Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/135

 The others prepared to sup, but in vain did they strive to open the bundle. They could neither break nor undo the rope that bound it. Then anger filled Thor, and he crept softly to where Skrymir lay. He raised his hammer high above his head, and dealt the Giant a mighty blow, and had it been an ordinary man who lay there, he would have needed no second stroke. Skrymir awoke, and drew his hand across his forehead. “Did a leaf fall-on my face?” he asked. “Have you supped, Thor? Are you going to sleep?”

“We are preparing for rest,” said Thor sullenly. He went away, and with his companions lay down under a distant tree, but sleep came not nigh them. When it was midnight, Thor arose, and stole to the side of the sleeping giant. He raised his hammer with a mighty swing, and brought it full on the brow of his foe, so that the weapon sank right in!

Skrymir opened his eyes and shook his head.

“Did an acorn fall from the tree?” said he. “What ails thee, Thor, that thou standest beside me, and sleepest not?”

“I woke from a dream,” returned Thor, great wonder in his heart that any should live after such a blow. “The night is yet young; let us sleep again.”

So he laid him down again, but not to sleep; amazement and anger filled his heart as he listened to the earth-shaking snores of Skrymir. When the grey dawn was breaking in the sky, Thor arose for the third time, and girded his belt tighter, and placing one foot before the other, he raised his hammer and struck the Giant on the temple, and all his strength was in the blow. Skrymir yawned and stretched himself. “A twig fell on my face from the tree,” said he, rubbing his cheek. “But ’tis time we went on our way.” Never a word said Thor, but great was his amazement; and his companions gazed in silent fear on the man on whom the heavy strokes of the strongest of the gods fell so lightly. “Ye are not far now from Utgard,” went on the Giant. “I heard you say, one to the other, that I was no small man. But this I tell you. In Utgard are men beside whom I am but as a dwarf! Let no boastful speech pass your lips, for none there will brook proud words. I would advise you to turn your steps elsewhere; but if that may not be, then take your way to the east, and you will reach the place you seek. For me, my path lies northward to yonder mountains.”