ie me straight to the secret smithies of dwarfs," answered
Loki; "and those cunning little kinsmen of mine shall make golden
tresses for fair Sif, which will grow upon her head like other hair, and
cause her to be an hundred-fold more beautiful than before."

Thor knew that Loki was a slippery fellow, and that he did not always do
what he promised, and hence he would not let him go. He called to Frey,
who had just come up, and said,--

"Come, cousin Frey, help me to rid the world of this sly thief. While I
hold fast to his raven hair, and his long slim arms, do you seize him by
the heels, and we will give his limbs to the fishes, and his body to the
birds, for food."

Loki, now thoroughly frightened, wept, and kissed Frey's feet, and
humbly begged for mercy. And he promised that he would bring from the
dwarf's smithy, not only the golden hair for Sif, but also a mighty
hammer for Thor, and a swift steed for Frey. So earnest were his
words, and so pitiful was his plea, that Thor at last set the trembling
Mischief-maker free, and bade him hasten away on his errand. Quickly,
then, he went in search of the smithy of the dwarfs.

He crossed the desert moorlands, and came, after three days, to the
bleak hill-country, and the rugged mountain-land of the South. There the
earthquake had split the mountains apart, and dug dark and bottomless
gorges, and hollowed out many a low-walled cavern, where the light
of day was never seen. Through deep, winding ways, and along narrow
crevices, Loki crept; and he glided under huge rocks, and downward
through slanting, crooked clefts, until at last he came to a great
underground hall, where his eyes were dazzled by a light which was
stronger and brighter than day; for on every side were glowing fires,
roaring in wonderful little forges, and blown by wonderful little
bellows And the vaulted roof above was thickly set with diamonds and
precious stones, that sparkled and shone like thousands of bright stars
in the blue sky. And the little dwarfs, with comical brown faces,
and wearing strange leathern aprons, and carrying heavy hammers, were
hurrying here and there, each busy at his task. Some were smelting pure
gold from the coarse rough rocks; others were making precious gems, and
rich rare jewels, such as the proudest king would be glad to wear. Here,
one was shaping pure, round pearls from dewdrops and maidens' tears;
there, another wrought green emeralds from the first leaves of spring.