Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/138

 Then they started for the third time, and this time Hugi reached the goal when Thialfi was in the middle of the course.

“Enough of this sport,” cried Utgardloki, “for it is plain Thialfi cannot compete with my people. Tell me, Thor, in what art dost thou excel that we may see and wonder at thy marvellous strength.”

“Try me at the wine-cup,” cried Thor. “I know there is none can beat me there!”

So they went back to the hall, and the King called for a horn. “We esteem him a good drinker who empties it at a draught,” said he. “Some do it in two, but there are none here such weaklings that they cannot do it in three.”

The horn was long, but it did not seem very large to Thor, who was thirsty. He raised it to his lips and took a long draught, till he was out of breath. Then he looked at the horn. He found he had made but little difference in its contents.

“Twas well drunk,” said the King, “but yet ’tis not much. Never had I believed it if any had told me that Thor could drink no better than that.”

Again Thor set the horn to his lips, and pulled and pulled at its contents till the breath left him, but when he looked therein it seemed to him he had drunk less than before, though now it could be carried without spilling its contents.

“Ha, Thor,” cried Utgardloki, “methinks thou must take a longer pull if thou wouldst empty the cup at the third draught.” Then Thor waxed exceeding wrathful. He put forth all his strength, and when he put down the cup at the third draught the contents were greatly diminished, but it was not empty and he would drink no more.

“Tis plain,” said the mocking host, “thy strength is less than we thought.” But Thor made answer thus:

“Truly, if I were at home and the gods deemed me a poor drinker after that draught, I should think it strange. Try me at something else. What other trial of strength can you propose?”

A large grey cat ran across the hall, and Utgardloki told Thor that his young men in sport often tried to lift her. Thor followed her. He pulled and tugged with all his strength, but he could only raise one foot a very little from the ground! Ill-pleased was he when Utgardloki smiled at his vain efforts, and he cried out for one of the young men to wrestle with him. But Utgardloki said “It would be child’s