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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3674-h.zip b/3674-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4ff9ad --- /dev/null +++ b/3674-h.zip diff --git a/3674-h/3674-h.htm b/3674-h/3674-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5cd428 --- /dev/null +++ b/3674-h/3674-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10856 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Dragon and the Raven, by G. A. Henty +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dragon and the Raven, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dragon and the Raven + or, The Days of King Alfred + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Posting Date: April 29, 2009 [EBook #3674] +Release Date: January, 2003 +First Posted: July 12, 2001 +Last Updated: April 18, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN *** + + + + +Produced by Ronald J. Goodden. HTML version by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN: +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Or The Days of King Alfred +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +G. A. Henty +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +C O N T E N T S +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#preface">PREFACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">THE FUGITIVES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">THE INVASION OF WESSEX</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A DISCIPLINED BAND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">THE SAXON FORT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">THE DRAGON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">A PRISONER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">THE COMBAT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">FOUR YEARS OF PEACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE SIEGE OF PARIS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THE REPULSE OF THE NORSEMEN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">FRIENDS IN TROUBLE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">FREDA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">A LONG CHASE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">FREDA DISCOVERED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">UNITED</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="preface"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +MY DEAR LADS, +</P> + +<P> +Living in the present days of peace and tranquillity it is difficult to +picture the life of our ancestors in the days of King Alfred, when the +whole country was for years overrun by hordes of pagan barbarians, who +slaughtered, plundered, and destroyed at will. You may gain, perhaps, a +fair conception of the state of things if you imagine that at the time +of the great mutiny the English population of India approached that of +the natives, and that the mutiny was everywhere triumphant. The +wholesale massacres and outrages which would in such a case have been +inflicted upon the conquered whites could be no worse than those +suffered by the Saxons at the hands of the Danes. From this terrible +state of subjection and suffering the Saxons were rescued by the +prudence, the patience, the valour and wisdom of King Alfred. In all +subsequent ages England has produced no single man who united in +himself so many great qualities as did this first of great Englishmen. +He was learned, wise, brave, prudent, and pious; devoted to his people, +clement to his conquered enemies. He was as great in peace as in war; +and yet few English boys know more than a faint outline of the events +of Alfred's reign—events which have exercised an influence upon the +whole future of the English people. School histories pass briefly over +them; and the incident of the burned cake is that which is, of all the +actions of a great and glorious reign, the most prominent in boys' +minds. In this story I have tried to supply the deficiency. Fortunately +in the Saxon Chronicles and in the life of King Alfred written by his +friend and counsellor Asser, we have a trustworthy account of the +events and battles which first laid Wessex prostrate beneath the foot +of the Danes, and finally freed England for many years from the +invaders. These histories I have faithfully followed. The account of +the siege of Paris is taken from a very full and detailed history of +that event by the Abbe D'Abbon, who was a witness of the scenes he +described. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Yours sincerely,<BR> + G. A. HENTY<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I: THE FUGITIVES +</H3> + +<P> +A low hut built of turf roughly thatched with rushes and standing on +the highest spot of some slightly raised ground. It was surrounded by a +tangled growth of bushes and low trees, through which a narrow and +winding path gave admission to the narrow space on which the hut stood. +The ground sloped rapidly. Twenty yards from the house the trees +ceased, and a rank vegetation of reeds and rushes took the place of the +bushes, and the ground became soft and swampy. A little further pools +of stagnant water appeared among the rushes, and the path abruptly +stopped at the edge of a stagnant swamp, though the passage could be +followed by the eye for some distance among the tall rushes. The hut, +in fact, stood on a hummock in the midst of a wide swamp where the +water sometimes deepened into lakes connected by sluggish streams. +</P> + +<P> +On the open spaces of water herons stalked near the margin, and great +flocks of wild-fowl dotted the surface. Other signs of life there were +none, although a sharp eye might have detected light threads of smoke +curling up here and there from spots where the ground rose somewhat +above the general level. These slight elevations, however, were not +visible to the eye, for the herbage here grew shorter than on the lower +and wetter ground, and the land apparently stretched away for a vast +distance in a dead flat—a rush-covered swamp, broken only here and +there by patches of bushes and low trees. +</P> + +<P> +The little hut was situated in the very heart of the fen country, now +drained and cultivated, but in the year 870 untouched by the hand of +man, the haunt of wild-fowl and human fugitives. At the door of the hut +stood a lad some fourteen years old. His only garment was a short +sleeveless tunic girded in at the waist, his arms and legs were bare; +his head was uncovered, and his hair fell in masses on his shoulders. +In his hand he held a short spear, and leaning against the wall of the +hut close at hand was a bow and quiver of arrows. The lad looked at the +sun, which was sinking towards the horizon. +</P> + +<P> +"Father is late," he said. "I trust that no harm has come to him and +Egbert. He said he would return to-day without fail; he said three or +four days, and this is the fourth. It is dull work here alone. You +think so, Wolf, don't you, old fellow? And it is worse for you than it +is for me, pent up on this hummock of ground with scarce room to +stretch your limbs." +</P> + +<P> +A great wolf-hound, who was lying with his head between his paws by the +embers of a fire in the centre of the hut, raised his head on being +addressed, and uttered a low howl indicative of his agreement with his +master's opinion and his disgust at his present place of abode. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, old fellow," the boy continued, "we sha'n't be here long, +I hope, and then you shall go with me in the woods again and hunt the +wolves to your heart's content." The great hound gave a lazy wag of his +tail. "And now, Wolf, I must go. You lie here and guard the hut while I +am away. Not that you are likely to have any strangers to call in my +absence." +</P> + +<P> +The dog rose and stretched himself, and followed his master down the +path until it terminated at the edge of the water. Here he gave a low +whimper as the lad stepped in and waded through the water; then turning +he walked back to the hut and threw himself down at the door. The boy +proceeded for some thirty or forty yards through the water, then paused +and pushed aside the wall of rushes which bordered the passage, and +pulled out a boat which was floating among them. +</P> + +<P> +It was constructed of osier rods neatly woven together into a sort of +basket-work, and covered with an untanned hide with the hairy side in. +It was nearly oval in shape, and resembled a great bowl some three feet +and a half wide and a foot longer. A broad paddle with a long handle +lay in it, and the boy, getting into it and standing erect in the +middle paddled down the strip of water which a hundred yards further +opened out into a broad half a mile long and four or five hundred yards +wide. Beyond moving slowly away as the coracle approached them, the +water-fowl paid but little heed to its appearance. +</P> + +<P> +The boy paddled to the end of the broad, whence a passage, through +which flowed a stream so sluggish that its current could scarce be +detected, led into the next sheet of water. Across the entrance to this +passage floated some bundles of light rushes. These the boy drew out +one by one. Attached to each was a piece of cord which, being pulled +upon, brought to the surface a large cage, constructed somewhat on the +plan of a modern eel or lobster pot. They were baited by pieces of dead +fish, and from them the boy extracted half a score of eels and as many +fish of different kinds. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bad haul," he said as he lowered the cages to the bottom again. +"Now let us see what we have got in our pen." +</P> + +<P> +He paddled a short way along the broad to a point where a little lane +of water ran up through the rushes. This narrowed rapidly and the lad +got out from his boat into the water, as the coracle could proceed no +further between the lines of rushes. The water was knee-deep and the +bottom soft and oozy. At the end of the creek it narrowed until the +rushes were but a foot apart. They were bent over here, as it would +seem to a superficial observer naturally; but a close examination would +show that those facing each other were tied together where they crossed +at a distance of a couple of feet above the water, forming a sort of +tunnel. Two feet farther on this ceased, and the rushes were succeeded +by lines of strong osier withies, an inch or two apart, arched over and +fastened together. At this point was a sort of hanging door formed of +rushes backed with osiers, and so arranged that at the slightest push +from without the door lifted and enabled a wild-fowl to pass under, but +dropping behind it prevented its exit. The osier tunnel widened out to +a sort of inverted basket three feet in diameter. +</P> + +<P> +On the surface of the creek floated some grain which had been scattered +there the evening before as a bait. The lad left the creek before he +got to the narrower part, and, making a small circuit in the swamp, +came down upon the pen. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" he said, "I am in luck to-day; here are three fine ducks." +</P> + +<P> +Bending the yielding osiers aside, he drew out the ducks one by one, +wrung their necks, and passing their heads through his girdle, made his +way again to the coracle. Then he scattered another handful or two of +grain on the water, sparingly near the mouth of the creek, but more +thickly at the entrance to the trap, and then paddled back again by the +way he had come. +</P> + +<P> +Almost noiselessly as he dipped the paddle in the water, the hound's +quick ear had caught the sound, and he was standing at the edge of the +swamp, wagging his tail in dignified welcome as his master stepped on +to dry land. +</P> + +<P> +"There, Wolf, what do you think of that? A good score of eels and fish +and three fine wild ducks. That means bones for you with your meal +to-night—not to satisfy your hunger, you know, for they would not be +of much use in that way, but to give a flavour to your supper. Now let +us make the fire up and pluck the birds, for I warrant me that father +and Egbert, if they return this evening, will be sharp-set. There are +the cakes to bake too, so you see there is work for the next hour or +two." +</P> + +<P> +The sun had set now, and the flames, dancing up as the boy threw an +armful of dry wood on the fire, gave the hut a more cheerful +appearance. For some time the lad busied himself with preparation for +supper. The three ducks were plucked in readiness for putting over the +fire should they be required; cakes of coarse rye-flour were made and +placed in the red ashes of the fire; and then the lad threw himself +down by the side of the dog. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Wolf, it is no use your looking at those ducks. I am not going to +roast them if no one comes; I have got half a one left from dinner." +After sitting quiet for half an hour the dog suddenly raised himself +into a sitting position, with ears erect and muzzle pointed towards the +door; then he gave a low whine, and his tail began to beat the ground +rapidly. +</P> + +<P> +"What! do you hear them, old fellow?" the boy said, leaping to his +feet. "I wish my ears were as sharp as yours are, Wolf; there would be +no fear then of being caught asleep. Come on, old boy, let us go and +meet them." +</P> + +<P> +It was some minutes after he reached the edge of the swamp before the +boy could hear the sounds which the quick ears of the hound had +detected. Then he heard a faint splashing noise, and a minute or two +later two figures were seen wading through the water. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome back, father," the lad cried. "I was beginning to be anxious +about you, for here we are at the end of the fourth day." +</P> + +<P> +"I did not name any hour, Edmund," the boy's father said, as he stepped +from the water, "but I own that I did not reckon upon being so late; +but in truth Egbert and I missed our way in the windings of these +swamps, and should not have been back to-night had we not luckily +fallen upon a man fishing, who was able to put us right. You have got +some supper, I hope, for Egbert and I are as hungry as wolves, for we +have had nothing since we started before sunrise." +</P> + +<P> +"I have plenty to eat, father; but you will have to wait till it is +cooked, for it was no use putting it over the fire until I knew that +you would return; but there is a good fire, and you will not have to +wait long. And how has it fared with you, and what is the news?" +</P> + +<P> +"The news is bad, Edmund. The Danes are ever receiving reinforcements +from Mercia, and scarce a day passes but fresh bands arrive at +Thetford, and I fear that ere long East Anglia, like Northumbria, will +fall into their clutches. Nay, unless we soon make head against them +they will come to occupy all the island, just as did our forefathers." +</P> + +<P> +"That were shame indeed," Edmund exclaimed. "We know that the people +conquered by our ancestors were unwarlike and cowardly; but it would be +shame indeed were we Saxons so to be overcome by the Danes, seeing +moreover that we have the help of God, being Christians, while the +Danes are pagans and idolaters." +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless, my son, for the last five years these heathen have been +masters of Northumbria, have wasted the whole country, and have +plundered and destroyed the churches and monasteries. At present they +have but made a beginning here in East Anglia; but if they continue to +flock in they will soon overrun the whole country, instead of having, +as at present, a mere foothold near the rivers except for those who +have come down to Thetford. We have been among the first sufferers, +seeing that our lands lie round Thetford, and hitherto I have hoped +that there would be a general rising against these invaders; but the +king is indolent and unwarlike, and I see that he will not arouse +himself and call his ealdormen and thanes together for a united effort +until it is too late. Already from the north the Danes are flocking +down into Mercia, and although the advent of the West Saxons to the aid +of the King of Mercia forced them to retreat for a while, I doubt not +that they will soon pour down again." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis a pity, father, that the Saxons are not all under one leading; +then we might surely defend England against the Danes. If the people +did but rise and fall upon each band of Northmen as they arrived they +would get no footing among us." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," the father replied, "it is the unhappy divisions between the +Saxon kingdoms which have enabled the Danes to get so firm a footing in +the land. Our only hope now lies in the West Saxons. Until lately they +were at feud with Mercia; but the royal families are now related by +marriage, seeing that the King of Mercia is wedded to a West Saxon +princess, and that Alfred, the West Saxon king's brother and heir to +the throne, has lately espoused one of the royal blood of Mercia. The +fact that they marched at the call of the King of Mercia and drove the +Danes from Nottingham shows that the West Saxon princes are alive to +the common danger of the country, and if they are but joined heartily +by our people of East Anglia and the Mercians, they may yet succeed in +checking the progress of these heathen. And now, Edmund, as we see no +hope of any general effort to drive the Danes off our coasts, 'tis +useless for us to lurk here longer. I propose to-morrow, then, to +journey north into Lincolnshire, to the Abbey of Croyland, where, as +you know, my brother Theodore is the abbot; there we can rest in peace +for a time, and watch the progress of events. If we hear that the +people of these parts are aroused from their lethargy, we will come +back and fight for our home and lands; if not, I will no longer stay in +East Anglia, which I see is destined to fall piecemeal into the hands +of the Danes; but we will journey down to Somerset, and I will pray +King Ethelbert to assign me lands there, and to take me as his thane." +</P> + +<P> +While they had been thus talking Egbert had been broiling the eels and +wild ducks over the fire. He was a freeman, and a distant relation of +Edmund's father, Eldred, who was an ealdorman in West Norfolk, his +lands lying beyond Thetford, and upon whom, therefore, the first brunt +of the Danish invasion from Mercia had fallen. He had made a stout +resistance, and assembling his people had given battle to the invaders. +These, however, were too strong and numerous, and his force having been +scattered and dispersed, he had sought refuge with Egbert and his son +in the fen country. Here he had remained for two months in hopes that +some general effort would be made to drive back the Danes; but being +now convinced that at present the Angles were too disunited to join in +a common effort, he determined to retire for a while from the scene. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose, father," Edmund said, "you will leave your treasures buried +here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," his father replied; "we have no means of transporting them, and +we can at any time return and fetch them. We must dig up the big chest +and take such garments as we may need, and the personal ornaments of +our rank; but the rest, with the gold and silver vessels, can remain +here till we need them." +</P> + +<P> +Gold and silver vessels seem little in accordance with the primitive +mode of life prevailing in the ninth century. The Saxon civilization +was indeed a mixed one. Their mode of life was primitive, their +dwellings, with the exception of the religious houses and the abodes of +a few of the great nobles, simple in the extreme; but they possessed +vessels of gold and silver, armlets, necklaces, and ornaments of the +same metals, rich and brightly coloured dresses, and elaborate bed +furniture while their tables and household utensils were of the +roughest kind, and their floors strewn with rushes. When they invaded +and conquered England they found existing the civilization introduced +by the Romans, which was far in advance of their own; much of this they +adopted. The introduction of Christianity further advanced them in the +scale. +</P> + +<P> +The prelates and monks from Rome brought with them a high degree of +civilization, and this to no small extent the Saxons imitated and +borrowed. The church was held in much honour, great wealth and +possessions were bestowed upon it, and the bishops and abbots possessed +large temporal as well as spiritual power, and bore a prominent part in +the councils of the kingdoms. But even in the handsome and well-built +monasteries, with their stately services and handsome vestments, +learning was at the lowest ebb—so low, indeed, that when Prince Alfred +desired to learn Latin he could find no one in his father's dominions +capable of teaching him, and his studies were for a long time hindered +for want of an instructor, and at the time he ascended the throne he +was probably the only Englishman outside a monastery who was able to +read and write fluently. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, father," Edmund said after the meal was concluded, "about the +West Saxons, since it is to them, as it seems, that we must look for +the protection of England against the Danes. This Prince Alfred, of +whom I before heard you speak in terms of high praise, is the brother, +is he not, of the king? In that case how is it that he does not reign +in Kent, which I thought, though joined to the West Saxon kingdom, was +always ruled over by the eldest son of the king." +</P> + +<P> +"Such has been the rule, Edmund; but seeing the troubled times when +Ethelbert came to the throne, it was thought better to unite the two +kingdoms under one crown with the understanding that at Ethelbert's +death Alfred should succeed him. Their father, Ethelwulf, was a weak +king, and should have been born a churchman rather than a prince. He +nominally reigned over Wessex, Kent, and Mercia, but the last paid him +but a slight allegiance. Alfred was his favourite son, and he sent him, +when quite a child, to Rome for a visit. In 855 he himself, with a +magnificent retinue, and accompanied by Alfred, visited Rome, +travelling through the land of the Franks, and it was there, doubtless, +that Alfred acquired that love of learning, and many of those ideas, +far in advance of his people, which distinguish him. His mother, +Osburgha, died before he and his father started on the pilgrimage. The +king was received with much honour by the pope, to whom he presented a +gold crown of four pounds weight, ten dishes of the purest gold, a +sword richly set in gold, two gold images, some silver-gilt urns, +stoles bordered with gold and purple, white silken robes embroidered +with figures, and other costly articles of clothing for the celebration +of the service of the church, together with rich presents in gold and +silver to the churches, bishops, clergy, and other dwellers in Rome. +They say that the people of Rome marvelled much at these magnificent +gifts from a king of a country which they had considered as barbarous. +On his way back he married Judith, daughter of the King of the Franks; +a foolish marriage, for the king was far advanced in years and Judith +was but a girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's eldest son, had acted as regent in his father's +absence, and so angered was he at this marriage that he raised his +standard of revolt against his father. At her marriage Judith had been +crowned queen, and this was contrary to the customs of the West Saxons, +therefore Ethelbald was supported by the people of that country; on his +father's return to England, however, father and son met, and a division +of the kingdom was agreed upon. +</P> + +<P> +"Ethelbald received Wessex, the principal part of the kingdom, and +Ethelwulf took Kent, which he had already ruled over in the time of his +father Egbert. Ethelwulf died a few months afterwards, leaving Kent to +Ethelbert, his second surviving son. The following year, to the horror +and indignation of the people of the country, Ethelbald married his +stepmother Judith, but two years afterwards died, and Ethelbert, King +of Kent, again united Wessex to his own dominions, which consisted of +Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbert reigned but a short time, and at +his death Ethelred, his next brother, ascended the throne. Last year +Alfred, the youngest brother, married Elswitha, the daughter of +Ethelred Mucil, Earl of the Gaini, in Lincolnshire, whose mother was +one of the royal family of Mercia. +</P> + +<P> +"It was but a short time after the marriage that the Danes poured into +Mercia from the north. Messengers were sent to ask the assistance of +the West Saxons. These at once obeyed the summons, and, joining the +Mercians, marched against the Danes, who shut themselves up in the +strong city of Nottingham, and were there for some time besieged. The +place was strong, the winter at hand, and the time of the soldiers' +service nearly expired. A treaty was accordingly made by which the +Danes were allowed to depart unharmed to the north side of the Humber, +and the West Saxons returned to their kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +"Such is the situation at present, but we may be sure that the Danes +will not long remain quiet, but will soon gather for another invasion; +ere long, too, we may expect another of their great fleets to arrive +somewhere off these coasts, and every Saxon who can bear arms had need +take the field to fight for our country and faith against these heathen +invaders. Hitherto, Edmund, as you know, I have deeply mourned the +death of your mother, and of your sisters who died in infancy; but now +I feel that it is for the best, for a terrible time is before us. We +men can take refuge in swamp and forest, but it would have been hard +for delicate women; and those men are best off who stand alone and are +able to give every thought and energy to the defence of their country. +'Tis well that you are now approaching an age when the Saxon youth are +wont to take their place in the ranks of battle. I have spared no pains +with your training in arms, and though assuredly you lack strength yet +to cope in hand-to-hand conflict with these fierce Danes, you may yet +take your part in battle, with me on one side of you and Egbert on the +other. I have thought over many things of late, and it seems to me that +we Saxons have done harm in holding the people of this country as +serfs." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, father," Edmund exclaimed in astonishment, "surely you would not +have all men free and equal." +</P> + +<P> +"The idea seems strange to you, no doubt, Edmund, and it appears only +natural that some men should be born to rule and others to labour, but +this might be so even without serfdom, since, as you know, the poorer +freemen labour just as do the serfs, only they receive a somewhat +larger guerdon for their toil; but had the two races mixed more closely +together, had serfdom been abolished and all men been free and capable +of bearing arms, we should have been able to show a far better front to +the Danes, seeing that the serfs are as three to one to the freemen." +</P> + +<P> +"But the serfs are cowardly and spiritless," Edmund said; "they are not +of a fighting race, and fell almost without resistance before our +ancestors when they landed here." +</P> + +<P> +"Their race is no doubt inferior to our own, Edmund," his father said, +"seeing that they are neither so tall nor so strong as we Saxons, but +of old they were not deficient in bravery, for they fought as stoutly +against the Romans as did our own hardy ancestors. After having been +for hundreds of years subject to the Roman yoke, and having no occasion +to use arms, they lost their manly virtues, and when the Romans left +them were an easy prey for the first comer. Our fathers could not +foresee that the time would come when they too in turn would be +invaded. Had they done so, methinks they would not have set up so broad +a line of separation between themselves and the Britons, but would have +admitted the latter to the rights of citizenship, in which case +intermarriage would have taken place freely, and the whole people would +have become amalgamated. The Britons, accustomed to our free +institutions, and taking part in the wars between the various Saxon +kingdoms, would have recovered their warlike virtues, and it would be +as one people that we should resist the Danes. As it is, the serfs, who +form by far the largest part of the population, are apathetic and +cowardly; they view the struggle with indifference, for what signifies +to them whether Dane or Saxon conquer; they have no interest in the +struggle, nothing to lose or to gain, it is but a change of masters." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund was silent. The very possibility of a state of things in which +there should be no serfs, and when all men should be free and equal, +had never occurred to him; but he had a deep respect for his father, +who bore indeed the reputation of being one of the wisest and most +clear-headed of the nobles of East Anglia, and it seemed to him that +this strange and novel doctrine contained much truth in it. Still the +idea was as strange to him as it would have been to the son of a +southern planter in America half a century ago. The existence of slaves +seemed as much a matter of course as that of horses or dogs, and +although he had been accustomed to see from time to time freedom +bestowed upon some favourite serf as a special reward for services, the +thought of a general liberation of the slaves was strange and almost +bewildering, and he lay awake puzzling over the problem long after his +father and kinsman had fallen asleep. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II: THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN +</H3> + +<P> +The following morning early the little party started. The great chest +was dug up from its place of concealment, and they resumed their +ordinary dresses. The ealdorman attired himself in a white tunic with a +broad purple band round the lower edge, with a short cloak of green +cloth. This was fastened with a gold brooch at the neck; a necklet of +the same metal and several gold bracelets completed his costume, except +that he wore a flat cap and sandals. Edmund had a green tunic and cloak +of deep red colour; while Egbert was dressed in yellow with a green +cloak—the Saxons being extremely fond of bright colours. +</P> + +<P> +All wore daggers, whose sheaths were incrusted in silver, in their +belts, and the ealdorman and his kinsman carried short broad-bladed +swords, while Edmund had his boar-spear. Eldred placed in the pouch +which hung at his side a bag containing a number of silver cubes cut +from a long bar and roughly stamped. The chest was then buried again in +its place of concealment among the bushes near the hut, Edmund placed +his bows and arrows in the boat—not that in which Edmund had fished, +but the much larger and heavier craft which Eldred and Egbert had +used—and then the party, with the hound, took their places in it. The +ealdorman and Egbert were provided with long poles, and with these they +sent the little boat rapidly through the water. +</P> + +<P> +After poling their way for some eight hours they reached the town of +Norwich, to which the Danes had not yet penetrated; here, procuring +what articles they needed, they proceeded on their journey to Croyland, +making a great circuit to avoid the Danes at Thetford. The country was +for the most part covered with thick forests, where the wild boar and +deer roamed undisturbed by man, and where many wolves still lurked, +although the number in the country had been greatly diminished by the +energetic measures which King Egbert had taken for the destruction of +these beasts. Their halting-places were for the most part at religious +houses, which then served the purpose of inns for travellers, being +freely opened to those whom necessity or pleasure might cause to +journey. Everywhere they found the monks in a state of alarm at the +progress of the Danes, who, wherever they went, destroyed the churches +and religious houses, and slew the monks. +</P> + +<P> +Eldred was everywhere received with marked honour; being known as a +wise and valiant noble, his opinions on the chances of the situation +were eagerly listened to, and he found the monks at all their +halting-places prepared, if need be, to take up arms and fight the +pagan invaders, as those of Mercia and Wessex had done in the preceding +autumn. The travellers, on arriving at Croyland, were warmly welcomed. +</P> + +<P> +"I heard, brother," the abbot said, "that you had bravely fought +against the Danes near Thetford, and have been sorely anxious since the +news came of the dispersal of your force." +</P> + +<P> +"I have been in hiding," Eldred said, "hoping that a general effort +would be made against the invaders. My own power was broken, since all +my lands are in their hands. The people of East Anglia foolishly seem +to suppose that, so long as the Danes remain quiet, the time has not +come for action. They will repent their lethargy some day, for, as the +Danes gather in strength, they will burst out over the surrounding +country as a dammed-up river breaks its banks. No, brother, I regard +East Anglia as lost so far as depends upon itself; its only hope is in +the men of Kent and Wessex, whom we must now look upon as our +champions, and who may yet stem the tide of invasion and drive back the +Danes. This abbey of yours stands in a perilous position, being not far +removed from the Humber, where so many of the Danes find entrance to +England." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not without danger, Eldred, but the men of the fens are +numerous, hardy and brave, and will offer a tough resistance to any who +may venture to march hitherward, and if, as I hope, you will stay with +us, and will undertake their command, we may yet for a long time keep +the Danes from our doors." +</P> + +<P> +For some weeks the time passed quietly. Edmund spent most of his time +in hunting, being generally accompanied by Egbert. The Saxon was an +exceedingly tall and powerful man, slow and scanty of speech, who had +earned for himself the title of Egbert the Silent. He was devoted to +his kinsmen and regarded himself as special guardian of Edmund. He had +instructed him in the use of arms, and always accompanied him when he +went out to hunt the boar, standing ever by his side to aid him to +receive the rush of the wounded and furious beasts; and more than once, +when Edmund had been borne down by their onslaughts, and would have +been severely wounded, if not killed, a sweeping blow of Egbert's sword +had rid him of his assailant. +</P> + +<P> +Sometimes Edmund made excursions in the fens, where with nets and +snares he caught the fish which swarmed in the sluggish waters; or, +having covered his boat with a leafy bower until it resembled a +floating bush, drifted close to the flocks of wild-fowl, and with his +bow and arrows obtained many a plump wild duck. Smaller birds were +caught in snares or traps, or with bird-lime smeared on twigs. Eldred +seldom joined his son in his hunting excursions, as he was busied with +his brother the abbot in concerting the measures of defence and in +organizing a band of messengers, who, on the first warning of danger, +could be despatched throughout the fens to call in the fisher +population to the defence of the abbey. +</P> + +<P> +It was on the 18th of September, 870, that a messenger arrived at the +abbey and craved instant speech with the prior. The latter, who was +closeted with his brother, ordered the man to be admitted. +</P> + +<P> +"I come," he said, "from Algar the ealdorman. He bids me tell you that +a great Danish host has landed from the Humber at Lindsay. The rich +monastery of Bardenay has been pillaged and burned. Algar is assembling +all the inhabitants of the marsh lands to give them battle, and he +prays you to send what help you can spare, for assuredly they will +march hither should he be defeated." +</P> + +<P> +"Return to the ealdorman," the abbot said; "tell him that every lay +brother and monk who can bear arms shall march hence to join him under +the command of lay brother Toley, whose deeds of arms against the Danes +in Mercia are well known to him. My brother here, Eldred, will head all +the inhabitants of the marshes of this neighbourhood. With these and +the brothers of the abbey, in all, as I reckon, nigh four hundred men, +he will to-morrow march to join Algar." +</P> + +<P> +Messengers were at once sent off through the surrounding country +bidding every man assemble on the morrow morning at Croyland, and soon +after daybreak they began to arrive. Some were armed with swords, some +with long sickles, used in cutting rushes, tied to poles, some had +fastened long pieces of iron to oars to serve as pikes. They were a +rough and somewhat ragged throng, but Eldred saw with satisfaction that +they were a hard and sturdy set of men, accustomed to fatigue and +likely to stand firm in the hour of battle. +</P> + +<P> +Most of them carried shields made of platted osiers covered with skin. +The armoury of the abbey was well supplied, and swords and axes were +distributed among the worst armed of the fenmen. Then, with but little +order or regularity, but with firm and cheerful countenances, as men +determined to win or die, the band moved off under Eldred's command, +followed by the contingent of the abbey, eighty strong, under lay +brother Toley. +</P> + +<P> +A sturdy band were these monks, well fed and vigorous. They knew that +they had no mercy to expect from the Danes, and, regarding them as +pagans and enemies of their religion as well as of their country, could +be trusted to do their utmost. Late that evening they joined Algar at +the place they had appointed, and found that a large number of the +people of the marshes had gathered round his banner. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes had not moved as yet from Bardenay, and Algar determined to +wait for another day or two before advancing, in order to give time to +others farther from the scene of action to arrive. +</P> + +<P> +The next day came the contingents from several other priories and +abbeys, and the sight of the considerable force gathered together gave +heart and confidence to all. Algar, Eldred, and the other leaders, +Morcar, Osgot, and Harding, moved about among the host, encouraging +them with cheering words, warning them to be in no way intimidated by +the fierce appearance of the Danes, but to hold steadfast and firm in +the ranks, and to yield no foot of ground to the onslaught of the +enemy. Many priests had accompanied the contingents from the religious +houses, and these added their exhortations to those of the leaders, +telling the men that God would assuredly fight on their side against +the heathen, and bidding each man remember that defeat meant the +destruction of their churches and altars, the overthrow of their whole +religion, and the restored worship of the pagan gods. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund went about among the gathering taking great interest in the wild +scene, for these marsh men differed much in their appearance from the +settled inhabitants of his father's lands. The scenes in the camp were +indeed varied in their character. Here and there were harpers with +groups of listeners gathered round, as they sung the exploits of their +fathers, and animated their hearers to fresh fire and energy by +relating legends of the cruelty of the merciless Danes. Other groups +there were surrounding the priests, who were appealing to their +religious feelings as well as to their patriotism. +</P> + +<P> +Men sat about sharpening their weapons, fixing on more firmly the +handles of their shields, adjusting arrows to bowstrings, and preparing +in other ways for the coming fight. From some of the fires, round which +the marsh men were sitting, came snatches of boisterous song, while +here and there, apart from the crowd, priests were hearing confessions, +and shriving penitents. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning early, one of the scouts, who had been sent to observe +the movements of the Danes, reported that these were issuing from their +camp, and advancing into the country. +</P> + +<P> +Algar marshalled his host, each part under its leaders, and moved to +meet them. Near Kesteven the armies came in sight of each other, and +after advancing until but a short distance apart both halted to marshal +their ranks anew. Eldred, with the men of the marshes near Croyland and +the contingent from the abbey, had their post in the central division, +which was commanded by Algar himself, Edmund took post by his father, +and Egbert stood beside him. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund had never before seen the Danes, and he could not but admit that +their appearance was enough to shake the stoutest heart. All carried +great shields covering them from head to foot. These were composed of +wood, bark, or leather painted or embossed, and in the cases of the +chiefs plated with gold and silver. So large were these that in naval +encounters, if the fear of falling into the enemy's hands forced them +to throw themselves into the sea, they could float on their shields; +and after death in battle a soldier was carried to his grave on his +buckler. As they stood facing the Saxons they locked their shields +together so as to form a barrier well-nigh impregnable against the +arrows. +</P> + +<P> +All wore helmets, the common men of leather, the leaders of iron or +copper, while many in addition wore coats of mail. Each carried a +sword, a battle-axe, and a bow and arrows. Some of the swords were +short and curled like a scimitar; others were long and straight, and +were wielded with both hands. They wore their hair long and hanging +down their shoulders, and for the most part shaved their cheeks and +chins, but wore their moustaches very long. +</P> + +<P> +They were, for the most, tall, lithe, and sinewy men, but physically in +no way superior to the Saxons, from whom they differed very widely in +complexion, the Saxons being fair while the Danes were very dark, as +much so as modern gypsies; indeed, the Saxon historians speak of them +as the black pagans. Upon the other hand many of the Northmen, being +Scandinavians, were as fair as the Saxons themselves. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes began the battle, those in front shouting fiercely, and +striking their swords on their shields with a clashing noise, while the +ranks behind shot a shower of arrows among the Saxons. These at once +replied. The combat was not continued long at a distance, for the Danes +with a mighty shout rushed upon the Saxons. These stood their ground +firmly and a desperate conflict ensued. The Saxon chiefs vied with each +other in acts of bravery, and singling out the leaders of the Danes +engaged with them in hand-to-hand conflict. +</P> + +<P> +Algar had placed his swordsmen in the front line, those armed with +spears in the second; and as the swordsmen battled with the Danes the +spearmen, when they saw a shield uplifted to guard the head, thrust +under with their weapons and slew many. Edmund, seeing that with his +sword he should have but little chance against these fierce soldiers, +fell a little behind his father and kinsman, and as these were engaged +with the enemy he from time to time, when he saw an opportunity, rushed +in and delivered a thrust with his spear at an unguarded point. The +Saxon shouts rose louder and louder as the Danes in vain endeavoured to +break through their line. The monks fought stoutly, and many a fierce +Norseman fell before their blows. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes, who had not expected so firm a resistance, began to +hesitate, and Algar giving the word, the Saxons took the offensive, and +the line pressed forward step by step. The archers poured their arrows +in a storm among the Danish ranks. These fell back before the +onslaught. Already three of their kings and many of their principal +leaders had fallen, and at last, finding themselves unable to withstand +the impetuous onslaught of the Saxons, they turned and fled in +confusion towards their camp. The Saxons with exulting shouts pursued +them, and great numbers were slaughtered. The Danes had, however, as +was their custom, fortified the camp before advancing, and Algar drew +off his troops, deeming that it would be better to defer the attack on +this position until the following day. +</P> + +<P> +There was high feasting in the Saxon camp that evening, but this was +brought to an abrupt conclusion by the arrival of a scout, who reported +that a great Danish army marching from the Humber was approaching the +camp of the compatriots. The news was but too true. The kings Guthorn, +Bergsecg, Oskytal, Halfdene, and Amund, and the Jarls Frene, Hingwar, +Hubba, and the two Sidrocs, with all their followers, had marched down +from Yorkshire to join the invaders who had just landed. +</P> + +<P> +The news of this immense reinforcement spread consternation among the +Angles. In vain their leaders went about among them and exhorted them +to courage, promising them another victory as decisive as that they had +won that day. Their entreaties were in vain, for when the morning +dawned it was found that three-fourths of their number had left the +camp during the night, and had made off to the marshes and fastnesses. +</P> + +<P> +A council of the chiefs was held. The chances of conflict appeared +hopeless, so vastly were they out-numbered by the Danes. Algar, +however, declared that he would die rather than retreat. +</P> + +<P> +"If we fly now," he said, "all East Anglia will fall into the hands of +the heathen. Even should we fight and fall, the example of what a +handful of brave men can do against the invaders will surely animate +the Angles to further resistance; while if we conquer, so great a blow +will be dealt to the renown of these Danes that all England will rise +against them." +</P> + +<P> +On hearing these words all the chiefs came to the determination to win +or die as they stood. Eldred took Edmund aside after this determination +had been arrived at. +</P> + +<P> +"My son," he said, "I allowed you yesterday to stand by my side in +battle, and well and worthily did you bear yourself, but to-day you +must withdraw. The fight is well-nigh hopeless, and I believe that all +who take part in it are doomed to perish. I would not that my house +should altogether disappear, and shall die more cheerfully in the hope +that some day you will avenge me upon these heathen. Therefore, Edmund, +I bid you take station at a distance behind the battle, so that when +you see the day goes against us you may escape in time. I shall urge +our faithful Egbert to endeavour, when he sees that all is lost, to +make his way from the fight and rejoin you, and to journey with you to +Wessex and there present you to the king. For myself, if the battle is +lost I shall die rather than fly. Such is the resolution of Algar and +our other brave chiefs, and Eldred the ealdorman must not be the only +one of the leaders to run from the fray." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund was deeply touched at his father's words, but the parental rule +was so strict in those days that it did not even enter his mind to +protest against Eldred's decision. +</P> + +<P> +As the morning went on the Danes were engaged in the funeral ceremonies +of their dead kings, while the Saxons, quiet and resolute, received the +holy sacrament and prepared for the fight. Algar chose a position on +rising ground. He himself with Eldred commanded the centre, Toley and +Morcar led the right wing, Osgot and Harding the left. +</P> + +<P> +Each of these wings contained about five hundred men. Algar's centre, +which was a little withdrawn from its wings, contained about 200 of his +best warriors, and was designed as a reserve, with which, if need be, +he could move to the assistance of either of the wings which might be +sorely pressed and in danger. The Saxons formed in a solid mass with +their bucklers linked together. The Danish array which issued out from +their camp was vastly superior in numbers, and was commanded by four +kings and eight jarls or earls, while two kings and four earls remained +in charge of the camp, and of the great crowd of prisoners, for the +most part women and children, whom they had brought with them. +</P> + +<P> +With the Danes who had come down from Yorkshire were a large body of +horsemen, who charged furiously down upon the Saxons; but these +maintained so firm an array with their lances and spears projecting +outward that the Danes failed to break through them, and after making +repeated efforts and suffering heavy loss they drew back. Then the +Danish archers and slingers poured in a storm of missiles, but these +effected but little harm, as the Saxons stooped a little behind their +closely packed line of bucklers, which were stout enough to keep out +the shower of arrows. All day the struggle continued. Again and again +the Danes strove to break the solid Saxon array, and with sword and +battle-axe attempted to hew down the hedge of spears, but in vain. At +last their leaders, convinced that they could not overcome the +obstinacy of the resistance, ordered their followers to feign a retreat. +</P> + +<P> +As the Danes turned to fly the Saxons set up a triumphant shout, and +breaking up their solid phalanx rushed after them in complete disorder. +In vain Algar, Osgot, Toley, Eldred, and the other leaders shouted to +them to stand firm. Weary of their long inactivity, and convinced that +the Danes were routed, the Saxons pursued them across the plain. +Suddenly the Danish horse, who after failing to break through the ranks +had remained apart at a short distance from the conflict, dashed down +upon the disordered Saxons, while the flying infantry turning round +also fell upon them with exulting shouts. +</P> + +<P> +Taken wholly by surprise, confused and disordered, the Saxons could +offer no effectual opposition to the charge. The Danish horse rode +among them hewing and slaying, and the swords and battle-axes of the +footmen completed the work. In a few minutes of all the Saxon band +which had for so many hours successfully resisted the onslaught of the +Danes, not one survived save a few fleet-footed young men who, throwing +away their arms, succeeded in making their escape, and a little group, +consisting of Algar, Toley, Eldred, and the other leaders who had +gathered together when their men broke their ranks and had taken up +their position on a knoll of ground rising above the plain. Here for a +long time they resisted the efforts of the whole of the Danes, +surrounding themselves with a heap of slain; but at length one by one +they succumbed to the Danish onslaught, each fighting valiantly to the +last. +</P> + +<P> +From his position at a distance Edmund watched the last desperate +struggle. With streaming eyes and a heart torn by anxiety for his +father he could see the Danish foe swarming round the little band who +defended the crest. These were lost from his sight, and only the +flashing of swords showed where the struggle was still going on in the +centre of the confused mass. Edmund had been on his knees for some +time, but he now rose. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, old boy," he said to the hound, who lay beside him watching the +distant conflict and occasionally uttering deep angry growls. "I must +obey my father's last command; let us away." +</P> + +<P> +He took one more glance at the distant conflict before turning. It was +plain that it was nearly finished. The swords had well-nigh ceased to +rise and fall when he saw a sudden movement in the throng of Danes and +suddenly a man burst out from them and started at headlong speed +towards him, pursued by a number of Danes. Even at that distance Edmund +thought that he recognized the tall figure of his kinsman, but he had +no time to assure himself of this, and he at once, accompanied by the +hound, set off at the top of his speed from the field of battle. He had +fully a quarter of a mile start, and being active and hardy and +accustomed to exercise from his childhood, he had no fear that the +Danes would overtake him. Still he ran his hardest. +</P> + +<P> +Looking over his shoulder from time to time he saw that at first the +Danes who were pursuing the fugitive were gaining upon him also, but +after a time he again increased the distance, while, being unencumbered +with shield or heavy weapons, the fugitive kept the advantage he had at +first gained. Three miles from the battle-field Edmund reached the edge +of a wide-spreading wood. Looking round as he entered its shelter he +saw that the flying Saxon was still about a quarter of a mile behind +him, and that the Danes, despairing of over-taking him, had ceased +their pursuit. Edmund therefore checked his footsteps and awaited the +arrival of the fugitive, who he now felt certain was his kinsman. +</P> + +<P> +In a few minutes Egbert came up, having slackened his speed +considerably when he saw that he was no longer pursued. He was bleeding +from several wounds, and now that the necessity for exertion had passed +he walked but feebly along. Without a word he flung himself on the +ground by Edmund and buried his face in his arms, and the lad could see +by the shaking of his broad shoulders that he was weeping bitterly. The +great hound walked up to the prostrate figure and gave vent to a long +and piteous howl, and then lying down by Egbert's side placed his head +on his shoulder. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III: THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND +</H3> + +<P> +Edmund wept sorely for some time, for he knew that his kinsman's +agitation could be only caused by the death of his father. At last he +approached Egbert. +</P> + +<P> +"My brave kinsman," he said, "I need ask you no questions, for I know +but too well that my dear father has fallen; but rouse yourself, I pray +you; let me bandage your wounds, which bleed fast, for you will want +all your strength, and we must needs pursue our way well into the +forest, for with to-morrow's dawn the Danes will scatter over the whole +country." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Egbert said, turning round and sitting up, "I must not in my +grief forget my mission, and in truth I am faint with loss of blood. It +was well the Danes stopped when they did, for I felt my strength +failing me, and could have held out but little further. Yes, Edmund," +he continued, as the lad, tearing strips from his garments, proceeded +to bandage his wounds, "your father is dead. Nobly, indeed, did he +fight; nobly did he die, with a circle of dead Danes around him. He, +Algar, Toley, and myself were the last four to resist. Back to back we +stood, and many were the Danes who fell before our blows. Toley fell +first and then Algar. The Danes closed closer around us. Still we +fought on, till your father was beaten to his knee, and then he cried +to me, 'Fly, Egbert, to my son.' Then I flung myself upon the Danes +like a wild boar upon the dogs, and with the suddenness of my rush and +the heavy blows of my battle-axe cut a way for myself through them. It +was well-nigh a miracle, and I could scarce believe it when I was free. +I flung away my shield and helmet as soon as I had well begun to run, +for I felt the blood gushing out from a dozen wounds, and knew that I +should want all my strength. I soon caught sight of you running ahead +of me. Had I found we were gaining upon you I should have turned off +and made another way to lead the Danes aside, but I soon saw that you +were holding your own, and so followed straight on. My knees trembled, +and I felt my strength was well-nigh gone, when, looking round, I found +the Danes had desisted from their pursuit. I grieve, Edmund, that I +should have left the battle alive when all the others have died +bravely, for, save a few fleet-footed youths, I believe that not a +single Saxon has escaped the fight; but your father had laid his +commands upon me, and I was forced to obey, though God knows I would +rather have died with the heroes on that field." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis well for me that you did not, my good Egbert," Edmund said, +drying his eyes, "for what should I have done in this troubled land +without one protector?" +</P> + +<P> +"It was the thought of that," Egbert said, "that seemed to give me +strength as I dashed at the Danes. And now, methinks, I am strong +enough to walk again. Let us make our way far into the forest, then we +must rest for the night. A few hours' sleep will make a fresh man of +me, and to-morrow morning we will go to Croyland and see what the good +abbot your uncle proposes to do, then will we to the hut where we dwelt +before coming hither. We will dig up the chest and take out such +valuables as we can carry, and then make for Wessex. After this day's +work I have no longer any hope that East Anglia will successfully +oppose the Danes. And yet the Angles fought well, and for every one of +them who has fallen in these two days' fighting at least four Danes +must have perished. Have you food, Edmund, for in truth after such a +day's work I would not lie down supperless?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have in my pouch here, Egbert, some cakes, which I cooked this +morning, and a capon which one of the monks of Croyland gave me. I was +tempted to throw it away as I ran." +</P> + +<P> +"I am right glad, Edmund, that the temptation was not too strong for +you. If we can find a spring we shall do well." +</P> + +<P> +It was now getting dark, but after an hour's walk through the forest +they came upon a running stream. They lit a fire by its side, and +sitting down ate the supper, of which both were in much need. Wolf +shared the repast, and then the three lay down to sleep. Egbert, +overcome by the immense exertions he had made during the fight, was +soon asleep; but Edmund, who had done his best to keep a brave face +before his kinsman, wept for hours over the loss of his gallant father. +</P> + +<P> +On the following morning Egbert and Edmund started for Croyland. The +news of the defeat at Kesteven had already reached the abbey, and +terror and consternation reigned there. Edmund went at once to his +uncle and informed him of the circumstance of the death of his father +and the annihilation of the Saxon army. +</P> + +<P> +"Your news, Edmund, is even worse than the rumours which had reached +me, and deeply do I grieve for the loss of my brave brother and of the +many valiant men who died with him. This evening or to-morrow the +spoilers will be here, and doubtless will do to Croyland as they have +done to all the other abbeys and monasteries which have fallen into +their hands. Before they come you and Egbert must be far away. Have you +bethought you whither you will betake yourselves?" +</P> + +<P> +"We are going to the king of the West Saxons," Edmund replied. "Such +was my father's intention, and I fear that all is now lost in East +Anglia." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis your best course, and may God's blessing and protection rest upon +you!" +</P> + +<P> +"But what are you going to do, uncle? Surely you will not remain here +until the Danes arrive, for though they may spare other men they have +no mercy on priests and monks?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall assuredly remain here, Edmund, at my post, and as my brother +Eldred and Earl Algar and their brave companions died at their posts in +the field of battle, so I am prepared to die here where God has placed +me. I shall retain here with me only a few of the most aged and infirm +monks, too old to fly or to support the hardships of the life of a +hunted fugitive in the fens; together with some of the children who +have fled here, and who, too, could not support such a life. It may be +that when the fierce Danes arrive and find nought but children and aged +men even their savage breasts may be moved to pity; but if not, God's +will be done. The younger brethren will seek refuge in the fens, and +will carry with them the sacred relics of the monastery. The most holy +body of St. Guthlac with his scourge and psalmistry, together with the +most valuable jewels and muniments, the charters of the foundation of +the abbey, given by King Ethelbald, and the confirmation thereof by +other kings, with some of the most precious gifts presented to the +abbey." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert set to work to assist the weeping monks in making +preparations for their departure. A boat was laden with the relics of +the saints, the muniments of the king, and the most precious vessels. +The table of the great altar covered with plates of gold, which King +Wichtlof had presented, with ten gold chalices, and many other vessels, +was thrown into the well of the convent. +</P> + +<P> +In the distance the smoke of several villages could now be seen rising +over the plain, and it was clear that the Danes were approaching. The +ten priests and twenty monks who were to leave now knelt, and received +the solemn benediction of the abbot, then, with Edmund and Egbert, they +took their places in the boat and rowed away to the wood of Ancarig, +which lay not far from the abbey. +</P> + +<P> +The abbot Theodore and the aged monks and priests now returned to the +church, and, putting on their vestments, commenced the services of the +day; the abbot himself celebrated high mass, assisted by brother Elfget +the deacon, brother Savin the sub-deacon, and the brothers Egelred and +Wyelric, youths who acted as taper-bearers. When the mass was finished, +just as the abbot and his assistants had partaken of the holy +communion, the Danes burst into the church. The abbot was slain upon +the holy altar by the hand of the Danish king Oskytal, and the other +priests and monks were beheaded by the executioner. +</P> + +<P> +The old men and children in the choir were seized and tortured to +disclose where the treasures of the abbey were concealed, and were also +put to death with the prior and sub-prior. Turgar, an acolyte of ten +years of age; a remarkably beautiful boy, stood by the side of the +sub-prior as he was murdered and fearlessly confronted the Danes, and +bade them put him to death with the holy father. The young Earl Sidroc, +however, struck with the bearing of the child, and being moved with +compassion, stripped him of his robe and cowl, and threw over him a +long Danish tunic without sleeves, and ordering him to keep close by +him, made his way out of the monastery, the boy being the only one who +was saved from the general massacre. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes, furious at being able to find none of the treasures of the +monastery, broke open all the shrines and levelled the marble tombs, +including those of St. Guthlac, the holy virgin Ethelbritha, and many +others, but found in these none of the treasure searched for. They +piled the bodies of the saints in a heap, and burned them, together +with the church and all the buildings of the monastery; then, with vast +herds of cattle and other plunder, they moved away from Croyland, and +attacked the monastery of Medeshamsted. Here the monks made a brave +resistance. The Danes brought up machines and attacked the monastery on +all sides, and effected a breach in the walls. Their first assault, +however, was repelled, and Fulba, the brother of Earl Hulba, was +desperately wounded by a stone. +</P> + +<P> +Hulba was so infuriated at this that when, at the second assault, the +monastery was captured, he slew with his own hand everyone of the +monks, while all the country people who had taken refuge within the +walls were slaughtered by his companions, not one escaping. The altars +were levelled to the ground, the monuments broken in pieces. The great +library of parchments and charters was burnt. The holy relics were +trodden under foot, and the church itself, with all the monastic +buildings, burnt to the ground. Four days later, the Danes, having +devastated the whole country round and collected an enormous booty, +marched away against Huntingdon. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert remained but a few hours with the monks who had +escaped from the sack of Croyland; for, as soon as they saw the flames +mounting up above the church, they knew that the Danes had accomplished +their usual work of massacre, and there being no use in their making +further stay, they started upon their journey. They travelled by easy +stages, for time was of no value to them. For the most part their way +lay among forests, and when once they had passed south of Thetford they +had no fear of meeting with the Danes. Sometimes they slept at +farm-houses or villages, being everywhere hospitably received, the more +so when it was known that Edmund was the son of the brave ealdorman +Eldred; but the news which they brought of the disastrous battle of +Kesteven, and the southward march of the great Danish army, filled +everyone with consternation. +</P> + +<P> +The maids and matrons wept with terror at the thought of the coming of +these terrible heathen, and although the men everywhere spoke of +resistance to the last, the prospect seemed so hopeless that even the +bravest were filled with grief and despair. Many spoke of leaving their +homes and retiring with their wives and families, their serfs and herds +to the country of the West Saxons, where alone there appeared any hope +of a successful resistance being made. Wherever they went Edmund and +Egbert brought by their news lamentation and woe to the households they +entered, and at last Edmund said: +</P> + +<P> +"Egbert, let us enter no more houses until we reach the end of our +journey; wherever we go we are messengers of evil, and turn houses of +feasting into abodes of grief. Every night we have the same sad story +to tell, and have to witness the weeping and wailing of women. A +thousand times better were it to sleep among the woods, at any rate +until we are among the West Saxons, where our news may cause +indignation and rage at least, but where it will arouse a brave resolve +to resist to the last instead of the hopelessness of despair." +</P> + +<P> +Egbert thoroughly agreed with the lad, and henceforth they entered no +houses save to buy bread and mead. Of meat they had plenty, for as they +passed through the forests Wolf was always upon the alert, and several +times found a wild boar in his lair, and kept him at bay until Edmund +and Egbert ran up and with spears and swords slew him. This supplied +them amply with meat, and gave them indeed far more than they could +eat, but they exchanged portions of the flesh for bread in the +villages. At last they came down upon the Thames near London, and +crossing the river journeyed west. They were now in the kingdom of the +West Saxons, the most warlike and valiant of the peoples of England, +and who had gradually extended their sway over the whole of the +country. The union was indeed but little more than nominal, as the +other kings retained their thrones, paying only a tribute to the West +Saxon monarchs. +</P> + +<P> +As Egbert had predicted, their tale of the battle of Kesteven here +aroused no feeling save that of wrath and a desire for vengeance upon +the Danes. Swords were grasped, and all swore by the saints of what +should happen to the invaders should they set foot in Wessex. The +travellers felt their spirits rise at the martial and determined aspect +of the people. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a sad pity," Egbert said to Edmund one day, "that these West +Saxons had not had time to unite England firmly together before the +Danes set foot on the island. It is our divisions which have rendered +their task so far easy. Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia have one +by one been invaded, and their kings have had to fight single-handed +against them, whereas had one strong king reigned over the whole +country, so that all our force could have been exerted against the +invader wherever he might land, the Danes would never have won a foot +of our soil. The sad day of Kesteven showed at least that we are able +to fight the Danes man for man. The first day we beat them, though they +were in superior numbers, the second we withstood them all day, +although they were ten to one against us, and they would never have +triumphed even then had our men listened to their leaders and kept +their ranks. I do not believe that even the West Saxons could have +fought more bravely than did our men on that day; but they are better +organized, their king is energetic and determined, and when the Danes +invade Wessex they will find themselves opposed by the whole people +instead of merely a hastily raised assemblage gathered in the +neighbourhood." +</P> + +<P> +They presently approached Reading, where there was a royal fortress, in +which King Ethelred and his brother Alfred were residing. +</P> + +<P> +"It is truly a fine city," Edmund said as he approached it; "its walls +are strong and high, and the royal palace, which rises above them, is +indeed a stately building." +</P> + +<P> +They crossed the river and entered the gates of the town. There was +great bustle and traffic in the streets, cynings, or nobles, passed +along accompanied by parties of thanes, serfs laden with fuel or +provisions made their way in from the surrounding country, while +freemen, with their shields flung across their shoulders and their +swords by their sides, stalked with an independent air down the streets. +</P> + +<P> +The travellers approached the royal residence. The gates were open, and +none hindered their entrance, for all who had business were free to +enter the royal presence and to lay their complaints or petitions +before the king. +</P> + +<P> +Entering they found themselves in a large hall. The lower end of this +was occupied by many people, who conversed together in little groups or +awaited the summons of the king. Across the upper end of the room was a +raised dais, and in the centre of this was a wide chair capable of +holding three persons. The back and sides were high and richly carved. +A table supported by four carved and gilded legs stood before it. Two +persons were seated in the chair. +</P> + +<P> +One was a man of three or four and twenty, the other was his junior by +some two years. Both wore light crowns of gold somewhat different in +their fashion. Before the younger was a parchment, an inkhorn, and +pens. King Ethelred was a man of a pleasant face, but marked by care +and by long vigils and rigorous fastings. Alfred was a singularly +handsome young prince, with an earnest and intellectual face. Both had +their faces shaven smooth. Ethelred wore his hair parted in the middle, +and falling low on each side of the face, but Alfred's was closely cut. +On the table near the younger brother stood a silver harp. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund looked with great curiosity and interest on the young prince, +who was famous throughout England for his great learning, his wisdom, +and sweetness of temper. Although the youngest of the king's brothers, +he had always been regarded as the future King of England, and had his +father survived until he reached the age of manhood, he would probably +have succeeded directly to the throne. The law of primogeniture was by +no means strictly observed among the Saxons, a younger brother of +marked ability or of distinguished prowess in war being often chosen by +a father to succeed him in place of his elder brothers. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred had been his father's favourite son. He had when a child been +consecrated by the pope as future King of England; and his two journeys +to Rome, and his residence at the court of the Frankish king had, with +his own great learning and study, given him a high prestige and +reputation among his people as one learned in the ways of the world. +Although but a prince, his authority in the kingdom nearly equalled +that of his brother, and it was he rather than Ethelred whom men +regarded as the prop and stay of the Saxons in the perils which were +now threatening them. +</P> + +<P> +One after another, persons advanced to the table and laid their +complaints before the king; in cases of dispute both parties were +present and were often accompanied by witnesses. Ethelred and Alfred +listened attentively to all that was said on both sides, and then gave +their judgment. An hour passed, and then seeing that no one else +approached the table, Egbert, taking Edmund by the hand, led him +forward and knelt before the royal table. +</P> + +<P> +"Whom have we here?" the king said. "This youth is by his attire one of +noble race, but I know not his face." +</P> + +<P> +"We have come, sir king," Egbert said, "as fugitives and suppliants to +you. This is Edmund, the son of Ealdorman Eldred, a valiant cyning of +East Anglia, who, after fighting bravely against the Danes near +Thetford, joined Earl Algar, and died by his side on the fatal field of +Kesteven. He had himself purposed to come hither to you and to ask you +to accept him as your thane, and on the morn of the battle he charged +me if he fell to bring hither his son to you; and we pray you to +accept, in token of our homage to you, these vessels." +</P> + +<P> +And here he placed two handsome goblets of silver gilt upon the table. +</P> + +<P> +"I pray you rise," the king said. "I have assuredly heard of the brave +Eldred, and will gladly receive his son as my thane. I had not heard of +Eldred's death, though two days since the rumour of a heavy defeat of +the East Angles at Kesteven, and the sacrilegious destruction of the +holy houses of Bardenay, Croyland, and Medeshamsted reached our ears. +Were you present at the battle?" +</P> + +<P> +"I was, sir king," Egbert said, "and fought beside Earl Algar and my +kinsman the Ealdorman Eldred until both were slain by the Danes, and I +with difficulty cut my way through them and escaped to carry out my +kinsman's orders regarding his son." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a stout champion yourself," the king said, regarding with +admiration Egbert's huge proportions; "but tell us the story of this +battle, of which at present but vague rumours have reached us." Egbert +related the incidents of the battle of Kesteven. "It was bravely +fought," the king said when he had concluded; "right well and bravely, +and better fortune should have attended such valour. Truly the brave +Algar has shown that we Saxons have not lost the bravery which +distinguished our ancestors, and that, man for man, we are equal to +these heathen Danes." +</P> + +<P> +"But methinks," Prince Alfred said, "that the brave Algar and his +valiant companions did wrong to throw away their lives when all was +lost. So long as there is the remotest chance of victory it is the duty +of a leader to set an example of valour to his followers, but when all +is lost he should think of his country. What though the brave thanes +slew each a score of Danes before they died, their death has left their +countrymen without a leader, and by that one battle the Danes have made +themselves masters of the north of East Anglia. Better far had they, +when the day was lost, retreated, to gather the people together when a +better opportunity presented itself, and again to make head against the +invaders. It is heathen rather than Christian warfare thus to throw +away their lives rather than to retreat and wait for God's time to come +again. To stake all on one throw, which if lost loses a whole people, +seems to me the act of a gamester. I trust that, should the time ever +come, as it is too much to be feared it will ere long, that the Danes +invade my brother's kingdom of Wessex, I shall not be found wanting in +courage; but assuredly when defeated in battle I would not throw away +my life, for that belongs to our people rather than to myself, but +would retire to some refuge until I could again gather the Saxons +around me and attack the invaders. I like the face of the young +ealdorman, and doubt not that he will prove a valiant warrior like his +father. My brother will doubtless assign him lands for his maintenance +and yours; but if he will let me I will attach him to my person, and +will be at once a master and a friend to him. Wouldst thou like this, +young Edmund?" +</P> + +<P> +The lad, greatly pleased at the young prince's kindness of speech and +manner, replied enthusiastically that he would follow him to the death +if he would accept him as his faithful thane. +</P> + +<P> +"Had the times been more peaceful, Edmund," Alfred said, "I would fain +have imparted to you some of the little knowledge that I have gained, +for I see an intelligence in your face which tells me that you would +have proved an apt and eager pupil; but, alas, in the days that are +coming it is the sword rather than the book which will prevail, and the +cares of state, and the defence of the country, will shortly engross +all my time and leave me but little leisure for the studies I love so +well." +</P> + +<P> +"There are the lands," the king said, "of Eabald, Ealdorman of +Sherborne, in Dorset. He died but last week and has left no children. +These lands I will grant to Edmund in return for liege and true +service." The lad knelt before the king, and, kissing his hand, swore +to be his true and faithful thane, and to spend land, goods, and life +in his service. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," the king said, "since the audience is over, and none other +comes before us with petitions, we will retire to our private +apartments, and there my brother Alfred will present you to the fair +Elswitha, his wife." +</P> + +<P> +The room into which Egbert and Edmund followed the king and his brother +was spacious and lofty. The walls were covered with hangings of red +cloth, and a thick brown baize covered the floor. The ceiling was +painted a dark brown with much gilding. Round the sides of the room +stood several dressers of carved oak, upon which stood gold and silver +cups. +</P> + +<P> +On a table were several illuminated vellums. At Croyland Edmund had +seen a civilization far in advance of that to which he had been +accustomed in his father's abode; but he saw here a degree of luxury +and splendour which surprised him. Alfred had, during his two visits to +Rome, learned to appreciate the high degree of civilization which +reigned there, and many of the articles of furniture and other objects +which met Edmund's eye he had brought with him on his return with his +father from that city. +</P> + +<P> +Across the upper end of the room was a long table laid with a white +cloth. Elswitha was sitting in a large gilded chair by the great fire +which was blazing on the hearth. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Alfred presented Edmund and Egbert to her. Elswitha was well +acquainted with the Ealdorman Eldred, as his lands lay on the very +border of her native Mercia, and she received the lad and his kinsman +with great kindness. In a short time they took their places at table. +First the attendance brought in bowls containing broth, which they +presented, kneeling, to each of those at table. The broth was drunk +from the bowl itself; then a silver goblet was placed by each diner, +and was filled with wine. Fish was next served. Plates were placed +before each; but instead of their cutting food with their own daggers, +as Edmund had been accustomed to see in his father's house, knives were +handed round. After the fish came venison, followed by wild boar, +chickens, and other meats. After these confections, composed chiefly of +honey, were placed on the table. The king and Prince Alfred pledged +their guests when they drank. No forks were used, the meat as cut being +taken up by pieces of bread to the mouth. During the meal a harper +played and sung. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund observed the decorum with which his royal hosts fed, and the +care which they took to avoid dipping their fingers into their saucers +or their plates. He was also struck with the small amount of wine which +they took; for the Saxons in general were large feeders, and drank +heavily at their meals. +</P> + +<P> +When the dinner was over a page brought round a basin of warm water, in +which lavender had been crushed, and each dipped his fingers in this +and then dried them on the cloth. Then at Prince Alfred's request +Egbert again related in full the details of the two days' desperate +struggle at Kesteven, giving the most minute particulars of the Danes' +method of fighting. Egbert and Edmund then retired to the royal +guest-house adjoining the palace, where apartments were assigned to +them. +</P> + +<P> +After remaining for a week at Reading they took leave of the king and +started for the lands which he had assigned to Edmund. They were +accompanied by an officer of the royal household, who was to inform the +freemen and serfs of the estate that by the king's pleasure Edmund had +been appointed ealdorman of the lands. They found on arrival that the +house had been newly built, and was large and comfortable. The thanes +of the district speedily came in to pay their respects to their new +ealdorman, and although surprised to find him so young, they were +pleased with his bearing and manner, and knowing that he came of good +fighting blood doubted not that in time he would make a valiant leader. +All who came were hospitably entertained, and for many days there was +high feasting. So far removed was this part of England from the +district which the Danes had invaded, that at present but slight alarm +had been caused by them; but Edmund and his kinsman lost no time in +impressing upon them the greatness of the coming danger. +</P> + +<P> +"You may be sure," he said, "that ere long we shall see their galleys +on the coast. When they have eaten up Mercia and Anglia they will +assuredly come hither, and we shall have to fight for our lives, and +unless we are prepared it will go hard with us." +</P> + +<P> +After he had been at his new residence for a month Edmund sent out +messengers to all the thanes in his district requesting them to +assemble at a council, and then formally laid the matter before them. +</P> + +<P> +"It is, above all things," he said, "necessary that we should have some +place where we can place the women and children in case of invasion and +where we can ourselves retire in extreme necessity. Therefore I propose +that we shall build a fort of sufficient size to contain all the +inhabitants of the district, with many flocks and herds. My cousin +Egbert has ridden far over the country, and recommends that the Roman +fortification at Moorcaster shall be utilized. It is large in extent, +and has a double circle of earthen banks. These differ from those which +we are wont to build, since we Saxons always fill up the ground so as +to be flat with the top of the earthen banks, while the Romans left +theirs hollow. However, the space is so large that it would take a vast +labour to fill it up, therefore I propose that we should merely thicken +the banks, and should, in Saxon custom, build a wall with turrets upon +them. The sloping banks alone would be but a small protection against +the onslaught of the Danes, but stone walls are another matter, and +could only be carried after a long siege. If you fall in with my views +you will each of you send half your serfs to carry out the work, and I +will do the same, and will, moreover, pay fifty freemen who may do the +squaring of the stones and the proper laying of them." +</P> + +<P> +The proposal led to a long discussion, as some thought that there was +no occasion as yet to take such a measure; but the thanes finally +agreed to carry out Edmund's proposal. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV: THE INVASION OF WESSEX +</H3> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert devoted most of their time to the building of the new +fort, living very simply, and expended the whole of the revenues of the +lands on the payment of the freemen and masons engaged upon the work. +The Roman fort was a parallelogram, the sides being about 200 yards +long, and the ends half that length. It was surrounded by two earthen +banks with wide ditches. These were deepened considerably, and the +slopes were cut down more sharply. The inner bank was widened until it +was 15 feet across the top. +</P> + +<P> +On this the wall was built. It was faced on both sides with square +stones, the space between filled up with rubble and cement, the total +thickness being 4 feet. The height of the wall was 8 feet, and at +intervals of 30 yards apart towers were raised 10 feet above it, one of +these being placed at either side of the entrance. Here the bank was +cut away, and solid buttresses of masonry supported the high gates. The +opening in the outer bank was not opposite to the gate in the inner, +being fifty yards away, so that any who entered by it would have for +that distance to follow the ditch between the two banks, exposed to the +missiles of those on the wall before arriving at the inner gate. +</P> + +<P> +Five hundred men laboured incessantly at the work. The stone for the +walls was fortunately found close at hand, but, notwithstanding this, +the work took nearly six months to execute; deep wells were sunk in the +centre of the fort, and by this means an ample supply of water was +secured, however large might be the number within it. +</P> + +<P> +A very short time after the commencement of the work the news arrived +that King Edmund of East Anglia had gathered his forces together and +had met the Danes in a great battle near Thetford on Sunday the 20th of +November, and had been totally defeated by them, Edmund himself having +been taken prisoner. The captive king, after having been for a long +time cruelly tortured by the Danes, was shot to death with arrows. It +was not long after this that news came that the whole of East Anglia +had fallen into the hands of the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Early in the month of February, 871, just as the walls of his fort had +begun to rise, a messenger arrived from the king bidding Edmund +assemble all the men in his earlship and march at once to join him near +Devizes, as the news had come that a great Danish fleet had sailed up +the Thames and had already captured the royal town of Reading. +</P> + +<P> +Messengers were sent out in all directions, and early the next morning, +400 men having assembled, Edmund and his kinsman marched away with them +towards Devizes. Upon their arrival at that town they found the king +and his brother with 8000 men, and the following day the army moved +east towards Reading. +</P> + +<P> +They had not marched many miles before a messenger arrived saying that +two of the Danish jarls with a great following had gone out to plunder +the country, that they had been encountered by Aethelwulf, Earl of +Berkshire, with his men at Englefield, and a fierce battle had taken +place. The Saxons had gained the victory, and great numbers of the +Danes had been slain, Sidroc, one of their jarls, being among the +fallen. +</P> + +<P> +Three days later the royal army arrived in sight of Reading, being +joined on their march by Aethelwulf and his men. The Danes had thrown +up a great rampart between the Thames and the Kennet, and many were +still at work on this fortification. These were speedily slain by the +Saxons, but their success was a short one. The main body of the +invaders swarmed out from the city and a desperate engagement took +place. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons fought valiantly, led by the king and Prince Alfred; but +being wholly undisciplined and unaccustomed to war they were unable to +withstand the onslaught of the Danes, who fought in better order, +keeping together in ranks: after four hours' hard fighting the Saxons +were compelled to fall back. +</P> + +<P> +They rallied again a few miles from Reading. Ethelred and Alfred went +among them bidding them be of good cheer, for that another time, when +they fought in better order, they would gain the victory; and that +their loss had not been greater than the Danes, only that unhappily the +valiant Ealdorman Aethelwulf had been slain. Fresh messengers were sent +throughout the country bidding all the men of Wessex to rally round +their king, and on the fourth morning after the defeat Ethelred found +himself at the head of larger forces than had fought with him in the +last battle. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes had moved out from Reading and had taken post at Ashdown, and +as the Saxon army approached they were seen to be divided into two +bodies, one of which was commanded by their two kings and the other by +two jarls. The Saxons therefore made a similar division of their army, +the king commanding one division and Prince Alfred the other. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund with the men of Sherborne was in the division of Alfred. The +Danes advanced to the attack and fell with fury upon them. It had been +arranged that this division should not advance to the attack until that +commanded by the king was also put in motion. For some time Alfred and +his men supported the assaults of the Danes, and then, being hardly +pressed, the prince sent a messenger to his brother to urge that a +movement should be made. The Saxons were impatient at standing on the +defensive, and Alfred saw that he must either allow them to charge the +enemy or must retreat. