As for the horses, their hoofs were terrible to look at, and Thialfe and Raska must have climbed up ladders if they wished to see their heads.

The people were quite as large as Skrymner had described and Thor and his companions were obliged to be very careful lest they should get trodden upon, as it was very doubtful if the people even saw them.

Still Thor walked along with the proud consciousness that he was the god Thor; and feeling that though he was so small he was yet a person of some importance, made his way to the palace, and desired to see the King.

After some little time he and his fellow travelers were ushered into the presence of Utgarda Loke, the King of the country.  And Utgarda Loke, hearing the door open, raised his eyes, thinking to see some great courtier enter, but he knew nothing of the bows and greetings of Thor, until happening to cast his eyes to the ground, he saw a little man with his companions saluting him with much ceremony.

The King had never seen such small men before, and there was something so absurd to him in the sight, that he burst out laughing.

And then all the courtiers laughed also, pretending that they had not seen the little creatures before.

It was some time before they all left off laughing, but at length there was a pause, and Thor essayed to make himself heard.

“Though we are but small in comparison with the Joetuns,” said he angrily, “we are by no means to be despised, but are gifted with powers that may surprise you.”

“Really!” answered Utgarda Loke, raising his eyebrows.  And then he and his courtiers laughed louder than before.

At last there was another pause in their merriment, and the King added:  “However, we are willing to give the strangers a fair trial in order to prove the truth of what their spokesman, whom I take to be the god Thor, says.  How say you?  What can this one do?” And he pointed to Loki.

“Please your Majesty, I am very great at eating,” returned Loki.

“Nay,” answered Utgarda Loke, “you must grow a little before you are great at anything.”

At which speech the courtiers again shouted with laughter; but Utgarda Loke, turning to his servants, bade them make trial of Loki’s powers.  So they brought a great trough full of food, and Loki was placed at one end, and a courtier named Loge at the other.  They both fell to work to devour what was before them, and met at the middle of the trough.  But it was found that while Loki had eaten the flesh of his portion, Loge had eaten, not only the flesh, but the bones also.  Therefore Loki, was, of course, vanquished.

Then Utgarda Loke turned to Thialfe.  “And pray, in what may this youth be specially skilled?” he asked.

“I am a swift skater,” answered Thialfe.

“Try him,” said the King.

And Thialfe was led to a plain of ice, as smooth as glass, and one named Hugr was set to run against him.  But though Thialfe was the swiftest skater ever known in the world, yet Hugr glided past him so fleetly that he had returned to the starting-post before Thialfe had done more than a quarter of the distance.