then from the crowd of warriors came the murmur: "Say but nay, saynay! The word of Thorsten's son is good as any king's. Say nay! Saynay!"

But Frithiof made reply: "I will not lie to gain the joys of Asgard. Ihave seen thy sister and spoken to her within yon walls, yet have Inot disturbed Balder nor broken his good peace. "

Then all that assembly was filled with horror as they heard his words, for they all feared the wrath of the god. Hoarse and gloomy was thevoice of Helge as he said:

"Now, by my great father's laws, I could condemn thee to banishment ordeath, but, even as great Balder was mild, so shall my judgment be. 

"Far away on the isles of the west dwells a mighty jarl namedAngantyr, who in my father's days paid yearly tribute to our land, andsince his death has kept all back. Away then to his realm, collect themoney, and bring it back to us. 'Tis said he is hard-handed, and willmeet with the sharp sword him who asks for his gold, but what is thatto thee? Hence, Frithiof, or be branded coward for evermore. "

Then Frithiof bowed his head and departed, for he knew that it was thewill of Balder that this thing should be. 

But first he went again to visit his betrothed and to bid her a sadfarewell. Heavy of heart was Ingeborg, for she knew that her brotherhad planned an expedition that should cost Frithiof his life; butFrithiof cheered her, reminding her that this Angantyr, whom men sodreaded, was his father's oldest friend. 

So Frithiof prepared to set out on his journey, but first he made apact with Helge that his possessions should rest in peace during hisabsence, and the promise was confirmed with oaths. 

Then Frithiof set out with eighteen of his companions, and they wenton board the swift ship _Ellida_ and sailed out beyond the bay. 

But no sooner had he departed than the kings plundered and burnt hisvillage. After this, they sent two witches, and bade them send such aterrible tempest against Frithiof and his followers that they shouldall perish in the sea. To this the evil hags readily agreed, and, having climbed to the top of a high mountain, began to cast theirwicked spells upon the winds. 

Thus it came to pass that when Frithiof and his men had left the landfar behind them there arose a great storm, and a mighty wind, whichlashed the waves to the very stars and drove the ship violently along. 

But Frithiof only smiled and sang:

 "Run, good ship, before the wind, Ingeborg thou soon shalt find. Ingeborg, the maid I love, Waits for me in Balder's grove. "

Then said Björn, in fear and wrath: "Well would it be if thou hadstsomething better to do than to sing of Balder's grove. "

But Frithiof laughed aloud, and showed him how the north wind wasblowing them straight to the Solundar Isles, where they might findsafe harbour. They did not bide there long, however, for the weathersuddenly became calmer, and for awhile they sailed along before afavourable breeze. Then the wind began to freshen again, and when theywere far out at sea a still mightier tempest arose, with so much sleetand snow that they could not see the prow of the vessel from thestern. The waves also beat over the ship, so that they had to baleincessantly. But Frithiof, though he toiled harder than them all, continued to laugh and sing, though Björn growled: "He who wanders farmeets many a hindrance. "

Then a great sea swept over the boat and nearly swamped her; andFrithiof cried: "See how the Swan Maidens are pledging us!" and set towork to bale with a good heart. 

Still higher rose the storm, till the waves, like snow mountains, reared themselves above the ship; and Björn cried in despair: "Surewoe is now at hand, my foster-brother. Why didst thou ever enter thebower of Balder's grove?"

But Frithiof said with a laugh: "Methinks some of our good fellowswill have to journey to the realms of Ran, the Sea-goddess, and weshall cut but a sorry figure there unless we go with a brave face andred gold in our hands. "

So saying he took the gold ring that Ingeborg had given him and cut itin pieces and divided it among his men. 

At last the storm grew still and the waves calm; but the ship waswater-logged, and Frithiof called loudly on the men to bale her out. 

"It is useless to try to do it, " said the faint-hearted Björn, butFrithiof cried: "Come, brother, never despair, for it hath ever been ahero's custom to give what help he can as long as possible, come whatmay hereafter. "

So they baled _Ellida_ clear, and, seeing his companions were now wornout with toil, Frithiof bade them lie down in the boat and rest. Andhe himself took two oars at the prow and rowed onwards with his mightystrength till they came to land; and finding that his followers werestill weak and weary he carried them over the surf on his shouldersand set them safely on shore. 

