the Midnight Sun
Then the Wanderer smote at his naked right arm , and struck it on the joint of the elbow ; with all his force he smote , and the short sword of Euryalus bit deep , and the arm fell , with the axe in the hand-grip . But so terrible was the stroke that bronze might not abide it , and the blade was shattered from the ivory handle . `` Didst thou feel aught , thou Man-eater ? '' cried Odysseus , jeering , for he knew from the song of the giant that he was face to face with a wanderer from an evil race , that of old had smitten his ships and devoured his men -- the Laestrygons of the land of the Midnight Sun , the Man-eaters . But the giant caught up his club of pine-tree in his left hand , the severed right arm still clinging to it . And he gnawed on the handle of the stone axe with his teeth , and bit the very stone , and his lips foamed , for a fury came upon him . Roaring aloud , suddenly he smote at the Wanderer 's head , and beat down his shield , and crushed his golden helm so that he fell on one knee , and all was darkness around him .