this new cry that the gods have never commanded, yet which comes to the
ears of the gods?"

And the gods together shouting made the cry of the south, calling the
south wind to them. And again the gods shouted all together making the
cry of the north, calling the north wind to Them; and thus They
gathered to Them all Their winds and sent these four down into the low
plains to find what thing it was that called with the new cry, and to
drive it away from the gods.

Then all the winds harnessed up their clouds and drave forth till they
came to the great green valley that divides the south in twain, and
there found Slid with all his waves about him. Then for a space Slid
and the four winds struggled with one another till the strength of the
winds was gone, and they limped back to the gods, their masters, and
said:

"We have met this new thing that has come upon the earth and have
striven against its armies, but could not drive them forth; and the new
thing is beautiful but very angry, and is creeping towards the gods."

But Slid advanced and led his armies up the valley, and inch by inch
and mile by mile he conquered the lands of the gods. Then from Their
hills the gods sent down a great array of cliffs against hard, red
rocks, and bade them march against Slid. And the cliffs marched down
till they came and stood before Slid and leaned their heads forward and
frowned and stood staunch to guard the lands of the gods against the
might of the sea, shutting Slid off from the world. Then Slid sent some
of his smaller waves to search out what stood against him, and the
cliffs shattered them. But Slid went back and gathered together a hoard