Now the island on which they had landed was part of the domain of thatJarl Angantyr, and soon a message him:

"Tidings, my jarl. Men have come ashore, but they seem weary andhelpless enough. Yet one of them is so strong and fresh that hecarries all the others to land. "

"Surely, " said the jarl, "that man must be Frithiof, son of my oldfriend Thorsten, a man renowned for all good deeds. "

Then Angantyr sent messengers to bid Frithiof welcome and to bring himto his hall. And he prevailed upon his guest to pass the winter withhim, and showed high hospitality to him and to all his men. But whenFrithiof spoke of the errand on which he had come, the jarl saidproudly: "No tribute shall King Helge have of me, but thou, my friend, shall take back such treasure as thou wilt, and tribute thou mayestcall it, or any other name, as thou desirest. For now it is clear tome that Helge hath laid a trap for thee, and such kings are butill-esteemed in this land. "

CHAPTER XXIV

Balder Forgives

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Frithiofthe Bold was wedded to Ingeborg the Fair. _

Now while Frithiof was absent in the Western Isles there came Ring, that good old chieftain, northward to the land of the two youngrulers, Helge and Halfdan. 

Sorely grieved was Ingeborg when she knew that she must wed thestranger king, but she knew naught of what had happened to Frithiof, and was obliged to obey her brothers' will. 

And as they sat at the marriage feast, Ring saw the bracelet upon herarm and knew that it had been Frithiof's; and he bade her take it offand give it to the wife of Helge that she might give it to thewanderer on his return. 

In the following spring came Frithiof back again to Norway, havingparted from Angantyr with much love and goodwill. But as he neared hishome, one met him whom he knew, who said: "Black have grown thebuildings here, and traces there are none of the hands of friends. "

Then Frithiof held counsel with his men and they shaped their courseto the hall of the kings. But upon arrival there he heard that theywere away at Balder's grove offering a sacrifice. So he set offthither with Björn, leaving the rest with orders to make holes in allthe ships, both large and small, that lay in that harbour. When theycame to the entrance of the temple, Frithiof bade Björn stay outsideand, entering alone, stood silent in the shadows watching where KingHelge stood, crowned, by the altar of fire, whose flickering flamespainted the great wooden image of Balder with a golden glory. Aroundthe walls were ranged the ancient priests, silver-bearded, some withburning brands and others with flint knives for the sacrifice. 

Up to King Helge then strode Frithiof and, taking from his girdle thebag of silver which he had received from Angantyr, he flung it in theface of the king, saying: "Receive thy tribute thus!" And so hard didhe fling the money that it struck out two of Helge's teeth, and hefell senseless on the floor. 

Now there were few but old men in the temple hall, and they were awedby the sight of Frithiof's gleaming blade. 

So for a time he stood unmolested, but as he turned to go the arm-ringhe had given to Ingeborg caught his eye, for it had been placed uponBalder's arm. "Pardon, O Balder, " he said, "but thou wilt no claim astolen jewel!" As he spoke he tugged at the ring, but it seemed tohave grown fast to the wooden arm. Frithiof put forth all hisstrength, and suddenly the ring came away, but the great figure of thegod fell prone across the altar, whose flames immediately envelopedit and leapt up as though in triumph to the rafters of the hall. 

Then was there great confusion as the flames spread rapidly. Frithiofstayed to render what aid was possible, but when it was seen that thetemple was doomed to utter destruction he turned grief-stricken away, and rejoining his companions they put out to sea. 

When King Helge came to his senses again his first thought wasvengeance, and he summoned his men to pursue after Frithiof. But hisships had barely got under way when they began to sink, so that theyhad to put back quickly into harbour. Then in his fury did Helgesnatch his bow to shoot an arrow after Frithiof, but so strongly didhe pull it that the string broke and the bow fell useless from hishand. 

