Stop, Said the Fiend in the Hawse – the Mate from Martebo

Gotland · Sweden · Site of legend

A skipper hired a willing mate at Gibraltar – but a horn on his knee betrayed the Fiend, and the anchor dragged him out through the hawse.

A skipper who had lost his mate took on an unusually willing replacement at Gibraltar, but the crew saw him splice rope with a horn on his knee. The skipper realised he had hired the Fiend and had the anchor cast off with the mate caught in the cable. Three times the Fiend braced his foot against the hawse-hole and cried 'stop', but at last he was dragged out through it – hence the saying 'stop, said the Fiend when he sat in the hawse'.

FAQ

Where is Stop, Said the Fiend in the Hawse – the Mate from Martebo located?

Stop, Said the Fiend in the Hawse – the Mate from Martebo is in Gotland, Sweden.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.