Northern mythology

50 NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS.
may be heard running up and down the shrouds in a state
of disquietude^ and making a noise among the rigging
and in the hold ; so that the crew leave the ship, and the
sooner the better ^
When such a goblin is on board of a ship, and on
friendly terms with the crew, the vessel will
not sink and
every voyage will be prosperous ; if he abandons it, things
will go ill.
Every thing that is broken during the day in
the ship he sets to rights in the night, and is therefore
often called the Kliitermann (joiner)^. He also prepares
many things for the sailors, and even performs them. If
he is in a bad humour, he makes an awful noise, throws
about the fire-wood, spars, and other things, knocks on
the ship^s sides, destroys many things, hinders those at
work, and unseen gives the sailors violent cuffs on the
head. From all this uproar it is supposed that he derives
his name^.
OF THE RANZAUS.
Of the very old and ducal-Sleswig family of Ranzau it
is recorded, that to an ancestress of their house there came
one night, as she lay in bed by her husband's side, a little
man bearing a lantern, who having waked her, prayed her
to follow him. She did so (every door and gate opening
spontaneously as they passed) and arrived at length in a
hollow mount, in which there lay a little woman in the
pains of labour. When the said noble dame Von Ranzau,
at the earnest entreaty of the little woman, had laid her
hand upon her head, she was instantly delivered. The
lady, who had been standing in great fear, now hastened
1
Kuhn and Schwartz, p. 423.
2 From kliitern, to make or mend small delicate works, j)artmdarly of
wood.
3 From klappen, to make a noise, clahauder {clahauderie) ?