Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/48

42 THE BUILDING OF THE ASGARD FORT. gods feared that the frost giants would invade Asgard while Thor was away fighting monsters.

Often they spoke together of the danger. One day Loke advised them to hire a workman whom he knew, to build a fort strong enough to keep out the frost giants.

The gods listened to him, although they knew he seldom gave good advice.

The workman was brought into Asgard. Very strange wages he demanded. He said he would build the fort if they would give him Freyja, or the sun and moon, when it was finished.

The gods agreed to this. But they said he should have nothing if the fort were not finished by the first day of summer.

The workman said he would do the work if he could have Svadilf are, his horse, to draw the stones.

On the first day of winter he began the work, and worked night and day. At this the gods were frightened. They feared the fort would be finished on the first day of summer. Sure