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the messenger returned saying that the king was in his tent +hearing mass, and that he had given orders that no man should move or +any should disturb him until mass was concluded. Alfred hesitated no +longer; he formed his men into a solid body, and then, raising his +battle cry, rushed upon the Danes. The battle was a furious one. The +Danes were upon higher ground, their standard being planted by the side +of a single thorn-tree which grew on the slopes of the hill. Towards +this Alfred with his men fought their way. +</P> + +<P> +The lesson of the previous battle had not been lost, the Saxons kept +together in a solid body which made its way with irresistible weight +through the ranks of the Danes. Still the latter closed in on all +sides, and the fight was doubtful until the king, having finished his +devotions, led his division into the battle. For a long time a +desperate strife continued and great numbers on both sides were killed; +but the Saxons, animated at once by love of their country and hatred of +the invaders and by humiliation at their previous defeat, fought with +such fury that the Danes began to give way. Then the Saxons pressed +them still more hotly, and the invaders presently lost heart and fled +in confusion, pursued in all directions by the exulting Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +The Danish king Bergsecg and five jarls, the two Sidrocs, Osbearn, +Frene, and Hareld, were slain, and many thousands of their followers. +Great spoil of arms and armour fell into the hands of the victors. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund had fought bravely in the battle at the head of his men. Egbert +had kept beside him, and twice, when the lad had been smitten to his +knees by the enemy, covered him with his shield and beat off the foe. +</P> + +<P> +"You are over-young for such a fight as this, Edmund," he said when the +Danes had taken to flight. "You will need another four or five years +over your head before you can stand in battle against these fierce +Northmen. They break down your guard by sheer weight; but you bore +yourself gallantly, and I doubt not will yet be as famous a warrior as +was your brave father." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund did not join in the pursuit, being too much bruised and +exhausted to do so; but Egbert with the men of Sherborne followed the +flying Danes until nightfall. +</P> + +<P> +"You have done well, my young ealdorman," Prince Alfred said to the lad +after the battle. "I have been wishing much that you could be with me +during the past month, but I heard that you were building a strong fort +and deemed it better to let you continue your work undisturbed. When it +is finished I trust that I shall have you often near me; but I fear +that for a time we shall have but little space for peaceful pursuits, +for the Danes are coming, as I hear, in great troops westward, and we +shall have many battles to fight ere we clear the land of them." +</P> + +<P> +In those days a defeat, however severe, had not the same decisive +effect as it has in modern warfare. There were no cannons to lose, no +great stores to fall into the hands of the victors. The army was simply +dispersed, and its component parts reassembled in the course of a day +or two, ready, when reinforcements arrived, to renew the fight. Thus, +decisive as was the victory of Ashdown, Prince Alfred saw that many +such victories must be won, and a prolonged and exhausting struggle +carried on before the tide of invasion would be finally hurled back +from Wessex. The next few days were spent in making a fair distribution +of the spoil and arms among the conquerors. Some of the thanes then +returned home with their people; but the remainder, on the king's +entreaty, agreed to march with him against the Danes, who after the +battle had fallen back to Basing, where they had been joined by others +coming from the coast. The royal army advanced against them, and +fourteen days after the battle of Ashdown the struggle was renewed. The +fight lasted for many hours, but towards nightfall the Saxons were +compelled to retreat, moving off the field, however, in good order, so +that no spoil fell into the hands of the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +This check was a great disappointment to the Saxons, who after their +late victory had hoped that they should speedily clear the kingdom of +the Danes. These, indeed, taught prudence by the manner in which the +West Saxons had fought, for a while refrained from plundering +excursions. Two months later the Saxons were again called to arms. +Somerled, a Danish chieftain, had again advanced to Reading, and had +captured and burned the town. The king marched against him, and the two +armies met at Merton. Here another desperate battle took place. +</P> + +<P> +During the first part of the day the Saxons were victorious over both +the divisions of the Danish army, but in the afternoon the latter +received some reinforcements and renewed the fight. The Saxons, +believing that the victory had been won, had fallen into disorder and +were finally driven from the field. Great numbers were slain on both +sides. Bishop Edmund and many Saxon nobles were killed, and King +Ethelred so severely wounded that he expired a few days later, April +23rd, 871, having reigned for five years. He was buried at Wimbourne +Minster, and Prince Alfred ascended the throne. +</P> + +<P> +Ethelred was much regretted by his people, but the accession of Alfred +increased their hopes of battling successfully against the Danes. +Although wise and brave, King Ethelred had been scarcely the monarch +for a warlike people in troubled times. Religious exercises occupied +too large a share of his thoughts. His rule was kindly rather than +strong, and his authority was but weak over his nobles. From Prince +Alfred the Saxons hoped better things. From his boyhood he had been +regarded with special interest and affection by the people, as his +father had led them to regard him as their future king. +</P> + +<P> +The fact that he had been personally consecrated by the pope appeared +to invest him with a special authority. His immense superiority in +learning over all his people greatly impressed them. Though gentle he +was firm and resolute, prompt in action, daring in the field. Thus, +then, although the people regretted King Ethelred, there was a general +feeling of hope and joy when Alfred took his place on the throne. He +had succeeded to the crown but a month when the Danes again advanced in +great numbers. The want of success which had attended them in the last +two battles had damped the spirit of the people, and it was with a very +small force only that Alfred was able to advance against them. +</P> + +<P> +The armies met near Wilton, where the Danes in vastly superior numbers +were posted on a hill. King Alfred led his forces forward and fell upon +the Danes, and so bravely did the Saxons fight that for some time the +day went favourably for them. Gradually the Danes were driven from +their post of vantage, and after some hours' fighting turned to fly; +but, as at Merton and Kesteven, the impetuosity of the Saxons proved +their ruin. Breaking their compact ranks they scattered in pursuit of +the Danes, and these, seeing how small was the number of their +pursuers, rallied and turned upon them, and the Saxons were driven from +the field which they had so bravely won. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless my brave Saxons learn order and discipline," the king said to +Edmund and some of his nobles who gathered round him on the evening +after the defeat, "our cause is assuredly lost. We have proved now in +each battle that we are superior man to man to the Danes, but we throw +away the fruits of victory by our impetuosity. The great Caesar, who +wrote an account of his battles which I have read in Latin, described +the order and discipline with which the Roman troops fought. They were +always in heavy masses, and even after a battle the heavy-armed +soldiers kept their ranks and did not scatter in pursuit of the enemy, +leaving this task to the more lightly armed troops. +</P> + +<P> +"Would that we had three or four years before us to teach our men +discipline and order, but alas! there is no time for this. The Danes +have fallen in great numbers in every fight, but they are ever +receiving reinforcements and come on in fresh waves of invasion; while +the Saxons, finding that all their efforts and valour seem to avail +nothing, are beginning fast to lose heart. See how small a number +assembled round my standard yesterday, and yet the war is but +beginning. Truly the look-out is bad for England." +</P> + +<P> +The king made strenuous efforts again to raise an army, but the people +did not respond to his call. In addition to the battles which have been +spoken of several others had been fought in different parts of Wessex +by the ealdormen and their followers against bodies of invading Danes. +In the space of one year the Saxons had engaged in eight pitched +battles and in many skirmishes. Great numbers had been slain on both +sides, but the Danes ever received fresh accessions of strength, and +seemed to grow stronger and more numerous after every battle, while the +Saxons were dwindling rapidly. Wide tracts of country had been +devastated, the men slaughtered, and the women and children taken +captives, and the people, utterly dispirited and depressed, no longer +listened to the voices of their leaders, and refused again to peril +their lives in a strife which seemed hopeless. Alfred therefore called +his ealdormen together and proposed to them, that since the people +would no longer fight, the sole means that remained to escape +destruction was to offer to buy off the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +The proposal was agreed to, for although none of them had any hope that +the Danes would long keep any treaty they might make, yet even a little +respite might give heart and spirit to the Saxons again. Accordingly +negotiations were entered into with the Danes, and these, in +consideration of a large money payment, agreed to retire from Wessex. +The money was paid, the Danes retired from Reading, which they had used +as their headquarters, and marched to London. King Burhred, the feeble +King of Mercia, could do nothing to oppose them, and he too agreed to +pay them a large annual tribute. +</P> + +<P> +From the end of 872 till the autumn of 875 the country was +comparatively quiet. Alfred ruled it wisely, and tried to repair the +terrible damages the war had made. Edmund looked after his earldom, and +grew into a powerful young man of nineteen years old. +</P> + +<P> +King Alfred had not deceived himself for a moment as to the future. +"The Danes," he said, "are still in England. East Anglia and +Northumbria swarm with them. Had this army, after being bought off by +us and my brother of Mercia, sailed across the seas and landed in +France there would have been some hope for us, but their restless +nature will not allow them to stay long in the parts which they have +conquered. +</P> + +<P> +"In Anglia King Guthrum has divided the land among his jarls, and there +they seem disposed to settle down; but elsewhere they care not for the +land, preferring to leave it in the hands of its former owners to till, +and after to wring from the cultivators the fruits of the harvest; +then, as the country becomes thoroughly impoverished, they must move +elsewhere. Mercia they can overrun whensoever they choose, and after +that there is nothing for them to do but to sweep down again upon +Wessex, and with all the rest of England at their feet it is hopeless +to think that we alone can withstand their united power." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what, think you, must be the end of this?" Edmund asked. +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis difficult to see the end," Alfred replied. "It would seem that +our only hope of release from them is that when they have utterly eaten +up and ravaged England they may turn their thoughts elsewhere. Already +they are harrying the northern coasts of France, but there are richer +prizes on the Mediterranean shores, and it may be that when England is +no longer worth plundering they may sail away to Spain and Italy. We +have acted foolishly in the way we have fought them. When they first +began to arrive upon our coasts we should have laboured hard to build +great fleets, so that we could go forth and meet them on the seas. +</P> + +<P> +"Some, indeed, might have escaped our watch and landed, but the fleets +could have cut off reinforcements coming to them, and thus those who +reached our shores could have been overwhelmed. Even now, I think that +something might be done that way, and I purpose to build a fleet which +may, when they again invade us, take its station near the mouth of the +Thames and fall upon the vessels bringing stores and reinforcements. +This would give much encouragement to the people, whose hopelessness +and desperation are caused principally by the fact that it seems to be +of no use killing the enemy, since so many are ready constantly to take +their places." +</P> + +<P> +"I will gladly undertake to build one ship," Edmund said. "The fort is +now finished, and with the revenues of the land I could at once +commence a ship; and if the Danes give us time, when she is finished I +would build another. I will the more gladly do it, since it seems to me +that if the Danes entirely overrun our country we must take to the sea +and so in turn become plunderers. With this view I will have the ship +built large and strong, so that she may keep the sea in all weathers +and be my home if I am driven out of England. There must be plenty of +ports in France, and many a quiet nook and inlet round England, where +one can put in to refit when necessary, and we could pick up many a +prize of Danish ships returning laden with booty. With such a ship I +could carry a strong crew, and with my trusty Egbert and the best of my +fighting men we should be able to hold our own, even if attacked by two +or three of the Danish galleys." +</P> + +<P> +"The idea is a good one, Edmund," the king said, "and I would that I +myself could carry it into effect. It were a thousand times better to +live a free life on the sea, even if certain at last to be overpowered +by a Danish fleet, than to lurk a hunted fugitive in the woods; but I +cannot do it. So long as I live I must remain among my people, ready to +snatch any chance that may offer of striking a blow against the +invader. But for you it is different." +</P> + +<P> +"I should not, of course, do it," Edmund said, "until all is lost here, +and mean to defend my fort to an extremity; still should it be that the +Danes conquer all our lands, it were well to have such a refuge." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund talked the matter over with Egbert, who warmly entered into the +plan. "So long as I have life I will fight against the Danes, and in a +ship at least we can fight manfully till the end. We must not build her +on the sea-coast, or before the time when we need her she may be +destroyed by the Danes. We will build her on the Parrot. The water is +deep enough far up from the sea to float her when empty, and if we +choose some spot where the river runs among woods we might hide her so +that she may to the last escape the attention of the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +"We must get some men crafty in ship-building from one of the ports, +sending down a body of our own serfs to do the rough work. We will go +to Exeter first and there choose us the craftsman most skilled in +building ships, and will take council with him as to the best form and +size. She must be good to sail and yet able to row fast with a strong +crew, and she must have room to house a goodly number of rowing and +fighting men. You, Edmund, might, before we start, consult King Alfred. +He must have seen at Rome and other ports on the Mediterranean the +ships in use there, which are doubtless far in advance of our own. For +we know from the Holy Bible that a thousand years ago St. Paul made +long voyages in ships, and doubtless they have learned much since those +days." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund thought the idea a good one, and asked the king to make him a +drawing of the vessels in use in the Mediterranean. This King Alfred +readily did, and Egbert and Edmund then journeyed to Exeter, where +finding out the man most noted for his skill in building ships, they +told him the object they had in view, and showed him the drawings the +king had made. There were two of them, the one a long galley rowed with +double banks of oars, the other a heavy trading ship. +</P> + +<P> +"This would be useless to you," the shipwright said, laying the second +drawing aside. "It would not be fast enough either to overtake or to +fly. The other galley would, methinks, suit you well. I have seen a +drawing of such a ship before. It is a war galley such as is used by +the Genoese in their fights against the African pirates. They are fast +and roomy, and have plenty of accommodation for the crews. One of them +well manned and handled should be a match for six at least of the +Danish galleys, which are much lower in the water and smaller in all +ways. But it will cost a good deal of money to build such a ship." +</P> + +<P> +"I will devote all the revenues of my land to it until it is finished," +Edmund said. "I will place a hundred serfs at your service, and will +leave it to you to hire as many craftsmen as may be needed. I intend to +build her in a quiet place in a deep wood on the river Parrot, so that +she may escape the eyes of the Danes." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall require seasoned timber," the shipwright urged. +</P> + +<P> +"That will I buy," Edmund replied, "as you shall direct, and can have +it brought up the river to the spot." +</P> + +<P> +"Being so large and heavy," the shipwright said, "she will be difficult +to launch. Methinks it were best to dig a hole or dock at some little +distance from the river; then when she is finished a way can be cut to +the river wide enough for her to pass out. When the water is turned in +it will float her up level to the surface, and as she will not draw +more than two feet of water the cut need not be more than three feet +deep." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be the best plan by far," Edmund agreed, "for you can make +the hole so deep that you can build her entirely below the level of the +ground. Then we can, if needs be, fill up the hole altogether with +bushes, and cover her up, so that she would not be seen by a Danish +galley rowing up the river, or even by any of the enemy who might enter +the wood, unless they made special search for her; and there she could +lie until I chose to embark." +</P> + +<P> +The shipwright at once set to work to draw out his plans, and a week +later sent to Edmund a messenger with an account of the quantity and +size of wood he should require. This was purchased at once. Edmund and +Egbert with their serfs journeyed to the spot they had chosen, and were +met there by the shipwright, who brought with him twenty craftsmen from +Exeter. The wood was brought up the river, and while the craftsmen +began to cut it up into fitting sizes, the serfs applied themselves to +dig the deep dock in which the vessel was to be built. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V: A DISCIPLINED BAND +</H3> + +<P> +The construction of the ship went on steadily. King Alfred, who was +himself building several war vessels of ordinary size, took great +interest in Edmund's craft and paid several visits to it while it was +in progress. +</P> + +<P> +"It will be a fine ship," he said one day as the vessel was approaching +completion, "and much larger than any in these seas. It reminds me, +Edmund, not indeed in size or shape, but in its purpose, of the ark +which Noah built before the deluge which covered the whole earth. He +built it, as you know, to escape with his family from destruction. You, +too, are building against the time when the deluge of Danish invasion +will sweep over this land, and I trust that your success will equal +that of the patriarch." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be better off than Noah was," Edmund said, "for he had nothing +to do, save to shut up his windows and wait till the floods abated, +while I shall go out and seek my enemies on the sea." +</P> + +<P> +The respite purchased by the king from the Danes was but a short one. +In the autumn of 875 their bands were again swarming around the borders +of Wessex, and constant irruptions took place. Edmund received a +summons to gather his tenants, but he found that these no longer +replied willingly to the call. Several of his chief men met him and +represented to him the general feeling which prevailed. +</P> + +<P> +"The men say," their spokesman explained, "that it is useless to fight +against the Danes. In 872 there were ten pitched battles, and vast +numbers of the Danes were slain, and vast numbers also of Saxons. The +Danes are already far more numerous than before, for fresh hordes +continue to arrive on the shores, and more than fill up the places of +those who are killed; but the places of the Saxons are empty, and our +fighting force is far smaller than it was last year. If we again go out +and again fight many battles, even if we are victorious, which we can +hardly hope to be, the same thing will happen. Many thousands will be +slain, and the following year we shall in vain try to put an army in +the field which can match that of the Danes, who will again have filled +up their ranks, and be as numerous as ever. So long as we continue to +fight, so long the Danes will slay, burn, and destroy wheresoever they +march, until there will remain of us but a few fugitives hidden in the +woods. We should be far better off did we cease to resist, and the +Danes become our masters, as they have become the masters of +Northumbria, Mercia, and Anglia. +</P> + +<P> +"There, it is true, they have plundered the churches and thanes' houses +and have stolen all that is worth carrying away; but when they have +taken all that there is to take they leave the people alone, and +unmolested, to till the ground and to gain their livelihood. They do +not slay for the pleasure of slaying, and grievous as is the condition +of the Angles they and their wives and children are free from massacre +and are allowed to gain their livings. The West Saxons have showed that +they are no cowards; they have defeated the Northmen over and over +again when far outnumbering them. It is no dishonour to yield now when +all the rest of England has yielded, and when further fighting will +only bring ruin upon ourselves, our wives, and children." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund could find no reply to this argument. He knew that even the king +despaired of ultimately resisting the Danish invasion, and after +listening to all that the thanes had to say he retired with Egbert +apart. +</P> + +<P> +"What say you, Egbert? There is reason in the arguments that they use. +You and I have neither wives nor children, and we risk only our own +lives; but I can well understand that those who have so much to lose +are chary of further effort. What say you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not think it will be fair to press them further," Egbert +answered; "but methinks that we might raise a band consisting of all +the youths and unmarried men in the earldom. These we might train +carefully and keep always together, seeing that the lands will still be +cultivated and all able to pay their assessment, and may even add to +it, since you exempt them from service. Such a band we could train and +practise until we could rely upon them to defeat a far larger force of +the enemy, and they would be available for our crew when we take to the +ship." +</P> + +<P> +"I think the idea is a very good one, Egbert; we will propose it to the +thanes." The proposition was accordingly made that all married men +should be exempt from service, but that the youths above the age of +sixteen and the unmarried men should be formed into a band and kept +permanently under arms. Landowners who lost the services of sons or +freemen working for them should pay the same assessment only as before, +but those who did not contribute men to the levy should pay an +additional assessment. Edmund said he would pay the men composing the +band the same wages they would earn in the field, and would undertake +all their expenses. "So long as the king continues the struggle," he +said, "it is our duty to aid him, nor can we escape from the dangers +and perils of invasion. Should the Danes come near us all must perforce +fight, but so long as they continue at a distance things can go on here +as if we had peace in the land." +</P> + +<P> +The proposal was, after some discussion, agreed to, and the news caused +gladness and contentment throughout the earldom. The younger men who +had been included in the levy were quite satisfied with the +arrangement. The spirit of the West Saxons was still high, and those +without wives and families who would suffer by their absence or be +ruined by their death were eager to continue the contest. The proposal +that they should be paid as when at work was considered perfectly +satisfactory. +</P> + +<P> +The men of Sherborne had under their young leader gained great credit +by their steadiness and valour in the battles four years before, and +they looked forward to fresh victories over the invader. The result was +that ninety young men assembled for service. Edmund had sent off a +messenger to the king saying that the people were utterly weary of war +and refused to take up arms, but that he was gathering a band of young +men with whom he would ere long join him; but he prayed for a short +delay in order that he might get them into a condition to be useful on +the day of battle. +</P> + +<P> +After consultation with Egbert, Edmund drew up a series of orders +somewhat resembling those of modern drill. King Alfred had once, in +speaking to him, described the manner in which the Thebans, a people of +Northern Greece, had fought, placing their troops in the form of a +wedge. The formation he now taught his men. From morning to night they +were practised at rallying from pursuit or flight, or changing from a +line into the form of a wedge. Each man had his appointed place both in +the line and wedge. Those who formed the outside line of this formation +were armed with large shields which covered them from chin to foot, and +with short spears; those in the inner lines carried no shields, but +bore spears of increasing length, so that four lines of spears +projected from the wedge to nearly the same distance. Inside the four +lines were twenty men armed with shields, bows, and arrows. The sides +of the wedge were of equal length, so that they could march either way. +</P> + +<P> +Egbert's place was at the apex of the wedge intended generally for +attack. He carried no spear, nor did those at the other corners, as +they would be covered by those beside and behind them; he was armed +with a huge battle-axe. The other leaders were also chosen for great +personal strength. Edmund's place was on horseback in the middle of the +wedge, whence he could overlook the whole and direct their movements. +</P> + +<P> +In three weeks the men could perform their simple movements to +perfection, and at a sound from Edmund's horn would run in as when +scattered in pursuit or flight, or could form from line into the wedge, +without the least confusion, every man occupying his assigned place. +</P> + +<P> +The men were delighted with their new exercises, and felt confident +that the weight of the solid mass thickly bristling with spears would +break through the Danish line without difficulty, or could draw off +from the field in perfect order and safety in case of a defeat, however +numerous their foes. The two front lines were to thrust with their +pikes, the others keeping their long spears immovable to form a solid +hedge. Each man carried a short heavy sword to use in case, by any +fatality, the wedge should get broken up. +</P> + +<P> +When assured that his band were perfect in their new exercise Edmund +marched and joined the king. He found on his arrival that the summons +to arms had been everywhere disregarded. Many men had indeed come in, +but these were in no way sufficient to form a force which would enable +him to take the field against the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund therefore solicited and obtained permission to march with his +band to endeavour to check the plundering bands of Danes, who were +already committing devastations throughout the country. +</P> + +<P> +"Be not rash, Edmund," the monarch said, "you have but a handful of +men, and I should grieve indeed did aught of harm befall you. If you +can fall upon small parties of plunderers and destroy them you will do +good service, not only by compelling them to keep together but by +raising the spirits of the Saxons; but avoid conflict with parties +likely to defeat you." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall hear of us soon, I promise you," Edmund replied, "and I +trust that the news will be good." +</P> + +<P> +The little party set out towards the border, and before long met +numbers of fugitives, weeping women carrying children, old men and +boys, making their way from the neighbourhood of the Danes. The men had +for the most part driven their herds into the woods, where they were +prepared to defend them as best they could against roving parties. They +learned that Haffa, a Danish jarl, with about 600 followers, was +plundering and ravaging the country about twelve miles away. The force +was a formidable one, but after consultation with Egbert, Edmund +determined to advance, deeming that he might find the Danes scattered +and cut off some of their parties. +</P> + +<P> +As they neared the country of which the Danes were in possession the +smoke of burning villages and homesteads was seen rising heavily in the +air. Edmund halted for the night in a wood about a mile distant from a +blazing farm, and the band lay down for some hours. +</P> + +<P> +Before daybreak three or four of the swiftest-footed of the men were +sent out to reconnoitre. They learned, from badly wounded men whom they +found lying near the burning farms, that the Danes had been plundering +in parties of twenty or thirty, but that the main body under Haffa lay +five miles away at the village of Bristowe. +</P> + +<P> +A consultation was held, and it was agreed that the party should remain +hidden in the wood during the day, and that upon the following night +they should fall upon the Danes, trusting to the surprise to inflict +much damage upon them, and to be able to draw off before the enemy +could recover sufficiently to rally and attack them. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly about nine o'clock in the evening they started, and +marching rapidly approached Bristowe an hour and a half later. They +could see great fires blazing, and round them the Danes were carousing +after their forays of the day. Great numbers of cattle were penned up +near the village. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert having halted their men stole forward until close to +the village in order to learn the nature of the ground and the position +of the Danes. Upon their return they waited until the fires burned low +and the sound of shouting and singing decreased. It was useless to wait +longer, for they knew that many of the Danes would, according to their +custom, keep up their revelry all night. Crawling along the ground the +band made for the great pen where were herded the cattle which the +Danes had driven in from the surrounding country, and over which +several guards had been placed. Before starting Egbert assigned to each +man the special duties which he was to fulfil. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons crept up quite close to the Danish guards unobserved. To +each of these three or four bowmen had been told off, and they, on +nearing the sentries lay prone on the ground with bows bent and arrows +fixed until a whistle from Edmund gave the signal. Then the arrows were +loosed, and the distance being so short the Danish sentries were all +slain. Then a party of men removed the side of the pen facing the +village; the rest mingled with the cattle, and soon with the points of +their spears goaded them into flight. In a mass the herd thundered down +upon the village, the Saxons keeping closely behind them and adding to +their terror by goading the hindermost. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes, astonished at the sudden thunder of hoofs bearing down upon +them, leaped to their feet and endeavoured to turn the course of the +herd, which they deemed to have accidentally broken loose, by loud +shouts and by rattling their swords against their shields. The oxen, +however, were too terrified by those in their rear to check their +course, and charged impetuously down upon the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Numbers of these were hurled to the ground and trampled under foot, and +the wildest confusion reigned in the camp. This was increased when, as +the herds swept along, a number of active men with spear and sword fell +suddenly upon them. Scores were cut down or run through before they +could prepare for defence, or recover from their surprise at the novel +method of attack. +</P> + +<P> +At last, as the thunder of the herd died away in the distance, and they +became aware of the comparative fewness of their foes, they began to +rally and make head against their assailants. No sooner was this the +case than the note of a horn was heard, and as if by magic their +assailants instantly darted away into the night, leaving the +superstitious Danes in some doubt whether the whole attack upon them +had not been of a supernatural nature. +</P> + +<P> +Long before they recovered themselves, and were ready for pursuit, the +Saxons were far away, no less than 200 of the Danes having been slain +or trampled to death, while of Edmund's band not one had received so +much as a wound. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons regained the wood in the highest state of exultation at +their success, and more confident than before in themselves and their +leader. +</P> + +<P> +"I am convinced," Edmund said, "that this is the true way to fight the +Danes, to harry and attack them by night assaults until they dare not +break up into parties, and become so worn out by constant alarms that +they will be glad to leave a country where plunder and booty are only +to be earned at so great a cost." +</P> + +<P> +Knowing that Haffa's band would for some time be thoroughly on the +alert Edmund moved his party to another portion of the country, where +he inflicted a blow, almost as heavy as he had dealt Haffa, upon +Sigbert, another of the Danish jarls. Three or four more very +successful night attacks were made, and then the Danes, by this time +thoroughly alarmed, obtained from some Saxon country people whom they +took prisoners news as to the strength of Edmund's band. +</P> + +<P> +Furious at the heavy losses which had been inflicted upon them by so +small a number, they determined to unite in crushing them. By threats +of instant death, and by the offers of a high reward, they succeeded in +persuading two Saxon prisoners to act as spies, and one day these +brought in to Haffa the news that the band had that morning, after +striking a successful blow at the Danes ten miles away, entered at +daybreak a wood but three miles from his camp. +</P> + +<P> +The Northman, disdaining to ask for assistance from one of the other +bands against so small a foe, moved out at once with 300 of his men +towards the wood. The Saxons had posted guards, who on the approach of +the Danes roused Edmund with the news that the enemy were close at +hand. The Saxons were soon on their feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, my friends," Edmund said to them, "here is the time for trying +what benefit we have got from our exercise. We cannot well draw off, +for the Danes are as fleet-footed as we; therefore let us fight and +conquer them." +</P> + +<P> +The men formed up cheerfully, and the little body moved out from the +wood to meet the Danes. The latter gave a shout of triumph as they saw +them. The Saxon force, from its compact formation, appeared even +smaller than it was, and the Norsemen advanced in haste, each eager to +be the first to fall upon an enemy whom they regarded as an easy prey. +As they arrived upon the spot, however, and saw the thick hedge of +spears which bristled round the little body of Saxons, the first comers +checked their speed and waited till Haffa himself came up, accompanied +by his principal warriors. +</P> + +<P> +Without a moment's hesitation the jarl flung himself upon the Saxons. +In vain, however, he tried to reach them with his long sword. As he +neared them the front line of the Saxons dropped on one knee, and as +the Danes with their shields dashed against the spears and strove to +cut through them, the kneeling men were able with their pikes to thrust +at the unguarded portions of the bodies below their shields, and many +fell grievously wounded. After trying for some time in vain, Haffa, +finding that individual effort did not suffice to break through the +Saxon spears, formed his men up in line four deep, and advanced in a +solid body so as to overwhelm them. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons now rose to their feet. The spears, instead of being pointed +outwards, were inclined towards the front, and the wedge advanced +against the Danes. The Saxon war cry rose loud as they neared the +Danish line, and then, still maintaining their close formation, they +charged upon it. The assault was irresistible. The whole weight was +thrown upon a point, and preceded, as it was, by the densely-packed +spears, it burst through the Danish line as if the latter had been +composed of osier twigs, bearing down all in its way. +</P> + +<P> +With shouts of surprise the Danes broke up their line and closed in a +thick mass round the Saxons, those behind pressing forward and impeding +the motions of the warriors actually engaged. The Saxons no longer kept +stationary. In obedience to Edmund's orders the triangle advanced, +sometimes with one angle in front, sometimes with another, but +whichever way it moved sweeping away the Danes opposed to it, while the +archers from the centre shot fast and strong into the mass of the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Haffa himself, trying to oppose the advance of the wedge, was slain by +a blow of Egbert's axe, and after half an hour's fierce fighting, the +Danes, having lost upwards of fifty of their best men, and finding all +their efforts to produce an impression upon the Saxons vain, desisted +from the attack and fled. +</P> + +<P> +At once the wedge broke up, and the Saxons followed in hot pursuit, +cutting down their flying enemies. Obedient, however, to Edmund's +repeated shouts they kept fairly together, and when the Danes, thinking +them broken and disordered, turned to fall upon them, a single note of +the horn brought them instantly together again, and the astonished +Danes saw the phalanx which had proved so fatal to them prepared to +receive their attack. This they did not attempt to deliver, but took to +flight, the Saxons, as before, pursuing, and twice as many of the Danes +were slain in the retreat as in the first attack. +</P> + +<P> +The pursuit was continued for many miles, and then, fearing that he +might come across some fresh body of the enemy, Edmund called off his +men. Great was the triumph of the Saxons. A few of them had suffered +from wounds more or less serious, but not one had fallen. They had +defeated a body of Danes four times their own force, and had killed +nearly half of them, and they felt confident that the tactics which +they had adopted would enable them in future to defeat any scattered +bodies of Danes they might meet. +</P> + +<P> +For a week after the battle they rested, spending their time in further +improving themselves in their drill, practicing especially the +alterations of the position of the spears requisite when changing from +a defensive attitude, with the pikes at right angles to each face, to +that of an attack, when the spears of both faces of the advancing wedge +were all directed forward. A messenger arrived from the king, to whom +Edmund had sent the news of his various successes, and Alfred sent his +warmest congratulations and thanks for the great results which had been +gained with so small a force, the king confessing that he was unable to +understand how with such disproportionate numbers Edmund could so +totally have routed the force of so distinguished a leader as Haffa. +</P> + +<P> +For some weeks Edmund continued the work of checking the depredations +of the Danes, and so successful was he that the freebooters became +seized with a superstitious awe of his band. The rapidity of its +maneuvering, the manner in which men, at one moment scattered, were in +another formed in a serried mass, against which all their efforts broke +as waves against a rock, seemed to them to be something superhuman. In +that part of Wessex, therefore, the invaders gradually withdrew their +forces across the frontier; but in other parts of the country, the tide +of invasion being unchecked, large tracts of country had been +devastated, and the West Saxons could nowhere make head against them. +One day a messenger reached Edmund telling him that a large Danish army +was approaching Sherborne, and urging him to return instantly to the +defence of his earldom. +</P> + +<P> +With rapid marches he proceeded thither, and on arriving at his house +he found that the Danes were but a few miles away, and that the whole +country was in a state of panic. He at once sent off messengers in all +directions, bidding the people hasten with their wives and families, +their herds and valuables, to the fort. His return to some extent +restored confidence. The news of the victories he had gained over the +Danes had reached Sherborne, and the confidence of their power to +defeat the invaders which his followers expressed as they scattered to +their respective farms again raised the courage of the people. +</P> + +<P> +All through the night bands of fugitives poured into the fort, and by +morning the whole of the people for many miles round were assembled +there. Egbert and Edmund busied themselves in assigning to each his +duty and station. All the men capable of bearing arms were told off to +posts on the walls. The old men and young boys were to draw water and +look after the cattle; the women to cook and attend to the wounded. The +men of his own band were not placed upon the walls, but were held in +readiness as a reserve to move to any point which might be threatened, +and to take part in sorties against the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Soon smoke was seen rising up in many directions, showing that the +enemy were at their accustomed work. Cries broke from the women, and +exclamations of rage from the men, as they recognized by the direction +of the smoke that their own homesteads and villages were in the hands +of the spoilers. About mid-day a party of mounted Danes rode up towards +the fort and made a circuit of it. When they had satisfied themselves +as to the formidable nature of its defences they rode off again, and +for the rest of the day none of the enemy approached the fort. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI: THE SAXON FORT +</H3> + +<P> +A strict watch was kept all night, and several scouts were sent out. +These on their return reported that the Danes were feasting, having +slain many cattle and broached the casks of mead which they found in +the cellars of Edmund's house. This they had not burned nor the houses +around it, intending, as the scouts supposed, to make it their +headquarters while they attacked the fort. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert agreed that it would be well to show the Danes at +once that they had an active and enterprising foe to deal with; they +therefore awakened their band, who were sleeping on skins close to the +gate, and with them started out. +</P> + +<P> +It was still two hours before dawn when they approached the house. Save +a few men on watch, the great Danish host, which the messengers +calculated to amount to ten thousand men, were asleep. Cautiously +making their way so as to avoid stumbling over the Danes, who lay +scattered in groups round the house, the Saxons crept forward quietly +until close to the entrance, when a sleepy watchman started up. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are ye?" +</P> + +<P> +The answer was a blow from Egbert's battle-axe. Then the leaders with +twenty of their men rushed into the house, while the rest remained on +guard at the entrance. +</P> + +<P> +The combat was short but furious, and the clashing of arms and shouts +of the Danes roused those sleeping near, and the men who escaped from +the house spread the alarm. The fight lasted but three or four minutes, +for the Danes, scattered through the house, and in many cases still +stupid from the effects of the previous night's debauch, were unable to +gather and make any collective resistance. The two jarls fought in a +manner worthy of their renown, but the Saxon spears proved more than a +match for their swords, and they died fighting bravely till the last. +Between Saxon and Dane there was no thought of quarter; none asked for +mercy on either side, for none would be granted. The sea rovers never +spared an armed man who fell into their hands, and the Saxons were +infuriated by the sufferings which the invaders had inflicted upon +them, and had no more pity upon their foes than if they had been wild +animals. Besides the jarls some thirty of their minor leaders were in +the house, and but five or six of them escaped. It was well for the +Danes that the detachment which lay there was not their principal body, +which was still a few miles in the rear, for had it been so two of +their kings and six jarls, all men of famed valour, would have been +slain. The instant the work was done the Saxons rejoined those +assembled at the entrance. +</P> + +<P> +Already the Danes were thronging up, but at present in confusion and +disorder, coming rather to see what was the matter than to fight, and +hardly believing that the Saxons could have had the audacity to attack +them. In an instant the Saxons fell into their usual formation, and +overturning and cutting down those who happened to be in their path, +burst through the straggling Danes, and at a trot proceeded across the +country. +</P> + +<P> +It was still quite dark, and it was some time before the Danes became +thoroughly aware of what had happened; then missing the voices of their +leaders, some of them rushed into the house, and the news that the two +jarls and their companions had been slain roused them to fury. At once +they set off in pursuit of the Saxons in a tumultuous throng; but the +band had already a considerable start, and had the advantage of knowing +every foot of the country, of which the Danes were ignorant. When once +fairly through the enemy, Edmund had given the word and the formation +had broken up, so that each man could run freely and without jostling +his comrades. Thus they were enabled to proceed at a rapid pace, and +reached the fort just as day was breaking, without having been +discovered or overtaken by the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +The news of this successful exploit raised the spirits of the garrison +of the fort. The Danes swarmed nearly up to the walls, but seeing how +formidable was the position, and being without leaders, they fell back +without making an attack, some of the more impetuous having fallen from +the arrows of the bowmen. +</P> + +<P> +About mid-day a solid mass of the enemy were seen approaching, and the +banners with the Black Raven on a blood-red field showed that it +contained leaders of importance, and was, in fact, the main body of the +Danes. It was an imposing sight as it marched towards the fort, with +the fluttering banners, the sun shining upon the brass helmets and +shields of the chiefs, and the spear-heads and swords of the footmen. +Here and there parties of horsemen galloped about the plain. +</P> + +<P> +"Their number has not been exaggerated," Egbert said to Edmund, "there +must be ten thousand of them. There are full twice as many as attacked +us on the field of Kesteven." +</P> + +<P> +The sight of the great array struck terror into the minds of a great +part of the defenders of the fort; but the confident bearing of their +young ealdorman and the thought of the strength of their walls +reassured them. The Danes halted at a distance of about a quarter of a +mile from the walls, and three or four of their chiefs rode forward. +These by the splendour of their helmets, shields, and trappings were +clearly men of great importance. They halted just out of bowshot +distance, and one of them, raising his voice, shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Dogs of Saxons, had you laid down your arms, and made submission to +me, I would have spared you; but for the deed which you did last night, +and the slaying of my brave jarls, I swear that I will have revenge +upon you, and, by the god Wodin, I vow that not one within your walls, +man, woman, or child, shall be spared. This is the oath of King Uffa." +</P> + +<P> +"It were well, King Uffa," Edmund shouted back, "to take no rash oaths; +before you talk of slaying you have got to capture, and you will need +all the aid of your false gods before you take this fort. As to mercy, +we should as soon ask it of wolves. We have God and our good swords to +protect us, and we fear not your host were it three times as strong as +it is." +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons raised a great shout, and the Danish king rode back to his +troops. The lesson which had been given them of the enterprise of the +Saxons was not lost, for the Danes at once began to form a camp, +raising an earthen bank which they crowned with stakes and bushes as a +defence against sudden attacks. This work occupied them two days, and +during this time no blow was struck on either side, as the Danes posted +a strong body of men each night to prevent the Saxons from sallying +out. On the third day the work was finished, and the Danish kings with +their jarls made a circuit round the walls, evidently to select the +place for attack. +</P> + +<P> +The time had passed quietly in the fort. In one corner the priests had +erected an altar, and here mass was said three times a day. The priests +went among the soldiers exhorting them to resist to the last, +confessing them, and giving them absolution. +</P> + +<P> +The pains which the Danes had taken in the preparation of their camp +was a proof of their determination to capture the fort, however long +the operation might be. It showed, too, that they recognized the +difficulty of the task, for had they believed that the capture could be +easily effected they would at once upon their arrival have advanced to +the attack. +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow morning early," Egbert said, "I expect that they will +assault us. In the first place probably they will endeavour to carry +the fort by a general attack; if they fail in this they will set to +construct engines with which to batter the wall." +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak the following morning the Danes issued from their camp. +Having formed up in regular order, they advanced towards the castle. +They divided into four bands; three of these wheeled round to opposite +sides of the fort, the fourth, which was as large as the other three +together, advanced towards the entrance. The Saxons all took the posts +previously assigned to them on the walls. Edmund strengthened the force +on the side where the gate was by posting there in addition the whole +of his band. Altogether there were nearly 350 fighting men within the +walls, of whom the greater part had fought against the Danes in the +battles of the previous year. The attack commenced simultaneously on +all sides by a discharge of arrows by the archers of both parties. The +Saxons, sheltered behind the parapet on the walls, suffered but +slightly; but their missiles did considerable execution among the +masses of the Danes. These, however, did not pause to continue the +conflict at a distance, but uttering their battle-cry rushed forward. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert had but little fear of the attack on the other faces +of the fort proving successful; the chief assault was against the gate, +and it was here that the real danger existed. +</P> + +<P> +The main body of the Danes covered themselves with their shields and +rushed forward with the greatest determination, pouring through the gap +in the outer bank in a solid mass, and then turned along the fosse +towards the inner gate. Closely packed together, with their shields +above their heads forming a sort of testudo or roof which protected +them against the Saxons' arrows, they pressed forward in spite of the +shower of missiles with which the Saxons on the walls assailed them. +Arrows, darts, and great stones were showered down upon them, the +latter breaking down the shields, and affording the archers an +opportunity of pouring in their arrows. +</P> + +<P> +Numbers fell, but the column swept along until it gained the gate. Here +those in front began an attack upon the massive beams with their axes, +and when they had somewhat weakened it, battered it with heavy beams of +timber until it was completely splintered. While this was going on the +Saxons had continued to shoot without intermission, and the Danish dead +were heaped thickly around the gate. The Danish archers, assisted by +their comrades, had scrambled up on to the outer bank and kept up a +heavy fire on the defenders of the wall. The Saxons sheltered their +heads and shoulders which were above the parapet with their shields; +and between these, as through loopholes, their archers shot at the +Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert had debated much on the previous days whether they +would pile stones behind the gate, but had finally agreed not to do so. +They argued that although for a time the stones would impede the +progress of the Danes, these would, if they shattered the door, sooner +or later pull down the stones or climb over them; and it was better to +have a smooth and level place for defence inside. They had, however, +raised a bank of earth ten feet high in a semicircle at a distance of +twenty yards within the gate. +</P> + +<P> +When it was seen that the gates were yielding Edmund had called down +his own band from the walls and formed them in a half-circle ten yards +from the gate. They were four deep, as in their usual formation, with +the four lines of spears projecting towards the gate. The mound behind +them he lined with archers. +</P> + +<P> +At last the gates fell, and with an exulting shout the Danes poured in. +As they did so the archers on the mound loosed their arrows, and the +head of the Danish column melted like snow before the blast of a +furnace. Still they poured in and flung themselves upon the spearmen, +but they strove in vain to pierce the hedge of steel. Desperately they +threw themselves upon the pike-heads and died there bravely, but they +were powerless to break a passage. +</P> + +<P> +The archers on the mound still shot fast among them, while those on the +wall, turning round, smote them in the back, where, unprotected by +their shields, they offered a sure and fatal mark. Soon the narrow +semicircle inside the gate became heaped high with dead, impeding the +efforts of those still pressing in. Several of the bravest of the +Danish leaders had fallen. The crowd in the fosse, unaware of the +obstacle which prevented the advance of the head of the column and +harassed by the missiles from above, grew impatient, and after half an +hour of desperate efforts, and having lost upwards of three hundred of +his best men, the Danish king, furious with rage and disappointment, +called off his men. +</P> + +<P> +On the other three sides the attack equally failed. The Danes suffered +heavily while climbing the steep side of the inner mound. They brought +with them faggots, which they cast down at the foot of the wall, but +this was built so near the edge of the slope that they were unable to +pile sufficient faggots to give them the height required for a +successful assault upon it. Many climbed up on their comrades' +shoulders, and so tried to scale the wall, but they were thrust down by +the Saxon spears as they raised themselves to its level, and in no +place succeeded in gaining a footing. Over two hundred fell in the +three minor attacks. +</P> + +<P> +There were great rejoicings among the Saxons, on whose side but +twenty-three had been killed. A solemn mass was held, at which all save +a few look-outs on the walls attended, and thanks returned to God for +the repulse of the pagans; then the garrison full of confidence awaited +the next attack of the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Stones were piled up in the gateway to prevent any sudden surprise +being effected there. The Danes in their retreat had carried off their +dead, and the next morning the Saxons saw that they were busy with the +ceremonies of their burial. At some little distance from their camp the +dead were placed in a sitting position, in long rows back to back with +their weapons by their sides, and earth was piled over them until a +great mound fifty yards long and ten feet high was raised. +</P> + +<P> +Three jarls and one of their kings were buried separately. They were +placed together in a sitting position, with their helmets on their +heads, their shields on their arms, and their swords by their sides. +Their four war-horses were killed and laid beside them; twenty slaves +were slaughtered and placed lying round them, for their spirits to +attend them in the Walhalla of the gods. Golden drinking-vessels and +other ornaments were placed by them, and then a mound forty feet in +diameter and twenty feet high was piled over the whole. +</P> + +<P> +The whole force were occupied all day with this work. The next day +numbers of trees were felled and brought to the camp, and for the next +two days the Danes were occupied in the manufacture of war-engines for +battering down the walls. Edmund and Egbert utilized the time in +instructing the soldiers who did not form part of the regular band, in +the formation of the quadruple line of defence which the Danes had +found it so impossible to break through, so that if more than one +breach was effected, a resistance similar to that made at the gate +could be offered at all points. The skins of the oxen killed for the +use of the garrison were carefully laid aside, the inside being thickly +rubbed with grease. +</P> + +<P> +The Danish preparations were at length completed, the war-engines were +brought up and began to hurl great stones against the wall at three +points. The Saxons kept up a constant fire of arrows at those employed +at working them, but the Danes, though losing many men, threw up +breastworks to protect them. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons manufactured many broad ladders, and in the middle of the +night, lowering these over the walls, they descended noiselessly, and +three strong bodies fell upon the Danes guarding the engines. These +fought stoutly, but were driven back, the engines were destroyed, and +the Saxons retired to their walls again and drew up their ladders +before the main body of Danes could arrive from the camp. This caused a +delay of some days in the siege, but fresh engines having been +constructed, the assault on the walls was recommenced, this time the +whole Danish army moving out and sleeping at night close to them. +</P> + +<P> +After three days' battering, breaches of from thirty to fifty feet wide +were effected in the walls. The Saxons had not been idle. Behind each +of the threatened points they raised banks of earth ten feet high, and +cut away the bank perpendicularly behind the shattered wall, so that +the assailants as they poured in at the gaps would have to leap ten +feet down. +</P> + +<P> +Each night the masses of wall which fell inside were cleared away, and +when the breach was complete, and it was evident that the assault would +take place the next morning, the hides which had been prepared were +laid with the hairy side down, on the ground below. Through them they +drove firmly into the ground numbers of pikes with the heads sticking +up one or two feet, and pointed stakes hardened in the fire. Then +satisfied that all had been done the Saxons lay down to rest. +</P> + +<P> +In the morning the Danes advanced to the assault. This time they were +but little annoyed in their advance by the archers. These were posted +on the walls at each side of the gaps to shoot down at the backs of the +Danes after they had entered. On the inner semicircular mounds the +Saxon force gathered four deep. +</P> + +<P> +With loud shouts the Danes rushed forward, climbed the outer mounds, +and reached the breaches. Here the leaders paused on seeing the gulf +below them, but pressed by those behind they could not hesitate long, +but leapt down from the breach on to the slippery hides below. +</P> + +<P> +Not one who did so lived. It was impossible to keep their feet as they +alighted, and as they fell they were impaled by the pikes and stakes. +Pressed by those behind, however, fresh men leapt down, falling in +their turn, until at length the hides and stakes were covered, and +those leaping down found a foothold on the bodies of the fallen. Then +they crowded on and strove to climb the inner bank and attack the +Saxons. Now the archers on the walls opened fire upon them, and, +pierced through and through with the arrows which struck them on the +back, the Danes fell in great numbers. Edmund commanded at one of the +breaches, Egbert at another, and Oswald, an old and experienced +warrior, at the third. +</P> + +<P> +At each point the scene was similar. The Danes struggled up the mounds +only to fail to break through the hedge of spears which crowned them, +fast numbers dying in the attempt, while as many more fell pierced with +arrows. For an hour the Danes continued their desperate efforts, and +not until fifteen hundred had been slain did they draw off to their +camp, finding it impossible to break through the Saxon defences. +</P> + +<P> +Loud rose the shouts of the triumphant Saxons as the Danes retired, and +it needed all the efforts of their leaders to prevent them from pouring +out in pursuit; but the events of the preceding year had taught the +Saxon leaders how often their impetuosity after success had proved +fatal to the Saxons, and that once in the plain the Danes would turn +upon them and crush them by their still greatly superior numbers. +Therefore no one was allowed to sally out, and the discomfited Danes +retired unmolested. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning to their joy the Saxons saw that the invaders had +broken up their camp, and had marched away in the night. Scouts were +sent out in various directions, and the Saxons employed themselves in +stripping and burying the Danes who had fallen within the fort, only a +few of the most distinguished having been carried off. The scouts +returned with news that the Danes had made no halt, but had departed +entirely from that part of the country. Finding that for the present +they were free of the invaders, the Saxons left the fort and scattered +again, to rebuild as best they might their devastated homes. +</P> + +<P> +But if in the neighbourhood of Sherborne the Danes had been severely +repulsed, in other parts of the kingdom they continued to make great +progress, and the feeling of despair among the Saxons increased. Great +numbers left their homes, and taking with them all their portable +possessions, made their way to the sea-coast, and there embarked for +France, where they hoped to be able to live peaceably and quietly. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund placed no hindrance in the way of such of his people who chose +this course, for the prospect appeared well-nigh hopeless. The majority +of the Saxons were utterly broken in spirit, and a complete conquest of +the kingdom by the Danes seemed inevitable. In the spring, however, of +877 King Alfred again issued an urgent summons. A great horde of Danes +had landed at Exeter and taken possession of that town, and he +determined to endeavour to crush them. He sent to Edmund begging him to +proceed at once to Poole, where the king's fleet was ready for sea, and +to embark in it with what force he could raise, and to sail and +blockade the entrance to the river Exe, and so prevent the Danes from +reinforcing their countrymen, while he with his forces laid siege to +Exeter. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund would have taken his own vessel, but some time would have been +lost, and the king's ships were short of hands. He was not sorry, +indeed, that his men should have some practise at sea, and taking his +own band, in which the vacancies which had been caused in the defence +of the fort had been filled up, he proceeded to Poole. Here he embarked +his men in one of the ships, and the fleet, comprising twenty vessels, +put to sea. +</P> + +<P> +The management of the vessels and their sails was in the hands of +experienced sailors, and Edmund's men had no duties to perform except +to fight the enemy when they met them. +</P> + +<P> +The news of the siege of Exeter reached the Danes at Wareham, which was +their head-quarters, and 120 vessels filled with their troops sailed +for the relief of Exeter. +</P> + +<P> +The weather was unpropitious, heavy fogs lay on the water, dissipated +occasionally by fierce outbursts of wind. The Saxon fleet kept the sea. +It was well that for a time the Danish fleet did not appear in sight, +for the Saxons, save the sailors, were unaccustomed to the water, and +many suffered greatly from the rough motion; and had the Danes appeared +for the first week after the fleet put to sea a combat must have been +avoided, as the troops were in no condition to fight. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, however, they recovered from their malady and became eager +to meet the enemy; Edmund bade his men take part in the working of the +ship in order to accustom themselves to the duties of seamen. The fleet +did not keep the sea all the time, returning often to the straits +between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, where they lay in shelter, +a look-out being kept from the top of the hills, whence a wide sweep of +sea could be seen, and where piles of wood were collected by which a +signal fire could warn the fleet to put to sea should the enemy's +vessels come in sight. +</P> + +<P> +A full month passed and the Saxons began to fear that the Danes might +have eluded them, having perhaps been blown out to sea and having made +the land again far to the west. One morning, however, smoke was seen to +rise from the beacon fire. The crews who were on shore instantly +hurried on board. From the hills the Danish fleet was made out far to +the west and was seen to be approaching the land from seaward, having +been driven far out of its course by the winds. +</P> + +<P> +The weather was wild and threatening and the sailors predicted a great +storm. Nevertheless the fleet put to sea and with reefed sails ran to +the west. Their vessels were larger than the Danish galleys and could +better keep the sea in a storm. Many miles were passed before, from the +decks, the Danish flotilla could be seen. Presently, however, a great +number of their galleys were discerned rowing in towards Swanage Bay. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the increasing fury of the wind the Saxons spread more sail +and succeeded in intercepting the Danes. A desperate fight began, but +the Danes in their low, long vessels had all they could do to keep +afloat on the waves. Many were run down by the Saxons. The showers of +arrows from their lofty poops confused the rowers and slew many. +Sweeping along close to them they often broke off the oars and disabled +them. Sometimes two or three of the Danish galleys would try to close +with a Saxon ship, but the sea was too rough for the boats to remain +alongside while the men tried to climb up the high sides, and the +Saxons with their spears thrust down those who strove to do so. +Confusion and terror soon reigned among the Danes, and fearing to try +to escape by sea in such a storm made for the shore, hotly pursued by +the Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +But the shore was even more inhospitable than their foes. Great rocks +bordered the coast, and upon these the galleys were dashed into +fragments. The people on shore, who had gathered at the sight of the +approaching fleets, fell upon such of the Danes as succeeded in gaining +the coast, and everyone who landed was instantly slain. Thus, partly +from the effects of the Saxon fleet but still more from that of the +storm, the whole of the Danish fleet of one hundred and twenty vessels +was destroyed, not a single ship escaping the general destruction. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII: THE DRAGON +</H3> + +<P> +The Danes at Exeter, being now cut off from all hope of relief, asked +for terms, and the king granted them their lives on condition of their +promising to leave Wessex and not to return. This promise they swore by +their most solemn oaths to observe, and marching northward passed out +of Wessex and settled near Gloucester. Some of the Saxons thought that +the king had been wrong in granting such easy terms, but he pointed out +to the ealdormen who remonstrated with him that there were many other +and larger bands of Danes in Mercia and Anglia, and that had he +massacred the band at Exeter—and this he could not have done without +the loss of many men, as assuredly the Danes would have fought +desperately for their lives—the news of their slaughter would have +brought upon him fresh invasions from all sides. +</P> + +<P> +By this time all resistance to the Danes in Mercia had ceased. Again +and again King Burhred had bought them off, but this only brought fresh +hordes down upon him, and at last, finding the struggle hopeless, he +had gone as a pilgrim to Rome, where he had died. The Danes acted in +Mercia as they had done in Northumbria. They did not care, themselves, +to settle down for any length of time, and therefore appointed a weak +Saxon thane, Ceolwulf, as the King of Mercia. He ruled cruelly and +extorted large revenues from the land-owners, and robbed the +monasteries, which had escaped destruction, of their treasures. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes suffered him to pursue this course until he had amassed great +wealth, when they swooped down upon him, robbed him of all he +possessed, and took away the nominal kingship he had held. As there was +now but little fresh scope for plundering in England many of the Danes +both in Anglia and Mercia settled down in the cities and on the lands +which they had taken from the Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes who had gone from Exeter were now joined by another band +which had landed in South Wales. The latter, finding but small plunder +was to be obtained among the mountains of that country, moved to +Gloucester, and joining the band there proposed a fresh invasion of +Wessex. The Danes, in spite of the oaths they had sworn to Alfred, and +the hostages they had left in his hands, agreed to the proposal; and +early in the spring of 878 the bands, swollen by reinforcements from +Mercia, marched into Wiltshire and captured the royal castle of +Chippenham on the Avon. From this point they spread over the country +and destroyed everything with fire and sword. A general panic seized +the inhabitants. The better class, with the bishops, priests, and +monks, made for the sea-coasts and thence crossed to France, taking +with them all their portable goods, with the relics, precious stones, +and ornaments of the churches and monasteries. +</P> + +<P> +Another party of Danes in twenty-three ships had landed in Devonshire. +Here the ealdorman Adda had constructed a castle similar to that which +Edmund had built. It was fortified by nature on three sides and had a +strong rampart of earth on another. The Danes tried to starve out the +defenders of the fort; but the Saxons held out for a long time, +although sorely pressed by want of water. At last they sallied out one +morning at daybreak and fell upon the Danes and utterly defeated them, +only a few stragglers regaining their ships. +</P> + +<P> +A thousand Danes are said to have been slain at Kynwith; but this was +an isolated success; in all other parts of the kingdom panic appeared +to have taken possession of the West Saxons. Those who could not leave +the country retired to the woods, and thence, when the Danes had passed +by, leaving ruin and desolation behind them, they sallied out and again +began to till the ground as best they could. Thus for a time the West +Saxons, formerly so valiant and determined, sank to the condition of +serfs; for when all resistance ceased the Danes were well pleased to +see the ground tilled, as otherwise they would speedily have run short +of stores. +</P> + +<P> +At the commencement of the invasion Edmund had marched out with his +band and had inflicted heavy blows upon parties of plunderers; but he +soon perceived that the struggle was hopeless. He therefore returned to +Sherborne, and collecting such goods as he required and a good store of +provisions he marched to the place where the ship had been hidden. No +wandering band of Danes had passed that way, and the bushes with which +she had been covered were undisturbed. These were soon removed and a +passage three feet deep, and wide enough for the ship to pass through, +was dug from the deep hole in which she was lying to the river. +</P> + +<P> +When the last barrier was cut the water poured in, and the Saxons had +the satisfaction of seeing the vessel rise gradually until the water in +the dock was level with that in the river. Then she was taken out into +the stream, the stores and fittings placed aboard, and she was poled +down to the mouth of the river. Egbert had gone before and had already +engaged fifteen sturdy sailors to go with them. The Danes had not yet +reached the sea-coast from the interior, and there was therefore no +difficulty in obtaining the various equipments necessary. In a week her +masts were up and her sails in position. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon, as she was called, excited great admiration at the port, +all saying that she was the finest and largest ship that had ever been +seen there. While her fitting out had been going on she was hove up on +shore and received several coats of paint. Edmund was loath to start on +his voyage without again seeing the king, but no one knew where Alfred +now was, he, on finding the struggle hopeless, having retired to the +fastnesses of Somerset to await the time when the Saxons should be +driven by oppression again to take up arms. +</P> + +<P> +At last all was ready, and the Dragon put out to sea. She was provided +with oars as well as sails, but these were only to be used when in +pursuit, or when flying from a superior enemy. As soon as she had been +long enough at sea to enable the band again to recover from the effects +of sickness the oars were got out and the men practised in their use. +</P> + +<P> +As in the models from which she had been built, she rowed two banks of +oars, the one worked by men upon deck, the others through small +port-holes. The latter could only be used when the weather was fine; +when the sea was high they were closed up and fastened. The lower-deck +oars were each rowed by one man, while the upper bank, which were +longer and heavier, had each two men to work it. +</P> + +<P> +Before starting Edmund had increased the strength of his band to ninety +men, that number being required for the oars, of which the Dragon had +fifteen on each bank on each side. At first there was terrible +splashing and confusion, but in time the men learned to row in order, +and in three weeks after putting to sea the oars worked well in time +together, and the Dragon, with her ninety rowers, moved through the +water at a great rate of speed. +</P> + +<P> +During this time she had never been far from land keeping but a short +distance from the port from which she had sailed, as Edmund did not +wish to fall in with the Danes until his crew were able to maneuver her +with the best effect. When, at last, satisfied that all knew their duty +he returned to port, took in a fresh supply of provisions, and then +sailed away again in search of the enemy. He coasted along the shore of +Hampshire and Sussex without seeing a foe, and then sailing round Kent +entered the mouth of the Thames. The Dragon kept on her way until she +reached the point where the river begins to narrow, and there the sails +were furled and the anchor thrown overboard to wait for Danish galleys +coming down the river. +</P> + +<P> +On the third day after they had anchored they perceived four black +specks in the distance, and these the sailors soon declared to be +Danish craft. They were rowing rapidly, having ten oars on either side, +and at their mast-heads floated the Danish Raven. The anchor was got +up, and as the Danes approached, the Golden Dragon, the standard of +Wessex, was run up to the mast-head, the sails were hoisted, the oars +got out, and the vessel advanced to meet the approaching Danes. +</P> + +<P> +These for a moment stopped rowing in astonishment at seeing so large a +ship bearing the Saxon flag. Then they at once began to scatter in +different directions; but the Dragon, impelled both by the wind and her +sixty oars, rapidly overtook them. When close alongside the galley +nearest to them the men on the upper deck, at an order from Edmund, ran +in their oars, and seizing their bows poured a volley of arrows into +the galley, killing most of the rowers. Then the Dragon was steered +alongside, and the Saxons, sword in hand, leaped down into the galley. +Most of the Danes were cut down at once; the rest plunged into the +water and swam for their lives. Leaving the deserted galley behind, the +Dragon continued the pursuit of the others, and overtook and captured +another as easily as she had done the first. +</P> + +<P> +The other two boats reached the shore before they were overtaken, and +those on board leaping out fled. The Saxons took possession of the +deserted galleys. They found them, as they expected, stored full of +plunder of all kinds—rich wearing apparel, drinking goblets, massive +vessels of gold and silver which had been torn from some desecrated +altar, rich ornaments and jewels and other articles. These were at once +removed to the Dragon. Fire was applied to the boats, and they were +soon a mass of flames. Then the Dragon directed her course to the two +galleys she had first captured. These were also rifled of their +contents and burned. The Saxons were delighted at the success which had +attended their first adventure. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall have rougher work next time," Egbert said. "The Danes who +escaped will carry news to London, and we shall be having a whole fleet +down to attack us in a few days." +</P> + +<P> +"If they are in anything like reasonable numbers we will fight them; if +not, we can run. We have seen to-day how much faster we are than the +Danish boats; and though I shall be in favour of fighting if we have a +fair chance of success, it would be folly to risk the success of our +enterprise by contending against overwhelming numbers at the outset, +seeing that we shall be able to pick up so many prizes round the coast." +</P> + +<P> +"We can beat a score of them," Egbert grumbled. "I am in favour of +fighting the Danes whenever we see them." +</P> + +<P> +"When there is a hope of success, Egbert, yes; but you know even the +finest bull can be pulled down by a pack of dogs. The Dragon is a +splendid ship, and does credit alike to King Alfred's first advice, to +the plans of the Italian shipbuilders, and to the workmanship and +design of the shipwright of Exeter, and I hope she will long remain to +be a scourge to the Danes at sea as they have been a scourge to the +Saxons on shore; and it is because I hope she is going to do such good +service to England that I would be careful of her. You must remember, +too, that many of the Danish galleys are far larger than those we had +to do with to-day. We are not going to gobble them all up as a pike +swallows minnows." +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon had now anchored again, and four days elapsed before any +Danish galleys were seen. At the end of that time six large Danish +war-ships were perceived in the distance. Edmund and Egbert from the +top of the lofty poop watched them coming. +</P> + +<P> +"They row thirty oars each side," Egbert said, "and are crowded with +men. What say you, Edmund, shall we stop and fight them, or shall the +Dragon spread her wings?" +</P> + +<P> +"We have the advantage of height," Edmund said, "and from our bow and +stern castles can shoot down into them; but if they lie alongside and +board us their numbers will give them an immense advantage. I should +think that we might run down one or two of them. The Dragon is much +more strongly built than these galleys of the Danes, and if when they +close round us we have the oars lashed on both sides as when we are +rowing, it will be next to impossible for them to get alongside except +at the stern and bow, which are far too high for them to climb." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," Egbert said, "if you are ready to fight, you may be sure I +am." +</P> + +<P> +The anchor was got up and the oars manned, and the Dragon quietly +advanced towards the Danish boats. The men were instructed to row +slowly, and it was not until within a hundred yards of the leading +galley that the order was given to row hard. +</P> + +<P> +The men strained at the tough oars, and the Dragon leapt ahead to meet +the foe. Her bow was pointed as if she would have passed close by the +side of the Danish galley, which was crowded with men. When close to +her, however, the helmsman pushed the tiller across and the Dragon +swept straight down upon her. A shout of dismay rose from the Danes, a +hasty volley of arrows and darts was hurled at the Dragon, and the +helmsman strove to avoid the collision, but in vain. The Dragon struck +her on the beam, the frail craft broke up like an egg-shell under the +blow, and sank almost instantly under the bows of the Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +Without heeding the men struggling thickly in the water, the Dragon +continued her course. Warned by the fate of the first boat, the next +endeavoured to avoid her path. Her commander shouted orders. The rowers +on one side backed while those on the other pulled, but she was not +quite quick enough. The Dragon struck her a few feet from the stern, +cutting her in two. +</P> + +<P> +The other galleys now closed in alongside. The Saxons hastily fastened +their oars as they had been rowing and then betook themselves to their +posts, those with spears and swords to the sides to prevent the enemy +from climbing up, the archers to the lofty castles at either end. The +Danes had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside, the oars +keeping the galleys at a distance. For some time the combat was +conducted entirely by the archers on both sides, the Danes suffering +much the most heavily, as the Saxons were protected by the bulwarks, +while from their lofty positions they were enabled to fire down into +the galleys. +</P> + +<P> +At last one of the Danish vessels rowed straight at the broadside of +the Dragon, and breaking her way through the oars her bow reached the +side. Then the Danes strove to leap on board, but the Saxons pursued +the tactics which had succeeded so well on land, and forming in a close +mass where the Danish vessel touched the Dragon, opposed a thick hedge +of spears to those who strove to board her. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes fought desperately. Several notable leaders, hearing that a +great Saxon ship had appeared on the Thames, had come down to capture +her, and leading their followers, strove desperately to cut their way +to the deck of the Dragon. Taking advantage of the strife, the other +galleys repeated the maneuver which had succeeded, and each in turn ran +their stem through the Saxon oars, and reached the side of the Dragon. +In this position, however, they had the immense disadvantage that only +a few men at once could strive to board, while the Saxons were able to +oppose all their strength at these four points. +</P> + +<P> +For a time the Saxons repulsed every effort, but as the lashings of the +oars gave way under the pressure of the Danish ships, these drifted +alongside, and they were thus able to attack along the whole length of +the bulwarks between the castles. The Saxons were now hard put to it, +but their superior height still enabled them to keep the Danes in check. +</P> + +<P> +All this time the five vessels had been drifting down the river +together. Presently, when the conflict was hottest, the chief of the +sailors made his way to Edmund. +</P> + +<P> +"If we get up the sails we may be able to draw out from the galleys." +</P> + +<P> +"Do so," Edmund said, "and at once, for we are hardly pressed; they are +four to one against us." +</P> + +<P> +The sailors at once sprang to the halliards, and soon the great sail +rose on the mast. Almost instantly the Dragon began to glide away from +the galleys. The Danes with ropes endeavoured to lash themselves to her +sides, but these were severed as fast as thrown, and in two or three +minutes the Dragon had drawn herself clear of them. The Danes betook +themselves to their oars, but many of these had been broken between the +vessels, and rowing their utmost they could only just keep up with the +Dragon, for the wind was blowing freely. Fully half the oars of the +Dragon were broken, but the rest were soon manned, and she then rapidly +drew away from her pursuers. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not going to run further," Edmund said. "Now that we have once +shaken them off, let us turn and meet them again." +</P> + +<P> +As the vessel's head was brought up into the wind the Danes ceased +rowing. The fate which had befallen their two galleys at the +commencement of the fight was still before them. They had lost great +numbers of men in the attempt to board from the Saxon pikes and arrows, +and their desire to renew the fight vanished when they saw that the +Saxons were equally ready. Therefore, as the Dragon approached them, +they sheered off on either side of her and rowed for the mouth of the +Medway. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons did not pursue. They had lost eight men killed, and +seventeen wounded by the Danish arrows, and were well content to be +quit of their opponents, upon whom they had inflicted a severe blow, as +each of the galleys sunk had contained fully a hundred and fifty men, +and great numbers of the Danes on board the other ships had fallen. +</P> + +<P> +They now left the Thames and sailed to Sandwich. The town had been +shortly before burned by the Danes, but these had left, and some of the +inhabitants had returned. Here the Dragon waited for a week, by the end +of which time the traces of the conflict had been obliterated, and new +oars made. Edmund found no difficulty in filling up the vacancies +caused in the fight, as many of the young Saxons were burning to avenge +the sufferings which the Danes had inflicted, and could have obtained +several times the number he required had there been room for them. He +was therefore enabled to pick out sturdy fellows accustomed to the sea. +When the Dragon again set sail her head was laid to the northward, as +Edmund intended to cruise off East Anglia, from whose shores fleets +were constantly crossing and recrossing to Denmark. +</P> + +<P> +They picked up several prizes at the mouths of the eastern rivers, +scarcely having to strike a blow, so surprised were the Danes at the +appearances of the great Saxon galley. Whenever the Danes surrendered +without resistance Edmund gave them quarter and landed them in small +boats on the shore; their ships, after being emptied of the booty they +contained, were burned. When off Yarmouth, where they had captured four +Danish vessels sailing out unsuspicious of danger, the wind veered +round to the north-east and began to blow very strongly. +</P> + +<P> +The long line of sandbanks off the coast broke somewhat the violence of +the sea, and the Dragon rode all night to her anchors; but in the +morning the wind continued to rise. The sea became more and more +violent, and the anchors began to drag. Edmund and Egbert, after a +consultation, agreed that their only chance of saving the vessel was to +enter the river. The tide was running in, but the sea was so heavy on +the bar of the river that the efforts of the crew at the oars barely +sufficed to keep her on her course. At length, however, she made her +way safely between the posts which marked the entrance, and rowing up +until they passed a turn, and were sheltered from the force of the +gale, they again anchored. +</P> + +<P> +The oars were all lashed out firmly to keep any boats from approaching +her sides. Bales of goods with which her hold was filled were brought +on deck, and piled high along the bulwarks so as to afford a shelter +from missiles. Even as they entered the harbour numbers of Danes had +assembled at the point; for the capture and destruction of their ships +had of course been seen, and the crews set ashore had spread the news +that the strange vessel was a Saxon. The Norfolk bank being somewhat +higher than the Suffolk, the boat was anchored rather nearer to the +latter, as it was from the town of Yarmouth that an attack was +anticipated. