THE El6Hf-foOT£D SLlfPER 43 



Gray Sleipnir was at once led out and saddled 

 with the greatest care; and food and drink were 

 given him, enough for eighteen days. Then 

 Hermod, booted and spurred, sprang upon him 

 and rode fearlessly away along the shadowy 

 highroad that leads toward the land of the stern- 

 faced Hela. Nine days through mists and fogs, 

 nine nights amid darkness and unseen perils, did 

 the good steed gallop steadily onward; and his 

 eight iron hoofs, clattering upon the rocky road- 

 way, roused strange echoes among the. barren 

 hills and frowning mountain passes. Nine days 

 and nine nights did bold Hermod sit in the saddle 

 with his face bared to the chilling winds and his 

 heart set firm upon his errand. Many were the 

 sad-eyed travelers whom they overtook, all jour- 

 neying toward the same goal, but not one did 

 they meet returning. And pale specters flitted 

 in the air above them, and ogres grinned in the 

 darkness, and owls hooted from the clefts of the 

 rock. But none of these things could frighten 

 Sleipnir; for were not the mystic runes of Odin 

 engraved on his teeth ? And no terror could make 

 Hermod falter; for was not his errand one of 

 love and mercy? 



At length, having passed through a dark and 



