"It is impossible for Fenrir to break through this," they said; and they were loud in their thanks to Thor and praises of his prowess; only Father Odin kept a grave, sad silence.

When Fenrir came into the court to receive his food 5 from Tyr, it was agreed that Thor and Tyr were to seize and bind him. They held their weapons in readiness, for they expected a fierce struggle; but, to their surprise, Fenrir quietly allowed the chain to be wound round him, and lay down at his ease, while Thor, with two strokes of 10 Miolnir, riveted the last link into one of the strongest stones on which the palace rested. Then when the gods were about to congratulate each other on their victory, Fenrir slowly raised his ponderous form, which seemed to swell as he rose, with one bound forward snapped the 15 chain like a silken thread, and walked calmly to his lair, as if no unusual thing had befallen him.

The gods, with downcast faces, stood looking at each other. Once more Thor was the first to speak. "He who breaks through Læding," he said, "only brings upon 20 himself the still harder bondage of Dromi." And having uttered these words, he again lifted Miolnir from the ground, and, weary as he was, returned to the smithy and resumed his place at the anvil.

For three days and nights Thor worked, and, when he 25 once more appeared before Father Odin, he carried in his hand Dromi― the Strong Binding. This chain exceeded

Læding in strength by one half, and was so heavy that Thor himself staggered under its weight; and yet Fenrir showed no fear of allowing himself to be bound by it, and it cost him very little more effort than on the first even5ing to free himself from its fetters.

After this second failure Odin again called a council of the gods, and Thor stood among the others, silent and shamefaced.

It was now Frey who ventured first to offer an opinion. 10" Thor, Tyr, and other brave sons of the gods," he said, "have passed their lives valiantly in fighting against giants and monsters, and, doubtless, much wise lore has. come to them through these adventures. I, for the most part, have spent my time peacefully in woods and fields, 15 watching how the seasons follow each other, and how the silent, dewy night ever leads up to the brightly smiling day; and, in this watching, many things have been made plain to me which have not, perhaps, been thought worthy of regard by my brother lords. One thing that I have 20 learned is the wondrous strength that lies in little things, and that the labor carried on in darkness and silence ever brings forth the grandest birth. Thor and Miolnir have failed to forge a chain strong enough to bind Fenrir; but, since we cannot be helped by the mighty and renowned, 25 let us turn to the unknown and weak.

"In the caverns and dim places of the earth live a tiny race of people, who are always working with unwearied,

noiseless fingers. With Odin's permission, I will send my messenger, Skirnir, and entreat aid of them; and we shall, perhaps, find that what passes the might of Asgard may be accomplished in the secret place of Dwarf land."

The face of Odin brightened as Frey spoke, and, rising 5 immediately from his seat, he broke up the council, and entreated Frey to lose no time in dispatching Skirnir, his

messenger.

-A. AND E. KEARY: The Heroes of Asgard.

as signed', gave as a task or duty; quell, conquer; Valhalla, the palace of the gods; con grat'u late, to wish joy to.

1. What have you already learned of Loki that proves that he was rightfully called "the wicked"? 2. Describe Fenrir. What did you learn in regard to Tyr in a previous lesson? 3. Why did Odin wish to bind Fenrir? 4. Describe Thor's efforts to do this. 5. Why did Frey think that the little dwarfs might accomplish what Thor and his mighty hammer had failed to do?

Quotations. - Notice the conversation between Thor and Odin on pages 133-134. What is the meaning of the marks ("") which are used? Why are these marks used in one of the following sentences and not in the other?

1. Thor said, "Before to-morrow evening I will have forged a chain with which you shall bind Fenrir."

2. Thor said that before the next evening he would have a chain forged with which they should bind Fenrir.

What mark is used after the word said in the first sentence? Notice that Before begins with a capital letter.

Rules. -1. When the exact words of a person are repeated, they are said to be quoted. The words thus repeated are called quotations. Quotation marks (" ") are always used to inclose a quotation.

r

2. A quotation should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, unless a question mark or an exclamation point is needed instead.

3. The first word of every quotation should begin with a capital letter.

Copy the following sentences carefully, noticing, first, the quota tion marks about the exact words of the speaker; second, the comma separating the quotation from the rest of the sentence; third, the capital at the beginning of the quotation. Study the sentences so that you can write them from dictation.

1. A wind came up out of the sea,

And said, "O mists, make room for me!"

2. An old proverb says, "Take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves."

3. Up rose a cry, "A wreck! A wreck!"

4. "Will you walk into my parlor?

Said the spider to the fly.

5. "I will have that mouse," said the elder son;
"You won't have that mouse," said the little one.

22

THE BINDING OF FENRIR (Concluded)

THE entrance gate to dwarf land stands at the opening of a dim mountain cave. Skirnir left his horse without, and entered; the air was heavy, moist, and warm, and it required the keenest glances of Skirnir's 5 keen eyes to see his way. Innumerable narrow, winding

paths, all leading downward, opened themselves before

him. As he followed the widest, a faint clinking sound of hammers met his ear, and looking round, he saw groups of little men at work on every side. Some were wheeling small wheelbarrows full of lumps of shining metal along the ledges of the rock; some, with elfin pickaxes and 5 spades, were digging ore from the mountain side; some,

herded together in little caves, were busy kindling fires, or working with tiny hammers on small anvils. As he continued his downward path, the last remnant of daylight faded away; but he was not in total darkness, for now he 10 perceived that each worker carried on his head a lantern, in which burned a pale, dancing light.

Skirnir knew that