THE EIGHT-FOOTED SLIPPER 39 



" The two who ride over the rainbow are Odin 

 and his steed Sleipnir. Odin has one eye, the 

 horse two; the horse runs on eight feet, Odin has 

 two; two arms has Odin, and the horse has a 

 tail." 



A horse with eight feet would of course have 

 many advantages over the commoner kind that 

 have only four. If a heavy load had to be drawn, 

 only think what a wonderful leverage his long 

 legs would give him ! If a long journey were to 

 be taken, how nicely he could hold up half of his 

 feet and give them a rest while the other four 

 were steadily jogging along! And then in rac- 

 ing and jumping, what an impetus all those legs, 

 working together, would give him! Many tales 

 are told of his prowess and of the feats which he 

 performed, but I will repeat to you only one — 

 the famous story of his journey to the under- 

 world. 



There was great grief in the house of Odin, 

 for word had been brought that Balder, his best- 

 loved son, was dead. Balder, the white, the pure, 

 the good, the fair, had been treacherously slain, 

 and all the world was in mourning. Who now 

 would bring good gifts to men ? Who would bless 

 them with smiles and sunlight, as Balder had 



