“You take the bag,” said he, “and make your supper.”

He was soon asleep, and, strange as it may seem, when Thor tried to open the bag he could not untie a single knot nor loose the string.  Enraged at this he seized his hammer, swayed it in both his hands, took a step forward, and hurled it at the giant’s head.  This awoke the giant, who asked him if a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had finished their supper.  Thor said they were just about to lie down to sleep, and went to lie under another oak-tree.  About midnight, observing that Skrymir was snoring so loudly that the forest re-echoed the din, Thor grasped his hammer and hurled it with such force at him that it sank up to the handle in his head.

“What is the matter?” asked he, awakening.  “Did an acorn fall on my head?  How are you going on, Thor?”

Thor departed at once, saying that it was only midnight and that he hoped to get some more sleep yet.  He resolved, however, to have a third blow at the giant, hoping that with this he might settle everything.  Seizing his hammer, he, with all his force, threw it at the giant’s cheek, into which it buried itself up to the handle.  Skrymir, awaking, put his hand to his cheek, and said—­

“Are there any birds perched on this tree?  I thought some moss fell upon me.  How! art thou awake, Thor?  It is time, is it not, for us to get up and dress ourselves?  You have not far, however, to go before you arrive at the city Utgard.  I have heard you whispering together that I am a very tall fellow, but there you will see many larger than me.  Let me advise you then when you get there not to take too much upon yourselves, for the men of Utgard-Loki will not bear much from such little folk as you.  I believe your best way would even be to turn back again, but if you are determined to proceed take the road that goes towards the east, as for me mine now lies to the north.”

After he had said this, he put his bag upon his shoulder and turned away into a forest; and I could never hear that Thor wished him a good journey.

Proceeding on his way with his companions, Thor saw towards noon a city situated in the middle of a vast plain.  The wall of the city was so lofty that one could not look up to the top of it without throwing one’s head quite back upon the shoulder.  On coming to the wall, they found the gate-way closed with bars, which Thor never could have opened, but he and his companions crept in between them, and thus entered the place.  Before them was a large palace, and as the door of it was open, they entered and found a number of men of enormous size, seated on benches.  Going on they came into the presence of the king, Utgard-Loki, whom they saluted with great respect, but he, looking upon them for a time, at length cast a scornful glance at them, and burst into laughter.

“It would take up too much time,” said he, “to ask you concerning the long journey you have made, but if I am not mistaken that little man there is Aku-Thor.  You may,” said he to Thor, “be bigger than you seem to be.  What are you and your companions skilled in that we may see what they can do, for no one may remain here unless he understands some art and excels in it all other men?”