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the anchors were let go the Danes began to fire their +arrows; but so powerful was the gale that the greater part of them were +swept far away. As the day went on the numbers of Danes on the bank +increased largely, and vast numbers of arrows were discharged at the +Dragon. The crew kept under shelter, and although she was often struck +no damage was done. +</P> + +<P> +In the afternoon a fleet of galleys was seen coming down the river. The +Danes possessed a large number of these boats at Yarmouth, and in these +they navigated the inland waters far into the interior. The wind had +shifted until it was blowing nearly due east, and Edmund and Egbert had +agreed upon the best course to be pursued. In case of attack they could +hardly hope finally to beat off the assault of a large fleet of +galleys, and would besides be exposed to attack by boats laden with +combustibles. Therefore as soon as the galleys were seen approaching +the oars were unlashed, the great sail hoisted, and at her best speed +the Dragon advanced up the river to meet her foes. The Danes gave a +shout of alarm as the vessel advanced to meet them with the water +surging in a white wave from her bows, and the greater part of them +hurried towards one bank or the other to escape the shock. Some, slower +in movement or stouter in heart, awaited the attack, while from all a +storm of missiles was poured upon the advancing boat. +</P> + +<P> +Heedless of these she continued her way. Her sharp bow crashed right +through the side of the Danish boats, and having destroyed seven of +them on her way she passed through the flotilla and continued her +course. The dragon waved triumphantly from her mast as she passed under +the walls of Yarmouth. These were crowded with Danes, who vainly +showered arrows and javelins as she flew past, with the fleets of +galleys rowing in her wake. A few minutes and she was out on the broad +sheet of water beyond. The Danish galleys paused at the entrance. In so +wild a storm they would have had difficulty in keeping their boats +straight, while the great galley with her sails and oars would be able +to maneuver freely, and could strike and run them down one by one. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that pile of buildings on the rising knoll of ground some +three miles away?" Edmund asked. +</P> + +<P> +"It is Bamborough Castle," Egbert replied, "a Roman stronghold of +immense strength." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us run up thither," Edmund said. "If, as is likely enough, it is +unoccupied, we will land there and take possession. Are the walls +complete?" +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly they are," Egbert said. "They are of marvellous strength, +such as we cannot build in our days. They run in a great semicircle +from the edge of the water round the crest of the knoll and down again +to the water. There is but one gateway in the wall on the land side, +and this we can block up. We need not fear an attack from the land, for +between the river and the castle there are wide swamps; so that unless +they row up and attack us from the water we are safe." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that they will not do that," Edmund said, "after the taste +which the Dragon has given them of her quality. At any rate I think we +are safe till the storm abates." +</P> + +<P> +By this time, running rapidly before the wind, the Dragon was +approaching the great Roman fort, whose massive walls struck Edmund +with astonishment. No one was to be seen moving about in the space +inclosed by them. The sail was lowered and the vessel brought to the +bank. The anchors were taken ashore and she was soon solidly moored. +Then the crew leapt on to the land and ascended the bank to the great +level inclosure. +</P> + +<P> +The walls were, as Egbert had said, intact—and indeed, except on the +side facing the river, remained almost unbroken to the present day. An +hour's labour sufficed to block the gateway, where a pair of massive +doors were in position, for the place had been defended by the Saxons +against the Danes at their first landing on the coast. A few men were +placed as sentries on the walls, and, feeling now perfectly safe from +any attack on the land side, Edmund and his followers returned on board +the Dragon for the night. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII: THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON +</H3> + +<P> +The night passed without alarm. The gale continued to blow with fury, +and until it abated Edmund had little fear that the Danes would venture +upon an attack. They had indeed no reason for haste. The Saxon vessel +was in their waters, and could not return so long as the storm +continued to blow from the east. The next day parties of Danes were +seen making their way across the swampy country from the direction of +Yarmouth. +</P> + +<P> +As soon, however, as these approached near enough to see the Saxons in +readiness on the walls of the castle they retired at once, knowing that +the place could be captured by nothing short of a prolonged and +desperate siege. On the fourth day the storm abated, and the Saxons +prepared to make their way seaward again. The wind still blew, but +lightly, from the same quarter, and the sails would therefore be of no +use. With their great oar-power they were confident that, once through +the Danish flotilla, they could defy pursuit. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly they again embarked, and loosing their moorings rowed down +towards Yarmouth. They had chosen a time when the tide was running in; +for although this would hinder their progress it would equally impede +their pursuers, while it would enable them to check their vessel in +time did they find any unforeseen obstacle in their way. They entered +the river and rowed along quietly until they neared the walls of the +town. Here the river was at its narrowest, and they saw the Danish +galleys gathered thickly in the stream. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert were on the forecastle, and presently gave the signal +for the men to cease rowing. +</P> + +<P> +"It is just as I expected," Egbert said; "they have formed a boom +across the river of trunks of trees and beams lashed together. We +cannot make our way down until that obstacle is removed. What say you +Edmund?" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," Edmund replied. +</P> + +<P> +"We had best keep along close to the right bank until within a short +distance of the boom; then we must land the greater part of our men. +These must march along the bank in their phalanx; the others must keep +the boat moving close alongside, and from the forecastle they will be +able to fire down upon the Danes and aid those on shore to drive them +back and make their way to the end of the boom. They have but to cut +the lashings there and the whole will swing round. But now we see the +nature of the obstacle, and what is to be done, it were best to wait +until the tide turns. In the first place, fewer men will be needed on +board the ship, as she will advance by herself abreast of the men on +shore. In the second place, when the lashing is cut the boom will then +swing down the stream, will cause confusion among the boats behind it, +and will open a clear space for us to make our way down." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund agreed, a light anchor was dropped, and the Dragon rode quietly +in the stream. Great animation was evident among the Danes, large +numbers crossed the river, and a strong force gathered at either end of +the boom and in boats close behind it, to prevent the Saxons from +attempting to cut the lashings. There was little uneasiness on board +the Dragon, the Saxons were confident now of the power of their close +formation to force its way through any number of the enemy, and they +would gain such assistance from the fire from the lofty forecastle that +they doubted not that they should be able to drive back the Danes and +destroy the boom. In an hour the tide no longer rose. They waited till +it ran down with full force, then the anchor was hauled up, and the +Dragon rowed to the bank. +</P> + +<P> +Sixty of the fighting men headed by Egbert leapt on shore. Edmund with +the remainder took his place on the forecastle. The oars next to the +bank were drawn in, and some of those on the outward side manned by the +sailors. Then in its usual order the phalanx moved slowly forward while +the ship floated along beside them close to the bank. The Danes with +loud shouts advanced to meet them, and the arrows soon began to fly +thickly. Covered by the long shields of the front rank the Saxons moved +forward steadily, while, as the Danes approached, the archers on the +forecastle opened a destructive fire upon them. +</P> + +<P> +The confidence of the Saxons was justified, for the combat was never in +doubt. Although the Northmen fought bravely they were unable to +withstand the steady advance of the wedge of spears, and very many fell +beneath the rain of arrows from above. Steadily the wedge made its way +until it reached the end of the boom. A few blows with their axes +sufficed to cut the cables which fastened it in its place. As soon as +this was done Edmund gave a shout, and the Saxons at once sprang on +board the ship, which before the Danes could follow them was steered +out into the stream. +</P> + +<P> +As Egbert had foreseen, the boom as it swung round swept before it a +number of the Danish boats, and imprisoned them between it and the +shore. The oars were soon run out, and while the men on the forecastle +continued their fire at the Danish boats, the others seizing the oars +swept the Dragon along the stream. The Danes strove desperately to +arrest her progress. Some tried to run alongside and board, others +dashed in among the oars and impeded the work of the rowers, while from +the walls of the town showers of missiles were poured down upon her. +But the tide was gaining every moment in strength, and partly drifting, +partly rowing, the Dragon, like a bull attacked by a pack of dogs, made +her way down the river. Every effort of the Danes to board was +defeated, and many of their boats sunk, and at last she made her way +into the open sea. There her sails were hoisted, and she soon left her +pursuers behind. Once at sea her course was again turned north, and +picking up some prizes on the way she took up her station off the mouth +of the Humber. +</P> + +<P> +Several ships were captured as they sailed out from the river. After +the spoil on board was taken out, these, instead of being burnt, as had +always been the case before, were allowed to proceed on their way, +since had they been destroyed the crews must either have been slain or +landed. The first course was repugnant to Edmund, the second could not +be adopted, because they would have carried the news to the Danes, that +the Dragon was off the river and no more ships would have put to sea; +and indeed, so large was the number of Danish vessels always up the +Humber that a fleet could easily have been equipped and sent out, +before which the Dragon must have taken flight. +</P> + +<P> +One day a large sailing ship was seen coming out. The Dragon remained +with lowered sail until she had passed; then started in pursuit, and +speedily came up with the Danish vessel. Edmund summoned her to +surrender, and was answered by a Norseman of great stature and noble +appearance, who from the poop hurled a javelin, which would have +pierced Edmund had he not leapt quickly aside. A few other darts were +thrown and then the Dragon ran alongside the enemy and boarded her. +</P> + +<P> +The opposition of the Northmen was speedily beaten down, but their +leader desperately defended the ladder leading to the poop. He was +struck by two arrows, and fell on one knee, and Edmund was about to +climb the ladder when the door of the cabin in the poop opened, and a +Norse maiden some sixteen years old sprang out. Seeing her father +wounded at the top of the ladder and the Saxons preparing to ascend it, +while others turned their bows against the wounded Northman, she sprang +forward and throwing herself upon her knees before Edmund besought him +to spare her father's life. Edmund raised his hand and the bows were +lowered. +</P> + +<P> +"I have no wish to slay your father, maiden," he said gently; "we slay +only those who resist, and resistance on the part of a single man, and +he wounded, against a whole ship's crew is madness. We are no +sea-wolves who slay for the pleasure of slaying, but are Saxons, who +fight for our country against the oppressions and rapine of your +people. Little right have they to mercy seeing they show none; but our +religion enjoins us to have pity even upon our enemies. You had best +ascend to your father and see to his wounds, none will harm you or him." +</P> + +<P> +The girl with an exclamation of thanks sprang up the ladder. Edmund +superintended the searching of the ship. She contained a great store of +valuables, which were speedily transferred to the Dragon. When this had +been done Edmund ascended to the poop. The jarl was sitting in a great +chair placed there. Edmund had already learnt from the crew that he was +Jarl Siegbert, a noted leader of the Northmen. His daughter had drawn +out the arrows and bandaged the wounds. +</P> + +<P> +"Jarl Siegbert," Edmund said as he approached him, "you have been a +bitter enemy of the Saxons, and small mercy have you shown to those who +have fallen into your hands, but learn now that we Christian Saxons +take no vengeance on a defenceless foe. You are free to pursue your +voyage with your daughter and your ship to Norway. Your stores we have +made free with, seeing that they are all plunder taken from the Saxons, +and we do but reclaim our own." +</P> + +<P> +"And who are you, young sir?" the jarl asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I am one of King Alfred's ealdormen of Wessex, Edmund by name." +</P> + +<P> +"I have heard of you," the Dane said, "as one who has taught the Saxons +new tactics, fighting in a close body which has more than once pierced +our lines and caused our overthrow; but you are a mere lad." +</P> + +<P> +"I am young," Edmund replied, "and had it not been for the invasions +and oppressions of your countrymen, might have still accounted myself +as scarce a man; but you have made warriors of every West Saxon capable +of bearing a sword. Remember, jarl, that your life has been in Saxon +hands, and that they have spared it, so come not hither to our shores +again." +</P> + +<P> +"I purpose not doing so," the Northman replied. "I have seen enough of +stricken fields, and was returning to my own country to hang up my +sword, content with the fame I have gained, until Woden called me to +join his warriors and feast in his halls. Since we may not meet there, +young Saxon—for they say that you Christians look to a place where +arms will be laid aside and the sound of feasting be unheard—I will +say farewell. For myself, I thank you not for my life, for I would +rather have died as I have lived with my sword in my hand; but for my +daughter's sake I thank you, for she is but young to be left +unprotected in the world." +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later, the Danish vessel continued on her way, and the +Dragon again took her station on the look-out. She was now deep in the +water, and after picking up one or two more small prizes, Edmund and +Egbert determined to return home. +</P> + +<P> +It was probable that the Danes would soon take the alarm and despatch a +fleet to attack them. Laden down as the Dragon was, her speed under +oars was materially affected, and it was advisable to stow away their +booty before proceeding with further adventures. Her head was turned +south, and she coasted down the eastern shores of England without +adventure. Several Danish vessels were seen arriving at or quitting the +coast, but the Dragon continued her course without heeding them, and +rounding the Forelands, sailed along the south coast and made her way +up the Parrot. +</P> + +<P> +Upon inquiry they learnt that no event of any importance had taken +place during their absence. The Danes were complete masters of the +country. King Alfred was in hiding, none knew where. The greater +portion of the Danes were at their camp at Chippenham, but parties +roamed here and there through the land. +</P> + +<P> +Dressed as countrymen, Edmund and Egbert made their way to Exeter, and +there arranged with some traders for the purchase of the less valuable +portion of the Dragons cargo. This consisted of rich clothing, silks +and other stuffs, wine, vestments, and altar hangings from churches, +arms and armour, hides and skins. The prices obtained were far below +the real value of the articles, for money was scarce, and none could +say when the Danes might again swoop down and clear out the contents of +the warehouses. Nevertheless the sum obtained was a large one for those +days, and this did not include the value of the gold and silver +goblets, salvers, vases, and utensils used in the celebration of +religious services. +</P> + +<P> +Of these, spoiled from the houses of the wealthy, and the churches and +monasteries, they had obtained a considerable number. These were buried +in the wood near the lonely spot at which the Dragon was moored, the +rest of the cargo was sent in wagons—the more valuable portions hidden +under the hides and skins—to Exeter. The amount which had been +obtained from the cargo was divided as agreed before starting: +twenty-five shares were set apart for the king, twenty-five shares were +divided between the two leaders, and each soldier and sailor had one +share. All were well satisfied with the success of the adventure, and +with the damage which they had inflicted upon the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +A fortnight's leave was given, for the men to visit their homes, and +the money which they had gained in their trip was of great use to their +friends in enabling them to repair the damages effected by the Danes. +Not a man was absent at the appointed time, and the Dragon again made +her way down to the sea. +</P> + +<P> +It was midwinter now, and they cruised along the southern coast of +England without perceiving a single hostile sail. They lay for a week +off the mouth of the Thames, and then saw four large Danish vessels +making their way down the river. They were all vessels of the largest +size, strongly built, and full of men, and the Saxons judged them to be +too strong to be attacked in company. The Northmen, on seeing the +golden dragon flying at the mast-head of the Saxon ship, at once made +towards her, keeping in a close body; but the Dragon with sails and +oars easily left them behind, and the Danes giving up the pursuit +continued on their way. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon fell into their wake and followed at a distance, hoping that +one might prove slower than the others, or that they might in the night +get separated. At nightfall, however, the Danes lit cressets of tar and +hemp, which enabled them not only to keep close together, but sent out +a wide circle of light, so that they could perceive the Dragon should +she venture to approach. +</P> + +<P> +For two days and nights the Dragon followed patiently. +</P> + +<P> +"The weather is about to change," Egbert said on the third morning. +"Methinks that there is a storm brewing, and if this be so the Northmen +may well get separated, and we may pick up one away from her fellows." +</P> + +<P> +Darker and darker grew the sky, and the wind soon blew in furious +gusts, raising a sea so heavy that the Saxons were obliged to lay in +their oars. By nightfall it was blowing a furious gale. In the +gathering darkness and the flying scud the ships of the Danes were lost +sight of; but this was of little consequence now, for the attention of +the Saxons was directed to their own safety. +</P> + +<P> +For the next three days their position was one of the greatest danger. +With only a rag of sail set they ran before the gale from the +south-west. Every wave as it overtook them threatened the destruction +of the ship; but the Dragon, light and buoyant, and ably handled, rode +safely over the waves. On the fourth morning the wind was still blowing +fiercely, although its force had in some degree moderated. As the +daylight dawned Edmund and Egbert, who had hardly left the poop since +the storm began, looked anxiously ahead. +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, Edmund, I see a dark mass ahead?" Egbert exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +For a minute or two Edmund gazed silently ahead. +</P> + +<P> +"It is so, Egbert," he said; "it is a rocky coast. Do you not see a +white fringe below where the waves strike against it?" +</P> + +<P> +As the light became clearer the imminence of their peril grew more +distinct. A lofty iron-bound coast rose in front of them, and extended +as far as the eye could reach on either hand. The seas broke with +terrible force against its base, sending its spray far up on the cliffs. +</P> + +<P> +"Could we bring her about?" Edmund asked the chief of the sailors. +</P> + +<P> +"It would be useless," the man said. "She could not make her way in the +teeth of this gale." +</P> + +<P> +"That I see," Edmund said; "but at present we are rushing on to +destruction. If we bring her to the wind we may run some distance along +the coast before we are driven ashore, and may perceive some spot +towards which we may direct her with a chance of making land ere she +goes to pieces." +</P> + +<P> +The sail was still further lessened and the ship's head brought round +parallel with the coast. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon laboured tremendously as the sea struck her full on the +beam, and every wave flooded her low waist. Each sea which struck her +lifted her bodily to leeward, and for every foot she sailed forward she +was driven one towards the coast. This was now but three miles distant, +and another hour would ensure her destruction; for none there hoped +that the anchors, even should they find bottom, could hold her for an +instant in the teeth of the gale. Every eye was directed towards the +shore, but no break could be seen in the wall of rock which rose almost +perpendicularly from the water. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear it is hopeless," Edmund said to Egbert; "the strongest swimmer +would be dashed to pieces in an instant against those rocks." +</P> + +<P> +"He would indeed," Egbert replied. "I wish now that we had boldly +engaged the four Danish ships. Far better would it have been for us to +have died fighting for England on her decks than to have perished here." +</P> + +<P> +The time passed slowly. Every minute the Dragon was swept nearer and +nearer towards the rocks. +</P> + +<P> +"She will just make that headland," the master sailor said, "and that +is all. Once round it we had best turn her head to the rocks. If the +cliffs rise as here sheer from the water, the moment she strikes will +be the last for all of us; but if the rocks are, as in some places, +piled high at the foot of the cliffs, a few may possibly manage to leap +from her forecastle as she strikes and to clamber up." +</P> + +<P> +Scarce a word was spoken on board the Dragon as she came abreast of the +headland. It was but a few hundred yards away. The roar of the seas as +they struck its base sounded high above the din of the storm. Great +sheets of foam were thrown up to a vast height, and the turmoil of the +water from the reflux of the waves was so great that the Dragon was +tossed upon it like a cock-boat, and each man had to grasp at shroud or +bulwark to retain his footing. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a cheer burst from end to end of the ship. Beyond the headland +a great gap was visible a quarter of a mile wide, as if the cliffs had +been rent in sunder by some tremendous convulsion, and a fiord was seen +stretching away in the bosom of the hills as far as the eye could +reach. The Dragon's head was turned, and soon she was flying before the +wind up the inlet. A mile farther and the fiord widened to a lake some +two miles across between steep hills clothed from foot to summit with +trees. +</P> + +<P> +Its course was winding and they were soon sheltered from the gale and +were gliding quietly over comparatively tranquil water. Ten miles up +the anchor was let go in a sheltered inlet, and Edmund summoned the +whole crew to return thanks to God for their marvellous escape. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon had suffered severely in her conflict with the elements, her +large sails had been split or blown away, the bulwarks at her waist had +been shattered, and considerable damage done to her gear and fittings. +Four-and-twenty hours were allowed to the men for rest after their +labours, and then all hands were set to work to refit. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Edmund said to his kinsman: +</P> + +<P> +"I will take two of the men and go ashore to hunt; there should be wild +boar and deer in these forests, and all would be glad of some fresh +meat." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, Edmund; remember you are in the country of our enemies, +for without doubt this land to which we have been blown is Norway; and +although we can see no signs of habitations there may well be villages +somewhere among these hills." +</P> + +<P> +"I will be careful," Edmund said, laughing; "and if I do not return in +two days do you set sail without me. I should like to discover the +abode of some Northern jarl; it would indeed be a grand retaliation to +give them a taste of the sufferings they have inflicted upon us." +</P> + +<P> +"That would be good work," Egbert said; "nevertheless I own that at +present I am anxious to be at sea again." +</P> + +<P> +"Two days will be sufficient to refit," Edmund said, "and then we will +spread our wings. Good-bye, Egbert, I will be back by sunset, and I +hope with a deer or two." +</P> + +<P> +Selecting a couple of followers, both skilled with the bow, and all +being armed with spears, Edmund leapt ashore, for the water was deep up +to the rocks, and the Dragon had been moored alongside for the +convenience of taking on board the wood for the repairs. +</P> + +<P> +Although those on board the Dragon guessed it not, many eyes were +watching them. A small fishing village lay at the edge of the fiord a +mile or two beyond the inlet in which the ship was moored. Hidden as +they were among the trees the huts had not been noticed by the Saxons, +but the strange ship had been seen by some of those in the village, and +the fishermen at once pronounced that whencesoever she might have come +she was assuredly no Northman's ship. Messengers had immediately been +sent to the villages among the hills. These were widely scattered, and +it was not until the day after the ship's arrival that a force was +collected which was deemed sufficient to attack it. Already, as Edmund +leapt ashore, the Norsemen were making their way quietly through the +forest towards the Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund had advanced but a few hundred yards up the hillside when a +large party of Norsemen suddenly sprang upon him. Two Saxon arrows flew +true to their marks, then the Danes rushed upon them. So far no words +had been spoken, but Edmund placed to his lips the whistle with which +he gave orders on board the ship and blew a long shrill note, and then +shouted at the top of his voice: +</P> + +<P> +"The Danes! the Danes! push off!" +</P> + +<P> +The instant afterwards he was attacked. He and his men fought bravely, +but in a few seconds the latter were cut down and Edmund was levelled +to the ground by a tremendous blow from a club. +</P> + +<P> +A minute later the din of battle rose by the water's side; Edmund's +whistle and shout had been heard, and the Saxons on shore sprang on +board and seized their spears and bows just as the Danes poured down +through the trees. For a time the Saxons defended the ship against the +desperate attempts of the Danes to gain footing on her; but seeing the +number of its assailants, and being certain that Edmund was killed or +captured, Egbert ordered the ropes to be cut, and the Dragon was thrust +away from the rocks. The oars were then got out and she rowed out of +bow-shot from the shore. Then Egbert held a consultation with the +leading men among the Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +All on board were filled with grief at the loss of their young leader, +but they felt that nothing could be done for him, and it would be but +courting danger to remain longer in the fiord. Since so large a force +had been collected in the forest news might have been sent to the +ports, and at any moment they might see a fleet of the Northmen's +galleys barring their retreat; therefore with bitter grief and +lamentation the Dragon's sails were hoisted and she made her way to sea. +</P> + +<P> +"My only consolation is," Egbert said, "that if the brave lad is not +killed at once he may yet find his way back to England. He is ready of +wit and full of invention that, if any can possibly extricate +themselves from such a strait, it is assuredly he; but I fear that he +fell in the first onslaught. Brave lad, even in the moment of his own +peril he thought first of us. Had it not been for his timely warning we +should have been taken unawares, and many must have been killed even if +the Dragon herself escaped capture." +</P> + +<P> +The storm had entirely abated, and the waters sparkled brightly in the +cold January sun as the Dragon sailed out between the two headlands +into the sea. Very different were the feelings of the crew to those +which had animated them when, two days before, they had passed through +the channel; then every heart beat with joy and thankfulness; now the +deepest depression and grief reigned on board. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund was adored by his followers. His kindness as their ealdorman, +his skill and bravery as a leader, his cheerfulness and brightness +under every danger and peril had immensely endeared him to their +hearts, and each man felt that he had sustained an irretrievable loss, +and that with their chief the spirit which had animated the Dragon and +directed their enterprises was gone. +</P> + +<P> +Egbert was a valiant warrior, and was an admirable second to an +enterprising leader; but he was altogether without initiative, and, +except when excited by danger, was dull and silent. Although all +esteemed him and honoured him for his strength and bravery, they felt +that he would be a poor substitute indeed for the leader they had lost. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX: A PRISONER +</H3> + +<P> +When Edmund recovered his senses he found that he was being carried +along on a rough litter through the forest. It was some little time +before he realized his position and recalled the circumstances of the +attack. After the Dragon had moved safely out into the fiord, its +assailants had returned to the spot where they had attacked the three +Saxons who had landed. Two of them were without life, but they found +that the third, who, from his habiliments was evidently of higher rank, +and whom they judged, although still but a youth, to be the commander +of the Saxon party, had only been stunned by the blow of the club which +had felled him. +</P> + +<P> +It was at once resolved to carry him to the jarl of the district, who +would assuredly wish to learn from him the meaning of the coming of the +strange ship. That the Dragon was a Saxon vessel the Northmen were +sure. Many of them had been on expeditions across the seas, and knew +the Saxons both from their dress and manner of wearing their hair, but +the ship was unlike anything they had seen before, and it seemed above +all things strange that when, as they understood, England had been +completely conquered, Saxon warships should be entering a northern +fiord. +</P> + +<P> +For many hours Edmund was carried through the forest. He wondered to +himself whether he would be slain on his arrival or kept as a slave, +for the Norse and Saxon tongues were so similar that he was perfectly +able to understand the language of his captors. A party of twelve men +accompanied him, four of whom bore the litter, and were relieved at +intervals by the others. After some hours the feeling of giddiness and +weakness passed off, and on the men stopping to change bearers he +expressed his readiness to walk. +</P> + +<P> +Hitherto he had lain with his eyes closed, as he thought it better to +remain as he was until he felt perfectly able to keep up with his +captors in a journey which might, for aught he knew, be a long one. The +Northmen expressed their satisfaction at finding that their burden need +no longer be carried, and throwing aside the boughs which had formed +the litter, proceeded with him on their way. They asked him many +questions concerning the Dragon. Most of these he answered readily +enough, but he evaded those as to the place where she had been built, +or the port from which she had sailed. It was not until late in the +afternoon that they arrived at the abode of the Jarl Bijorn. +</P> + +<P> +It was a rough abode constructed of timber, thatched with rushes, for +as yet the Northmen were scarcely a settled people, the tribes for the +most part wandering in the forests hunting when not engaged in those +warlike expeditions which they loved above all other things. Only the +leaders dwelt in anything like permanent abodes, the rest raising huts +of boughs at such places as they might make any stay at. +</P> + +<P> +One of Edmund's conductors had gone on ahead, and as the party +approached the building Bijorn came out from his house to meet them. He +was, like almost all Northmen, a man of great stature and immense +strength. Some fifty years had passed over his head, but he was still +in the prime of his life; for the Northmen, owing to their life of +constant activity, the development of their muscles from childhood, and +their existence passed in the open air, retained their strength and +vigour to a great age. +</P> + +<P> +So assiduous was their training, and so rapidly did their figures +develop in consequence, that at the age of fifteen a young Northman +received arms and was regarded as a man, although he did not marry +until many years afterwards, early wedlock being strongly discouraged +among them. By Bijorn's side stood his son, who, though but twenty-two +years old, rivalled him in stature and in muscular development, +although lacking the great width of shoulder of the jarl. +</P> + +<P> +As Edmund approached, a war-horse of the jarl fastened up to a post +close to the entrance of the house neighed loudly. Bijorn looked +surprised. The neighing of a horse among the Northmen was regarded as +the happiest of auguries, and in their sacred groves horses were tied +up, as the neighing of these animals was considered an infallible proof +that a propitious answer would be given by the gods to the prayer of +any petitioner who sought their aid. +</P> + +<P> +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "my good war-horse welcomes the stranger. +As I said to you anon, Sweyn, I had intended to offer him as a +sacrifice to Odin; but as the gods have thus declared him welcome here +I must needs change my intentions. Who are you, young Saxon?" he asked +as Edmund was brought before him, "and whence do you come? And how is +it that a war-ship of your people is found upon our coasts?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Edmund," the young man said steadily, "an ealdorman of King +Alfred of the West Saxons. The ship which was seen on your coast is +mine; I built it to attack the Northmen who harry our coasts. I am here +because, when in chase of four of your ships, a storm arose and blew us +hither." +</P> + +<P> +"You speak boldly," the jarl said, "for one in the hands of his foes. +How old are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am twenty-two," Edmund replied. +</P> + +<P> +"The same age as you, Sweyn. Stand side by side and let me compare you. +Ay," he went on, "he lacks nigh three inches of your height, but he is +more than that bigger across the shoulders—a stalwart young champion, +indeed, and does brave credit to his rearing. These West Saxons have +shown themselves worthy foemen, and handled us roughly last year, as +this will testify," and he pointed to the scar of a sword-cut across +his face. "Doubtless this is the son of that Saxon earl who more than +once last summer inflicted heavy losses upon us. Is that so, young +Saxon?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am the Ealdorman Edmund himself," the young man replied quietly. "My +successes were won not by my own strength or courage, but by the valour +of those under me, who, fighting in a novel manner, gained advantage +over your Northmen." +</P> + +<P> +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "and this is the youth who attacked us at +night and drove off the cattle we had taken and slew many of our +followers, Sweyn! Truly he would be a rare sacrifice to offer to Odin; +but the god has himself welcomed him here." +</P> + +<P> +"It may be that he welcomed him as a sacrifice, father," Sweyn +suggested. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! that may be so," the jarl replied. "We must consult the omens to +find out the true meaning of my charger's neighing. Nevertheless in +either case I shall be content, for if he be not welcomed as a +sacrifice he is welcome as bringing good fortune; and in truth he will +make a noble cup-bearer to me. It is not every jarl who is waited upon +by a Saxon ealdorman. But till the omens have spoken let him be set +aside and carefully watched. In a day or two we will journey to Odin's +temple and there consult the auguries." +</P> + +<P> +Three days passed, during which Edmund was well fed and treated. At the +end of that time he was ordered to accompany the jarl on a journey. Two +days' travelling brought them to a temple of Odin. It was a rough +structure of unhewn stones situated in a wood. Bijorn and his son +entered, while Edmund remained without under a guard. Presently the +jarl and his son came out with a priest. The latter carried a white bag +in his hand with twelve small pieces of wood. On half of these four +small nicks were cut, on the others five nicks. All were placed in the +bag, which was then shaken. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," the priest said, "you will see the will of Odin; the first three +sticks drawn out will declare it. If two of the three bear an even +number of nicks, the neigh of your horse signifies that Odin accepted +the sacrifice; if two of them bear unequal numbers, then it meant that +his coming was propitious to you." +</P> + +<P> +The bag was again shaken. Edmund looked on calmly, for Saxons and +Northmen alike disdained to show the slightest fear of death; even the +colour did not fade from his cheek as he watched the trial upon which +his life depended. +</P> + +<P> +The first stick drawn out bore five marks; the priest showed it to the +jarl, and without a word dropped it in the bag again. This was again +shaken and another stick drawn out; this bore but four notches; the +chances were even. The silence was unbroken until the third twig was +drawn. +</P> + +<P> +"Odin has spoken," the priest said. "The neigh of the horse indicated +that the coming of this Saxon was propitious to your house." +</P> + +<P> +The jarl gave an exclamation of satisfaction, while Sweyn's brow +darkened. Bijorn had indeed set his heart upon retaining this famous +young Saxon leader as his slave and cup-bearer, and it was probable +that in his interview with the priest before the drawing his +inclinations had been clearly shown, for a slight difference between +the thickness of the sticks might well have existed and served as an +index to the priest in drawing them. +</P> + +<P> +Bijorn, in his gratification at the answer of the god, bestowed a +handsome present upon the priest, and then rode back to his abode well +content with his journey. Edmund was at once installed in his new +duties. Hitherto he had not entered the house nor seen the females of +the family. Ulfra, the jarl's wife, was a woman of commanding stature +and appearance. Like most of the northern women she had accompanied her +husband in his many wanderings, and shared his dangers and privations. +The wives of the Norsemen occupied a far more exalted position in the +households of their lords than did those of the people of southern +Europe; they were not only mistresses of the house, but were treated +with respect as well as with affection; they were not, as in the south, +regarded as puppets for the amusements of an idle hour, but were the +companions and advisers of their husbands, occupying a position at +least as free and respected as at the present day. +</P> + +<P> +There were two daughters, who both bade fair to resemble their mother +in stature and dignity of demeanour, for both were models of female +strength and activity. Edmund's duties were light. In the morning he +gathered firewood for the household; at the meals he handed the dishes, +and taking his station behind the jarl's chair, refilled his goblet +with mead as often as it was empty. Usually a large party sat down to +supper, for an expedition to France was talked of in the spring, and +the jarls and warriors often met to discuss the place of starting, the +arrangements for the voyage, and the numbers which each leader would +place in the field. The feasts were kept up to a late hour, and, as was +the invariable custom of the Northmen, the arrangements decided upon +overnight were rediscussed at a morning meeting; for they held that +while over the wine-cup each man would speak the truth frankly and +honestly, the colder counsels and greater prudence which the morning +brought were needed before any matter could be finally settled. +</P> + +<P> +A month thus passed, and Bijorn, his family and followers then moved +south, as there was to be a great conference near the southern point of +the country, at which a large number of the chiefs from Denmark were to +be present. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund observed that for some reason Sweyn was looking forward +anxiously to this meeting, and his sisters more than once joked him +about his anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! pooh!" the jarl said one day in answer to such an observation. +"Sweyn is but a lad yet. I know what you are driving at, and that Sweyn +is smitten with the charms of my old companion's daughter, the pretty +Freda; I noted it when we were in camp together; but it will be fully +another ten years yet before Sweyn can think of marrying. He has got to +win for himself the name of a great warrior before a jarl's daughter of +proper spirit would so much as think of him. When he has the spoils of +France to lay at her feet it will be time enough." +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn made no reply, but Edmund saw that he was far from pleased at his +father's words, and a look of surly determination on his face showed +the young Saxon that he would go his own way in the matter if it lay in +his power. +</P> + +<P> +After ten days' travelling the party arrived at the rendezvous. Here +drawn up on the shore were a vast number of galleys of all sizes, for +the greater part of those who had assembled had journeyed by sea. Great +numbers of huts of boughs and many tents constructed of sails had been +erected. Edmund and the other slaves, these being either Saxon or +Franks captured in war, soon erected bowers for the jarl and his family. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund had been looking forward to the meeting with much anxiety, for +he had judged that some mode of escape might there open to him. Among +the Saxon slaves were several young men of strength and vigour, and +Edmund had confided to them his project of stealing a boat and sailing +away in it, and they, knowing that he had experience in navigation, had +readily consented to join him in making an effort for freedom. +</P> + +<P> +The jarl and his family were warmly welcomed by many of their +companions in arms, and the day after their arrival Bijorn told Edmund +to accompany him to a banquet at which he and his family were to be +present. At four in the afternoon they set out and presently arrived at +a large tent. Edmund waited without until the attendants carried in the +dishes, when he entered with them and prepared to take his place behind +his master's seat. From a few words which had passed between Sweyn and +his sisters Edmund doubted not that the companion with whom Bijorn was +going to dine was the father of the maiden about whom they had joked +him. He was not surprised when on entering he saw Sweyn talking +earnestly with a damsel somewhat apart from the rest. +</P> + +<P> +The entrance of the viands was the signal for all to take their places +at the table. There were in all sixteen in number, and as nearly half +were women the meeting was evidently of a family character, as upon +occasions of importance or when serious discussions were to take place +men alone sat down. As Edmund advanced to take his place, his eye fell +upon the jarl who seated himself at the head of the table, and as he +did so he gave a slight start of surprise, for he at once recognized in +him the Northman Siegbert, whose ship he had stopped at the mouth of +the Humber. From him his eye glanced at the girl by whose side Sweyn +was on the point of seating himself, and recognized in her the maiden +who had besought her father's life. The dinner commenced and proceeded +for some little time, when Edmund saw the girl looking fixedly at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is that who is standing behind your father's chair?" she asked +Sweyn. +</P> + +<P> +"A Saxon slave," he answered. "His vessel was well-nigh wrecked on our +coast. Our people captured him and slew some of his followers, and the +ship speedily took to flight." +</P> + +<P> +"Father," the girl said in a clear voice, which at once attracted the +attention of all, "unless my eyes deceive me the young Saxon standing +behind Jarl Bijorn is he whose ship captured us as we left England, and +who suffered no harm to be done to us." +</P> + +<P> +The Northman turned in his chair. +</P> + +<P> +"It is he, Freda, surely enough, though how he comes to be a slave here +to my comrade Bijorn I know not. Bijorn, my friend, I owe this youth a +deep debt of gratitude; he had my life and the life and honour of Freda +in his hands, and he spared both, and, slave though he may be of yours +at present, yet I hail him as my friend. Tell me how came he in your +hands? He is Edmund, the valiant young Saxon who smote us more than +once so heavily down in Wessex." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it," Bijorn replied, "and will tell you how he came into my +hands, and in truth he was captured by accident and not by any valour +of my arm." The jarl then related the circumstances under which Edmund +had been captured, and the narrow escape he had had of being offered as +a sacrifice to Odin. And Siegbert then told his guests at length the +incidents of his capture by the Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +"He let me go free and without a ransom," he concluded, "and that part +of my obligation I should be glad to repay, though for his gentleness +to Freda I must still remain his debtor. What say you, Bijorn, will you +sell him to me? Name your price in horses, arms, and armour, and +whatever it be I will pay it to you." +</P> + +<P> +"In truth, Siegbert," Bijorn said, "I like not to part with the lad; +but since you are so urgent, and seeing that you cannot otherwise +discharge the obligation under which, as you say, he has laid you, I +cannot refuse your prayer. As to the price, we will arrange that anon." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it is settled," Siegbert said. "You are a free man, Ealdorman +Edmund," and he held out his hand to the youth. "Now seat yourself at +the table with my guests; there are none here but may feel honoured at +dining with one of King Alfred's bravest thanes." +</P> + +<P> +The transformation in Edmund's position was sudden indeed; a moment +since he was a slave, and although he had determined upon making an +effort for freedom, he had known that the chances of escape were small, +as swift galleys would have been sent off in pursuit, and it was +probable that he would have been speedily overtaken and brought back. +Now he was free, and would doubtless be allowed to return home with the +first party who sailed thither. +</P> + +<P> +Siegbert at once tried to make Edmund feel at home, addressing much of +his conversation to him. Bijorn, too, spoke in a friendly manner with +him, but Sweyn was silent and sullen; he was clearly ill-pleased at +this change of fortune which had turned his father's slave into a +fellow-guest and equal. His annoyance was greatly heightened by the +fact that it was Freda who had recognized the young Saxon, and the +pleasure which her face evinced when her father proposed to purchase +him from Bijorn angered him still more. In his heart he cursed the +horse whose welcoming neigh had in the first instance saved Edmund's +life, and the trial by augury which had confirmed the first omen. After +the banquet was over Siegbert requested Edmund to relate his various +adventures. +</P> + +<P> +The telling of tales of daring was one of the favourite amusements of +the Danes; Siegbert and his friends quaffed great bumpers of mead; and +the ladies sat apart listening while Edmund told his story. +</P> + +<P> +"You have a brave record, indeed," Siegbert said when he had finished, +"for one so young; and fond as are our youths of adventure there is not +one of them of your age who has accomplished a tithe of what you have +done. Why, Freda, if this youth were but one of us he would have the +hearts of all the Norse maidens at his feet. In the eyes of a Danish +girl, as of a Dane, valour is the highest of recommendations." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, father," Freda said, colouring at being thus addressed, +"that we should be as bold as that, although assuredly it is but right +that a maiden should esteem valour highly. It is to her husband she has +to look for protection, and she shares in the honour and spoil which he +gains by his valiant deeds, so you have always taught me." +</P> + +<P> +"And rightly too, girl. Next to being a great hero, the greatest honour +is to be the wife of one. I pledge you, Ealdorman Edmund, and should be +right proud were you a son of mine. You have told your story modestly, +for many of the battles and adventures of which you have spoken are +known to me by report, and fame has given you a larger share in the +successes than you claim for yourself. 'Tis a pity you were not born a +Northman, for there is little for you to do in Saxon England now." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not despair yet," Edmund replied. "Things have gone badly with +us, but the last blow is not struck yet. You will hear of King Alfred +in the spring, unless I am mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +"But they say your King Alfred is half a monk, and that he loves +reading books more than handling the sword, though, to do him justice, +he has shown himself a brave warrior, and has given us far more trouble +than all the other Saxon kings together." +</P> + +<P> +"King Alfred fights bravely," Edmund said, "because he is fighting for +his country and people; but it is true that he loves not war nor +strife. He reads much and thinks more, and should he ever come to his +kingdom again he will assuredly be one of the wisest and best monarchs +who has ever sat on a throne. He has talked to me much of the things +which he has at heart, and I know he intends to draw up wise laws for +the ruling of his people." +</P> + +<P> +"We love not greatly being ruled, we Northmen," Bijorn said, "but for +each to go his own way as he wills, provided only he inflicts no ill +upon his neighbour. We come and we go each as it pleases him. Our +fleets traverse the sea and bring home plunder and booty. What need we +of laws?" +</P> + +<P> +"At present you have no great need of laws," Edmund replied, "seeing +that you lead a wandering life; but when the time shall come—and it +must come to you as it has come to other nations—when you will settle +down as a rich and peaceful community, then laws will become necessary." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," Bijorn said, "right glad am I that I live before such times +have come. So far as I can see the settling down you speak of, and the +abandonment of the ancient gods has done no great good either to you +Saxons or to the Franks. Both of you were in the old time valiant +people, while now you are unable to withstand our arms. You gather +goods, and we carry them off; you build cities, and we destroy them; +you cultivate the land, and we sweep off the crops. It seems to me that +we have the best of it." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems so at present," Edmund said, "but it will not last. Already +in Northumbria and in East Anglia the Danes, seeing that there is no +more plunder to be had, are settling down and adopting the customs of +the Saxons, and so will it be in Mercia and Wessex if you keep your +hold of them, and so will it be in other places. The change is but +beginning, but it seems to me certain to come; so I have heard King +Alfred say." +</P> + +<P> +"And does he think," Sweyn said scoffingly, speaking almost for the +first time, "that we shall abandon the worship of our gods and take to +that of your Christ?" +</P> + +<P> +"He thinks so and hopes so," Edmund replied quietly. "So long as men's +lives are spent wholly in war they may worship gods like yours, but +when once settled in peaceful pursuits they will assuredly recognize +the beauty and holiness of the life of Christ. Pardon me," he said, +turning to Siegbert, "if it seems to you that I, being still young, +speak with over-boldness, but I am telling you what King Alfred says, +and all men recognize his wisdom and goodness." +</P> + +<P> +"I know not of your religion myself," Siegbert replied, "but I will own +willingly that though its teachings may be peaceful, it makes not +cowards of those who believe in it. I have seen over and over again old +men and young men die on the altars of their churches as fearlessly and +calmly as a Viking should do when his time comes. No Northman fears +death, for he knows that a joyous time awaits him; but I am bound to +say that your Christians meet death to the full as calmly. Well, each +his own way, I say, and for aught I know there may be a Christian +heaven as well as the Halls of Odin, and all may be rewarded in their +own way for their deeds." +</P> + +<P> +Bijorn and his party now rose to take leave. "I will come across to +your tent in the morning," Siegbert said, "and we can then discuss what +payment I shall make you for this young Saxon. I fear not that you will +prove over hard to your old comrade." +</P> + +<P> +After Bijorn had departed Siegbert assigned to Edmund a place in his +tent as an honoured guest. Slaves brought in bundles of rushes for the +beds. Freda retired to a small tent which had been erected for her +adjoining the larger one, and the jarl and Edmund lay down on their +piles of rushes at the upper end of the tent. Siegbert's companions and +followers stretched themselves along the sides, the slaves lay down +without, and in a few minutes silence reigned in the tent. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X: THE COMBAT +</H3> + +<P> +"I was thinking much of what you said last night," Freda said at +breakfast. "How is it that you, whose religion is as you say a peaceful +one, can yet have performed so many deeds of valour and bloodshed?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am fighting for my home, my country, and my religion," Edmund said. +"Christianity does not forbid men to defend themselves; for, did it do +so, a band of pagans might ravage all the Christian countries in the +world. I fight not because I love it. I hate bloodshed, and would +rather die than plunder and slay peaceful and unoffending people. You +have been in England and have seen the misery which war has caused +there. Such misery assuredly I would inflict on none. I fight only to +defend myself and my country men and women. Did your people leave our +land I would gladly never draw sword again." +</P> + +<P> +"But what would you do with yourself?" Freda asked in tones of +surprise. "How would you pass your time if there were no fighting?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should have plenty to do," Edmund said smiling; "I have my people to +look after. I have to see to their welfare; to help those who need it; +to settle disputes; to rebuild the churches and houses which have been +destroyed. There would be no difficulty in spending my time." +</P> + +<P> +"But how could a man show himself to be a hero," the Danish girl asked, +"if there were no fighting?" +</P> + +<P> +"There would be no occasion for heroes," Edmund said, "at least of +heroes in the sense you mean—that is, of men famous principally for +the number they have slain, and the destruction and misery they have +caused. Our religion teaches us that mere courage is not the highest +virtue. It is one possessed as much by animals as by men. Higher +virtues than this are kindness, charity, unselfishness, and a desire to +benefit our fellow-creatures. These virtues make a man a truer hero +than the bravest Viking who ever sailed the seas. Even you, Freda, +worshipper of Odin as you are, must see that it is a higher and a +better life to do good to your fellow-creatures than to do evil." +</P> + +<P> +"It sounds so," the girl said hesitatingly; "but the idea is so new to +me that I must think it over before I can come to any conclusion." +</P> + +<P> +Freda then went about her occupations, and Edmund, knowing that +Siegbert would not return for some time, as he was going with Bijorn to +a council which was to be held early in the day, strolled down to look +at the galleys ranged along on the beach. These varied greatly in form +and character. Some of the sailing ships were large and clumsy, but the +galleys for rowing were lightly and gracefully built. They were low in +the water, rising to a lofty bow, which sometimes turned over like the +neck of a swan, at other times terminated in a sharp iron prow, formed +for running down a hostile boat. Some of them were of great length, +with seats for twenty rowers on either side, while all were provided +with sails as well as oars. When the hour for dinner approached he +returned to Siegbert's tent. The jarl had not yet come back from the +council. When he did so Edmund perceived at once that he was flushed +and angry. +</P> + +<P> +"What has disturbed you, father?" Freda asked, as on hearing his voice +she entered the tent. "Has aught gone wrong at the council?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," the jarl replied, "much has gone wrong. Bijorn and I had not +concluded our bargain when we went to the council. We had, indeed, no +difficulty about the terms, but we had not clasped hands over them, as +I was going back to his tent after the council was over. At the council +the expedition against France was discussed, and it was proposed that +we should consult the gods as to the chances of the adventure. Then the +Jarl Eric rose and proposed that it should be done in the usual way by +a conflict between a Dane and a captive. This was of course agreed to. +</P> + +<P> +"He then said that he understood that there was in the camp a young +Saxon of distinguished valour, and that he proposed that Sweyn, the son +of Bijorn, should fight with him. Sweyn had expressed to him his +willingness to do so should the council agree. I rose at once and said +that the Saxon was no longer a captive, since I had ransomed him +because he had once done me a service; but upon being pressed I was +forced to admit that the bargain had not been concluded. I must acquit +Bijorn of any share in the matter, for it came upon him as much by +surprise as it did upon me. It seems that it is all Sweyn's doing. He +must have taken the step as having a private grudge against you. Have +you had any quarrel with him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," Edmund replied. "He has ever shown himself haughty and +domineering, but we have come to no quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +"At any rate he wants to kill you," Siegbert said. "I did my best to +prevent it, pointing out that the combat ought to take place between a +Frank and a Dane. However, the Northmen are always glad to see a good +fight, and having satisfied themselves that in point of age and +strength you were not unfairly matched, they decided that the conflict +should take place. He is taller, and I think somewhat stronger than +you, and has proved himself a valiant fighter, and I would give much if +the combat could be avoided." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear him not," Edmund said quietly, "though I would fain that this +could be avoided. Had I met Sweyn upon a battle-field in England I +would have slain him as a natural enemy; but to fight him in cold +blood, either as a matter of augury or to furnish amusement for the +assembly, likes me not. However, I must of course defend myself, and if +harm comes to him it is no blame of mine." +</P> + +<P> +"You will have no easy victory, I can tell you," Siegbert said, "for +none among our young Danes bears a higher reputation." +</P> + +<P> +"But after the combat is over how shall I stand?" Edmund asked; "for if +I defeat or slay Sweyn I shall still be his father's slave." +</P> + +<P> +"That will you not," Siegbert replied. "In these cases the captive if +victorious is always restored to liberty; but at any rate you shall +fight as a free man, for when I have finished my dinner I will go to +Bijorn and conclude our bargain. Do not look so cast down, Freda; a +Northman's daughter must not turn pale at the thought of a conflict. +Sweyn is the son of my old friend, and was, before he took to arms, +your playfellow, and since then has, methought, been anxious to gain +your favour, though all too young yet for thinking of taking a wife; +but never mind, there are as good as he to be found; and if our young +Saxon here proves his conqueror other suitors will come, never fear." +</P> + +<P> +Freda was silent, but her face flushed painfully, and Edmund saw the +tears falling down her cheeks as she bent over her plate. +</P> + +<P> +After the meal was over Siegbert again went out, and Edmund, +approaching Freda, said, "Do not fret, Freda; if it should be that I +find my skill in arms greater than that of Sweyn, I promise you that +for your sake I will not wound him mortally." +</P> + +<P> +"I care not," the girl said passionately; "spare him not for my sake, +for I hate him, and were there no other Norseman in the world I would +never be wife of his." +</P> + +<P> +So saying she left the tent. Edmund now regretted the chance which had +assigned him to Siegbert, for he would rather have taken his chance of +escape by sea than have awaited the conflict with Sweyn. But he could +not carry his plan of escape into effect now, for it would seem as if +he had fled the conflict. That this would be a desperate one he did not +doubt. The course which Sweyn had taken showed a bitter feeling of +hatred against him, and even were it not so the young Northman would, +fighting in the presence of the leaders of his nation, assuredly do his +best to conquer. But Edmund had already tried his strength with older +and more powerful men than his adversary and had little fear of results. +</P> + +<P> +The news of the approaching conflict caused considerable excitement in +the Danish camp, and Edmund's figure was narrowly scrutinized as he +wandered through it. All who had been engaged in the war in Wessex had +heard of Edmund, and there was no slight curiosity, when the news went +abroad that the Saxon leader was a captive in the camp, to see what he +was like. +</P> + +<P> +At first when it was bruited abroad that Sweyn, the son of Jarl Bijorn, +was to fight this noted Saxon champion the idea was that the enterprise +was a rash one, strong and valiant as Sweyn was known to be for a young +man; but when it was seen that Edmund was no older than he, and to the +eye less strong and powerful, they felt confident in the power of their +champion to overcome him. +</P> + +<P> +Siegbert spared no pains to see that his guest had an even equal +chance. He procured for him a strong and well-made helmet which fitted +him comfortably, and gave him the choice out of a large number of +shields and swords. Edmund selected a weapon which answered nearly in +weight and balance that which he was accustomed to wield. There was +feasting again that night in Siegbert's tent; but he did not allow +Edmund to join in it, insisting after the meal was over that he should +retire to a small hut hard by. +</P> + +<P> +"You will want your head and your nerves in good order to-morrow," he +said. "Feasting is good in its way, and the night before battle I +always drink deeply, but for a single combat it were best to be +prudent." As Edmund left the tent Freda, who had not appeared at +dinner, came up to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been crying all day," she said simply. "I know not why, for I +have often seen my father go out to battle without a tear. I think you +must have upset me with your talk this morning. I hope that you will +win, because it was wrong and unfair of Sweyn to force this battle upon +you; and I hate him for it! I shall pray Odin to give you victory. You +don't believe in him, I know; still my prayers can do you no harm." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," Edmund said. "I shall pray to One greater and better than +Odin. But weep not any longer, for I trust neither of us will be +killed. I shall do my best to guard myself, and shall try not to slay +him; for this fight is not for my nation or for my religion, but +concerns myself only." +</P> + +<P> +The following morning the Northmen assembled. The jarls and other +leading men formed the inner line of a circle some thirty yards in +diameter, the others stood without; Jarl Eric entered the ring with +Sweyn, while Edmund, accompanied by Siegbert, entered at the other side +of the circle. +</P> + +<P> +"I protest," Siegbert cried in a loud voice, "against this conflict +taking place. Edmund the Saxon is no captive here, but a free man, and +my guest; moreover, being a Saxon, the issue of this fight between him +and a Northman can serve no purpose as an augury as to the success of +our expedition against the Franks. Therefore do I protest against the +conflict." +</P> + +<P> +There was again a consultation between the leaders, for a murmur of +approbation had run round the ranks of the spectators, who it was +evident were impressed in favour of the young Saxon, and considered +that the jarl's words were just and reasonable. Eric spoke for a minute +with Sweyn. +</P> + +<P> +"I feel," he said in a loud voice, "that what Jarl Siegbert says is +reasonable, that no augury can be drawn from the fight, and that, since +Edmund is no longer a captive, and a friend of Siegbert's, he cannot be +forced into fighting in order that we may have an augury. But the +Saxon, though so young, has won a reputation even among us, the enemies +of his race; and my friend Sweyn, who has shown himself one of the +bravest of our young men, considers that he has cause of quarrel with +him, and challenges him to fight—not necessarily to the death, or till +one is slain, but till the jarls here assembled do pronounce one or the +other to be the victor. This is a fair challenge—first, there is a +private quarrel; next, there is emulation between these young men, who +may fairly claim to be the champions of the youth of the two races. +Such a challenge the Saxon will hardly refuse." +</P> + +<P> +In accordance with the customs of the day it would have been impossible +for Edmund to have refused such a challenge without disgrace, and he +did not for a moment think of doing so. +</P> + +<P> +"I am ready to fight Sweyn," he said. "I have no great cause of quarrel +with him; but if he conceives that he has grounds of quarrel with me, +that is enough. As to championship of the Saxons, we have no champions; +we fight not for personal honour or glory, but for our homes, our +countries, and our religion, each doing his best according to the +strength God has given him, and without thought of pride on the one +hand or envy on the other because the strength or courage of one may be +somewhat greater than that of another. Still, as a Saxon standing here +as the only representative of my nation in an assembly of Northmen, I +cannot refuse such a challenge, for to do so would be to infer that we +Saxons are less brave than you. Therefore I am ready for the combat." +</P> + +<P> +The Northmen clashed their weapons against their shields in token of +their approval of the young Saxon's words, and the young champions +prepared for the combat. They were naked to the waist save for shield +and helmet; below the waist each wore a short and tightly-fitting +garment covered with plates of brass; the legs were naked, and each +wore a pair of light sandals; their weapons were long straight swords. +The weapon Edmund had chosen was considerably lighter than that of his +opponent, but was of toughest steel, on which were engraved in rough +characters, "Prayers to Woden for victory." +</P> + +<P> +The difference in height between the combatants was considerable. +Edmund stood five feet ten, but looked shorter from the squareness and +width of his shoulders. Sweyn was nearly four inches taller, and he too +was very strongly built. His muscles indeed stood out in stronger +development than did those of Edmund, and if pure strength was to win +the day few of those who looked on doubted that the Dane would be the +victor. +</P> + +<P> +The combat was a long one. For some time Edmund contented himself with +standing upon the defensive and guarding the tremendous blows which +Sweyn rained upon him. In spite of the efforts of the Northman, he +could neither beat down the Saxon's guard nor force him to fall back a +single step. +</P> + +<P> +Again and again the rattle of the spectators' arms clashed an approval +of Edmund's steady resistance to his opponent's assaults. The Norsemen +delighted beyond all things in a well-fought encounter. Each man, +himself a warrior, was able to appreciate the value of the strokes and +parries. The betting at the commencement had run high upon Sweyn, and +horses, armour, arms, and slaves had been freely wagered upon his +success; but as the fight went on the odds veered round, and the +demeanour of the combatants had as much to do with this as the skill +and strength shown by Edmund in his defence. The Dane was flushed and +furious; his temper gave way under the failure of his assaults. The +Saxon, on the contrary, fought as calmly and coolly as if practicing +with blunted weapons; his eyes never left those of his adversary, a +half smile played on his lips, and although drops of perspiration from +his forehead showed how great were his exertions, his breathing hardly +quickened. +</P> + +<P> +Twice Sweyn drew back for breath, and Edmund each time, instead of +pressing him, dropped the point of his sword and waited for him to +renew the combat. At present he had scarce struck a blow, and while his +own shield was riven in several places and his helmet dinted, those of +Sweyn were unmarked. +</P> + +<P> +At the third assault Sweyn came up determined to end the conflict, and +renewed the attack with greater fury than before. Three times his sword +descended with tremendous force, but each time it met the blade of the +Saxon; the fourth time his arm was raised, then there was a flash and a +sudden shout from the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +With a mighty blow Edmund had smitten full on his opponent's uplifted +arm, and, striking it just above the elbow, the sword clove through +flesh and bone, and the severed limb, still grasping the sword, fell to +the ground. +</P> + +<P> +A loud shout of approval burst from the Danes. Although the conqueror +was their enemy they appreciated so highly the virtues of coolness and +courage that their applause was no less hearty than if the victor had +been a countryman. Sweyn had fallen almost the instant the blow had +been struck. The ring was at once broken up, and his friends ran to +him. The Norsemen were adepts at the treatment of wounds, and +everything had been prepared in case of emergencies. +</P> + +<P> +A bandage was instantly tied tightly round the upper part of the arm to +stop the rush of blood, and the stump was then dipped into boiling +pitch, and Sweyn, who had become almost instantly insensible from the +loss of blood, was carried to his father's tent. According to custom +handsome presents of swords and armour were made to Edmund by those who +had won by his success. +</P> + +<P> +It would have been considered churlish to refuse them, and Edmund had +no thought of doing so, for he needed money, and these things in those +days were equivalent to wealth. +</P> + +<P> +"You have done well and gallantly indeed, my young friend," Siegbert +said as, followed by several slaves bearing Edmund's presents, they +returned to the tent. "I am glad you did not slay him, for I think not +that he will die. Such a blow given in battle would assuredly have been +fatal, but here the means of stanching the blood were at hand, and I +trust for Bijorn's sake that he will recover; but whether or no he +brought it on himself." +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the tent Freda ran out radiant. +</P> + +<P> +"I hear that you have conquered," she said, "and I am glad indeed; it +serves him right, for all say that he forced the fight upon you." +</P> + +<P> +"I did not know that your sympathies were so strongly against Sweyn," +Siegbert said in a somewhat reproachful tone. "He has always been your +devoted follower." +</P> + +<P> +"He has always been my tyrant, father, for he has always insisted on my +doing his pleasure; but if he had been ten times my follower, and had +been a valiant warrior instead of a youth, and I a maiden of twenty +instead of a girl of fifteen, I should still be glad that he was +conquered, because without any reason for quarrel he has sought to slay +this Saxon youth who did us such great service, and to whom as he knew +we were so indebted." +</P> + +<P> +Siegbert smiled. "Hitherto I have wondered, daughter mine, at the +reason which induced Sweyn to challenge Edmund, but now methinks I +understand it. Sweyn has, as his father has told me, youth as he is, +set his heart on winning your hand when you shall reach the age of +womanhood, and it is just because Edmund has done you and me service +that he hates him. You are young, child, for your bright eyes to have +caused bloodshed; if you go on like this there will be no end to the +trouble I shall have on your account before I get you fairly wedded." +</P> + +<P> +Freda coloured hotly. +</P> + +<P> +"That is nonsense, father; another five years will be soon enough to +begin to think of such things. At any rate," she said with a laugh, "I +am rid of Sweyn, for he can hardly expect me ever to love a one-armed +man." +</P> + +<P> +"There have been brave warriors," Seigbert said, "with but one arm." +</P> + +<P> +"It makes no difference," Freda laughed; "if he had fifty arms I should +never love him." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund now entreated Siegbert to repay himself from the presents he had +received for the goods he had the evening before given to Bijorn as the +price of his liberty, but this the jarl would not hear of. Edmund then +begged him to buy with them, of Bijorn, the four Saxon slaves with whom +he had agreed to attempt an escape, and to expend the rest of the +presents in freeing as many other Saxon prisoners as he could. +</P> + +<P> +This Siegbert did, and by the evening Edmund had the satisfaction of +finding around him twelve Saxons whose freedom he had purchased. He +remained as the guest of Siegbert until the expedition sailed in the +last week of March. Then with the twelve Saxons he embarked in +Siegbert's ship, which, instead of keeping with the others, sailed for +the mouth of the Thames. The wind was favourable and the passage quick, +and three days after sailing Edmund and his companions were disembarked +on the coast of Kent. His adieus with Siegbert were hearty and earnest. +</P> + +<P> +"I would you had been a Northman," the jarl said, "for I love you as a +son, and methinks that when the time comes, had you been so inclined, +you might have really stood in that relation to me, for I guess that my +little Freda would not have said no had you asked her hand; but now our +paths are to part. I shall never war again with the Saxons, for indeed +there is but scant booty to be gained there, while you are not likely +again to be cast upon our shores; but should the fates ever throw us +together again, remember that you have a friend for life in Jarl +Siegbert." +</P> + +<P> +Freda, who had accompanied her father as usual, wept bitterly at the +parting, which, however, she did not deem to be as final as it appeared +to her father; for the evening before, as she was standing on the poop +with Edmund, he had said to her, "You will not forget me, Freda; we are +both very young yet; but some day, when the wars are over, and England +no longer requires my sword, I will seek you again." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that a promise, Edmund?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Freda, a solemn promise." +</P> + +<P> +"I will wait for you," she said simply, "if it were till the end of my +life." +</P> + +<P> +The youth and girl ratified the promise by a kiss, and Freda, as +through her tears she watched the boat which conveyed Edmund and his +companions to shore, felt sure that some day she should see her Saxon +hero again. +</P> + +<P> +On landing, Edmund soon learned that the Danes were everywhere masters, +and that since the autumn nothing had been heard of the king, who was +supposed to be somewhere in hiding. +</P> + +<P> +In every village through which they passed they found evidence of the +mastership of the Danes. Many of the houses were burnt or destroyed, +the people were all dressed in the poorest garb, and their sad faces +and listless mien told of the despair which everywhere prevailed. In +every church the altars had been thrown down, the holy emblems and +images destroyed, the monks and priests had fled across the sea or had +been slain. +</P> + +<P> +The Danish gods, Thor and Woden, had become the divinities of the land, +and the Saxons, in whom Christianity had but recently supplanted the +superstitions of paganism, were fast returning to the worship of the +pagan gods. Edmund and his companions were shocked at the change. On +reaching home they found that the ravages of the Danes had here been +particularly severe, doubtless in revenge for the heavy loss which had +been sustained by them in their attack upon Edmund's fortification. His +own abode had been completely levelled to the ground, and the villages +and farm-houses for the most part wholly destroyed. His people were +lying in rude shelters which they had raised, but their condition was +very much better than that of the people in general. +</P> + +<P> +The news of Edmund's return spread like wildfire, and excited the most +extreme joy among his people, who had long given him up for lost. He +found to his delight that the Dragon had returned safely, and that she +was laid up in her old hiding-place. The great amount of spoil with +which she was loaded had enabled her crew largely to assist their +friends, and it was this which had already raised the condition of the +people above that of their neighbours. Houses were being gradually +rebuilt, animals had been brought from districts which had been less +ravaged by the Danes, and something approaching comfort was being +rapidly restored. +</P> + +<P> +Upon the day after Edmund's return Egbert arrived. Feeling sure of +Edmund's death he had taken no steps towards rebuilding the house, but +was living a wild life in the woods, when the news reached him that +Edmund had reappeared. His own large share of the booty with that of +Edmund he had buried, with the portion set aside for the king, in the +wood near the spot where the Dragon was laid up. +</P> + +<P> +They had passed up the Parrot at night unobserved by the Danes, and +after taking the masts out of the Dragon, and dismantling her, they had +laid her up in the hole near the river where she was built. There was +little fear of her discovery there, for the Danes were for the most +part gathered in winter quarters at the great camp near Chippenham. +</P> + +<P> +Egbert's delight at the reappearance of Edmund was unbounded, for he +loved him as a son, and it was a long time before their joy at the +meeting was sufficiently calmed down to enable them to tell each other +the events which had happened since they parted three months before. +Egbert's narrative was indeed brief. He had remained two or three days +off the coast of Norway in the lingering hope that Edmund might in some +way have escaped death, and might yet come off and join him. At the end +of a week this hope had faded, and he sailed for England. Being winter, +but few Danish galleys were at sea, and he had encountered none from +the time he set sail until he arrived off the coast at the mouth of the +Parrot. +</P> + +<P> +He had entered the river at night so as to be unseen by any in the +village at its mouth, and had, after the Dragon was laid up, passed his +time in the forest. Edmund's narration was much more lengthy, and +Egbert was surprised indeed to find that his kinsman owed his freedom +to the jarl whose vessel they had captured at the mouth of the Humber. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI: THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY +</H3> + +<P> +Edmund spent a month on his lands, moving about among his vassals and +dwelling in their abodes. He inspired them by his words with fresh +spirit and confidence, telling them that this state of things could not +last, and that he was going to join the king, who doubtless would soon +call them to take part in a fresh effort to drive out their cruel +oppressors. Edmund found that although none knew with certainty the +hiding-place of King Alfred, it was generally reported that he had +taken refuge in the low lands of Somersetshire, and Athelney was +specially named as the place which he had made his abode. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a good omen," Edmund said, "for Athelney lies close to the +Parrot, where my good ship the Dragon is laid away." +</P> + +<P> +After visiting all the villages in his earldom Edmund started with +Egbert and four young men, whom he might use as messengers, for the +reported hiding-place of the king. First they visited the Dragon, and +found her lying undisturbed; then they followed the river down till +they reached the great swamps which extended for a considerable +distance near its mouth. After much wandering they came upon the hut of +a fisherman. The man on hearing the footsteps came to his door with a +bent bow. When he saw that the new-comers were Saxons he lowered the +arrow which was already fitted to the string. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you tell us," Edmund said, "which is the way to Athelney? We know +that it is an island amidst these morasses, but we are strangers to the +locality and cannot find it." +</P> + +<P> +"And you might search for weeks," the man said, "without finding it, so +thickly is it surrounded by deep swamps and woods. But what want ye +there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Men say," Edmund replied, "that King Alfred is hidden there. We are +faithful followers of his. I am Ealdorman Edmund of Sherborne, and have +good news for the king." +</P> + +<P> +"If ye are indeed the Ealdorman of Sherborne, of whose bravery I have +heard much, I will right willingly lead you to Athelney if you will, +but no king will you find there. There are a few fugitives from the +Danes scattered here and there in these marshes, but none, so far as I +know, of any rank or station. However, I will lead you thither should +you still wish to go." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund expressed his desire to visit the island even if the king were +not there. The man at once drew out a small boat from a hiding-place +near his hut. It would hold four at most. Edmund and Egbert stepped in +with one of their followers, charging the others to remain at the hut +until they received further instructions. The fisherman with a long +pole took his place in the bow of the boat and pushed off. For some +hours they made their way through the labyrinth of sluggish and narrow +channels of the morass. It was a gloomy journey. The leafless trees +frequently met overhead; the long rushes in the wetter parts of the +swamp rustled as the cold breezes swept across them, and a slight +coating of snow which had fallen the previous night added to the dreary +aspect of the scene. At last they came upon sharply rising ground. +</P> + +<P> +"This is Athelney," the fisherman said, "a good hiding-place truly; +for, as you see, it rises high over the surrounding country, which is +always swampy from the waters of the Parrot and Theme, and at high +tides the salt water of the sea fills all these waterways, and the +trees rise from a broad sheet of sea. No Dane has ever yet set foot +among these marshes; and were there but provisions to keep them alive, +a safe refuge might be found on this island for hundreds of fugitives. +Will you be returning to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"That I cannot tell you," Edmund replied; "but at any rate I will hire +you and your boat to remain at my service for a week, and will pay you +a far higher price than you can obtain by your fishing." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman readily agreed, and Edmund and his companions made their +way into the heart of the island. It was of some extent, and rose above +the tree-tops of the surrounding country. Presently they came to a +cottage. A man came out. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you seek?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"You have fugitives in refuge here," Edmund said. "Know you if among +them is our good King Alfred?" The man looked astonished. +</P> + +<P> +"A pretty place to seek for a king!" he replied. "There are a few +Saxons in hiding here. Some live by fishing, some chop wood; but for +the most part they are an idle and thriftless lot, and methinks have +fled hither rather to escape from honest work or to avoid the penalties +of crimes than for any other reason." +</P> + +<P> +"How may we find them?" Edmund asked. +</P> + +<P> +"They are scattered over the island. There are eight or ten dwellers +here like myself, and several of them have one or more of these fellows +with them; others have built huts for themselves and shift as they can; +but it is a hard shift, I reckon, and beech-nuts and acorns, eked out +with an occasional fish caught in the streams, is all they have to live +upon. I wonder that they do not go back to honest work among their +kinsfolk." