“Very well,” said the Troll woman, and went her way.
The housewife laughed in her sleeve, and thought that she had escaped the Trolls cheaply; but when she inspected her larder it was found that she had really told the truth to the Troll woman. The meal boxes were swept clean, the ale barrels were empty, and the new milch cows, to the last one, farrow. Ever after that the plenty that had heretofore been was wanting, until finally the people were compelled to sell out and move away. [[117]]
Bishop Svedberg and the Devil.
Bishop Svedberg, of Skara, was a very pious man and a mighty preacher, therefore, intolerable to the devil.
One night the Bishop set out from Skara to his bishopric in Brunsbo. When he was on the way some distance, the wagon began to run from side to [[118]]side of the road, and finally one of the hind wheels fell off and rolled away into the ditch.
The driver called the attention of the Bishop to this, and remarked that they could go no farther.
“Don’t trouble yourself about that,” said the Bishop. “Throw the wheel into the rear of the wagon and we will go along.”
The servant thought this a strange command, but did as directed, and the journey was continued to Brunsbo without further adventure.