is heart torn between hatred of the god
and fear as to what would happen if he did not keep his promise; but
he only told gloomily that he had failed to get the mead.

Then Odin said, "If Suttung will not give the mead because of your
promise, we must get it by some trick. And you will have to help me in
this, because of your plighted word."

To this Baugi pretended to agree, but all the while he was trying to
think of a plan whereby he could make an end of his troublesome
servant.

They now made their way to the mountain where Gunlod kept watch over
her treasured jars of mead. But her cave was hidden far away in the
centre of the mountain, and none but Suttung knew how to find the
entrance.

Baugi only pretended to join in the long and fruitless search, and at
length, tired out, Odin took from his pocket an auger, wherewith holes
are bored, and bade the giant use his great strength to drill a hole
through the mountain to the cave.

Accordingly Baugi bored away and presently cried out, "See, there is
your hole right into the cave!"

But Odin warily blew into the hole, and immediately chips of rock and
dust flew back into his face, showing that the hole extended only a
little way.

Then Odin knew, what before he had only guessed, that Baugi was trying
to trick him; but he only looked at him grimly and said:

"Bore deeper, master, bore deeper."

And the giant was so frightened by the gleam in the iron-grey eye that
he seized the auger, and this time made a hole which really pierced
the mountain and penetrated to the hidden cave.

Directly Odin had made sure that Baugi had fulfilled his task, he
changed himself into a snake and wriggled into the hole before Baugi
had realised what had happened.

The next moment Baugi gave a stab at the snake with the sharp auger,
hoping to cut him in two, but Odin was too quick for him, and he
wriggled out of sight as the blow fell.

Odin crept a long way through the mountain until he came at length to
a dark cave; and then he took again the form of the Father of Gods and
Men.

Looking about him for awhile in the dimness of the cavern, he saw at
length the beautiful Giant-Maiden, resting her head wearily on her
hands and gazing at the great jars of mead which stood before her on a
ledge as though she hated their very sight.

Coming softly to her side, Odin bent over her and gently kissed her
forehead. Gunlod at this sprang up in terror, but when she saw Odin's
kind face