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" Edmund said, "you do not know here how cruel are the ravages of +the Danes; our homes are broken up and our villages destroyed, and +every forest in the land is peopled with fugitive Saxons. Did you know +that you would speak less harshly of those here. At any rate the man I +seek is young and fair-looking, and would, I should think"—and he +smiled as he remembered Alfred's studious habits—"be one of the most +shiftless of those here." +</P> + +<P> +"There is such a one," the man replied, "and several times friends of +his have been hither to see him. He dwells at my next neighbour's, who +is often driven well-nigh out of her mind—for she is a dame with a +shrewish tongue and sharp temper—by his inattention. She only asks of +him that he will cut wood and keep an eye over her pigs, which wander +in the forest, in return for his food; and yet, simple as are his +duties, he is for ever forgetting them. I warrant me, the dame would +not so long have put up with him had he not been so fair and helpless. +However bad-tempered a woman may be, she has always a tender corner in +her heart for this sort of fellow. There, you can take this path +through the trees and follow it on; it will take you straight to her +cottage." +</P> + +<P> +The description given by the man tallied so accurately with that of the +king that Edmund felt confident that he was on the right track. The +fact, too, that from time to time men had come to see this person added +to the probability of his being the king. Presently they came upon the +hut. A number of pigs were feeding under the trees around it; the door +was open, and the shrill tones of a woman's voice raised in anger could +be heard as they approached. +</P> + +<P> +"You are an idle loon, and I will no longer put up with your ways, and +you may seek another mistress. You are worse than useless here. I do +but ask you to watch these cakes while I go over to speak with my +neighbour, and inquire how she and the child born yestereven are +getting on, and you go to sleep by the fire and suffer the case to burn. +</P> + +<P> +"You were not asleep, you say? then so much the worse. Where were your +eyes, then? And where was your nose? Why, I smelt the cakes a hundred +yards away, and you sitting over them, and as you say awake, neither +saw them burning nor smelt them! You are enough to break an honest +woman's heart with your mooning ways. You are ready enough to eat when +the meal-time comes, but are too lazy even to watch the food as it +cooks. I tell you I will have no more of you. I have put up with you +till I am verily ashamed of my own patience; but this is too much, and +you must go your way, for I will have no more of you." +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Edmund and Egbert appeared at the door of the hut. As he +had expected from the nature of the colloquy Edmund saw King Alfred +standing contrite and ashamed before the angry dame. +</P> + +<P> +"My beloved sovereign!" he cried, running in and falling on his knees. +</P> + +<P> +"My trusted Edmund," Alfred exclaimed cordially, "right glad am I to +see you, and you too, my valiant Egbert; truly I feared that the good +ship Dragon had long since fallen into the hands of our enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"The Dragon lies not many miles hence, your majesty, in the hole in +which she was built, by the river Parrot; she has done bravely and has +brought home a rich store of booty, a large share of which has been +hidden away for your majesty, and can be brought here in a few hours +should you wish it." +</P> + +<P> +"Verily I am glad to hear it, Edmund, for I have long been penniless; +and I have great need of something at least to pay this good woman for +all the trouble she has been at with me, and for her food which my +carelessness has destroyed, as you may have heard but now." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert joined in the king's merry laugh. The dame looked a +picture of consternation and fell upon her knees. +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me, your majesty," she cried; "to think that I have ventured to +abuse our good King Alfred, and have even in mine anger lifted my hand +against him!" +</P> + +<P> +"And with right good-will too," the king said laughing. "Never fear, +good dame, your tongue has been rough but your heart has been kindly, +or never would you have borne so long with so shiftless a serving-man. +But leave us now, I pray ye, for I have much to say to my good friends +here. And now, Edmund, what news do you bring? I do not ask after the +doings of the Dragon, for that no doubt is a long story which you shall +tell me later, but how fares it with my kingdom? I have been in +correspondence with several of my thanes, who have from time to time +sent me news of what passes without. From what they say I deem that the +time for action is at last nigh at hand. The people are everywhere +desperate at the oppression and exactions of the Danes, and are ready +to risk everything to free themselves from so terrible a yoke. I fled +here and gave up the strife because the Saxons deemed anything better +than further resistance. Now that they have found out their error it is +time to be stirring again." +</P> + +<P> +"That is so," Edmund said; "Egbert and I have found the people +desperate at their slavery, and ready to risk all did a leader but +appear. My own people will all take up arms the instant they receive my +summons; they have before now proved their valour, and in my crew of +the Dragon you have a body which will, I warrant me, pierce through any +Danish line." +</P> + +<P> +"This tallies with what I have heard," Alfred said, "and in the spring +I will again raise my banner; but in the meantime I will fortify this +place. There are but two or three spots where boats can penetrate +through the morasses; were strong stockades and banks erected at each +landing-place we might hold the island in case of defeat against any +number of the enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"That shall be done," Edmund said, "and quickly. I have a messenger +here with me, and others waiting outside the swamp, and can send and +bring my crew of the Dragon here at once." +</P> + +<P> +"Let that be one man's mission," the king said; "the others I will send +off with messages to the thanes of Somerset, who are only awaiting my +summons to take up arms. I will bid them send hither strong working +parties, but to make no show in arms until Easter, at which time I will +again spread the Golden Dragon to the winds. The treasure you speak of +will be right welcome, for all are so impoverished by the Danes that +they live but from hand to mouth, and we must at least buy provisions +to maintain the parties working here. Arms, too, must be made, for +although many have hidden their weapons, the Danes have seized vast +quantities, having issued an order that any Saxon found with arms shall +be at once put to death. Money will be needed to set all the smithies +to work at the manufacture of pikes and swords. Hides must be bought +for the manufacture of shields. It will be best to send orders to the +ealdormen and thanes to send hither privately the smiths, armourers, +and shield-makers in the villages and towns. They cannot work with the +Danes ever about, but must set up smithies here. They must bring their +tools and such iron as they can carry; what more is required we must +buy at the large towns and bring privately in carts to the edge of the +morass. The utmost silence and secrecy must be observed, that the Danes +may obtain no news of our preparations until we are ready to burst out +upon them." +</P> + +<P> +A fortnight later Athelney presented a changed appearance. A thousand +men were gathered there. Trees had been cut down, a strong fort erected +on the highest ground, and formidable works constructed at three points +where alone a landing could be effected. The smoke rose from a score of +great mounds, where charcoal-burners were converting timber into fuel +for the forges. Fifty smiths and armourers were working vigorously at +forges in the open air, roofs thatched with rushes and supported by +poles being erected over them to keep the rain and snow from the fires. +A score of boats were threading the mazes of the marshes bringing men +and cattle to the island. All was bustle and activity, every face shone +with renewed hope. King Alfred himself and his thanes moved to and fro +among the workers encouraging them at their labours. +</P> + +<P> +Messengers came and went in numbers, and from all parts of Wessex King +Alfred received news of the joy which his people felt at the tidings +that he was again about to raise his standard, and of the readiness of +all to obey his summons. So well was the secret kept that no rumour of +the storm about to burst upon them reached the Danes. The people, +rejoicing and eager as they were, suffered no evidence of their +feelings to be apparent to their cruel masters, who, believing the +Saxons to be finally crushed, were lulled into a false security. The +king's treasure had been brought from its hiding-place to Athelney, and +Edmund and Egbert had also handed over their own share of the booty to +the king. The golden cups and goblets he had refused to take, but had +gladly accepted the silver. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert had left Athelney for a few days on a mission. The +king had described to them minutely where he had hidden the sacred +standard with the Golden Dragon. It was in the hut of a charcoal-burner +in the heart of the forests of Wiltshire. Upon reaching the hut, and +showing to the man the king's signet-ring, which when leaving the +standard he had told him would be the signal that any who might come +for it were sent by him, the man produced the standard from the thatch +of his cottage, in which it was deeply buried, and hearing that it was +again to be unfurled called his two stalwart sons from their work and +at once set out with Edmund and Egbert to join the army. +</P> + +<P> +Easter came and went, but the preparations were not yet completed. A +vast supply of arms was needed, and while the smiths laboured at their +work Edmund and Egbert drilled the fighting men who had assembled, in +the tactics which had on a small scale proved so effective. The wedge +shape was retained, and Edmund's own band claimed the honour of forming +the apex, but it had now swollen until it contained a thousand men, and +as it moved in a solid body, with its thick edge of spears outward, the +king felt confident that it would be able to break through the +strongest line of the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +From morning till night Edmund and Egbert, assisted by the thanes of +Somerset who had gathered there, drilled the men and taught them to +rally rapidly from scattered order into solid formation. Unaccustomed +to regular tactics the ease and rapidity with which these movements +came to be carried out at the notes of Edmund's bugle seemed to all to +be little less than miraculous, and they awaited with confidence and +eagerness their meeting with the Danes on the field. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of April messengers were sent out bidding the Saxons hold +themselves in readiness, and on the 6th of May Alfred moved with his +force from Athelney to Egbertesstan (now called Brixton), lying to the +east of the forest of Selwood, which lay between Devonshire and +Somerset. The Golden Dragon had been unfurled. On the fort in +Athelney, and after crossing the marshes to the mainland it was carried +in the centre of the phalanx. +</P> + +<P> +On the 12th they reached the appointed place, where they found a great +multitude of Saxons already gathered. They had poured in from +Devonshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, from Dorset and Hants. In spite of +the vigorous edicts of the Danes against arms a great proportion of +them bore weapons, which had been buried in the earth, or concealed in +hollow trees or other hiding-places until the time for action should +again arrive. +</P> + +<P> +As they saw the king approaching at the head of his band, with the +Golden Dragon fluttering in the breeze, a great shout of joy arose from +the multitude, and they crowded round the monarch with shouts of +welcome at his reappearance among them, and with vows to die rather +than again to yield to the tyranny of the Northmen. The rest of the day +was spent in distributing the newly fashioned arms to those who needed +them, and in arranging the men in bands under their own thanes, or, in +their absence, such leaders as the king appointed. +</P> + +<P> +Upon the following morning the army started, marching in a +north-easterly direction against the great camp of the Danes at +Chippenham. That night they rested at Okeley, and then marched on until +in the afternoon they came within sight of the Danes gathered at +Ethandune, a place supposed to be identical with Edington near Westbury. +</P> + +<P> +As the time for Alfred's reappearance approached the agitation and +movement on the part of the people had attracted the attention of the +Danes, and the news of his summons to the Saxons to meet him at +Egbertesstan having come to their ears, they gathered hastily from all +parts under Guthorn their king, who was by far the most powerful viking +who had yet appeared in England, and who ruled East Anglia as well as +Wessex. Confident of victory the great Danish army beheld the approach +of the Saxons. Long accustomed to success, and superior in numbers, +they regarded with something like contempt the approach of their foes. +</P> + +<P> +In the centre Alfred placed the trained phalanx which had accompanied +him from Athelney, in the centre of which waved the Golden Dragon, by +whose side he placed himself. Its command he left in the hands of +Edmund, he himself directing the general movements of the force. On his +right were the men of Somerset and Hants; on the left those of Wilts, +Dorset, and Devon. +</P> + +<P> +His orders were that the advance was to be made with regularity; that +the whole line were to fight for a while on the defensive, resisting +the onslaught of the Danes until he gave the word for the central +phalanx to advance and burst through the lines of the enemy, and that +when these had been thrown into confusion by this attack the flanks +were to charge forward and complete the rout. This plan was carried +out. The Danes advanced with their usual impetuosity, and for hours +tried to break through the lines of the Saxon spears. Both sides fought +valiantly, the Danes inspired by their pride in their personal prowess +and their contempt for the Saxons; the Saxons by their hatred for their +oppressors, and their determination to die rather than again submit to +their bondage. At length, after the battle had raged some hours, and +both parties were becoming wearied from their exertions, the king gave +Edmund the order. +</P> + +<P> +Hitherto his men had fought in line with the rest; but at the sound of +his bugle they quitted their places, and, ere the Danes could +understand the meaning of this sudden movement, had formed themselves +into their wedge, raised a mighty shout, and advanced against the +enemy. The onslaught was irresistible. The great wedge, with its thick +fringe of spears, burst its way straight through the Danish centre +carrying all before it. Then at another note of Edmund's bugle it broke +up into two bodies, which moved solidly to the right and left, +crumpling up the Danish lines. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred now gave the order for a general advance, and the Saxon ranks, +with a shout of triumph, flung themselves upon the disordered Danes. +Their success was instant and complete. Confounded at the sudden break +up of their line, bewildered by these new and formidable tactics, +attacked in front and in flank, the Danes broke and fled. The Saxons +pursued them hotly, Edmund keeping his men well together in case the +Danes should rally. Their rout, however, was too complete; vast numbers +were slain, and the remnant of their army did not pause until they +found themselves within the shelter of their camp at Chippenham. +</P> + +<P> +No quarter was given by the Saxons to those who fell into their hands, +and pressing upon the heels of the flying Danes the victorious army of +King Alfred sat down before Chippenham. Every hour brought fresh +reinforcements to the king's standard. Many were already on their way +when the battle was fought; and as the news of the victory spread +rapidly every man of the West Saxons capable of bearing arms made for +Chippenham, feeling that now or never must a complete victory over the +Danes be obtained. +</P> + +<P> +No assault was made upon the Danish camp. Confident in his now vastly +superior numbers, and in the enthusiasm which reigned in his army, +Alfred was unwilling to waste a single life in an attack upon the +entrenchments, which must ere long surrender from famine. There was no +risk of reinforcements arriving to relieve the Danes. Guthorn had led +to the battle the whole fighting force of the Danes in Wessex and East +Anglia. This was far smaller than it would have been a year earlier; +but the Northmen, having once completed their work of pillage, soon +turned to fresh fields of adventure. Those whose disposition led them +to prefer a quiet life had settled upon the land from which they had +dispossessed the Saxons; but the principal bands of rovers, finding +that England was exhausted and that no more plunder could be had, had +either gone back to enjoy at home the booty they had gained, or had +sailed to harry the shores of France, Spain, and Italy. +</P> + +<P> +Thus the position of the Danes in Chippenham was desperate, and at the +end of fourteen days, by which time they were reduced to an extremity +by hunger, they sent messengers into the royal camp offering their +submission. They promised if spared to quit the kingdom with all speed, +and to observe this contract more faithfully than those which they had +hitherto made and broken. They offered the king as many hostages as he +might wish to take for the fulfilment of their promises. The haggard +and emaciated condition of those who came out to treat moved Alfred to +pity. +</P> + +<P> +So weakened were they by famine that they could scarce drag themselves +along. It would have been easy for the Saxons to have slain them to the +last man; and the majority of the Saxons, smarting under the memory of +the cruel oppression which they had suffered, the destruction of home +and property, and the slaughter of friends and relations, would fain +have exterminated their foes. King Alfred, however, thought otherwise. +</P> + +<P> +Guthorn and the Danes had effected a firm settlement in East Anglia, +and lived at amity with the Saxons there. They had, it is true, wrested +from them the greatest portion of their lands. Still peace and order +were now established. The Saxons were allowed liberty and equal rights. +Intermarriages were taking place, and the two peoples were becoming +welded into one. Alfred then considered that it would be well to have +the king of this country as an ally; he and his settled people would +soon be as hostile to further incursions of the Northmen as were the +Saxons themselves, and their interests and those of Wessex would be +identical. +</P> + +<P> +Did he, on the other hand, carry out a general massacre of the Danes +now in his power he might have brought upon England a fresh invasion of +Northmen, who, next to plunder, loved revenge, and who might come over +in great hosts to avenge the slaughter of their countrymen. Moved, +then, by motives of policy as well as by compassion, he granted the +terms they asked, and hostages having been sent in from the camp he +ordered provisions to be supplied to the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +The same night a messenger of rank came in from Guthorn saying that he +intended to embrace Christianity. The news filled Alfred and the Saxons +with joy. The king, a sincere and devoted Christian, had fought as much +for his religion as for his kingdom, and his joy at the prospect of +Guthorn's conversion, which would as a matter of course be followed by +that of his subjects, was deep and sincere. +</P> + +<P> +To the Saxons generally the temporal consequence of the conversion had +no doubt greater weight than the spiritual. The conversion of Guthorn +and the Danes would be a pledge far more binding than any oaths of +alliance between the two kingdoms. Guthorn and his followers would be +viewed with hostility by their countrymen, whose hatred of Christianity +was intense, and East Anglia would, therefore, naturally seek the close +alliance and assistance of its Christian neighbour. +</P> + +<P> +Great were the rejoicings in the Saxon camp that night. Seldom, indeed, +has a victory had so great and decisive an effect upon the future of a +nation as that of Ethandune. Had the Saxons been crushed, the +domination of the Danes in England would have been finally settled. +Christianity would have been stamped out, and with it civilization, and +the island would have made a backward step into paganism and barbarism +which might have delayed her progress for centuries. +</P> + +<P> +The victory established the freedom of Wessex, converted East Anglia +into a settled and Christian country, and enabled King Alfred to frame +the wise laws and statutes and to establish on a firm basis the +institutions which raised Saxon England vastly in the scale of +civilization, and have in no small degree affected the whole course of +life of the English people. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII: FOUR YEARS OF PEACE +</H3> + +<P> +Seven weeks afterwards Guthorn, accompanied by thirty of his noblest +warriors, entered Alfred's camp, which was pitched at Aller, a place +not far from Athelney. An altar was erected and a solemn service +performed, and Guthorn and his companions were all baptized, Alfred +himself becoming sponsor for Guthorn, whose name was changed to +Athelstan. The Danes remained for twelve days in the Saxon camp. For +the first eight they wore, in accordance with the custom of the times, +the chrismal, a white linen cloth put on the head when the rite of +baptism was performed; on the eighth day the solemn ceremony known as +the chrism, the loosing or removal of the cloths, took place at +Wedmore. This was performed by the Ealdorman Ethelnoth. +</P> + +<P> +During these twelve days many conferences were held between Alfred and +Athelstan as to the future of the two kingdoms. While the Danes were +still in the camp a witenagemot or Saxon parliament was held at +Wedmore. At this Athelstan and many of the nobles and inhabitants of +East Anglia were present, and the boundary of the two kingdoms was +settled. It was to commence at the mouth of the Thames, to run along +the river Lea to its source, and at Bedford turn to the right along the +Ouse as far as Watling Street. According to this arrangement a +considerable portion of the kingdom of Mercia fell to Alfred's share. +</P> + +<P> +The treaty comprehended various rules for the conduct of commerce, and +courts were instituted for the trial of disputes and crimes. The Danes +did not at once leave Mercia, but for a considerable time lay in camp +at Cirencester; but all who refused to become Christians were ordered +to depart beyond the seas, and the Danes gradually withdrew within +their boundary. +</P> + +<P> +Guthorn's conversion, although no doubt brought about at the moment by +his admiration of the clemency of Alfred, had probably been for some +time projected by him. Mingling as his people did in East Anglia with +the Christian Saxons there, he must have had opportunities for learning +the nature of their tenets, and of contrasting its mild and beneficent +teaching with the savage worship of the pagan gods. By far the greater +proportion of his people followed their king's example; but the wilder +spirits quitted the country, and under their renowned leader Hasting +sailed to harry the shores of France. The departure of the more +turbulent portion of his followers rendered it more easy for the Danish +king to carry his plans into effect. +</P> + +<P> +After the holding of the witan Edmund and Egbert at once left the army +with their followers, and for some months the young ealdorman devoted +himself to the work of restoring the shattered homes of his people, +aiding them with loans from the plunder he had gained on the seas, +Alfred having at once repaid him the sums which he had lent at +Athelney. As so many of his followers had also brought home money after +their voyage, the work of rebuilding and restoration went on rapidly, +and in a few months the marks left of the ravages by the Danes had been +well-nigh effaced. +</P> + +<P> +Flocks and herds again grazed in the pastures, herds of swine roamed in +the woods, the fields were cultivated, and the houses rebuilt. In no +part of Wessex was prosperity so speedily re-established as in the +district round Sherborne governed by Edmund. The Dragon was thoroughly +overhauled and repaired, for none could say how soon fresh fleets of +the Northmen might make their appearance upon the southern shores of +England. It was not long, indeed, before the Northmen reappeared, a +great fleet sailing up the Thames at the beginning of the winter. It +ascended as high as Fulham, where a great camp was formed. Seeing that +the Saxons and East Anglians would unite against them did they advance +further, the Danes remained quietly in their encampment during the +winter, and in the spring again took ship and sailed for France. +</P> + +<P> +For the next two years England enjoyed comparative quiet, the Danes +turning their attention to France and Holland, sailing up the Maas, +Scheldt, Somme, and Seine. Spreading from these rivers they carried +fire and sword over a great extent of country. The Franks resisted +bravely, and in two pitched battles defeated their invaders with great +loss. The struggle going on across the Channel was watched with great +interest by the Saxons, who at first hoped to see the Danes completely +crushed by the Franks. +</P> + +<P> +The ease, however, with which the Northmen moved from point to point in +their ships gave them such immense advantage that their defeats at +Hasle and Saucourt in no way checked their depredations. Appearing +suddenly off the coast, or penetrating into the interior by a river, +their hordes would land, ravage the country, slay all who opposed them, +and carry off the women and children captives, and would then take to +their ships again before the leaders of the Franks could assemble an +army. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred spent this time of repose in restoring as far as possible the +loss and damage which his kingdom had suffered. Many wise laws were +passed, churches were rebuilt, and order restored; great numbers of the +monks and wealthier people who had fled to France in the days of the +Danish supremacy now returned to England, which was for the time freer +from danger than the land in which they had sought refuge; and many +Franks from the districts exposed to the Danish ravages came over and +settled in England. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the greater part of England acknowledged the rule of Alfred. +The kingdom of Kent was again united to that of Wessex; while Mercia, +which extended across the centre of England from Anglia to Wales, was +governed for Alfred by Ethelred the Ealdorman, who was the head of the +powerful family of the Hwiccas, and had received the hand of Alfred's +daughter Ethelfleda. He ruled Mercia according to its own laws and +customs, which differed materially from those of the West Saxons, and +which prevented a more perfect union of the two kingdoms until William +the Conqueror welded the whole country into a single whole. But +Ethelred acknowledged the supremacy of Alfred, consulted him upon all +occasions of importance, and issued all his edicts and orders in the +king's name. He was ably assisted by Werfrith, the Bishop of Worcester. +The energy and activity of these leaders enabled Mercia to keep abreast +of Wessex in the onward progress which Alfred laboured so indefatigably +to promote. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund, when not occupied with the affairs of his earldom, spent much +of his time with the king, who saw in him a spirit of intelligence and +activity which resembled his own. Edmund was, however, of a less +studious disposition than his royal master; and though he so far +improved his education as to be able to read and write well, Alfred +could not persuade him to undertake the study of Latin, being, as he +said, well content to master some of the learning of that people by +means of the king's translations. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of another two years of peace Edmund was again called upon +to take up arms. Although the Danes attempted no fresh invasion some of +their ships hung around the English coast, capturing vessels, +interfering with trade, and committing other acts of piracy. +</P> + +<P> +Great complaints were made by the inhabitants of the seaports to +Alfred. The king at once begged Edmund to fit out the Dragon, and +collecting a few other smaller ships he took his place on Edmund's ship +and sailed in search of the Danes. After some search they came upon the +four large ships of the Northmen which had been a scourge to the coast. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons at once engaged them, and a desperate fight took place. The +Dragon was laid alongside the largest of the Danish vessels; and the +king, with Edmund and Egbert by his side, leapt on to the deck of the +Danish vessel, followed by the crew of the Dragon. The Danish ship was +crowded with men who fought desperately, but the discipline even more +than the courage of Edmund's crew secured for them the victory. For a +time each fought for himself; and although inspired by the presence of +the king they were able to gain no advantage, being much out-numbered +by the Northmen. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund, seeing this, sounded on his horn the signal with which in +battle he ordered the men to form their wedge. The signal was instantly +obeyed. The Saxons were all fighting with boarding-pikes against the +Northmen's swords and axes, for they had become used to these weapons +and preferred them to any other. +</P> + +<P> +The instant Edmund's horn was heard, each man desisted from fighting +and rushed to their leader, around whom they instantly formed in their +accustomed order. The Danes, astonished at the sudden cessation of the +battle, and understanding nothing of the meaning of the signal or of +the swift movement of the Saxons, for a minute lowered their weapons in +surprise. +</P> + +<P> +Before they again rushed forward the formation was complete, and in a +close body with levelled spears the Saxons advanced, Egbert as usual +leading the way, with Edmund and the king in the centre. +</P> + +<P> +In vain the Danes strove to resist the onset; in spite of their +superior numbers they were driven back step by step until crowded in a +close mass at one end. +</P> + +<P> +Still the Saxon line of spears pressed on. Many of the Danes leapt into +the sea, others were pushed over or run through, and in a few minutes +not a Northman remained alive in the captured vessel. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the battle was raging in other parts. Two of the small +vessels were engaged with one of the Danes at close quarters, while the +other ships hung around the remaining Danish vessels and kept up +volleys of arrows and javelins upon them. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon at once went to the assistance of the two Saxon ships, whose +crews were almost overpowered by the Northmen. Laying the ship +alongside, Edmund boarded the Danes. The Northmen rushed back from the +decks of the Saxon ship to defend their own vessel; and the Saxons, +regaining courage, at once rallied and followed them. The combat was +short but desperate. Attacked on three sides, the Danes were speedily +overcome and were slaughtered to a man. +</P> + +<P> +An attack was next made upon the two remaining vessels. These resisted +for some time, but they were overwhelmed by the missiles from the Saxon +flotilla; and the greater portion of their crews being killed or +wounded, their commanders prayed for mercy, which was granted them by +Alfred; and with the four captured vessels the fleet returned to +England. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching port Alfred begged Edmund to continue for a while with the +Dragon, to cruise along the coasts and to stop the depredations of the +Danes; and for some weeks the Dragon kept the seas. She met with +considerable success, capturing many Danish galleys. Some of these +contained rich spoil, which had been gathered in France, for cruising +in the seas off Dover Edmund intercepted many of the Danish vessels on +their homeward way from raids up the Seine, Garonne, and other French +rivers. +</P> + +<P> +One day in the excitement of a long pursuit of a Danish galley, which +finally succeeded in making her escape, Edmund had paid less attention +than usual to the weather, and, on giving up the chase as hopeless, +perceived that the sky had become greatly overcast, while the wind was +rising rapidly. +</P> + +<P> +"We are in for a storm from the north, Egbert," he said, "and we must +make for the mouth of the Thames for shelter." +</P> + +<P> +The sails were lowered, and the Dragon's head turned west. Before two +hours had passed the sea had risen so greatly that it was no longer +possible to row. +</P> + +<P> +"What had we best do?" Edmund asked the chief of the sailors. "Think +you that we can make Dover and shelter under the cliffs there?" +</P> + +<P> +"I fear that we cannot do so," the sailor replied, "for there are +terrible sands and shallows off the Kentish coast between the mouth of +the Thames and Dover, and the wind blows so strongly that we can do +nought but run before it." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let us do so," Edmund replied; "anything is better than being +tossed at the mercy of the waves." +</P> + +<P> +A sail was hoisted, and the Dragon flew along before the wind. The +storm increased in fury, and for some hours the vessel ran before it. +She was but a short distance from the French coast, and as the wind +veered round more to the west her danger became great. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear we shall be cast ashore," Edmund said to the sailor. +</P> + +<P> +"Fortunately," the man answered, "we are but a mile or two from the +mouth of the Seine, and there we can run in and take shelter." +</P> + +<P> +It was an anxious time until they reached the mouth of the river, for +they were continually drifting nearer and nearer to the coast. However, +they cleared the point in safety, and, turning her head, ran up the +river and soon anchored under the walls of Havre. As she came to an +anchor armed men were seen crowding the walls. +</P> + +<P> +"They take us for Danes," Egbert said. "We had best hoist the Dragon, +and they will then know that we are a Saxon ship." +</P> + +<P> +Soon after the flag was hoisted the gates of the town were seen to +open, and an officer and some men issued out. These launched a boat and +rowed out to the ship. The officer mounted to the deck. He was +evidently in considerable fear, but as he saw the Saxons standing about +unarmed he was reassured. "Is this really a Saxon ship," he asked, "as +its flag testifies?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is so," Edmund replied; "it is my vessel, and I am an ealdorman of +King Alfred. We have been chasing the Danish pirates, but this storm +having arisen, we were blown down the French coast and forced to seek +shelter here." +</P> + +<P> +"The governor bids you welcome," the officer said, "and bade me invite +you to land." +</P> + +<P> +"That will I gladly; the more so since my ship has suffered some damage +in the gale, her bulwarks having been partly shattered; and it will +need a stay of a few days here to repair her for sea. Will you tell the +governor that in a short time I will land with my kinsman Egbert and +accept his hospitality?" +</P> + +<P> +An hour later Edmund and Egbert landed and were at once conducted to +the governor, who welcomed them cordially. +</P> + +<P> +They found there many whom they had known at the court of King Alfred. +The wealthier men, the bishops and thanes, had for the most part +journeyed to Paris or to other towns in the interior to escape the +dreaded Northmen; but there were many detained at Havre from want of +funds to journey farther. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a sad pity," the governor said as they talked over the troubled +state of Western Europe, "that your English king and our Frankish +monarch did not make common cause against these sea robbers. They are +the enemies of mankind. Not only do they ravage all our coasts, but +they have entered the Mediterranean, and have plundered and ravaged the +coasts of Provence and Italy, laying towns under ransom, burning and +destroying." +</P> + +<P> +"I would that I could meet some of their ships on their way back from +Italy," Edmund said. "I warrant that we should obtain a rare booty, +with gems of art such as would delight King Alfred, but are thrown away +on these barbarians; but I agree with you that 'tis shameful that the +coasts of all Europe should be overrun with these pirates." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," the governor replied, "if every country in Christendom would +unite against their common foe, and send a quota of ships and men, we +would drive the Black Raven from the seas, and might even land on the +Danish shores and give them a taste of the suffering they have +inflicted elsewhere. As it is, all seem paralysed. Local efforts are +made to resist them; but their numbers are too great to be thus +withstood. I wonder that the pope does not call Christendom to arms +against these pagan robbers, who not only destroy towns and villages, +but level to the ground the holy shrines, and slay the ministers of God +on the altars." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII: THE SIEGE OF PARIS +</H3> + +<P> +On the following morning Edmund, who had returned to his ship to sleep, +was aroused by loud shouts on deck. Hurrying from his cabin he saw a +vast fleet of ships approaching the mouth of the river. They were of +all sizes—from great sailing ships to rowing galleys. It needed but a +glance at them to assure him that they were the dreaded ships of the +Northmen, for the Black Raven floated at many of the mast-heads. +</P> + +<P> +From the town the sounds of horns and great shoutings could be heard, +showing that there too the approaching fleet had just been discerned as +the morning fog lifted from the sea. Edmund held a hurried consultation +with his kinsman. It was now too late to gain the sea, for the Danish +ships had already reached the mouth of the river. To attempt to escape +by fighting would be madness, and they hesitated only whether to run +the ship ashore, and, leaving her there, enter the town and share in +its defence, or to proceed up the river with all speed to Rouen, or +even to Paris. +</P> + +<P> +The latter course was decided upon, for the Danish ships would contain +so vast a number of men that there was little hope that Havre could +resist their attack, nor was it likely that Rouen, which, on the +previous year had been captured and sacked, would even attempt another +resistance, which would only bring massacre and ruin upon its +inhabitants. Paris alone, the capital of the Frankish kings, seemed to +offer a refuge. The deliberation was a short one, and by the time the +men had taken their places at the oars their leaders had decided upon +their course. +</P> + +<P> +The anchor ropes were cut, for not a moment was to be lost, the leading +ships of the Danes being already less than half a mile distant. The +tide was flowing, and the Dragon swept rapidly up the river. Some of +the Danish galleys followed for a while, but seeing that the Dragon had +the speed of them, they abandoned the pursuit, and at a more easy +stroke the rowers continued their work until they reached Rouen. Here +the tide failed them, and they moored against the bank under the walls. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert went on shore. They found the city in a state of wild +confusion. Saying that they had important news, and must see the +governor, they were led to the council-chamber, where the leading men +of the town were assembled. After stating who he and his companion +were, Edmund announced the arrival of a great Danish fleet at the mouth +of the river. +</P> + +<P> +"Your news, sir, is terrible for our poor country," the governor said, +"but to us it scarce brings any additional horror, although it will +probably decide the question which we are engaged in discussing. We +have news here that a great Danish army which landed at Abbeville is +marching hitherward, and we are met to discuss whether the town should +resist to the last or should open its gates at their approach. This +news you bring of the arrival of a fresh army of these sea robbers at +Havre renders our case desperate. So fierce is their attack that we +could hardly hope successfully to resist the approaching army, but +against it and this fleet you tell us of resistance could only bring +about our utter destruction. That, at least, is my opinion, the other +members of the council must speak for themselves." +</P> + +<P> +The other members, who were the principal merchants and traders of the +town, were unanimously of the same opinion. +</P> + +<P> +"Better," they said, "to give up all our worldly goods to the Northmen +than to be slaughtered pitilessly with our wives and families." +</P> + +<P> +"Such being your decision," Edmund said, "my kinsman and myself will +proceed up the river to Paris; hitherto, as we hear, the Northmen have +not ventured to attack that city, and should they do so, it will +doubtless resist to the last." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the two Saxons returned at once to the Dragon, and as soon +as the tide turned unmoored and proceeded up the river. Three days +after leaving Rouen they arrived in sight of Paris. The capital of the +Franks was but a small city, and was built entirely upon the island +situated just at the confluence of the Seine and Marne. It was +surrounded by a strong and lofty wall. +</P> + +<P> +On the approach of a vessel differing entirely from anything they had +before seen the citizens flocked to the walls. The Golden Dragon +floating at the mast-head showed them that the vessel did not belong to +the Danes, and some of the more experienced in these matters said at +once that she must be a Saxon ship. The Count Eudes, who had been left +by the king in command of Paris, himself came to the walls just as the +Dragon came abreast of them. Edmund ordered the rowers to pause at +their work. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you?" the Count Eudes shouted. "Whence do you come and with +what intent?" +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Edmund. I am an ealdorman of King Alfred of the Saxons. +When at sea fighting the Northmen a tempest blew me down your coast, +and I took refuge in the port of Havre. Four days since at daybreak a +vast fleet of Northmen entered the river. We rowed up to Rouen hoping +to be able to find safe shelter there; but the citizens being aware +that a great army of the sea robbers was marching against their town, +and being further intimidated by the news I brought them, decided upon +surrendering without resistance. Therefore we have continued our +journey hither, being assured that here at least the Danish wolves +would not have their way unopposed. We have fought them long in our +native land, and wish for nothing better than to aid in the efforts of +the Franks against our common enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome, sir earl," the Count Eudes said, "though the news you +bring us is bad indeed. We have heard how valiantly the thanes of King +Alfred have fought against the invaders, and shall be glad indeed of +your assistance should the Northmen, as I fear, come hither." +</P> + +<P> +So saying the count ordered the gates to be opened, and the Dragon +having been moored alongside, Edmund and Egbert with their crew entered +the town, where the leaders were received with great honour by the +count. He begged them to become guests at the castle, where quarters +were also assigned to the crew. A banquet was at once prepared, at +which many of the principal citizens were present. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the demands of hunger were satisfied the count made further +inquiries as to the size of the fleet which had entered the Seine, and +as to the army reported to be marching against Rouen. +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt not," he said, when the Saxons had given him all the +particulars in their power, "that it is the armament of Siegfroi who +has already wrought such destruction. More than once he has appeared +before our walls, and has pillaged and ravaged the whole of the north +of France. The last time he was here he threatened to return with a +force which would suffice to raze Paris to the ground, and doubtless he +is coming to endeavour to carry out his threat; but he will not find +the task an easy one, we shall resist him to the last; and right glad +am I that I shall have the assistance of two of the Saxon thanes who +have so often inflicted heavy defeats upon these wolves of the sea. +Your vessel is a strange one, and differs from those that I have +hitherto seen, either Dane or Saxon. She is a sailing ship, and yet +appears to row very fast." +</P> + +<P> +"She is built," Edmund said, "partly upon the design of King Alfred +himself, which were made from paintings he possessed of the war galleys +of Italy, which country he visited in his youth. They were carried out +by a clever shipwright of Exeter; and, indeed, the ship sails as well +as she rows, and, as the Danes have discovered to their cost, is able +to fight as well as she can sail and row. Had we been fairly out to sea +before the Danish fleet made its appearance we could have given a good +account of ourselves, but we were caught in a trap." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear that if the Northmen surround the city your ship will be +destroyed." +</P> + +<P> +"I was thinking of that," Edmund said, "and I pray you to let me have +some men who know the river higher up. There must assuredly be low +shores often overflowed where there are wide swamps covered with wood +and thickets, which the enemy would not enter, seeing that no booty +could be obtained there. The ship was built in such a spot, and we +could cut a narrow gap from the river and float her well in among the +trees so as to be hidden from the sight of any passing up the river in +galleys, closing up the cut again so that none might suspect its +existence." +</P> + +<P> +"That could be done easily enough," the count said; "there are plenty +of spots which would be suitable, for the banks are for the most part +low and the ground around swampy and wooded. To-morrow I will tell off +a strong body of men to accompany you in your ship, and aid your crew +in their work." +</P> + +<P> +Twenty miles up the Seine a suitable spot was found, and the crew of +the Dragon, with the hundred men whom the Count Eudes had lent for the +purpose, at once set about their work. They had but little trouble, for +a spot was chosen where a sluggish stream, some fifteen feet wide, +drained the water from a wide-spreading swamp into the river. The +channel needed widening but a little to allow of the Dragon entering, +and the water was quite deep enough to permit her being taken some +three hundred yards back from the river. +</P> + +<P> +The trees and underwood were thick, and Edmund was assured that even +when winter, which was now approaching, stripped the last leaf from the +trees, the Dragon could not be seen from the river. Her masts were +lowered, and bundles of brushwood were hung along her side so as to +prevent the gleam of black paint being discerned through the trees. +</P> + +<P> +The entrance to the stream was filled up to a width of three or four +feet, and the new work turfed with coarse grass similar to that which +grew beside it. Bushes were planted close to the water's edge, and +stakes were driven down in the narrow channel to within a few inches of +the surface of the water. +</P> + +<P> +Certain now that no Danish boats would be likely to turn aside from the +river to enter this channel into the swamp, the party embarked in some +boats which had been towed up by the Dragon and returned down the river +to Paris. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon before starting all the valuable booty which had been +captured from the Danes was landed and placed in security in the +castle, and upon his return to Paris Edmund disposed of this at good +prices to the traders of the city. +</P> + +<P> +A fortnight after they had returned to Paris the news was brought in +that a vast fleet of Northmen was ascending the river. The next morning +it was close at hand, and the citizens mounting the walls beheld with +consternation the approaching armament. So numerous were the ships that +they completely covered the river. The fleet consisted of seven hundred +sailing ships, and a vastly greater number of rowing galleys and boats. +These vessels were crowded with men, and their fierce aspect, their +glittering arms, and their lofty stature, spread terror in the hearts +of the citizens. +</P> + +<P> +"This is truly a tremendous host!" the Count Eudes said to Edmund, who +stood beside him on the walls. +</P> + +<P> +"It is indeed," Edmund replied. "Numerous as are the fleets which have +poured down upon the shores of England, methinks that none approached +this in strength. It is clear that the Northmen have united their +forces for a great effort against this city; but having at home +successfully defended fortifications, which were not to be named in +comparison with those of Paris, against them, I see no reason to doubt +that we shall be able to beat them off here." +</P> + +<P> +The Danes landed on the opposite bank and formed a vast camp there, and +the following morning three of their number in a small boat rowed +across the river and said that their king Siegfroi desired to speak +with Goslin, archbishop of Paris, who stood in the position of civil +governor. They were told that the archbishop would receive the king in +his palace. +</P> + +<P> +An hour later a stately figure in glittering armour was seen to take +his place in a long galley, which, rowed by twenty men, quickly shot +across the stream. Siegfroi landed, and, accompanied by four of his +leading warriors, entered the gates, which were opened at his approach. +The chief of the Northmen was a warrior of lofty stature. On his head +he wore a helmet of gold, on whose crest was a raven with extended +wings wrought in the same metal. His hair fell loosely on his neck; his +face was clean shaved in Danish fashion, save for a long moustache. He +wore a breastplate of golden scales, and carried a shield of the +toughest bull's-hide studded with gold nails. +</P> + +<P> +He was unarmed, save a long dagger which he wore in his belt. He and +his followers, who were all men of immense stature, walked with a proud +and assured air between the lines of citizens who clustered thickly on +each side of the street, and who gazed in silence at these dreaded +figures. They were escorted by the chamberlain of the archbishop, and +on arriving at his palace were conducted into the chamber where Goslin, +Count Eudes, and several of the leading persons of Paris awaited them. +</P> + +<P> +Siegfroi bent his head before the prelate. +</P> + +<P> +"Goslin," he said, "I beg you to have compassion upon yourself and your +flock if you do not wish to perish. We beseech you to turn a favourable +ear to our words. Grant only that we shall march through the city. We +will touch nothing in the town, and we undertake to preserve all your +property, both yours and that of Eudes." +</P> + +<P> +The archbishop replied at once: +</P> + +<P> +"This city has been confided to us by the Emperor Charles, who is, +after God, the king and master of the powers of the earth. Holding +under his rule almost all the world, he confided it to us, with the +assurance that we should suffer no harm to come to the kingdom, but +should keep it for him safe and sure. If it had happened that the +defence of these walls had been committed to your hands, as it has been +committed to mine, what would you have done had such a demand been made +upon you? Would you have granted the demand?" +</P> + +<P> +"If I had granted it," Siegfroi replied, "may my head fall under the +axe and serve as food for dogs. Nevertheless, if you do not grant our +demands, by day we will overwhelm your city with our darts, and with +poisoned arrows by night. You shall suffer all the horrors of hunger, +and year after year we will return and make a ruin of your city." +</P> + +<P> +Without another word he turned, and followed by his companions, strode +through the streets of Paris, and taking his place in the boat returned +to his camp. +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak the next morning the Norsemen were seen crowding into their +ships. The trumpets sounded loudly, and the citizens seized their arms +and hastened to the walls. The Norsemen crossed the river, and directed +their attack against a tower which stood at the head of the bridge +connecting the city and island with the farther bank. Those who landed +were provided with picks, crowbars, and other implements for effecting +a breach, and their approach was protected by a cloud of arrows and +javelins from the fleet which covered the surface of the river. +</P> + +<P> +The French leaders soon assembled at the threatened point. Chief among +these were Eudes, his brother Robert, the Count Ragenaire, and the Abbe +Ebble, a nephew of the archbishop. The Franks bore themselves bravely, +and in spite of the rain of arrows defended the walls against the +desperate attacks of the Northmen. +</P> + +<P> +The fortifications in those days were very far from having attained the +strength and solidity which a few generations later were bestowed upon +them. The stones of which they were constructed were comparatively +small, and fastened together by mortar, consequently they could ill +resist even an assault by manual weapons. Covered by their shields the +Northmen worked untiringly at the foundations, and piece by piece the +walls crumbled to the ground. Every effort, however, to enter at the +breaches so made was repulsed, and Siegfroi kept back his warriors, +determined to delay the grand assault until the next day. By nightfall +the tower was in ruins, scarce a portion of the walls remaining erect. +Many of the besieged had been killed. The archbishop was wounded with +an arrow. Frederic, a young soldier who led the troops of the church +was killed. +</P> + +<P> +The besiegers had suffered much more severely, great numbers having +been killed by the stones and missiles hurled down by the defenders +while engaged in the demolition of the walls. At nightfall the Danes +carried off their wounded and recrossed the river, confident that next +day they would succeed in their assault. As soon as darkness had set in +Count Eudes collected the citizens, and these, bearing beams and +planks, crossed the bridge to the tower, and set to work. Outside the +circle of ruins holes were dug and the beams securely fixed. Planks +were nailed to these, and earth heaped up behind them. +</P> + +<P> +All night the work continued, and by morning a fortification much +higher than the original tower had been erected all round the ruin. The +Danes again crossed the river in their ships, and the assault was +renewed. Javelins and great stones were hurled at the fortification, +and clouds of arrows from the shipping fell within them. Covered with +portable roofs constructed of planks the Danes strove to destroy the +wall. The besieged poured upon them a blazing mixture of oil, wax, and +pitch. Numbers of the Danes were burned to death, while others, +maddened by the pain, threw themselves into the river. +</P> + +<P> +Over and over again Siegfroi led his warriors to the attack, but the +defenders, headed by Eudes and the brave Abbe Ebble, each time repelled +them. The abbe particularly distinguished himself, and he is reported +to have slain seven Danes at once with one javelin, a blow which may be +considered as bordering on the miraculous. But the number of the +defenders of the tower was small indeed to that of the enemy, and the +loss which they inflicted upon the Danes, great as it was, was as +nothing in so vast a host. +</P> + +<P> +The flames of the machines, lighted by the pitch and oil, communicated +to the planks of the fortification, and soon these too were on fire. As +they burned, the earth behind them gave way, and a breach was formed. +Encouraged by this result the Danes brought up faggots, and in several +places lighted great fires against the fortifications. The defenders +began to lose all hope, when a tremendous storm of rain suddenly burst +over Paris quenching the fire. +</P> + +<P> +The besieged gained heart, reinforcements crossed from the town, and +the Danes again withdrew to their ships, having lost in the day's +fighting three hundred men. After this repulse the Northmen desisted +for a time from their attack. They formed a strong fortified camp near +the church of St. Germain, and then spread over the country slaying and +burning, sparing none, man, woman, or child. From the walls of Paris +the smoke could be seen rising over the whole country, and every heart +was moved with rage and sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and his party had taken no part in the defence of the tower. Its +loss would not have involved that of the town, and Eudes requested him +to keep his band in reserve in order that they might remain intact +until the Danes should make a breach in the walls of the city itself, +when the sudden reinforcement of a party of such well-trained warriors +might decide the result. +</P> + +<P> +While a portion of the Danish host were engaged upon the work of +devastation, a large number were employed upon the construction of +three great towers. These were built on wheels, and were each large +enough to hold sixty men. They far overtopped the walls, and the +citizens viewed with alarm the time when an assault should be delivered +under the protection of these formidable machines. Eighteen ships of +equal size were moored by the bank six deep. Great planks were laid +across them, and a sloping platform having been formed, the towers were +by the efforts of thousands of men moved up and placed on the ships. +</P> + +<P> +"If we do not destroy those towers, Egbert," Edmund said one day as he +saw them slowly moving into their position on board the ships, "all is +lost, for from their summits the Northmen with their bows and javelins +will be able to clear the walls, while those below effect a breach at +their leisure." +</P> + +<P> +"That is true enough, Edmund, but I do not see any way to destroy them. +Unfortunately we have no boats, or we might fill some of them with +combustibles, and tow them down until near enough for the stream to +carry them upon those vessels; but even then the chance were small +indeed, for the Danes would swarm out in their boats and manage to tow +or push them so that they would not touch the ships." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think, Egbert, that if we could get some skins or planks we +and our band might, when it is quite dark, sally out and take to the +water at the lower end of the island and float down quietly for a mile +or two, and then gain the further bank; then we might march along +quietly until we reach those ships. The Danes know that we have no +boats, and will not fear an attack. We must not do it until an hour or +two before morning, when, after spending the early hours of the night +as usual in feasting and drinking, they will sleep heavily. Just before +we are ready to begin a small party can unmoor two or three of the +boats by the bank and push them out, one to the outside of each tier of +six vessels, so that we may have a means of retreat across the river. +When that is done we will make a rush on board the ships, cut down any +Danes we may find there, and set fire to all the vessels. We must hold +the gangways to the shore until the flames get well alight, and then +take to the boats and return." +</P> + +<P> +"I think the plan is a good one, Edmund, and may well be carried out +without great loss. There are plenty of empty wine skins at present in +Paris. I will at once set about collecting a hundred of them. We will +fasten to each a stout cord so as to form a loop to go over the head +and shoulders, then we had best attach them all together by one long +cord, by which means we shall float in a body." +</P> + +<P> +"Fortunately the night is very dark and I think that we shall succeed. +Say nothing about it, Egbert, and tell the men to keep silent. The good +people of Paris shall know nothing of the matter until they see the +flames dancing round the towers which they hold in so much dread." +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons received with satisfaction the news of the intended +expedition. They had been disappointed at being kept back from taking +any part in the fighting during the two days' attack upon the tower, +and longed for an opportunity to inflict a blow upon their hated enemy +the Danes. The wine skins were fitted up with ropes as Egbert had +suggested, and soon after nightfall the party, armed with spear and +sword, and carrying each his float, sallied out from the gates, as +Edmund was by this time so well known among the citizens that the gate +was opened without demur on his order. +</P> + +<P> +They crept along the foot of the wall until they reached the lower +extremity of the island. Across the river innumerable fires blazed +high, and the songs and shouts of the Danes rose loud in the air. +Numbers of figures could be seen moving about or standing near the +fires, the tents of the chiefs were visible some distance back, but the +number of these as well as of the fires was much less than it had been +on the first arrival of the Northmen, owing to the numbers who had gone +to the camp round St. Germain. +</P> + +<P> +The night was very dark and a light rain was falling. Before taking to +the water Edmund bade his men strip off the greater portion of their +clothes and fasten them in a bundle on their heads, as it would be some +time after they landed before they could advance upon the camp, and the +cold and dripping garments would tend to lessen their spirits and +courage. +</P> + +<P> +When all was ready they stepped into the water, and keeping in a body, +drifted down the stream. The wine skins floated them well above the +water, the stream was running strong, and the lights of the Danish +fires were soon left behind. +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour Edmund and Egbert deemed that they were now far beyond +a point where they might chance upon any Danish stragglers. The word +was therefore given, and all made for the bank. The stream had already +drifted them in that direction, and they soon reached the shore. Here +the skins which had proved so useful were left behind, and putting on +their dry clothes, they felt comparatively comfortable. Edmund ordered +them to lay down their spears and swords by their sides, and to swing +their arms violently. This they continued to do until they were nearly +breathless, by which time the blood was coursing warmly in their veins. +</P> + +<P> +They were now in December, and the water was extremely cold, and Egbert +congratulated Edmund upon having made the men strip, for had they been +compelled to remain in their wet garments while waiting for the Danish +fires to die down, they would scarce have been in a fit state to fight +when the moment for so doing had arrived. +</P> + +<P> +Three hours elapsed before the glare of the distant fires began to +subside, another half hour passed, and then the band were formed up and +moved along on the bank of the river. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV: THE REPULSE OF THE NORSEMEN +</H3> + +<P> +When within half a mile of the Danish camp Edmund and Egbert left the +band and advanced alone. They were pretty confident that they should +find but few of the Danes near the bank of the river, for the arrows +from the walls of Paris carried some distance beyond it, and the +Northmen consequently encamped some hundred yards away. They had to +pick their way carefully, for the ships were moored along the bank, +their ropes being fastened to great stakes driven into the ground. +</P> + +<P> +There were lights on board the vessels, many of the crews remaining on +board. They made their way along until they reached the spot they aimed +at. Here lay the three sets of vessels, each six deep; their masts had +been removed, and the great towers rose high into the darkness above +the platforms extending over their decks. +</P> + +<P> +The planks forming the gangways up which the towers had been moved had +been taken away, save one which gave access to each tier, and Edmund +doubted not that it was intended that they should the next morning move +across the river in tow of the numerous row-boats. The two Saxons did +not attempt to go on board, as they had now found out all they wanted, +and might mar all by disturbing some sleeper upon the platform. They +accordingly returned to the spot where the band were awaiting them. +</P> + +<P> +"I propose, Egbert," Edmund said, "that as we go along we cut the +mooring-ropes of all the vessels. We must do it quietly so as not to +excite any alarm, and they will know nothing of it until they find +themselves drifting down the river in a mass. Then there will be great +jostling and carrying away of bowsprits and bulwarks, and the confusion +and shouting which will arise will tend to confuse the Danes and to +distract their attention from us." +</P> + +<P> +Egbert agreed to the proposal, and as soon as they reached the first +ships the Saxons began their work, sawing with their knives and daggers +through the ropes. The vessels lay four or five deep and there were +many cables to cut, but the keen knives of the Saxons made short work +of these. Before beginning their work they had spread along the bank, +leaving only two men abreast of each ship, so that in the course of two +or three minutes the cables for the length of forty ships were severed, +and these and their consorts beyond them began to drift out into the +stream. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons ran quickly on ahead and repeated the work until the whole +of the vessels below those forming the platform for the towers were +adrift in the stream; but by this time those in the ships at the lower +end of the tiers had taken the alarm, and shouts of wonder and anger +rose on the air. The nine Saxons told off for the purpose leaped into +three small boats and rowed out into the stream, while the rest of the +band, divided into three parties, dashed across the planks on to the +platforms. The Danes here had already been alarmed by the uproar from +the vessels adrift, and although unable to see what was passing judged +that something was wrong, and had called to their comrades sleeping in +the holds to come up. +</P> + +<P> +Some of these bearing torches came up on deck just as the Saxons, +pouring across the planks which connected the ships with the shore, +fell upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, the Danes could offer no +effective resistance. The Saxons, charging with levelled spears, drove +those above headlong into the water; then, having made themselves +masters of the platforms, they dashed below and despatched the Danes +they found there. The torches were now applied to the contents of the +holds. These were for the most part crammed with the booty which the +Norsemen had gained at Havre, Rouen, and other places, and the flames +speedily shot up. By this time the Danes in the camp, alarmed by the +shouting from the drifting ships and the sounds of conflict from the +towers, came flocking down in haste. The planks had already been thrown +overboard. The Danes strove by pulling at the ropes to haul the vessels +nearer to land. Some ran towards their ships, others jumped into boats, +and pushing out to the platforms strove to get on board them; but by +this time the flames were rising high through the hatchways. According +to previous agreement Edmund and the leaders of the other two parties, +seeing that the flames had now firm hold, cut the ropes which fastened +them to the bank, and as soon as the stream began to swing them out +leaped into the boats and rowed for the opposite shore. +</P> + +<P> +The uproar was now tremendous; and shouts of rage rose from the +Northmen, who were amazed and puzzled by the appearance of the Saxons, +whose attire differed but slightly from their own; and the general +belief among them was that this sudden alarm was the result of +treachery among themselves. There was no time to waste in conjecture; +the three groups of ships were now masses of flame, in the midst of +which the lofty towers rose high. The shouts of the sailors in the +vessels crowded together in helpless confusion in the stream below rose +higher and higher as the blazing vessels drifted down and threatened to +overtake them. +</P> + +<P> +Some tried to hoist their sails; others got out long oars and strove to +sweep their vessels towards the shore, but they were huddled too +closely in the stream; the yards and rigging of many having become +interlocked with each other. The Northmen leaped into the rowing boats +by the bank above where the tower-ships had been moored, and rowing +down endeavoured to tow them to the bank; but they were now in a blaze +from end to end, the heat was so great that it was difficult to +approach them, and all endeavours to fasten ropes to them were +frustrated, as these were instantly consumed. The Northmen, finding +their efforts unavailing, then turned their attention to trying to tow +the ships below to the banks. +</P> + +<P> +In some cases they were successful. A few of the vessels also at the +lower end of the mass succeeded in getting up their sails and drawing +out from their fellows, for the wind was blowing down stream. This, +however, proved the destruction of the rest of the ships, for the great +towers rising amid the lofty pillars of flames acted as sails and bore +the fire-ships down upon the helpless crowd of vessels. +</P> + +<P> +Soon they reached those nearest to them, and the flames, borne forward +by the wind, sprang from vessel to vessel. There was no longer any hope +of saving a single ship; and the crews, climbing hastily across from +one to the other till they reached those nearest to the shore, leaped +overboard. Although now more than half a mile below the city the flames +lit up the walls with a bright glare, and the shouts of the exulting +Franks rose loud and continuous. +</P> + +<P> +The sudden shouting which had broken out among the Danes had alarmed +the watchmen, who, ignorant of the cause, called the citizens to arms, +and these on reaching the walls had stood astonished at the spectacle. +The flames were already rising from the three groups of ships which +they had regarded with so much anxiety on the previous evening, and by +the light they could see the river below covered with a mass of +drifting vessels. Then they saw the tower-ships float away from the +bank, and the figures on their decks leap into three small boats, which +at once rowed with all speed across the river. +</P> + +<P> +That they were friends who had wrought this destruction was certain, +and Count Eudes threw open the gate, and with the Abbe Ebble ran down +to meet them. They were astonished when Edmund with his Saxons leaped +to land. +</P> + +<P> +"What miracle is this?" the count exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"A simple matter, Sir Count," Edmund answered. "My kinsman and I, +seeing that the townspeople were troubled by yonder towers, determined +to destroy them. We have succeeded in doing so, and with them I trust +fully half of the Danish fleet will perish." +</P> + +<P> +"You are the saviour of our town, my brave young Saxon," Count Eudes +cried, embracing him. "If Paris is saved it will be thanks to the +valiant deed that you have accomplished this night. But let us to the +walls again, where we may the better see whether the Danes can remove +their ships from those great furnaces which are bearing down upon them." +</P> + +<P> +The sight from the walls, when the fire-ships reached the fleet and the +flames spread, was grand in the extreme, for in half an hour nigh three +hundred vessels were in flames. For some time the three towers rose +like pillars of fire above the burning mass; then one by one they fell +with a crash, which could be plainly heard, although they were now near +a mile away. +</P> + +<P> +Paris was wild with joy at the destruction of the towers which had +menaced it, and the conflagration of nigh half the Danish fleet, laden +with the spoil of northern France. Edmund and his Saxons were conducted +in triumph by a shouting crowd to the palace of the archbishop, where +Goslin, in the name of the city, returned them the heartiest thanks for +the services which they had rendered. The wealthy citizens vied with +each other in bestowing costly presents upon them, bonfires were +lighted in the streets, and till morning the town gave itself up to +revelry and rejoicing. +</P> + +<P> +A month elapsed before the Danes recovered from the blow which had been +dealt them and resumed the assault. Part of this time had been spent in +manufacturing great shields of bull's hide. These were strongly +constructed, and were each capable of covering six men. On the 29th of +January their preparations were complete, and at daybreak the warders +on the wall saw them pouring down into their ships and galleys. As the +fleet crossed the river its aspect was singular. The decks were covered +by the black shields, above which appeared a forest of spears, +sparkling in the morning sunlight. As they reached the shore the +Northmen sprang to land, while from the decks of the vessels a storm of +missiles flew towards the walls. Vast numbers of catapults, which they +had manufactured since their last attack, hurled masses of stone, heavy +javelins, and leaden bullets, while thousands of arrows darkened the +air. +</P> + +<P> +The bells of the church sounded the alarm, which called every citizen +capable of bearing arms to the walls. The archbishop took his place at +the spot most threatened by the enemy, with his nephew, the valiant +abbe, by his side. The Counts Eudes, Robert, Ragenaire, Utton, and +Herilang stood foremost among the defenders. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons, as before, were held in reserve, but to Edmund and Egbert +had been assigned, at their urgent request, the command of the defence +of the tower. It was against this point that the Danes again made their +most desperate effort. Their main body advanced against it, and smaller +parties attacked the city at other points, while the rowing galleys, +divided into two bodies, strove to destroy the bridge, and so isolate +the defenders of the post. +</P> + +<P> +Around the tower the combat was desperate. The assailants were +well-nigh hidden under their great bucklers. Their shouts, and the +constant clashing of arms which they maintained, made a terrific +uproar; a storm of missiles from the fleet poured upon the tower, while +from the crevices between the shields the bowmen shot incessantly at +the defenders. The very number of the Danes hindered their attack, for +the tower was so small that comparatively few could approach at once. +</P> + +<P> +It had been greatly strengthened since the last assault, and through +the loopholes in the walls the archers did their best to answer the +storm of missiles poured into the fort. Edmund and Egbert went among +them, begging them not to fire at random, but to choose moments when +the movements of the assailants opened a space in the roof of shields +which covered them. +</P> + +<P> +Whenever this took place a dozen arrows fell true to the mark. Some of +those bearing the shield would be struck, and these falling, a gap +would be caused through which the arrows of the defenders flew thickly, +causing death and confusion until the shield could be raised in its +place again. Boiling liquids were poured over those who approached the +walls, and huge stones crushed the shields and their bearers. +</P> + +<P> +Eudes and his men valiantly defended the wall, and the Danes in vain +strove to scale it. All day long the battle continued, but at nightfall +the tower still remained in the hands of the defenders, the deep ditch +which they had dug round it having prevented the Danes from working at +the wall, as they had done in the previous assault. +</P> + +<P> +When darkness came on the Danes did not retire, but lay down in the +positions they occupied, under their shields. In the morning many ships +were seen crossing the river again, and the defenders saw to their +surprise numbers of captives who had been collected from the +surrounding country, troops of oxen, ship-loads of branches of trees, +trusses of hay and corn, and faggots of vines landed. Their surprise +became horror when they saw the captives and the cattle alike +slaughtered as they landed. Their bodies were brought forward under +cover of the shields and thrown into the moat, in which, too, were cast +the hay, straw, faggots, and trees. +</P> + +<P> +At the sight of the massacre the archbishop prayed to the Virgin to +give him strength, and drawing a bow to its full strength, let fly an +arrow, which, great as was the distance, flew true to its mark and +struck the executioner full in the face. This apparent miracle of the +Virgin in their favour re-animated the spirit of the defenders; and a +solemn service was instantly held in the church in her honour, and +prayers were offered to her to save Lutece, which was the original name +of Paris, and was still cherished by its inhabitants. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes were occupied all day at their work of filling up the moat. +The besieged were not idle, but laboured at the construction of several +mangonels capable of casting huge blocks of stone. In the morning the +Danes planted their battering-rams, one on each side of the tower, and +recommenced the assault. The new machines of the defenders did great +havoc in their ranks, their heavy stones crashing through the roof of +bucklers and crushing those who held them, and for a time the Norsemen +desisted from the attack. +</P> + +<P> +They now filled three of their largest vessels with combustibles, and +placing them on the windward side of the bridge, set them alight. The +people of Paris beheld with afright these fire-ships bearing down upon +the bridge, and old and young burst into tears and cries at the view of +the approaching destruction, and, led by the archbishop, all joined in +a prayer to St. Germain, the patron saint of Paris, to protect the +city. The exulting Danes replied to the cries of those on the walls +with triumphant shouts. Thanks, as the Franks believed, to the +interposition of St. Germain, the fireships struck against the pile of +stones from which the beams supporting the bridge in the centre were +raised. Eudes and his companions leaped down from the bridge and with +hatchets hewed holes in the sides of the ships at the water-line, and +they sank without having effected any damage to the bridge. +</P> + +<P> +It was now the turn of the Franks to raise triumphant shouts, while the +Danes, disheartened, fell back from the attack, and at night recrossed +the river, leaving two of their battering-rams as tokens of the triumph +of the besieged. Paris had now a respite while the Danes again spread +over the surrounding country, many of them ascending the river in their +ships and wasting the country as far as Burgundy. +</P> + +<P> +The monastery of St. Germain and the church in which the body of the +saint was buried still remained untouched. The bands of Northmen who +had invaded England had never hesitated to plunder and destroy the +churches and shrines of the Christians, but hitherto some thought of +superstition had kept the followers of Siegfroi from assailing the +monastery of St. Germain. +</P> + +<P> +One soldier, bolder than the rest, now approached the church and with +his spear broke some of the windows. The Abbe D'Abbon, an eye-witness +and minute historian of the siege of Paris, states that the impious +Dane was at once struck dead. The same fate befell one of his comrades, +who mounted to the platform at the top of the church and in descending +fell off and was killed. A third who entered the church and looked +round lost his sight for ever. A fourth entering it fell dead; and a +fifth, who, more bold than all, tried to break into the tomb of the +saint, was killed by a stone which fell upon him. +</P> + +<P> +One night after a continuance of heavy rain the Seine, being greatly +swollen, swept away the centre of the bridge connecting the tower with +the town. At daybreak the Northmen, seeing what had taken place, +hastened across the river and attacked the tower. The garrison was but +a small one, no more than twenty men having slept there. For a time +these repulsed every effort of the Danes, but gradually their numbers +were lessened until at last fourteen only remained. Their names have +come down to us. Besides Edmund and Egbert there were Hermanfroi, +Herivee, Herilard, Odoacre, Herric, Arnold, Sohie, Gerbert, Elvidon, +Havderad, Ermard, and Gossuin. These resisted so valiantly that the +Danes, after losing large numbers in the vain attempt to storm the +walls, brought up a wagonful of grain; this they rolled forward to the +gate of the tower and set it on fire. +</P> + +<P> +The flames rapidly spread from the gates to the walls, which were all +of wood, and soon the whole were a sheet of flames. The little band of +defenders retreated on to the end of the bridge, and there, when the +flames had sufficiently abated to allow them to pass, the Northmen +attacked them. Edmund and Egbert were both good swimmers, but this was +an accomplishment which but few of the Franks possessed, and none of +the remnant of the garrison were able to swim. For a long time the +little band repulsed all the efforts of the Danes, but were gradually +driven back foot by foot until they reached the edge of the chasm. Here +they made a last desperate stand, but were at length cut down or driven +over by sheer weight of numbers. Egbert and Edmund had disencumbered +themselves of all their defensive armour, and at the last moment, +throwing off their helmets and relinquishing their spears, they plunged +into the stream, diving deeply to avoid the arrows of the Northmen. +</P> + +<P> +The fact of the river being in flood, which had caused the destruction +of the tower, now proved the cause of their safety. Had the water been +clear, the Danes on the bridge above could have marked their progress +and poured a storm of arrows upon them as they came to the surface; but +its yellow and turbid waters concealed them from sight, and each time +they rose to the surface for air they were enabled to take a rapid +breath and dive again before their enemies could direct and launch +their arrows at them. +</P> + +<P> +As they drifted far down the stream, they reached the land beyond +bowshot of the Danes, and they soon entered the town amid the loud +acclamations of the citizens. The Danes now for the most part drew off +from the neighbourhood, and the Abbe Ebble led out a sortie, which +reached the Danish camp, and driving back those whom they found within +it, set it on fire and effected their retreat to Paris without loss, in +spite of the efforts of the enemy, who rapidly assembled at the sight +of the flames. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes had brought in from the surrounding country such vast +quantities of cattle, sheep, and goats, that their camps would not +suffice to hold them, and they turned the church of St. Germain into a +stable and crowded it with these animals. The saint, as the Abbe +D'Abbon relates, indignant at this desecration, sent a terrible plague +among the cattle, and when the Danes in the morning entered the church +it contained nothing but carcasses in the last state of decomposition. +</P> + +<P> +The valiant defence of Paris had given time for the rest of France to +arm, and the Danes scattered over the country now met with a stout +resistance. The Northmen were defeated in their efforts to capture Le +Mans, Chartres, and other towns, and were defeated in several battles +near Chartres by Godefroi and Odon. +</P> + +<P> +In March Henri advanced with a strong force to the relief of Paris, and +arriving at night attacked the camp of the Danes, slew great numbers, +and captured a vast booty; and then, having supplied Paris with a +considerable amount of provisions, retired with his band before the +Danes had time to assemble in sufficient strength to oppose him. +Shortly afterwards the Danes expressed the desire of Siegfroi to hold +parley with the Count Eudes. Siegfroi and a number of his warriors +landed, and Eudes left the city and advanced to meet them. No sooner +had he reached them than he was attacked by the Northmen, but drawing +his sword he defended himself with immense bravery until the garrison +ran down to his succour, and the Danes were driven back to their ship +with loss of nearly half of their party. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes now left the church of St. Germain L'Auxerrois and surrounded +the monastery of St. Germain des Pres, but the monks there paid him +sixty pounds of pure silver to leave them in peace. Siegfroi now wished +to abandon the siege which had already cost him so dear, but the +Northmen, furious at their losses, determined upon another assault. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," the king said; "have your way then. Attack Paris on all +sides, hew down its towers, and make breaches in its walls; for once I +will remain a spectator." +</P> + +<P> +The Danes crossed the river and landed on the island, but owing to the +absence of large numbers on other expeditions, and the heavy losses +which they had suffered, their numbers were no longer so overwhelming, +and Count Eudes led out his forces to oppose them outside the walls. +This time Edmund headed his band of Saxons, who until now had only +taken part as archers in the defence. +</P> + +<P> +The combat was a furious one. In spite of the valour of Eudes and Ebble +the Danes pressed hard upon the Franks, and were driving them back +towards the gates when Edmund led his Saxons, in the close phalanx in +which they had so often met the Danes in the field, to the front. With +irresistible force the wedge burst its way through the ranks of the +Danes, bearing all before it with its wedge of spears. Into the gap +thus formed Eudes and Ebble with their bravest men threw themselves, +and the Danes, severed in two, were driven back towards their ships. +But for some hours the rain had been falling heavily and the river was +rapidly rising and had already overflowed a portion of the island. Thus +the Danes had great difficulty in getting on board their ships again, +and great numbers were killed in doing so. +</P> + +<P> +There was no longer any resistance to Siegfroi's wishes. A parley was +held with the city, and a further sum being added to that contributed +by the monks of St. Germain des Pres the Danes drew off from the town. +</P> + +<P> +At this time the long confinement of so many men within the walls had +caused a pestilence to break out in Paris. The Archbishop Goslin, the +Bishop Everard of Sens, the Prince Hugues, and many others died. The +16th of April was the day on which the Parisians were accustomed to go +in solemn procession to the church of St. Germain. The Northmen, +knowing this, in mockery filled a wagon with grain and organized a mock +procession. The bullocks who drew the chariot suddenly became lame; +numbers of other bullocks were attached, but although goaded by spears +their united efforts were unable to drag the wagon an inch, and the +Danes were obliged at last to abandon their intention. +</P> + +<P> +The same day St. Germain is reported to have further shown his power. +One of the Northmen, condemned for some offence to be executed, fled to +the church for refuge, and was there slain by his countrymen; but all +who took part in the deed at once fell dead. The Northmen, struck by +these miracles, placed a certain number as guard over the church to +prevent any from touching aught that it contained. One of these men, a +Dane of great stature, spread his bed in the church and slept there; +but to the astonishment of his comrades he was found in the morning to +have shrunk to the size of a new-born infant, at which stature he +remained for the rest of his life. +</P> + +<P> +A miracle of an opposite kind was at the same time performed in the +town. A valiant warrior had from the effects of fever fallen into an +extreme weakness, and was devoured with grief at the thought that he +should no longer be able to take share in the defence of the town. To +him St. Germain appeared at night and told him that his prayers had +been heard, and that his strength should be restored to him. On +awakening in the morning he found that he was as vigorous and as robust +as ever. +</P> + +<P> +Another day when the soldiers were carrying the banner of the saint +round the walls of the town, followed by the citizens chanting hymns, +one of the bearers of the holy relics, named Gozbert, was struck by a +stone from a catapult. The man who had fired it fell dead, while +Gozbert continued his promenade in no way injured by the blow. The Abbe +D'Abbon vouches for these miracles on the part of St. Germain in +defence of his faithful city. