Northern mythology

28 NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS.
;
Apenrade, being one Sunday evening on their way to a
dance at Hiidewad, when they came to a
brook that runs
between the two villages, found themselves unable to cross
it, in consequence of the recent rains that had greatly
swelled it.
While looking about them, they perceived an
old horse standing close by, and resolved on mounting
him and riding through the rivulet. But when one pair
had mounted, they saw there was still room for another;
and when another mounted,
there was place for a fourth
till that at length the whole party seated themselves on
his back. When in the middle of the rivulet, one who
sat foremost happening to look round, and seeing so many
persons sitting on the horse's back, cried out in astonishment
" Cross of Jesus, what a long jade \" But scarcely
:
had he uttered the words, when the goblin horse's back
snapped asunder, the riders all fell into the water, and the
horse vanished with an appalling howl.
'
THE MANNIGFUAL OR GIANT SHIP.
The North Frisic mariners tell of a gigantic ship, the
Mannigfual.' This ship is so vast that the captain always
rides about the deck on horseback, for the purpose of
giving his orders. The sailors, who chmb up the rigging
when young, come down again stricken in years with grey
beards and hair.
^Yh\\e so employed they keep themselves
alive by frequent visits to the blocks of the cordage, which
contain rooms for refection.
This monstrous vessel once steered its course from the
Atlantic ocean into the British channel ;
but being unable,
on account of the narrowness of the strait, to pass between
Dover and Calais, the captain had the lucky thought of
having the whole larboard side smeared over with white
soap. This operation proved effectual; the Mannigfual
passed through safely and entered the North sea. From
that tune the cliffs of Dover got their white, soapy appear-