The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25

monster. yet light enough that he will not
be afraid of itT
"'Of the hair of a white horses name.
of the sinews OF white deer, and the teeth
of a whale answered the old man.
Then / go to seek these exclaimed the
young god and when 1 shall have found
them / will devise some way 10 persuade
the demon to be bound.
so for many weary days and nights Tyr
wandered over the earth seeking the ma
terials for his rope. 1t was a long search,
but it was finished at last When the rope
had been made Tyr went TO the council OF
the gods ana told his plan. When all pro-
tested that il was too dangerous Tyr agreed
to do the work IL they would only accom-
pany him and give such help as they could.
Then, in little while. all the gods came
from their hall and went in search of
Fenriv Far over the frozen north they
journeyed and the silent streams and the
desolation told where the monster had been.
AT last they found the wolf, sitting at the
entrance to his cave. making ready for an
other journey out over the world. At the
sight of the fierce beast who had defed the
hammer and the lightning of Thor, all the
gods were afraid; but Tyr. with his rope
coiled over his arm, marched boldly for
ward and said:
Great Fenriv. we, the gods of heaven,
know by thy deeds that thou art as power
full as we. Who of Us could have done
what thou hast done? And therefore, as We
know that thou art great and brave, we
have voted this chain of honor TO thee. that
thou mayest wear it as mark OF our es-
TEEN. Advance. then, and let me place II
about thy neck. Brothers, come forward
and help me decorate this brave fellow here
"Then the gods, recovering their courage,
stepped forward to assist Tyr. But Fenriv
was suspicious. To be sure. the chain or
rope looked not very strong, and he was
certain that it would easily break; but
somehow he feared TO trust these new
friends. And so he made reply:
my friends, 1 thank you for the great
honor that you propose to do me. But you
have never shown friendship for me here
tofore Did not great Thor strike me with
his hammer and burn me with his light
ming? What surety have that you mean
to treat me fairly? Surely you cannot
complain that 1 do not trust you when
you have been my enemies all my life!
''Then said Tyr:
demand what surety thou wilt, and I
will give it thee Only do not refuse the
honor which we would do thee
"Fenriv replied, Brave youth, like thy
words and thy looks. Only place thy hand
in my mouth while they fasten the decora-
ton on me. that may be sure of your good
intent
"Tyr did not hesitate. Walking up to the
monster he placed his hand between the
sharp, cold teeth. Then he motioned the
other gods to advance and wrap the chain
about the wolf. In trice il was done, and
there stood Fenriv, with his bright cord
about his body and his limbs, and in his
mouth was Tyr's hand. When the last knot
had been tied the gods went of little way
to see the end of the trick; nor had they
! Ions to wait. Fenriv tried to move about
to show off his new decoration. But move
he could not Then he struggled harder
and harder to break the light cord; but ii
held in spite of his great strength. Then.
! when he found that he had been trapped
with a snarl he snapped off the hand OF
brave Tyr. Ever after the god had only one
| hand; but Fenriv has been helpless ever
since, and Tyr is known/as the bravest OF
the gods"
| A little while after Uncle Frank had fin
ished the story the children went off TO bed
And then Grandpa Drew. who had heard
| the story, asked:
Frank, what do you suppose that tale
I means?
| I'm not sure father" the youth replied
perhaps away back yonder some brave
fellow did lose his hand in killing a terrible
wolf; but think that Fenriv represents tn,
winter which sweeps down over the world
and that Tyr is the summer which conqueri
it. Anyway, whatever 1t means, Tyr wa
| certainly the braVeSt of the gods"