lements of the city to watch the race,
trembled for its issue.

Then some of them remembered how once before they had played a trick
upon the pursuer in a similar conflict, and they collected pine
shavings in great abundance and piled them on the walls, and stood
ready to fire them when the moment came.

On, on flew Loki, hard beset; and close behind him came, with steady
rush, the mighty eagle Thiassi. He was almost upon his prey as they
neared the walls, but Loki made a last violent effort, which was
successful, and he fell exhausted into the midst of the Asas.

At the same moment the pile of fuel was lighted, and Thiassi, blinded
with smoke and singed with flame, dropped over the battlements, and
thus fell an easy prey to his waiting enemies. In admiration of his
good race, however, the Asas placed his eyes as stars in the heavens,
and there they shine to this day.

So the Apples of Youth returned to Asgard, and all the Asas hastened
to eat of them and became young and beautiful again. And fair Idun
once more resumed her shape, and never again was tricked by wicked
Loki, but played with her magic fruit in the golden groves of Asgard
till the End of All Things.

And this is how the Apples of Youth were once very nearly lost to
Asgard.

CHAPTER VIII

How the Fenris Wolf was Chained

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of
how the Fenris Wolf was chained._

Fair as were the meads of Asgard, we have seen that the Asa folk were
fond of wandering far afield in other regions. Most restless of all
was Red Loki, that cunning fellow who was always bringing trouble upon
himself or upon his kindred. And because he loved evil, he would often
betake himself to the gloomy halls of Giantland and mingle with the
wicked folk of that region.

Now one day he met a hideous giantess named Angur-Boda. This creature
had a heart of ice, and because he loved ugliness and evil she had a
great attraction for him, and in the end he married her, and they
lived together in a horrible cave in Giantland.

Three children were born to Loki and Angur-Boda in this dread abode,
and they were even more terrible in appearance than their mother. The
first was an immense wolf called Fenris, with a huge mouth filled with
long white teeth, which he was constantly gnashing together.

The second was a wicked-looking serpent with a fiery-tongue lolling
from its mouth.

The third was a hideous giantess, partly blue and partly flesh-colour,