seen the little creatures before.

It was some time before they all left off laughing, but at length
there was a pause, and Thor essayed to make himself heard.

"Though we are but small in comparison with the Jötuns," said he
angrily, "we are by no means to be despised, but are gifted with
powers that may surprise you."

"Really!" answered Utgarda Loke, raising his eyebrows. And then he and
his courtiers laughed louder than before.

At last there was another pause in their merriment, and the King
added: "However, we are willing to give the strangers a fair trial in
order to prove the truth of what their spokesman, whom I take to be
the god Thor, says. How say you? What can this one do?" And he pointed
to Loki.

"Please your Majesty, I am very great at eating," returned Loki.

"Nay," answered Utgarda Loke, "you must grow a little before you are
great at anything."

At which speech the courtiers again shouted with laughter; but Utgarda
Loke, turning to his servants, bade them make trial of Loki's powers.
So they brought a great trough full of food, and Loki was placed at
one end, and a courtier named Loge at the other. 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.