Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/45

Rh THE APPLES OF IDUN. Odin and Loke were traveling together. They came to a field where a herd of black-horned oxen were grazing. They were very hungry, so they killed one of the oxen.

But they tried in vain to cook the meat. It stayed raw in spite of the hottest fire they could make.

A huge eagle flew to a tree near them and called, "I will make the fire burn if you will share with me."

The gods were very glad to do anything that would give them food. So they promised to share with the eagle.

In a short time the meat was cooked. The eagle flew down and laid hold of half of it.

Loke was angry and struck the eagle with a pole. To his surprise, the pole stuck fast, and he could not let it go.