of his greatest waves and hurled them against the cliffs, and the
cliffs shattered them. And again Slid called up out of his deep a
mighty array of waves and sent them roaring against the guardians of
the gods, and the red rocks frowned and smote them. And once again Slid
gathered his greater waves and hurled them against the cliffs; and when
the waves were scattered like those before them the feet of the cliffs
were no longer standing firm, and their faces were scarred and
battered. Then into every cleft that stood in the rocks Slid sent his
hugest wave and others followed behind it, and Slid himself seized hold
of huge rocks with his claws and tore them down and stamped them under
his feet. And when the tumult was over the sea had won, and over the
broken remnants of those red cliffs the armies of Slid marched on and
up the long green valley.

Then the gods heard Slid exulting far away and singing songs of triumph
over Their battered cliffs, and ever the tramp of his armies sounded
nearer and nearer in the listening ears of the gods.

Then the gods called to Their downlands to save Their world from Slid,
and the downlands gathered themselves and marched away, a great white
line of gleaming cliffs, and halted before Slid. Then Slid advanced no
more and lulled his legions, and while his waves were low he softly
crooned a song such as once long ago had troubled the stars and brought
down tears out of the twilight.

Sternly the white cliffs stood on guard to save the world of the gods,
but the song that once had troubled the stars went moaning on awaking
pent desires, till full at the feet of the gods the melody fell. Then
the blue rivers that lay curled asleep opened their gleaming eyes,
uncurled themselves and shook their rushes, and, making a stir among