Northern mythology

SWEDISH TRADITIONS. 7/
;
In West Gotliland, in the district of Biarke^ there is a
lake with beautifully wooded shores^ called Anten. On
an isle in this lake there was formerly an ancient castle^
remains of which are still to be seen, called Loholm, in
which dwelt Sir Gunnar, a renowned knight, and ancestor
of the famous family of Leionhufvud, or Lewenhaupt.
Once, when out on the lake he had fallen
into danger, a
Mer-wife came to his aid, but exacted from him the promise,
that on a certain day he should meet her again at
the same place. One Thursday evening she sat expecting
the knight ; but he forgot his promise. She then caused
the water of the lake to swell up over Loholm, until Sir
Gunnar was forced to take refuge in a higher apartment
but the water reached even that. He then sought safety
in the drawbridge tower; but there the billows again
overtook him. He next committed himself to a boat,
which sank near a large stone, called to this day Gunnar^s
stone ; from which time Sir Gunnar, it is said, lives constantly
with the Mer-wife. When fishermen or the country
people row by the stone, they usually lift their hats,
as a salutation to Sir Gunnar, in the belief that if they
neglected to do so, they would have no success. From
that time no one dwelt at Loholm, of the materials of
which was built the noble castle of Grafsnas, on a peninsula
in the same lake, with towers, ditches, and drawbridges,
remains of which are still visible. From this Sir
Gunnar descended Erik Abrahamsson, father-in-law of
Gustavus the First.
II.
FOUNTAIN MAIDENS.
Mention has been already made of the priestesses of
the heathen gods, or Horgabrudar, who watched by the
sacred fountains, in which the members of the victims