The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

134
CHILDREN OF ODIN
Hrymer was first out of bed the next morning. He came with
the pole and the ropes in his hand to where Thor was sleeping.
"Time to start earning your meal, Asa TJior," said he.
Thor got out of bed, and when they were both in the court-yard
the Giant said, "You'll have to provide a bait for yourself.
Mind that you take a bait large enough. It is not where the
little fishes are, the place where I'm going to take you. If you
never saw monsters before you'll see them now. I'm glad,
Asa Thor, that you spoke of going fishing."
"Will this bait be big enough?" said Thor, laying his hands
on the horns of the bull that Hrymer had captured and brought
home, the bull with the mighty head of horns that was caUed
" Heaven-breaking." "Will this bait be big enough, do you
think?"
"Yes, if you're big enough to handle it," said the Giant.
Thor said nothing, but he struck the bull full in the middle
of the forehead with his fist. The great creature fell down dead.
Thor then twisted the bull's head off. "I have my bait and I'm
ready to go with you, Hrymer," he said.
Hrymer had turned away to hide the rage he was in at seeing
Thor do such a feat. He walked down to the boat without
speaking. "You may row for the first few strokes," said Hrymer,
when they were in the boat, "but when we come to where the
ocean is rough, why I'll take the oars from you."
Without saying a word Thor made a few strokes that took
the boat out into the middle of the ocean. Hrymer was in a rage