50 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



There was, of course, still greater grief in the 

 King's household when it was seen that Hermod 

 returned alone. But when he made known the 

 conditions on which Hela would give Balder 

 back to them, all were glad, for they felt sure that, 

 at the worst, it would be but a few months until 

 they should see his bright face again. 



And so messengers were sent into all the world, 

 praying that everything should weep for white 

 Balder. And everything did weep — ^men and 

 beasts and birds, trees and plants, rivers and 

 mountains, sticks and stones, and all metals. At 

 the end of a year the messengers returned, very 

 glad to report the result. But just before reach- 

 ing Odin's halls they passed the mouth of a cav- 

 ern wherein sat a toothless old hag named Thok. 

 They asked her kindly to weep for Balder. She 

 shook her head, and mumbled between curses : 



" Bah ! Why should such as I weep ? Little 

 good did he ever do me ; little good will I do him. 

 Go and tell him to stay where he is." 



The joy of the messengers was turned to sad- 

 ness, and with bowed heads they went up the hill 

 whereon Odin's palace stood, and told the whole 

 story. 



When kind Hela heard, however, that not any- 



