CHAPTER XXII.

Viking Helle and the lady of Wettern - Baron Fuchs and the gipsy

- English Baron Robeck - Kinne Kulle-Sprites of the mountain and church bells - The enchanted garden - The Rune Thorn — Jungfru Maria's flowers - Laws of West Götland - First painted on panels, and sung by the Lagmen - Husaby - Legend of St. Sigfrid Archbishop of York - The abbot and the farmer's wife — The bride's bath.

WE landed in a small creek, on one side of which rise walls of Cyclopean thickness, a natural limestone formation. Near the jetty were stone-cutters busily chipping away at grindstones; large heaps of rocks, ready hewn, lay there untouched, so far does the supply exceed the demand.

Here once the Viking Helle had his nest. He wooed the damsel Kisa, and bore her off from Lurö in defiance of the lady of the Wettern, who had loved him in vain, and now, with her attendant sprites, endeavoured to wreck his six vessels. When first the lady put forth her blandishments she appeared combing her long golden locks on the cliffs, whither she had mounted to bleach her garments and to feed her milkwhite kine. The viking knew her; producing his flint and steel, he struck fire, upon which she fled screaming away (for since Thor hit the evil spirit with a flash of lightning, demons lose both courage and power on

seeing sparks of fire, or hearing thunder*). Helle brought his love to land; from these two lovers is derived the name of Hellekis, where they lie buried side by side. In the manor-house hangs the armour of Helle taken from his giant's chamber,-two long swords, such as early Normen bore; his spurs, cuirass, horse's bit, and the long banner staff—a real pine-tree. Without cavilling it must be owned that on the point of this staff appears a double, telling of Charles; but kings of that name are numerous in Sweden's early history-lost in the twilight of ages.

So, leaving the antiquaries to fight out "the battle of the banner," we wander on, passing through the garden of Råbeck, from which family estate the English naturalized baron derives his name.

In Jutland'† allusion has been made to the "rakke," and the horror entertained by the peasantry of performing the offices allotted to this outcast race. Baron Fuchs, a young cavalry officer, having lost a favourite charger, ordered the animal to be opened, hoping thereby to discover the cause of its death. No servant would touch the carcase, so he sent for a rakke, who, having dissected the animal, went to regale himself in the kitchen. On the young baron asking how much he was to pay for the operation, the gipsy named a small sum. Fuchs inquired in jest, "Cannot you do it for less?" "We have a regular charge," answered the man. "But I helped you, surely you'll take off something for that?"

"I had quite forgotten it; pay me only so

It is said that the sprites have numerous offspring, but most of their children die in the thunder-storms. Hence the proverb, "If the thunder did not crash, the sprites would lay waste the world."

† Vol. ii. p. 187.

CHAPTER XXII.

Viking Helle and the lady of Wettern - Baron Fuchs and the gipsy - English Baron Robeck - Kinne Kulle-Sprites of the mountain and church bells - The enchanted garden - The Rune ThornJungfru Maria's flowers - Laws of West Götland - First painted on panels, and sung by the Lagmen - Husaby - Legend of St. Sigfrid Archbishop of York - The abbot and the farmer's wife - The bride's bath.

WE landed in a small creek, on one side of which rise walls of Cyclopean thickness, a natural limestone formation. Near the jetty were stone-cutters busily chipping away at grindstones; large heaps of rocks, ready hewn, lay there untouched, so far does the supply exceed the demand.

Here once the Viking Helle had his nest. He wooed the damsel Kisa, and bore her off from Lurö in defiance of the lady of the Wettern, who had loved him in vain, and now, with her attendant sprites, endeavoured to wreck his six vessels. When first the lady put forth her blandishments she appeared her long golden locks on the cliffs, whit mounted to bleach her garments and to f white kine. The viking knew her; pro and steel, he struck fire, upon whic ing away (for since Thor hit

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A look of consternation ran round the assembled household; the young baron fraternising with a scavenger, one of the accursed race!! The story got wind, and on his joining the regiment not one of his comrades would either speak to or do duty with him. After fighting several duels, finding it no use to contend against popular prejudice, the baron threw up his commission and quitted Sweden for ever.*

Though the broad lands of Råbeck have long since passed away from the Fuchs family, the descendants of the outcast baron, who espoused an heiress of the Fitzpatrick family, are still flourishing in Wales-the land of their adoption.

Leaving Råbeck, we came to some wonderful grottoes, freaks of Nature's sandstone, seamed in lines, and split into dice, bearing the semblance of Runic characters. We mount to the châlet, a small place where students and pedestrians may lodge a night and rough it, then after breakfast proceed to scale the far-famed Kinne Kulle, a mountain in Sweden, a hill elsewhere,— remarkable for its stone-quarries, as well as for the va riety of stratat of which it is formed; granite, sandstone, trap, and what not, all which tends to give it a flora most remarkable. Among the moss peep out the pale,

* This anecdote was related to the author by Baron Fuchs, Captain in the Artillery-head of the Swedish branch.

Kinne Kulle consists of five wavy strata on a foundation of red granite; 1st, sandstone; 2nd, burnt slate, containing alum; 3rd, limestone, abounding in fossils; 4th, a layer of slate and clay; 5th, trapstone of a greenish hue.