most serious and credible man, so what he said you may depend upon was true. His name was Joe, and he lived at Skroperud in Ullensaker. He built himself a new house there, and he had two or three fat cows and a horse, the like of which was not to be found in the whole parish; the horse was often used as post-horse between Mo and Trögstad, and Joe didn't seem to care much how the beast was used,—for fat he was and fat he remained. Joe was a hunter, and a fiddler as well. He was often about in the parish playing, but at home it was impossible to get him to touch the fiddle; even if the room was full of lads and lasses he refused to play. But one evening some lads from the neighbouring farm came to see him, and they brought some brandy with them in their pocket-flasks. They treated Joe, and when they had made him tipsy, more lads came in, and although he refused to play at first, eventually he took down the fiddle. But after he had played for some time he put it away, for he knew that the fairies were not far off, and that they didn't like the noise and disturbance. But the lads persuaded him to play again; and thus it happened two or three times that he put the fiddle away, and that the lads coaxed him to play again. At last he hung his fiddle up on the wall, and swore he wouldn't play another stroke that night, and with that he turned them all out, lads and lasses! He was just going to bed, and was standing in his shirt sleeves by the hearth lighting his pipe for the night with a brand, when a large party of old and young people came in and filled the whole room.
"'Now, are you there again?' said Joe. He thought at first they were the same as had been there dancing, but when he saw they were strangers he felt a little frightened, took his daughters, who were already in bed, and threw them out on the floor—he was a big strong man—and asked: 'What people are these? Do you know them?'
"The lasses were sleepy, and didn't know what to answer. So he took his gun down from the wall and turned round towards the people who had come in, and threatened them with the butt end of his rifle. 'If you don't get out of this quickly, I'll turn you out in such a way that you won't know whether you are standing on your
