Thor turned quickly round again, thinking to see Skrymir behind him; but, after looking on every side, he could perceive nothing, but that a high, cloud-capped mountain, which he had noticed on the horizon, appeared to have advanced to the edge of the plain.
PART II. THE SERPENT AND THE KETTLE.
Thor turned away from Giant-land, and on the road homeward he passed through the Sea-King's dominions. There he found that Ægir the Old was giving a banquet to all the Æsir in his wide coral-caves. At a little distance Thor stood still to listen and to look. It was a fair sight: cave within cave stretched out before him decked with choicest shells, whilst far inward lay the banqueting-hall, lighted with shining gold; white and red coral-pillars stood at uneven distances; the bright-browed Æsir reclined at the board on soft water couches; Ægir's daughters—the fair-haired waves—murmured sweet music as they waited on their guests; and little baby-ripples ran about laughing in all the corners. Thor walked through the caves and entered the hall. As he did so Odin looked up from his place at Ægir's right hand, and said,—
"Good evening, son Thor; how has it fared with you in Jötunheim?"
Thor's face grew a little cloudy at this question, and he only answered,—
"Not as it ought to have done, father." Then he placed himself amongst Ægir's guests.
"In my dominions," said King Ægir, looking all round, "an extraordinary thing has happened."
"And what may that be, brother?" asked Niörd.