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV: FRIENDS IN TROUBLE +</H3> + +<P> +Although for a time the Northmen abstained from grand assaults, +continued skirmishes took place. Sometimes parties landed beneath the +walls, and strove to carry off the cattle which the besieged turned out +to gather a little fresh food there. Sometimes the citizens, led by +Eudes or Ebble, would take boat and cross, and endeavour to cut off +small parties of the enemy. They had now sufficient boats at their +disposal for expeditions of this kind; for, in their last defeat, the +Danes had in their haste left several boats behind them. Of one of the +largest of these Edmund took possession, and going out in her at night, +several times succeeded in capturing Danish vessels, sometimes while +they were rowing along the river unsuspicious that any foes were near, +sometimes by boarding them as they lay alongside the bank. +</P> + +<P> +As the vessels so captured were too large to be dragged ashore, and +could have been easily recaptured by the Danes, they were, after being +emptied of their contents, always burned. The plague continued its +ravages, and the city became straitened for provisions. Count Eudes +therefore determined to go to King Charles to urge him to hurry to the +succour of the town. Almost all the chiefs of the defence had fallen +victims to the pest, or had been killed in battle with the Danes, and +the count at his departure committed the defence of the city to the +Abbe Ebble and Edmund. He then crossed the stream at night, and made +his way successfully through the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +The abbe and Edmund vied with each other in keeping up the spirits of +the garrison with successful little forays with the Danes, frequently +crossing the river to the one bank or the other, sometimes with parties +of only five or six men, and falling upon similar bodies of the enemy. +Several times they pounced upon small herds of the enemy's cattle, and +driving them into the river, directed them in their boats across the +stream. +</P> + +<P> +In the commencement of July Eudes appeared on the slopes on Mont Martre +with three battalions of soldiers. The enemy, who were for the most +part on the other side of the Seine, crossed the river. A desperate +battle ensued. A portion of the garrison crossed in boats to the +assistance of their friends, Edmund leading over his band of Saxons. +With these he fell upon the rear of the Danes engaged in fighting with +the force under the count, and the Northmen, attacked on both sides, +gave way and took to flight. They were hotly pursued by the Franks. +</P> + +<P> +The reinforcements entered Paris triumphantly by the bridge, which had +long since been repaired. But the siege was not yet over. When the news +of the victory of Eudes spread, the Danes again drew together from all +parts, and crossing the river, attacked the city on every side. The +onslaught was more furious than any which had preceded it. The Danes +had provided themselves with large numbers of mangonels and catapults. +Every man capable of bearing arms was upon the walls; but so furious +was the attack, so vast the number of the assailants, so prodigious +were the clouds of missiles which they rained upon the walls, that the +besieged almost lost heart. +</P> + +<P> +The relics of St. Genevieve were taken round the walls. In several +places the Danes had formed breaches in the walls, and although the +besieged still struggled, hope had well-nigh left them, and abject +terror reigned in the city. Women ran about the streets screaming, and +crying that the end was at hand. The church bells tolled dismally, and +the shouts of the exultant Danes rose higher and higher. Again a +general cry rose to St. Germain to come to the aid of the town. Just at +this moment Edmund and Egbert, who had till now held the Saxons in +reserve, feeling that a desperate effort must be made, formed up their +band, and advancing to the principal breach, passed through the ranks +of the disheartened Franks, and with levelled pikes charged headlong +down into the crowd of Danes. The latter, already exhausted by their +efforts, were at once borne back before the serried pikes of their +fresh assailants. In vain their chiefs at that point tried to rally +them; nothing could withstand the impetus of the Saxon attack. +</P> + +<P> +Astonished at seeing the tide of battle swept away from the breach, the +French believed that St. Germain had wrought a miracle in their favour, +and taking heart poured out in the rear of the Saxons. The news of the +miracle spread rapidly. Through the breaches, and from every gate, they +poured out suddenly upon the Danes, who, struck with consternation at +this sudden onslaught by a foe whom they had already regarded as +beaten, hesitated, and soon took to flight. Vast numbers were cut down +before they could reach their vessels. A great portion fled towards the +bridge and endeavoured to cross there; but their numbers impeded them, +and the Saxons and Franks, falling upon their rear, effected a terrible +slaughter. +</P> + +<P> +Two days after the battle a force of six hundred Franks arrived from +the Emperor Charles. The Danes sought to oppose their entrance to the +city, but were defeated with a loss of three thousand men. The siege +was now virtually over, and in a short time the emperor himself with a +great army arrived. It was now November, and after some negotiations +the Danes agreed upon the receipt of seven hundred pounds of silver to +retire to Burgundy and to leave the country at the beginning of March. +</P> + +<P> +Having wasted Burgundy, however, they again returned to Paris. +Consternation seized the capital when the fleet of the Northmen was +seen approaching. A treaty was, however, made, for the wind had fallen +just when the Danish fleet, which had but lately arrived and was +descending the river, was abreast of Paris. As soon as the wind became +favourable the Northmen broke the truce, slew a number of Franks who +had mingled among them, and passed up the Marne. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Emperor Charles had died and Count Eudes had been +chosen his successor. When the Danes again advanced against Paris he +speedily sent reinforcements. The town had already repulsed an attack. +Eudes himself on St. John's Day was advancing with 1000 men-at-arms +when he was attacked by 10,000 mounted Danes and 9000 footmen. The +combat was desperate but the Franks were victorious. Eudes, however, +had other difficulties. Burgundy and Aquitaine revolted, and in order +to secure peace to the kingdom he made a treaty with the Danes, giving +over to them the province of Normandy. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Egbert had no part in the second siege of Paris. As soon as +the place was relieved by the Emperor Charles they prepared to depart. +Taking boats they ascended the river, and to their joy found the Dragon +safe in the hiding place where she had been lying for nearly a year. +She was brought out into the stream and floated down to Paris, where by +the order of Count Eudes she was thoroughly repaired and redecorated. +</P> + +<P> +The Franks, convinced that next only to the assistance of St. Germain +they owed the safety of their city to the valour of the Saxons, loaded +them with presents; and these, with the gifts which they had previously +received after the destruction of the three towers, and the sums for +which the booty captured from the Danes had been sold, made up a great +treasure. +</P> + +<P> +Upon the day before they had arranged to sail a Danish boat was seen +rowing down the stream. It approached the Dragon and the helmsman asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Is this ship the Dragon? and has it for a captain Edmund the Saxon?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Edmund," he replied, "and this is the Dragon. What would you with +me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am sent by the Jarl Siegbert, who lies wounded near, to beg that you +will come to him immediately, as he is in a sore strait and needs your +assistance." +</P> + +<P> +"I will come at once," Edmund said. "Put one of your men on board to +show me where he is, for I shall be there before you." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund's horn sounded the signal, and messengers were sent to the town +to order the crew at once to repair on board the Dragon. Edmund landed +and took leave of the Frankish leaders. The provisions and stores were +hastily carried on board, and then, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of +the inhabitants, who thronged the walls and shore, the oars were got +out and the Dragon proceeded at the top of her speed up the river. +</P> + +<P> +On the way Edmund questioned the Dane, and found that Siegbert had been +wounded in the last assault upon Paris. He had not been present at the +first part of the siege, having but recently arrived from Norway. His +daughter Freda had accompanied him. "Yes," she was still unmarried, +although many valiant Northmen had sought her hand, chief among them +the brave leader Sweyn "of the left hand;" but there had been a fray on +the previous night in Siegbert's camp, and it was said—but for that he +could not vouch—that Freda had been carried off. +</P> + +<P> +The news filled Edmund with anxiety. Ever since the day he left her on +her father's galley his thoughts had turned often to the Danish maiden, +and the resolution to carry out his promise and some day seek her again +had never for a moment wavered. He had seen many fair young Saxons, and +could have chosen a bride where he would among these, for few Saxons +girls would have turned a deaf ear to the wooing of one who was at once +of high rank, a prime favourite with the king, and regarded by his +countrymen as one of the bravest of the Saxon champions; but the +dark-haired Freda, who united the fearlessness and independence of a +woman with the frankness and gaiety of a child, had won his heart. +</P> + +<P> +It was true she was a Dane and a pagan; but her father was his friend, +and would, he felt sure, offer no objections on the ground of the +enmity of the races. Since Guthorn and his people had embraced +Christianity, the enmity between the races, in England at least, was +rapidly declining. As to her religion, Edmund doubted not that she +would, under his guidance and teaching, soon cast away the +blood-stained gods of the Northmen and accept Christianity. +</P> + +<P> +In the five years of strife and warfare which had elapsed since he saw +her Edmund had often pictured their next meeting. He had not doubted +that she would remain true to him. Few as were the words which had been +spoken, he knew that when she said, "I will wait for you even till I +die," she had meant it, and that she was not one to change. He had even +been purposing, on his return to England, to ask King Alfred to arrange +through Guthorn for a safe pass for him to go to Norway. To hear, then, +that she had been carried off from her father's side was a terrible +blow, and in his anxiety to arrive at Siegbert's tent Edmund urged the +rowers to their fullest exertions. +</P> + +<P> +It was three hours after leaving Paris when the Dane pointed to a +village at a short distance from the river and told him that Siegbert +was lying there. The Dragon was steered to shore, and Edmund leaping +out followed the Dane with rapid footsteps to the village. The wounded +jarl was lying upon a heap of straw. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it really you, Edmund?" he exclaimed as the young Saxon entered. +"Glad am I indeed that my messenger did not arrive too late. I heard of +you when we first landed—how the Danes, when they sailed up the Seine, +had seen a Saxon galley of strange shape which had rowed rapidly up the +river; how the galley herself had never again been seen; but how a +young Saxon with his band had performed wonders in the defence of +Paris, and had burned well-nigh half the Danish fleet. +</P> + +<P> +"They said that the leader was named Edmund, for they had heard the +name shouted in battle; and especially when he, with one other alone, +escaped from the burning tower and swam the river. So I was sure that +it was you. Then, a week back, my men told me of a strange ship which +had passed down the river to Paris, and I doubted not that it was your +Dragon, which had been hidden somewhere during the siege. I thought +then of sending to tell you that I was lying here wounded; but Freda, +who had always been talking of you, suddenly turned coy and said that +you might have forgotten us, and if you wanted us you would come to us +in Norway." +</P> + +<P> +"But where is Freda?" Edmund, who had been listening impatiently, +exclaimed. "One of your men told me that she had been carried off. Is +it true?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! it is true," Siegbert replied; "and that is why I sent for you. +I have never been good friends with Bijorn since the wounding of his +son, but after a time the matter blew over. Sweyn, who though but with +one arm, and that the left, has grown into a valiant warrior, is now, +Bijorn being dead, one of our boldest vikings. A year since he became a +declared suitor for Freda's hand. In this, indeed, he is not alone, +seeing that she has grown up one of our fairest maidens, and many are +the valorous deeds that have been done to win a smile from her; but she +has refused all suitors, Sweyn with the others. He took his refusal in +bad part, and even ventured to vow she should be his whether she willed +it or not. Of course I took the matter up and forbade all further +intimacy, and we had not met again till the other day before Paris. We +had high words there, but I thought no more of it. A few days +afterwards I was struck by a crossbow bolt in the leg. It smashed my +knee, and I shall never be able to use my leg again. I well-nigh died +of fever and vexation, but Freda nursed me through it. She had me +carried on a litter here to be away from the noise and revelry of the +camp. Last night there was a sudden outcry. Some of my men who sprang +to arms were smitten down, and the assailants burst in here and tore +Freda, shrieking, away. Their leader was Sweyn of the left hand. As I +lay tossing here, mad with the misfortune which ties me to my couch, I +thought of you. I said, 'If any can follow and recapture Freda it is +Edmund.' The Danes had for the most part moved away, and there were few +would care to risk a quarrel with Sweyn in a matter which concerned +them not closely; but I felt that I could rely upon you, and that you +would spare no pains to rescue my child." +</P> + +<P> +"That will I not!" Edmund exclaimed; "but tell me first what you think +are his plans. Which way has he gone, and what force has he with him?" +</P> + +<P> +"The band he commands are six shiploads, each numbering fifty men. What +his plans may be I know not, but many of the Danes, I know, purposed, +when the war was finished here, to move east through Burgundy. Some +intended to build boats on the banks of the Rhine and sail down on that +river, others intended to journey further and to descend by the Elbe. I +know not which course Sweyn may adopt. The country between this and the +Rhine swarms with Danes. I do not suppose that Sweyn will join any +other party. Having Freda with him, he will prefer keeping apart; but +in any case it would not be safe for you to journey with your band, who +would assuredly become embroiled with the first party of Danes they +met; and even if they be as brave as yourself they would be defeated by +such superior numbers." +</P> + +<P> +"You do not think that Sweyn will venture to use violence to force +Freda to become his wife?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think he will hardly venture upon that," Siegbert said, "however +violent and headstrong he may be. To carry off a maiden for a wife is +accounted no very evil deed, for the maiden is generally not unwilling; +but to force her by violence to become his wife would be a deed so +contrary to our usages that it would bring upon him the anger of the +whole nation. Knowing Sweyn's disposition, I believe that were there no +other way, he would not hesitate even at this, but might take ship and +carry her to some distant land; but he would not do this until all +other means fail. He will strive to tire her out, and so bring her in +her despair to consent to wed him." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund was silent for three or four minutes; then he said: "I must +consult my kinsman Egbert. I will return and tell you what I purpose +doing." +</P> + +<P> +On leaving the cottage Edmund found Egbert walking up and down outside +awaiting the result of the interview. He had been present when the Dane +had told of Freda's abduction, and knew how sore a blow it was to the +young ealdorman, for Edmund had made no secret to him of his intention +some day to wed the Danish jarl's daughter. Edmund in a few words +related to him the substance of Siegbert's narrative, and ended by +saying: "Now, Egbert, what is best to be done?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis of no use asking me, Edmund; you know well enough that it is you +that always decide and I agree. I have a hand to strike, but no head to +plan. Tell me only what you wish, and you may be sure that I will do my +best to execute it." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we must follow," Edmund said; "of that there is no question. +The only doubt is as to the force we must take. What Siegbert said is +true. The Danish bands are so numerous to the east that we should be +sure to fall in with some of them, and fight as we might, should be +destroyed; and yet with a smaller number how could we hope to rescue +Freda from Sweyn's hands?" +</P> + +<P> +Edmund walked up and down for some time. +</P> + +<P> +"I think," he went on at last, "the best plan will be to take a party +of but four at most. I must choose those who will be able to pass best +as Danes. With so small a number I may traverse the country unobserved. +I will take with me two of Siegbert's men, who, when we get nigh to +Sweyn's band, may join with him and tell me how things are going, and +how Sweyn treats his captive. If I find he is pushing matters to an +extreme I must make some desperate effort to carry her off; but if, as +is more probable, he trusts to time to break her resolution, I shall +follow at a short distance." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I go with you, Edmund?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think it will be better not, Egbert. Your beard would mark you as a +Saxon at once." +</P> + +<P> +"But that I can cut off," Egbert said. "It would be a sacrifice truly, +but I would do it without hesitation." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, dear kinsman, but I think it would be of more purpose for you +to remain in command of the Dragon. She may meet many foes, and it were +best that you were there to fight and direct her. I pray you at once to +descend the Seine and sailing round the north coast of France, place +the Dragon at the mouth of the Rhine. Do not interfere with any Danish +ships that you may see pass out, but keep at a distance. Should Sweyn +descend the Rhine I will, if possible, send a messenger down before +him, so do you look out for small boats; and if you see one in which +the rower hoists a white flag at the end of his oar, you will know he +is my messenger. If I find Sweyn goes on towards the Elbe I will also +send you word, and you will then move the Dragon to the mouth of that +river. +</P> + +<P> +"Lastly, if you receive no message, but if you mark that in a Danish +vessel when passing you a white cloth is waved from one of the windows +of the cabins in the poop, that will be a signal to you that the vessel +is Sweyn's, and that Freda is a captive on board. In that case you will +of course at once attack it. Let us ask Siegbert. He has sailed up both +the Rhine and the Elbe, and can tell us of some quiet port near the +mouth of each river where you may lay the Dragon somewhat out of sight +of passers-by, while you can yet note all ships that go down the river. +My messengers will then know where to find you." Having settled this +point they returned to Siegbert, and Edmund told him what he thought of +doing. +</P> + +<P> +"I can advise no better," Siegbert said. "Assuredly you cannot prevail +by force. At present I have only ten of my followers with me; the rest, +after I was wounded, and it was plain that a long time must elapse +before I could again lead them in the field, asked me to let them +follow some other chief, and as they could not be idle here I +consented. I have ten men with me, but these would be but a small +reinforcement. As you say, your Saxons would be instantly known, and +the Northmen have suffered so at their hands during the siege that the +first party you met would set upon you." +</P> + +<P> +"I will take two only of your men," Edmund said. "Choose me two who are +not known by sight to Sweyn. I wish one to be a subtle fellow, who will +act as a spy for me; the other I should choose of commanding stature; +and the air of a leader. He will go with my party, and should we come +upon Danes he will assume the place of leader, and can answer any +questions. There is far too much difference between the Saxon and +Danish tongue for me and my men to pass as Danes if we have many words +to say. I shall take four of my men, all full grown, strong, and good +fighters. They have but little hair upon their chins at present, and +they can shave that off. Now, jarl, I want five Danish dresses, for +your costume differs somewhat from ours. Have you horses? If not, I +must send back to Paris to buy some." +</P> + +<P> +"I have plenty to mount you and your party." +</P> + +<P> +"Good," Edmund said; "I will go down to my ship and pick my men." +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour the party were ready to start. Egbert had received from +Siegbert particulars of villages at the mouths of the Rhine and Elbe, +and he promised Edmund that a watch should be kept night and day at the +mouth of the Rhine until a messenger arrived. Edmund had already +ascertained that Sweyn had left a fortnight before with his following, +and had marched towards Champagne. There probably he had halted his +main body, returning only with a party of horsemen to carry off Freda. +</P> + +<P> +"I would I could go with you," Siegbert groaned as Edmund said adieu to +him. "I would ride straight into his camp and challenge him to mortal +combat, but as it is I am helpless." +</P> + +<P> +"Never fear, good Siegbert," Edmund said cheerfully; "when your leg is +cured travel straight homeward, and there, I trust, before very long to +place Freda safe and unharmed in your arms. If I come not you will know +that I have perished." +</P> + +<P> +A minute later, after a few parting words with Egbert, Edmund mounted +his horse, and followed by his six companions, rode off at full speed. +He knew that it would be useless making any inquiries about Sweyn and +his party. But few of the inhabitants of the country were to be seen +about, for the Danes had burned every house within very many miles of +Paris, and the peasants would assuredly not have paid any special +attention to a party of Danes, for whenever they saw the dreaded +marauders even at a distance they forsook their homes and fled to the +forests. The party therefore rode eastward until nightfall, then +picketed their horses, and having lit a fire, made their supper from +the store of provisions they had brought with them, and then lay down +to sleep for the night. +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak they again started and continued their journey until it was +necessary to halt to give their horses a rest. They had passed several +parties of Danes, for these in great numbers, after the siege of Paris +had been given up, were journeying towards Burgundy. There was but +slight greeting as they passed; but on one occasion a horseman rode out +from one of the bands and entered into conversation with the two Danes +who rode at the head of the party. They told them that they were +followers of the Jarl Siegbert, and were riding to join the rest of his +band, who were with the company of Jarl Eric, as Siegbert would be long +before he would be able to move, and had therefore kept only a few of +his followers with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Eric is a long way ahead," the Dane said; "he must be full as far as +Nancy by this time. Those who left first," he grumbled, "will have the +pick of the country. We were fools to linger so long before Paris." +Then turning his horse, he rode back to his comrades, and the party +continued their way. +</P> + +<P> +They avoided all towns and large Danish encampments on the way, but +made inquiries from all small parties they met after the party of +Sweyn. They learned without difficulty the place where he had been +encamped a few days before, but on their arriving in the neighbourhood +they found that the place was deserted, nor could any tell them the +direction in which the Northmen had travelled. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI: FREDA +</H3> + +<P> +For some days Edmund and his party scoured the country round, +journeying now in one direction, now in another, but without hearing +ought of Sweyn's party. Certainly they had not gone along the track +which the main body of the Danes had followed; but the question was +whether they had turned rather to the south in order to cross the +mountain ranges between them and the Rhine, or had turned north and +journeyed through the great forest of Ardennes, and so to some of the +other rivers which run down into the North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +The latter was in some respects the most likely course to have been +chosen. By taking it Sweyn would avoid altogether the track which the +majority of his countrymen were taking, and this would naturally be his +object. Siegbert had many powerful friends, and the carrying off of the +jarl's daughter from the side of her wounded father would be regarded +as a grave offence; and Sweyn might well wish to keep clear of his +countrymen until he had forced Freda to become his wife. Even then it +would not be safe for him for a long time to return to his country. +Striking through the Ardennes he would come down upon the Scheldt, the +Moselle, the Maas, or other rivers flowing into the North Sea direct, +or into the Rhine. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund knew nothing of these streams; but the Danes with him said there +were several rivers so situated, for they had sailed up them. Where +they took their rise they knew not, but it would probably be in or +beyond the forest of Ardennes. +</P> + +<P> +"Then in that way we will search," Edmund said. "If they come upon a +river they will doubtless set to work to build galleys to carry them to +the sea, for with only three hundred men Sweyn will not venture to +march by land through a country which has but lately suffered heavily +at the hands of the Danes. It will take him a month or six weeks to cut +down trees and build his ships; therefore we may hope to find him +before he is ready to embark. First we will push through the forest to +the other side; there we will question the inhabitants concerning the +position of the nearest rivers; then we will divide into parties and go +on the search, appointing a place of rendezvous where we may rejoin +each other. It can hardly be that we shall fail to find them if they +have taken that way." +</P> + +<P> +Before entering the forest they obtained a considerable store of +provisions; for they had no idea of its extent, and had no time to +spend in hunting game. The forest of Ardennes was at that time of +immense size, extending from Verdun and Metz on the south, to Liege and +Aix on the north. +</P> + +<P> +Men of the present day would have found it impossible to find their way +through, but would speedily have been lost in its trackless recesses; +but the Saxons and Danes were accustomed to travel in forests, and knew +the signs as well as did the Red-skins and hunters of the American +forests. Therefore they felt no hesitation in entering the forest +without a guide. +</P> + +<P> +The danger which might beset them was of a different kind. Immense +numbers of the inhabitants of France, Champagne, and Burgundy had taken +refuge in the forests, driving their flocks and herds before them. Here +they lived a wild life, hoping that the emperor would ere long clear +the country of the invaders. No mercy could be expected if Edmund and +his party fell in with a number of these fugitives. They would have no +time to tell their story, but would be attacked at once as a party of +plundering Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Knowing that the horses would be an encumbrance to them in the forest, +they were sold to the last party of Northmen they encountered before +entering it, and they pursued their way on foot. The greatest caution +was observed; every sound was marked, and at the call of a human voice, +the low of cattle, or the bleating of sheep, they turned their course +so as to avoid encounter with the inhabitants of the forest. They lit +no fires at night, and scarce a word was spoken on the march. Several +times they had to take refuge in thickets when they heard the sound of +approaching voices, and it needed all their knowledge of woodcraft to +maintain their direction steadily towards the north. At last, after six +days' journey, they issued out into the open country beyond the forest +and soon arrived at a cottage. +</P> + +<P> +The peasant was struck with terror and astonishment at the appearance +of seven Danes; and he could with difficulty be made to understand that +their object was neither plunder nor murder, but that they wished only +information from him of the situation and direction of the various +rivers of the country. After learning from him all that he knew Edmund +arrived at the conclusion that Sweyn would probably attempt to descend +either by a branch of the Moselle, and so to the Rhine on the right, or +by one of the Maas on the left of the place at which they had emerged +from the forest. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund decided to strike the Maas, and to follow its course up into the +forest, taking with him one of the Danes and two of his Saxons, and to +send the others to search the banks of the tributary of the Moselle. +Before starting he sent the peasant to the nearest village to purchase +garments of the country for the whole party. He had already told the +man that they were not Danes but Saxons, the bitter enemies of the +Northmen, and that he had been aiding in the defence of Paris against +them. +</P> + +<P> +The peasant did not doubt what Edmund told him, for the conduct of his +visitors was so opposed to all that he had heard of the doings of the +Danes that he well believed they could not belong to that nation. He +was away some hours, and returned with the required dresses. Having put +these on, and laying aside their helmets and shields, the two parties +started, the Danes alone carrying with them their former garments. The +next day Edmund arrived at the river, and at once followed its course +upwards, for Sweyn and his party would be building their ships in the +forest. +</P> + +<P> +They had not proceeded many miles before they heard the sound of axes. +Edmund gave an exclamation of delight. It was almost certain that he +had hit upon Sweyn's track, for it was unlikely that any of the +inhabitants of the country would have gone so far into the forest for +timber. They now moved with the greatest caution, and as they +approached the place whence the sound proceeded Edmund halted the two +Saxons and bade them conceal themselves. The Dane resumed his own +garments and put on his helmet and shield; and then, taking advantage +of every clump of undergrowth, and moving with the greatest caution, he +and Edmund made their way forward. Presently they came within sight of +an animated scene. +</P> + +<P> +A large number of trees had been felled by the banks of the river and +three hundred Northmen were busily at work. The frames of two great +galleys had already been set up, and they were now engaged in chopping +out planks for their sides. Two huts were erected in the middle of the +clearing. One was large, and Sweyn's banner floated from a spear before +it. The other which stood close by was much smaller, and Edmund doubted +not that this was appropriated to Freda. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing more could be done now—their object was so far attained; and +retiring they joined the two Saxons and made their way along the river +bank till they reached the edge of the forest. One of the Saxons was +now sent off to the peasant's hut, where he was to remain until the +return of the other party, and was then to bring them on to the spot +which Edmund had chosen for his encampment. This was in the heart of a +large clump of underwood extending down to the river. +</P> + +<P> +The brushwood was so thick that it was entered with difficulty, and no +passer-by would dream that a party was hidden within it. Near the +stream Edmund and his companions with their swords soon cleared away a +circle, and with the boughs constructed an arbour. A thin screen of +bushes separated them from the river, but they could see the water, and +none could pass up or down unperceived. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxon was charged to bring with him on his return a considerable +supply of provisions, for it would have been dangerous to wander in the +woods in pursuit of game. The Northmen had, Edmund noticed, some cattle +with them; but they would be sure to be hunting in the woods, as they +would wish to save the cattle for provision on their voyage. It was +nightfall before the hut was completed; and as they had journeyed far +for many days Edmund determined to postpone an attempt to discover what +was passing in Sweyn's camp until the following evening. +</P> + +<P> +The day passed quietly, and towards evening Edmund and the Dane started +for Sweyn's camp. When they approached it they saw many fires burning, +and the shouting and singing of the Norsemen rang through the forest. +They waited until the fires burnt down somewhat and they could see many +of the Danes stretching themselves down by them. Then Edmund's +companion proceeded to the camp. +</P> + +<P> +Anxious as Edmund was himself to learn what was doing, he restrained +his impatience, for it was safer that the Northman should go alone. In +the dull light of the dying fires his features would be unnoticed, and +his tongue would not betray him if spoken to. Siegbert had commended +him as a crafty and ready fellow, and Edmund felt that he would be able +to gather more information than he could do himself. From his place of +concealment he kept his eyes fixed on the Northman's figure. Presently +he saw him enter the clearing, and sauntering slowly across it throw +himself down near a fire by which a party of Danes were still sitting +talking. +</P> + +<P> +One by one these lay down, and when the last had done so the Northman +rose quietly and stole out again into the forest. When he rejoined +Edmund the latter set forward with him, and not a word was spoken until +they were some distance from the camp; then Edmund stopped. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you learned?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"All that there is to learn, I think," the Northman replied. "The lady +Freda is, as you supposed, a captive in the little hut. Two men only +keep watch over it by day, but at night six lie around it, two being +always on foot. They speak in admiration of her courage and spirit. She +has sworn to Sweyn that she will slay herself if he attempts to use +violence to force her to marriage with him, and they doubt not that she +will keep her word. However, they believe that she will grow tired out +at last when she finds that there is no hope whatever of a rescue. The +ships are being built for a long sea voyage, for Sweyn is going to lead +them to join the Viking Hasting in the Mediterranean, and has promised +his men the plunder of countries ten times richer than France or +England. With so long an expedition in view, they may well think that +the Lady Freda's resolution will soon give way, and that she may come +to see that the position of the wife of a bold viking is a thousand +times preferable to that of a captive. Many of the men loudly express +their wonder why she would refuse the love of so valiant a warrior as +Sweyn." +</P> + +<P> +The news was at once good and bad. Edmund did not fear Freda's +resolution giving way for a long time, but the news that Sweyn intended +to carry her upon so distant an expedition troubled him. It was of +course possible that he might intercept them with the Dragon at the +mouth of the Maas, but it was uncertain whether the ship would arrive +at the mouth of the Rhine in time to be brought round before the +Northmen descended. The length of her voyage would depend entirely on +the wind. Were this favourable when she reached the mouth of the Seine, +a week would carry her to her destination. Should it be unfavourable +there was no saying how long the voyage would last. +</P> + +<P> +The risk was so great that Edmund determined to make an effort to rouse +the country against the Danes, and to fall upon them in their +encampment; but the task would he knew be a hard one, for the dread of +the Danes was so great that only in large towns was any resistance to +them ever offered. However he determined to try, for if the Northmen +succeeded in getting to the sea the pursuit would indeed be a long one, +and many weeks and even months might elapse before he could again come +up to them. +</P> + +<P> +On the following day the rest of the party arrived, and leaving the +forest Edmund proceeded with them through the country, visiting every +village, and endeavouring to rouse the people to attack the Danes, but +the news that the dreaded marauders were so near excited terror only. +The assurances of Edmund that there was much rich plunder in their camp +which would become the property of those who destroyed them, excited +but a feeble interest. The only point in the narrative which excited +their contentment was the news that the Danes were building ships and +were going to make their way down to the sea. +</P> + +<P> +"In Heaven's name let them go!" was the cry; "who would interfere with +the flight of a savage beast? If they are going down the river they +will scarcely land to scatter and plunder the country, and he would be +mad indeed who would seek them when they are disposed to let us alone." +</P> + +<P> +Finding his efforts vain in the country near the forest Edmund went +down the river to the town of Liege, which stood on its banks. When it +became known that a band of Northmen was on the upper river, and was +likely to pass down, the alarm spread quickly through the town, and a +council of the principal inhabitants was summoned. Before these Edmund +told his story, and suggested that the fighting men of the town should +march up the river and fall upon the Danes in their camp. +</P> + +<P> +"It is but two days' march—the Northmen will be unsuspicious of +danger, and taken by surprise may be easily defeated." The proposition, +however, was received with absolute derision. +</P> + +<P> +"You must be mad to propose such a thing, young Saxon, if Saxon indeed +you are, but for aught we know you may be a Northman sent by them to +draw us into an ambush. No; we will prepare for their coming. We will +man our walls and stand on the defensive, and if there be, as you say, +but three hundred of them, we can defend ourselves successfully; and we +may hope that, seeing our strength, and that we are prepared for their +coming, the Northmen will pass by without molesting us; but as for +moving outside our walls, it would be worse than folly even to think of +such a thing." +</P> + +<P> +After this rebuff Edmund concluded that he could hope for no assistance +from the inhabitants of the country, but must depend upon himself and +the Dragon alone. He at once despatched two of his men, a Dane and a +Saxon, with orders to journey as rapidly as possible to the rendezvous, +where the Dragon was to be found at the mouth of the Rhine, and to beg +Egbert to move round with all speed to the Maas. +</P> + +<P> +Having done this, he purchased a small and very fast rowing-skiff at +Liege, and taking his place in this with his four remaining followers, +he rowed up the river. It took them three days before they reached the +edge of the forest. On reaching their former hiding-place, they landed. +The bushes were carefully drawn aside, and the boat hauled up until +completely screened from sight of the river, and Edmund and the Dane at +once started for the encampment of the Northmen. +</P> + +<P> +They had been ten days absent, and in that time great progress had been +made with the galleys. They looked indeed completely finished as they +stood high and lofty on the river bank. The planks were all in their +places; the long rows of benches for the rowers were fastened in; the +poop and forecastle were finished and decked. A number of long straight +poles lay alongside ready to be fashioned into oars; and Edmund thought +that in another two or three days the galleys would be ready for +launching. They were long and low in the waist, and were evidently +built for great speed. Edmund did not think that they were intended to +sail, except perhaps occasionally when the wind was favourable, as an +aid to the rowers. Each would carry a hundred and fifty men, and there +were thirty seats, so that sixty would row at once. +</P> + +<P> +"They are fine galleys," the Dane whispered. "Sweyn has a good eye for +a boat." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Edmund said, "they look as if they will be very fast. With oars +alone they would leave the Dragon behind, but with sails and oars we +should overhaul them in a wind. I wish it had been otherwise, for if, +when they reach the mouth of the river, there is no wind, they may give +the Dragon the slip. Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is Freda." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke a tall maiden came out from the small hut. The distance was +too great for Edmund to distinguish her features, but he doubted not +from the style of her garments that it was Siegbert's daughter. There +were other women moving about the camp, for the Danes were generally +accompanied by their wives on their expeditions; but there was +something in the carriage and mien of the figure at the door of the hut +which distinguished it from the rest. She did not move far away, but +stood watching the men at work on the ships and the scene around. +Presently a tall figure strode down from the vessels towards her. +</P> + +<P> +"There is Sweyn!" Edmund exclaimed, seeing that the warrior possessed +but one arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! you know him by sight then?" The Dane said. +</P> + +<P> +"I should do so," Edmund answered grimly, "seeing that it was I who +smote off that right arm of his. I regret now that I did not strike at +his head instead." +</P> + +<P> +The Dane looked with admiration and surprise at his leader. He had +heard of the fight between the Saxon champion and Sweyn, which had cost +the latter his right arm, but until now he had been ignorant of +Edmund's identity with Sweyn's conqueror. +</P> + +<P> +Freda did not seek to avoid her captor, but remained standing quietly +until he approached. For some time they conversed; then she turned and +left him and re-entered her hut. Sweyn stood looking after her, and +then with an angry stamp of the foot returned to the galleys. +</P> + +<P> +"I would give much to be able to warn her that I am present and will +follow her until I rescue her from Sweyn," Edmund said. "Once at sea +and on her way south she may well despair of escape, and may consent, +from sheer hopelessness, to become his wife. Were it not that her hut +is so strongly guarded at night I would try to approach it, but as this +cannot be done I must take my chance in the day. To-morrow I will dress +myself in your garments and will hide in the wood as near as I can to +the hut; then if she come out to take the air I will walk boldly out +and speak with her. I see no other way of doing it." +</P> + +<P> +On the following morning, attired in the Dane's clothes and helmet, +Edmund took his place near the edge of the wood. It was not until late +in the afternoon that Freda made her appearance. The moment was +propitious; almost all the men were at work on the ships and their +oars. The women were cooking the evening meal, and there was no one +near Freda, with the exception of the two armed Danes who sat on the +trunk of a fallen tree on guard, a short distance away. Edmund issued +boldly from the wood, and, waiting till Freda's steps, as she passed +backwards and forwards, took her to the farthest point from the guards, +he approached her. +</P> + +<P> +"Freda," he said, "do not start or betray surprise, for you are +watched." +</P> + +<P> +At the sound of his voice the girl had paused in her steps, and +exclaimed in a low voice, "Edmund!" and then, obeying his words, stood +motionless. +</P> + +<P> +"I am near you, dear, and will watch over you. I have not strength to +carry you away; but my ship will be at the mouth of the river as you +pass out. Hang a white cloth from the window of your cabin in the poop +as a signal. If we fail to rescue you there we will follow you +wheresoever you may go, even to Italy, where I hear you are bound. So +keep up a brave heart. I have seen your father, and he has sent me to +save you. See, the guards are approaching, I must go." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund then made for the forest. "Stop there!" the guards cried. "Who +are you, and whence do you come?" +</P> + +<P> +Edmund made no answer, but, quickening his steps, passed among the +trees, and was soon beyond pursuit. This, indeed, the Danes did not +attempt. They had been surprised at seeing, as they supposed, one of +their party addressing Freda, for Sweyn's orders that none should speak +with her were precise. He had given this command because he feared, +that by the promise of rich rewards she might tempt some of his +followers to aid her escape. They had, therefore, risen to interrupt +the conversation, but it was not until they approached that it struck +them that the Northman's face was unfamiliar to them, and that he was +not one of their party, but Edmund had entered the wood before they +recovered from their surprise. Their shouts to him to stop brought +Sweyn to the spot. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"A strange Northman has come out of the wood, and spoken to the lady +Freda." +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn turned to his captive. She stood pale and trembling, for the +shock of the surprise had been a severe one. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is this whom you have spoken to?" he asked. Freda did not answer. +</P> + +<P> +"I insist upon knowing," Sweyn exclaimed angrily. +</P> + +<P> +Freda recovered herself with an effort, and, raising her head, said, +"Your insistence has small effect with me, as you know, Jarl Sweyn; but +as there is no reason for concealment I will tell you. He is a +messenger whom my dear father has sent to me to tell me that some day +he hopes to rescue me from your hands." +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn laughed loudly. +</P> + +<P> +"He might have saved himself the trouble," he said. "Your good father +lies wounded near Paris, and by the time he is able to set out to your +rescue we shall be with Hasting on the sunny waters of Italy, and long +ere that you will, I hope, have abandoned your obstinate disposition, +and consented to be my wife." +</P> + +<P> +Freda did not answer at once. Now that there was a hope of rescue, +however distant, she thought it might be as well to give Sweyn some +faint hope that in time she might yield to his wishes. Then she said: +</P> + +<P> +"I have told you often, jarl, that I will never be your wife, and I do +not think that I shall ever change my mind. It may be that the sunny +skies you speak of may work a wonderful change in me, but that remains +to be seen." Sweyn retired well satisfied. Her words were less defiant +than any she had hitherto addressed to him. As to the message of her +father, who could know nothing of his intention to sail to the +Mediterranean, he thought no further of it. +</P> + +<P> +Three days later the galleys were launched, and after a day spent in +putting everything in its place they started on their way down the +river. They rowed many miles, and at night moored by the bank. After +darkness had fallen a small boat rowed at full speed past them. It paid +no attention to the summons to stop, enforced though it was by several +arrows, but continued its way down the river, and was soon lost in the +darkness. Sweyn was much displeased. As they rowed down they had +carefully destroyed every boat they found on the river, in order that +the news of their coming might not precede them. +</P> + +<P> +"The boat must have been hauled up and hidden," he said; "we might as +well have stopped and landed at some of the villages and replenished +our larder. Now we shall find the small places all deserted, and the +cattle driven away from the river. It is an unfortunate mischance." +</P> + +<P> +As the Northmen anticipated they found the villages they passed the +next day entirely deserted by their inhabitants, and not a head of +cattle was to be seen grazing near the banks. In the afternoon they +came to Liege. The gates were shut, and the walls bristled with spears. +The galleys passed without a stay. Sweyn had other objects in view. Any +booty that might be obtained without severe fighting he would have been +glad enough to gather in; but with a long sea-voyage before him he +cared not to burden his galleys, and his principal desire was to obtain +a sufficient supply of provisions for the voyage. For several days the +galleys proceeded down the river. The villages were all deserted, and +the towns prepared for defence. +</P> + +<P> +When he arrived within a day's journey of the sea he was forced to +halt. Half the crews were left in charge of the ships, and with the +others he led a foray far inland, and after some sharp fighting with +the natives succeeded in driving down a number of cattle to the ships +and in bringing in a store of flour. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund had kept ahead of the galleys, stopping at every town and +village and warning the people of the approach of the marauders. He +reached the mouth of the river two days before them, but to his deep +disappointment saw that the Dragon had not arrived at the rendezvous. +On the following afternoon, however, a distant sail was seen, and as it +approached Edmund and his followers gave a shout of joy as they +recognized the Dragon, which was using her oars as well as sails and +was approaching at full speed. Edmund leaped into the boat and rowed to +meet them, and a shout of welcome arose from the Dragon as the crew +recognized their commander. +</P> + +<P> +"Are we in time?" Egbert shouted. +</P> + +<P> +"Just in time," Edmund replied. "They will be here to-morrow." Edmund +was soon on board, and was astonished at seeing Siegbert standing by +the side of his kinsman. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the news of Freda?" the jarl asked eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"She is well and keeps up a brave heart," Edmund replied. "She has +sworn to kill herself if Sweyn attempts to make her his wife by +violence. I have spoken to her and told her that rescue will come. But +how is it that you are here?" +</P> + +<P> +"After you had left us your good kinsman Egbert suggested to me that I +should take passage in the Dragon. In the first place I should the +sooner see my daughter; and in the next, it would be perilous work, +after the Danish army had left, for a small party of us to traverse +France." +</P> + +<P> +"I would I had thought of it," Edmund said; "but my mind was so +disturbed with the thought of Freda's peril that it had no room for +other matters. And how fares it with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bravely," the Northman replied. "As soon as I sniffed the salt air of +the sea my strength seemed to return to me. My wound is well-nigh +healed; but the joint has stiffened, and my leg will be stiff for the +rest of my life. But that matters little. And now tell me all your +adventures. We have heard from the messenger you sent how shrewdly you +hunted out Sweyn's hiding-place." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII: A LONG CHASE +</H3> + +<P> +The following morning the weather was still and dull. Not a breath of +wind ruffled the surface of the river. +</P> + +<P> +"This is unfortunate," Edmund said to his companion. "Sweyn's galleys +will row faster than we can go with oars alone, and though they may not +know the Dragon they will be sure that she is not one of their own +ships. We must hope that they may attack us." +</P> + +<P> +The day passed on without a sight of the galleys, but late in the +afternoon they were seen in the distance. The Dragon was moored near +the middle of the rivet. Her oars were stowed away, and the crews +ordered to keep below the bulwarks, in hopes that the Danes, seeing but +few men about and taking her for an easy prize, might attack her. When +they approached within half a mile the Danish galleys suddenly ceased +rowing. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that strange-looking vessel?" Sweyn asked the Northmen +standing round him. +</P> + +<P> +"I know her," one of them said, "for I have twice seen her before to my +cost. The first time she chased us hotly at the mouth of the Thames, +destroying several of the vessels with which we were sailing in convoy. +The next time was in the battle where King Alfred defeated us last +year, nearly in the same water. She is a Saxon ship, wondrous fast and +well-handled. She did more damage in the battle than any four of her +consorts." +</P> + +<P> +"Were it not that I have other game in view," Sweyn said, "we would +fight her, for we are two to one and strongly manned, and the Saxon can +scarce carry more men than one of our galleys; but she is not likely to +be worth the lives she would cost us to capture her; therefore we will +e'en let her alone, which will be easy enough, for see that bank of +sea-fog rolling up the river; another ten minutes and we shall not see +across the deck. Give orders to the other galley to lay in oars till +the fog comes, then to make for the left bank of the river and to drift +with the tide close inshore. Let none speak a word, and silence be kept +until they hear my horn. I will follow the right bank till we reach the +mouth." +</P> + +<P> +Freda was standing near and heard these orders with a sinking heart. +She had no doubt that Edmund was on board the Saxon ship, and she had +looked forward with confidence to be delivered from her captor; but now +it seemed that owing to the evil change of the weather the hope was to +be frustrated. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and the Saxons had viewed with consternation the approach of the +sea-fog. The instant it enveloped the ship the oars were got out and +they rowed in the direction of the Danish vessels, which they hoped +would drop anchor when the fog reached them. Not a word was spoken on +board the Dragon. Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert stood on the forecastle +intently listening for any sound which would betray the position of the +Danes, but not a sound was to be heard. They had, they calculated, +already reached the spot where the Dane should have been anchored when +from the left, but far away astern, a loud call in a woman's voice was +heard. +</P> + +<P> +"That must be Freda!" Edmund exclaimed. "Turn the ship; they have +passed us in the fog." +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon's head was turned and she was rowed rapidly in the direction +of the voice. No further sound was heard. Presently there was a sudden +shock which threw everyone on to the deck. The Dragon had run high on +the low muddy bank of the river. The tide was falling; and although for +a few minutes the crew tried desperately to push her off they soon +found that their efforts were in vain, and it was not until the tide +again rose high nine hours later that the Dragon floated. Until morning +broke nothing could be done, and even when it did so matters were not +mended, for the fog was still dense. +</P> + +<P> +The disappointment of Edmund and Siegbert at the escape of the Danes +was extreme. Their plans had been so well laid that when it was found +that the Dragon had arrived in time no doubts were entertained of the +success of the enterprise, and to be foiled just when Freda seemed +within reach was a terrible disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +"My only consolation is," Edmund said as he paced the deck impatiently +side by side with Egbert, "that this fog which delays us will also +hinder the Danes." +</P> + +<P> +"That may be so or it may not," Egbert answered. "It is evident that +some on board the Danish ships must have recognized us, and that they +were anxious to escape rather than fight. They draw so little water +that they would not be afraid of the sandbanks off the mouth of the +river, seeing that even if they strike them they can jump out, lighten +the boats, and push them off; and once well out at sea it is probable +that they may get clearer weather, for Siegbert tells me that the fog +often lies thick at the mouths of these rivers when it is clear enough +in the open sea." +</P> + +<P> +When the tide again began to run out Edmund determined at all risks to +proceed to sea. The moorings were cast off from the shore and the +Dragon suffered to drift down. Men with poles took their stations in +her bows and sounded continually, while at her stern two anchors were +prepared in readiness to drop at a moment's notice. Several times the +water shoaled so much that Edmund was on the point of giving orders to +drop the anchors, but each time it deepened again. +</P> + +<P> +So they continued drifting until they calculated that the tide must be +nearly on the turn, and they then dropped anchor. It was much lighter +now than it had been in the river, but was still so misty that they +could not see more than a hundred yards or so round the vessel. No +change took place until night, and then Edmund, who had been too +excited and anxious to sleep on the previous night, lay down to rest, +ordering that he should be woke if any change took place in the +weather. As the sun rose next morning the fog gradually lifted, and +they were able to see where they were. Their head pointed west; far +away on their left could be seen a low line of coast. Not a sail was in +sight, and indeed sails would have been useless, for the water was +still unruffled by a breath of wind. The anchors were at once got up +and the oars manned, and the ship's head turned towards shore. +</P> + +<P> +Two hours' rowing took them within a short distance of land, and +keeping about a mile out they rowed to the west. The men, knowing how +anxious was their leader to overtake the Danish galleys, rowed their +hardest, relieving each other by turns, so that half the oars were +constantly going. Without intermission they rowed until night set in, +and then cast anchor. When the wind came—it was not until the third +day—it was ahead, and instead of helping the Dragon it greatly impeded +its progress. +</P> + +<P> +So far they had seen nothing of the galleys, and had the mortification +of knowing that in spite of all their efforts these were probably +gaining ground upon them every day. Even without wind the galleys would +row faster than the Dragon, and being so fully manned would be able to +keep all their oars going; but against the wind their advantage would +be increased greatly, for lying low in the water they would offer but +little resistance to it, and would be able to make way at a brisk pace, +while the Dragon could scarce move against it. +</P> + +<P> +The Saxon ship was off Calais when the breeze sprang up, and as it +increased and their progress became slower and slower Edmund held a +consultation with his companions and it was determined to run across +the channel and lie in the mouth of the Thames till the wind turned. So +long as it continued to blow they would lag farther and farther behind +the chase, who might, moreover enter any of the rivers in search of +shelter or provisions, and so escape their pursuers altogether. +Siegbert had never been up the Mediterranean, but he had talked with +many Danes who had been. These had told him that the best course was to +sail west to the extremity of England, then to steer due south until +they came upon the north coast of Spain. They would follow this to its +western extremity; and then run south, following the land till they +came to a channel some ten miles wide, which formed the entrance to the +Mediterranean. +</P> + +<P> +They decided, therefore, to follow this course in hopes of interrupting +the galleys there; they would thus avoid the dangerous navigation of +the west coast of France, where there were known to be many islands and +rocks, around which the tides ran with great fury. For a fortnight the +Dragon lay windbound; then came two days of calm; and then, to their +delight, the pennon on the top of the mast blew out from the east. +</P> + +<P> +They were lying in the mouth of the Colne, and would therefore have no +difficulty in making the Foreland; and with her sail set and her oars +out the Dragon dashed away from her moorings. Swiftly they ran round +the south-easterly point of England and then flew before the breeze +along the southern coast. On the third day they were off Land's End and +hauled her head to the south. The east wind held, the Bay of Biscay was +calm, and after a rapid voyage they sighted the high lands of Spain +ahead. Then they sheered to the west till they rounded its extremity +and then sailed down the coast of Spain. They put into a river for +provisions, and the natives assembled in great numbers on the banks +with the evident intention of opposing a landing; but upon Egbert +shouting that they were not Danes but Saxons, and were ready to barter +for the provisions they required, the natives allowed them to approach. +There was no wrangling for terms. Cattle were purchased, and the +water-tanks filled up, and a few hours after entering the river the +Dragon was again under way. Rounding the southern point they followed +the land. After a day's sailing they perceived land on their right, and +gave a shout of joy at the thought that they had arrived at the +entrance of the straits. At nightfall they dropped anchor. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you looking at, Siegbert?" Edmund asked, seeing the jarl +looking thoughtfully at the anchor-chain as the ship swung round. +</P> + +<P> +"I am thinking," the jarl said, "that we must have made some error. Do +you not see that she rides, just as we were sailing, with her head to +the north-east? That shows that the current is against us." +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly it does," Edmund said; "but the current is a very slack one, +for the ropes are not tight." +</P> + +<P> +"But that agrees not," Siegbert said, "with what I have been told. In +the first place, this channel points to the northeast, whereas, as I +have heard, the straits into the Mediterranean run due east. In the +next place, those who have been through have told me that there are no +tides as in the northern seas, but that the current runs ever like a +river to the east." +</P> + +<P> +"If that be so," Edmund said, "we must have mistaken our way, for here +what current there is runs to the west. To-morrow morning, instead of +proceeding farther, we will cross to the opposite side, and will follow +that down until we strike upon the right channel." +</P> + +<P> +In the morning sail was again made, and crossing what was really the +Bay of Cadiz they sailed on till they arrived at the mouth of the +straits. There was no doubt now that they were right. The width of the +channel, its direction, and the steady current through it, all +corresponded with what Siegbert had heard, and proceeding a mile along +it they cast anchor. +</P> + +<P> +They soon opened communications with the natives, who, although +speaking a tongue unknown to them, soon comprehended by their gestures +and the holding up of articles of barter that their intentions were +friendly. Trade was established, and there was now nothing to do but to +await the coming of the galleys. +</P> + +<P> +"I would," Edmund said, as, when evening was closing, he looked across +the straits at the low hills on the opposite side, "that this passage +was narrower. Sweyn will, doubtless, have men on board his ship who +have sailed in these seas before, and will not need to grope his way +along as we have done. If he enters the straits at night we shall see +nothing of him, and the current runs so fast that he would sweep +speedily by. It is possible, indeed, that he has already passed. If he +continued to row down the shores of France all the time we were lying +wind-bound he would have had so long a start when the east wind began +to blow, that, although the galleys carry but little sail, they might +well have been here some days before us. Sweyn would be anxious to join +Hasting as soon as he could. The men would be thirsting for booty, and +would make but short halt anywhere. I will stay but a week. If in that +time they come not we will enter this southern sea and seek the fleet +of Hasting. When we find that we shall find Sweyn; but I fear that the +search will be a long one, for these people speak not our tongue, and +we shall have hard work in gaining tidings of the whereabouts of the +Northmen's fleet." +</P> + +<P> +Day and night a vigilant watch was kept up from the mast-head of the +Dragon, but without success. Each day they became more and more +convinced that Sweyn must be ahead of them, and on the morning of the +seventh they lifted their anchor and proceeded through the straits. +Many had been the consultations between Edmund and his friends, and it +had been determined at last to sail direct for Rome. Siegbert knew that +by sailing somewhat to the north of east, after issuing from the +passage, they would in time arrive at Italy. +</P> + +<P> +At Rome there was a monastery of Saxon monks, and through them they +would be able to obtain full information as to the doings and +whereabouts of the squadron of Hasting. Scarcely were they through the +straits than the wind, veering to the south-east, prevented them from +making the course they had fixed upon, but they were able to coast +along by the shore of Spain. They put into several small ports as they +cruised up, but could obtain no intelligence of the Danes, being unable +to converse except by signs. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached Marseilles they were pleased to meet with Franks, +with whom they could converse, and hired a pilot acquainted with the +coasts of the Mediterranean. They learned that Hasting and his fleet +had harried the coasts of Provence and Italy; that the Genoese galleys +had had several engagements with them, but had been worsted. +</P> + +<P> +The Danish fleet was now off the coast of Sicily, and the Northmen were +ravaging that rich and fertile island. They were reported to have even +threatened to ascend the Tiber and to burn Rome. Having obtained the +services of a man who spoke both the Italian and Frankish tongues, +Edmund started again. He first went to Genoa, as he thought that the +people there might be despatching another fleet against the Northmen in +which case he would have joined himself to them. On his arrival there +he was well entertained by the Genoese when they learned, through the +interpreter, who they were, and that they had come from England as +enemies of the Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and his Saxons were much surprised at the splendour of Genoa, +which immensely surpassed anything they had hitherto seen in the +magnificence of its buildings, the dress and appearance of its +inhabitants, the variety of the goods displayed by the traders, and the +wealth and luxury which distinguished it. It was indeed their first +sight of civilization, and Edmund felt how vastly behind was Northern +Europe, and understood for the first time Alfred's extreme eagerness to +raise the condition of his people. On the other hand, the Genoese were +surprised at the dress and appearance of the Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +The crew of the Dragon were picked men, and their strength and stature, +the width of their shoulders, and the muscles of their arms, and, above +all, their fair hair and blue eyes, greatly astonished the Genoese. +Edmund and his companions might have remained in Genoa and received +entertainment and hospitality from its people for a long time; but +after a stay of a day or two, and having obtained the various stores +necessary for their voyage, Edmund determined to proceed. Three of the +young Genoese nobles, fired by the story which they heard of the +adventures which the Dragon had gone through, and desirous of taking +part in any action which she might fight against the Danes, begged +leave to accompany them. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund gladly acceded to the request, as their presence would be of +great utility in other ports at which the Dragon might touch. At Genoa +Edmund procured garments for his men similar to those worn by the +Italian soldiers and sailors, and here he sold to the gold and +silversmiths a large number of articles of value which they had +captured from the Danes, or with which the Count Eudes and the people +of Paris had presented them. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon differed but little in appearance from the galleys of the +Genoese, and Edmund determined when he approached the shores where the +Northmen were plundering to pass as a Genoese ship, for should the news +come to Sweyn's ears that a Saxon galley was in the Mediterranean it +might put him on his guard, as he would believe that she was specially +in pursuit of his own vessel. +</P> + +<P> +On arriving at the mouth of the Tiber the Dragon ascended the river and +anchored under the walls of the imperial city. The Genoese nobles had +many friends and relations there, and Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert were +at once installed as guests in a stately palace. +</P> + +<P> +The pope, upon hearing that the strange galley which had anchored in +the river was a Saxon, sent an invitation to its commander to visit +him, and Edmund and his kinsman were taken by their Italian friends to +his presence. The pope received them most graciously, and after +inquiring after King Alfred and the state of things in England, asked +how it was that a Saxon ship had made so long a voyage. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund explained that he was in search of a Danish damsel who had once +shown him great kindness, and who had been carried off from her father +by one of the vikings of Hasting's fleet. When he said that they had +taken part in the defence of Paris the holy father told him that he now +recognized his name, for that a full account of the siege had been sent +to him by one of the monks there, and that he had spoken much of the +valour of a Saxon captain and the crew of his galley, to whom indeed +their successful resistance to the Northmen was in no slight degree due. +</P> + +<P> +"Would I could aid you, my son, in your enterprise against these +northern pirates. The depredations which they are committing on the +shores of Italy are terrible indeed, and we are powerless to resist +them; they have even threatened to ascend the Tiber and attack Rome, +and though I trust that we might resist their attacks, yet rather than +such misfortune as a siege should fall upon my people I have paid a +large sum of money to the leader of the Northmen to abstain from coming +hither; but I know that the greed of these pirates does but increase +with their gains, and that ere long we may see their pagan banner +floated before our walls. A few galleys I could man and place under +your orders, but in truth the people of this town are not skilled in +naval fighting. I have already endeavoured to unite the states of +Genoa, Pisa, and Venice against them, for it is only by common effort +that we can hope to overwhelm these wolves of the sea." +</P> + +<P> +Edmund expressed his thanks to the pope for his offer, but said that he +would rather proceed with the Dragon alone. +</P> + +<P> +"She is to the full as swift as the Northmen's vessels," he said; "and +although I would right gladly join any great fleet which might be +assembled for an attack upon them, I would rather proceed alone than +with a few other ships. Not being strong enough to attack their whole +armament I must depend upon stratagem to capture the galley of which I +am specially in pursuit, and will with your permission set out as soon +as I have transformed my ship so that she will pass muster as a galley +of Genoa or Venice." +</P> + +<P> +The holy father gave orders that every assistance should be afforded to +Edmund to carry out his designs, and the next morning a large number of +artisans and workmen took possession of the Dragon. She was painted +from stem to stern with bright colours. Carved wood-work was added to +her forecastle and poop, and a great deal of gilding overlaid upon her. +The shape of her bow was altered, and so transformed was she that none +would have known her for the vessel which had entered the Tiber, and +she would have passed without observation as a galley of Genoa. +</P> + +<P> +A number of prisoners accustomed to row in the state galleys were +placed on board to work the oars, thus leaving the whole of the crew +available for fighting purposes, and a state officer was put in command +of these galley-slaves. The ship was well stored with provisions, and +after a farewell interview with the pope, Edmund and his companions +returned on board ship, and the Dragon took her way down the river. +</P> + +<P> +The fleet of the Northmen was at Palermo, and keeping under the land, +the Saxon ship sailed down the coast of Calabria, and at night crossed +near the mouth of the straits to the shore of Sicily. They entered a +quiet bay, and Edmund dressed as a Dane, with the two Northmen who had +accompanied him from Paris, landed and journeyed on foot to Palermo. +</P> + +<P> +Everywhere they came upon scenes similar to those with which they were +familiar in France. Villages burned and destroyed, houses deserted, +orchards and crops wasted, and a country destitute of inhabitants, all +having fled to the mountains to escape the invader. They did not meet +with a single person upon their journey. When they approached Palermo +they waited until nightfall, and then boldly entered the town. Here the +most intense state of misery prevailed. Many of the inhabitants had +fled before the arrival of the Danes, but those who remained were kept +in a state of cruel subjection by their conquerors, who brutally +oppressed and ill-used them, making free with all their possessions and +treating them as slaves. +</P> + +<P> +The Danes entered into conversation with some of their countrymen, and +professing to have that evening but newly arrived from home, learned +much of the disposition of the fleet of the Northmen. They pretended +that they were desirous of joining the galleys under the command of +Sweyn, and were told that these had arrived three weeks before, and +were now absent with some others on the southern side of the island. +</P> + +<P> +Having obtained this information, Edmund and his companions started +without delay to rejoin the Dragon. Upon reaching her she at once put +to sea. Palermo was passed in the night, and the vessel held her way +down the western coast of Sicily. She was now under sail alone, and +each night lay up at anchor in order that she might not pass the Danish +galleys unobserved. On the third day after passing Palermo, several +galleys were seen riding off a small port. The wind was very light, and +after a consultation with his friends Edmund determined to simulate +flight so as to tempt the Danes to pursue, for with so light a breeze +their smaller galleys would row faster than the Dragon; besides, it was +possible that Sweyn might be on shore. +</P> + +<P> +It was early morning when the Danish galleys were seen, and apparently +the crews were still asleep, for no movement on board was visible, and +the Dragon sailed back round a projecting point of land and then cast +anchor. It was so important to learn whether Sweyn was with Freda on +board his ship, or whether, as was likely, he had established himself +on shore, that it was decided it would be better to send the two Danes +to reconnoitre before determining what plan should be adopted. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII: FREDA DISCOVERED +</H3> + +<P> +The spies upon their return reported that Sweyn had taken up his abode +in the mansion of the Count of Ugoli, who was the lord of that part of +the country. Most of the Danes lived on shore in the houses of the +townspeople. Many of these had been slain, and the rest were treated as +slaves. The lady Freda was also on shore, and it was thought that she +would ere long become the bride of the Viking. +</P> + +<P> +"Think you that there will be any possibility of surprising the house +and carrying her off?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think not," the Dane said, "for Sweyn's men are on the alert, and +keep good guard, for the people of this part of the island, being +maddened by their exactions and cruelty, have banded themselves +together; and although they cannot withstand the strong parties which +go out in search of plunder they cut off stragglers, and have made +several attacks on small parties. It is thought that they may even +venture an attack upon the place at night, therefore sentries are set, +and a portion of the force remains always under arms in readiness to +sally out in case of alarm." +</P> + +<P> +"I would fain go myself," Edmund said, "and see how matters stand, and +try to communicate with Freda. It may be that her long resistance has +tired her out, and that she is at the point of consenting to become +Sweyn's bride." +</P> + +<P> +"I think not that," Siegbert replied. "When Freda has once made up her +mind she is not given to change." +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt not her resolution," Edmund said; "but none can blame her if, +after all these months, she has begun to despair of rescue; nay, it is +even probable that, having Sweyn, who is assuredly a brave and +enterprising Viking, always near her, she may have come to love him." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Edmund," Siegbert replied. "I am sure you need have no fear that +she has softened towards Sweyn. But how do you think of proceeding if +you land?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will take with me this Dane, and if one of the Genoese nobles will +go with me I will take him, and also the man we brought from +Marseilles, who acts as an interpreter between us and the Italians." +</P> + +<P> +"But why hamper yourself with two men, who would be even more likely to +be detected by the Danes than would you yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall leave them in the outskirts of the place," Edmund replied. "I +would fain see if I can enter into any negotiations with the natives. +Perhaps we may arrange that they shall attack the place on the land +side, while the Dragon falls upon the galleys, and in any case we may +need an interpreter with the people." +</P> + +<P> +One of the young Genoese, upon being asked whether he would take part +in the adventure, at once consented, and the four men, attiring +themselves as Danes, speedily landed in the Dragon's boat. The bay in +which the ship was lying was some ten miles along the shore from the +town. The spies had made their way along the sea-coast by night, but as +it was morning when Edmund landed, he thought that it would be safer to +make a detour so as to arrive near the landward side of the town and so +enter it after dark. +</P> + +<P> +They had not proceeded far when they came upon the ruins of a village. +It had been destroyed by fire, and the freshness of the charred beams +showed that it had been done but a short time before, probably not many +days. Marks of blood could be seen in the roadway, but no bodies were +visible, and Edmund supposed that, after the Danes had retired, the +survivors must have returned and buried their dead. They had not +proceeded far when the Dane pointed out to Edmund a half-naked lad who +was running with the swiftness of a deer over a slope of some little +distance. +</P> + +<P> +"He is going too fast for us to catch him," Edmund said carelessly; +"and as, even if we did so, he could give us no information of any use, +for you may be sure he has not ventured near the town, we may well let +him go on in his way." +</P> + +<P> +For three or four miles further they pursued their course. The country, +which was exceedingly fertile, and covered with corn-fields and +vineyards, appeared entirely deserted. Here and there a wide blackened +tract showed where, from carelessness or malice, a brand had been +thrown into the standing corn. +</P> + +<P> +"The Danes are ever the same," Edmund said. "Well may they be called +the sea-wolves. It would be bad enough did they only plunder and kill +those who oppose them; but they destroy from the pure love of +destroying, and slay for the pleasure of slaying. Why are these robbers +permitted to be the scourge of Europe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why indeed?" the Genoese repeated when the interpreter had translated +Edmund's exclamation to him. "'Tis shame and disgrace that Christendom +does not unite against them. They are no more invincible now than they +were when Caesar overran their country and brought them into +subjection. What the Romans could do then would be easy for the +Christian powers to do now if they would but make common cause against +these marauders—nay, Italy alone should be able at any rate to sweep +the Mediterranean free of their pirate galleys; but Venice and Genoa +and Pisa are consumed by their own petty jealousies and quarrels, while +all our sea-coasts are ravaged by these wolves of the ocean." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! what is that?" he exclaimed, breaking off, as an arrow struck +smartly against his helmet. +</P> + +<P> +They were at the moment passing through a small wood which bordered the +road on both sides. The first arrow seemed but a signal, for in an +instant a score of others flew among the party. It was well that they +carried with them the long Danish shields, which nearly covered their +whole body. As it was, several slight wounds were inflicted, and the +interpreter fell dead with an arrow in his forehead. +</P> + +<P> +Immediately following the flight of arrows a crowd of peasants armed +with staves, axes, and pikes dashed out from the wood on both sides and +fell upon them, uttering shouts of "Death to the marauders!" "Kill the +sea-wolves!" +</P> + +<P> +So great was the din, that, although the Genoese shouted loudly that +they were not Danes but friends, his words were unheard in the din; and +attacked fiercely on all sides, the three men were forced to defend +themselves for their lives. Standing back to back in the form of a +triangle, they defended themselves valiantly against the desperate +attacks of their assailants. +</P> + +<P> +Several of these were cut down, but so furious was the attack of the +maddened peasants that the defenders were borne down by the weight of +numbers, and one by one beaten to the ground. Then the peasants rained +blows upon them as if they had been obnoxious wild beasts, and in spite +of their armour would speedily have slain them had not the Genoese, +with a great effort, pulled from his breast a cross, which was +suspended there by a silken cord, and held it up, shouting, "We are +Christians, we are Italians, and no Danes." +</P> + +<P> +So surprised were the peasants at the sight that they recoiled from +their victims. The Dane was already insensible. Edmund had just +strength to draw his dagger and hold up the cross hilt and repeat the +words, "We are Christians." It was the sight of the cross rather than +the words which had arrested the attacks of the peasants. Indeed, the +words of the Genoese were scarce understood by them, so widely did +their own patois differ from the language of polished Italy. +</P> + +<P> +The fact, however, that these Danes were Christians seemed so +extraordinary to them that they desisted from their attack. The Danes, +they knew, were pagans and bitterly hostile to Christianity, the +monasteries and priests being special objects of their hostility. The +suggestion of one of the peasants, that the cross had no doubt been +taken from the body of some man murdered by the Danes, revived the +passion of the rest and nearly cost the prisoners their lives; but an +older man who seemed to have a certain authority over the others said +that the matter must be inquired into, especially as the man who had +the cross, and who continued to address them in Italian, clearly spoke +some language approaching their own. He would have questioned him +further, but the Genoese was now rapidly losing consciousness from the +pain of his wounds and the loss of blood. +</P> + +<P> +The three prisoners were therefore bound, and being placed on rough +litters constructed of boughs, were carried off by the peasants. The +strength and excellence of Edmund's armour had enabled him to withstand +the blows better than his companions, and he retained his consciousness +of what was passing. For three hours their journey continued. At the +end of that time they entered a wood high up on the hillside. There was +a great clamour of voices round, and he judged that his conductors had +met another party and that they were at the end of their journey. +</P> + +<P> +The litters were now laid down and Edmund struggled to his feet. Before +him stood a tall and handsome man in the attire of a person of the +upper class. The old peasant was explaining to him the manner of their +capture of the prisoners, and the reason why they had spared their +lives. +</P> + +<P> +"How is it," the noble asked when he had finished, turning to Edmund, +"that you who are Danes and pagans, plunderers and murderers, claim to +be Christians?" +</P> + +<P> +Edmund did not understand the entire address, but he had already picked +up a little Italian, which was not difficult for him from his +acquaintance with French. +</P> + +<P> +"We are not Danes," he said; "we are their enemies, I am a Saxon earl, +and this my friend is a noble of Genoa." +</P> + +<P> +"A Saxon!" the Italian exclaimed in surprise; "one of the people of +King Alfred, and this a Genoese noble! How is it that you are +masquerading here as Danes?" +</P> + +<P> +"I speak but a few words of Italian," Edmund said, "but my friend will +tell you the whole story when he recovers. I pray you to order aid to +be given to him at once." +</P> + +<P> +Although still at a loss to understand how it had come about, the Count +of Ugoli—for it was that noble himself—saw that his prisoner's +statement must be a true one. In their native patois he hastily told +the peasants that there must be some mistake, and that although their +prisoners seemed to be Danes they were really Christians and friends. +He bade them then instantly to strip off their armour, to bind up their +wounds, and to use all their efforts to restore them to life. +</P> + +<P> +At his bidding one of the peasants brought a wine-skin, and filling a +large cup with the liquid, offered it to Edmund. The latter drained it +at a draught, for he was devoured by a terrible thirst. After this he +felt revived, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing his comrades +recovering under the ministrations of the peasants, who chafed their +hands, applied cool poultices of bruised leaves to their bruises, and +poured wine down their throats. +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour the Genoese was sufficiently recovered to be able to +sit up and to give a full account of their presence there, and of their +object in assuming the disguise of Danes. He then told the count that +Edmund intended to reconnoitre the place alone, and that he hoped he +and his people would attack the town, while the Saxons in their galley +made an assault from the sea. The count replied that the peasantry +could not be induced to take such a step. +</P> + +<P> +"I will, however, aid your friend," he said, "by a feigned attack +to-morrow evening when he is there. This may help him to escape, and if +the Danes sally out next day in pursuit there will be the fewer for him +to cope with." +</P> + +<P> +When Edmund awoke the next morning he found himself able to walk and +move without difficulty and with but little pain, thanks to the care of +the peasants, and in the afternoon, being furnished by the count with a +guide, he started for the town. +</P> + +<P> +When he arrived within a short distance he dismissed his guide and lay +down in some bushes till nightfall, then he rose and made his way into +the town, passing unobserved between the watch-fires made by the +parties of Danes encamped in its outskirts to protect it against +surprise. Once in the town, he walked boldly on, having no fear of +recognition or question. +</P> + +<P> +Sounds of carousing came through the open casements, but few people +were in its streets. He made his way down to the sea-shore, which he +followed until he came to a large and stately mansion standing in +beautifully laid out gardens at the end of the town. Several tents were +erected in the garden; and although the night was not cold great fires +had been lighted, around which the Danes were carousing. +</P> + +<P> +Avoiding these Edmund walked up to the open windows. The first room he +looked into was deserted, but in the next, which was a large apartment, +a number of Danes were seated at table. At its head sat Sweyn with +Freda on his right hand. Around were a number of his leading men, the +captains of the galleys and their wives. The meal was over, and the +winecup was passing round. A number of attendants moved about the room, +and many of the warriors who had supped elsewhere stood around the +table, joining in the conversation and taking their share of the wine. