that the god became mazed and could do nothing but stare in
return.

At last, however, he found voice to ask, "What is your name?"

"My name," said the giant, raising himself on one elbow, thereby
causing his head to rise so high into the air that Thor thought it was
taking flight altogether, "is Skrymner; you, I believe, are the god
Thor?"

"I am," answered the god.

"Do you happen to have picked up my glove?" asked the giant
carelessly.

Then Thor knew that what he and his companions had taken for a large
house was only the giant's glove, and from this we may judge how huge
a giant Skrymner must have been.

Thor made no answer, and Skrymner next asked whither Thor was
traveling; and when he found that he was journeying to Utgard, offered
to bear him company, as he too was going to the same place.

Thor accepted the giant's offer, and after eating a hearty meal, all
were ready for another day's march.

Skrymner showed himself a kindly giant, and insisted upon carrying
Thor's bag of meal, putting it into his own wallet, which he slung
across his broad shoulders.

It must have been a strange sight, indeed, to see the great giant
stalking along with his smaller companions at his heels; and we may
well marvel how they managed to keep pace with him, or how Thor was
able to raise his voice to such a pitch as to reach the giant's ears.

Nevertheless all went well, and they trudged cheerfully along, never
flagging in their talk.

Once Skrymner took Raska on his shoulder, but the height made her so
giddy that she was glad to come down again and walk quietly by the
side of Thialfe.

When night overtook them they encamped under one of the great
oak-trees, for they were not yet out of the bounds of the forest.
Skrymner, to judge by his loud snoring, fell asleep the moment he lay
down upon the ground, but Thor and his comrades were not so tired
as to forget that they had tasted nothing since breakfast time.
Accordingly they set to work to open the wallet that Skrymner had
given into their hands before closing his eyes.

But it was no easy task, and with all their efforts they failed to
open it. Not a knot could they untie, and their fingers were chafed
and aching.

Neither were they more able to awaken Skyrmner, and Thor's anger waxed
exceedingly fierce. "You shall pay for this," said he, flinging his
hammer at the giant.

Skrymner half opened the eye nearest to Thor, and said in a very
sleepy voice, "Why will