Meantime, Frithiof sailed merrily out to sea; and when Björnquestioned him as to what he meant to do next he replied: "Since I mayno longer stay in Norway, I will learn the customs of the sea-chief, and will rove as a Viking. "

So all through the summer they sailed to distant islands and far-offcountries, winning both goods and renown, until he had becomeexceeding rich and famous. Wicked and cruel men he slew, but peasantsand merchants and women he let go free, like the good Viking that hewas. 

At length, after four years had thus passed away, Frithiof said toBjörn: "Weary am I of these expeditions, and therefore will I sailaway to Uplands and hold discourse with good King Ring. "

"It is not good, " said Björn, "to trust thyself in a rival's power. Ifthou must do this rash thing at least go not alone. "

"I am never alone, " replied the hero, "while my sword hangs at myside. "

Frithiof now made preparation for his journey, and when he saidfarewell to his companions he was clad in a cloak of skin whichcompletely covered him, and he walked with two staves as one who isbowed down with years. His face, too, was covered with a great beard. 

It was eventide when he entered the king's hall and stood far down bythe door with his cloak drawn over his face. 

Then the king said to the queen as she sat by him at table: "There hasjust come a man into the hall taller by far than other men. "

And she answered without interest that that was no great news. 

Then the king sent for the stranger and questioned him as to whence hecame; and because he loved to show hospitality he bade him seathimself at his side. "But, " said he, "let fall that shaggy hide, whichcovers, as I think, a proper man. "

Then Frithiof showed himself in a dark-blue kirtle, with the ringgleaming on his arm and his sword girt to a broad silver belt, fromwhich hung a well-filled purse. And when the queen saw that arm-ringshe knew Frithiof, in spite of the great beard that he had grown; butshe betrayed her recognition only by her changing colour and theheaving of her breast. 

Now the king soon grew to love Frithiof, whom he compelled to staywith him all the winter through. Little and seldom spoke the queen tohim, but by the king he was ever regarded with a glad and smilingcountenance. 

Then it came to pass that one day Frithiof had accompanied them to abanquet, and their way lay over a lake. And Frithiof warned the kingthat the ice on this lake was not safe. Scarcely had the king thankedhim for his care when the ice broke, and the sledge with the royalpair upon it must have been submerged had not Frithiof dragged itforth and saved their lives. Then said the king, looking at him verykindly: "Well done, good friend, Frithiof the Bold could not have donebetter had he been here. "

The winter passed away, and one day, when the woods were full of greenleaves, the king went forth into them with Frithiof as his onlycompanion. Presently said the king: "Heavy am I with sleep, and heremust I rest. "

But Frithiof said: "Not so; let my lord journey home, for here isdanger to those who sleep in the open air. "

"I care not, " said the king, and so laid himself down to sleep. 

And as he slept Frithiof came and looked on him, and then quickly tookhis sword from its scabbard and flung it away. 

Then the king opened his eyes and said: "Well hast thou resisted thattemptation, Frithiof; for Frithiof I knew thee to be when first thoucamest into my hall. Now stay with me, for my heart yearns towardsthee and I am far stricken in years, and if thou wilt be my right handfor the days that are left, thou shalt have my land after my death forthine own. "

But Frithiof shook his head sadly, saying: "not so, O king, for evennow must I journey away from these shores. "

Shortly after this Frithiof prepared to depart, and his dragon-shiplay at her moorings tugging as though eager to breast the waves ofocean once again. Then came he to Ring and Ingeborg, but the old kingwas at the point of death. "Valhalla calls to me, " said he, "and myweary spirit would fain be at rest. Frithiof, take thou my kingdom andguard the crown. " He then placed the hand of his queen in that ofFrithiof, and a moment later his spirit was borne by the Valkyrs intothe Regions of the Blessed. 

So they raised a mighty cairn above King Ring, and great was themourning and lamentation in the land. Then all men looked to Frithiofas his successor, but he bade them give their allegiance to the son ofKing Ring, who was a right noble boy, and when they looked upon himthey saw that he was worthy to wear his father's crown. 

But because the people loved Frithiof, they cried: "Govern thou therealm while our king is young, and let us celebrate thy marriage withIngeborg, as King Ring desired. "

But Frithiof answered sadly: "I must fare over the seas to Balder'ssacred grove. The mild god's wrath still burns against me. He took, heonly can restore, my cherished bride. "

The farewells have been spoken, the swift ship has cleaved the waves, and the hero stands in the desolate grove where once stood the templeof Balder, but where wild animals are now in hiding. 