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund saw at once that he could not hope for a more favourable +opportunity, and he accordingly entered the mansion, and, passing +through the open door, joined the party within, keeping himself in rear +of those standing round the table, so that the light from the lamps +placed there should not fall upon his face. +</P> + +<P> +Just as he had taken his place, Sweyn called out: "Let us have a song. +Odoacre the minstrel, do you sing to us the song of the Raven." +</P> + +<P> +A minstrel bearing a small harp advanced into the centre of the +horse-shoe table, and after striking a chord, began to sing, or rather +to chant one of the favourite songs of the sea-rovers. +</P> + +<P> +A shout of applause rose from the Danes as the minstrel ceased, and +holding their goblets high above their heads, they drank to the Raven. +</P> + +<P> +While the singing was going on Edmund quietly made his way round to one +of the open windows. It was the hour at which the count had promised to +make his attack, and he listened eagerly for any sound which might tell +that the peasants had begun their work. Other songs followed the first, +and Edmund began to be afraid that the courage of the peasants had +failed at the last moment. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly he saw lights appear at five or six points in the distance, +and, putting his head out, he thought he could hear distant cries and +shouts. The lights grew brighter, and soon broad tongues of flame shot +up. Shouts at once arose from the guards without. Some of the revellers +hearing these went to the windows to see what was happening, and gave a +cry of alarm. "Sweyn, we must be attacked; fires are rising in the +outskirts of the town." +</P> + +<P> +"These cowards would never venture to disturb us," Sweyn said +scornfully; "of all the foes we have ever met none were so feeble and +timid as these Italians." +</P> + +<P> +"But see, Sweyn, the flames are rising from eight points; this cannot +be accident." +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn rose from his seat and went to the window. +</P> + +<P> +"No, by Wodin," he exclaimed, "there is mischief here; let us arm +ourselves, and do you," he said, turning to a young man, "run swiftly +to the outposts, and learn what is the meaning of this." +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely, however, had he spoken when a man ran breathlessly into the +hall. +</P> + +<P> +"Haste to the front, jarl," he said to Sweyn, "we are attacked. Some of +the enemy creeping in between our fires set fire to the houses in the +outskirts, and as we leapt to our feet in astonishment at the sudden +outbreak, they fell upon us. Many of my comrades were killed with the +first discharge of arrows, then they rushed on in such numbers that +many more were slain, and the rest driven in. How it fares with the +other posts I know not, but methinks they were all attacked at the same +moment. I waited not to see, for my captain bade me speed here with the +news." +</P> + +<P> +"Sound the horn of assembly," Sweyn said. "Do you, Oderic, take twenty +of the guard without, and at once conduct the ladies here to the boats +and get them on board the galleys. Let all others hasten to the scene +of attack. But I can hardly even now believe that this coward herd +intend to attack us in earnest." +</P> + +<P> +In the confusion which reigned as the warriors were seizing their +shields and arms, Edmund approached Freda, who had with the rest risen +from her seat. +</P> + +<P> +"The Dragon is at hand," he whispered; "in a few hours we will attack +Sweyn's galley; barricade yourself in your cabin until the fight is +over." +</P> + +<P> +Freda gave a little start as Edmund's first words reached her ear. Then +she stood still and silent. She felt her hand taken and pressed, and +glancing round, met Edmund's eye for a moment just as he turned and +joined the Danes who were leaving the hall. A minute later Oderic +entered with the guard, and at once escorted the women down to the +boats, and rowed them off to the galleys. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn and the main body of the Danes rushed impetuously to the +outskirts of the town. The fighting was already at an end, the peasants +having withdrawn after their first success. Two or three of the parties +round the watch-fires had been annihilated before they could offer any +effectual resistance, others had beaten off the attack, and had fallen +back in good order to the houses, losing, however, many men on the way +from the arrows which their assailants shot among them. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn and the Norsemen were furious at the loss they had suffered; but +as pursuit would have been useless, there was nothing to be done for +the present, and after posting strong guards in case the attack should +be renewed, the Danish leaders returned to the banqueting hall, where, +over renewed draughts of wine, a council was held. +</P> + +<P> +Most of those present were in favour of sending out a strong expedition +on the following day to avenge the attack; but Sweyn argued that it +might be that the natives had assembled from all parts of the island, +and that this sudden attack, the like of which had not been attempted +before, was perhaps made only to draw them out into an ambush or to +attack the town in their absence. Therefore he urged it was better to +delay making an expedition for a short time, when they would find the +enemy unprepared. +</P> + +<P> +After some discussion Sweyn's arguments prevailed, and it was +determined to postpone the expedition for a few days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX: UNITED +</H3> + +<P> +No sooner did Edmund find himself outside the mansion than he separated +himself from the Danes, and following the sea-shore, set out on his +return to the Dragon. The tide was out, and although the night was dark +he had no difficulty in finding his way along the shore, keeping close +to the margin of the waves. When he approached the headland he was +forced to take to the land, as the waves beat against the foot of the +rock. Guided by the stars he made his way across the cape and came down +on to the shore of the bay. +</P> + +<P> +A light was burning on the poop of the Dragon, and his hail was at once +answered. A few minutes later a boat touched the shore beside him, and +he was soon on board the ship, and at once held council with Egbert and +Siegbert, to whom he related all that had happened. He learned from +them that his two wounded comrades had been brought down to the beach +that evening by the country people, and had told them how narrow an +escape they had had of death at the hands of the enraged peasants. +</P> + +<P> +After a discussion of all the different plans upon which they might +act, it was determined that the attempt to rescue Freda should be made +at once, as they considered it certain that Sweyn with a large portion +of his band would set out at daybreak to take vengeance upon the +natives. +</P> + +<P> +The plan decided upon was that they should proceed along the shore, and +that if the Danish galleys, being undermanned, did not put out in +pursuit, they should sail in and attack them. The Danes were indeed +greatly superior in force, for they had counted the ships, the smallest +of which would carry a hundred men. Still in the absence of a portion +of their crews, and from the effects of surprise, they thought that +success was possible. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning sail was hoisted, and the Dragon made her way along +the coast. The hour was later than that at which she had shown herself +on the previous day. She sailed on until within two miles of the town, +and then suddenly turned her head seaward, as if she had only then +perceived the Danish vessels. The instant she did so a great bustle was +observed among them. Many boats were seen pushing off from shore +crowded with men, oars were got out, and sails loosed. +</P> + +<P> +"From the number of men who are crowding on board," Egbert said, "I +believe that Sweyn cannot have started in pursuit of the natives; in +that case we shall have a hard fight of it." +</P> + +<P> +"So much the better," Siegbert exclaimed. "I should consider our task +was half accomplished if we rescued Freda without punishing Sweyn. Let +them come," he said, shaking his battle-axe at the galleys. "Though my +leg is stiff my arms are not, as Sweyn shall learn if I meet him." +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon's oars were now put out and the galley-slaves began to row, +the Saxons concealing themselves behind the bulwarks. In a few minutes +the whole of the Danish galleys were unmoored and started in the +pursuit of the supposed Italian vessel. The breeze was light, but +somewhat helped the Dragon. Four of the Northmen vessels were large +ships with sails, and these speedily fell behind, but the others with +their oars gained slowly on the Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund saw with satisfaction that the two galleys of Sweyn, which he at +once recognized, were somewhat faster than their consorts, and the +slaves were made to row as hard as they could in order to prolong the +chase as much as possible, by which means Sweyn's galleys would be the +further separated from the others. +</P> + +<P> +After the pursuit had been continued for some miles Sweyn's galleys +were but a few hundred yards in the rear, and were nearly a quarter of +a mile ahead of those of their comrades, which had gained but little +upon the Dragon since the chase began. Edmund ordered the men to cease +rowing, as if despairing of escape. The Genoese took their station on +the poop, and as Sweyn's galley came rushing up they shouted to it that +they would surrender if promised their lives. The Northmen answered +with a shout of triumph and derision, and dashed alongside. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn's own galley was slightly in advance of the others. Edmund +ordered the oars to be pulled in as the Northmen came up, so as to +allow them to come alongside. Not a word was spoken on board the Dragon +till the Danes, leaving their oars, swarmed up the side headed by Sweyn +himself. Then Edmund gave a shout, the Saxons leaped to their feet, and +raising their battle-cry fell upon the astonished Danes. +</P> + +<P> +Those who had climbed up were instantly cut down or hurled back into +their own galley, and the Saxons leaping down, a tremendous fight +ensued. Edmund with Siegbert and half his crew boarded the Dane close +to the poop, and so cut the Northmen off from that part of the vessel, +while Egbert with the rest boarded farther forward. The Danes would +have been speedily overpowered had not the second galley arrived upon +the spot; and these, seeing the combat which was raging, at once leaped +upon Sweyn's galley. With this accession of force, although numbers of +the Danes had fallen in the first attack, they still outnumbered the +Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn, heading his men, made a desperate effort to drive back Edmund's +party. His men, however, fought less bravely than usual. Their +astonishment at finding the ship which they had regarded as an easy +prize manned by Saxons was overwhelming, and the sight of Siegbert, +whom many of them knew, in the front rank of their enemies added to +their confusion. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn himself, as he recognized Edmund, at once made at him, and, +wielding a heavy axe in his left hand, strove to cut him down; and +Edmund, strong and skilful as he was, had great difficulty in parrying +the blows which the Northman rained upon him. The combat, however, was +decided by Siegbert, who hurled his javelin at Sweyn, the weapon +passing completely through his body. +</P> + +<P> +Sweyn fell on the deck with a crash. +</P> + +<P> +The Northmen, dispirited at the fall of their leader, hesitated, and as +the Saxons sprang upon them turned and fled into the other galley. The +door of the poop opened and Freda flew into her father's arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick, Siegbert, to the Dragon!" Edmund cried, and shouted orders to +his men. "There is not a moment to be lost. The other galleys are just +upon us!" +</P> + +<P> +The Saxons rushed back to the Dragon; the oars were thrust out again, +and the vessel got under weigh just as the other Danish galleys arrived +on the spot. While some of the Saxons poured volleys of arrows and +javelins into the Northmen, the others at Edmund's order leaped down +and double-banked the oars. The increase of power was soon manifest, +and the Dragon began to draw away from the Danes. Gradually their +galleys fell back out of bow-shot, and after continuing the chase for +some little time longer they abandoned it as hopeless and lay upon +their oars to rest. +</P> + +<P> +A shout of triumph rose from the Saxons, and then Edmund, who had +hitherto been fully occupied with the command of the vessel, turned to +Freda, who was still standing by her father. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been a long time in fulfilling my promise, Freda," he said; +"but as your father will tell you I have done my best. Thank God, who +has given me success at last!" +</P> + +<P> +"I never doubted that you would come, Edmund," she said, "and the +knowledge has enabled me to stand firm against both the entreaties and +threats of Sweyn. How can I thank you for all you have done for me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have spoken to your father, Freda; and he has promised me your hand +if you, indeed, are willing to bestow it. I promised to come for you if +you would wait, nearly five years ago, and I have never thought of any +other woman." +</P> + +<P> +"I have waited for you, Edmund," she said simply, "and would never have +wed another had you not come. You are my hero, and methinks I have +loved you ever since the day when you boarded our ship off the mouth of +the Humber." +</P> + +<P> +"Take her, Edmund," Siegbert said; "you have nobly won her, and there +is no one to whom I could be so well content to intrust her. I now join +your hands in token of betrothal." +</P> + +<P> +The crew of the Dragon, who had been watching the scene, raised a shout +of gladness as they saw Siegbert place Freda's hand in that of Edmund. +They had guessed that their lord must have an affection for this Danish +maiden in whose pursuit they had come so far, and were delighted at the +happy issue of the expedition. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust, Freda," Edmund said to her after a while, "that you have +thought of the talk we had about religion, and that you will forsake +the barbarous gods of your people and become a Christian, as so many of +your people have done in England, and that you will be wedded to me not +in the rude way of the Danes, but in a Christian church." +</P> + +<P> +"I have thought much of it," she said, "and have come to think that +your God of peace must be better than the gods of war; but I would fain +know more of Him before I desert the religion of my fathers." +</P> + +<P> +"That shall you," Edmund said. "With your father's permission I will +place you for a short time in a convent in Rome, and one of the Saxon +monks shall teach you the tenets of our faith. It will be but for a +short time, dear; and while you are there we will try and capture some +of Hasting's galleys, filled with plunder, for my men have come far, +and I would fain that they returned with an ample booty." +</P> + +<P> +Freda and Siegbert agreed to the plan, and the latter said, "I too will +tarry in Rome while you are away, Edmund. I could fight against Sweyn, +for it was in a private quarrel, but I cannot war against my +countrymen. I too will talk with your Saxon monks, and hear about this +new religion of yours, for I think that as I have no others to love or +care for I shall return to England with you, and, if you will have me, +take up my abode in your English home so as to be near you and my +daughter." +</P> + +<P> +The Dragon returned to Rome. There Edmund procured lodgings for +Siegbert and Freda, and the Saxon monks gladly arranged to visit them +and instruct them in the doctrines of Christianity. The Dragon sailed +again for the coast of Sicily and was absent a month, during which time +she captured a number of Danish galleys, most of which were laden with +rich booty. Then she returned to Rome. A few days later a solemn +service was held, at which Freda and Siegbert were baptized as +Christians, and after this was done a marriage service was held, and +Edmund and Freda married with the rites of the Christian Church. The +pope himself was present at the services and bestowed his blessing upon +the newly married couple, the novelty of the occasion drawing a vast +crowd of spectators. +</P> + +<P> +A few days later the Dragon again put to sea, and after a speedy voyage +with favourable weather arrived in England without further adventure. +Edmund's arrival at home was the occasion of great rejoicings. The news +of the share which the Dragon and her crew had taken in the defence of +Paris had reached England, but none knew what had become of her from +that time, and when months had passed without tidings of her being +received it was generally supposed that she must have been lost. +</P> + +<P> +Her return laden with rich booty excited the greatest enthusiasm, and +the king himself journeyed to Sherborne to welcome Edmund on his +arrival there. +</P> + +<P> +"So this is the reason," he said smiling, when Edmund presented Freda +to him, "why you were ever so insensible to the attractions to our +Saxon maidens! Truly the reason is a fair one and fully excuses you, +and right glad am I to welcome your bonnie bride to our shores." +</P> + +<P> +Alfred remained three days at Sherborne and then left Edmund to +administer the affairs of his earldom, for which a substitute had been +provided in his absence. The large plunder which the Dragon had brought +home had enriched all who had sailed in her, and greatly added to the +prosperity which prevailed in Edmund's district. +</P> + +<P> +He found that in his absence Alfred had introduced many changes. The +administration of justice was no longer in the hands of the ealdormen, +judges having been appointed who journeyed through the land and +administered justice. Edmund highly approved of the change, for +although in most cases the ealdormen had acted to the best of their +powers they had a great deal of other business to do; besides, their +decisions necessarily aggrieved one party or the other and sometimes +caused feuds and bad feelings, and were always liable to be suspected +of being tinged with partiality; whereas the judges being strangers in +the district would give their decisions without bias or favour. +</P> + +<P> +Freda had, as was the custom, taken a new name in baptism, but at +Edmund's request her name had only been changed to the Christian one of +Elfrida, and Edmund to the end of his life continued to call her by her +old name. She speedily became as popular in the earldom as was her +husband. +</P> + +<P> +Siegbert, who had been christened Harold, took kindly to his new life. +Between him and Egbert a great friendship had sprung up, and Edmund +built for their joint use a house close to his own. +</P> + +<P> +In 884 Alfred heard that the Danes of East Anglia were in +correspondence with their countrymen at home and in France, and that +there was danger that the peace of England would be disturbed. The +thanes were therefore bidden to prepare for another struggle, to gather +sufficient arms in readiness for all the able-bodied men in their +district, and to call out their contingents from time to time to +practise in the use of arms. +</P> + +<P> +The ealdormen whose seats of government bordered on the sea were +ordered to construct ships of war, so that any Danish armament might be +met at sea. Edmund was appointed to command this fleet, and was +instructed to visit the various ports to superintend the construction +of the ships, and when they were completed to exercise their crews in +naval maneuvers. +</P> + +<P> +The winter of 884 was spent by Edmund in the performance of these +duties. The Dragon was again fitted out, and in her he cruised from +port to port. Freda, who was passionately fond of the sea, accompanied +him, as did Siegbert and Egbert. It was not until May in 885 that the +threatened invasion took place. Then the news came to the king that the +Danes had landed in large numbers near Rochester and had laid siege to +the town. The king instantly summoned his fighting array, and in a few +days moved at the head of a large army towards Kent. Rochester was +defending itself valiantly. The Danes erected a great tower opposite to +the principal gate, and overwhelming the defenders on the walls with +their missiles endeavoured to force their way in by battering down the +gate. +</P> + +<P> +The inhabitants, however, piled great masses of stone behind it, and +even when the gate was battered in the Danes, with all their efforts, +were unable to force an entrance. The Saxon army advanced with such +celerity that the Danes had received no news of their coming until they +were close at hand. Then one of their foraging parties arrived with the +intelligence that a great Saxon army was upon them. The Danes were +seized with a sudden panic, and fled precipitately to their ships, +leaving behind them the horses they had brought from France, their +stores, and all the prisoners and spoil they had gathered in their +incursions in the neighbourhood of Rochester. Seeing how well the +Saxons were prepared for resistance the greater portion of the Danes +crossed to France, but sixteen of their vessels entered the Stour and +joined their allies of East Anglia. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred ordered his fleet to assemble in the Medway, and in a fortnight +the vessels from all the southern ports arrived. They were filled with +fighting men, and sailed to attack the Danes in the Stour, after which +the force was to land and to inflict a severe punishment upon East +Anglia. On hearing of the gathering of the Saxon fleet Athelstan sent +across to France and begged the Danes to come to his assistance, but +none of their vessels had arrived when the Saxon fleet reached the +mouth of the Stour. +</P> + +<P> +The fighting force on board the Danish ships had been largely +reinforced by their countrymen of East Anglia, and in a close body they +rowed out to give battle to the Saxons. A desperate fight ensued, but +after a struggle, which continued for many hours, the Danes were +completely defeated, the whole of their vessels were captured, and all +on board put to the sword. +</P> + +<P> +On the following day the army landed and ravaged the surrounding +country and returned to the ships with much booty. As they sailed out +of the river they saw a vast fleet of the enemy approaching. Athelstan +had assembled his ships from all the ports of East Anglia, and had been +joined by a large reinforcement of his countrymen from France. The +Saxons were greatly outnumbered, but a portion of the fleet fought with +great bravery. Some of the ships, however, being manned with +newly-collected crews unaccustomed to naval war, lost heart, and made +but a poor resistance. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred was on board the Dragon, which sank several of the Danish +galleys, and with some of her consorts continued the fight until +nightfall, beating off every attempt of the Danes to board them. Seeing +that several of the ships had been captured, that others had taken to +flight, and that there was no longer a hope of victory, Alfred gave the +signal, and the Dragon and her remaining consorts fought their way +through the Danish fleet and made their escape. +</P> + +<P> +The valour which the Saxons had shown in these two sea-fights, and the +strength of the army with which Alfred had so speedily marched to the +relief of Rochester, greatly impressed the enemy, and although Rollo +came across from Normandy to the assistance of Athelstan, the Danes +concluded that it was better to leave the Saxons to themselves. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred in the following spring again assembled his army and laid siege +to London, which was still in the possession of the Danes. Athelstan +did not venture to march to its assistance, and the town, which had +long been in the Northmen's hands, was captured. The greater portion of +the city was burned in the siege. Alfred ordered it to be rebuilt, +invited its former inhabitants to return, and offered privileges to all +who would take up their abode there. The walls were rebuilt, and the +city placed in a position of defence. Alfred then handed it over to +Ethelred, the ealdorman of Mercia. +</P> + +<P> +Peace was now made with Athelstan, and for some years remained +unbroken. In 893 a Danish fleet of 250 ships sailed across from +Boulogne and landed in the Weald of Kent, which was then covered with a +great forest, and there wintered, while the viking Hasting with eighty +ships sailed up the Thames and built a strong fort at Milton. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred stationed his army in a strong position half-way between the +forest and the Danish camp at Milton, so that he could attack either +army when they moved out of their stronghold. The Danes for many months +remained in the forest, issuing out occasionally to plunder in the open +country of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, but they met with a stout +resistance from the Saxons who had remained in the towns and country. +</P> + +<P> +After Easter, having collected a considerable amount of spoil, and +finding the resistance ever increasing, the Danes moved northwards from +their forest, intending to march into Essex. The king's forces at once +set off to intercept them, and overtook them at Farnham, where the +Northmen were completely defeated. All their booty was recaptured, with +their horses and stores. Those who escaped fled across the Thames and +took refuge on an island in the Colne. The Saxons besieged them there; +but when the Danes were about to surrender from want of provisions the +news arrived that the Northmen of Northumbria and East Anglia, with 240 +ships, had landed suddenly in Devonshire, and had laid siege to Exeter. +</P> + +<P> +The siege of the island was at once raised, and King Alfred marched +against the new arrivals, and advancing with great speed fell upon them +and defeated them. Then hastily returning he came to London and, joined +by a strong force from Mercia, marched against Milton, where Hasting +had been joined by the great number of the Danes who had formed the +army in the Weald. Hasting himself was away, but his army marched out +to meet the Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +A great battle was fought, but the Danes could not resist the ardour of +their assailants. Their army was routed and their fortress stormed. All +the booty within it fell into the hands of the victors, together with +the wives and families of the Danes, among whom were the wife and two +sons of Hasting. The Danish fleet also was captured, and was burned or +taken to London. Another great fleet of the East Angles and +Northumbrians sailed up the Thames, and landing, the Northmen marched +across to the Severn, but were defeated and destroyed by Ethelred of +Mercia. +</P> + +<P> +Exeter was again invested by a Danish fleet, and again saved by Alfred. +The Danes, as they retired along the south coast, landed near +Chichester, where they suffered a heavy defeat from the South Saxons. +</P> + +<P> +In the following year a fresh fleet sailed up the Thames and thence up +the Lea, where they constructed a fortress twenty miles above London. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred caused two fortresses to be erected on the Lea below them, with +vast balks of timber entirely obstructing the river. The Danes, finding +their retreat cut off, abandoned their ships and marched across England +to Cwatbridge on the Severn. Their fleet fell into the hands of the +Londoners, who burned and broke up all the smaller ships and carried +the rest down to London. The Danes were so disconcerted by the many and +severe defeats which had befallen them that they now abandoned the idea +of again conquering England, and taking ship, sailed for France. +</P> + +<P> +Four years later, in 901, King Alfred died, having reigned twenty-nine +years and six months. During his reign England had made immense +advances in civilization, and in spite of the devastation wrought by +the Danish occupation of Wessex during the early years of his reign, +and the efforts required afterwards to oppose them, the wealth and +prosperity of the country vastly increased during his reign. Abbeys and +monasteries had multiplied, public buildings been erected, towns +rebuilt and beautified, and learning had made great advances. The laws +of the country had been codified and regulated, the administration of +justice placed on a firm basis. The kingly authority had greatly +increased, and the great ealdormen were no longer semi-independent +nobles, but officers of the crown. Serfdom, although not entirely +abolished, had been mitigated and regulated. Arts and manufactures had +made great progress. +</P> + +<P> +Edmund and Freda survived King Alfred many years, and their district +continued to be one of the most prosperous and well-ruled in the +kingdom. Their descendants continued to hold the office of ealdorman +until the invasion by William the Conqueror, and the holder of the +office at that time fell, with numbers of his followers, at the battle +of Hastings. For very many years after that event the prow of the +Dragon was kept in the great hall of Sherborne as a memorial of the +valiant deeds performed against the Danes by Ealdorman Edmund. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dragon and the Raven, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN *** + +***** This file should be named 3674-h.htm or 3674-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3674/ + +Produced by Ronald J. Goodden. HTML version by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dragon and the Raven + or, The Days of King Alfred + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Posting Date: April 29, 2009 [EBook #3674] +Release Date: January, 2003 +First Posted: July 12, 2001 +Last Updated: April 18, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN *** + + + + +Produced by Ronald J. Goodden. HTML version by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN: + +Or The Days of King Alfred + + +By + +G. A. Henty + + + + +C O N T E N T S + + PREFACE + I. THE FUGITIVES + II. THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN + III. THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND + IV. THE INVASION OF WESSEX + V. A DISCIPLINED BAND + VI. THE SAXON FORT + VII. THE DRAGON + VIII. THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON + IX. A PRISONER + X. THE COMBAT + XI. THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY + XII. FOUR YEARS OF PEACE + XIII. THE SIEGE OF PARIS + XIV. THE REPULSE OF THE NORSEMEN + XV. FRIENDS IN TROUBLE + XVI. FREDA + XVII. A LONG CHASE + XVIII. FREDA DISCOVERED + XIX. UNITED + + + + +PREFACE + + +MY DEAR LADS, + +Living in the present days of peace and tranquillity it is difficult to +picture the life of our ancestors in the days of King Alfred, when the +whole country was for years overrun by hordes of pagan barbarians, who +slaughtered, plundered, and destroyed at will. You may gain, perhaps, a +fair conception of the state of things if you imagine that at the time +of the great mutiny the English population of India approached that of +the natives, and that the mutiny was everywhere triumphant. The +wholesale massacres and outrages which would in such a case have been +inflicted upon the conquered whites could be no worse than those +suffered by the Saxons at the hands of the Danes. From this terrible +state of subjection and suffering the Saxons were rescued by the +prudence, the patience, the valour and wisdom of King Alfred. In all +subsequent ages England has produced no single man who united in +himself so many great qualities as did this first of great Englishmen. +He was learned, wise, brave, prudent, and pious; devoted to his people, +clement to his conquered enemies. He was as great in peace as in war; +and yet few English boys know more than a faint outline of the events +of Alfred's reign--events which have exercised an influence upon the +whole future of the English people. School histories pass briefly over +them; and the incident of the burned cake is that which is, of all the +actions of a great and glorious reign, the most prominent in boys' +minds. In this story I have tried to supply the deficiency. Fortunately +in the Saxon Chronicles and in the life of King Alfred written by his +friend and counsellor Asser, we have a trustworthy account of the +events and battles which first laid Wessex prostrate beneath the foot +of the Danes, and finally freed England for many years from the +invaders. These histories I have faithfully followed. The account of +the siege of Paris is taken from a very full and detailed history of +that event by the Abbe D'Abbon, who was a witness of the scenes he +described. + +Yours sincerely, + G. A. HENTY + + + + +CHAPTER I: THE FUGITIVES + + +A low hut built of turf roughly thatched with rushes and standing on +the highest spot of some slightly raised ground. It was surrounded by a +tangled growth of bushes and low trees, through which a narrow and +winding path gave admission to the narrow space on which the hut stood. +The ground sloped rapidly. Twenty yards from the house the trees +ceased, and a rank vegetation of reeds and rushes took the place of the +bushes, and the ground became soft and swampy. A little further pools +of stagnant water appeared among the rushes, and the path abruptly +stopped at the edge of a stagnant swamp, though the passage could be +followed by the eye for some distance among the tall rushes. The hut, +in fact, stood on a hummock in the midst of a wide swamp where the +water sometimes deepened into lakes connected by sluggish streams. + +On the open spaces of water herons stalked near the margin, and great +flocks of wild-fowl dotted the surface. Other signs of life there were +none, although a sharp eye might have detected light threads of smoke +curling up here and there from spots where the ground rose somewhat +above the general level. These slight elevations, however, were not +visible to the eye, for the herbage here grew shorter than on the lower +and wetter ground, and the land apparently stretched away for a vast +distance in a dead flat--a rush-covered swamp, broken only here and +there by patches of bushes and low trees. + +The little hut was situated in the very heart of the fen country, now +drained and cultivated, but in the year 870 untouched by the hand of +man, the haunt of wild-fowl and human fugitives. At the door of the hut +stood a lad some fourteen years old. His only garment was a short +sleeveless tunic girded in at the waist, his arms and legs were bare; +his head was uncovered, and his hair fell in masses on his shoulders. +In his hand he held a short spear, and leaning against the wall of the +hut close at hand was a bow and quiver of arrows. The lad looked at the +sun, which was sinking towards the horizon. + +"Father is late," he said. "I trust that no harm has come to him and +Egbert. He said he would return to-day without fail; he said three or +four days, and this is the fourth. It is dull work here alone. You +think so, Wolf, don't you, old fellow? And it is worse for you than it +is for me, pent up on this hummock of ground with scarce room to +stretch your limbs." + +A great wolf-hound, who was lying with his head between his paws by the +embers of a fire in the centre of the hut, raised his head on being +addressed, and uttered a low howl indicative of his agreement with his +master's opinion and his disgust at his present place of abode. + +"Never mind, old fellow," the boy continued, "we sha'n't be here long, +I hope, and then you shall go with me in the woods again and hunt the +wolves to your heart's content." The great hound gave a lazy wag of his +tail. "And now, Wolf, I must go. You lie here and guard the hut while I +am away. Not that you are likely to have any strangers to call in my +absence." + +The dog rose and stretched himself, and followed his master down the +path until it terminated at the edge of the water. Here he gave a low +whimper as the lad stepped in and waded through the water; then turning +he walked back to the hut and threw himself down at the door. The boy +proceeded for some thirty or forty yards through the water, then paused +and pushed aside the wall of rushes which bordered the passage, and +pulled out a boat which was floating among them. + +It was constructed of osier rods neatly woven together into a sort of +basket-work, and covered with an untanned hide with the hairy side in. +It was nearly oval in shape, and resembled a great bowl some three feet +and a half wide and a foot longer. A broad paddle with a long handle +lay in it, and the boy, getting into it and standing erect in the +middle paddled down the strip of water which a hundred yards further +opened out into a broad half a mile long and four or five hundred yards +wide. Beyond moving slowly away as the coracle approached them, the +water-fowl paid but little heed to its appearance. + +The boy paddled to the end of the broad, whence a passage, through +which flowed a stream so sluggish that its current could scarce be +detected, led into the next sheet of water. Across the entrance to this +passage floated some bundles of light rushes. These the boy drew out +one by one. Attached to each was a piece of cord which, being pulled +upon, brought to the surface a large cage, constructed somewhat on the +plan of a modern eel or lobster pot. They were baited by pieces of dead +fish, and from them the boy extracted half a score of eels and as many +fish of different kinds. + +"Not a bad haul," he said as he lowered the cages to the bottom again. +"Now let us see what we have got in our pen." + +He paddled a short way along the broad to a point where a little lane +of water ran up through the rushes. This narrowed rapidly and the lad +got out from his boat into the water, as the coracle could proceed no +further between the lines of rushes. The water was knee-deep and the +bottom soft and oozy. At the end of the creek it narrowed until the +rushes were but a foot apart. They were bent over here, as it would +seem to a superficial observer naturally; but a close examination would +show that those facing each other were tied together where they crossed +at a distance of a couple of feet above the water, forming a sort of +tunnel. Two feet farther on this ceased, and the rushes were succeeded +by lines of strong osier withies, an inch or two apart, arched over and +fastened together. At this point was a sort of hanging door formed of +rushes backed with osiers, and so arranged that at the slightest push +from without the door lifted and enabled a wild-fowl to pass under, but +dropping behind it prevented its exit. The osier tunnel widened out to +a sort of inverted basket three feet in diameter. + +On the surface of the creek floated some grain which had been scattered +there the evening before as a bait. The lad left the creek before he +got to the narrower part, and, making a small circuit in the swamp, +came down upon the pen. + +"Good!" he said, "I am in luck to-day; here are three fine ducks." + +Bending the yielding osiers aside, he drew out the ducks one by one, +wrung their necks, and passing their heads through his girdle, made his +way again to the coracle. Then he scattered another handful or two of +grain on the water, sparingly near the mouth of the creek, but more +thickly at the entrance to the trap, and then paddled back again by the +way he had come. + +Almost noiselessly as he dipped the paddle in the water, the hound's +quick ear had caught the sound, and he was standing at the edge of the +swamp, wagging his tail in dignified welcome as his master stepped on +to dry land. + +"There, Wolf, what do you think of that? A good score of eels and fish +and three fine wild ducks. That means bones for you with your meal +to-night--not to satisfy your hunger, you know, for they would not be +of much use in that way, but to give a flavour to your supper. Now let +us make the fire up and pluck the birds, for I warrant me that father +and Egbert, if they return this evening, will be sharp-set. There are +the cakes to bake too, so you see there is work for the next hour or +two." + +The sun had set now, and the flames, dancing up as the boy threw an +armful of dry wood on the fire, gave the hut a more cheerful +appearance. For some time the lad busied himself with preparation for +supper. The three ducks were plucked in readiness for putting over the +fire should they be required; cakes of coarse rye-flour were made and +placed in the red ashes of the fire; and then the lad threw himself +down by the side of the dog. + +"No, Wolf, it is no use your looking at those ducks. I am not going to +roast them if no one comes; I have got half a one left from dinner." +After sitting quiet for half an hour the dog suddenly raised himself +into a sitting position, with ears erect and muzzle pointed towards the +door; then he gave a low whine, and his tail began to beat the ground +rapidly. + +"What! do you hear them, old fellow?" the boy said, leaping to his +feet. "I wish my ears were as sharp as yours are, Wolf; there would be +no fear then of being caught asleep. Come on, old boy, let us go and +meet them." + +It was some minutes after he reached the edge of the swamp before the +boy could hear the sounds which the quick ears of the hound had +detected. Then he heard a faint splashing noise, and a minute or two +later two figures were seen wading through the water. + +"Welcome back, father," the lad cried. "I was beginning to be anxious +about you, for here we are at the end of the fourth day." + +"I did not name any hour, Edmund," the boy's father said, as he stepped +from the water, "but I own that I did not reckon upon being so late; +but in truth Egbert and I missed our way in the windings of these +swamps, and should not have been back to-night had we not luckily +fallen upon a man fishing, who was able to put us right. You have got +some supper, I hope, for Egbert and I are as hungry as wolves, for we +have had nothing since we started before sunrise." + +"I have plenty to eat, father; but you will have to wait till it is +cooked, for it was no use putting it over the fire until I knew that +you would return; but there is a good fire, and you will not have to +wait long. And how has it fared with you, and what is the news?" + +"The news is bad, Edmund. The Danes are ever receiving reinforcements +from Mercia, and scarce a day passes but fresh bands arrive at +Thetford, and I fear that ere long East Anglia, like Northumbria, will +fall into their clutches. Nay, unless we soon make head against them +they will come to occupy all the island, just as did our forefathers." + +"That were shame indeed," Edmund exclaimed. "We know that the people +conquered by our ancestors were unwarlike and cowardly; but it would be +shame indeed were we Saxons so to be overcome by the Danes, seeing +moreover that we have the help of God, being Christians, while the +Danes are pagans and idolaters." + +"Nevertheless, my son, for the last five years these heathen have been +masters of Northumbria, have wasted the whole country, and have +plundered and destroyed the churches and monasteries. At present they +have but made a beginning here in East Anglia; but if they continue to +flock in they will soon overrun the whole country, instead of having, +as at present, a mere foothold near the rivers except for those who +have come down to Thetford. We have been among the first sufferers, +seeing that our lands lie round Thetford, and hitherto I have hoped +that there would be a general rising against these invaders; but the +king is indolent and unwarlike, and I see that he will not arouse +himself and call his ealdormen and thanes together for a united effort +until it is too late. Already from the north the Danes are flocking +down into Mercia, and although the advent of the West Saxons to the aid +of the King of Mercia forced them to retreat for a while, I doubt not +that they will soon pour down again." + +"'Tis a pity, father, that the Saxons are not all under one leading; +then we might surely defend England against the Danes. If the people +did but rise and fall upon each band of Northmen as they arrived they +would get no footing among us." + +"Yes," the father replied, "it is the unhappy divisions between the +Saxon kingdoms which have enabled the Danes to get so firm a footing in +the land. Our only hope now lies in the West Saxons. Until lately they +were at feud with Mercia; but the royal families are now related by +marriage, seeing that the King of Mercia is wedded to a West Saxon +princess, and that Alfred, the West Saxon king's brother and heir to +the throne, has lately espoused one of the royal blood of Mercia. The +fact that they marched at the call of the King of Mercia and drove the +Danes from Nottingham shows that the West Saxon princes are alive to +the common danger of the country, and if they are but joined heartily +by our people of East Anglia and the Mercians, they may yet succeed in +checking the progress of these heathen. And now, Edmund, as we see no +hope of any general effort to drive the Danes off our coasts, 'tis +useless for us to lurk here longer. I propose to-morrow, then, to +journey north into Lincolnshire, to the Abbey of Croyland, where, as +you know, my brother Theodore is the abbot; there we can rest in peace +for a time, and watch the progress of events. If we hear that the +people of these parts are aroused from their lethargy, we will come +back and fight for our home and lands; if not, I will no longer stay in +East Anglia, which I see is destined to fall piecemeal into the hands +of the Danes; but we will journey down to Somerset, and I will pray +King Ethelbert to assign me lands there, and to take me as his thane." + +While they had been thus talking Egbert had been broiling the eels and +wild ducks over the fire. He was a freeman, and a distant relation of +Edmund's father, Eldred, who was an ealdorman in West Norfolk, his +lands lying beyond Thetford, and upon whom, therefore, the first brunt +of the Danish invasion from Mercia had fallen. He had made a stout +resistance, and assembling his people had given battle to the invaders. +These, however, were too strong and numerous, and his force having been +scattered and dispersed, he had sought refuge with Egbert and his son +in the fen country. Here he had remained for two months in hopes that +some general effort would be made to drive back the Danes; but being +now convinced that at present the Angles were too disunited to join in +a common effort, he determined to retire for a while from the scene. + +"I suppose, father," Edmund said, "you will leave your treasures buried +here?" + +"Yes," his father replied; "we have no means of transporting them, and +we can at any time return and fetch them. We must dig up the big chest +and take such garments as we may need, and the personal ornaments of +our rank; but the rest, with the gold and silver vessels, can remain +here till we need them." + +Gold and silver vessels seem little in accordance with the primitive +mode of life prevailing in the ninth century. The Saxon civilization +was indeed a mixed one. Their mode of life was primitive, their +dwellings, with the exception of the religious houses and the abodes of +a few of the great nobles, simple in the extreme; but they possessed +vessels of gold and silver, armlets, necklaces, and ornaments of the +same metals, rich and brightly coloured dresses, and elaborate bed +furniture while their tables and household utensils were of the +roughest kind, and their floors strewn with rushes. When they invaded +and conquered England they found existing the civilization introduced +by the Romans, which was far in advance of their own; much of this they +adopted. The introduction of Christianity further advanced them in the +scale. + +The prelates and monks from Rome brought with them a high degree of +civilization, and this to no small extent the Saxons imitated and +borrowed. The church was held in much honour, great wealth and +possessions were bestowed upon it, and the bishops and abbots possessed +large temporal as well as spiritual power, and bore a prominent part in +the councils of the kingdoms. But even in the handsome and well-built +monasteries, with their stately services and handsome vestments, +learning was at the lowest ebb--so low, indeed, that when Prince Alfred +desired to learn Latin he could find no one in his father's dominions +capable of teaching him, and his studies were for a long time hindered +for want of an instructor, and at the time he ascended the throne he +was probably the only Englishman outside a monastery who was able to +read and write fluently. + +"Tell me, father," Edmund said after the meal was concluded, "about the +West Saxons, since it is to them, as it seems, that we must look for +the protection of England against the Danes. This Prince Alfred, of +whom I before heard you speak in terms of high praise, is the brother, +is he not, of the king? In that case how is it that he does not reign +in Kent, which I thought, though joined to the West Saxon kingdom, was +always ruled over by the eldest son of the king." + +"Such has been the rule, Edmund; but seeing the troubled times when +Ethelbert came to the throne, it was thought better to unite the two +kingdoms under one crown with the understanding that at Ethelbert's +death Alfred should succeed him. Their father, Ethelwulf, was a weak +king, and should have been born a churchman rather than a prince. He +nominally reigned over Wessex, Kent, and Mercia, but the last paid him +but a slight allegiance. Alfred was his favourite son, and he sent him, +when quite a child, to Rome for a visit. In 855 he himself, with a +magnificent retinue, and accompanied by Alfred, visited Rome, +travelling through the land of the Franks, and it was there, doubtless, +that Alfred acquired that love of learning, and many of those ideas, +far in advance of his people, which distinguish him. His mother, +Osburgha, died before he and his father started on the pilgrimage. The +king was received with much honour by the pope, to whom he presented a +gold crown of four pounds weight, ten dishes of the purest gold, a +sword richly set in gold, two gold images, some silver-gilt urns, +stoles bordered with gold and purple, white silken robes embroidered +with figures, and other costly articles of clothing for the celebration +of the service of the church, together with rich presents in gold and +silver to the churches, bishops, clergy, and other dwellers in Rome. +They say that the people of Rome marvelled much at these magnificent +gifts from a king of a country which they had considered as barbarous. +On his way back he married Judith, daughter of the King of the Franks; +a foolish marriage, for the king was far advanced in years and Judith +was but a girl. + +"Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's eldest son, had acted as regent in his father's +absence, and so angered was he at this marriage that he raised his +standard of revolt against his father. At her marriage Judith had been +crowned queen, and this was contrary to the customs of the West Saxons, +therefore Ethelbald was supported by the people of that country; on his +father's return to England, however, father and son met, and a division +of the kingdom was agreed upon. + +"Ethelbald received Wessex, the principal part of the kingdom, and +Ethelwulf took Kent, which he had already ruled over in the time of his +father Egbert. Ethelwulf died a few months afterwards, leaving Kent to +Ethelbert, his second surviving son. The following year, to the horror +and indignation of the people of the country, Ethelbald married his +stepmother Judith, but two years afterwards died, and Ethelbert, King +of Kent, again united Wessex to his own dominions, which consisted of +Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbert reigned but a short time, and at +his death Ethelred, his next brother, ascended the throne. Last year +Alfred, the youngest brother, married Elswitha, the daughter of +Ethelred Mucil, Earl of the Gaini, in Lincolnshire, whose mother was +one of the royal family of Mercia. + +"It was but a short time after the marriage that the Danes poured into +Mercia from the north. Messengers were sent to ask the assistance of +the West Saxons. These at once obeyed the summons, and, joining the +Mercians, marched against the Danes, who shut themselves up in the +strong city of Nottingham, and were there for some time besieged. The +place was strong, the winter at hand, and the time of the soldiers' +service nearly expired. A treaty was accordingly made by which the +Danes were allowed to depart unharmed to the north side of the Humber, +and the West Saxons returned to their kingdom. + +"Such is the situation at present, but we may be sure that the Danes +will not long remain quiet, but will soon gather for another invasion; +ere long, too, we may expect another of their great fleets to arrive +somewhere off these coasts, and every Saxon who can bear arms had need +take the field to fight for our country and faith against these heathen +invaders. Hitherto, Edmund, as you know, I have deeply mourned the +death of your mother, and of your sisters who died in infancy; but now +I feel that it is for the best, for a terrible time is before us. We +men can take refuge in swamp and forest, but it would have been hard +for delicate women; and those men are best off who stand alone and are +able to give every thought and energy to the defence of their country. +'Tis well that you are now approaching an age when the Saxon youth are +wont to take their place in the ranks of battle. I have spared no pains +with your training in arms, and though assuredly you lack strength yet +to cope in hand-to-hand conflict with these fierce Danes, you may yet +take your part in battle, with me on one side of you and Egbert on the +other. I have thought over many things of late, and it seems to me that +we Saxons have done harm in holding the people of this country as +serfs." + +"Why, father," Edmund exclaimed in astonishment, "surely you would not +have all men free and equal." + +"The idea seems strange to you, no doubt, Edmund, and it appears only +natural that some men should be born to rule and others to labour, but +this might be so even without serfdom, since, as you know, the poorer +freemen labour just as do the serfs, only they receive a somewhat +larger guerdon for their toil; but had the two races mixed more closely +together, had serfdom been abolished and all men been free and capable +of bearing arms, we should have been able to show a far better front to +the Danes, seeing that the serfs are as three to one to the freemen." + +"But the serfs are cowardly and spiritless," Edmund said; "they are not +of a fighting race, and fell almost without resistance before our +ancestors when they landed here." + +"Their race is no doubt inferior to our own, Edmund," his father said, +"seeing that they are neither so tall nor so strong as we Saxons, but +of old they were not deficient in bravery, for they fought as stoutly +against the Romans as did our own hardy ancestors. After having been +for hundreds of years subject to the Roman yoke, and having no occasion +to use arms, they lost their manly virtues, and when the Romans left +them were an easy prey for the first comer. Our fathers could not +foresee that the time would come when they too in turn would be +invaded. Had they done so, methinks they would not have set up so broad +a line of separation between themselves and the Britons, but would have +admitted the latter to the rights of citizenship, in which case +intermarriage would have taken place freely, and the whole people would +have become amalgamated. The Britons, accustomed to our free +institutions, and taking part in the wars between the various Saxon +kingdoms, would have recovered their warlike virtues, and it would be +as one people that we should resist the Danes. As it is, the serfs, who +form by far the largest part of the population, are apathetic and +cowardly; they view the struggle with indifference, for what signifies +to them whether Dane or Saxon conquer; they have no interest in the +struggle, nothing to lose or to gain, it is but a change of masters." + +Edmund was silent. The very possibility of a state of things in which +there should be no serfs, and when all men should be free and equal, +had never occurred to him; but he had a deep respect for his father, +who bore indeed the reputation of being one of the wisest and most +clear-headed of the nobles of East Anglia, and it seemed to him that +this strange and novel doctrine contained much truth in it. Still the +idea was as strange to him as it would have been to the son of a +southern planter in America half a century ago. The existence of slaves +seemed as much a matter of course as that of horses or dogs, and +although he had been accustomed to see from time to time freedom +bestowed upon some favourite serf as a special reward for services, the +thought of a general liberation of the slaves was strange and almost +bewildering, and he lay awake puzzling over the problem long after his +father and kinsman had fallen asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER II: THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN + + +The following morning early the little party started. The great chest +was dug up from its place of concealment, and they resumed their +ordinary dresses. The ealdorman attired himself in a white tunic with a +broad purple band round the lower edge, with a short cloak of green +cloth. This was fastened with a gold brooch at the neck; a necklet of +the same metal and several gold bracelets completed his costume, except +that he wore a flat cap and sandals. Edmund had a green tunic and cloak +of deep red colour; while Egbert was dressed in yellow with a green +cloak--the Saxons being extremely fond of bright colours. + +All wore daggers, whose sheaths were incrusted in silver, in their +belts, and the ealdorman and his kinsman carried short broad-bladed +swords, while Edmund had his boar-spear. Eldred placed in the pouch +which hung at his side a bag containing a number of silver cubes cut +from a long bar and roughly stamped. The chest was then buried again in +its place of concealment among the bushes near the hut, Edmund placed +his bows and arrows in the boat--not that in which Edmund had fished, +but the much larger and heavier craft which Eldred and Egbert had +used--and then the party, with the hound, took their places in it. The +ealdorman and Egbert were provided with long poles, and with these they +sent the little boat rapidly through the water. + +After poling their way for some eight hours they reached the town of +Norwich, to which the Danes had not yet penetrated; here, procuring +what articles they needed, they proceeded on their journey to Croyland, +making a great circuit to avoid the Danes at Thetford. The country was +for the most part covered with thick forests, where the wild boar and +deer roamed undisturbed by man, and where many wolves still lurked, +although the number in the country had been greatly diminished by the +energetic measures which King Egbert had taken for the destruction of +these beasts. Their halting-places were for the most part at religious +houses, which then served the purpose of inns for travellers, being +freely opened to those whom necessity or pleasure might cause to +journey. Everywhere they found the monks in a state of alarm at the +progress of the Danes, who, wherever they went, destroyed the churches +and religious houses, and slew the monks. + +Eldred was everywhere received with marked honour; being known as a +wise and valiant noble, his opinions on the chances of the situation +were eagerly listened to, and he found the monks at all their +halting-places prepared, if need be, to take up arms and fight the +pagan invaders, as those of Mercia and Wessex had done in the preceding +autumn. The travellers, on arriving at Croyland, were warmly welcomed. + +"I heard, brother," the abbot said, "that you had bravely fought +against the Danes near Thetford, and have been sorely anxious since the +news came of the dispersal of your force." + +"I have been in hiding," Eldred said, "hoping that a general effort +would be made against the invaders. My own power was broken, since all +my lands are in their hands. The people of East Anglia foolishly seem +to suppose that, so long as the Danes remain quiet, the time has not +come for action. They will repent their lethargy some day, for, as the +Danes gather in strength, they will burst out over the surrounding +country as a dammed-up river breaks its banks. No, brother, I regard +East Anglia as lost so far as depends upon itself; its only hope is in +the men of Kent and Wessex, whom we must now look upon as our +champions, and who may yet stem the tide of invasion and drive back the +Danes. This abbey of yours stands in a perilous position, being not far +removed from the Humber, where so many of the Danes find entrance to +England." + +"It is not without danger, Eldred, but the men of the fens are +numerous, hardy and brave, and will offer a tough resistance to any who +may venture to march hitherward, and if, as I hope, you will stay with +us, and will undertake their command, we may yet for a long time keep +the Danes from our doors." + +For some weeks the time passed quietly. Edmund spent most of his time +in hunting, being generally accompanied by Egbert. The Saxon was an +exceedingly tall and powerful man, slow and scanty of speech, who had +earned for himself the title of Egbert the Silent. He was devoted to +his kinsmen and regarded himself as special guardian of Edmund. He had +instructed him in the use of arms, and always accompanied him when he +went out to hunt the boar, standing ever by his side to aid him to +receive the rush of the wounded and furious beasts; and more than once, +when Edmund had been borne down by their onslaughts, and would have +been severely wounded, if not killed, a sweeping blow of Egbert's sword +had rid him of his assailant. + +Sometimes Edmund made excursions in the fens, where with nets and +snares he caught the fish which swarmed in the sluggish waters; or, +having covered his boat with a leafy bower until it resembled a +floating bush, drifted close to the flocks of wild-fowl, and with his +bow and arrows obtained many a plump wild duck. Smaller birds were +caught in snares or traps, or with bird-lime smeared on twigs. Eldred +seldom joined his son in his hunting excursions, as he was busied with +his brother the abbot in concerting the measures of defence and in +organizing a band of messengers, who, on the first warning of danger, +could be despatched throughout the fens to call in the fisher +population to the defence of the abbey. + +It was on the 18th of September, 870, that a messenger arrived at the +abbey and craved instant speech with the prior. The latter, who was +closeted with his brother, ordered the man to be admitted. + +"I come," he said, "from Algar the ealdorman. He bids me tell you that +a great Danish host has landed from the Humber at Lindsay. The rich +monastery of Bardenay has been pillaged and burned. Algar is assembling +all the inhabitants of the marsh lands to give them battle, and he +prays you to send what help you can spare, for assuredly they will +march hither should he be defeated." + +"Return to the ealdorman," the abbot said; "tell him that every lay +brother and monk who can bear arms shall march hence to join him under +the command of lay brother Toley, whose deeds of arms against the Danes +in Mercia are well known to him. My brother here, Eldred, will head all +the inhabitants of the marshes of this neighbourhood. With these and +the brothers of the abbey, in all, as I reckon, nigh four hundred men, +he will to-morrow march to join Algar." + +Messengers were at once sent off through the surrounding country +bidding every man assemble on the morrow morning at Croyland, and soon +after daybreak they began to arrive. Some were armed with swords, some +with long sickles, used in cutting rushes, tied to poles, some had +fastened long pieces of iron to oars to serve as pikes. They were a +rough and somewhat ragged throng, but Eldred saw with satisfaction that +they were a hard and sturdy set of men, accustomed to fatigue and +likely to stand firm in the hour of battle. + +Most of them carried shields made of platted osiers covered with skin. +The armoury of the abbey was well supplied, and swords and axes were +distributed among the worst armed of the fenmen. Then, with but little +order or regularity, but with firm and cheerful countenances, as men +determined to win or die, the band moved off under Eldred's command, +followed by the contingent of the abbey, eighty strong, under lay +brother Toley. + +A sturdy band were these monks, well fed and vigorous. They knew that +they had no mercy to expect from the Danes, and, regarding them as +pagans and enemies of their religion as well as of their country, could +be trusted to do their utmost. Late that evening they joined Algar at +the place they had appointed, and found that a large number of the +people of the marshes had gathered round his banner. + +The Danes had not moved as yet from Bardenay, and Algar determined to +wait for another day or two before advancing, in order to give time to +others farther from the scene of action to arrive. + +The next day came the contingents from several other priories and +abbeys, and the sight of the considerable force gathered together gave +heart and confidence to all. Algar, Eldred, and the other leaders, +Morcar, Osgot, and Harding, moved about among the host, encouraging +them with cheering words, warning them to be in no way intimidated by +the fierce appearance of the Danes, but to hold steadfast and firm in +the ranks, and to yield no foot of ground to the onslaught of the +enemy. Many priests had accompanied the contingents from the religious +houses, and these added their exhortations to those of the leaders, +telling the men that God would assuredly fight on their side against +the heathen, and bidding each man remember that defeat meant the +destruction of their churches and altars, the overthrow of their whole +religion, and the restored worship of the pagan gods. + +Edmund went about among the gathering taking great interest in the wild +scene, for these marsh men differed much in their appearance from the +settled inhabitants of his father's lands. The scenes in the camp were +indeed varied in their character. Here and there were harpers with +groups of listeners gathered round, as they sung the exploits of their +fathers, and animated their hearers to fresh fire and energy by +relating legends of the cruelty of the merciless Danes. Other groups +there were surrounding the priests, who were appealing to their +religious feelings as well as to their patriotism. + +Men sat about sharpening their weapons, fixing on more firmly the +handles of their shields, adjusting arrows to bowstrings, and preparing +in other ways for the coming fight. From some of the fires, round which +the marsh men were sitting, came snatches of boisterous song, while +here and there, apart from the crowd, priests were hearing confessions, +and shriving penitents. + +The next morning early, one of the scouts, who had been sent to observe +the movements of the Danes, reported that these were issuing from their +camp, and advancing into the country. + +Algar marshalled his host, each part under its leaders, and moved to +meet them. Near Kesteven the armies came in sight of each other, and +after advancing until but a short distance apart both halted to marshal +their ranks anew. Eldred, with the men of the marshes near Croyland and +the contingent from the abbey, had their post in the central division, +which was commanded by Algar himself, Edmund took post by his father, +and Egbert stood beside him. + +Edmund had never before seen the Danes, and he could not but admit that +their appearance was enough to shake the stoutest heart. All carried +great shields covering them from head to foot. These were composed of +wood, bark, or leather painted or embossed, and in the cases of the +chiefs plated with gold and silver. So large were these that in naval +encounters, if the fear of falling into the enemy's hands forced them +to throw themselves into the sea, they could float on their shields; +and after death in battle a soldier was carried to his grave on his +buckler. As they stood facing the Saxons they locked their shields +together so as to form a barrier well-nigh impregnable against the +arrows. + +All wore helmets, the common men of leather, the leaders of iron or +copper, while many in addition wore coats of mail. Each carried a +sword, a battle-axe, and a bow and arrows. Some of the swords were +short and curled like a scimitar; others were long and straight, and +were wielded with both hands. They wore their hair long and hanging +down their shoulders, and for the most part shaved their cheeks and +chins, but wore their moustaches very long. + +They were, for the most, tall, lithe, and sinewy men, but physically in +no way superior to the Saxons, from whom they differed very widely in +complexion, the Saxons being fair while the Danes were very dark, as +much so as modern gypsies; indeed, the Saxon historians speak of them +as the black pagans. Upon the other hand many of the Northmen, being +Scandinavians, were as fair as the Saxons themselves. + +The Danes began the battle, those in front shouting fiercely, and +striking their swords on their shields with a clashing noise, while the +ranks behind shot a shower of arrows among the Saxons. These at once +replied. The combat was not continued long at a distance, for the Danes +with a mighty shout rushed upon the Saxons. These stood their ground +firmly and a desperate conflict ensued. The Saxon chiefs vied with each +other in acts of bravery, and singling out the leaders of the Danes +engaged with them in hand-to-hand conflict. + +Algar had placed his swordsmen in the front line, those armed with +spears in the second; and as the swordsmen battled with the Danes the +spearmen, when they saw a shield uplifted to guard the head, thrust +under with their weapons and slew many. Edmund, seeing that with his +sword he should have but little chance against these fierce soldiers, +fell a little behind his father and kinsman, and as these were engaged +with the enemy he from time to time, when he saw an opportunity, rushed +in and delivered a thrust with his spear at an unguarded point. The +Saxon shouts rose louder and louder as the Danes in vain endeavoured to +break through their line. The monks fought stoutly, and many a fierce +Norseman fell before their blows. + +The Danes, who had not expected so firm a resistance, began to +hesitate, and Algar giving the word, the Saxons took the offensive, and +the line pressed forward step by step. The archers poured their arrows +in a storm among the Danish ranks. These fell back before the +onslaught. Already three of their kings and many of their principal +leaders had fallen, and at last, finding themselves unable to withstand +the impetuous onslaught of the Saxons, they turned and fled in +confusion towards their camp. The Saxons with exulting shouts pursued +them, and great numbers were slaughtered. The Danes had, however, as +was their custom, fortified the camp before advancing, and Algar drew +off his troops, deeming that it would be better to defer the attack on +this position until the following day. + +There was high feasting in the Saxon camp that evening, but this was +brought to an abrupt conclusion by the arrival of a scout, who reported +that a great Danish army marching from the Humber was approaching the +camp of the compatriots. The news was but too true. The kings Guthorn, +Bergsecg, Oskytal, Halfdene, and Amund, and the Jarls Frene, Hingwar, +Hubba, and the two Sidrocs, with all their followers, had marched down +from Yorkshire to join the invaders who had just landed. + +The news of this immense reinforcement spread consternation among the +Angles. In vain their leaders went about among them and exhorted them +to courage, promising them another victory as decisive as that they had +won that day. Their entreaties were in vain, for when the morning +dawned it was found that three-fourths of their number had left the +camp during the night, and had made off to the marshes and fastnesses. + +A council of the chiefs was held. The chances of conflict appeared +hopeless, so vastly were they out-numbered by the Danes. Algar, +however, declared that he would die rather than retreat. + +"If we fly now," he said, "all East Anglia will fall into the hands of +the heathen. Even should we fight and fall, the example of what a +handful of brave men can do against the invaders will surely animate +the Angles to further resistance; while if we conquer, so great a blow +will be dealt to the renown of these Danes that all England will rise +against them." + +On hearing these words all the chiefs came to the determination to win +or die as they stood. Eldred took Edmund aside after this determination +had been arrived at. + +"My son," he said, "I allowed you yesterday to stand by my side in +battle, and well and worthily did you bear yourself, but to-day you +must withdraw. The fight is well-nigh hopeless, and I believe that all +who take part in it are doomed to perish. I would not that my house +should altogether disappear, and shall die more cheerfully in the hope +that some day you will avenge me upon these heathen. Therefore, Edmund, +I bid you take station at a distance behind the battle, so that when +you see the day goes against us you may escape in time. I shall urge +our faithful Egbert to endeavour, when he sees that all is lost, to +make his way from the fight and rejoin you, and to journey with you to +Wessex and there present you to the king. For myself, if the battle is +lost I shall die rather than fly. Such is the resolution of Algar and +our other brave chiefs, and Eldred the ealdorman must not be the only +one of the leaders to run from the fray." + +Edmund was deeply touched at his father's words, but the parental rule +was so strict in those days that it did not even enter his mind to +protest against Eldred's decision. + +As the morning went on the Danes were engaged in the funeral ceremonies +of their dead kings, while the Saxons, quiet and resolute, received the +holy sacrament and prepared for the fight. Algar chose a position on +rising ground. He himself with Eldred commanded the centre, Toley and +Morcar led the right wing, Osgot and Harding the left. + +Each of these wings contained about five hundred men. Algar's centre, +which was a little withdrawn from its wings, contained about 200 of his +best warriors, and was designed as a reserve, with which, if need be, +he could move to the assistance of either of the wings which might be +sorely pressed and in danger. The Saxons formed in a solid mass with +their bucklers linked together. The Danish array which issued out from +their camp was vastly superior in numbers, and was commanded by four +kings and eight jarls or earls, while two kings and four earls remained +in charge of the camp, and of the great crowd of prisoners, for the +most part women and children, whom they had brought with them. + +With the Danes who had come down from Yorkshire were a large body of +horsemen, who charged furiously down upon the Saxons; but these +maintained so firm an array with their lances and spears projecting +outward that the Danes failed to break through them, and after making +repeated efforts and suffering heavy loss they drew back. Then the +Danish archers and slingers poured in a storm of missiles, but these +effected but little harm, as the Saxons stooped a little behind their +closely packed line of bucklers, which were stout enough to keep out +the shower of arrows. All day the struggle continued. Again and again +the Danes strove to break the solid Saxon array, and with sword and +battle-axe attempted to hew down the hedge of spears, but in vain. At +last their leaders, convinced that they could not overcome the +obstinacy of the resistance, ordered their followers to feign a retreat. + +As the Danes turned to fly the Saxons set up a triumphant shout, and +breaking up their solid phalanx rushed after them in complete disorder. +In vain Algar, Osgot, Toley, Eldred, and the other leaders shouted to +them to stand firm. Weary of their long inactivity, and convinced that +the Danes were routed, the Saxons pursued them across the plain. +Suddenly the Danish horse, who after failing to break through the ranks +had remained apart at a short distance from the conflict, dashed down +upon the disordered Saxons, while the flying infantry turning round +also fell upon them with exulting shouts. + +Taken wholly by surprise, confused and disordered, the Saxons could +offer no effectual opposition to the charge. The Danish horse rode +among them hewing and slaying, and the swords and battle-axes of the +footmen completed the work. In a few minutes of all the Saxon band +which had for so many hours successfully resisted the onslaught of the +Danes, not one survived save a few fleet-footed young men who, throwing +away their arms, succeeded in making their escape, and a little group, +consisting of Algar, Toley, Eldred, and the other leaders who had +gathered together when their men broke their ranks and had taken up +their position on a knoll of ground rising above the plain. Here for a +long time they resisted the efforts of the whole of the Danes, +surrounding themselves with a heap of slain; but at length one by one +they succumbed to the Danish onslaught, each fighting valiantly to the +last. + +From his position at a distance Edmund watched the last desperate +struggle. With streaming eyes and a heart torn by anxiety for his +father he could see the Danish foe swarming round the little band who +defended the crest. These were lost from his sight, and only the +flashing of swords showed where the struggle was still going on in the +centre of the confused mass. Edmund had been on his knees for some +time, but he now rose. + +"Come, old boy," he said to the hound, who lay beside him watching the +distant conflict and occasionally uttering deep angry growls. "I must +obey my father's last command; let us away." + +He took one more glance at the distant conflict before turning. It was +plain that it was nearly finished. The swords had well-nigh ceased to +rise and fall when he saw a sudden movement in the throng of Danes and +suddenly a man burst out from them and started at headlong speed +towards him, pursued by a number of Danes. Even at that distance Edmund +thought that he recognized the tall figure of his kinsman, but he had +no time to assure himself of this, and he at once, accompanied by the +hound, set off at the top of his speed from the field of battle. He had +fully a quarter of a mile start, and being active and hardy and +accustomed to exercise from his childhood, he had no fear that the +Danes would overtake him. Still he ran his hardest. + +Looking over his shoulder from time to time he saw that at first the +Danes who were pursuing the fugitive were gaining upon him also, but +after a time he again increased the distance, while, being unencumbered +with shield or heavy weapons, the fugitive kept the advantage he had at +first gained. Three miles from the battle-field Edmund reached the edge +of a wide-spreading wood. Looking round as he entered its shelter he +saw that the flying Saxon was still about a quarter of a mile behind +him, and that the Danes, despairing of over-taking him, had ceased +their pursuit. Edmund therefore checked his footsteps and awaited the +arrival of the fugitive, who he now felt certain was his kinsman. + +In a few minutes Egbert came up, having slackened his speed +considerably when he saw that he was no longer pursued. He was bleeding +from several wounds, and now that the necessity for exertion had passed +he walked but feebly along. Without a word he flung himself on the +ground by Edmund and buried his face in his arms, and the lad could see +by the shaking of his broad shoulders that he was weeping bitterly. The +great hound walked up to the prostrate figure and gave vent to a long +and piteous howl, and then lying down by Egbert's side placed his head +on his shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER III: THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND + + +Edmund wept sorely for some time, for he knew that his kinsman's +agitation could be only caused by the death of his father. At last he +approached Egbert. + +"My brave kinsman," he said, "I need ask you no questions, for I know +but too well that my dear father has fallen; but rouse yourself, I pray +you; let me bandage your wounds, which bleed fast, for you will want +all your strength, and we must needs pursue our way well into the +forest, for with to-morrow's dawn the Danes will scatter over the whole +country." + +"Yes," Egbert said, turning round and sitting up, "I must not in my +grief forget my mission, and in truth I am faint with loss of blood. It +was well the Danes stopped when they did, for I felt my strength +failing me, and could have held out but little further. Yes, Edmund," +he continued, as the lad, tearing strips from his garments, proceeded +to bandage his wounds, "your father is dead. Nobly, indeed, did he +fight; nobly did he die, with a circle of dead Danes around him. He, +Algar, Toley, and myself were the last four to resist. Back to back we +stood, and many were the Danes who fell before our blows. Toley fell +first and then Algar. The Danes closed closer around us. Still we +fought on, till your father was beaten to his knee, and then he cried +to me, 'Fly, Egbert, to my son.' Then I flung myself upon the Danes +like a wild boar upon the dogs, and with the suddenness of my rush and +the heavy blows of my battle-axe cut a way for myself through them. It +was well-nigh a miracle, and I could scarce believe it when I was free. +I flung away my shield and helmet as soon as I had well begun to run, +for I felt the blood gushing out from a dozen wounds, and knew that I +should want all my strength. I soon caught sight of you running ahead +of me. Had I found we were gaining upon you I should have turned off +and made another way to lead the Danes aside, but I soon saw that you +were holding your own, and so followed straight on. My knees trembled, +and I felt my strength was well-nigh gone, when, looking round, I found +the Danes had desisted from their pursuit. I grieve, Edmund, that I +should have left the battle alive when all the others have died +bravely, for, save a few fleet-footed youths, I believe that not a +single Saxon has escaped the fight; but your father had laid his +commands upon me, and I was forced to obey, though God knows I would +rather have died with the heroes on that field." + +"'Tis well for me that you did not, my good Egbert," Edmund said, +drying his eyes, "for what should I have done in this troubled land +without one protector?" + +"It was the thought of that," Egbert said, "that seemed to give me +strength as I dashed at the Danes. And now, methinks, I am strong +enough to walk again. Let us make our way far into the forest, then we +must rest for the night. A few hours' sleep will make a fresh man of +me, and to-morrow morning we will go to Croyland and see what the good +abbot your uncle proposes to do, then will we to the hut where we dwelt +before coming hither. We will dig up the chest and take out such +valuables as we can carry, and then make for Wessex. After this day's +work I have no longer any hope that East Anglia will successfully +oppose the Danes. And yet the Angles fought well, and for every one of +them who has fallen in these two days' fighting at least four Danes +must have perished. Have you food, Edmund, for in truth after such a +day's work I would not lie down supperless?" + +"I have in my pouch here, Egbert, some cakes, which I cooked this +morning, and a capon which one of the monks of Croyland gave me. I was +tempted to throw it away as I ran." + +"I am right glad, Edmund, that the temptation was not too strong for +you. If we can find a spring we shall do well." + +It was now getting dark, but after an hour's walk through the forest +they came upon a running stream. They lit a fire by its side, and +sitting down ate the supper, of which both were in much need. Wolf +shared the repast, and then the three lay down to sleep. Egbert, +overcome by the immense exertions he had made during the fight, was +soon asleep; but Edmund, who had done his best to keep a brave face +before his kinsman, wept for hours over the loss of his gallant father. + +On the following morning Egbert and Edmund started for Croyland. The +news of the defeat at Kesteven had already reached the abbey, and +terror and consternation reigned there. Edmund went at once to his +uncle and informed him of the circumstance of the death of his father +and the annihilation of the Saxon army. + +"Your news, Edmund, is even worse than the rumours which had reached +me, and deeply do I grieve for the loss of my brave brother and of the +many valiant men who died with him. This evening or to-morrow the +spoilers will be here, and doubtless will do to Croyland as they have +done to all the other abbeys and monasteries which have fallen into +their hands. Before they come you and Egbert must be far away. Have you +bethought you whither you will betake yourselves?" + +"We are going to the king of the West Saxons," Edmund replied. "Such +was my father's intention, and I fear that all is now lost in East +Anglia." + +"'Tis your best course, and may God's blessing and protection rest upon +you!" + +"But what are you going to do, uncle? Surely you will not remain here +until the Danes arrive, for though they may spare other men they have +no mercy on priests and monks?" + +"I shall assuredly remain here, Edmund, at my post, and as my brother +Eldred and Earl Algar and their brave companions died at their posts in +the field of battle, so I am prepared to die here where God has placed +me. I shall retain here with me only a few of the most aged and infirm +monks, too old to fly or to support the hardships of the life of a +hunted fugitive in the fens; together with some of the children who +have fled here, and who, too, could not support such a life. It may be +that when the fierce Danes arrive and find nought but children and aged +men even their savage breasts may be moved to pity; but if not, God's +will be done. The younger brethren will seek refuge in the fens, and +will carry with them the sacred relics of the monastery. The most holy +body of St. Guthlac with his scourge and psalmistry, together with the +most valuable jewels and muniments, the charters of the foundation of +the abbey, given by King Ethelbald, and the confirmation thereof by +other kings, with some of the most precious gifts presented to the +abbey." + +Edmund and Egbert set to work to assist the weeping monks in making +preparations for their departure. A boat was laden with the relics of +the saints, the muniments of the king, and the most precious vessels. +The table of the great altar covered with plates of gold, which King +Wichtlof had presented, with ten gold chalices, and many other vessels, +was thrown into the well of the convent. + +In the distance the smoke of several villages could now be seen rising +over the plain, and it was clear that the Danes were approaching. The +ten priests and twenty monks who were to leave now knelt, and received +the solemn benediction of the abbot, then, with Edmund and Egbert, they +took their places in the boat and rowed away to the wood of Ancarig, +which lay not far from the abbey. + +The abbot Theodore and the aged monks and priests now returned to the +church, and, putting on their vestments, commenced the services of the +day; the abbot himself celebrated high mass, assisted by brother Elfget +the deacon, brother Savin the sub-deacon, and the brothers Egelred and +Wyelric, youths who acted as taper-bearers. When the mass was finished, +just as the abbot and his assistants had partaken of the holy +communion, the Danes burst into the church. The abbot was slain upon +the holy altar by the hand of the Danish king Oskytal, and the other +priests and monks were beheaded by the executioner. + +The old men and children in the choir were seized and tortured to +disclose where the treasures of the abbey were concealed, and were also +put to death with the prior and sub-prior. Turgar, an acolyte of ten +years of age; a remarkably beautiful boy, stood by the side of the +sub-prior as he was murdered and fearlessly confronted the Danes, and +bade them put him to death with the holy father. The young Earl Sidroc, +however, struck with the bearing of the child, and being moved with +compassion, stripped him of his robe and cowl, and threw over him a +long Danish tunic without sleeves, and ordering him to keep close by +him, made his way out of the monastery, the boy being the only one who +was saved from the general massacre. + +The Danes, furious at being able to find none of the treasures of the +monastery, broke open all the shrines and levelled the marble tombs, +including those of St. Guthlac, the holy virgin Ethelbritha, and many +others, but found in these none of the treasure searched for. They +piled the bodies of the saints in a heap, and burned them, together +with the church and all the buildings of the monastery; then, with vast +herds of cattle and other plunder, they moved away from Croyland, and +attacked the monastery of Medeshamsted. Here the monks made a brave +resistance. The Danes brought up machines and attacked the monastery on +all sides, and effected a breach in the walls. Their first assault, +however, was repelled, and Fulba, the brother of Earl Hulba, was +desperately wounded by a stone. + +Hulba was so infuriated at this that when, at the second assault, the +monastery was captured, he slew with his own hand everyone of the +monks, while all the country people who had taken refuge within the +walls were slaughtered by his companions, not one escaping. The altars +were levelled to the ground, the monuments broken in pieces. The great +library of parchments and charters was burnt. The holy relics were +trodden under foot, and the church itself, with all the monastic +buildings, burnt to the ground. Four days later, the Danes, having +devastated the whole country round and collected an enormous booty, +marched away against Huntingdon. + +Edmund and Egbert remained but a few hours with the monks who had +escaped from the sack of Croyland; for, as soon as they saw the flames +mounting up above the church, they knew that the Danes had accomplished +their usual work of massacre, and there being no use in their making +further stay, they started upon their journey. They travelled by easy +stages, for time was of no value to them. For the most part their way +lay among forests, and when once they had passed south of Thetford they +had no fear of meeting with the Danes. Sometimes they slept at +farm-houses or villages, being everywhere hospitably received, the more +so when it was known that Edmund was the son of the brave ealdorman +Eldred; but the news which they brought of the disastrous battle of +Kesteven, and the southward march of the great Danish army, filled +everyone with consternation. + +The maids and matrons wept with terror at the thought of the coming of +these terrible heathen, and although the men everywhere spoke of +resistance to the last, the prospect seemed so hopeless that even the +bravest were filled with grief and despair. Many spoke of leaving their +homes and retiring with their wives and families, their serfs and herds +to the country of the West Saxons, where alone there appeared any hope +of a successful resistance being made. Wherever they went Edmund and +Egbert brought by their news lamentation and woe to the households they +entered, and at last Edmund said: + +"Egbert, let us enter no more houses until we reach the end of our +journey; wherever we go we are messengers of evil, and turn houses of +feasting into abodes of grief. Every night we have the same sad story +to tell, and have to witness the weeping and wailing of women. A +thousand times better were it to sleep among the woods, at any rate +until we are among the West Saxons, where our news may cause +indignation and rage at least, but where it will arouse a brave resolve +to resist to the last instead of the hopelessness of despair." + +Egbert thoroughly agreed with the lad, and henceforth they entered no +houses save to buy bread and mead. Of meat they had plenty, for as they +passed through the forests Wolf was always upon the alert, and several +times found a wild boar in his lair, and kept him at bay until Edmund +and Egbert ran up and with spears and swords slew him. This supplied +them amply with meat, and gave them indeed far more than they could +eat, but they exchanged portions of the flesh for bread in the +villages. At last they came down upon the Thames near London, and +crossing the river journeyed west. They were now in the kingdom of the +West Saxons, the most warlike and valiant of the peoples of England, +and who had gradually extended their sway over the whole of the +country. The union was indeed but little more than nominal, as the +other kings retained their thrones, paying only a tribute to the West +Saxon monarchs. + +As Egbert had predicted, their tale of the battle of Kesteven here +aroused no feeling save that of wrath and a desire for vengeance upon +the Danes. Swords were grasped, and all swore by the saints of what +should happen to the invaders should they set foot in Wessex. The +travellers felt their spirits rise at the martial and determined aspect +of the people. + +"It is a sad pity," Egbert said to Edmund one day, "that these West +Saxons had not had time to unite England firmly together before the +Danes set foot on the island. It is our divisions which have rendered +their task so far easy. Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia have one +by one been invaded, and their kings have had to fight single-handed +against them, whereas had one strong king reigned over the whole +country, so that all our force could have been exerted against the +invader wherever he might land, the Danes would never have won a foot +of our soil. The sad day of Kesteven showed at least that we are able +to fight the Danes man for man. The first day we beat them, though they +were in superior numbers, the second we withstood them all day, +although they were ten to one against us, and they would never have +triumphed even then had our men listened to their leaders and kept +their ranks. I do not believe that even the West Saxons could have +fought more bravely than did our men on that day; but they are better +organized, their king is energetic and determined, and when the Danes +invade Wessex they will find themselves opposed by the whole people +instead of merely a hastily raised assemblage gathered in the +neighbourhood." + +They presently approached Reading, where there was a royal fortress, in +which King Ethelred and his brother Alfred were residing. + +"It is truly a fine city," Edmund said as he approached it; "its walls +are strong and high, and the royal palace, which rises above them, is +indeed a stately building." + +They crossed the river and entered the gates of the town. There was +great bustle and traffic in the streets, cynings, or nobles, passed +along accompanied by parties of thanes, serfs laden with fuel or +provisions made their way in from the surrounding country, while +freemen, with their shields flung across their shoulders and their +swords by their sides, stalked with an independent air down the streets. + +The travellers approached the royal residence. The gates were open, and +none hindered their entrance, for all who had business were free to +enter the royal presence and to lay their complaints or petitions +before the king. + +Entering they found themselves in a large hall. The lower end of this +was occupied by many people, who conversed together in little groups or +awaited the summons of the king. Across the upper end of the room was a +raised dais, and in the centre of this was a wide chair capable of +holding three persons. The back and sides were high and richly carved. +A table supported by four carved and gilded legs stood before it. Two +persons were seated in the chair. + +One was a man of three or four and twenty, the other was his junior by +some two years. Both wore light crowns of gold somewhat different in +their fashion. Before the younger was a parchment, an inkhorn, and +pens. King Ethelred was a man of a pleasant face, but marked by care +and by long vigils and rigorous fastings. Alfred was a singularly +handsome young prince, with an earnest and intellectual face. Both had +their faces shaven smooth. Ethelred wore his hair parted in the middle, +and falling low on each side of the face, but Alfred's was closely cut. +On the table near the younger brother stood a silver harp. + +Edmund looked with great curiosity and interest on the young prince, +who was famous throughout England for his great learning, his wisdom, +and sweetness of temper. Although the youngest of the king's brothers, +he had always been regarded as the future King of England, and had his +father survived until he reached the age of manhood, he would probably +have succeeded directly to the throne. The law of primogeniture was by +no means strictly observed among the Saxons, a younger brother of +marked ability or of distinguished prowess in war being often chosen by +a father to succeed him in place of his elder brothers. + +Alfred had been his father's favourite son. He had when a child been +consecrated by the pope as future King of England; and his two journeys +to Rome, and his residence at the court of the Frankish king had, with +his own great learning and study, given him a high prestige and +reputation among his people as one learned in the ways of the world. +Although but a prince, his authority in the kingdom nearly equalled +that of his brother, and it was he rather than Ethelred whom men +regarded as the prop and stay of the Saxons in the perils which were +now threatening them. + +One after another, persons advanced to the table and laid their +complaints before the king; in cases of dispute both parties were +present and were often accompanied by witnesses. Ethelred and Alfred +listened attentively to all that was said on both sides, and then gave +their judgment. An hour passed, and then seeing that no one else +approached the table, Egbert, taking Edmund by the hand, led him +forward and knelt before the royal table. + +"Whom have we here?" the king said. "This youth is by his attire one of +noble race, but I know not his face." + +"We have come, sir king," Egbert said, "as fugitives and suppliants to +you. This is Edmund, the son of Ealdorman Eldred, a valiant cyning of +East Anglia, who, after fighting bravely against the Danes near +Thetford, joined Earl Algar, and died by his side on the fatal field of +Kesteven. He had himself purposed to come hither to you and to ask you +to accept him as your thane, and on the morn of the battle he charged +me if he fell to bring hither his son to you; and we pray you to +accept, in token of our homage to you, these vessels." + +And here he placed two handsome goblets of silver gilt upon the table. + +"I pray you rise," the king said. "I have assuredly heard of the brave +Eldred, and will gladly receive his son as my thane. I had not heard of +Eldred's death, though two days since the rumour of a heavy defeat of +the East Angles at Kesteven, and the sacrilegious destruction of the +holy houses of Bardenay, Croyland, and Medeshamsted reached our ears. +Were you present at the battle?" + +"I was, sir king," Egbert said, "and fought beside Earl Algar and my +kinsman the Ealdorman Eldred until both were slain by the Danes, and I +with difficulty cut my way through them and escaped to carry out my +kinsman's orders regarding his son." + +"You are a stout champion yourself," the king said, regarding with +admiration Egbert's huge proportions; "but tell us the story of this +battle, of which at present but vague rumours have reached us." Egbert +related the incidents of the battle of Kesteven. "It was bravely +fought," the king said when he had concluded; "right well and bravely, +and better fortune should have attended such valour. Truly the brave +Algar has shown that we Saxons have not lost the bravery which +distinguished our ancestors, and that, man for man, we are equal to +these heathen Danes." + +"But methinks," Prince Alfred said, "that the brave Algar and his +valiant companions did wrong to throw away their lives when all was +lost. So long as there is the remotest chance of victory it is the duty +of a leader to set an example of valour to his followers, but when all +is lost he should think of his country. What though the brave thanes +slew each a score of Danes before they died, their death has left their +countrymen without a leader, and by that one battle the Danes have made +themselves masters of the north of East Anglia. Better far had they, +when the day was lost, retreated, to gather the people together when a +better opportunity presented itself, and again to make head against the +invaders. It is heathen rather than Christian warfare thus to throw +away their lives rather than to retreat and wait for God's time to come +again. To stake all on one throw, which if lost loses a whole people, +seems to me the act of a gamester. I trust that, should the time ever +come, as it is too much to be feared it will ere long, that the Danes +invade my brother's kingdom of Wessex, I shall not be found wanting in +courage; but assuredly when defeated in battle I would not throw away +my life, for that belongs to our people rather than to myself, but +would retire to some refuge until I could again gather the Saxons +around me and attack the invaders. I like the face of the young +ealdorman, and doubt not that he will prove a valiant warrior like his +father. My brother will doubtless assign him lands for his maintenance +and yours; but if he will let me I will attach him to my person, and +will be at once a master and a friend to him. Wouldst thou like this, +young Edmund?" + +The lad, greatly pleased at the young prince's kindness of speech and +manner, replied enthusiastically that he would follow him to the death +if he would accept him as his faithful thane. + +"Had the times been more peaceful, Edmund," Alfred said, "I would fain +have imparted to you some of the little knowledge that I have gained, +for I see an intelligence in your face which tells me that you would +have proved an apt and eager pupil; but, alas, in the days that are +coming it is the sword rather than the book which will prevail, and the +cares of state, and the defence of the country, will shortly engross +all my time and leave me but little leisure for the studies I love so +well." + +"There are the lands," the king said, "of Eabald, Ealdorman of +Sherborne, in Dorset. He died but last week and has left no children. +These lands I will grant to Edmund in return for liege and true +service." The lad knelt before the king, and, kissing his hand, swore +to be his true and faithful thane, and to spend land, goods, and life +in his service. + +"And now," the king said, "since the audience is over, and none other +comes before us with petitions, we will retire to our private +apartments, and there my brother Alfred will present you to the fair +Elswitha, his wife." + +The room into which Egbert and Edmund followed the king and his brother +was spacious and lofty. The walls were covered with hangings of red +cloth, and a thick brown baize covered the floor. The ceiling was +painted a dark brown with much gilding. Round the sides of the room +stood several dressers of carved oak, upon which stood gold and silver +cups. + +On a table were several illuminated vellums. At Croyland Edmund had +seen a civilization far in advance of that to which he had been +accustomed in his father's abode; but he saw here a degree of luxury +and splendour which surprised him. Alfred had, during his two visits to +Rome, learned to appreciate the high degree of civilization which +reigned there, and many of the articles of furniture and other objects +which met Edmund's eye he had brought with him on his return with his +father from that city. + +Across the upper end of the room was a long table laid with a white +cloth. Elswitha was sitting in a large gilded chair by the great fire +which was blazing on the hearth. + +Prince Alfred presented Edmund and Egbert to her. Elswitha was well +acquainted with the Ealdorman Eldred, as his lands lay on the very +border of her native Mercia, and she received the lad and his kinsman +with great kindness. In a short time they took their places at table. +First the attendance brought in bowls containing broth, which they +presented, kneeling, to each of those at table. The broth was drunk +from the bowl itself; then a silver goblet was placed by each diner, +and was filled with wine. Fish was next served. Plates were placed +before each; but instead of their cutting food with their own daggers, +as Edmund had been accustomed to see in his father's house, knives were +handed round. After the fish came venison, followed by wild boar, +chickens, and other meats. After these confections, composed chiefly of +honey, were placed on the table. The king and Prince Alfred pledged +their guests when they drank. No forks were used, the meat as cut being +taken up by pieces of bread to the mouth. During the meal a harper +played and sung. + +Edmund observed the decorum with which his royal hosts fed, and the +care which they took to avoid dipping their fingers into their saucers +or their plates. He was also struck with the small amount of wine which +they took; for the Saxons in general were large feeders, and drank +heavily at their meals. + +When the dinner was over a page brought round a basin of warm water, in +which lavender had been crushed, and each dipped his fingers in this +and then dried them on the cloth. Then at Prince Alfred's request +Egbert again related in full the details of the two days' desperate +struggle at Kesteven, giving the most minute particulars of the Danes' +method of fighting. Egbert and Edmund then retired to the royal +guest-house adjoining the palace, where apartments were assigned to +them. + +After remaining for a week at Reading they took leave of the king and +started for the lands which he had assigned to Edmund. They were +accompanied by an officer of the royal household, who was to inform the +freemen and serfs of the estate that by the king's pleasure Edmund had +been appointed ealdorman of the lands. They found on arrival that the +house had been newly built, and was large and comfortable. The thanes +of the district speedily came in to pay their respects to their new +ealdorman, and although surprised to find him so young, they were +pleased with his bearing and manner, and knowing that he came of good +fighting blood doubted not that in time he would make a valiant leader. +All who came were hospitably entertained, and for many days there was +high feasting. So far removed was this part of England from the +district which the Danes had invaded, that at present but slight alarm +had been caused by them; but Edmund and his kinsman lost no time in +impressing upon them the greatness of the coming danger. + +"You may be sure," he said, "that ere long we shall see their galleys +on the coast. When they have eaten up Mercia and Anglia they will +assuredly come hither, and we shall have to fight for our lives, and +unless we are prepared it will go hard with us." + +After he had been at his new residence for a month Edmund sent out +messengers to all the thanes in his district requesting them to +assemble at a council, and then formally laid the matter before them. + +"It is, above all things," he said, "necessary that we should have some +place where we can place the women and children in case of invasion and +where we can ourselves retire in extreme necessity. Therefore I propose +that we shall build a fort of sufficient size to contain all the +inhabitants of the district, with many flocks and herds. My cousin +Egbert has ridden far over the country, and recommends that the Roman +fortification at Moorcaster shall be utilized. It is large in extent, +and has a double circle of earthen banks. These differ from those which +we are wont to build, since we Saxons always fill up the ground so as +to be flat with the top of the earthen banks, while the Romans left +theirs hollow. However, the space is so large that it would take a vast +labour to fill it up, therefore I propose that we should merely thicken +the banks, and should, in Saxon custom, build a wall with turrets upon +them. The sloping banks alone would be but a small protection against +the onslaught of the Danes, but stone walls are another matter, and +could only be carried after a long siege. If you fall in with my views +you will each of you send half your serfs to carry out the work, and I +will do the same, and will, moreover, pay fifty freemen who may do the +squaring of the stones and the proper laying of them." + +The proposal led to a long discussion, as some thought that there was +no occasion as yet to take such a measure; but the thanes finally +agreed to carry out Edmund's proposal. + + + + +CHAPTER IV: THE INVASION OF WESSEX + + +Edmund and Egbert devoted most of their time to the building of the new +fort, living very simply, and expended the whole of the revenues of the +lands on the payment of the freemen and masons engaged upon the work. +The Roman fort was a parallelogram, the sides being about 200 yards +long, and the ends half that length. It was surrounded by two earthen +banks with wide ditches. These were deepened considerably, and the +slopes were cut down more sharply. The inner bank was widened until it +was 15 feet across the top. + +On this the wall was built. It was faced on both sides with square +stones, the space between filled up with rubble and cement, the total +thickness being 4 feet. The height of the wall was 8 feet, and at +intervals of 30 yards apart towers were raised 10 feet above it, one of +these being placed at either side of the entrance. Here the bank was +cut away, and solid buttresses of masonry supported the high gates. The +opening in the outer bank was not opposite to the gate in the inner, +being fifty yards away, so that any who entered by it would have for +that distance to follow the ditch between the two banks, exposed to the +missiles of those on the wall before arriving at the inner gate. + +Five hundred men laboured incessantly at the work. The stone for the +walls was fortunately found close at hand, but, notwithstanding this, +the work took nearly six months to execute; deep wells were sunk in the +centre of the fort, and by this means an ample supply of water was +secured, however large might be the number within it. + +A very short time after the commencement of the work the news arrived +that King Edmund of East Anglia had gathered his forces together and +had met the Danes in a great battle near Thetford on Sunday the 20th of +November, and had been totally defeated by them, Edmund himself having +been taken prisoner. The captive king, after having been for a long +time cruelly tortured by the Danes, was shot to death with arrows. It +was not long after this that news came that the whole of East Anglia +had fallen into the hands of the Danes. + +Early in the month of February, 871, just as the walls of his fort had +begun to rise, a messenger arrived from the king bidding Edmund +assemble all the men in his earlship and march at once to join him near +Devizes, as the news had come that a great Danish fleet had sailed up +the Thames and had already captured the royal town of Reading. + +Messengers were sent out in all directions, and early the next morning, +400 men having assembled, Edmund and his kinsman marched away with them +towards Devizes. Upon their arrival at that town they found the king +and his brother with 8000 men, and the following day the army moved +east towards Reading. + +They had not marched many miles before a messenger arrived saying that +two of the Danish jarls with a great following had gone out to plunder +the country, that they had been encountered by Aethelwulf, Earl of +Berkshire, with his men at Englefield, and a fierce battle had taken +place. The Saxons had gained the victory, and great numbers of the +Danes had been slain, Sidroc, one of their jarls, being among the +fallen. + +Three days later the royal army arrived in sight of Reading, being +joined on their march by Aethelwulf and his men. The Danes had thrown +up a great rampart between the Thames and the Kennet, and many were +still at work on this fortification. These were speedily slain by the +Saxons, but their success was a short one. The main body of the +invaders swarmed out from the city and a desperate engagement took +place. + +The Saxons fought valiantly, led by the king and Prince Alfred; but +being wholly undisciplined and unaccustomed to war they were unable to +withstand the onslaught of the Danes, who fought in better order, +keeping together in ranks: after four hours' hard fighting the Saxons +were compelled to fall back. + +They rallied again a few miles from Reading. Ethelred and Alfred went +among them bidding them be of good cheer, for that another time, when +they fought in better order, they would gain the victory; and that +their loss had not been greater than the Danes, only that unhappily the +valiant Ealdorman Aethelwulf had been slain. Fresh messengers were sent +throughout the country bidding all the men of Wessex to rally round +their king, and on the fourth morning after the defeat Ethelred found +himself at the head of larger forces than had fought with him in the +last battle. + +The Danes had moved out from Reading and had taken post at Ashdown, and +as the Saxon army approached they were seen to be divided into two +bodies, one of which was commanded by their two kings and the other by +two jarls. The Saxons therefore made a similar division of their army, +the king commanding one division and Prince Alfred the other. + +Edmund with the men of Sherborne was in the division of Alfred. The +Danes advanced to the attack and fell with fury upon them. It had been +arranged that this division should not advance to the attack until that +commanded by the king was also put in motion. For some time Alfred and +his men supported the assaults of the Danes, and then, being hardly +pressed, the prince sent a messenger to his brother to urge that a +movement should be made. The Saxons were impatient at standing on the +defensive, and Alfred saw that he must either allow them to charge the +enemy or must retreat. + +Presently the messenger returned saying that the king was in his tent +hearing mass, and that he had given orders that no man should move or +any should disturb him until mass was concluded. Alfred hesitated no +longer; he formed his men into a solid body, and then, raising his +battle cry, rushed upon the Danes. The battle was a furious one. The +Danes were upon higher ground, their standard being planted by the side +of a single thorn-tree which grew on the slopes of the hill. Towards +this Alfred with his men fought their way. + +The lesson of the previous battle had not been lost, the Saxons kept +together in a solid body which made its way with irresistible weight +through the ranks of the Danes. Still the latter closed in on all +sides, and the fight was doubtful until the king, having finished his +devotions, led his division into the battle. For a long time a +desperate strife continued and great numbers on both sides were killed; +but the Saxons, animated at once by love of their country and hatred of +the invaders and by humiliation at their previous defeat, fought with +such fury that the Danes began to give way. Then the Saxons pressed +them still more hotly, and the invaders presently lost heart and fled +in confusion, pursued in all directions by the exulting Saxons. + +The Danish king Bergsecg and five jarls, the two Sidrocs, Osbearn, +Frene, and Hareld, were slain, and many thousands of their followers. +Great spoil of arms and armour fell into the hands of the victors. + +Edmund had fought bravely in the battle at the head of his men. Egbert +had kept beside him, and twice, when the lad had been smitten to his +knees by the enemy, covered him with his shield and beat off the foe. + +"You are over-young for such a fight as this, Edmund," he said when the +Danes had taken to flight. "You will need another four or five years +over your head before you can stand in battle against these fierce +Northmen. They break down your guard by sheer weight; but you bore +yourself gallantly, and I doubt not will yet be as famous a warrior as +was your brave father." + +Edmund did not join in the pursuit, being too much bruised and +exhausted to do so; but Egbert with the men of Sherborne followed the +flying Danes until nightfall. + +"You have done well, my young ealdorman," Prince Alfred said to the lad +after the battle. "I have been wishing much that you could be with me +during the past month, but I heard that you were building a strong fort +and deemed it better to let you continue your work undisturbed. When it +is finished I trust that I shall have you often near me; but I fear +that for a time we shall have but little space for peaceful pursuits, +for the Danes are coming, as I hear, in great troops westward, and we +shall have many battles to fight ere we clear the land of them." + +In those days a defeat, however severe, had not the same decisive +effect as it has in modern warfare. There were no cannons to lose, no +great stores to fall into the hands of the victors. The army was simply +dispersed, and its component parts reassembled in the course of a day +or two, ready, when reinforcements arrived, to renew the fight. Thus, +decisive as was the victory of Ashdown, Prince Alfred saw that many +such victories must be won, and a prolonged and exhausting struggle +carried on before the tide of invasion would be finally hurled back +from Wessex. The next few days were spent in making a fair distribution +of the spoil and arms among the conquerors. Some of the thanes then +returned home with their people; but the remainder, on the king's +entreaty, agreed to march with him against the Danes, who after the +battle had fallen back to Basing, where they had been joined by others +coming from the coast. The royal army advanced against them, and +fourteen days after the battle of Ashdown the struggle was renewed. The +fight lasted for many hours, but towards nightfall the Saxons were +compelled to retreat, moving off the field, however, in good order, so +that no spoil fell into the hands of the Danes. + +This check was a great disappointment to the Saxons, who after their +late victory had hoped that they should speedily clear the kingdom of +the Danes. These, indeed, taught prudence by the manner in which the +West Saxons had fought, for a while refrained from plundering +excursions. Two months later the Saxons were again called to arms. +Somerled, a Danish chieftain, had again advanced to Reading, and had +captured and burned the town. The king marched against him, and the two +armies met at Merton. Here another desperate battle took place. + +During the first part of the day the Saxons were victorious over both +the divisions of the Danish army, but in the afternoon the latter +received some reinforcements and renewed the fight. The Saxons, +believing that the victory had been won, had fallen into disorder and +were finally driven from the field. Great numbers were slain on both +sides. Bishop Edmund and many Saxon nobles were killed, and King +Ethelred so severely wounded that he expired a few days later, April +23rd, 871, having reigned for five years. He was buried at Wimbourne +Minster, and Prince Alfred ascended the throne. + +Ethelred was much regretted by his people, but the accession of Alfred +increased their hopes of battling successfully against the Danes. +Although wise and brave, King Ethelred had been scarcely the monarch +for a warlike people in troubled times. Religious exercises occupied +too large a share of his thoughts. His rule was kindly rather than +strong, and his authority was but weak over his nobles. From Prince +Alfred the Saxons hoped better things. From his boyhood he had been +regarded with special interest and affection by the people, as his +father had led them to regard him as their future king. + +The fact that he had been personally consecrated by the pope appeared +to invest him with a special authority. His immense superiority in +learning over all his people greatly impressed them. Though gentle he +was firm and resolute, prompt in action, daring in the field. Thus, +then, although the people regretted King Ethelred, there was a general +feeling of hope and joy when Alfred took his place on the throne. He +had succeeded to the crown but a month when the Danes again advanced in +great numbers. The want of success which had attended them in the last +two battles had damped the spirit of the people, and it was with a very +small force only that Alfred was able to advance against them. + +The armies met near Wilton, where the Danes in vastly superior numbers +were posted on a hill. King Alfred led his forces forward and fell upon +the Danes, and so bravely did the Saxons fight that for some time the +day went favourably for them. Gradually the Danes were driven from +their post of vantage, and after some hours' fighting turned to fly; +but, as at Merton and Kesteven, the impetuosity of the Saxons proved +their ruin. Breaking their compact ranks they scattered in pursuit of +the Danes, and these, seeing how small was the number of their +pursuers, rallied and turned upon them, and the Saxons were driven from +the field which they had so bravely won. + +"Unless my brave Saxons learn order and discipline," the king said to +Edmund and some of his nobles who gathered round him on the evening +after the defeat, "our cause is assuredly lost. We have proved now in +each battle that we are superior man to man to the Danes, but we throw +away the fruits of victory by our impetuosity. The great Caesar, who +wrote an account of his battles which I have read in Latin, described +the order and discipline with which the Roman troops fought. They were +always in heavy masses, and even after a battle the heavy-armed +soldiers kept their ranks and did not scatter in pursuit of the enemy, +leaving this task to the more lightly armed troops. + +"Would that we had three or four years before us to teach our men +discipline and order, but alas! there is no time for this. The Danes +have fallen in great numbers in every fight, but they are ever +receiving reinforcements and come on in fresh waves of invasion; while +the Saxons, finding that all their efforts and valour seem to avail +nothing, are beginning fast to lose heart. See how small a number +assembled round my standard yesterday, and yet the war is but +beginning. Truly the look-out is bad for England." + +The king made strenuous efforts again to raise an army, but the people +did not respond to his call. In addition to the battles which have been +spoken of several others had been fought in different parts of Wessex +by the ealdormen and their followers against bodies of invading Danes. +In the space of one year the Saxons had engaged in eight pitched +battles and in many skirmishes. Great numbers had been slain on both +sides, but the Danes ever received fresh accessions of strength, and +seemed to grow stronger and more numerous after every battle, while the +Saxons were dwindling rapidly. Wide tracts of country had been +devastated, the men slaughtered, and the women and children taken +captives, and the people, utterly dispirited and depressed, no longer +listened to the voices of their leaders, and refused again to peril +their lives in a strife which seemed hopeless. Alfred therefore called +his ealdormen together and proposed to them, that since the people +would no longer fight, the sole means that remained to escape +destruction was to offer to buy off the Danes. + +The proposal was agreed to, for although none of them had any hope that +the Danes would long keep any treaty they might make, yet even a little +respite might give heart and spirit to the Saxons again. Accordingly +negotiations were entered into with the Danes, and these, in +consideration of a large money payment, agreed to retire from Wessex. +The money was paid, the Danes retired from Reading, which they had used +as their headquarters, and marched to London. King Burhred, the feeble +King of Mercia, could do nothing to oppose them, and he too agreed to +pay them a large annual tribute. + +From the end of 872 till the autumn of 875 the country was +comparatively quiet. Alfred ruled it wisely, and tried to repair the +terrible damages the war had made. Edmund looked after his earldom, and +grew into a powerful young man of nineteen years old. + +King Alfred had not deceived himself for a moment as to the future. +"The Danes," he said, "are still in England. East Anglia and +Northumbria swarm with them. Had this army, after being bought off by +us and my brother of Mercia, sailed across the seas and landed in +France there would have been some hope for us, but their restless +nature will not allow them to stay long in the parts which they have +conquered. + +"In Anglia King Guthrum has divided the land among his jarls, and there +they seem disposed to settle down; but elsewhere they care not for the +land, preferring to leave it in the hands of its former owners to till, +and after to wring from the cultivators the fruits of the harvest; +then, as the country becomes thoroughly impoverished, they must move +elsewhere. Mercia they can overrun whensoever they choose, and after +that there is nothing for them to do but to sweep down again upon +Wessex, and with all the rest of England at their feet it is hopeless +to think that we alone can withstand their united power." + +"Then what, think you, must be the end of this?" Edmund asked. + +"'Tis difficult to see the end," Alfred replied. "It would seem that +our only hope of release from them is that when they have utterly eaten +up and ravaged England they may turn their thoughts elsewhere. Already +they are harrying the northern coasts of France, but there are richer +prizes on the Mediterranean shores, and it may be that when England is +no longer worth plundering they may sail away to Spain and Italy. We +have acted foolishly in the way we have fought them. When they first +began to arrive upon our coasts we should have laboured hard to build +great fleets, so that we could go forth and meet them on the seas. + +"Some, indeed, might have escaped our watch and landed, but the fleets +could have cut off reinforcements coming to them, and thus those who +reached our shores could have been overwhelmed. Even now, I think that +something might be done that way, and I purpose to build a fleet which +may, when they again invade us, take its station near the mouth of the +Thames and fall upon the vessels bringing stores and reinforcements. +This would give much encouragement to the people, whose hopelessness +and desperation are caused principally by the fact that it seems to be +of no use killing the enemy, since so many are ready constantly to take +their places." + +"I will gladly undertake to build one ship," Edmund said. "The fort is +now finished, and with the revenues of the land I could at once +commence a ship; and if the Danes give us time, when she is finished I +would build another. I will the more gladly do it, since it seems to me +that if the Danes entirely overrun our country we must take to the sea +and so in turn become plunderers. With this view I will have the ship +built large and strong, so that she may keep the sea in all weathers +and be my home if I am driven out of England. There must be plenty of +ports in France, and many a quiet nook and inlet round England, where +one can put in to refit when necessary, and we could pick up many a +prize of Danish ships returning laden with booty. With such a ship I +could carry a strong crew, and with my trusty Egbert and the best of my +fighting men we should be able to hold our own, even if attacked by two +or three of the Danish galleys." + +"The idea is a good one, Edmund," the king said, "and I would that I +myself could carry it into effect. It were a thousand times better to +live a free life on the sea, even if certain at last to be overpowered +by a Danish fleet, than to lurk a hunted fugitive in the woods; but I +cannot do it. So long as I live I must remain among my people, ready to +snatch any chance that may offer of striking a blow against the +invader. But for you it is different." + +"I should not, of course, do it," Edmund said, "until all is lost here, +and mean to defend my fort to an extremity; still should it be that the +Danes conquer all our lands, it were well to have such a refuge." + +Edmund talked the matter over with Egbert, who warmly entered into the +plan. "So long as I have life I will fight against the Danes, and in a +ship at least we can fight manfully till the end. We must not build her +on the sea-coast, or before the time when we need her she may be +destroyed by the Danes. We will build her on the Parrot. The water is +deep enough far up from the sea to float her when empty, and if we +choose some spot where the river runs among woods we might hide her so +that she may to the last escape the attention of the Danes. + +"We must get some men crafty in ship-building from one of the ports, +sending down a body of our own serfs to do the rough work. We will go +to Exeter first and there choose us the craftsman most skilled in +building ships, and will take council with him as to the best form and +size. She must be good to sail and yet able to row fast with a strong +crew, and she must have room to house a goodly number of rowing and +fighting men. You, Edmund, might, before we start, consult King Alfred. +He must have seen at Rome and other ports on the Mediterranean the +ships in use there, which are doubtless far in advance of our own. For +we know from the Holy Bible that a thousand years ago St. Paul made +long voyages in ships, and doubtless they have learned much since those +days." + +Edmund thought the idea a good one, and asked the king to make him a +drawing of the vessels in use in the Mediterranean. This King Alfred +readily did, and Egbert and Edmund then journeyed to Exeter, where +finding out the man most noted for his skill in building ships, they +told him the object they had in view, and showed him the drawings the +king had made. There were two of them, the one a long galley rowed with +double banks of oars, the other a heavy trading ship. + +"This would be useless to you," the shipwright said, laying the second +drawing aside. "It would not be fast enough either to overtake or to +fly. The other galley would, methinks, suit you well. I have seen a +drawing of such a ship before. It is a war galley such as is used by +the Genoese in their fights against the African pirates. They are fast +and roomy, and have plenty of accommodation for the crews. One of them +well manned and handled should be a match for six at least of the +Danish galleys, which are much lower in the water and smaller in all +ways. But it will cost a good deal of money to build such a ship." + +"I will devote all the revenues of my land to it until it is finished," +Edmund said. "I will place a hundred serfs at your service, and will +leave it to you to hire as many craftsmen as may be needed. I intend to +build her in a quiet place in a deep wood on the river Parrot, so that +she may escape the eyes of the Danes." + +"I shall require seasoned timber," the shipwright urged. + +"That will I buy," Edmund replied, "as you shall direct, and can have +it brought up the river to the spot." + +"Being so large and heavy," the shipwright said, "she will be difficult +to launch. Methinks it were best to dig a hole or dock at some little +distance from the river; then when she is finished a way can be cut to +the river wide enough for her to pass out. When the water is turned in +it will float her up level to the surface, and as she will not draw +more than two feet of water the cut need not be more than three feet +deep." + +"That will be the best plan by far," Edmund agreed, "for you can make +the hole so deep that you can build her entirely below the level of the +ground. Then we can, if needs be, fill up the hole altogether with +bushes, and cover her up, so that she would not be seen by a Danish +galley rowing up the river, or even by any of the enemy who might enter +the wood, unless they made special search for her; and there she could +lie until I chose to embark." + +The shipwright at once set to work to draw out his plans, and a week +later sent to Edmund a messenger with an account of the quantity and +size of wood he should require. This was purchased at once. Edmund and +Egbert with their serfs journeyed to the spot they had chosen, and were +met there by the shipwright, who brought with him twenty craftsmen from +Exeter. The wood was brought up the river, and while the craftsmen +began to cut it up into fitting sizes, the serfs applied themselves to +dig the deep dock in which the vessel was to be built. + + + + +CHAPTER V: A DISCIPLINED BAND + + +The construction of the ship went on steadily. King Alfred, who was +himself building several war vessels of ordinary size, took great +interest in Edmund's craft and paid several visits to it while it was +in progress. + +"It will be a fine ship," he said one day as the vessel was approaching +completion, "and much larger than any in these seas. It reminds me, +Edmund, not indeed in size or shape, but in its purpose, of the ark +which Noah built before the deluge which covered the whole earth. He +built it, as you know, to escape with his family from destruction. You, +too, are building against the time when the deluge of Danish invasion +will sweep over this land, and I trust that your success will equal +that of the patriarch." + +"I shall be better off than Noah was," Edmund said, "for he had nothing +to do, save to shut up his windows and wait till the floods abated, +while I shall go out and seek my enemies on the sea." + +The respite purchased by the king from the Danes was but a short one. +In the autumn of 875 their bands were again swarming around the borders +of Wessex, and constant irruptions took place. Edmund received a +summons to gather his tenants, but he found that these no longer +replied willingly to the call. Several of his chief men met him and +represented to him the general feeling which prevailed. + +"The men say," their spokesman explained, "that it is useless to fight +against the Danes. In 872 there were ten pitched battles, and vast +numbers of the Danes were slain, and vast numbers also of Saxons. The +Danes are already far more numerous than before, for fresh hordes +continue to arrive on the shores, and more than fill up the places of +those who are killed; but the places of the Saxons are empty, and our +fighting force is far smaller than it was last year. If we again go out +and again fight many battles, even if we are victorious, which we can +hardly hope to be, the same thing will happen. Many thousands will be +slain, and the following year we shall in vain try to put an army in +the field which can match that of the Danes, who will again have filled +up their ranks, and be as numerous as ever. So long as we continue to +fight, so long the Danes will slay, burn, and destroy wheresoever they +march, until there will remain of us but a few fugitives hidden in the +woods. We should be far better off did we cease to resist, and the +Danes become our masters, as they have become the masters of +Northumbria, Mercia, and Anglia. + +"There, it is true, they have plundered the churches and thanes' houses +and have stolen all that is worth carrying away; but when they have +taken all that there is to take they leave the people alone, and +unmolested, to till the ground and to gain their livelihood. They do +not slay for the pleasure of slaying, and grievous as is the condition +of the Angles they and their wives and children are free from massacre +and are allowed to gain their livings. The West Saxons have showed that +they are no cowards; they have defeated the Northmen over and over +again when far outnumbering them. It is no dishonour to yield now when +all the rest of England has yielded, and when further fighting will +only bring ruin upon ourselves, our wives, and children." + +Edmund could find no reply to this argument. He knew that even the king +despaired of ultimately resisting the Danish invasion, and after +listening to all that the thanes had to say he retired with Egbert +apart. + +"What say you, Egbert? There is reason in the arguments that they use. +You and I have neither wives nor children, and we risk only our own +lives; but I can well understand that those who have so much to lose +are chary of further effort. What say you?" + +"I do not think it will be fair to press them further," Egbert +answered; "but methinks that we might raise a band consisting of all +the youths and unmarried men in the earldom. These we might train +carefully and keep always together, seeing that the lands will still be +cultivated and all able to pay their assessment, and may even add to +it, since you exempt them from service. Such a band we could train and +practise until we could rely upon them to defeat a far larger force of +the enemy, and they would be available for our crew when we take to the +ship." + +"I think the idea is a very good one, Egbert; we will propose it to the +thanes." The proposition was accordingly made that all married men +should be exempt from service, but that the youths above the age of +sixteen and the unmarried men should be formed into a band and kept +permanently under arms. Landowners who lost the services of sons or +freemen working for them should pay the same assessment only as before, +but those who did not contribute men to the levy should pay an +additional assessment. Edmund said he would pay the men composing the +band the same wages they would earn in the field, and would undertake +all their expenses. "So long as the king continues the struggle," he +said, "it is our duty to aid him, nor can we escape from the dangers +and perils of invasion. Should the Danes come near us all must perforce +fight, but so long as they continue at a distance things can go on here +as if we had peace in the land." + +The proposal was, after some discussion, agreed to, and the news caused +gladness and contentment throughout the earldom. The younger men who +had been included in the levy were quite satisfied with the +arrangement. The spirit of the West Saxons was still high, and those +without wives and families who would suffer by their absence or be +ruined by their death were eager to continue the contest. The proposal +that they should be paid as when at work was considered perfectly +satisfactory. + +The men of Sherborne had under their young leader gained great credit +by their steadiness and valour in the battles four years before, and +they looked forward to fresh victories over the invader. The result was +that ninety young men assembled for service. Edmund had sent off a +messenger to the king saying that the people were utterly weary of war +and refused to take up arms, but that he was gathering a band of young +men with whom he would ere long join him; but he prayed for a short +delay in order that he might get them into a condition to be useful on +the day of battle. + +After consultation with Egbert, Edmund drew up a series of orders +somewhat resembling those of modern drill. King Alfred had once, in +speaking to him, described the manner in which the Thebans, a people of +Northern Greece, had fought, placing their troops in the form of a +wedge. The formation he now taught his men. From morning to night they +were practised at rallying from pursuit or flight, or changing from a +line into the form of a wedge. Each man had his appointed place both in +the line and wedge. Those who formed the outside line of this formation +were armed with large shields which covered them from chin to foot, and +with short spears; those in the inner lines carried no shields, but +bore spears of increasing length, so that four lines of spears +projected from the wedge to nearly the same distance. Inside the four +lines were twenty men armed with shields, bows, and arrows. The sides +of the wedge were of equal length, so that they could march either way. + +Egbert's place was at the apex of the wedge intended generally for +attack. He carried no spear, nor did those at the other corners, as +they would be covered by those beside and behind them; he was armed +with a huge battle-axe. The other leaders were also chosen for great +personal strength. Edmund's place was on horseback in the middle of the +wedge, whence he could overlook the whole and direct their movements. + +In three weeks the men could perform their simple movements to +perfection, and at a sound from Edmund's horn would run in as when +scattered in pursuit or flight, or could form from line into the wedge, +without the least confusion, every man occupying his assigned place. + +The men were delighted with their new exercises, and felt confident +that the weight of the solid mass thickly bristling with spears would +break through the Danish line without difficulty, or could draw off +from the field in perfect order and safety in case of a defeat, however +numerous their foes. The two front lines were to thrust with their +pikes, the others keeping their long spears immovable to form a solid +hedge. Each man carried a short heavy sword to use in case, by any +fatality, the wedge should get broken up. + +When assured that his band were perfect in their new exercise Edmund +marched and joined the king. He found on his arrival that the summons +to arms had been everywhere disregarded. Many men had indeed come in, +but these were in no way sufficient to form a force which would enable +him to take the field against the Danes. + +Edmund therefore solicited and obtained permission to march with his +band to endeavour to check the plundering bands of Danes, who were +already committing devastations throughout the country. + +"Be not rash, Edmund," the monarch said, "you have but a handful of +men, and I should grieve indeed did aught of harm befall you. If you +can fall upon small parties of plunderers and destroy them you will do +good service, not only by compelling them to keep together but by +raising the spirits of the Saxons; but avoid conflict with parties +likely to defeat you." + +"You shall hear of us soon, I promise you," Edmund replied, "and I +trust that the news will be good." + +The little party set out towards the border, and before long met +numbers of fugitives, weeping women carrying children, old men and +boys, making their way from the neighbourhood of the Danes. The men had +for the most part driven their herds into the woods, where they were +prepared to defend them as best they could against roving parties. They +learned that Haffa, a Danish jarl, with about 600 followers, was +plundering and ravaging the country about twelve miles away. The force +was a formidable one, but after consultation with Egbert, Edmund +determined to advance, deeming that he might find the Danes scattered +and cut off some of their parties. + +As they neared the country of which the Danes were in possession the +smoke of burning villages and homesteads was seen rising heavily in the +air. Edmund halted for the night in a wood about a mile distant from a +blazing farm, and the band lay down for some hours. + +Before daybreak three or four of the swiftest-footed of the men were +sent out to reconnoitre. They learned, from badly wounded men whom they +found lying near the burning farms, that the Danes had been plundering +in parties of twenty or thirty, but that the main body under Haffa lay +five miles away at the village of Bristowe. + +A consultation was held, and it was agreed that the party should remain +hidden in the wood during the day, and that upon the following night +they should fall upon the Danes, trusting to the surprise to inflict +much damage upon them, and to be able to draw off before the enemy +could recover sufficiently to rally and attack them. + +Accordingly about nine o'clock in the evening they started, and +marching rapidly approached Bristowe an hour and a half later. They +could see great fires blazing, and round them the Danes were carousing +after their forays of the day. Great numbers of cattle were penned up +near the village. + +Edmund and Egbert having halted their men stole forward until close to +the village in order to learn the nature of the ground and the position +of the Danes. Upon their return they waited until the fires burned low +and the sound of shouting and singing decreased. It was useless to wait +longer, for they knew that many of the Danes would, according to their +custom, keep up their revelry all night. Crawling along the ground the +band made for the great pen where were herded the cattle which the +Danes had driven in from the surrounding country, and over which +several guards had been placed. Before starting Egbert assigned to each +man the special duties which he was to fulfil. + +The Saxons crept up quite close to the Danish guards unobserved. To +each of these three or four bowmen had been told off, and they, on +nearing the sentries lay prone on the ground with bows bent and arrows +fixed until a whistle from Edmund gave the signal. Then the arrows were +loosed, and the distance being so short the Danish sentries were all +slain. Then a party of men removed the side of the pen facing the +village; the rest mingled with the cattle, and soon with the points of +their spears goaded them into flight. In a mass the herd thundered down +upon the village, the Saxons keeping closely behind them and adding to +their terror by goading the hindermost. + +The Danes, astonished at the sudden thunder of hoofs bearing down upon +them, leaped to their feet and endeavoured to turn the course of the +herd, which they deemed to have accidentally broken loose, by loud +shouts and by rattling their swords against their shields. The oxen, +however, were too terrified by those in their rear to check their +course, and charged impetuously down upon the Danes. + +Numbers of these were hurled to the ground and trampled under foot, and +the wildest confusion reigned in the camp. This was increased when, as +the herds swept along, a number of active men with spear and sword fell +suddenly upon them. Scores were cut down or run through before they +could prepare for defence, or recover from their surprise at the novel +method of attack. + +At last, as the thunder of the herd died away in the distance, and they +became aware of the comparative fewness of their foes, they began to +rally and make head against their assailants. No sooner was this the +case than the note of a horn was heard, and as if by magic their +assailants instantly darted away into the night, leaving the +superstitious Danes in some doubt whether the whole attack upon them +had not been of a supernatural nature. + +Long before they recovered themselves, and were ready for pursuit, the +Saxons were far away, no less than 200 of the Danes having been slain +or trampled to death, while of Edmund's band not one had received so +much as a wound. + +The Saxons regained the wood in the highest state of exultation at +their success, and more confident than before in themselves and their +leader. + +"I am convinced," Edmund said, "that this is the true way to fight the +Danes, to harry and attack them by night assaults until they dare not +break up into parties, and become so worn out by constant alarms that +they will be glad to leave a country where plunder and booty are only +to be earned at so great a cost." + +Knowing that Haffa's band would for some time be thoroughly on the +alert Edmund moved his party to another portion of the country, where +he inflicted a blow, almost as heavy as he had dealt Haffa, upon +Sigbert, another of the Danish jarls. Three or four more very +successful night attacks were made, and then the Danes, by this time +thoroughly alarmed, obtained from some Saxon country people whom they +took prisoners news as to the strength of Edmund's band. + +Furious at the heavy losses which had been inflicted upon them by so +small a number, they determined to unite in crushing them. By threats +of instant death, and by the offers of a high reward, they succeeded in +persuading two Saxon prisoners to act as spies, and one day these +brought in to Haffa the news that the band had that morning, after +striking a successful blow at the Danes ten miles away, entered at +daybreak a wood but three miles from his camp. + +The Northman, disdaining to ask for assistance from one of the other +bands against so small a foe, moved out at once with 300 of his men +towards the wood. The Saxons had posted guards, who on the approach of +the Danes roused Edmund with the news that the enemy were close at +hand. The Saxons were soon on their feet. + +"Now, my friends," Edmund said to them, "here is the time for trying +what benefit we have got from our exercise. We cannot well draw off, +for the Danes are as fleet-footed as we; therefore let us fight and +conquer them." + +The men formed up cheerfully, and the little body moved out from the +wood to meet the Danes. The latter gave a shout of triumph as they saw +them. The Saxon force, from its compact formation, appeared even +smaller than it was, and the Norsemen advanced in haste, each eager to +be the first to fall upon an enemy whom they regarded as an easy prey. +As they arrived upon the spot, however, and saw the thick hedge of +spears which bristled round the little body of Saxons, the first comers +checked their speed and waited till Haffa himself came up, accompanied +by his principal warriors. + +Without a moment's hesitation the jarl flung himself upon the Saxons. +In vain, however, he tried to reach them with his long sword. As he +neared them the front line of the Saxons dropped on one knee, and as +the Danes with their shields dashed against the spears and strove to +cut through them, the kneeling men were able with their pikes to thrust +at the unguarded portions of the bodies below their shields, and many +fell grievously wounded. After trying for some time in vain, Haffa, +finding that individual effort did not suffice to break through the +Saxon spears, formed his men up in line four deep, and advanced in a +solid body so as to overwhelm them. + +The Saxons now rose to their feet. The spears, instead of being pointed +outwards, were inclined towards the front, and the wedge advanced +against the Danes. The Saxon war cry rose loud as they neared the +Danish line, and then, still maintaining their close formation, they +charged upon it. The assault was irresistible. The whole weight was +thrown upon a point, and preceded, as it was, by the densely-packed +spears, it burst through the Danish line as if the latter had been +composed of osier twigs, bearing down all in its way. + +With shouts of surprise the Danes broke up their line and closed in a +thick mass round the Saxons, those behind pressing forward and impeding +the motions of the warriors actually engaged. The Saxons no longer kept +stationary. In obedience to Edmund's orders the triangle advanced, +sometimes with one angle in front, sometimes with another, but +whichever way it moved sweeping away the Danes opposed to it, while the +archers from the centre shot fast and strong into the mass of the enemy. + +Haffa himself, trying to oppose the advance of the wedge, was slain by +a blow of Egbert's axe, and after half an hour's fierce fighting, the +Danes, having lost upwards of fifty of their best men, and finding all +their efforts to produce an impression upon the Saxons vain, desisted +from the attack and fled. + +At once the wedge broke up, and the Saxons followed in hot pursuit, +cutting down their flying enemies. Obedient, however, to Edmund's +repeated shouts they kept fairly together, and when the Danes, thinking +them broken and disordered, turned to fall upon them, a single note of +the horn brought them instantly together again, and the astonished +Danes saw the phalanx which had proved so fatal to them prepared to +receive their attack. This they did not attempt to deliver, but took to +flight, the Saxons, as before, pursuing, and twice as many of the Danes +were slain in the retreat as in the first attack. + +The pursuit was continued for many miles, and then, fearing that he +might come across some fresh body of the enemy, Edmund called off his +men. Great was the triumph of the Saxons. A few of them had suffered +from wounds more or less serious, but not one had fallen. They had +defeated a body of Danes four times their own force, and had killed +nearly half of them, and they felt confident that the tactics which +they had adopted would enable them in future to defeat any scattered +bodies of Danes they might meet. + +For a week after the battle they rested, spending their time in further +improving themselves in their drill, practicing especially the +alterations of the position of the spears requisite when changing from +a defensive attitude, with the pikes at right angles to each face, to +that of an attack, when the spears of both faces of the advancing wedge +were all directed forward. A messenger arrived from the king, to whom +Edmund had sent the news of his various successes, and Alfred sent his +warmest congratulations and thanks for the great results which had been +gained with so small a force, the king confessing that he was unable to +understand how with such disproportionate numbers Edmund could so +totally have routed the force of so distinguished a leader as Haffa. + +For some weeks Edmund continued the work of checking the depredations +of the Danes, and so successful was he that the freebooters became +seized with a superstitious awe of his band. The rapidity of its +maneuvering, the manner in which men, at one moment scattered, were in +another formed in a serried mass, against which all their efforts broke +as waves against a rock, seemed to them to be something superhuman. In +that part of Wessex, therefore, the invaders gradually withdrew their +forces across the frontier; but in other parts of the country, the tide +of invasion being unchecked, large tracts of country had been +devastated, and the West Saxons could nowhere make head against them. +One day a messenger reached Edmund telling him that a large Danish army +was approaching Sherborne, and urging him to return instantly to the +defence of his earldom. + +With rapid marches he proceeded thither, and on arriving at his house +he found that the Danes were but a few miles away, and that the whole +country was in a state of panic. He at once sent off messengers in all +directions, bidding the people hasten with their wives and families, +their herds and valuables, to the fort. His return to some extent +restored confidence. The news of the victories he had gained over the +Danes had reached Sherborne, and the confidence of their power to +defeat the invaders which his followers expressed as they scattered to +their respective farms again raised the courage of the people. + +All through the night bands of fugitives poured into the fort, and by +morning the whole of the people for many miles round were assembled +there. Egbert and Edmund busied themselves in assigning to each his +duty and station. All the men capable of bearing arms were told off to +posts on the walls. The old men and young boys were to draw water and +look after the cattle; the women to cook and attend to the wounded. The +men of his own band were not placed upon the walls, but were held in +readiness as a reserve to move to any point which might be threatened, +and to take part in sorties against the enemy. + +Soon smoke was seen rising up in many directions, showing that the +enemy were at their accustomed work. Cries broke from the women, and +exclamations of rage from the men, as they recognized by the direction +of the smoke that their own homesteads and villages were in the hands +of the spoilers. About mid-day a party of mounted Danes rode up towards +the fort and made a circuit of it. When they had satisfied themselves +as to the formidable nature of its defences they rode off again, and +for the rest of the day none of the enemy approached the fort. + + + + +CHAPTER VI: THE SAXON FORT + + +A strict watch was kept all night, and several scouts were sent out. +These on their return reported that the Danes were feasting, having +slain many cattle and broached the casks of mead which they found in +the cellars of Edmund's house. This they had not burned nor the houses +around it, intending, as the scouts supposed, to make it their +headquarters while they attacked the fort. + +Edmund and Egbert agreed that it would be well to show the Danes at +once that they had an active and enterprising foe to deal with; they +therefore awakened their band, who were sleeping on skins close to the +gate, and with them started out. + +It was still two hours before dawn when they approached the house. Save +a few men on watch, the great Danish host, which the messengers +calculated to amount to ten thousand men, were asleep. Cautiously +making their way so as to avoid stumbling over the Danes, who lay +scattered in groups round the house, the Saxons crept forward quietly +until close to the entrance, when a sleepy watchman started up. + +"Who are ye?" + +The answer was a blow from Egbert's battle-axe. Then the leaders with +twenty of their men rushed into the house, while the rest remained on +guard at the entrance. + +The combat was short but furious, and the clashing of arms and shouts +of the Danes roused those sleeping near, and the men who escaped from +the house spread the alarm. The fight lasted but three or four minutes, +for the Danes, scattered through the house, and in many cases still +stupid from the effects of the previous night's debauch, were unable to +gather and make any collective resistance. The two jarls fought in a +manner worthy of their renown, but the Saxon spears proved more than a +match for their swords, and they died fighting bravely till the last. +Between Saxon and Dane there was no thought of quarter; none asked for +mercy on either side, for none would be granted. The sea rovers never +spared an armed man who fell into their hands, and the Saxons were +infuriated by the sufferings which the invaders had inflicted upon +them, and had no more pity upon their foes than if they had been wild +animals. Besides the jarls some thirty of their minor leaders were in +the house, and but five or six of them escaped. It was well for the +Danes that the detachment which lay there was not their principal body, +which was still a few miles in the rear, for had it been so two of +their kings and six jarls, all men of famed valour, would have been +slain. The instant the work was done the Saxons rejoined those +assembled at the entrance. + +Already the Danes were thronging up, but at present in confusion and +disorder, coming rather to see what was the matter than to fight, and +hardly believing that the Saxons could have had the audacity to attack +them. In an instant the Saxons fell into their usual formation, and +overturning and cutting down those who happened to be in their path, +burst through the straggling Danes, and at a trot proceeded across the +country. + +It was still quite dark, and it was some time before the Danes became +thoroughly aware of what had happened; then missing the voices of their +leaders, some of them rushed into the house, and the news that the two +jarls and their companions had been slain roused them to fury. At once +they set off in pursuit of the Saxons in a tumultuous throng; but the +band had already a considerable start, and had the advantage of knowing +every foot of the country, of which the Danes were ignorant. When once +fairly through the enemy, Edmund had given the word and the formation +had broken up, so that each man could run freely and without jostling +his comrades. Thus they were enabled to proceed at a rapid pace, and +reached the fort just as day was breaking, without having been +discovered or overtaken by the Danes. + +The news of this successful exploit raised the spirits of the garrison +of the fort. The Danes swarmed nearly up to the walls, but seeing how +formidable was the position, and being without leaders, they fell back +without making an attack, some of the more impetuous having fallen from +the arrows of the bowmen. + +About mid-day a solid mass of the enemy were seen approaching, and the +banners with the Black Raven on a blood-red field showed that it +contained leaders of importance, and was, in fact, the main body of the +Danes. It was an imposing sight as it marched towards the fort, with +the fluttering banners, the sun shining upon the brass helmets and +shields of the chiefs, and the spear-heads and swords of the footmen. +Here and there parties of horsemen galloped about the plain. + +"Their number has not been exaggerated," Egbert said to Edmund, "there +must be ten thousand of them. There are full twice as many as attacked +us on the field of Kesteven." + +The sight of the great array struck terror into the minds of a great +part of the defenders of the fort; but the confident bearing of their +young ealdorman and the thought of the strength of their walls +reassured them. The Danes halted at a distance of about a quarter of a +mile from the walls, and three or four of their chiefs rode forward. +These by the splendour of their helmets, shields, and trappings were +clearly men of great importance. They halted just out of bowshot +distance, and one of them, raising his voice, shouted: + +"Dogs of Saxons, had you laid down your arms, and made submission to +me, I would have spared you; but for the deed which you did last night, +and the slaying of my brave jarls, I swear that I will have revenge +upon you, and, by the god Wodin, I vow that not one within your walls, +man, woman, or child, shall be spared. This is the oath of King Uffa." + +"It were well, King Uffa," Edmund shouted back, "to take no rash oaths; +before you talk of slaying you have got to capture, and you will need +all the aid of your false gods before you take this fort. As to mercy, +we should as soon ask it of wolves. We have God and our good swords to +protect us, and we fear not your host were it three times as strong as +it is." + +The Saxons raised a great shout, and the Danish king rode back to his +troops. The lesson which had been given them of the enterprise of the +Saxons was not lost, for the Danes at once began to form a camp, +raising an earthen bank which they crowned with stakes and bushes as a +defence against sudden attacks. This work occupied them two days, and +during this time no blow was struck on either side, as the Danes posted +a strong body of men each night to prevent the Saxons from sallying +out. On the third day the work was finished, and the Danish kings with +their jarls made a circuit round the walls, evidently to select the +place for attack. + +The time had passed quietly in the fort. In one corner the priests had +erected an altar, and here mass was said three times a day. The priests +went among the soldiers exhorting them to resist to the last, +confessing them, and giving them absolution. + +The pains which the Danes had taken in the preparation of their camp +was a proof of their determination to capture the fort, however long +the operation might be. It showed, too, that they recognized the +difficulty of the task, for had they believed that the capture could be +easily effected they would at once upon their arrival have advanced to +the attack. + +"To-morrow morning early," Egbert said, "I expect that they will +assault us. In the first place probably they will endeavour to carry +the fort by a general attack; if they fail in this they will set to +construct engines with which to batter the wall." + +At daybreak the following morning the Danes issued from their camp. +Having formed up in regular order, they advanced towards the castle. +They divided into four bands; three of these wheeled round to opposite +sides of the fort, the fourth, which was as large as the other three +together, advanced towards the entrance. The Saxons all took the posts +previously assigned to them on the walls. Edmund strengthened the force +on the side where the gate was by posting there in addition the whole +of his band. Altogether there were nearly 350 fighting men within the +walls, of whom the greater part had fought against the Danes in the +battles of the previous year. The attack commenced simultaneously on +all sides by a discharge of arrows by the archers of both parties. The +Saxons, sheltered behind the parapet on the walls, suffered but +slightly; but their missiles did considerable execution among the +masses of the Danes. These, however, did not pause to continue the +conflict at a distance, but uttering their battle-cry rushed forward. + +Edmund and Egbert had but little fear of the attack on the other faces +of the fort proving successful; the chief assault was against the gate, +and it was here that the real danger existed. + +The main body of the Danes covered themselves with their shields and +rushed forward with the greatest determination, pouring through the gap +in the outer bank in a solid mass, and then turned along the fosse +towards the inner gate. Closely packed together, with their shields +above their heads forming a sort of testudo or roof which protected +them against the Saxons' arrows, they pressed forward in spite of the +shower of missiles with which the Saxons on the walls assailed them. +Arrows, darts, and great stones were showered down upon them, the +latter breaking down the shields, and affording the archers an +opportunity of pouring in their arrows. + +Numbers fell, but the column swept along until it gained the gate. Here +those in front began an attack upon the massive beams with their axes, +and when they had somewhat weakened it, battered it with heavy beams of +timber until it was completely splintered. While this was going on the +Saxons had continued to shoot without intermission, and the Danish dead +were heaped thickly around the gate. The Danish archers, assisted by +their comrades, had scrambled up on to the outer bank and kept up a +heavy fire on the defenders of the wall. The Saxons sheltered their +heads and shoulders which were above the parapet with their shields; +and between these, as through loopholes, their archers shot at the +Danes. + +Edmund and Egbert had debated much on the previous days whether they +would pile stones behind the gate, but had finally agreed not to do so. +They argued that although for a time the stones would impede the +progress of the Danes, these would, if they shattered the door, sooner +or later pull down the stones or climb over them; and it was better to +have a smooth and level place for defence inside. They had, however, +raised a bank of earth ten feet high in a semicircle at a distance of +twenty yards within the gate. + +When it was seen that the gates were yielding Edmund had called down +his own band from the walls and formed them in a half-circle ten yards +from the gate. They were four deep, as in their usual formation, with +the four lines of spears projecting towards the gate. The mound behind +them he lined with archers. + +At last the gates fell, and with an exulting shout the Danes poured in. +As they did so the archers on the mound loosed their arrows, and the +head of the Danish column melted like snow before the blast of a +furnace. Still they poured in and flung themselves upon the spearmen, +but they strove in vain to pierce the hedge of steel. Desperately they +threw themselves upon the pike-heads and died there bravely, but they +were powerless to break a passage. + +The archers on the mound still shot fast among them, while those on the +wall, turning round, smote them in the back, where, unprotected by +their shields, they offered a sure and fatal mark. Soon the narrow +semicircle inside the gate became heaped high with dead, impeding the +efforts of those still pressing in. Several of the bravest of the +Danish leaders had fallen. The crowd in the fosse, unaware of the +obstacle which prevented the advance of the head of the column and +harassed by the missiles from above, grew impatient, and after half an +hour of desperate efforts, and having lost upwards of three hundred of +his best men, the Danish king, furious with rage and disappointment, +called off his men. + +On the other three sides the attack equally failed. The Danes suffered +heavily while climbing the steep side of the inner mound. They brought +with them faggots, which they cast down at the foot of the wall, but +this was built so near the edge of the slope that they were unable to +pile sufficient faggots to give them the height required for a +successful assault upon it. Many climbed up on their comrades' +shoulders, and so tried to scale the wall, but they were thrust down by +the Saxon spears as they raised themselves to its level, and in no +place succeeded in gaining a footing. Over two hundred fell in the +three minor attacks. + +There were great rejoicings among the Saxons, on whose side but +twenty-three had been killed. A solemn mass was held, at which all save +a few look-outs on the walls attended, and thanks returned to God for +the repulse of the pagans; then the garrison full of confidence awaited +the next attack of the enemy. + +Stones were piled up in the gateway to prevent any sudden surprise +being effected there. The Danes in their retreat had carried off their +dead, and the next morning the Saxons saw that they were busy with the +ceremonies of their burial. At some little distance from their camp the +dead were placed in a sitting position, in long rows back to back with +their weapons by their sides, and earth was piled over them until a +great mound fifty yards long and ten feet high was raised. + +Three jarls and one of their kings were buried separately. They were +placed together in a sitting position, with their helmets on their +heads, their shields on their arms, and their swords by their sides. +Their four war-horses were killed and laid beside them; twenty slaves +were slaughtered and placed lying round them, for their spirits to +attend them in the Walhalla of the gods. Golden drinking-vessels and +other ornaments were placed by them, and then a mound forty feet in +diameter and twenty feet high was piled over the whole. + +The whole force were occupied all day with this work. The next day +numbers of trees were felled and brought to the camp, and for the next +two days the Danes were occupied in the manufacture of war-engines for +battering down the walls. Edmund and Egbert utilized the time in +instructing the soldiers who did not form part of the regular band, in +the formation of the quadruple line of defence which the Danes had +found it so impossible to break through, so that if more than one +breach was effected, a resistance similar to that made at the gate +could be offered at all points. The skins of the oxen killed for the +use of the garrison were carefully laid aside, the inside being thickly +rubbed with grease. + +The Danish preparations were at length completed, the war-engines were +brought up and began to hurl great stones against the wall at three +points. The Saxons kept up a constant fire of arrows at those employed +at working them, but the Danes, though losing many men, threw up +breastworks to protect them. + +The Saxons manufactured many broad ladders, and in the middle of the +night, lowering these over the walls, they descended noiselessly, and +three strong bodies fell upon the Danes guarding the engines. These +fought stoutly, but were driven back, the engines were destroyed, and +the Saxons retired to their walls again and drew up their ladders +before the main body of Danes could arrive from the camp. This caused a +delay of some days in the siege, but fresh engines having been +constructed, the assault on the walls was recommenced, this time the +whole Danish army moving out and sleeping at night close to them. + +After three days' battering, breaches of from thirty to fifty feet wide +were effected in the walls. The Saxons had not been idle. Behind each +of the threatened points they raised banks of earth ten feet high, and +cut away the bank perpendicularly behind the shattered wall, so that +the assailants as they poured in at the gaps would have to leap ten +feet down. + +Each night the masses of wall which fell inside were cleared away, and +when the breach was complete, and it was evident that the assault would +take place the next morning, the hides which had been prepared were +laid with the hairy side down, on the ground below. Through them they +drove firmly into the ground numbers of pikes with the heads sticking +up one or two feet, and pointed stakes hardened in the fire. Then +satisfied that all had been done the Saxons lay down to rest. + +In the morning the Danes advanced to the assault. This time they were +but little annoyed in their advance by the archers. These were posted +on the walls at each side of the gaps to shoot down at the backs of the +Danes after they had entered. On the inner semicircular mounds the +Saxon force gathered four deep. + +With loud shouts the Danes rushed forward, climbed the outer mounds, +and reached the breaches. Here the leaders paused on seeing the gulf +below them, but pressed by those behind they could not hesitate long, +but leapt down from the breach on to the slippery hides below. + +Not one who did so lived. It was impossible to keep their feet as they +alighted, and as they fell they were impaled by the pikes and stakes. +Pressed by those behind, however, fresh men leapt down, falling in +their turn, until at length the hides and stakes were covered, and +those leaping down found a foothold on the bodies of the fallen. Then +they crowded on and strove to climb the inner bank and attack the +Saxons. Now the archers on the walls opened fire upon them, and, +pierced through and through with the arrows which struck them on the +back, the Danes fell in great numbers. Edmund commanded at one of the +breaches, Egbert at another, and Oswald, an old and experienced +warrior, at the third. + +At each point the scene was similar. The Danes struggled up the mounds +only to fail to break through the hedge of spears which crowned them, +fast numbers dying in the attempt, while as many more fell pierced with +arrows. For an hour the Danes continued their desperate efforts, and +not until fifteen hundred had been slain did they draw off to their +camp, finding it impossible to break through the Saxon defences. + +Loud rose the shouts of the triumphant Saxons as the Danes retired, and +it needed all the efforts of their leaders to prevent them from pouring +out in pursuit; but the events of the preceding year had taught the +Saxon leaders how often their impetuosity after success had proved +fatal to the Saxons, and that once in the plain the Danes would turn +upon them and crush them by their still greatly superior numbers. +Therefore no one was allowed to sally out, and the discomfited Danes +retired unmolested. + +The next morning to their joy the Saxons saw that the invaders had +broken up their camp, and had marched away in the night. Scouts were +sent out in various directions, and the Saxons employed themselves in +stripping and burying the Danes who had fallen within the fort, only a +few of the most distinguished having been carried off. The scouts +returned with news that the Danes had made no halt, but had departed +entirely from that part of the country. Finding that for the present +they were free of the invaders, the Saxons left the fort and scattered +again, to rebuild as best they might their devastated homes. + +But if in the neighbourhood of Sherborne the Danes had been severely +repulsed, in other parts of the kingdom they continued to make great +progress, and the feeling of despair among the Saxons increased. Great +numbers left their homes, and taking with them all their portable +possessions, made their way to the sea-coast, and there embarked for +France, where they hoped to be able to live peaceably and quietly. + +Edmund placed no hindrance in the way of such of his people who chose +this course, for the prospect appeared well-nigh hopeless. The