In the parish of Bolsta there lived, many years ago, a man named
Slottbon. One summer evening he rode his horse to pasture up toward
Dalo Mountain. Just as he let the horse go, and was turning to go home,
a black man confronted him and asked him if he did not wish to see the
mountain kitchen.
Slottbon acquiesced and followed his conductor into the mountain, where
it seemed to him certain that he must lose his senses among the glitter
of gold and silver utensils of the kitchen, with which he was
surrounded.
The mountain man inquired of his guest if he should order something to
eat for him, to which Slottbon assented, and, while his host was absent
preparing the repast, improved the opportunity to gather up all the
gold and silver his leather apron would hold, and with it hasten away
with all possible speed, not slacking his pace until he came to a
gravel pit, where it occurred to him to look at his treasure. Seating
himself upon a stone, he began to throw the vessels, one after the
other, upon the ground, where, as fast as they were thrown down, they
were turned into serpents.
Thoroughly frightened at the sight, he dropped his whole burden and
took to his heels, followed closely by the wriggling mass of enormous
reptiles. Finally, when he had about given himself up for lost, he came
to and sprang upon the trunk of a fallen tree and cried out, “God save
me, poor sinner!” and in the twinkling of an eye the serpents vanished.