V.
THE STOLEN WINE.
Part I.
There had lain for ages upon ages, hidden away in the great rocky cellar of one of the giant’s castles, a cask of wine, which had been stolen from the gods.
Never before had the gods been able to learn what had become of it; what giant had stolen it, nor in what castle it was hidden.
But now that Odin had become All-wise, nothing could be concealed from him.
“I know at last where the wine lies hidden,” said Odin one day to his son, Thor; “and I shall set forth to find it.”
Thor brought down his hammer with a thud. “Let me go with you,” cried he, springing up. “And let me fell to the earth with one blow of my magic hammer the giant who has stolen, and has kept hidden all these ages our precious wine.”
“No;” answered Odin, “this time I must go alone. The wine is guarded day and night, and it will not be easy to bring it away, even when I have found it. But watch for me, dear son. One day there will come, beating its wings against the shining gates of our city, a great white eagle. Do not harm the eagle. Open the gates to him; for that eagle will be Odin, returning with the stolen wine to our city of Asgard.”