Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12)

like a dull red lamp on the horizon, Frigga turned round and said, "Will a

before any one else ha

d and ride down to Helheim; there seek out Hela, the stern mistress

ery, dark, and very cold. At last he came to the Giallar Bru-that sounding river which flows between the living and the dead, and to the bridge over it which is paved with stones of glittering gold. Hermod was surprised to see gold in such a place; but as he rode over the bridge, and looked down carefully at the stone

id not shake it so much as you have done. Besides," she added, looking more closely at Hermod, "you are n

red Hermod. "Tell me,

bridge; but there below, towards the no

did not hear who flitted up and down the dark streets, for their ears had been stunned and become cold long since. Hermod rode on through the city until he came to the palace of Hela, which stood in the midst. Precipice was its threshold, the entrance-hall, Wide Storm, and yet Hermod was not too much afraid to seek the innermost rooms; so he went on to the banqueting hall, where Hela sat at the head of her table serving her new guests. Baldur, alas! sat at her right hand, and on her left his pale young wife. When Hela saw Hermod coming up the hall she smil

ouches and talked. Hermod could speak of nothing but the past, and as he looked anxiously round the room h

laughed at this and said: "You talk a great deal about Baldur, and boast how much every one loves him; I will prove now if what you have told me be true. Let every

s the entrance of the city. Baldur went with him as far as the gate and began to sen

o us," he said, "there is

dur watched him through the bars of

Asa; but still he saw the light far