used big drops of sweat to roll
off of his forehead. But the dwarf stopped not nor faltered, until his
brother again cried out,--

"Enough!"

This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, sparkling all
over with the rarest and most costly jewels.

"This is the ring Draupner," said he. "It is well worthy to be worn on
Odin's finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, equal to it in every
way, shall drop from it. It shall enrich the earth, and make the desert
blossom as the rose; and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill the
farmers' barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. Take
it to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk to him and to
mankind."

After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from the
mountains of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon their bellows until
it glowed white and hot, Sindre threw it into the furnace.

"This shall be the gift of gifts," said he to Brok. "Ply the bellows
as before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter until the work is
done."

But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the glowing
fire, the horse-fly came again. This time he settled between the dwarf's
eyes, and stung his eyelids until the blood filled his eyes, and ran
down his cheeks, and blinded him so that he could not see. At last,
in sore distress, and wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, and
lifted his hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out of
the furnace. It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every way, save
that the handle was half an inch too short.

"This is the mighty Mjolner," said Sindre to Loki, who had again taken
his proper shape. "The Thunderer may have the hammer that you promised
him; although it is our gift, and not yours. The stoutest giant will not
be able now to cope with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall,
nor, indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against the
lightning-strokes of Mjolner."

And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had fashioned, and went
with Loki to Asgard, the home of the Asa-folk. And they chose Odin and
Thor and Frey to examine and judge which was best,--Loki's three gifts,
the work of Ivald's sons; or Brok's three gifts, the work of Sindre.
When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki went
forward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would always hit
the mark; and to Frey he gave the ship Skidbladner, that would sail
whithersoever