184 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
They set a trough in the middle of the hall, filled 
with meat. Lopt placed himself at one end and Loge 
at the other. Both ate the best 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, 4 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 
