rom thence scrambled up
through the hatchhole. There was no want of ropes in the chamber, and he
threw a rope down to Thorod; but when he tried to draw him up, he could
not move him from the spot. Then Thorod told him to cast the rope over
a cross-beam that was in the house, make a loop in it, and place as much
wood and stones in the loop as would outweigh him; and the heavy weight
went down into the cellar, and Thorod was drawn up by it. Now they took
as much clothes as they required in the room; and among other things
they took some reindeer hides, out of which they cut sandals, and bound
them under their feet, with the hoofs of the reindeer feet trailing
behind. But before they set off they set fire to a large corn barn
which was close by, and then ran out into the pitch-dark night. The barn
blazed, and set fire to many other houses in the village. Thorod and
his comrade travelled the whole night until they came to a lonely wood,
where they concealed themselves when it was daylight. In the morning
they were missed. There was chase made with dogs to trace the footsteps
all round the house; but the hounds always came back to the house, for
they had the smell of the reindeer hoofs, and followed the scent back on
the road that the hoofs had left, and therefore could not find the right
direction. Thorod and his comrade wandered long about in the desert
forest, and came one evening to a small house, and went in. A man and a
woman were sitting by the fire. The man called himself Thorer, and said
it was his wife who was sitting there, and the hut belonged to them. The
peasant asked them to stop there, at which they were well pleased. He
told them that he had come to this place, because he had fled from the
inhabited district on account of a murder. Thorod and his comrade were
well received, and they all got their supper at the fireside; and then
the benches were cleared for them, and they lay down to sleep, but the
fire was still burning with a clear light. Thorod saw a man come in from
another house, and never had he seen so stout a man. He was dressed in
a scarlet cloak beset with gold clasps, and was of very handsome
appearance. Thorod heard him scold them for taking guests, when they
had scarcely food for themselves. The housewife said, "Be not angry,
brother; seldom such a thing happens; and rather do them some good too,
for thou hast better opportunity to do so than we." Thorod heard also
the stout man named by the name