He was so tall that his head touched the ceiling, and his hair was like a waggon load of sheep's wool, all ropy and tangled, his thick beard like a frozen forest, whilst his eyes seemed almost as large as his mother's nine hundred pairs put together, and his voice sounded like the bellowing of a herd of cattle. Truly he was a very terrible giant to look at, and, for a moment, Thor himself was glad of the shelter of the cauldrons. Hymir's gentle wife stood beside him, and Thor could not help wondering what had made her fall in love with him. However, she seemed not to mind his rough ways, and she persuaded him to sit down and listen to what she had to tell him. 'Rejoice with me, Hymir,' she said, 'for great happiness has befallen us. Our son, our long-lost Tyr, has come home from his travels, and with him he brings the noble Veorr, sprung from a gentle race.' 'I see them not,' answered the giant; 'why are they not here to greet me?' 'Nay,' replied his wife," they are not far off, but no sooner did they hear thy voice chiding the hounds than they hid themselves, fearing to meet thine anger. Behind yon pillar, whereon the cauldrons hang, stand Veorr and thy son.' Then the giant cast so savage a glance at the pillar, and on the ceiling above it, that, unable to bear his look, the beams split asunder, and the heavy pillar shook. Then the giant cast a still more savage glance upon the eight cauldrons, which fell to the ground with a fearful crash that well nigh deafened Thor and Tyr. Seven of the cauldrons were broken to pieces, but the eighth, which was the largest, was not hurt. When the cloud of dust had cleared away, Tyr and his friend stepped forth from behind the pillar. The giant did not seem overjoyed to see them. 'A pretty pair, hiding away like mice,' he said scornfully; then looking more closely at Thor, he started. The god Thor!' he exclaimed, for he knew his old enemy. Thor was not altogether at his ease, for he remembered how mighty a giant Hymir was, and the breaking of the cauldrons had not cheered him. If the glance of Hymir could do such things, what might not his arm 'do? However, he spoke as though he was well pleased to see the Jötun, and said that Tyr, who had been sojourning awhile in Asgard, had persuaded him to visit Utgard. 'I had no notion you had such fine castles in your country,' added Thor, trying to say something pleasant. 'They are strong,' said the giant, looking round his great dreary hall. I don't know that they are handsome. I think not, but they're good enough for me. Wife,' said he, turning suddenly round, 'where is my supper?' She whispered something to him. 'Make it enough 'Not enough?' said he aloud. then, since the god Thor has come to visit us. Have three oxen slain and dressed at once. I have had a hard day's hunting, and I am hungry.' So Hymir's wife went away, and very soon the three oxen roasted whole were brought in on a mighty dish. Hymir, willing to make Thor believe that he needed a great deal of food, ate two of them, and Tyr shared the third with Thor. The giant's wife grieved sadly to see so much food taken. What were they to do if it should go on? 'Never mind,' said Thor, I can row a boat, and I can fish, and to-morrow I will go out to sea and bring home fish in plenty, if your husband will only give me some bait.' . To this Hymir agreed. 'Let Thor go into the pastures and take what bait he pleases,' said he. IV. The next morning Thor rose early, and told Hymir that he would go and fish. 'A bull's head,' said he, 'is the best bait that I know of, and with that alone will I fish.' Hymir wondered at his words, but he said nothing, and waited to see what Thor would do. Thor went into the fields where was a drove of fierce cattle grazing; he walked fearlessly in among them, and seizing a large black bull by the horns, dealt it so heavy a blow with his hammer that it fell down dead on the spot, and then, with one jerk of his hand, he twisted off its head. 'You surprise me,' said Hymir. And they went down to the boat together. They got in, and Thor, taking the oars, made one |