But, faint and weary though he was, his bold heart and the thought of his brother carried him through.
Four days had come and gone since he quitted the Tower of the North-West Wind, and in three more Ulf would either be saved or slain.

Sigurd, as he thought of it, strode sternly forward and shut his ears to all the backward voices.
And, with Thor at his side, all danger from the wolves seemed at an end.
As the two pressed on many a distant how! fell on their ears, many a gaunt form stole out from among the trees to gaze at them, and then steal back.

Thor's honest bark carried panic among those cruel hordes, while it comforted the heart of Sigurd.
For two days, without sleep, without rest, without proper food, the hero walked on, till, on the fifth morning after quitting his castle, the light broke in among the trees, the woodman's cheerful axe resounded through the glades, the angry howling sounded far behind, and Sigurd knew he was on the other side of the forest.
In one day he would reach Jockjen, and scarce two hours' march beyond Jockjen lay Niflheim.
Thor seemed to guess his master's mind, and with a hopeful bark bounded forward.

But Sigurd regarded his companion sadly and doubtfully.

He called him to him, caressed him lovingly, and said-- "Good Thor, thou hast been like a messenger from God to bring me through this wood.