HE FINDS ADHERENTS. 193 



and who was now settled in Dalecarlia. He having heard 

 that an Under-Fogde, named Nils Westgothe, had come 

 to the hamlet for the purpose of seizing the knight, got 

 together several of his people, and slew the man. Although 

 a foreigner and a Dane, Rasmus was the first that took up 

 arms in favour of the fugitive. 



Shortly afterwards, upwards of one hundred Danish 

 soldiers were one morning observed in the distance, advanc- 

 ing over the ice towards Rattvik (the lake Siljan being then 

 firmly frozen over), where it may be remembered Gustavus 

 addressed the people in the first instance. As so large a 

 party of military had not recently been seen in that part of 

 the country, it was supposed their object was to seize the 

 knight by force as well as to harm the inhabitants in some 

 way or other. Under this impression the church- bells the 

 usual signal when danger was at hand were loudly tolled, 

 and in a short time a large number of armed men were 

 assembled at the usual place of rendezvous. 



As the wind was high at the time, and blew from the 

 southward, from which quarter the military approached 

 Rattvik, the bells were not heard by them, and conse- 

 quently they little expected the reception awaiting them. 

 When therefore, on their arrival at the hamlet, the pea- 

 sants attacked them, they were taken quite by surprise, 

 and many were cut to pieces. The rest took shelter in the 

 wooden tower of the church ; and it was only through 

 their prayers and entreaties, and their solemn promises 

 not in any manner to injure Gustavus, that their lives 

 were spared. Even after the soldiers had come down from 

 the tower, and under the idea that some might still be 

 lying concealed there, a number of arrows were directed 



VOL. n. o 



