y to talk to! I'm afraid Hal began to grow scared. A verse
that he learned in his boyhood, across the wide sea, came unasked into
his mind. It always came there precisely at the time he did not desire
its company. It ran thus:

"Oh! for the might of dread Odin
The powers upon him shed,
For a sail in the good ship Skidbladnir,[A-236]
And a talk with Mimir's head!"[B-236]

[Footnote A-236: The ship Skidbladnir was the property of Odin. He could
sail in it on the most dangerous seas, and yet could fold it up and
carry it in his pocket.]

[Footnote B-236: Mimir's head was always the companion of Odin. When he
desired to know what was transpiring in distant countries, he inquired
of Mimir, and always received a correct reply.]

This verse was repeated over and over again inaudibly. Gradually,
however, his voice became a little louder, and a little louder still,
until finally poor Hal hallooed it vociferously forth so sonorously that
it drowned the very thunder. He had repeated it just seventy-seven
times, when suddenly a monstrous head was thrust in at the door, and
demanded, in a voice that sounded like the maelstrom, "What do _you_
want with Odin?" "Oh, nothing--nothing in the world, I thank you, sir,"
politely responded poor Hal, shaking from head to foot. Here the head
was followed by the shoulders, arms, body and legs of a giant at least
forty feet high. Of course he came in on all fours, and approached in
close proximity to Black Hal. Hal involuntarily retreated, as far as he
could, reciting to himself the only prayer he remembered, "Now I lay me
down to sleep," etc.

The giant did not appear desirous of pursuing Hal, being afraid--so Hal
said--that he would draw his knife on him. But be the cause what it
might, he seated himself at the head of the nine-pin alley, and shouted,
"Stand up!" As he did so, the nine-pins at the other end arose and took
their places.

"Now, sir," said he, turning again to Hal, "I'll bet you an ounce of
your blood I can beat you rolling."

Hal trembled again, but meekly replied, "Please, sir, we don't bet
_blood_ nowadays--we bet _money_."

"Blood's my money," roared forth the giant. "Fee, fo, fum!" Hal tried in
vain to hoist the window.

"Will you bet?"

"Yes, sir," said Hal; and he thought as it was only _an ounce_, he could
spare that without much danger, and it might appease the monster's
appetite.

"Roll first!" said the giant.

"Yes, sir," replie