Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/143

 “Welcome, Mother,” said Frigg. “Canst thou tell me what the gods are doing?”

“Ay, truly, that can I,” returned the old woman. “They are shooting at Balder, but even though they hit him, their missiles do him no harm.”

“I can well believe it,” answered Frigg. “For I have taken an oath from all things living or dead that they will do no harm to beautiful Balder.”

“Have all things sworn?” asked the old woman, trying to conceal her eagerness.

“All things but one,” replied Frigg. “To the east of Valhalla there grows a little plant called the mistletoe; of that I asked no oath, for it seemed to me too young.”

Loki had learned what he wanted to know. He went away, ressumed his own shape, and sought for the mistletoe. Then he returned to the gods, who were still continuing their sport. Hœder the blind stood apart.

“Why do you not join the game?” asked Loki.

“I have no weapon,” answered Hœder, “and I am blind, so how can I tell where Balder stands, that I may aim at him?”

“Here is a weapon,” returned Loki. “Come with me, and I will tell you where Balder stands, so that you cannot fail to hit him.”

He put the mistletoe into Hœder′s hand, and told him in which direction to hurl it. The missile flew through the air and pierced Balder, and he fell dead.

The gods stood round, amazed and stunned, and for a while there was silence in the vast hall. Then there broke forth a wailing and a lamentation beyond the power of words to tell, as the mighty gods wept for the most beloved of all their brethren, and none could speak for grief. But the sorrow of Odin was deepest, for long ago he had given his eye to know the future, and he saw that the signs were fulfilled, and that the end was nigh.

At length Frigg asked the gods which of them would ride to Hel and plead for the return of Balder. Hermodhr the swift, Odin′s son, made ready to go: he saddled Sleipnir, his father′s horse, and rode off at full speed on his perilous journey.

The gods took Balder′s body, and brought it to his ship; but when they would have launched the ship, lo! it would not move. They sent for a woman of the race of giants, called Hyrrockin. She came,