nd putting the horn to his
lips he gave the last long call from Asgard, which resounded across
the Rainbow Bridge throughout the whole world.

Then the Asa folk sprang from their flower-strewn couches, and seizing
their weapons, they mounted their battle steeds and rode across the
Rainbow Bridge to the great plain where they were to wage their last
fight.

Meantime, the Sea-serpent was lashing the waters of the ocean with his
tail as he made his way through the blood-red waves to that dread
battlefield. And Loki, who had roused all the host of the Fire Giants,
was sailing thither as fast as the tossing ocean would carry his fatal
barque; while from the foggy regions of the north issued the whole
race of Frost Giants, eager for their revenge upon the hated Asa folk.

From a cleft in the earth came also Hela, the goddess of the
underworld, followed by her gaunt watchdog and by all the evil dregs
of her gloomy realm. Lastly, from a blinding flash of lightning that
seemed to rend the skies in twain, came forth the troop of Flame
Giants, each with his fiery sword in hand.

Loki gladly placed himself at the head of all those hosts, and he led
them forward boldly against the gods.

And first they thought to storm Asgard in one wild onset, but the
Rainbow Bridge sank with a mighty crash under their horses' feet.

Meanwhile, the Asas had been gathering their forces upon the
battlefield, where with calm, stern faces they awaited the attack of
their foes--the red Flame Giants, the grim army of Hela, the
grey-white host of the Frost Giants, led by Loki, with the Fenris Wolf
on one hand and the Sea-serpent, breathing out clouds of deadly
vapour, on the other.

"And all are marshalled in one flaming square
Against the gods, upon the plains of heaven."

Then came the crash of battle, in which, for all their courage, the
Asas were bound to meet with defeat. Desperately they fought, but all
to no avail, for, at the moment that Heimdall and Loki fell dead
before each other's swords, and Thor, after killing the Sea-serpent,
was drowned in the poisonous stream that flowed from the creature's
mouth, the Fenris Wolf came at All-Father Odin with jaws open so wide
that they reached from earth to heaven; and rushing upon the mighty
Asa he engulfed him in that horrid tomb.

Most of the Asas, as well as their foes, now lay dead on the
battlefield, and, seeing this, the Flame Giants suddenly grasped their
fiery brands and flung