The giant now lay dead on the land; but the boy rowed back over the water with great exultation and glee. On reaching the opposite shore, he combed his golden locks, arrayed himself in costly garments, girded the giant's golden sword by his side, took the golden harp in one hand and the golden lantern in the other, enticed the golden fowls after him, and, thus equipped, entered the hall where the king was sitting at table with his courtiers. When the king saw the youth, he was overjoyed at heart, and beheld him with friendly eyes. But the youth, approaching the king's fair daughter, greeted her courteously, and laid the giant's treasures at her feet. There was now great joy throughout the royal palace, that the princess had obtained the giant's treasures, and also a bridegroom so comely and so valorous. The king shortly after caused his daughter's nuptials to be solemnized with great pomp and rejoicing; and when the old king died, the boy was chosen king of the country, and lived there both long and happy. Since that time I was no longer with them.

1. In "Runa, en Skrift för Fäderneslandets Fornvänner,"* there is a popular story (folk-sägen) from Dalsland, the continuation of which is a pendant to the preceding. It runs thus:

A man had eight sons, the youngest of whom was named Roll. They went out in the world to seek their fortune, and came to a giant's dwelling, where they found no one at home but the giant's wife. The boys besought her to give them a lodging for the night, but received for answer: "I will see when father giant comes home." Shortly after, father giant returned, who granted their request, adding: “It is good, we shall now get a suitor for each of our seven daughters."

In the evening, when all had retired to rest, Roll crept into a corner and listened to the giant and giantess's conversation, from which it appeared that it was their intention to kill the boys as soon as they had fallen asleep. In order to distinguish them from her own children, the giantess had placed caps on the heads of the boys, and bound headcloths round those of the girls. But Roll, stealing out of the corner, placed the caps on the giant's children, and the headcloths on his brothers. So when the giant rose up in the night to kill the boys, he destroyed his own children instead of them. Roll then waked his brothers, and said: "Let us be gone, I have now saved you." He then took the giant's club, by the aid of which a person could pass over running water, and so the boys made their escape.

Edited by Richard Dybeck, Stockh., 1843, part iv. p. 33.

When Roll and his brothers had long wandered about, they came to a royal palace. The king who owned it said to Roll: Get me the giant's golden coverlet, and thou shalt have my youngest daughter." Roll engaged to make the attempt, provided a rope were given him. A rope was given him accordingly, to one end of which he fixed a long hook; then, proceeding to the giant's dwelling, he climbed up to the roof, let the rope down through a crack, and so drew up the beautiful gold coverlet. When the giant discovered that his gold coverlet was gone, he called aloud: "Roll! hast thou taken my gold coverlet?" Roll answered: "Yes, dear father." He then returned to the king, and delivered to him the costly coverlet, according to his engage

ment.

The king then said to Roll: "Thou must now get me the giant's Yule hog." Roll promised to try. So taking a pail, he filled it with hog's beans, and enticed the hog with him to the king. The next day he heard the giant calling out: "Roll! hast thou taken my Yule hog?" Roll answered: "Yes, dear father."

The king again said to Roll: "Thou must get me the giant's light, which gives light over seven kingdoms." Roll promised to do his best, and proceeded to the giant's. At night the giantess came out to milk the cow, and set the light down by side of her. But Roll was at hand, snatched up the light, and was in the act of making his escape over the river, when the giant made his appearance, and seized both Roll and the light.

Roll was now destined to death; but just then came the giant's son, and asked his father to his birthday feast. The giant excused himself, saying he had something else to do; though at last he went. The giantess, in the meantime, remained, and heated the oven seven times hotter than usual, in order to bake Roll. When the oven was thus heated, the boy said: "Dear mother, do you see the seven stars in the oven?" The giantess peeped in, but in the same moment Roll pushed her into the oven, and cast a bundle of straw after her.

Roll now hastened down to the water and took boat, followed by the giant and his son. Finding they could not reach him in any other way, they tried to drink up the water. By day break there was very little water remaining. Then Roll, pointing to the rising sun, said, "See what a fine young damsel there is yonder!" The giant and his son looked accordingly, and both burst. But Roll returned to the king's palace, and obtained his youngest daughter.

2. A version from South Småland, after an introduction, runs thus:

After Raskargod had delivered his six brothers from the Troll-wife, and conducted them home, he besought his father for leave to go again to the mountain. But the king had a dread of the Trolls, and strictly forbade his son to do them any further harm or annoyance. But the. son recked little of his father's command, and resolved on going once more and making sport of the wicked Troll-wife.

Raskargod now set out, and arrived at the mountain just as the Troll

See "Northern Mythology," ii. p. 50.

was busied in washing her linen, which was all bloody from her having cut the throats of her seven daughters in the preceding night. The youth approached her, greeted her, and inquired whether he could assist her in her labour. When the witch saw him again, she suppressed her anger, and gave him many fair words, in order to get him into her power. Raskargod then helped her to wash the clothes. When some time had thus passed, the Troll bade him see to the water in the great kettle, while she went to the forest to fetch wood. Raskargod promised to do what she desired; but while the crone was absent he threw dirt and soot into the kettle, and also sprinkled the clothes with the same. Then taking all of value that he could find, he, with the help of his Troll-staff, crossed the river with all speed.

