him a taste of the hammer. But for the present he controlled himself, and Hymir agreed to let

him go.

Then Thor asked what they should use for bait, but the giant said that he must get one for himself. So, lingering behind, he chased a herd of oxen belonging to his host, and wringing off the head of the largest, he bore it with him to the sea. Hymir had already launched his boat, but Thor sprang in, seized the oars, and rowed so fast that Hymir was forced to agree that they were making a swift course.

Soon they came to a spot which Hymir said was a good place for catching flat fish, but Thor would not stop, and rowed on and on till they came to the middle of the sea, and there he rested. Now this was a very dangerous place for fishing, for it was just over the great Midgard serpent, who is coiled round the world, with his tail in his mouth. So Hymir persuaded Thor to row a little further out, and Thor did so.

Then the god laid aside his oars, took a very strong line and fastened to it a very strong hook, on to which he fixed the ox's head. Then he cast the line into the water, just above the mouth

of the Midgard serpent, which swallowed the bait eagerly, hook and all. At this the huge worm began to struggle so fiercely that he nearly pulled Thor out of the boat; but the god took on his

At last he gave such a mighty tug that he hauled the worm up to the edge of the boat.

divine strength, and stood so firm that his legs went through the planks of the boat, and he rested on the bottom of the sea.

At last he gave such a mighty tug that he hauled the worm up to the edge of the boat, and it was a dreadful thing to see how Thor cast

his fiery looks on the serpent, and how the serpent glared back at him, and spat out poison. The giant, who had been watching the fearful struggle, trembled and grew pale; nevertheless, just as Thor was swinging his hammer, Hymir drew out his knife and cut the line, so that the serpent sank back to the bottom of the sea. Thor hurled his hammer after it, and, it is said, struck off its head; but it lives there still. Then he knocked the giant overboard, and as by this time the boat was sinking, because of the water that was in it, he left it to its fate and waded to land.

Ir happened one day that Thor and the god Loki journeyed together in his chariot towards the land of the giants; and at evening they came to the house of a peasant, and asked shelter for the night. And when they were come in, Thor took his goats and killed them; then he flayed them and put them in a kettle, and when they were boiled he bade the peasant and his family eat of them with him. And he stretched the skins of the goats out by the fire, and told his companions not to destroy the bones, but to throw them on to the skins. But Thialfi, the peasant's son, took a thigh-bone and split it with his knife, to get at the marrow.

Then they all slept, but next morning, before it was day, Thor arose and clad himself; then taking his hammer, he charmed the skins, and behold, the goats sprang up and stood before him whole and sound, save that one limped in the hind leg. And when the And when the god saw it, he knew that someone had disobeyed his command; and he became very angry, clenching his hammer till his fingers grew white at the knuckles, and bending his brows so that his eyes could hardly be seen. It is easy to imagine the great dread of the peasant, who thought that the very look of the god had power to slay him, and he and all that were with him prayed earnestly for mercy, and offered all that he had to obtain forgiveness. And when Thor saw their fear, his fury was calmed and he grew cooler, but he demanded that Thialfi and his sister Roska should become his servants, and follow him for ever.

On

Then Thor left his goats with the peasant, and set out once more with his companions. and on they went till they came to a deep flood, which they crossed; and climbing the opposite shore, entered a great forest. Here they wandered all day, and Thialfi, who was the fleetest of all