Northern mythology

38 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
Of the Ship Skidbladnir^ (Ski]?blaJ?nir).—This
ship was constructed in the beginning of time^ by the
dwarfs, sons of Ivaldi^, who made a present of it to Frey.
It is the best and most curiously constructed of all ships,
though Naglfar, belonging to Muspell, is the largest.
But respecting this famous ship there is another story.
Loki, out of mischief, once cut all Sif^s hair off. AVhen
this came to the knowledge of Thor, he threatened to
crush every bone in him, if he did not get the svartelves
to make her a head of hair of gold, that should
grow like natural hair. Loki thereupon went to the sons
of Ivaldi, who made the hair for him, together with the
ship Skidbladnir, and the spear possessed by Odin,
Gungnir.
Loki afterwards wagered his head with the dwarf Brock,
that the latter^ s brother Sindii (iEitri) was unable to make
three such precious things. They then went to the smithy.
Sindri laid a swine^s skin on the fire, and desired Brock
to blow until he took it from the forge. But while he
was gone out, and Brock stood blowing, there came a
gad-fly^, which settled on his hand and stung him.
Brock,
nevertheless, Avent on blowing until his brother returned
and took what was forged from the fire. It was a hog
with golden bristles. The smith then put gold into the fire,
and desiring his brother to blow without intermission
until he returned, went away. The gad-fly came again,
fixed itself
before ;
on his neck, and stung him twice as sorely as
but Brock continued blowing until the smith came
back, and took from the fire the gold ring called Draupnir.
The third time Sindii put iron into the fire, and exhorted
his brother to blow without ceasing, for else all would be
^
From ski's, a thin plank, and bla'5, a leaf, &c.
- This Ivaldi, the parent of certain dwarfs, is not to he confounded with
the elf Ivald, tlie father of Idun.
3 That is, Loki under the form of a gad-lly.