"Mild, blue-eyed Balder, " speaks the hero, "will no atonement quit meof my guilt? Blood-fines take we for kinsmen slain, and the high godsare not wont to nurse their wrath when altar flames consume thesacrifice. Some offering ask, all that thou wilt is thine. "

 "Then sudden, o'er the western waters pendent, An Image comes, with gold and flames resplendent, O'er Balder's grove it hovers, night's clouds under, Like gold crown resting on a bed of green. At last to a temple settling, firm 'tis grounded-- Where Balder stood, another temple's founded. "

Frithiof gazed in wonderment, and his heart went out in praise for thesign vouchsafed. He would raise a shrine more glorious than the onewhich had been destroyed by fire, and thus would he be at rest. 

Now, while the timbers were being hewn and the carved pillars weretaking shape, King Helge was absent upon a foray amongst the Finnishmountains. One day his band passed by a crag where stood the lonelyshrine of some forgotten god, and King Helge scaled the rocky summitwith intent to raze the ruined walls. The lock held fast and, as Helgetugged fiercely at the mouldered gate, suddenly a sculptured image ofthe deity, rudely summoned from his ancient sleep, started from hisniche above. 

Rudely he fell upon the head of the intruder, and Helge stretched hislength upon the rocky floor, nor stirred again. 

And now Balder's temple is finished, and its noble proportions lookover the firth, in whose clear waters it is reflected. Its vast hallis filled melody, and the Chief Priest of Balder stands ready toreceive a bride. But who stands frowning upon the threshold? KingHalfdan it is, who approaches, sword in hand. 

Frithiof with quick hands unbuckled the sword from his thigh andleaned it, with his golden shield, against the altar. Then withoutstretched hand he advanced saying:

 "Most noble in this strife will he be found Who first is right hand good Offers in pledge of peaceful brotherhood. "

Halfdan, blushing deeply, hastened to doff his iron gauntlet, and thetwo men, severed so long, forgot their enmity and pledged abidingfaith with friendly grasp. 

 "And as the last deep accents Of reconcilement sounded, Lo! Ingeborg sudden enters, rich adorn'd, And to her brother's heart she trembling sinketh. He with his sister's fears Deep-moved, her hand all tenderly in Frithiof's linketh, His burden soft transferring to the Hero's breast. "

CHAPTER XXV

How the End of All Things Came About

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of howthe End of All Things Came About. _

When the Asa folk had banished wicked Loki to earth, and bound himfast in his gloomy cavern, they thought they had heard and seen thelast of his evil ways. 

But this was not to be the case. Finding he could not free himself, but must endure his bonds till the end of All Things, Loki tried todivert himself by enticing the earth people to him and teaching themto do every manner of evil. And so fast did knowledge of this evilspread, that the whole world soon became full of wickedness. Brothersfought and killed each other, men were for ever at war with other men, no one had time or room in his heart for pity or for kindliness. 

Sol and Mani, who were wont to drive radiant through the sky in theirgolden chariots, grew pale with dismay, for they knew that thesethings portended their end, when those hungry wolves, who were everpursuing them, would overtake and devour them utterly. 

And they ceased to smile upon the land, wherefore the earth grew coldand dark, and a long, long winter began. From North, South, East, andWest great snowstorms blew over the world, the Frost Giants wavedtheir great wings and breathed an icy blast, and a thick layer of icespread over the whole surface of the earth. 

For six seasons this terrible winter held the world in its grip, andduring all that time the earth people grew more wicked, until alltraces of goodness disappeared. Meantime, deep down in the dark shadesof the Ironwood, an evil Frost Giantess fed the pursuing wolves, sothat they gained strength each day, and at length they were able toovertake Sol and Mani in their head-long course, and to devour them. 

Now when that dreadful thing had happened, the whole earth shook toits foundations, and Loki, the Fenris Wolf, and the Sea-serpent, making one last tremendous effort, broke their bonds and rushed towreak revenge upon their captors. 

