THOR’S VISIT TO JOTUNHEIM, THE GIANT’S COUNTRY

One day the god Thor, with his servant Thialfi, and accompanied by Loki, set out on a journey to the giant’s country.  Thialfi was of all men the swiftest of foot.  He bore Thor’s wallet, containing their provisions.  When night came on they found themselves in an immense forest, and searched on all sides for a place where they might pass the night, and at last came to a very large hall, with an entrance that took the whole breadth of one end of the building.  Here they lay down to sleep, but towards midnight were alarmed by an earthquake which shook the whole edifice.  Thor, rising up, called on his companions to seek with him a place of safety.  On the right they found an adjoining chamber, into which the others entered, but Thor remained at the doorway with his mallet in his hand, prepared to defend himself, whatever might happen.  A terrible groaning was heard during the night, and at dawn of day Thor went out and found lying near him a huge giant, who slept and snored in the way that had alarmed them so.  It is said that for once Thor was afraid to use his mallet, and as the giant soon waked up, Thor contented himself with simply asking his name.

“My name is Skrymir,” said the giant, “but I need not ask thy name, for I know that thou art the god Thor.  But what has become of my glove?” Thor then perceived that what they had taken overnight for a hall was the giant’s glove, and the chamber where his two companions had sought refuge was the thumb.  Skrymir then proposed that they should travel in company, and Thor consenting, they sat down to eat their breakfast, and when they had done, Skrymir packed all the provisions into one wallet, threw it over his shoulder, and strode on before them, taking such tremendous strides that they were hard put to it to keep up with him.  So they travelled the whole day, and at dusk Skrymir chose a place for them to pass the night in under a large oak tree.  Skrymir then told them he would lie down to sleep.  “But take ye the wallet,” he added, “and prepare your supper.”

Skrymir soon fell asleep and began to snore strongly; but when Thor tried to open the wallet, he found the giant had tied it up so tight he could not untie a single knot.  At last Thor became wroth, and grasping his mallet with both hands he struck a furious blow on the giant’s head.  Skrymir, awakening, merely asked whether a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had supped and were ready to go to sleep.  Thor answered that they were just going to sleep, and so saying went and laid himself down under another tree.  But sleep came not that night to Thor, and when Skrymir snored again so loud that the forest reechoed with the noise, he arose, and grasping his mallet launched it with such force at the giant’s skull that it made a deep dint in it.  Skrymir, awakening, cried out, “What’s the matter?  Are there any birds perched on this