The giant half-opened his eyes, rubbed his forehead, and asked, in a sleepy voice, if a leaf had fallen; then, seeing Thor, he questioned if they had had supper, and were ready for bed. This made Thor more angry still, but he thought it better to wait a little before he struck again. So he lay down at a distance, and watched until midnight. Then, hearing the giant snoring hard, he went to him, swung his hammer with all his might, and struck him right in the skull ! The mallet entered the head clear to the handle, but Skrymir, waking, only said, drowsily: turn to terrify the god, he struck thrice on his shield with his steel mace. At once the hall began to quake, the roof split, flames burst from the floor, and thick, suffocating vapor issued from the rifted walls. Even Thor could hardly keep his feet, and Utgardeloki jeeringly advised him to go. But the god, glaring fiercely and furiously, warned him to cease from enchantments, because, as Odin's son, he had power to destroy them all. Utgardeloki, terrified at Thor's wrath, said all this was only sport, and begged him to make friends at a feast, after which they should all prove their skill "Did an acorn drop? Ah, Thor! still up! You in such sports as warriors love. had better get some sleep for to-morrow." Thor went hastily away, but determined to get another blow at his enemy before morning. While Skrymir was asleep again, just at dawn, up got Thor again, and drawing in his belt to the last hole, swung his hammer round and round, then dashed it with such might that it was buried, head, handle, and all, in the giant's temple! Skrymir sprang up, and rubbing his brow, said: "Are there birds in this tree? I felt either a feather or a twig drop. How early you have risen, Thor! It is time to dress, for Utgard is close by. I have heard you whispering that I am not little, but you will find others bigger than I am, there. Don't boast, for Utgardeloki's courtiers wont bear much of that, from such insignificant little fellows as you are. If you don't take this advice, you had better turn back, which is in fact the best thing for you to do in any case. My way lies to those mountains, but there is the road to Utgard, if you still wish to go there." Then Skrymir turned from them into the forest. They had a dismal journey, until at last, at noon, having found the right track, they reached a great castle, standing in the midst of a vast plain; it was of such height that they had to bend their necks quite back to see over its top. This was Utgard, a gloomy place enough, surrounded by black rocks, with yawning chasms, while the land around was covered with eternal ice and snow. Before its iron-barred gates huge giants were keeping watch, with spears, swords, and shields. They looked scornfully at the travelers, who were so much smaller than themselves. The gates not being opened at once, Thor flung his hammer against them, and, the bolts immediately giving way, the portals flew open, and they passed into an immense hall, lit by torches, where a multitude of giants, even bigger than Skrymir, in complete armor, sat in triple ring around a lofty throne, whereon sat Utgardeloki. Thor, not a bit afraid, walked right up and saluted the king with so bold a look that the jötun (evil giant) trembled; but wishing in his The banquet over, the king asked in what feats they were best skilled. On this, Loki, always boastful, challenged them all to eat against him. Upon a signal from the monarch, up rose Logi, a giant with long, jagged teeth, eyes like live coals, and flaming nostrils. So horrible did he look, that even Thor shuddered to see him. Loki, however, accepted the trial, and a trough of meat being placed between them, they ate ravenously until they met right in the middle. Then it was found that Loki had only eaten the flesh, while Logi had devoured meat, bones, and trough, all together. So Logi had won. Utgardeloki then asked what the boy could do. Thialfi replied that he could outrun them all. The king said, sneeringly, "That is a useful art, for even brave men have found speed serve them better than fighting." He then called on a supple little veiled dwarf, named Hugi, and both the contestants passed out to the plain. Although Thialfi pressed him close, after three trials, Hugi, being declared victor, vanished like a flash. Then the king said, mockingly, that his guests did not seem very well skilled even in their own games; turning to Thor, he asked how he would prove the powers for which he was celebrated. "In a drinking-match," said Thor. The giant ordered his cup-bearers to bring in a horn so long that when set in the hall, one end remained outside. It seemed very old, and all around the edge were graven letters. Thor looked at the length of the horn, but, being very thirsty, he set it to his lips and took a deep drink. he set it down, the liquor was hardly lessened. Again he tried, and yet again; although the horn could now be carried without spilling, the amount within seemed much the same. When "Aha!" said the king, tauntingly, "I see plainly, Thor, thou art not quite so strong as we thought thee. But try another feat. We have a game here for children, consisting merely in lifting my cat from the ground. I should not have liked to mention it, had I not found thee so weak." As he spoke, a large gray cat, all covered with scales like a