red up; the oil of the heart
trickled down upon it, and the flame burst into a blaze. Higher and
higher waxed the fire. All the heart shone red with the light of it.

Then the lad ran back and jumped into the boat and pushed it clear of
the roof. And none too soon, for as the fire burned deeper into the
heart, the monster felt the burn of it and began to writhe and twist.
Then he gave a great cough that sent the waters surging back out of
his body and into the sea again in a mighty flood.

Ashipattle's boat was caught in the rush and swept like a straw up out
of the Stoorworm's throat and into the light of day. The monster
spewed him and his boat all the way across the sea and up on the
shore, almost at the King's feet.

The King himself sprang from his steed and ran and helped Ashipattle
to his feet. Then every one fled back to a high hill, for the sea was
rising in a mighty flood with the beating and tossing of the
Stoorworm.

Then began such a sight as never was seen before and perchance will
never be seen again. For first the monster flung his tail so high that
it seemed as though it would strike the sun from the sky. And next it
fell into the sea with such a slap as sent the waves high up the
rocks; and now it was his head that flung aloft, and the tongue caught
on the point of the crescent moon and hung there, and for a while it
looked as though the moon would be pulled from the sky, but it stood
firm, and the monster's tongue tore, so that the head dropped back
into the sea with such force that the teeth flew out of its mouth, and
these teeth became the Orkney Islands.

Again its head reared high and fell back, and more teeth flew out, and
these became the Shetland Islands. The third time his head rose and
fell, and teeth flew out; they became the Faroe Islands.

So the monster beat and threshed and struggled, while the King and the
Princess and Ashipattle and all the people looked on with fear and
wonder at the dreadful sight.

But at last the struggle became weaker, for the heart was almost
burned out. Then the Stoorworm curled up and lay still, for it was
dead, and its great coils became the place called Iceland.

So was the monster killed, and that was the manner of his death!

But the King turned to Ashipattle and called him son, and took the
hand of the Princess Gemlovely and laid it in the lad's hand, for now
she was to be his bride as the King had promised.

Then they all rode back to the pala