THE EIGHT-FOOTED SLIPPER 49 



do also the mountains and the clouds. There is 

 nothing that does not weep." 



" Do you know that this is true ? Will you 

 swear it ? " asked the Queen, earnestly. 



Hermod hesitated. " I am quite sure that it 

 is true," he finally answered. " But, not having 

 seen everything, I cannot now make oath to it." 



" I will tell you what I will do," said Hela. 

 " Do you return to your home, and let Odin send 

 into all the earth and find out for a truth whether 

 everything really weeps for Balder. If he shall 

 find that this is the case, then come to me again, 

 and I will give your brother up. But if a single 

 thing shall refuse to shed tears, then Balder shall 

 stay with me." 



Hermod was not altogether pleased with this 

 answer, but he knew that it was useless to plead 

 any further with the Queen, and so he took leave 

 of her, and made ready to return. Balder took 

 from his finger a precious golden ring, and gave 

 it to him to carry to Odin as a keepsake; and 

 Nanna sent a kerchief of green and some flowers 

 to her mother. Then Hermod mounted good 

 Sleipnir again and rode back, along the fearful 

 way, out of the land of Hela, and came on the 

 tenth day to Odin's palace. 