serpent, sprang on the hall floor, and glared about with fiery eyes. Thor, advancing, put his hand under the creature's body, and tried his very best to raise it; but he only lifted one foot, while the animal, bending its back, stretched itself higher and higher, till it touched the very roof of the hall. Thor, enraged, struck it with all his might, but the cat did not even wince. Then, turning upon the king, Thor dared him to wrestle with him. The giant said he saw no need of anger, as all was for sport; still, if Thor wished to wrestle, he would call his old nurse, Elle, to try a fall with him. A toothless old woman here entered, and springing on Thor, seized him around the waist. The more Thor strove, the firmer she stood; finally, after a violent struggle, the god fell on one knee. Then the king stopped the game, saying that as it was growing late, the sports must close, and the guests had been sufficiently outdone. After that, feasting was begun again, and the giants showed much hospitality to Thor and his companions, whom next morning Utgardeloki accompanied from the castle, to show them the road to Asgard. At parting, the king asked how they had enjoyed themselves, and said: "Now that you are out of my kingdom, which you shall never again enter if I can help it, I will tell you the truth. All that you have seen has been enchantment. I am Skrymir, who met you in the forest. By magic I tied the strings of your wallet, and when you struck at me, I placed a great mountain between us. Three deep glens have been made there by the strokes of your mallet. In all the contests at Utgard, I have used illusions also. Logi was Flame, devouring all. Hugi was Thought. What can be so swift? The horn I set before you was Ocean itself, with Time's records graven on its shores, and very greatly have its waters been lessened. My cat was the great World-serpent (which holds together the earth); your lifting it shook the uni verse. Elle was old age, before whom all must bow. Do not come again, for I have yet other illusions, and you can not prevail against me." Thor, infuriated, exclaimed: "I left Asgard without permission of my father Odin, and strength is useless without forethought to guide it, hence have I been conquered. But Odin's wisdom and Thor's hammer combined shall yet overcome your jötun might." So saying, he hurled his hammer, but the giant had disappeared, and where the city had stood was only a verdant plain. Scowling and muttering, Thor hastened home to Thrudvang, not stopping at Asgard on his way. This myth means that when you wish to accomplish anything, you must set about it in a wise manner, for, no matter how brave and strong you may be, if you lack wisdom, you will be sure to fail, especially if you choose a Loki for your companion. THE BOY WHO PLAYED TRUANT. BY ALICE WILLIAMS BROTHERTON. For now that your wand'ring is fairly begun, And the far-away island of great Palawan." So he gathered him up by the hair of his head, And the towering height of Mount Kini Balu! Just stopping a moment (Tom thought it was luck, too!) To take one long breath in the town of Timbuctoo, The town of Bokhara, He scorched his skin where the cactus grows, Tom shivered and quivered, and shook in his And set him to dry on the peaks of Nan-ling; shoes. "Don't try to escape," said the man-" "It's no use! Then off to Kioff He hurried, just pausing at Otschakoff. OME, children, let us go down to the river and wade until teatime," said Mrs. Pike to the noisy, restless boy and girl, who had been trying to play softly, but had only succeeded in making such a racket that the quietly disposed boarders in the adjoining rooms seemed likely to lose their afternoon naps. But they soon congratulated themselves on having a few undisturbed hours, as Fred and Grace, so full of life and fun, and tired of staying in the house, rushed away, glad of the chance to do what they were not allowed to do, excepting when older persons were with them. It did not take them long to get down the hill, take off shoes and stockings, and step into the water. And such fun as they had! They had not been there long, when Mamma and Cousin Lillie came down, and the long hours passed quickly enough, while they were skipping pebbles so beautifully, some going quite to the other bank; sailing paper-boats and tiny rafts, and wading far into the deep water after them. Trying to cross on the slippery stepping-stones was the best fun, however, for just when balancing themselves most carefully, down they would go with a splash and a scream! But little they cared for the wetting, and soon they would be trying the feat again, amid shouts of laughter, while Mamma's caution, "Do be careful, Fred!" was met with the prompt reply: "Why, Mamma, don't be afraid of this little bit of water! I'm sure a fellow could n't drown here if he wanted to." All summer these two children, whose home was in a far-off Southern city, had been living such a life out-of-doors as until then they never had dreamed of. On one side of the old-fashioned double house, away in the distance, were the Green Mountains, over whose somber tops the sun rose so rapidly that the children used to say the shadows were so frightened they could see them run; on the other side loomed up, in the far blue, chain after chain of the great Adirondack range, with lofty peaks stretching heavenward, and re |