Northern mythology

INTRODUCTIONv
Amid the lofty Fields'^ of Norway tlie gigantic Jutul has
fixed his home, of whose fingers and feet traces may be
seen in the hard stone, and whom fragments of rock and
ponderous grave-stones serve for weapons ; in the lower
ridges the wily Troll and the beautiful Huldra have their
dweUing ; in mounds and by lofty trees the countless
swarms of Elves have their haunt, while beneatli the
earth the small but long-armed and skilful dwarfs exercise
their handicrafts. In the evening twilight Thusser and
Vsettir still wander about, and the merry, wanton Nisser
frisk and dance by moonlight. In the rivers and lakes
lurks the fell Nok, and through the air flies tlie Aasgaardsreia^s
frantic crew^, announcing bloodshed and war, while
a guardian, warning Folgie attends each mortal on his
earthly career. Thus speaks tradition, and that this belief
is of long standing in the North may be concluded
1
From Faye's Norske Folke-Sagu. Christiania, 1844.
2 I have preserved the native orthography of this word (signifying a far
outstretched stony mountain), to prevent confusion with the English word
field. It is our north of England /e//. ^ See p. 25.