Two men were fishing with a seine beside the island in Svitiaz. One day the net became so heavy that they could barely draw it towards the boat. They assumed they had caught an extraordinary haul.
When the seine rose from the water, it contained neither a catfish nor a great shoal of fish, but a large bell. The men began discussing what should be done with their unusual discovery.
One fisherman proposed giving the bell to the church, where it would serve the entire community. The other objected: they should take it to the tavern, sell it and drink away the proceeds.
The moment the word “tavern” was spoken, the bell suddenly broke free of the seine. It returned to the water by itself and disappeared into the depths of Svitiaz. The fishermen never saw it again.