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For Thor in groping along had come to what he supposed to be a wall of solid masonry. "Where are you?" asked Loki, "for it is so dark that I cannot see you." "Here," answered Thor, stretching out his hand; "take hold and follow me." So Loki clutched Thor's arm, and Thialfe in turn seized the arm of Loki, whilst Raska clung to her brother and wished herself safe at home in her father's hut.
To the right they saw another room like a long gallery with a huge doorway, and into this Loki, Thialfe, and Raska crept, choosing the farthest corner of it; but Thor took his stand at the doorway to be on the watch if any fresh danger should threaten them.
Once a mouse darted out of a hole, and Raska screamed, for she thought it was a grisly bear. The mouse also shrieked and made much more noise than Raska, as well it might, for a cat so huge that Thialfe half thought it must be the monster of Midgard seized it, and giving it a pat with one of its paws laid it dead on the pavement.
Thor was very angry, and was very near killing not only Thialfe but also the peasant and his daughter Raska, but they begged so hard for their lives that he consented to spare them on condition that the boy and girl should follow him in his travels.
To this they agreed, and Thor, leaving the chariot and goats in the peasant's care, went on his journey, giving Thialfe, who was a very swift runner, his wallet to carry. On and on they journeyed until they came to a great sea. "How are we to get over this?" asked Loki. "Swim across it," replied Thor.
After a somewhat uncomfortable rest, Loki, Thialfe, and Raska were not sorry to find that the day had dawned, though as there were no windows in the house, they only knew it by hearing the cock crow. Thor was better off, for the doorway was so wide that the sunlight came pouring in without hindrance.
Once Skrymner took Raska on his shoulder, but the height made her so giddy that she was glad to come down again and walk quietly by the side of Thialfe. When night overtook them they encamped under one of the great oak-trees, for they were not yet out of the bounds of the forest.
Three times did Thialfe match his speed against Hugr, and, three times beaten, withdrew from the contest as disconsolate as Loki. "And now may I ask what you can do yourself?" said the King to Thor. "I can drain a wine-cup with any one," replied the god. "Try him," said Utgarda Loke. And forthwith the royal cupbearer presented a drinking-horn to Thor.
They both fell to work to devour what was before them, and met at the middle of the trough. But it was found that while Loki had eaten the flesh of his portion, Loge had eaten, not only the flesh, but the bones also. Therefore Loki, was, of course, vanquished. Then Utgarda Loke turned to Thialfe. "And pray, in what may this youth be specially skilled?" he asked.
When they sought to learn why this should be, it was found that Thialfe, the boy, in getting the marrow out of one of the bones, had broken it, and it was this that caused the goat to go lame.
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