Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/145

 riding upon a wolf, and for bridle she had a snake. She sprang from her steed, and four strong men were summoned to hold him; but they could only master him when they had thrown him on the ground. One push from Hyrrockin sufficed to move the ship, but so great was the violence she used that fire flew from the rollers on which it rested, and the very earth shook. Thor′s anger blazed forth, and he would have slain her, but the other gods pleaded for her, and he let her live.

Then Balder′s body was laid on the ship, and when Nanna his wife beheld this, her heart broke with grief, and she died. They laid her by her husband′s side, and they brought all his treasures, and led forth his horse, and placed them on the ship. Last of all came Odin, and he laid the ring Draupnir beside his son, and whispered words in his ear that none might hear; and it was never known what he had said. Then the ship was set on fire, and Thor advanced to swing his hammer over it and consecrate it. The dwarf Lit ran between his feet, and Thor flung him into the fire. Now the flames rose up fiercely, and the gods watched in silence as the burning ship drifted away, bearing from their midst the best beloved of all their host.

For nine long days and nights Hermodhr rode without pause through dark, gloomy valleys, till he reached the River Giœll, which flows past the gate of Helheim. The river was spanned by a bridge, which was paved with gleaming gold. Over this rode the god, and at the other end stood a warder.

“What is thy name?” asked she, “and whence dost thou come? But yesterday five troops of dead men rode across yon bridge, and it did not thunder more loudly beneath their steps than beneath thine, a solitary rider. Thy colour is not the colour of the dead. Since thou art living, why ridest thou to Hel?”

“I ride to Hel to seek for Balder,” answered Hermodhr. “Have you seen him ride this way?”

“Yes,” answered she. “He has passed this way. Northward lies thy road if thou wouldst seek him.”

The messenger rode on till he reached the gates of Hel, but there was no way for him to enter, because he was yet alive. So he tightened his girth and set spurs to his horse, and Sleipnir cleared the gate without touching it. Hermodhr dismounted and entered the hall, and there he beheld Balder sitting by Hel, in the place of honour. He waited till morning, and then he asked Hel to allow Balder to return