At that moment the dragon that lies at the root of the Tree of Lifegnawed it through, so that it quivered and shook to its very top. Thered cock who stood perched above the halls of Valhalla gave a shrillcrow of alarm, and this was taken up by the white cock who roosts uponthe tallest tree on the earth, and echoed by Hela's blood-red bird inthe depths of the Mist Home. 

Heimdall knew the meaning of these sounds, and putting the horn to hislips he gave the last long call from Asgard, which resounded acrossthe Rainbow Bridge throughout the whole world. 

Then the Asa folk sprang from their flower-strewn couches, and seizingtheir weapons, they mounted their battle steeds and rode across theRainbow Bridge to the great plain where they were to wage their lastfight. 

Meantime, the Sea-serpent was lashing the waters of the ocean with histail as he made his way through the blood-red waves to that dreadbattlefield. And Loki, who had roused all the host of the Fire Giants, was sailing thither as fast as the tossing ocean would carry his fatalbarque; while from the foggy regions of the north issued the wholerace of Frost Giants, eager for their revenge upon the hated Asa folk. 

From a cleft in the earth came also Hela, the goddess of theunderworld, followed by her gaunt watchdog and by all the evil dregsof her gloomy realm. Lastly, from a blinding flash of lightning thatseemed to rend the skies in twain, came forth the troop of FlameGiants, each with his fiery sword in hand. 

Loki gladly placed himself at the head of all those hosts, and he ledthem forward boldly against the gods. 

And first they thought to storm Asgard in one wild onset, but theRainbow Bridge sank with a mighty crash under their horses' feet. 

Meanwhile, the Asas had been gathering their forces upon thebattlefield, where with calm, stern faces they awaited the attack oftheir foes--the red Flame Giants, the grim army of Hela, thegrey-white host of the Frost Giants, led by Loki, with the Fenris Wolfon one hand and the Sea-serpent, breathing out clouds of deadlyvapour, on the other. 

 "And all are marshalled in one flaming square Against the gods, upon the plains of heaven. "

Then came the crash of battle, in which, for all their courage, theAsas were bound to meet with defeat. Desperately they fought, but allto no avail, for, at the moment that Heimdall and Loki fell deadbefore each other's swords, and Thor, after killing the Sea-serpent, was drowned in the poisonous stream that flowed from the creature'smouth, the Fenris Wolf came at All-Father Odin with jaws open so widethat they reached from earth to heaven; and rushing upon the mightyAsa he engulfed him in that horrid tomb. 

Most of the Asas, as well as their foes, now lay dead on thebattlefield, and, seeing this, the Flame Giants suddenly grasped theirfiery brands and flung them over earth and heaven and all theunderworld. 

The mighty Tree of Life withered and fell; the golden halls of Asgardmelted away; the green things of earth turned black, and still thefire raged, until the whole world, burnt to a cinder, sank beneath thewaves of the sea. 

Thus did the End of All Things come about. 

But because the End of All Things is also very often the Beginning ofOthers, the Northmen say that, after many long years, the old Earthrose again, clean and pure and bright from her long cleansingunderneath the sea. And in the sky above a daughter of Sol again droveher sun-chariot, and smiled upon the earth, so that it grew young andfresh and green again. 

And when this came to pass, a man and a woman, who, sunk in sleep inthe depths of a forest, had escaped the universal destruction, cameforth and took possession of the sweet green lands, for themselves andfor their children for ever. 

 "So perish the old Gods! But out of the sea of Time Rises a new land of song. Fairer than the old. Over is meadows green Walk the young bards and sing. 

 Build it again, O ye bards, Fairer than before! Ye fathers of the new race, Feed upon morning dew, Sing the new Song of Love!

 The law of force is dead! The law of love prevails! Thor, the thunderer, Shall rule the earth no more, No more, with threats, Challenge the meek Christ. 

 Sing no more, O ye bards of the North, Of Vikings and of Jarls! Of the days of Eld Preserve the freedom only, Not the deeds of blood. "

 LONGFELLOW. 

PRONOUNCING INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

(_ā as in hate; ē as in tea; ō as in note; ä as in arm; ẽas in merit_)

Transcriber's Note: [=oo] represents two 'o's with a line on top. There is no Unicode representation for the letter. 

