U2 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. [VIII. 



they could, and they met in the middle of the trough. 

 Lopt had picked the meat from the bones, but Loge had 

 eaten meat, bones, and trough altogether. All agreed Lopt 

 was beaten. Then asked Utgard Loke what art the 

 young man (Thor's attendant) understood? Thjalfe 

 answered, that he would run a race with any one that 

 Utgard Loke would appoint. There was a very good race 

 ground on a level field. Utgard Loke called a young man 

 named Huge, and bade him run with Thjalfe. Thjalfe runs 

 his best, at three several attempts — according to received 

 Saga customs, — but is of course beaten in the race. 



" Then asked Utgard Loke of Thor, what were the feats 

 that he would attempt corresponding to the fame that went 

 abroad of him? Thor answered that he thought he could 

 beat any one at drinking. Utgard Loke said, ' Very good ;' 

 and bade his cup-bearer bring out the horn from which his 

 courtiers were accustomed to drink. Immediately appeared 

 the cup-bearer, and placed the horn in Thor's hand. 

 Utgard Loke then said, ' that to empty that horn at one 

 pull was well done ; some drained it at twice ; but that he 

 was a wretched drinker who could not finish it at the third 

 draught.' Thor looked at the horn, and thought that it 

 was not large, though it was tolerably long. He was very 

 thirsty, lifted it to his mouth, and was very happy at the 

 thought of so good a draught. When he could drink no 

 more, he took the horn from his mouth, and saw, to his 

 astonishment, that there was little less in it than before. 

 Utgard Loke said : ' Well hast thou drunk, yet not much. 

 I should never have believed but that Asar-Thor could 

 have drunk more ; however, of this I am confident, thou 

 wilt empty it at the second time.' He drank again ; but 

 when he took away the horn from his mouth, it seemed to 

 him that it had sunk less this time than the first ; yet the 

 horn might now be carried without spilling. 



' : Then said Utgard Loke : ' How is this, Thor ? If thou 

 dost not reserve thyself purposely for the third draught, 

 thine honour must be lost ; how canst thou be regarded as 



