The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

^ODIN THE WANDERER 133
head and boms. 'Heaven-breaking' this bull is tailed. No
Giant but me could capture it." He tied the bull to the post
of the door and then his eyes went towards the pillar behind which
Thor and the Giant youth were hiding. _The pillar split up its
whole length at that look from Hrymer's eyes. He came nearer.
The pillar of stone broke across. It fell with the cross-beam it
supported and all the kettles and cauldrons that were hanging
on the beam came down with a terrible rattle.
Then Thor stepped out and faced the wrathful Giant. "It
is I who am here, friend Hrymer," he said, his hands resting on
his hammer.
Then Hrymer, who knew Thor and knew the force of Thor's
hammer, drew back. " Now that you are in my house, Asa Thor,"
he said, "I will not quarrel with you. Make supper ready for Asa
Thor and your son and myself," said he to the Giant woman.
A plentiful supper was spread and Hrymer and Thor and the
Giant youth sat down to three whole roast oxen. Thor ate the
whole of one ox. Hrymer, who had eaten nearly two himself,
leaving only small cuts for his wife and his youthful kinsman,
grumbled at Thor's appetite. "You'll clear my fields, Asa Thor,"
he said, "if you stay long with me."
"Do not grumble, Hrymer," Thor said. "To-morrow I'll go
fishing and I'll bring you back the weight of what I ate."
"Then instead of hunting I'll go fishing with you to-morrow,
Asa Thor," said Hrymer. "And don't be frightened if I take you
out on a rough sea."