Sindri asked him to keep his place at the bellows, he willingly agreed.

The smith then threw a lump of gold into the flames; and bidding Brock keep the fire at white heat, he again left the cave. Brock began to work harder than ever 5 at the bellows; and as the fire glowed so that it seemed like daylight in the room, the gadfly flew at him and stung him on the neck. He screamed with pain and tried to shake off his tormentor, but still he kept faithfully at his work and never lifted his hand a moment 10 from the bellows. When Sindri returned he found the fire glowing brightly, and, leaning over it, he pulled out of the flames a fine gold ring, which every ninth night would drop nine gold rings as wonderful as itself.

15

Brock was so delighted with this gift that he almost forgot about his wounded neck; and obediently kept his place at the bellows. Then Sindri threw a lump of iron into the fire, and bidding his brother work steadily at his task for this was the most important gift of 20 all he went out of the cave. Brock grasped the bellows firmly, and began to work with all his might. Just as the flames were leaping fiercely and the room seemed lit by a million candles, the gadfly flew at Brock and stung him between the eyes.

The poor little dwarf was almost frantic from the

pain of the wound and from the blood that poured

25

into his eyes. But though dazed and blinded so that he could hardly see the fire, he kept doggedly at work on the bellows, only lifting one hand for a moment to wipe the blood from his eyes. The fire had been glow5 ing like a furnace, but in that one instant the flames burned less brightly, and Sindri — who had just entered began to berate his brother for his carelessness. Then the smith drew out of the fire a mighty hammer, perfect in every way except that the handle 10 was too short, owing to Brock's having lifted his hand a moment from the bellows.

the room

Sindri gave the three gifts to his brother, and bade him hasten to Asgard, and bring back the head of Loki as payment for the last wager. When the dwarf 15 reached Odin's council hall, the gods had assembled to decide the contest, for every one was eager to see what gifts Sindri had sent. Brock handed the ring to Odin, who praised it highly and said, "Now, I shall never want for gold." Freyr was delighted with his gift of 20 the golden boar and said that it would be much more entertaining to ride on its back than in Loki's magic boat. Lastly Brock gave the wonderful hammer Miölner to Thor, saying, "Here is a hammer which can crush mountains, can cause lightning and thunder when 25 it swings through the air, and will always come back to your hand no matter how far you may throw it." Then the dwarf turned to Odin and said, "Decide now

between Loki and me, O Wise One, and declare whose gifts are worth most to Asgard."

Though the gods were reluctant to condemn one of their number in favor of a dwarf, there was no disputing the fact that Thor's hammer was worth more than 5 all of Loki's gifts, for it meant a sure protection to Asgard from the attacks of the frost giants. So Odin declared that Brock had won the wager, and that Loki must pay the forfeit with his head. Now Loki had no intention of submitting to this decree, so he first offered 10 the dwarf a huge sum of money as a ransom; but Brock angrily refused the gold, and insisted that the bargain should be kept. Then Loki cried out, "Well, you must catch me first," and sped off on his magic shoes, which could carry him through the air and over the water with 15 wonderful swiftness. As Brock knew he could never catch the fugitive, he grew black with rage, and turned upon Odin, crying, "Is this the way that the gods keep faith, or shall the word of Odin stand fast?" Now all the company knew well that a promise made by even 20 the meanest among them must be held sacred; so Odin sent Thor after Loki. In his swift chariot, drawn by the snow-white goats, the Thunderer easily overtook the runaway and brought him back to Asgard. Then Loki saw that he must save his life by cunning, and he 25 said to Brock, "You may take my head if you wish, but you must not touch my neck."

Now as this was obviously impossible, the dwarf knew that he was outwitted by the crafty Loki, so he went away fuming with rage and disappointment. But before he left Asgard, he took out of his pocket an awl 5 and a thong, and sewed Loki's lips together so that, for a while at least, the tricky god could not do any more boasting.

EMILIE K. BAKER: Stories of Northern Myths.

HELPS TO STUDY

I. 1. Who was Loki? Thor? Sif? 2. What happened to Sif's golden hair? 3. What did Thor do to Loki? 4. What promise did Loki make? 5. What journey did he take? 6. Describe the home of the swarthy elves. 7. How did Loki keep his promise? 8. What presents did he bring for Odin and Freyr ? 9. What Greek god was often called the Thunderer?

II. 1. Who followed Loki back to Asgard? 2. What boast did he make about his brother? 3. What wager did he make with Loki? 4. How did Sindri and Brock set to work? 5. How did Loki try to interrupt them? 6. What came out of the fire in place of the pigskin? 7. What came in place of the lump of gold? 8. What came from the lump of iron? 9. Which was the most valuable of the three products of the forge? 10. How did Loki and Brock settle their wager?

Sif, sif. Thor, thôr. Freyr, frâr. Brock, brok. Sindri, sănʼdri. Miölner, mi ol'ner.

HOW THOR WENT TO THE LAND OF GIANTS

I

Once on a time, Thor and Loki set out on a journey from Asgard, the city of the gods, to Giants' Home, accompanied by Thialfi, their servant. They crossed the sea, and then journeyed on, on, on in the strange, barren, misty land. Sometimes they crossed great 5 mountains; sometimes they had to make their way among torn and rugged rocks, which often, through the mist, appeared to them, to wear the forms of men, and once for a whole day they traversed a thick and tangled forest. In the evening of that day, being very tired, 10 they saw with pleasure that they had come upon a spacious hall, of which the door, as broad as the house itself, stood wide open.

"Here we may very comfortably lodge for the night," said Thor; and they went in and looked 15 about them.

The house appeared to be perfectly empty; there was a wide hall, and five smaller rooms opening into it. They were, however, too tired to examine it carefully, and as no inhabitants made their appearance, they ate 20 their supper in the hall, and lay down to sleep. But they had not rested long before they were disturbed by

K