“The country does not improve,” said Loki, looking round upon the desolate plain that lay outstretched between them and the borders of a dark forest, which they could just see in the far distance.  One or two huge rocks thrust their jagged points high into the air, and great blocks of stone were scattered about, but there was no sign of herbage and not a tree to be seen nearer than the forest belt bounding the horizon.  Heavy gray clouds were drawing nearer and nearer to the dreary earth, and twilight was fast approaching.  “It looks not well,” answered Thor, “but we must push on and perhaps may find it better as we go onward.  Besides, night is drawing nigh, and as there are no dwellings to be seen we must try to gain the shelter of the forest before it is too dark to see where we are going.”

So they pushed on, and though they looked to the right hand and to the left, soon found that they were in a land where no men lived.  There was, therefore, nothing to be done but to quicken their speed, in order to reach the shelter of the forest.  But though they strove to the utmost, the twilight deepened into darkness and the darkness became so deep by the time they reached the forest, that they only knew they had arrived there by Loki’s striking his head against a low branch, and soon after this Thor cried out: 

“Good luck!  I have found a house.  Follow close after me and we will make ourselves comfortable for the night.”

For Thor in groping along had come to what he supposed to be a wall of solid masonry.

“Where are you?” asked Loki, “for it is so dark that I cannot see you.”

“Here,” answered Thor, stretching out his hand; “take hold and follow me.”

So Loki clutched Thor’s arm, and Thialfe in turn seized the arm of Loki, whilst Raska clung to her brother and wished herself safe at home in her father’s hut.

And thus they groped their way along the wall, seeking to find an entrance to the house.

At last Thor found a huge entrance opening into a wide, hall, and passing through this they turned to the left into a large room which was quite empty, and here, after eating some food, they stretched themselves upon the hard floor and wearied out with the day’s march, soon fell asleep.

But they did not sleep long.  Their slumbers were broken by a rumbling sound as of a coming earthquake; the walls of the house shook, and peals of thunder echoed through the lofty chamber.

Thor sprang up.  “We are scarcely safe here,” he said; “let us seek some other room.”  Loki jumped up speedily, as did also Thialfe and Raska, who were in a great fright, wondering what dreadful thing was going to happen to them.  They willingly followed Thor, hoping to find a safer place.

To the right they saw another room like a long gallery with a huge doorway, and into this Loki, Thialfe, and Raska crept, choosing the farthest corner of it; but Thor took his stand at the doorway to be on the watch if any fresh danger should threaten them.