Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/133

 “It grows dark,” said Thor; “let us seek shelter for the night in yon peasant’s hut.”

The peasant welcomed them, but his heart was grieved, for he had but scanty fare to set before them.

“I will bring flesh to the meal,” said Thor, and raising his hammer he struck his goats full on the forehead that they fell down and were dead. “Prepare them for the fire,” said he, “and lay their skins beside the hearth. But look to it that ye break no bone, or it will go ill with you.”

So they sat down and feasted royally. Then Loki, the mischief-maker, with his guileful tongue, whispered to Thialfi, the peasant’s son: “Break thou that bone, for within it lies hid the marrow, the best part of the meat.”

So Thialfi did as Loki told him, and Thor knew it not. When the meal was ended, the bones were placed on the skin, and all lay down and slumbered. But at dawn Thor arose and swung Miœlnir, his hammer, over skin and bones, and, lo, the goats lived and rose up. But one of them was lame, for Thialfi had broken the leg-bone.

Then terrible was the wrath of Thor, and they who beheld it shook with fear. He pulled down his mighty brows over his blazing eyes, and blew into his fiery beard, and all fell on their knees in terror, and dared not meet his gaze. “Is it thus ye repay me the kindness I have shown?” cried he in tones of thunder. “Death shall be your lot, you shameless peasant, for the wrong you have done me!”

Then the sorrowful household pleaded for mercy, and offered all they had in expiation of the deed. The heart of Thor melted with pity at their fear; perchance he knew whose counsel caused the mischief, so he unbent his brows and spoke:

“Be it so. I will grant you your life, but there must be atonement, and, therefore, henceforth Thialfi shall be my servant and follow me in my journeyings, and my goats will I leave here, for of what service is a lame goat to me?”

The peasant blessed him for his mercy, and gave him his son, and Thialfi went forth with Loki and Thor as their servant, and he carried the food as it was meet he should.

So they set out in quest of the Land of the Giants. They crossed the great sea, and wandered on till they reached a mighty forest, the trees whereof grew high and hid the sun, while the undergrowth was dense. All day had they walked, and yet they found no outlet. And