a wall of
solid masonry.

"Where are you?" asked Loki, "for it is so dark that I cannot see
you."

"Here," answered Thor, stretching out his hand; "take hold and follow
me."

So Loki clutched Thor's arm, and Thialfe in turn seized the arm of
Loki, whilst Raska clung to her brother and wished herself safe at
home in her father's hut.

And thus they groped their way along the wall, seeking to find an
entrance to the house.

At last Thor found a huge entrance opening into a wide, hall, and
passing through this they turned to the left into a large room which
was quite empty, and here, after eating some food, they stretched
themselves upon the hard floor and wearied out with the day's march,
soon fell asleep.

But they did not sleep long. Their slumbers were broken by a rumbling
sound as of a coming earthquake; the walls of the house shook, and
peals of thunder echoed through the lofty chamber.

Thor sprang up. "We are scarcely safe here," he said; "let us seek
some other room." Loki jumped up speedily, as did also Thialfe and
Raska, who were in a great fright, wondering what dreadful thing was
going to happen to them. They willingly followed Thor, hoping to find
a safer place.

To the right they saw another room like a long gallery with a huge
doorway, and into this Loki, Thialfe, and Raska crept, choosing the
farthest corner of it; but Thor took his stand at the doorway to be on
the watch if any fresh danger should threaten them.

After a somewhat uncomfortable rest, Loki, Thialfe, and Raska were not
sorry to find that the day had dawned, though as there were no windows
in the house, they only knew it by hearing the cock crow.

Thor was better off, for the doorway was so wide that the sunlight
came pouring in without hindrance. Indeed the huge size of the doorway
made Thor think that the builder must have given up all hope of ever
finding a door large enough to fit into it.

He strolled away from the house, and the first thing that he saw was
a huge giant fast asleep upon the greensward; and now he knew that the
thunder that had so frightened them in the night had been nothing more
or less than the loud snoring of the giant.

So wroth was Thor at the thought that such a thing should have made
him afraid, that he fastened on his belt of strength and drew his
sword and made towards the giant as though he would kill him on the
spot.

But the giant, opening his great round eyes, stared so steadily at
Thor