s it was said to be dangerous to go
on the roads or paths near the coast, as the Strandvarsler were often
met. They were ghosts of people who had been drowned and still lay
unburied in the sea. It is related that one evening a Strandvarsel
jumped on a Bonders back and shouted, 'Carry me to church!' The Bonde
had to obey, and went the nearest way to the church. When he came
close to the churchyard wall, the Strandvarsel jumped over it; but the
Kirkegrim, of whom I will speak directly, seized the Strandvarsel, and
immediately a combat took place between them. When they had fought a
while, they both rested to take breath. The Strandvarsel asked the
Bonde, 'Did I hit him?' 'No,' said the Bonde. So they fought again,
and again they rested, and the Strandvarsel put the same question.
'No,' said the Bonde. They fought again, and they rested, and the same
question was put by the Strandvarsel. 'Yes,' said the Bonde. 'It was
lucky for you that you said "Yes,"' said the Strandvarsel, 'or I would
have broken your neck.' The legend goes no farther. There is, however,
another story, but of the same character in its bearing. A
Bondekone--that is, a farmer's wife--went out to milk her cows. She
saw that a corpse had been washed up by the sea, and there was a purse
of money on its waist. As there was no one near, she took the money,
which she thought she could have as much need of as any one else. But
the next night the Strandvarsel came and made so much noise outside
her window that she came out, and he said she must help him. There was
nothing to do but to obey, she thought; so she said farewell to her
children, as she expected death, and went out to the Strandvarsel.
When she came out, he told her to take him by his leg and drag him to
the nearest churchyard, which was three English miles distant. When
they came to the churchyard, the Strandvarsel said, 'Let me go, or the
Kirkegrim will seize you.' This she did; but as soon as the
Strandvarsel was in the churchyard, the Kirkegrim rushed at the
Bondekone, and seized her by her skirt; as this was old, it gave way,
and she escaped. But she had a good time of it after, with the money
she had taken from the corpse by the sea-shore."

"These legends are fresh and interesting," said Hardy; "thank you very
much. But is there no story where an omen had effect?"

"There are several," replied the Pastor, "and the people on the west
coast have the reputation of having what is called a clear sig