ul
expression, it was as beautiful as the woods are in full summer, and a
clever thought came into Skirnir's mind. He stooped down, without Frey's
seeing him, and, with cunning touch, stole the picture out of the water;
then he fastened it up carefully in his silver drinking-horn, and,
hiding it in his mantle, he mounted his horse and rode towards
Joetunheim, secure of succeeding in his mission, since he carried a
matchless sword to conquer the giant, and a matchless picture to win the
maiden.

PART III

FAIREST GERDA

The house of Gymir, Gerda's father, stood in the middle of Joetunheim, so
it will not be difficult for you to imagine what a toilsome and wondrous
journey Skirnir had. He was a brave hero, and he rode a brave horse;
but, when they came to the barrier of murky flame that surrounds
Joetunheim, a shudder came over both.

"Dark it is without," said Skirnir to his horse, "and you and I must
leap through flame, and go over hoar mountains among Giant Folk. The
giants will take us both, or we shall return victorious together." Then
he patted his horse's neck, and touched him with his armed heel, and
with one bound he cleared the barrier, and his hoofs rang on the frozen
land.

Their first day's journey was through the land of the Frost Giants,
whose prickly touch kills, and whose breath is sharper than swords. Then
they passed through the dwellings of the horse-headed and vulture-headed
giants--monsters terrible to see. Skirnir hid his face, and the horse
flew along swifter than the wind.

On the evening of the third day they reached Gymir's house. Skirnir rode
round it nine times; but though there were twenty doors, he could find
no entrance; for fierce three-headed dogs guarded every doorway.

At length he saw a herdsman pass near, and he rode up and asked him how
it was possible for a stranger to enter Gymir's house, or get a sight of
his fair daughter Gerda.

"Are you doomed to death, or are you already a dead man," answered the
herdsman, "that you talk of seeing Gymir's fair daughter, or entering a
house from which no one ever returns?"

"My death is fixed for one day," said Skirnir, in answer, and his voice,
the voice of an Asa, sounded loud and clear through the misty air of
Joetunheim. It reached the ears of the fair Gerda as she sat in her
chamber with her maidens.

"What is that noise of noises," she said, "that I hear? The earth shakes
with it, and all Gymir's halls tremble."

Then on