Loki was the spirit of evil and mischief. Having been banished from Asgard for his wickedness, he lived many years in giant-land, rejoicing in his evil deeds. He had three children, each as full of evil as himself. So much mischief did they work that Odin looked down from Asgard with a grave countenance. “This must not be,” he said; “Loki’s children will fill the world with evil.” So Odin fared forth to giant-land. One of the evil brood he sent to the under world of darkness, and one he threw into the sea. The third, Fenris the wolf, was so strong that Odin spared him. “If he were to live with the gods,” he said, “his strength might be turned to good instead of ill.” So he took Fenris the wolf up to Asgard, to see whether he would learn goodness with his strength. Who among the gods would care for the wolf-spirit? Brave Tyr was ready with the answer. “Father Odin,” he cried, “I delight in strength. Let me have the charge of this fierce fellow; I care not if the task be hard and dull.” So Fenris became his charge. He fed him with sheep and oxen, and took him with him upon his journeys. But Fenris did not learn the ways of the gods. His muscles were like iron, and his teeth stronger than steel, but his heart remained savage and cruel. One night Odin called the gods together. “Sons,” he said, “I have looked upon Fenris, and seen his cruel strength. There is no love in his eyes, and no thought of good in his heart. Day by day he becomes stronger for evil. We must bind him, or he will destroy us.” They listened, and saw that the counsel of Odin was good. “Come with me,” said Thor the mighty; “I will forge a chain that will hold him fast.” All night long the gods watched Thor toiling at his anvil, dealing great blows upon the glowing iron, and sending sparks like shooting-stars through the darkness. When morning came the massive chain was finished. “Come, Fenris,” called Thor, “you are strong; let us see you break this chain which I have made.” Fenris allowed them to bind him with the heavy links: when they had done so, he stretched his huge limbs, and the thick iron snapped like a thread of silk. The gods kept silence as Fenris walked away. Again Thor led them to his forge; again he toiled all night, hammering and shaping great bars of steel. When morning came, another chain was ready, ten times stronger than the first. But this chain also snapped like a spider’s thread before the might of Fenris.