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Tyr went before him, and cleared the way; and Hymer gazed after him in utter amazement. The two Asa-folk had fairly won the brewing-kettle. In due time they reached old AEgir's hall, where the guests were still waiting for them. Some said that they had been gone three days, but most agreed that it was only three hours.
The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men and fair ladies, sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir's kingdom; and it seemed as if Queen Ran had forgotten to spread her nets, so smooth and quiet was the sea; and the waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters: only Ripple and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, and added to the general joy.
It is very likely that the thief who stole King AEgir's kettle was none other than Loki the Mischief-maker; but, if this was so, he was not long unpunished for his meanness. There was great joy in the Ocean-king's hall, when at last the banquet was ready, and the foaming ale began to pass itself around to the guests.
"Business always before pleasure!" he cried, as he hastened away at a wonderful rate through the air. In old Aegir's hall glad music resounded on every side; and the gleeful Waves danced merrily as the Asa-folk sat around the festal board, and partook of the Ocean-king's good fare.
The helpless ship was carried round and round, swiftly and more swiftly still; and vain were the efforts of the crew to steer her out of the seething caldron of waters. Then the cheeks of the sailors grew white with fear; and they dropped their oars, and clung to the masts and ropes, and cried out, "Alas, we are lost! This is old AEgir's brewing-kettle!" But Siegfried stood by the helm, and said,
He sought the halls of old AEgir, the Ocean-king; but he wist not which way to go, whether across the North Sea towards Isenland, or whether along the narrow channel between Britain-land and the main. While he paused, uncertain where to turn, he saw the pale-haired daughters of old AEgir, the white-veiled Waves, playing in the moonlight near the shore. Of them he asked the way to AEgir's hall.
But they had scarcely begun to eat, when Loki came quietly out of his hiding place, and stole slyly around to Aegir's kitchen, where he found Elder, the other thrall, grieving sadly because of his brother's death. "I hear a great chattering and clattering over there in the feast hall," said Loki. "The greedy, silly Asa-folk seem to be very busy indeed, both with their teeth and their tongues.
And the giant was not at all happy. When they reached the frozen shore and Hymer's cheerless castle again, they found Tyr there, anxiously waiting for them. He felt that they were tarrying too long in this dreary place; and he wished to be back among his fellows in old AEgir's hall. Hymer felt very cross and ugly because his boat had been broken; and, when they came into the hall, he said to Thor,
And in the evening, when the party were seated in King Gunther's hall, Siegfried, at the command of the May-queen, who was none other than Kriemhild the peerless, amused them by telling the story of Idun and Her Apples. It is a story that Bragi told while at the feast in AEgir's hall. Idun is Bragi's wife.
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