y consulted together the wolf
stood gnashing his teeth at them with a horrid grin.

At length Tyr the Brave hesitated no longer. Boldly he stalked up to the
wolf and thrust his arm into his enormous mouth, bidding the Asas bind
fast the beast. Scarce had they done so when the wolf began to strain
and pull, but the more he did so the tighter and stiffer the rope
became.

The gods shouted and laughed with glee when they saw how all his efforts
were in vain. But Tyr did not join in their mirth, for the wolf in his
rage snapped his great teeth together and bit off his hand at the wrist.

Now when the Asas discovered that the animal was fast bound, they took
the chain which was fixed to the rope and drew it through a huge rock,
and fastened this rock deep down in the earth, so that it could never be
moved. And this they fastened to another great rock which was driven
still deeper into the ground.

When the Fenris Wolf found that he had been thus secured he opened his
mouth terribly wide, and twisted himself right and left, and tried his
best to bite the Asa folk. He uttered, moreover, such terrible howls
that at length the gods could bear it no longer. So they took a sword
and thrust it into his mouth, so that the hilt rested on his lower, and
the point against his upper, jaw. And there he was doomed to remain
until the end of All Things shall come, when he

"Freed from the Chain
Shall range the Earth."

267

The story of Frey in the Norse mythology
corresponds to that of Persephone (Proserpine)
in classic mythology. (See No. 255.) Frey is
"the god of the earth's fruitfulness, presiding
over rain, sunshine, and all the fruits of the
earth, and dispensing wealth among men."
Skirnir is the sun-warmed air, and Gerda is the
seed. The version of the story used below is
from _The Heroes of Asgard_ by Annie and Eliza
Keary. This book was first published in 1854,
and while a little old-fashioned in style is
still one of the most pleasing attempts to tell
the Norse myths for young people.

FREY

A. AND E. KEARY

PART I

ON TIPTOE IN AIR THRONE

Wherever Frey came there was summer and sunshine. Flowers sprang up
under his footsteps, and bright-winged insects, like flying flowers,
hovered round his head. His warm breath ripened the fruit on the trees,
and gave a bright yellow color to the