Ægir (ā´jir)

Agnar (ag´nar)

Andvari (änd´vä-rē)

Angantyr (än-gän´tēr)

Angurvadel (än-gur-vä´del)

Angur-boda (än-gur-bō´dà)

Asa (ā´sa)

Asgard (as´gärd)

Ask (äsk)

Atli (at´lē)

Balder (baul´der)

Baugi (bow´gē)

Bele (bē-lā´)

Björn (byẽrn)

Bragi (brä´gē)

Branstock (bran´stok)

Bredi (bre´dē)

Brock (brock)

Brunhild (br[=oo]n´hild)

Draupnir (drowp´nir)

Elli (el´lē)

Ellida (el-li´da)

Embla (em´bla)

Fafnir (faf´nir)

Fenga (fengá)

Fenris (fen´ris)

Fensalir (fen´säl-ir)

Fialar (fyäl´ar)

Fiorgyn (fyôr´gēn)

Frey (fri)

Freya (frī´a)

Frigga (frig´a)

Frithiof (frit´yof)

Galar (gäl´ar)

Geirrod (gir´rod)

Geri (gẽr´e)

Gersemi (gẽr´se-me)

Gialp (gyälp)

Gilling (gil´ling)

Giöll (gyẽl)

Giuki (gi´[=oo]ki)

Gnomes (nōmz)

Greip (grīp)

Greyfell (grā-fel)

Grid (grēd)

Grimnir (grim´nir)

Grimhild (grim´hild)

Gudrun (goo´droon)

Gungnir (goong´nir)

Gunlod (goon´lod)

Gunnar (gun´när)

Guttorm (goot´torm)

Hamdir (ham´dir)

Halfdan (half´dan)

Heidrun (hi´dr[=oo]n)

Heimdall (hīm´däl)

Hela (helá)

Helge (hel´ge)

Hermod (hẽr´mod)

Hindfell (hind´fel)

Hiordis (hyôr´dis)

Hoder (hō´der)

Hœnir (hē´nir)

Högni (hẽg´ne)

Hreidmar (hrīd´mar)

Hugi (hu´gi)

Hugin (hū´gin)

Hunding (hundíng)

Hyrroken (hēr´ro-kin)

Idun (ē´doon)

Ingeborg (in´ge-borg)

Jarl (yärl)

Kari (kär´ē)

Kvasir (kvä´sir)

Logi (lō´gē)

Loki (lō´kē)

Lygni (lēg´ni)

Mani (mä´nē)

Midgard (mid´gärd)

Mimir (mē´mir)

Miölnir (myẽl´nir)

Modir (mō´dir)

Munin (mū´nin)

Niblungs (nē´bloongz)

Niffelheim (nĭfl´hīm)

Niörd (nyẽrd)

Odin (ō´din)

Odur (ō´door)

Ragnarok (rag´na-ruk)

Ran (rän)

Ratatosk (rä´ta-tusk)

Rati (rä´tē)

Regin (rā´gin)

Rerir (rā´rir)

Ring (ring)

Ringhorn (ring´horn)

Roskva (ros´kva)

Sif (sif)

Siggeir (sig´īr)

Sigi (sig´ē)

Sigmund (sig´moond)

Signy (sig´ni)

Sigurd (sē´goord)

Sigyn (sē´gēn)

Sindri (sin´drē)

Sinfiotli (sin-fe-ot´li)

Skadi (skä´dē)

Skrymir (skrim´ir)

Sleipnir (slīp´nir)

Sol (sōl)

Suttung (soot´t[=oo]ng)

Svadilfare (svä´dil-fär´e)

Thialfi (te´älf´e)

Thiassi (te-äs-se)

Thok (tok)

Thor (thor or tor)

Thorsten (tor-sten)

Thrym (trim)

Tyr (tēr)

Uplands (up´lands)

Valhalla (väl-häl´la)

Vali (väl´ē)

Valkyrs (val´kirz)

Valtam (väl´tam)

Vikings (vik´ingz)

Volsung (vol´soong)

Ymir (ē´mir)

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