During the bloody war under Charles XII. with Denmark, a number of
freebooters had gone from Skåne into Halland, and marked their way, as
usual, with plundering and murder. A number, after the parsonage and
other houses in Hishult had been ransacked, went back to Skåne; the
rest continued their course to the north.
At Böghult, in the parish of Tönnersjö, a number of peasants had
gathered to oppose them. They possessed, for the most part, no other
weapons than axes, scythes and sticks; only two, brothers from Böghult,
were better armed. Each of these had his gun, which, as residents in
the woods and hunters, they knew well how to handle. In stationing the
forces, the two brothers were placed far out on the road, in the
direction from which the freebooters were expected to make their
appearance, while the others remained in a body some distance in their
rear.
After many hours’ waiting a ragged, sorry-looking horseman, mounted on
a rough-coated and saddleless horse, came into view. From his rear came
the sounds of laughter and merry-making of the approaching horde.
“Look sharp! here they come!” said one of the brothers.
“See! They have stolen father’s horse!” said the other, as he brought
his gun to his eye.
“Hold on!” whispered the first, “My gun is surer than yours. Let me
take care of the thief.” These words were followed by a loud report,
and the horseman tumbled from his seat.
Alarmed at the result, the two brothers retreated hastily to their
support in the rear, and nothing further was heard of the enemy. The
following day some of the bravest of the peasants set out to
reconnoiter, but the freebooters had disappeared. They came, however,
upon a heap of stones which the marauders had thrown up to mark the
grave of their companion.
This pile of stones was ever after called the freebooter’s grave.