f he could get a fair
price; upon which they all yelled at once that they would pay whatever
he asked.

"Then let him have it who catches it," said Odin, and with that he
threw the whetstone up in the air.

And then a tremendous struggle began. Each man fought with his
neighbour for the stone and hacked at him with his keen scythe; and
within a very few minutes all the nine serving-men lay dead on the
field.

With a grim smile at the greed and quarrelsome behaviour which had
brought them to this end, Odin passed on to the house of the Giant
Baugi, and begged for supper and shelter for the night. The giant
received him hospitably enough, and was about to sit down to table
with him, when word was brought that his nine servants had killed each
other and lay dead in the field.

Then Baugi began to complain and lament his bad luck, saying: "Here
have I never had a better harvest, and yet there is not a man left to
gather it in."

"Suppose you give _me_ a trial," suggested Odin, "for though I look
old I can do the work of nine men, and that you will soon find."

"What do you want for your wages?" asked Baugi doubtfully, for he
guessed that the stranger was somebody out of the common.

"Nothing but a draught of the Magic Mead stored away by your brother
Suttung," answered Odin calmly.

"'Tis no easy thing you ask of me, good fellow," replied Baugi, "nor
is it mine to give. But if you will do my work I will go with you to
my brother when all is done, and we will do our best to get the mead."

So Odin set to work all that summer-time, and never before had Baugi
had such service done. Then, when the first breath of frost touched
the autumn leaves, the toiler laid aside his tools and, going to his
master, asked for his reward.

But Baugi shook his head doubtfully. "'Tis a harder matter than you
think," said he. "Come with me, however, and I will do my best for
you."

So they went together to the house of Suttung, and Baugi entered in
and boldly asked his brother to give him a drink of the Magic Mead,
wherewith to reward his servant.

At this Suttung flew into a great rage, and reproached Baugi for
asking such a thing. "You have been fooled," he cried, "for this is
none other than one of the gods, our deadly enemies, who, when he
drinks the mead, will use his new-found wisdom in our despite. If you
take my advice, you will do this enemy an ill turn while you have him
in your power."

So Baugi went back to Odin, h