Advancing to the raised seat, they saluted the ruler, Utgard-Loki. But the king gazed at them with a smile. Thor was by no means accustomed to such scornful treatment, and his companions could perceive his heat growing as this contemptuous silence continued.
At length the king spoke:
"It is tedious to ask for tidings of a long journey;
yet if I mistake not, that little one there must be Asa-Thor."
"Possibly," he went on, addressing Thor directly, "you may be more than you appear. What can you do, you and these with you? No one stays in Utgard unless he can in some feat of skill or strength excel all others."
"I have a feat," spoke up Loki. "I can eat quicker than any here. I am ready to prove it against all."
"That will be worth seeing, if you can make your boast good," said the giant king. "It shall be put to the test."
He called to one named Logi, sitting on a further bench. A trough filled with fresh meat was brought in, and placed between the two. At the signal, both began to eat, one from each end.
Loki strove his utmost, and yet when he reached the middle of the trough he met his antagonist there. Moreover, it was seen that while he had devoured all the flesh on his side, Logi had consumed flesh, bone and the trough to boot. There could be no gainsaying that the visitor was vanquished.
"And what can you do?" asked Utgard-Loki, looking at Thialfi.