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Chap. XXVI.
THE BRIDGE OF VÆREBRO.
403
wonder, poor fellows! for the church had been cut
down, and her revenues seized. Now, one of the
neighbouring priests wrote to his brother of Værebro to
beg the loan of his pet, which the worthy pastor willingly
accorded, tied him up in his box, and confided him to the
care of a peasant, with strict injunctions not on any
account to open the box. The curiosity of the bearer
being excited, the temptation proved too strong for him:
he would only just take one peep—out sprung the devil.
“ Vas sol ich makken ? Vas sol ich makken ?” exclaimed
he; and as the affrighted peasant did not at once reply,
he set to beating him black and blue. “Build a
sandhill as high as Roeskilde domkirke,” roared the man.
That was soon done. “ Vas sol ich makken ?” again
inquired the impatient demon, and fell to with his
thumps. “Build anew bridge over Værebro.” The
devil complied, selecting as the keystone the epitaphium
of Frode the Good. The bridge was soon completed.
“ Vas sol ich makken ? Vas sol ich makken ?” “ Jump
into the box!” exclaimed the alarmed peasant, lest he
should be beaten to death. In jumps the devil, down
closes the box, the string is quickly pressed round the
cover, and the box, devil and all, conveyed to the
neighbouring priest, its destination—the peasant only too
glad to be quit of his burden. Such is the fate of King
Frode’s stones.
As we drove back, the sun was sinking behind the
roof of Frederikssund. Even that insignificant-looking
place looked picturesque, irregular, running out on a
promontory into the water. Now cross the ferry, and
leave marsh and moor for forest scenery. A
horseman appears in sight mounted on an iron gray, who
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