He had just reached the opposite shore, when the Troll-wife returned from the forest and saw the damage he had done to her wash. Whereupon she cried out: "Raskargod, is it thou who hast taken my silver and gold, and spoiled my fine clothes?" Raskargod answered, "Yes, dear mother, I did it." The crone asked, "Art thou coming hither again?" "Yes, to be sure, dear mother," answered the youth. The prince then returned home to his father, but the king being incensed at his disobedience, proscribed him throughout the whole kingdom, so that the prince was obliged to seek an asylum far in a forest, where he found a poor woman who gave him house and home.

Some time having passed thus, the king's son was again seized with a strong desire to pay another visit to the Troll-wife. He therefore set out, and on reaching the mountain, was well received there. One day the Troll said she would go and see her sister, who lived at some distance. She went accordingly, and Raskargod remained behind alone. The prince now began to examine the mountain on every side, until he found a spacious apartment filled with gold, silver, and other precious things. In one apartment he also found a large book, in which were written down the names of the Trolls who were dead and had left riches in their mountains. Raskargod took the great book and everything of value, and crossed over the river. Just as he had reached the opposite shore the Troll-wife returned home, and called to him, "Raskargod, is it thou who hast taken my silver and gold?" The king's son answered, "Yes, dear mother, I have." The crone asked: "Art thou coming hither again?" Raskargod replied, "Yes, to be sure, dear mother."

The prince now obtained a ship and men from his father, and sailed to England, where he won the king's daughter. He afterwards fitted out four large ships, with which he sailed away to seek for the mountains that were spoken of in the Troll's book. Thus he acquired immense wealth. In the last mountain he found an apartment in which the Trolls kept their provisions, of which it is related, that it was not full of food, but of serpents, toads, and other reptiles, which crawled down the mountain, but were unable to go up again.

Raskargod was at length reconciled with his father, and richly rewarded the widow who had given him shelter, and then returned to England, where he betook himself to rest, and lives and fares well even to this day.

II. THE GOLDEN LANTERN, THE GOLDEN GOAT, AND THE GOLDEN

CLOAK.

The

THERE was once a poor widow who had three sons. two elder went out to work for their living. While at home they were of little use, as they seldom complied with their mother's wishes, whatever she might say to them. But the youngest lad always remained at home, and assisted the old widow in her daily occupations. Hence he was much beloved by his mother, but disliked by his brothers, who in mockery gave him the nickname of Pinkel.

One day the old widow said to her sons: "You must now go abroad in the world, and seek your fortunes while you can. I am no longer able to feed you here at home, now that you are grown up." The lads answered, that they wished for nothing better, since it was contrary to their mother's will that they should remain at home. They then prepared for their departure, and set out on their journey; but, after wandering about from place to place, were unable to procure any employment.

After journeying thus for a long time, they came, late one evening, to a vast lake. Far out in the water there was an island, on which there appeared a strong light, as of fire. The lads stopped on shore observing the wondrous light, and thence concluded that there must be human beings in the place. As it was now dark, and the brothers knew not where to find a shelter for the night, they resolved on taking a boat that lay among the reeds, and rowing over to the island to beg a lodging. With this view they placed themselves in the boat and rowed across. On approaching the island they perceived a little hut standing at the water's edge; on reaching which they discovered that the bright light, that shone over the neighbourhood, proceeded from a golden lantern, that stood at the door of the hut. In the yard without, a large goat was wandering about, with golden horns, to which small bells were fastened, that gave forth a pleasing sound whenever the animal moved. The brothers wondered much at all this, but most of all at the old crone, who with her daughter inhabited the hut. The crone was both old and ugly, but was sumptuously clad in a pelisse or

cloak, worked so artificially with golden threads that it glittered like burnished gold in every hem. The lads saw now very clearly that they had come to no ordinary human being, but to a Troll or Siö-ra*.

After some deliberation the brothers entered, and saw the crone standing by the fire-place, and stirring with a ladle in a large pot that was boiling on the hearth. They told their story and prayed to be allowed to pass the night there; but the crone answered no, at the same time directing them to a royal palace, which lay on the other side of the lake. While speaking she kept looking intently on the youngest boy, as he was standing and casting his eyes over everything in the hut. The crone said to him: "What is thy name, my boy?" The lad answered smartly: "I am called Pinkel." The Troll then said: "Thy brothers can go their way, but thou shalt stay here; for thou appearest to me very crafty, and my mind tells me that I have no good to expect from thee, if thou shouldst stay long at the king's palace." Pinkel now humbly begged to be allowed to accompany his brothers, and promised never to cause the crone harm or annoyance. At length he also got leave to depart; after which the brothers hastened to the boat, not a little glad that all three had escaped so well in this adventure.

Towards the morning they arrived at a royal palace, larger and more magnificent than anything they had ever seen before. They entered and begged for employment. The eldest two were received as helpers in the royal stables, and the youngest was taken as page to the king's young son; and, being a sprightly intelligent lad, he soon won the good-will of every one, and rose from day to day in the king's favour. At this his brothers were sorely nettled, not enduring that he should be preferred to themselves. At length they consulted together how they might compass the fall of their young brother, in the belief that afterwards they should prosper better than before.

They therefore presented themselves one day before the king, and gave him an exaggerated account of the beautiful lantern that shed light over both land and water, adding that it ill beseemed a king to lack so precious a jewel. On

* See "Northern Mythology," ii. p. 75.