heir
race embraces them, and is, at the same time, willing to sacrifice a
hundred years of his own life. Seldom does a giant do that. I loved my
husband too well not to bring him back cheerfully to life, every time
that I could do it, even at the highest price, and never would I reckon
how often I had done it that I might not know when the time came when I
myself should share his fate, and, at the moment I threw my arms around
him, become the same as he. Alas! now even this comfort is taken from
me. I can never more by any embrace awake him, since he has heard the
name which I dare not utter, and never again will he see the light till
the dawn of the last day shall bring it."

"Now I go hence! You will never again behold me! All that is here in the
house I give you! My dulcimer alone will I keep. Let no one venture to
fix his habitation on the little islands which lie around here. There
dwell the little underground ones whom you saw at the festival, and I
will protect them as long as I live."

With these words Guru vanished. The next spring Orm took the golden horn
and the silver ware to Drontheim where no one knew him. The value of the
things was so great that he was able to purchase everything a wealthy
man desires. He loaded his ship with his purchases, and returned to the
island, where he spent many years in unalloyed happiness, and Aslog's
father was soon reconciled to his wealthy son-in-law.

The stone image remained sitting in the house. No human power was able
to move it. So hard was the stone that hammer and axe flew in pieces
without making the slightest impression upon it. The giant sat there
till a holy man came to the island, who, with one single word, removed
him back to his former station, where he stands to this hour. The copper
kettle, which the underground people left behind them, was preserved as
a memorial upon the island, which bears the name of House Island to the
present day.

THE ICELANDIC SORCERESSES.

"Tell me," said Katla, a handsome and lively widow, to Gunlaugar, an
accomplished and gallant young warrior, "tell me why thou goest so oft
to Mahfahlida? Is it to caress an old woman?"

"Thine own age, Katla," answered the youth inconsiderately, "might
prevent thy making that of Geirrida a subject of reproach."

"I little deemed," replied the offended matron, "that we were on an
equality in that particular--but thou, who supposest that Geirrida is
the sole source of knowledge, may