Loke was a miscliievous fellow. He was al- ways getting the other gocls into trouble. Some- times they sliut him up. But they always let him out, heeaưse he was so cunning that he cóuld help tliem to do things tliey could not do for themselves.
Once he crossed the raỉnbow briđs'e to Jotun-heim, the land of the giants, and brought home a giantess for his wife.
Very strange children Loke had. One of them was the Fenris-wolf. He was named Fenrer. All the gods knew he was a wolf as soon as they saw him.
But he Avent about among the children, play- ing with them like a good-natured dog, and the gods thought there was no harm in him.
Fenrer greAY larger and larger, and the gods began to look at him Avith distrust. They feared he miglit some day grow too strong for them.
But Fenrer ahvays looked good-natured, and harmed no one. He did not even show that he luicl great strength. So the gods could not have the heart to kill him.
But they put it oữ too long. One day they found Fenrer had grown so strong that it was almost too late to do anything witli him.
All the gods worked day and nigkt nntil they had forged a chain they thought strong enough to bind the wolf.
Knowing they conld not bind Fenrer agaínst his will, all the gods came together for games. Thor crushed mountains Avitli his hammer. The other gods showed their strength by lifting, and leaping, and wrestling.
Then tliey brought out the chain and t.old Fenrer to let them bind him with it, so that he míght show liis strength hy breaking it.
Fenrer knew that he conld break the chain, so he allowed himselí to be bound. He only drew in a deep breathand the cliain dropped into pieces.
Then the gods íorged a chain twice as strong aa the ílrst. Fenrer sawthatthis chain would be hard to break. But breakmg the fìrst chain had made him strono'er. So lie allowed this one to be put on him.
This, too, he broke, and the gods were in de- spair. Tliey knew they could never make a stronger chain, and they feared the Avolf more than ever.
Odiii took his horse, Sleipner, and went on a seven days’ journey to the home of the dwarfs. Tliey lived deep down in the earth, and had cliarge of the gold and diamonds and all other precious things. Tliey were the most cunning of blacksmiths.
When Odin told the little people what he wanted, they all cried, u Never fear, Father Odin 1 We can make a cliain that Avill bind the wolf.”
When the chain was made it was as light and delicate as a spider web, but Odin knew it could never be broken.
As S0011 as Fenrer saw the cliain, he was aíraid of it. He knew if it were only a colnveb they Avould never care to put it 011 him. So he would not al!ow himsel£ to be bound unless a god’s hand was put into his mouth. Àt tliis the gods only looked at one another. Aíter a little time, Tyr, the bravest of all the gods, put his liand into tlie Mrol£’s mouth.
The moment the chain touched Tenrer he knev/ he could never break it, and he bit of£ the god’s hand.
But the Fenriy-wolf was bound forever
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