We say: Shame upon people, who would change a legend into an apologue and our friend Kreiss into a Druid! When the dwarfs became reconciled again to men, they compelled the giants to execute for them great works of public utility, such as bridges and highroads, which were afterwards generally ascribed to the Romans. The belief in little dwarfs continues to this day to exist in most of the Northern countries. They still live in myriads in the subterranean regions {367}and in the rocks in Westphalia, in Sweden, and in Norway, and they are still hard at work amassing vast treasures. [Illustration: 387] [Illustration: 391] XV. {371}Wizards and the Bewitched.--_The Journey of A sa-Thor and his Companions.--The Inn with the Five Passages.--Skryinner.--A Lost Glove found again.--Arrival at the Great City of Utgard.--Combat between Thor and the King’s Nurse.--FREDERICH BARBAROSSA AND THE KYFFHAUSER.--Teutonia! Teutonia!--What became of the Ancient Gods.--Venus and the good Knight Tannhauser.--Jupiter on Rabbit Island.--A Modern God._ Hear! hear! New and greater marvels still! But, unfortunately, we shall be under the sad necessity of returning to our giants once more, much as we have already spoken of them, from giant Ymer down to Quadragant, and there may be too much even of the best things in this world. But let the reader take courage; this time my giants are not real giants; or at least they are giants of a very peculiar species. But instead of losing time with limitations and explanations, let us begin our story. It was in the days when the Scandinavian gods were still in the full enjoyment of their power. One fine day the god Thor, curious to see certain distant lands of which they had told him most marvelous stories, set out on his travels, accompanied by Raska, Tialff, and Loki. Leaving Sweden and Norway behind, they arrived at the sea-shore and crossed over by swimming. A mere trifle, of course, for people of their kind. On the opposite shore they found a vast plain, and as night was approaching and they began to feel that rest would be acceptable, they looked out for a shelter. In this vast and deserted plain they see but one single building; a huge, ill-shapen, and abandoned house, {373}rather broad than high and of altogether exceptional appearance. It has neither doors nor windows, nor even a roof; but the night fog may possibly conceal a part of the edifice. The travellers enter and find a square, low vestibule, and at the end of it five long passages; each of the travellers takes one of these passages, looking for a door or a bed in the dark. As they find neither bed nor chamber, they resign themselves and lie down on the floor, with their backs to the wall.