Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/50

44 LOKE'S PUNISHMENT. the death of Balder, the gods sent Hermod, his brother, to the realm of the dead to beg the goddess of death to release him.

Hermod rode nine days and nine nights through valleys so dark that he could see nothing. At last he came to a bridge made of glittering gold.

Modgud, the maiden who kept the bridge, stopped him and said: "What is your name?" Hermod told his name, but did not say he was a god.

Then the maiden said: "Why do you who are living try to cross this bridge? You shake it more than a whole army of dead men."

Hermod replied: "I come to seek Balder, the Beautiful, and I pray you let me pass quickly, for the gods wait wearily in Asgard." When the maiden saw that he was a god she hindered him no longer.

Hermod rode on until he came to the kingdom of the dead. Spurring bis horse he leaped over the gates without touching them.

He rode swiftly to the palace and entered.