majority +of the Saxons were utterly broken in spirit, and a complete conquest of +the kingdom by the Danes seemed inevitable. In the spring, however, of +877 King Alfred again issued an urgent summons. A great horde of Danes +had landed at Exeter and taken possession of that town, and he +determined to endeavour to crush them. He sent to Edmund begging him to +proceed at once to Poole, where the king's fleet was ready for sea, and +to embark in it with what force he could raise, and to sail and +blockade the entrance to the river Exe, and so prevent the Danes from +reinforcing their countrymen, while he with his forces laid siege to +Exeter. + +Edmund would have taken his own vessel, but some time would have been +lost, and the king's ships were short of hands. He was not sorry, +indeed, that his men should have some practise at sea, and taking his +own band, in which the vacancies which had been caused in the defence +of the fort had been filled up, he proceeded to Poole. Here he embarked +his men in one of the ships, and the fleet, comprising twenty vessels, +put to sea. + +The management of the vessels and their sails was in the hands of +experienced sailors, and Edmund's men had no duties to perform except +to fight the enemy when they met them. + +The news of the siege of Exeter reached the Danes at Wareham, which was +their head-quarters, and 120 vessels filled with their troops sailed +for the relief of Exeter. + +The weather was unpropitious, heavy fogs lay on the water, dissipated +occasionally by fierce outbursts of wind. The Saxon fleet kept the sea. +It was well that for a time the Danish fleet did not appear in sight, +for the Saxons, save the sailors, were unaccustomed to the water, and +many suffered greatly from the rough motion; and had the Danes appeared +for the first week after the fleet put to sea a combat must have been +avoided, as the troops were in no condition to fight. + +Presently, however, they recovered from their malady and became eager +to meet the enemy; Edmund bade his men take part in the working of the +ship in order to accustom themselves to the duties of seamen. The fleet +did not keep the sea all the time, returning often to the straits +between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, where they lay in shelter, +a look-out being kept from the top of the hills, whence a wide sweep of +sea could be seen, and where piles of wood were collected by which a +signal fire could warn the fleet to put to sea should the enemy's +vessels come in sight. + +A full month passed and the Saxons began to fear that the Danes might +have eluded them, having perhaps been blown out to sea and having made +the land again far to the west. One morning, however, smoke was seen to +rise from the beacon fire. The crews who were on shore instantly +hurried on board. From the hills the Danish fleet was made out far to +the west and was seen to be approaching the land from seaward, having +been driven far out of its course by the winds. + +The weather was wild and threatening and the sailors predicted a great +storm. Nevertheless the fleet put to sea and with reefed sails ran to +the west. Their vessels were larger than the Danish galleys and could +better keep the sea in a storm. Many miles were passed before, from the +decks, the Danish flotilla could be seen. Presently, however, a great +number of their galleys were discerned rowing in towards Swanage Bay. + +In spite of the increasing fury of the wind the Saxons spread more sail +and succeeded in intercepting the Danes. A desperate fight began, but +the Danes in their low, long vessels had all they could do to keep +afloat on the waves. Many were run down by the Saxons. The showers of +arrows from their lofty poops confused the rowers and slew many. +Sweeping along close to them they often broke off the oars and disabled +them. Sometimes two or three of the Danish galleys would try to close +with a Saxon ship, but the sea was too rough for the boats to remain +alongside while the men tried to climb up the high sides, and the +Saxons with their spears thrust down those who strove to do so. +Confusion and terror soon reigned among the Danes, and fearing to try +to escape by sea in such a storm made for the shore, hotly pursued by +the Saxons. + +But the shore was even more inhospitable than their foes. Great rocks +bordered the coast, and upon these the galleys were dashed into +fragments. The people on shore, who had gathered at the sight of the +approaching fleets, fell upon such of the Danes as succeeded in gaining +the coast, and everyone who landed was instantly slain. Thus, partly +from the effects of the Saxon fleet but still more from that of the +storm, the whole of the Danish fleet of one hundred and twenty vessels +was destroyed, not a single ship escaping the general destruction. + + + + +CHAPTER VII: THE DRAGON + + +The Danes at Exeter, being now cut off from all hope of relief, asked +for terms, and the king granted them their lives on condition of their +promising to leave Wessex and not to return. This promise they swore by +their most solemn oaths to observe, and marching northward passed out +of Wessex and settled near Gloucester. Some of the Saxons thought that +the king had been wrong in granting such easy terms, but he pointed out +to the ealdormen who remonstrated with him that there were many other +and larger bands of Danes in Mercia and Anglia, and that had he +massacred the band at Exeter--and this he could not have done without +the loss of many men, as assuredly the Danes would have fought +desperately for their lives--the news of their slaughter would have +brought upon him fresh invasions from all sides. + +By this time all resistance to the Danes in Mercia had ceased. Again +and again King Burhred had bought them off, but this only brought fresh +hordes down upon him, and at last, finding the struggle hopeless, he +had gone as a pilgrim to Rome, where he had died. The Danes acted in +Mercia as they had done in Northumbria. They did not care, themselves, +to settle down for any length of time, and therefore appointed a weak +Saxon thane, Ceolwulf, as the King of Mercia. He ruled cruelly and +extorted large revenues from the land-owners, and robbed the +monasteries, which had escaped destruction, of their treasures. + +The Danes suffered him to pursue this course until he had amassed great +wealth, when they swooped down upon him, robbed him of all he +possessed, and took away the nominal kingship he had held. As there was +now but little fresh scope for plundering in England many of the Danes +both in Anglia and Mercia settled down in the cities and on the lands +which they had taken from the Saxons. + +The Danes who had gone from Exeter were now joined by another band +which had landed in South Wales. The latter, finding but small plunder +was to be obtained among the mountains of that country, moved to +Gloucester, and joining the band there proposed a fresh invasion of +Wessex. The Danes, in spite of the oaths they had sworn to Alfred, and +the hostages they had left in his hands, agreed to the proposal; and +early in the spring of 878 the bands, swollen by reinforcements from +Mercia, marched into Wiltshire and captured the royal castle of +Chippenham on the Avon. From this point they spread over the country +and destroyed everything with fire and sword. A general panic seized +the inhabitants. The better class, with the bishops, priests, and +monks, made for the sea-coasts and thence crossed to France, taking +with them all their portable goods, with the relics, precious stones, +and ornaments of the churches and monasteries. + +Another party of Danes in twenty-three ships had landed in Devonshire. +Here the ealdorman Adda had constructed a castle similar to that which +Edmund had built. It was fortified by nature on three sides and had a +strong rampart of earth on another. The Danes tried to starve out the +defenders of the fort; but the Saxons held out for a long time, +although sorely pressed by want of water. At last they sallied out one +morning at daybreak and fell upon the Danes and utterly defeated them, +only a few stragglers regaining their ships. + +A thousand Danes are said to have been slain at Kynwith; but this was +an isolated success; in all other parts of the kingdom panic appeared +to have taken possession of the West Saxons. Those who could not leave +the country retired to the woods, and thence, when the Danes had passed +by, leaving ruin and desolation behind them, they sallied out and again +began to till the ground as best they could. Thus for a time the West +Saxons, formerly so valiant and determined, sank to the condition of +serfs; for when all resistance ceased the Danes were well pleased to +see the ground tilled, as otherwise they would speedily have run short +of stores. + +At the commencement of the invasion Edmund had marched out with his +band and had inflicted heavy blows upon parties of plunderers; but he +soon perceived that the struggle was hopeless. He therefore returned to +Sherborne, and collecting such goods as he required and a good store of +provisions he marched to the place where the ship had been hidden. No +wandering band of Danes had passed that way, and the bushes with which +she had been covered were undisturbed. These were soon removed and a +passage three feet deep, and wide enough for the ship to pass through, +was dug from the deep hole in which she was lying to the river. + +When the last barrier was cut the water poured in, and the Saxons had +the satisfaction of seeing the vessel rise gradually until the water in +the dock was level with that in the river. Then she was taken out into +the stream, the stores and fittings placed aboard, and she was poled +down to the mouth of the river. Egbert had gone before and had already +engaged fifteen sturdy sailors to go with them. The Danes had not yet +reached the sea-coast from the interior, and there was therefore no +difficulty in obtaining the various equipments necessary. In a week her +masts were up and her sails in position. + +The Dragon, as she was called, excited great admiration at the port, +all saying that she was the finest and largest ship that had ever been +seen there. While her fitting out had been going on she was hove up on +shore and received several coats of paint. Edmund was loath to start on +his voyage without again seeing the king, but no one knew where Alfred +now was, he, on finding the struggle hopeless, having retired to the +fastnesses of Somerset to await the time when the Saxons should be +driven by oppression again to take up arms. + +At last all was ready, and the Dragon put out to sea. She was provided +with oars as well as sails, but these were only to be used when in +pursuit, or when flying from a superior enemy. As soon as she had been +long enough at sea to enable the band again to recover from the effects +of sickness the oars were got out and the men practised in their use. + +As in the models from which she had been built, she rowed two banks of +oars, the one worked by men upon deck, the others through small +port-holes. The latter could only be used when the weather was fine; +when the sea was high they were closed up and fastened. The lower-deck +oars were each rowed by one man, while the upper bank, which were +longer and heavier, had each two men to work it. + +Before starting Edmund had increased the strength of his band to ninety +men, that number being required for the oars, of which the Dragon had +fifteen on each bank on each side. At first there was terrible +splashing and confusion, but in time the men learned to row in order, +and in three weeks after putting to sea the oars worked well in time +together, and the Dragon, with her ninety rowers, moved through the +water at a great rate of speed. + +During this time she had never been far from land keeping but a short +distance from the port from which she had sailed, as Edmund did not +wish to fall in with the Danes until his crew were able to maneuver her +with the best effect. When, at last, satisfied that all knew their duty +he returned to port, took in a fresh supply of provisions, and then +sailed away again in search of the enemy. He coasted along the shore of +Hampshire and Sussex without seeing a foe, and then sailing round Kent +entered the mouth of the Thames. The Dragon kept on her way until she +reached the point where the river begins to narrow, and there the sails +were furled and the anchor thrown overboard to wait for Danish galleys +coming down the river. + +On the third day after they had anchored they perceived four black +specks in the distance, and these the sailors soon declared to be +Danish craft. They were rowing rapidly, having ten oars on either side, +and at their mast-heads floated the Danish Raven. The anchor was got +up, and as the Danes approached, the Golden Dragon, the standard of +Wessex, was run up to the mast-head, the sails were hoisted, the oars +got out, and the vessel advanced to meet the approaching Danes. + +These for a moment stopped rowing in astonishment at seeing so large a +ship bearing the Saxon flag. Then they at once began to scatter in +different directions; but the Dragon, impelled both by the wind and her +sixty oars, rapidly overtook them. When close alongside the galley +nearest to them the men on the upper deck, at an order from Edmund, ran +in their oars, and seizing their bows poured a volley of arrows into +the galley, killing most of the rowers. Then the Dragon was steered +alongside, and the Saxons, sword in hand, leaped down into the galley. +Most of the Danes were cut down at once; the rest plunged into the +water and swam for their lives. Leaving the deserted galley behind, the +Dragon continued the pursuit of the others, and overtook and captured +another as easily as she had done the first. + +The other two boats reached the shore before they were overtaken, and +those on board leaping out fled. The Saxons took possession of the +deserted galleys. They found them, as they expected, stored full of +plunder of all kinds--rich wearing apparel, drinking goblets, massive +vessels of gold and silver which had been torn from some desecrated +altar, rich ornaments and jewels and other articles. These were at once +removed to the Dragon. Fire was applied to the boats, and they were +soon a mass of flames. Then the Dragon directed her course to the two +galleys she had first captured. These were also rifled of their +contents and burned. The Saxons were delighted at the success which had +attended their first adventure. + +"We shall have rougher work next time," Egbert said. "The Danes who +escaped will carry news to London, and we shall be having a whole fleet +down to attack us in a few days." + +"If they are in anything like reasonable numbers we will fight them; if +not, we can run. We have seen to-day how much faster we are than the +Danish boats; and though I shall be in favour of fighting if we have a +fair chance of success, it would be folly to risk the success of our +enterprise by contending against overwhelming numbers at the outset, +seeing that we shall be able to pick up so many prizes round the coast." + +"We can beat a score of them," Egbert grumbled. "I am in favour of +fighting the Danes whenever we see them." + +"When there is a hope of success, Egbert, yes; but you know even the +finest bull can be pulled down by a pack of dogs. The Dragon is a +splendid ship, and does credit alike to King Alfred's first advice, to +the plans of the Italian shipbuilders, and to the workmanship and +design of the shipwright of Exeter, and I hope she will long remain to +be a scourge to the Danes at sea as they have been a scourge to the +Saxons on shore; and it is because I hope she is going to do such good +service to England that I would be careful of her. You must remember, +too, that many of the Danish galleys are far larger than those we had +to do with to-day. We are not going to gobble them all up as a pike +swallows minnows." + +The Dragon had now anchored again, and four days elapsed before any +Danish galleys were seen. At the end of that time six large Danish +war-ships were perceived in the distance. Edmund and Egbert from the +top of the lofty poop watched them coming. + +"They row thirty oars each side," Egbert said, "and are crowded with +men. What say you, Edmund, shall we stop and fight them, or shall the +Dragon spread her wings?" + +"We have the advantage of height," Edmund said, "and from our bow and +stern castles can shoot down into them; but if they lie alongside and +board us their numbers will give them an immense advantage. I should +think that we might run down one or two of them. The Dragon is much +more strongly built than these galleys of the Danes, and if when they +close round us we have the oars lashed on both sides as when we are +rowing, it will be next to impossible for them to get alongside except +at the stern and bow, which are far too high for them to climb." + +"Very well," Egbert said, "if you are ready to fight, you may be sure I +am." + +The anchor was got up and the oars manned, and the Dragon quietly +advanced towards the Danish boats. The men were instructed to row +slowly, and it was not until within a hundred yards of the leading +galley that the order was given to row hard. + +The men strained at the tough oars, and the Dragon leapt ahead to meet +the foe. Her bow was pointed as if she would have passed close by the +side of the Danish galley, which was crowded with men. When close to +her, however, the helmsman pushed the tiller across and the Dragon +swept straight down upon her. A shout of dismay rose from the Danes, a +hasty volley of arrows and darts was hurled at the Dragon, and the +helmsman strove to avoid the collision, but in vain. The Dragon struck +her on the beam, the frail craft broke up like an egg-shell under the +blow, and sank almost instantly under the bows of the Dragon. + +Without heeding the men struggling thickly in the water, the Dragon +continued her course. Warned by the fate of the first boat, the next +endeavoured to avoid her path. Her commander shouted orders. The rowers +on one side backed while those on the other pulled, but she was not +quite quick enough. The Dragon struck her a few feet from the stern, +cutting her in two. + +The other galleys now closed in alongside. The Saxons hastily fastened +their oars as they had been rowing and then betook themselves to their +posts, those with spears and swords to the sides to prevent the enemy +from climbing up, the archers to the lofty castles at either end. The +Danes had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside, the oars +keeping the galleys at a distance. For some time the combat was +conducted entirely by the archers on both sides, the Danes suffering +much the most heavily, as the Saxons were protected by the bulwarks, +while from their lofty positions they were enabled to fire down into +the galleys. + +At last one of the Danish vessels rowed straight at the broadside of +the Dragon, and breaking her way through the oars her bow reached the +side. Then the Danes strove to leap on board, but the Saxons pursued +the tactics which had succeeded so well on land, and forming in a close +mass where the Danish vessel touched the Dragon, opposed a thick hedge +of spears to those who strove to board her. + +The Danes fought desperately. Several notable leaders, hearing that a +great Saxon ship had appeared on the Thames, had come down to capture +her, and leading their followers, strove desperately to cut their way +to the deck of the Dragon. Taking advantage of the strife, the other +galleys repeated the maneuver which had succeeded, and each in turn ran +their stem through the Saxon oars, and reached the side of the Dragon. +In this position, however, they had the immense disadvantage that only +a few men at once could strive to board, while the Saxons were able to +oppose all their strength at these four points. + +For a time the Saxons repulsed every effort, but as the lashings of the +oars gave way under the pressure of the Danish ships, these drifted +alongside, and they were thus able to attack along the whole length of +the bulwarks between the castles. The Saxons were now hard put to it, +but their superior height still enabled them to keep the Danes in check. + +All this time the five vessels had been drifting down the river +together. Presently, when the conflict was hottest, the chief of the +sailors made his way to Edmund. + +"If we get up the sails we may be able to draw out from the galleys." + +"Do so," Edmund said, "and at once, for we are hardly pressed; they are +four to one against us." + +The sailors at once sprang to the halliards, and soon the great sail +rose on the mast. Almost instantly the Dragon began to glide away from +the galleys. The Danes with ropes endeavoured to lash themselves to her +sides, but these were severed as fast as thrown, and in two or three +minutes the Dragon had drawn herself clear of them. The Danes betook +themselves to their oars, but many of these had been broken between the +vessels, and rowing their utmost they could only just keep up with the +Dragon, for the wind was blowing freely. Fully half the oars of the +Dragon were broken, but the rest were soon manned, and she then rapidly +drew away from her pursuers. + +"I am not going to run further," Edmund said. "Now that we have once +shaken them off, let us turn and meet them again." + +As the vessel's head was brought up into the wind the Danes ceased +rowing. The fate which had befallen their two galleys at the +commencement of the fight was still before them. They had lost great +numbers of men in the attempt to board from the Saxon pikes and arrows, +and their desire to renew the fight vanished when they saw that the +Saxons were equally ready. Therefore, as the Dragon approached them, +they sheered off on either side of her and rowed for the mouth of the +Medway. + +The Saxons did not pursue. They had lost eight men killed, and +seventeen wounded by the Danish arrows, and were well content to be +quit of their opponents, upon whom they had inflicted a severe blow, as +each of the galleys sunk had contained fully a hundred and fifty men, +and great numbers of the Danes on board the other ships had fallen. + +They now left the Thames and sailed to Sandwich. The town had been +shortly before burned by the Danes, but these had left, and some of the +inhabitants had returned. Here the Dragon waited for a week, by the end +of which time the traces of the conflict had been obliterated, and new +oars made. Edmund found no difficulty in filling up the vacancies +caused in the fight, as many of the young Saxons were burning to avenge +the sufferings which the Danes had inflicted, and could have obtained +several times the number he required had there been room for them. He +was therefore enabled to pick out sturdy fellows accustomed to the sea. +When the Dragon again set sail her head was laid to the northward, as +Edmund intended to cruise off East Anglia, from whose shores fleets +were constantly crossing and recrossing to Denmark. + +They picked up several prizes at the mouths of the eastern rivers, +scarcely having to strike a blow, so surprised were the Danes at the +appearances of the great Saxon galley. Whenever the Danes surrendered +without resistance Edmund gave them quarter and landed them in small +boats on the shore; their ships, after being emptied of the booty they +contained, were burned. When off Yarmouth, where they had captured four +Danish vessels sailing out unsuspicious of danger, the wind veered +round to the north-east and began to blow very strongly. + +The long line of sandbanks off the coast broke somewhat the violence of +the sea, and the Dragon rode all night to her anchors; but in the +morning the wind continued to rise. The sea became more and more +violent, and the anchors began to drag. Edmund and Egbert, after a +consultation, agreed that their only chance of saving the vessel was to +enter the river. The tide was running in, but the sea was so heavy on +the bar of the river that the efforts of the crew at the oars barely +sufficed to keep her on her course. At length, however, she made her +way safely between the posts which marked the entrance, and rowing up +until they passed a turn, and were sheltered from the force of the +gale, they again anchored. + +The oars were all lashed out firmly to keep any boats from approaching +her sides. Bales of goods with which her hold was filled were brought +on deck, and piled high along the bulwarks so as to afford a shelter +from missiles. Even as they entered the harbour numbers of Danes had +assembled at the point; for the capture and destruction of their ships +had of course been seen, and the crews set ashore had spread the news +that the strange vessel was a Saxon. The Norfolk bank being somewhat +higher than the Suffolk, the boat was anchored rather nearer to the +latter, as it was from the town of Yarmouth that an attack was +anticipated. + +As soon as the anchors were let go the Danes began to fire their +arrows; but so powerful was the gale that the greater part of them were +swept far away. As the day went on the numbers of Danes on the bank +increased largely, and vast numbers of arrows were discharged at the +Dragon. The crew kept under shelter, and although she was often struck +no damage was done. + +In the afternoon a fleet of galleys was seen coming down the river. The +Danes possessed a large number of these boats at Yarmouth, and in these +they navigated the inland waters far into the interior. The wind had +shifted until it was blowing nearly due east, and Edmund and Egbert had +agreed upon the best course to be pursued. In case of attack they could +hardly hope finally to beat off the assault of a large fleet of +galleys, and would besides be exposed to attack by boats laden with +combustibles. Therefore as soon as the galleys were seen approaching +the oars were unlashed, the great sail hoisted, and at her best speed +the Dragon advanced up the river to meet her foes. The Danes gave a +shout of alarm as the vessel advanced to meet them with the water +surging in a white wave from her bows, and the greater part of them +hurried towards one bank or the other to escape the shock. Some, slower +in movement or stouter in heart, awaited the attack, while from all a +storm of missiles was poured upon the advancing boat. + +Heedless of these she continued her way. Her sharp bow crashed right +through the side of the Danish boats, and having destroyed seven of +them on her way she passed through the flotilla and continued her +course. The dragon waved triumphantly from her mast as she passed under +the walls of Yarmouth. These were crowded with Danes, who vainly +showered arrows and javelins as she flew past, with the fleets of +galleys rowing in her wake. A few minutes and she was out on the broad +sheet of water beyond. The Danish galleys paused at the entrance. In so +wild a storm they would have had difficulty in keeping their boats +straight, while the great galley with her sails and oars would be able +to maneuver freely, and could strike and run them down one by one. + +"What is that pile of buildings on the rising knoll of ground some +three miles away?" Edmund asked. + +"It is Bamborough Castle," Egbert replied, "a Roman stronghold of +immense strength." + +"Let us run up thither," Edmund said. "If, as is likely enough, it is +unoccupied, we will land there and take possession. Are the walls +complete?" + +"Assuredly they are," Egbert said. "They are of marvellous strength, +such as we cannot build in our days. They run in a great semicircle +from the edge of the water round the crest of the knoll and down again +to the water. There is but one gateway in the wall on the land side, +and this we can block up. We need not fear an attack from the land, for +between the river and the castle there are wide swamps; so that unless +they row up and attack us from the water we are safe." + +"I think that they will not do that," Edmund said, "after the taste +which the Dragon has given them of her quality. At any rate I think we +are safe till the storm abates." + +By this time, running rapidly before the wind, the Dragon was +approaching the great Roman fort, whose massive walls struck Edmund +with astonishment. No one was to be seen moving about in the space +inclosed by them. The sail was lowered and the vessel brought to the +bank. The anchors were taken ashore and she was soon solidly moored. +Then the crew leapt on to the land and ascended the bank to the great +level inclosure. + +The walls were, as Egbert had said, intact--and indeed, except on the +side facing the river, remained almost unbroken to the present day. An +hour's labour sufficed to block the gateway, where a pair of massive +doors were in position, for the place had been defended by the Saxons +against the Danes at their first landing on the coast. A few men were +placed as sentries on the walls, and, feeling now perfectly safe from +any attack on the land side, Edmund and his followers returned on board +the Dragon for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII: THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON + + +The night passed without alarm. The gale continued to blow with fury, +and until it abated Edmund had little fear that the Danes would venture +upon an attack. They had indeed no reason for haste. The Saxon vessel +was in their waters, and could not return so long as the storm +continued to blow from the east. The next day parties of Danes were +seen making their way across the swampy country from the direction of +Yarmouth. + +As soon, however, as these approached near enough to see the Saxons in +readiness on the walls of the castle they retired at once, knowing that +the place could be captured by nothing short of a prolonged and +desperate siege. On the fourth day the storm abated, and the Saxons +prepared to make their way seaward again. The wind still blew, but +lightly, from the same quarter, and the sails would therefore be of no +use. With their great oar-power they were confident that, once through +the Danish flotilla, they could defy pursuit. + +Accordingly they again embarked, and loosing their moorings rowed down +towards Yarmouth. They had chosen a time when the tide was running in; +for although this would hinder their progress it would equally impede +their pursuers, while it would enable them to check their vessel in +time did they find any unforeseen obstacle in their way. They entered +the river and rowed along quietly until they neared the walls of the +town. Here the river was at its narrowest, and they saw the Danish +galleys gathered thickly in the stream. + +Edmund and Egbert were on the forecastle, and presently gave the signal +for the men to cease rowing. + +"It is just as I expected," Egbert said; "they have formed a boom +across the river of trunks of trees and beams lashed together. We +cannot make our way down until that obstacle is removed. What say you +Edmund?" + +"I agree with you," Edmund replied. + +"We had best keep along close to the right bank until within a short +distance of the boom; then we must land the greater part of our men. +These must march along the bank in their phalanx; the others must keep +the boat moving close alongside, and from the forecastle they will be +able to fire down upon the Danes and aid those on shore to drive them +back and make their way to the end of the boom. They have but to cut +the lashings there and the whole will swing round. But now we see the +nature of the obstacle, and what is to be done, it were best to wait +until the tide turns. In the first place, fewer men will be needed on +board the ship, as she will advance by herself abreast of the men on +shore. In the second place, when the lashing is cut the boom will then +swing down the stream, will cause confusion among the boats behind it, +and will open a clear space for us to make our way down." + +Edmund agreed, a light anchor was dropped, and the Dragon rode quietly +in the stream. Great animation was evident among the Danes, large +numbers crossed the river, and a strong force gathered at either end of +the boom and in boats close behind it, to prevent the Saxons from +attempting to cut the lashings. There was little uneasiness on board +the Dragon, the Saxons were confident now of the power of their close +formation to force its way through any number of the enemy, and they +would gain such assistance from the fire from the lofty forecastle that +they doubted not that they should be able to drive back the Danes and +destroy the boom. In an hour the tide no longer rose. They waited till +it ran down with full force, then the anchor was hauled up, and the +Dragon rowed to the bank. + +Sixty of the fighting men headed by Egbert leapt on shore. Edmund with +the remainder took his place on the forecastle. The oars next to the +bank were drawn in, and some of those on the outward side manned by the +sailors. Then in its usual order the phalanx moved slowly forward while +the ship floated along beside them close to the bank. The Danes with +loud shouts advanced to meet them, and the arrows soon began to fly +thickly. Covered by the long shields of the front rank the Saxons moved +forward steadily, while, as the Danes approached, the archers on the +forecastle opened a destructive fire upon them. + +The confidence of the Saxons was justified, for the combat was never in +doubt. Although the Northmen fought bravely they were unable to +withstand the steady advance of the wedge of spears, and very many fell +beneath the rain of arrows from above. Steadily the wedge made its way +until it reached the end of the boom. A few blows with their axes +sufficed to cut the cables which fastened it in its place. As soon as +this was done Edmund gave a shout, and the Saxons at once sprang on +board the ship, which before the Danes could follow them was steered +out into the stream. + +As Egbert had foreseen, the boom as it swung round swept before it a +number of the Danish boats, and imprisoned them between it and the +shore. The oars were soon run out, and while the men on the forecastle +continued their fire at the Danish boats, the others seizing the oars +swept the Dragon along the stream. The Danes strove desperately to +arrest her progress. Some tried to run alongside and board, others +dashed in among the oars and impeded the work of the rowers, while from +the walls of the town showers of missiles were poured down upon her. +But the tide was gaining every moment in strength, and partly drifting, +partly rowing, the Dragon, like a bull attacked by a pack of dogs, made +her way down the river. Every effort of the Danes to board was +defeated, and many of their boats sunk, and at last she made her way +into the open sea. There her sails were hoisted, and she soon left her +pursuers behind. Once at sea her course was again turned north, and +picking up some prizes on the way she took up her station off the mouth +of the Humber. + +Several ships were captured as they sailed out from the river. After +the spoil on board was taken out, these, instead of being burnt, as had +always been the case before, were allowed to proceed on their way, +since had they been destroyed the crews must either have been slain or +landed. The first course was repugnant to Edmund, the second could not +be adopted, because they would have carried the news to the Danes, that +the Dragon was off the river and no more ships would have put to sea; +and indeed, so large was the number of Danish vessels always up the +Humber that a fleet could easily have been equipped and sent out, +before which the Dragon must have taken flight. + +One day a large sailing ship was seen coming out. The Dragon remained +with lowered sail until she had passed; then started in pursuit, and +speedily came up with the Danish vessel. Edmund summoned her to +surrender, and was answered by a Norseman of great stature and noble +appearance, who from the poop hurled a javelin, which would have +pierced Edmund had he not leapt quickly aside. A few other darts were +thrown and then the Dragon ran alongside the enemy and boarded her. + +The opposition of the Northmen was speedily beaten down, but their +leader desperately defended the ladder leading to the poop. He was +struck by two arrows, and fell on one knee, and Edmund was about to +climb the ladder when the door of the cabin in the poop opened, and a +Norse maiden some sixteen years old sprang out. Seeing her father +wounded at the top of the ladder and the Saxons preparing to ascend it, +while others turned their bows against the wounded Northman, she sprang +forward and throwing herself upon her knees before Edmund besought him +to spare her father's life. Edmund raised his hand and the bows were +lowered. + +"I have no wish to slay your father, maiden," he said gently; "we slay +only those who resist, and resistance on the part of a single man, and +he wounded, against a whole ship's crew is madness. We are no +sea-wolves who slay for the pleasure of slaying, but are Saxons, who +fight for our country against the oppressions and rapine of your +people. Little right have they to mercy seeing they show none; but our +religion enjoins us to have pity even upon our enemies. You had best +ascend to your father and see to his wounds, none will harm you or him." + +The girl with an exclamation of thanks sprang up the ladder. Edmund +superintended the searching of the ship. She contained a great store of +valuables, which were speedily transferred to the Dragon. When this had +been done Edmund ascended to the poop. The jarl was sitting in a great +chair placed there. Edmund had already learnt from the crew that he was +Jarl Siegbert, a noted leader of the Northmen. His daughter had drawn +out the arrows and bandaged the wounds. + +"Jarl Siegbert," Edmund said as he approached him, "you have been a +bitter enemy of the Saxons, and small mercy have you shown to those who +have fallen into your hands, but learn now that we Christian Saxons +take no vengeance on a defenceless foe. You are free to pursue your +voyage with your daughter and your ship to Norway. Your stores we have +made free with, seeing that they are all plunder taken from the Saxons, +and we do but reclaim our own." + +"And who are you, young sir?" the jarl asked. + +"I am one of King Alfred's ealdormen of Wessex, Edmund by name." + +"I have heard of you," the Dane said, "as one who has taught the Saxons +new tactics, fighting in a close body which has more than once pierced +our lines and caused our overthrow; but you are a mere lad." + +"I am young," Edmund replied, "and had it not been for the invasions +and oppressions of your countrymen, might have still accounted myself +as scarce a man; but you have made warriors of every West Saxon capable +of bearing a sword. Remember, jarl, that your life has been in Saxon +hands, and that they have spared it, so come not hither to our shores +again." + +"I purpose not doing so," the Northman replied. "I have seen enough of +stricken fields, and was returning to my own country to hang up my +sword, content with the fame I have gained, until Woden called me to +join his warriors and feast in his halls. Since we may not meet there, +young Saxon--for they say that you Christians look to a place where +arms will be laid aside and the sound of feasting be unheard--I will +say farewell. For myself, I thank you not for my life, for I would +rather have died as I have lived with my sword in my hand; but for my +daughter's sake I thank you, for she is but young to be left +unprotected in the world." + +A few minutes later, the Danish vessel continued on her way, and the +Dragon again took her station on the look-out. She was now deep in the +water, and after picking up one or two more small prizes, Edmund and +Egbert determined to return home. + +It was probable that the Danes would soon take the alarm and despatch a +fleet to attack them. Laden down as the Dragon was, her speed under +oars was materially affected, and it was advisable to stow away their +booty before proceeding with further adventures. Her head was turned +south, and she coasted down the eastern shores of England without +adventure. Several Danish vessels were seen arriving at or quitting the +coast, but the Dragon continued her course without heeding them, and +rounding the Forelands, sailed along the south coast and made her way +up the Parrot. + +Upon inquiry they learnt that no event of any importance had taken +place during their absence. The Danes were complete masters of the +country. King Alfred was in hiding, none knew where. The greater +portion of the Danes were at their camp at Chippenham, but parties +roamed here and there through the land. + +Dressed as countrymen, Edmund and Egbert made their way to Exeter, and +there arranged with some traders for the purchase of the less valuable +portion of the Dragons cargo. This consisted of rich clothing, silks +and other stuffs, wine, vestments, and altar hangings from churches, +arms and armour, hides and skins. The prices obtained were far below +the real value of the articles, for money was scarce, and none could +say when the Danes might again swoop down and clear out the contents of +the warehouses. Nevertheless the sum obtained was a large one for those +days, and this did not include the value of the gold and silver +goblets, salvers, vases, and utensils used in the celebration of +religious services. + +Of these, spoiled from the houses of the wealthy, and the churches and +monasteries, they had obtained a considerable number. These were buried +in the wood near the lonely spot at which the Dragon was moored, the +rest of the cargo was sent in wagons--the more valuable portions hidden +under the hides and skins--to Exeter. The amount which had been +obtained from the cargo was divided as agreed before starting: +twenty-five shares were set apart for the king, twenty-five shares were +divided between the two leaders, and each soldier and sailor had one +share. All were well satisfied with the success of the adventure, and +with the damage which they had inflicted upon the Danes. + +A fortnight's leave was given, for the men to visit their homes, and +the money which they had gained in their trip was of great use to their +friends in enabling them to repair the damages effected by the Danes. +Not a man was absent at the appointed time, and the Dragon again made +her way down to the sea. + +It was midwinter now, and they cruised along the southern coast of +England without perceiving a single hostile sail. They lay for a week +off the mouth of the Thames, and then saw four large Danish vessels +making their way down the river. They were all vessels of the largest +size, strongly built, and full of men, and the Saxons judged them to be +too strong to be attacked in company. The Northmen, on seeing the +golden dragon flying at the mast-head of the Saxon ship, at once made +towards her, keeping in a close body; but the Dragon with sails and +oars easily left them behind, and the Danes giving up the pursuit +continued on their way. + +The Dragon fell into their wake and followed at a distance, hoping that +one might prove slower than the others, or that they might in the night +get separated. At nightfall, however, the Danes lit cressets of tar and +hemp, which enabled them not only to keep close together, but sent out +a wide circle of light, so that they could perceive the Dragon should +she venture to approach. + +For two days and nights the Dragon followed patiently. + +"The weather is about to change," Egbert said on the third morning. +"Methinks that there is a storm brewing, and if this be so the Northmen +may well get separated, and we may pick up one away from her fellows." + +Darker and darker grew the sky, and the wind soon blew in furious +gusts, raising a sea so heavy that the Saxons were obliged to lay in +their oars. By nightfall it was blowing a furious gale. In the +gathering darkness and the flying scud the ships of the Danes were lost +sight of; but this was of little consequence now, for the attention of +the Saxons was directed to their own safety. + +For the next three days their position was one of the greatest danger. +With only a rag of sail set they ran before the gale from the +south-west. Every wave as it overtook them threatened the destruction +of the ship; but the Dragon, light and buoyant, and ably handled, rode +safely over the waves. On the fourth morning the wind was still blowing +fiercely, although its force had in some degree moderated. As the +daylight dawned Edmund and Egbert, who had hardly left the poop since +the storm began, looked anxiously ahead. + +"Surely, Edmund, I see a dark mass ahead?" Egbert exclaimed. + +For a minute or two Edmund gazed silently ahead. + +"It is so, Egbert," he said; "it is a rocky coast. Do you not see a +white fringe below where the waves strike against it?" + +As the light became clearer the imminence of their peril grew more +distinct. A lofty iron-bound coast rose in front of them, and extended +as far as the eye could reach on either hand. The seas broke with +terrible force against its base, sending its spray far up on the cliffs. + +"Could we bring her about?" Edmund asked the chief of the sailors. + +"It would be useless," the man said. "She could not make her way in the +teeth of this gale." + +"That I see," Edmund said; "but at present we are rushing on to +destruction. If we bring her to the wind we may run some distance along +the coast before we are driven ashore, and may perceive some spot +towards which we may direct her with a chance of making land ere she +goes to pieces." + +The sail was still further lessened and the ship's head brought round +parallel with the coast. + +The Dragon laboured tremendously as the sea struck her full on the +beam, and every wave flooded her low waist. Each sea which struck her +lifted her bodily to leeward, and for every foot she sailed forward she +was driven one towards the coast. This was now but three miles distant, +and another hour would ensure her destruction; for none there hoped +that the anchors, even should they find bottom, could hold her for an +instant in the teeth of the gale. Every eye was directed towards the +shore, but no break could be seen in the wall of rock which rose almost +perpendicularly from the water. + +"I fear it is hopeless," Edmund said to Egbert; "the strongest swimmer +would be dashed to pieces in an instant against those rocks." + +"He would indeed," Egbert replied. "I wish now that we had boldly +engaged the four Danish ships. Far better would it have been for us to +have died fighting for England on her decks than to have perished here." + +The time passed slowly. Every minute the Dragon was swept nearer and +nearer towards the rocks. + +"She will just make that headland," the master sailor said, "and that +is all. Once round it we had best turn her head to the rocks. If the +cliffs rise as here sheer from the water, the moment she strikes will +be the last for all of us; but if the rocks are, as in some places, +piled high at the foot of the cliffs, a few may possibly manage to leap +from her forecastle as she strikes and to clamber up." + +Scarce a word was spoken on board the Dragon as she came abreast of the +headland. It was but a few hundred yards away. The roar of the seas as +they struck its base sounded high above the din of the storm. Great +sheets of foam were thrown up to a vast height, and the turmoil of the +water from the reflux of the waves was so great that the Dragon was +tossed upon it like a cock-boat, and each man had to grasp at shroud or +bulwark to retain his footing. + +Suddenly a cheer burst from end to end of the ship. Beyond the headland +a great gap was visible a quarter of a mile wide, as if the cliffs had +been rent in sunder by some tremendous convulsion, and a fiord was seen +stretching away in the bosom of the hills as far as the eye could +reach. The Dragon's head was turned, and soon she was flying before the +wind up the inlet. A mile farther and the fiord widened to a lake some +two miles across between steep hills clothed from foot to summit with +trees. + +Its course was winding and they were soon sheltered from the gale and +were gliding quietly over comparatively tranquil water. Ten miles up +the anchor was let go in a sheltered inlet, and Edmund summoned the +whole crew to return thanks to God for their marvellous escape. + +The Dragon had suffered severely in her conflict with the elements, her +large sails had been split or blown away, the bulwarks at her waist had +been shattered, and considerable damage done to her gear and fittings. +Four-and-twenty hours were allowed to the men for rest after their +labours, and then all hands were set to work to refit. + +The next morning Edmund said to his kinsman: + +"I will take two of the men and go ashore to hunt; there should be wild +boar and deer in these forests, and all would be glad of some fresh +meat." + +"Be careful, Edmund; remember you are in the country of our enemies, +for without doubt this land to which we have been blown is Norway; and +although we can see no signs of habitations there may well be villages +somewhere among these hills." + +"I will be careful," Edmund said, laughing; "and if I do not return in +two days do you set sail without me. I should like to discover the +abode of some Northern jarl; it would indeed be a grand retaliation to +give them a taste of the sufferings they have inflicted upon us." + +"That would be good work," Egbert said; "nevertheless I own that at +present I am anxious to be at sea again." + +"Two days will be sufficient to refit," Edmund said, "and then we will +spread our wings. Good-bye, Egbert, I will be back by sunset, and I +hope with a deer or two." + +Selecting a couple of followers, both skilled with the bow, and all +being armed with spears, Edmund leapt ashore, for the water was deep up +to the rocks, and the Dragon had been moored alongside for the +convenience of taking on board the wood for the repairs. + +Although those on board the Dragon guessed it not, many eyes were +watching them. A small fishing village lay at the edge of the fiord a +mile or two beyond the inlet in which the ship was moored. Hidden as +they were among the trees the huts had not been noticed by the Saxons, +but the strange ship had been seen by some of those in the village, and +the fishermen at once pronounced that whencesoever she might have come +she was assuredly no Northman's ship. Messengers had immediately been +sent to the villages among the hills. These were widely scattered, and +it was not until the day after the ship's arrival that a force was +collected which was deemed sufficient to attack it. Already, as Edmund +leapt ashore, the Norsemen were making their way quietly through the +forest towards the Dragon. + +Edmund had advanced but a few hundred yards up the hillside when a +large party of Norsemen suddenly sprang upon him. Two Saxon arrows flew +true to their marks, then the Danes rushed upon them. So far no words +had been spoken, but Edmund placed to his lips the whistle with which +he gave orders on board the ship and blew a long shrill note, and then +shouted at the top of his voice: + +"The Danes! the Danes! push off!" + +The instant afterwards he was attacked. He and his men fought bravely, +but in a few seconds the latter were cut down and Edmund was levelled +to the ground by a tremendous blow from a club. + +A minute later the din of battle rose by the water's side; Edmund's +whistle and shout had been heard, and the Saxons on shore sprang on +board and seized their spears and bows just as the Danes poured down +through the trees. For a time the Saxons defended the ship against the +desperate attempts of the Danes to gain footing on her; but seeing the +number of its assailants, and being certain that Edmund was killed or +captured, Egbert ordered the ropes to be cut, and the Dragon was thrust +away from the rocks. The oars were then got out and she rowed out of +bow-shot from the shore. Then Egbert held a consultation with the +leading men among the Saxons. + +All on board were filled with grief at the loss of their young leader, +but they felt that nothing could be done for him, and it would be but +courting danger to remain longer in the fiord. Since so large a force +had been collected in the forest news might have been sent to the +ports, and at any moment they might see a fleet of the Northmen's +galleys barring their retreat; therefore with bitter grief and +lamentation the Dragon's sails were hoisted and she made her way to sea. + +"My only consolation is," Egbert said, "that if the brave lad is not +killed at once he may yet find his way back to England. He is ready of +wit and full of invention that, if any can possibly extricate +themselves from such a strait, it is assuredly he; but I fear that he +fell in the first onslaught. Brave lad, even in the moment of his own +peril he thought first of us. Had it not been for his timely warning we +should have been taken unawares, and many must have been killed even if +the Dragon herself escaped capture." + +The storm had entirely abated, and the waters sparkled brightly in the +cold January sun as the Dragon sailed out between the two headlands +into the sea. Very different were the feelings of the crew to those +which had animated them when, two days before, they had passed through +the channel; then every heart beat with joy and thankfulness; now the +deepest depression and grief reigned on board. + +Edmund was adored by his followers. His kindness as their ealdorman, +his skill and bravery as a leader, his cheerfulness and brightness +under every danger and peril had immensely endeared him to their +hearts, and each man felt that he had sustained an irretrievable loss, +and that with their chief the spirit which had animated the Dragon and +directed their enterprises was gone. + +Egbert was a valiant warrior, and was an admirable second to an +enterprising leader; but he was altogether without initiative, and, +except when excited by danger, was dull and silent. Although all +esteemed him and honoured him for his strength and bravery, they felt +that he would be a poor substitute indeed for the leader they had lost. + + + + +CHAPTER IX: A PRISONER + + +When Edmund recovered his senses he found that he was being carried +along on a rough litter through the forest. It was some little time +before he realized his position and recalled the circumstances of the +attack. After the Dragon had moved safely out into the fiord, its +assailants had returned to the spot where they had attacked the three +Saxons who had landed. Two of them were without life, but they found +that the third, who, from his habiliments was evidently of higher rank, +and whom they judged, although still but a youth, to be the commander +of the Saxon party, had only been stunned by the blow of the club which +had felled him. + +It was at once resolved to carry him to the jarl of the district, who +would assuredly wish to learn from him the meaning of the coming of the +strange ship. That the Dragon was a Saxon vessel the Northmen were +sure. Many of them had been on expeditions across the seas, and knew +the Saxons both from their dress and manner of wearing their hair, but +the ship was unlike anything they had seen before, and it seemed above +all things strange that when, as they understood, England had been +completely conquered, Saxon warships should be entering a northern +fiord. + +For many hours Edmund was carried through the forest. He wondered to +himself whether he would be slain on his arrival or kept as a slave, +for the Norse and Saxon tongues were so similar that he was perfectly +able to understand the language of his captors. A party of twelve men +accompanied him, four of whom bore the litter, and were relieved at +intervals by the others. After some hours the feeling of giddiness and +weakness passed off, and on the men stopping to change bearers he +expressed his readiness to walk. + +Hitherto he had lain with his eyes closed, as he thought it better to +remain as he was until he felt perfectly able to keep up with his +captors in a journey which might, for aught he knew, be a long one. The +Northmen expressed their satisfaction at finding that their burden need +no longer be carried, and throwing aside the boughs which had formed +the litter, proceeded with him on their way. They asked him many +questions concerning the Dragon. Most of these he answered readily +enough, but he evaded those as to the place where she had been built, +or the port from which she had sailed. It was not until late in the +afternoon that they arrived at the abode of the Jarl Bijorn. + +It was a rough abode constructed of timber, thatched with rushes, for +as yet the Northmen were scarcely a settled people, the tribes for the +most part wandering in the forests hunting when not engaged in those +warlike expeditions which they loved above all other things. Only the +leaders dwelt in anything like permanent abodes, the rest raising huts +of boughs at such places as they might make any stay at. + +One of Edmund's conductors had gone on ahead, and as the party +approached the building Bijorn came out from his house to meet them. He +was, like almost all Northmen, a man of great stature and immense +strength. Some fifty years had passed over his head, but he was still +in the prime of his life; for the Northmen, owing to their life of +constant activity, the development of their muscles from childhood, and +their existence passed in the open air, retained their strength and +vigour to a great age. + +So assiduous was their training, and so rapidly did their figures +develop in consequence, that at the age of fifteen a young Northman +received arms and was regarded as a man, although he did not marry +until many years afterwards, early wedlock being strongly discouraged +among them. By Bijorn's side stood his son, who, though but twenty-two +years old, rivalled him in stature and in muscular development, +although lacking the great width of shoulder of the jarl. + +As Edmund approached, a war-horse of the jarl fastened up to a post +close to the entrance of the house neighed loudly. Bijorn looked +surprised. The neighing of a horse among the Northmen was regarded as +the happiest of auguries, and in their sacred groves horses were tied +up, as the neighing of these animals was considered an infallible proof +that a propitious answer would be given by the gods to the prayer of +any petitioner who sought their aid. + +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "my good war-horse welcomes the stranger. +As I said to you anon, Sweyn, I had intended to offer him as a +sacrifice to Odin; but as the gods have thus declared him welcome here +I must needs change my intentions. Who are you, young Saxon?" he asked +as Edmund was brought before him, "and whence do you come? And how is +it that a war-ship of your people is found upon our coasts?" + +"I am Edmund," the young man said steadily, "an ealdorman of King +Alfred of the West Saxons. The ship which was seen on your coast is +mine; I built it to attack the Northmen who harry our coasts. I am here +because, when in chase of four of your ships, a storm arose and blew us +hither." + +"You speak boldly," the jarl said, "for one in the hands of his foes. +How old are you?" + +"I am twenty-two," Edmund replied. + +"The same age as you, Sweyn. Stand side by side and let me compare you. +Ay," he went on, "he lacks nigh three inches of your height, but he is +more than that bigger across the shoulders--a stalwart young champion, +indeed, and does brave credit to his rearing. These West Saxons have +shown themselves worthy foemen, and handled us roughly last year, as +this will testify," and he pointed to the scar of a sword-cut across +his face. "Doubtless this is the son of that Saxon earl who more than +once last summer inflicted heavy losses upon us. Is that so, young +Saxon?" + +"I am the Ealdorman Edmund himself," the young man replied quietly. "My +successes were won not by my own strength or courage, but by the valour +of those under me, who, fighting in a novel manner, gained advantage +over your Northmen." + +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "and this is the youth who attacked us at +night and drove off the cattle we had taken and slew many of our +followers, Sweyn! Truly he would be a rare sacrifice to offer to Odin; +but the god has himself welcomed him here." + +"It may be that he welcomed him as a sacrifice, father," Sweyn +suggested. + +"Ah! that may be so," the jarl replied. "We must consult the omens to +find out the true meaning of my charger's neighing. Nevertheless in +either case I shall be content, for if he be not welcomed as a +sacrifice he is welcome as bringing good fortune; and in truth he will +make a noble cup-bearer to me. It is not every jarl who is waited upon +by a Saxon ealdorman. But till the omens have spoken let him be set +aside and carefully watched. In a day or two we will journey to Odin's +temple and there consult the auguries." + +Three days passed, during which Edmund was well fed and treated. At the +end of that time he was ordered to accompany the jarl on a journey. Two +days' travelling brought them to a temple of Odin. It was a rough +structure of unhewn stones situated in a wood. Bijorn and his son +entered, while Edmund remained without under a guard. Presently the +jarl and his son came out with a priest. The latter carried a white bag +in his hand with twelve small pieces of wood. On half of these four +small nicks were cut, on the others five nicks. All were placed in the +bag, which was then shaken. + +"Now," the priest said, "you will see the will of Odin; the first three +sticks drawn out will declare it. If two of the three bear an even +number of nicks, the neigh of your horse signifies that Odin accepted +the sacrifice; if two of them bear unequal numbers, then it meant that +his coming was propitious to you." + +The bag was again shaken. Edmund looked on calmly, for Saxons and +Northmen alike disdained to show the slightest fear of death; even the +colour did not fade from his cheek as he watched the trial upon which +his life depended. + +The first stick drawn out bore five marks; the priest showed it to the +jarl, and without a word dropped it in the bag again. This was again +shaken and another stick drawn out; this bore but four notches; the +chances were even. The silence was unbroken until the third twig was +drawn. + +"Odin has spoken," the priest said. "The neigh of the horse indicated +that the coming of this Saxon was propitious to your house." + +The jarl gave an exclamation of satisfaction, while Sweyn's brow +darkened. Bijorn had indeed set his heart upon retaining this famous +young Saxon leader as his slave and cup-bearer, and it was probable +that in his interview with the priest before the drawing his +inclinations had been clearly shown, for a slight difference between +the thickness of the sticks might well have existed and served as an +index to the priest in drawing them. + +Bijorn, in his gratification at the answer of the god, bestowed a +handsome present upon the priest, and then rode back to his abode well +content with his journey. Edmund was at once installed in his new +duties. Hitherto he had not entered the house nor seen the females of +the family. Ulfra, the jarl's wife, was a woman of commanding stature +and appearance. Like most of the northern women she had accompanied her +husband in his many wanderings, and shared his dangers and privations. +The wives of the Norsemen occupied a far more exalted position in the +households of their lords than did those of the people of southern +Europe; they were not only mistresses of the house, but were treated +with respect as well as with affection; they were not, as in the south, +regarded as puppets for the amusements of an idle hour, but were the +companions and advisers of their husbands, occupying a position at +least as free and respected as at the present day. + +There were two daughters, who both bade fair to resemble their mother +in stature and dignity of demeanour, for both were models of female +strength and activity. Edmund's duties were light. In the morning he +gathered firewood for the household; at the meals he handed the dishes, +and taking his station behind the jarl's chair, refilled his goblet +with mead as often as it was empty. Usually a large party sat down to +supper, for an expedition to France was talked of in the spring, and +the jarls and warriors often met to discuss the place of starting, the +arrangements for the voyage, and the numbers which each leader would +place in the field. The feasts were kept up to a late hour, and, as was +the invariable custom of the Northmen, the arrangements decided upon +overnight were rediscussed at a morning meeting; for they held that +while over the wine-cup each man would speak the truth frankly and +honestly, the colder counsels and greater prudence which the morning +brought were needed before any matter could be finally settled. + +A month thus passed, and Bijorn, his family and followers then moved +south, as there was to be a great conference near the southern point of +the country, at which a large number of the chiefs from Denmark were to +be present. + +Edmund observed that for some reason Sweyn was looking forward +anxiously to this meeting, and his sisters more than once joked him +about his anxiety. + +"Pooh! pooh!" the jarl said one day in answer to such an observation. +"Sweyn is but a lad yet. I know what you are driving at, and that Sweyn +is smitten with the charms of my old companion's daughter, the pretty +Freda; I noted it when we were in camp together; but it will be fully +another ten years yet before Sweyn can think of marrying. He has got to +win for himself the name of a great warrior before a jarl's daughter of +proper spirit would so much as think of him. When he has the spoils of +France to lay at her feet it will be time enough." + +Sweyn made no reply, but Edmund saw that he was far from pleased at his +father's words, and a look of surly determination on his face showed +the young Saxon that he would go his own way in the matter if it lay in +his power. + +After ten days' travelling the party arrived at the rendezvous. Here +drawn up on the shore were a vast number of galleys of all sizes, for +the greater part of those who had assembled had journeyed by sea. Great +numbers of huts of boughs and many tents constructed of sails had been +erected. Edmund and the other slaves, these being either Saxon or +Franks captured in war, soon erected bowers for the jarl and his family. + +Edmund had been looking forward to the meeting with much anxiety, for +he had judged that some mode of escape might there open to him. Among +the Saxon slaves were several young men of strength and vigour, and +Edmund had confided to them his project of stealing a boat and sailing +away in it, and they, knowing that he had experience in navigation, had +readily consented to join him in making an effort for freedom. + +The jarl and his family were warmly welcomed by many of their +companions in arms, and the day after their arrival Bijorn told Edmund +to accompany him to a banquet at which he and his family were to be +present. At four in the afternoon they set out and presently arrived at +a large tent. Edmund waited without until the attendants carried in the +dishes, when he entered with them and prepared to take his place behind +his master's seat. From a few words which had passed between Sweyn and +his sisters Edmund doubted not that the companion with whom Bijorn was +going to dine was the father of the maiden about whom they had joked +him. He was not surprised when on entering he saw Sweyn talking +earnestly with a damsel somewhat apart from the rest. + +The entrance of the viands was the signal for all to take their places +at the table. There were in all sixteen in number, and as nearly half +were women the meeting was evidently of a family character, as upon +occasions of importance or when serious discussions were to take place +men alone sat down. As Edmund advanced to take his place, his eye fell +upon the jarl who seated himself at the head of the table, and as he +did so he gave a slight start of surprise, for he at once recognized in +him the Northman Siegbert, whose ship he had stopped at the mouth of +the Humber. From him his eye glanced at the girl by whose side Sweyn +was on the point of seating himself, and recognized in her the maiden +who had besought her father's life. The dinner commenced and proceeded +for some little time, when Edmund saw the girl looking fixedly at him. + +"Who is that who is standing behind your father's chair?" she asked +Sweyn. + +"A Saxon slave," he answered. "His vessel was well-nigh wrecked on our +coast. Our people captured him and slew some of his followers, and the +ship speedily took to flight." + +"Father," the girl said in a clear voice, which at once attracted the +attention of all, "unless my eyes deceive me the young Saxon standing +behind Jarl Bijorn is he whose ship captured us as we left England, and +who suffered no harm to be done to us." + +The Northman turned in his chair. + +"It is he, Freda, surely enough, though how he comes to be a slave here +to my comrade Bijorn I know not. Bijorn, my friend, I owe this youth a +deep debt of gratitude; he had my life and the life and honour of Freda +in his hands, and he spared both, and, slave though he may be of yours +at present, yet I hail him as my friend. Tell me how came he in your +hands? He is Edmund, the valiant young Saxon who smote us more than +once so heavily down in Wessex." + +"I know it," Bijorn replied, "and will tell you how he came into my +hands, and in truth he was captured by accident and not by any valour +of my arm." The jarl then related the circumstances under which Edmund +had been captured, and the narrow escape he had had of being offered as +a sacrifice to Odin. And Siegbert then told his guests at length the +incidents of his capture by the Dragon. + +"He let me go free and without a ransom," he concluded, "and that part +of my obligation I should be glad to repay, though for his gentleness +to Freda I must still remain his debtor. What say you, Bijorn, will you +sell him to me? Name your price in horses, arms, and armour, and +whatever it be I will pay it to you." + +"In truth, Siegbert," Bijorn said, "I like not to part with the lad; +but since you are so urgent, and seeing that you cannot otherwise +discharge the obligation under which, as you say, he has laid you, I +cannot refuse your prayer. As to the price, we will arrange that anon." + +"Then it is settled," Siegbert said. "You are a free man, Ealdorman +Edmund," and he held out his hand to the youth. "Now seat yourself at +the table with my guests; there are none here but may feel honoured at +dining with one of King Alfred's bravest thanes." + +The transformation in Edmund's position was sudden indeed; a moment +since he was a slave, and although he had determined upon making an +effort for freedom, he had known that the chances of escape were small, +as swift galleys would have been sent off in pursuit, and it was +probable that he would have been speedily overtaken and brought back. +Now he was free, and would doubtless be allowed to return home with the +first party who sailed thither. + +Siegbert at once tried to make Edmund feel at home, addressing much of +his conversation to him. Bijorn, too, spoke in a friendly manner with +him, but Sweyn was silent and sullen; he was clearly ill-pleased at +this change of fortune which had turned his father's slave into a +fellow-guest and equal. His annoyance was greatly heightened by the +fact that it was Freda who had recognized the young Saxon, and the +pleasure which her face evinced when her father proposed to purchase +him from Bijorn angered him still more. In his heart he cursed the +horse whose welcoming neigh had in the first instance saved Edmund's +life, and the trial by augury which had confirmed the first omen. After +the banquet was over Siegbert requested Edmund to relate his various +adventures. + +The telling of tales of daring was one of the favourite amusements of +the Danes; Siegbert and his friends quaffed great bumpers of mead; and +the ladies sat apart listening while Edmund told his story. + +"You have a brave record, indeed," Siegbert said when he had finished, +"for one so young; and fond as are our youths of adventure there is not +one of them of your age who has accomplished a tithe of what you have +done. Why, Freda, if this youth were but one of us he would have the +hearts of all the Norse maidens at his feet. In the eyes of a Danish +girl, as of a Dane, valour is the highest of recommendations." + +"I don't know, father," Freda said, colouring at being thus addressed, +"that we should be as bold as that, although assuredly it is but right +that a maiden should esteem valour highly. It is to her husband she has +to look for protection, and she shares in the honour and spoil which he +gains by his valiant deeds, so you have always taught me." + +"And rightly too, girl. Next to being a great hero, the greatest honour +is to be the wife of one. I pledge you, Ealdorman Edmund, and should be +right proud were you a son of mine. You have told your story modestly, +for many of the battles and adventures of which you have spoken are +known to me by report, and fame has given you a larger share in the +successes than you claim for yourself. 'Tis a pity you were not born a +Northman, for there is little for you to do in Saxon England now." + +"I do not despair yet," Edmund replied. "Things have gone badly with +us, but the last blow is not struck yet. You will hear of King Alfred +in the spring, unless I am mistaken." + +"But they say your King Alfred is half a monk, and that he loves +reading books more than handling the sword, though, to do him justice, +he has shown himself a brave warrior, and has given us far more trouble +than all the other Saxon kings together." + +"King Alfred fights bravely," Edmund said, "because he is fighting for +his country and people; but it is true that he loves not war nor +strife. He reads much and thinks more, and should he ever come to his +kingdom again he will assuredly be one of the wisest and best monarchs +who has ever sat on a throne. He has talked to me much of the things +which he has at heart, and I know he intends to draw up wise laws for +the ruling of his people." + +"We love not greatly being ruled, we Northmen," Bijorn said, "but for +each to go his own way as he wills, provided only he inflicts no ill +upon his neighbour. We come and we go each as it pleases him. Our +fleets traverse the sea and bring home plunder and booty. What need we +of laws?" + +"At present you have no great need of laws," Edmund replied, "seeing +that you lead a wandering life; but when the time shall come--and it +must come to you as it has come to other nations--when you will settle +down as a rich and peaceful community, then laws will become necessary." + +"Well," Bijorn said, "right glad am I that I live before such times +have come. So far as I can see the settling down you speak of, and the +abandonment of the ancient gods has done no great good either to you +Saxons or to the Franks. Both of you were in the old time valiant +people, while now you are unable to withstand our arms. You gather +goods, and we carry them off; you build cities, and we destroy them; +you cultivate the land, and we sweep off the crops. It seems to me that +we have the best of it." + +"It seems so at present," Edmund said, "but it will not last. Already +in Northumbria and in East Anglia the Danes, seeing that there is no +more plunder to be had, are settling down and adopting the customs of +the Saxons, and so will it be in Mercia and Wessex if you keep your +hold of them, and so will it be in other places. The change is but +beginning, but it seems to me certain to come; so I have heard King +Alfred say." + +"And does he think," Sweyn said scoffingly, speaking almost for the +first time, "that we shall abandon the worship of our gods and take to +that of your Christ?" + +"He thinks so and hopes so," Edmund replied quietly. "So long as men's +lives are spent wholly in war they may worship gods like yours, but +when once settled in peaceful pursuits they will assuredly recognize +the beauty and holiness of the life of Christ. Pardon me," he said, +turning to Siegbert, "if it seems to you that I, being still young, +speak with over-boldness, but I am telling you what King Alfred says, +and all men recognize his wisdom and goodness." + +"I know not of your religion myself," Siegbert replied, "but I will own +willingly that though its teachings may be peaceful, it makes not +cowards of those who believe in it. I have seen over and over again old +men and young men die on the altars of their churches as fearlessly and +calmly as a Viking should do when his time comes. No Northman fears +death, for he knows that a joyous time awaits him; but I am bound to +say that your Christians meet death to the full as calmly. Well, each +his own way, I say, and for aught I know there may be a Christian +heaven as well as the Halls of Odin, and all may be rewarded in their +own way for their deeds." + +Bijorn and his party now rose to take leave. "I will come across to +your tent in the morning," Siegbert said, "and we can then discuss what +payment I shall make you for this young Saxon. I fear not that you will +prove over hard to your old comrade." + +After Bijorn had departed Siegbert assigned to Edmund a place in his +tent as an honoured guest. Slaves brought in bundles of rushes for the +beds. Freda retired to a small tent which had been erected for her +adjoining the larger one, and the jarl and Edmund lay down on their +piles of rushes at the upper end of the tent. Siegbert's companions and +followers stretched themselves along the sides, the slaves lay down +without, and in a few minutes silence reigned in the tent. + + + + +CHAPTER X: THE COMBAT + + +"I was thinking much of what you said last night," Freda said at +breakfast. "How is it that you, whose religion is as you say a peaceful +one, can yet have performed so many deeds of valour and bloodshed?" + +"I am fighting for my home, my country, and my religion," Edmund said. +"Christianity does not forbid men to defend themselves; for, did it do +so, a band of pagans might ravage all the Christian countries in the +world. I fight not because I love it. I hate bloodshed, and would +rather die than plunder and slay peaceful and unoffending people. You +have been in England and have seen the misery which war has caused +there. Such misery assuredly I would inflict on none. I fight only to +defend myself and my country men and women. Did your people leave our +land I would gladly never draw sword again." + +"But what would you do with yourself?" Freda asked in tones of +surprise. "How would you pass your time if there were no fighting?" + +"I should have plenty to do," Edmund said smiling; "I have my people to +look after. I have to see to their welfare; to help those who need it; +to settle disputes; to rebuild the churches and houses which have been +destroyed. There would be no difficulty in spending my time." + +"But how could a man show himself to be a hero," the Danish girl asked, +"if there were no fighting?" + +"There would be no occasion for heroes," Edmund said, "at least of +heroes in the sense you mean--that is, of men famous principally for +the number they have slain, and the destruction and misery they have +caused. Our religion teaches us that mere courage is not the highest +virtue. It is one possessed as much by animals as by men. Higher +virtues than this are kindness, charity, unselfishness, and a desire to +benefit our fellow-creatures. These virtues make a man a truer hero +than the bravest Viking who ever sailed the seas. Even you, Freda, +worshipper of Odin as you are, must see that it is a higher and a +better life to do good to your fellow-creatures than to do evil." + +"It sounds so," the girl said hesitatingly; "but the idea is so new to +me that I must think it over before I can come to any conclusion." + +Freda then went about her occupations, and Edmund, knowing that +Siegbert would not return for some time, as he was going with Bijorn to +a council which was to be held early in the day, strolled down to look +at the galleys ranged along on the beach. These varied greatly in form +and character. Some of the sailing ships were large and clumsy, but the +galleys for rowing were lightly and gracefully built. They were low in +the water, rising to a lofty bow, which sometimes turned over like the +neck of a swan, at other times terminated in a sharp iron prow, formed +for running down a hostile boat. Some of them were of great length, +with seats for twenty rowers on either side, while all were provided +with sails as well as oars. When the hour for dinner approached he +returned to Siegbert's tent. The jarl had not yet come back from the +council. When he did so Edmund perceived at once that he was flushed +and angry. + +"What has disturbed you, father?" Freda asked, as on hearing his voice +she entered the tent. "Has aught gone wrong at the council?" + +"Yes," the jarl replied, "much has gone wrong. Bijorn and I had not +concluded our bargain when we went to the council. We had, indeed, no +difficulty about the terms, but we had not clasped hands over them, as +I was going back to his tent after the council was over. At the council +the expedition against France was discussed, and it was proposed that +we should consult the gods as to the chances of the adventure. Then the +Jarl Eric rose and proposed that it should be done in the usual way by +a conflict between a Dane and a captive. This was of course agreed to. + +"He then said that he understood that there was in the camp a young +Saxon of distinguished valour, and that he proposed that Sweyn, the son +of Bijorn, should fight with him. Sweyn had expressed to him his +willingness to do so should the council agree. I rose at once and said +that the Saxon was no longer a captive, since I had ransomed him +because he had once done me a service; but upon being pressed I was +forced to admit that the bargain had not been concluded. I must acquit +Bijorn of any share in the matter, for it came upon him as much by +surprise as it did upon me. It seems that it is all Sweyn's doing. He +must have taken the step as having a private grudge against you. Have +you had any quarrel with him?" + +"No," Edmund replied. "He has ever shown himself haughty and +domineering, but we have come to no quarrel." + +"At any rate he wants to kill you," Siegbert said. "I did my best to +prevent it, pointing out that the combat ought to take place between a +Frank and a Dane. However, the Northmen are always glad to see a good +fight, and having satisfied themselves that in point of age and +strength you were not unfairly matched, they decided that the conflict +should take place. He is taller, and I think somewhat stronger than +you, and has proved himself a valiant fighter, and I would give much if +the combat could be avoided." + +"I fear him not," Edmund said quietly, "though I would fain that this +could be avoided. Had I met Sweyn upon a battle-field in England I +would have slain him as a natural enemy; but to fight him in cold +blood, either as a matter of augury or to furnish amusement for the +assembly, likes me not. However, I must of course defend myself, and if +harm comes to him it is no blame of mine." + +"You will have no easy victory, I can tell you," Siegbert said, "for +none among our young Danes bears a higher reputation." + +"But after the combat is over how shall I stand?" Edmund asked; "for if +I defeat or slay Sweyn I shall still be his father's slave." + +"That will you not," Siegbert replied. "In these cases the captive if +victorious is always restored to liberty; but at any rate you shall +fight as a free man, for when I have finished my dinner I will go to +Bijorn and conclude our bargain. Do not look so cast down, Freda; a +Northman's daughter must not turn pale at the thought of a conflict. +Sweyn is the son of my old friend, and was, before he took to arms, +your playfellow, and since then has, methought, been anxious to gain +your favour, though all too young yet for thinking of taking a wife; +but never mind, there are as good as he to be found; and if our young +Saxon here proves his conqueror other suitors will come, never fear." + +Freda was silent, but her face flushed painfully, and Edmund saw the +tears falling down her cheeks as she bent over her plate. + +After the meal was over Siegbert again went out, and Edmund, +approaching Freda, said, "Do not fret, Freda; if it should be that I +find my skill in arms greater than that of Sweyn, I promise you that +for your sake I will not wound him mortally." + +"I care not," the girl said passionately; "spare him not for my sake, +for I hate him, and were there no other Norseman in the world I would +never be wife of his." + +So saying she left the tent. Edmund now regretted the chance which had +assigned him to Siegbert, for he would rather have taken his chance of +escape by sea than have awaited the conflict with Sweyn. But he could +not carry his plan of escape into effect now, for it would seem as if +he had fled the conflict. That this would be a desperate one he did not +doubt. The course which Sweyn had taken showed a bitter feeling of +hatred against him, and even were it not so the young Northman would, +fighting in the presence of the leaders of his nation, assuredly do his +best to conquer. But Edmund had already tried his strength with older +and more powerful men than his adversary and had little fear of results. + +The news of the approaching conflict caused considerable excitement in +the Danish camp, and Edmund's figure was narrowly scrutinized as he +wandered through it. All who had been engaged in the war in Wessex had +heard of Edmund, and there was no slight curiosity, when the news went +abroad that the Saxon leader was a captive in the camp, to see what he +was like. + +At first when it was bruited abroad that Sweyn, the son of Jarl Bijorn, +was to fight this noted Saxon champion the idea was that the enterprise +was a rash one, strong and valiant as Sweyn was known to be for a young +man; but when it was seen that Edmund was no older than he, and to the +eye less strong and powerful, they felt confident in the power of their +champion to overcome him. + +Siegbert spared no pains to see that his guest had an even equal +chance. He procured for him a strong and well-made helmet which fitted +him comfortably, and gave him the choice out of a large number of +shields and swords. Edmund selected a weapon which answered nearly in +weight and balance that which he was accustomed to wield. There was +feasting again that night in Siegbert's tent; but he did not allow +Edmund to join in it, insisting after the meal was over that he should +retire to a small hut hard by. + +"You will want your head and your nerves in good order to-morrow," he +said. "Feasting is good in its way, and the night before battle I +always drink deeply, but for a single combat it were best to be +prudent." As Edmund left the tent Freda, who had not appeared at +dinner, came up to him. + +"I have been crying all day," she said simply. "I know not why, for I +have often seen my father go out to battle without a tear. I think you +must have upset me with your talk this morning. I hope that you will +win, because it was wrong and unfair of Sweyn to force this battle upon +you; and I hate him for it! I shall pray Odin to give you victory. You +don't believe in him, I know; still my prayers can do you no harm." + +"Thank you," Edmund said. "I shall pray to One greater and better than +Odin. But weep not any longer, for I trust neither of us will be +killed. I shall do my best to guard myself, and shall try not to slay +him; for this fight is not for my nation or for my religion, but +concerns myself only." + +The following morning the Northmen assembled. The jarls and other +leading men formed the inner line of a circle some thirty yards in +diameter, the others stood without; Jarl Eric entered the ring with +Sweyn, while Edmund, accompanied by Siegbert, entered at the other side +of the circle. + +"I protest," Siegbert cried in a loud voice, "against this conflict +taking place. Edmund the Saxon is no captive here, but a free man, and +my guest; moreover, being a Saxon, the issue of this fight between him +and a Northman can serve no purpose as an augury as to the success of +our expedition against the Franks. Therefore do I protest against the +conflict." + +There was again a consultation between the leaders, for a murmur of +approbation had run round the ranks of the spectators, who it was +evident were impressed in favour of the young Saxon, and considered +that the jarl's words were just and reasonable. Eric spoke for a minute +with Sweyn. + +"I feel," he said in a loud voice, "that what Jarl Siegbert says is +reasonable, that no augury can be drawn from the fight, and that, since +Edmund is no longer a captive, and a friend of Siegbert's, he cannot be +forced into fighting in order that we may have an augury. But the +Saxon, though so young, has won a reputation even among us, the enemies +of his race; and my friend Sweyn, who has shown himself one of the +bravest of our young men, considers that he has cause of quarrel with +him, and challenges him to fight--not necessarily to the death, or till +one is slain, but till the jarls here assembled do pronounce one or the +other to be the victor. This is a fair challenge--first, there is a +private quarrel; next, there is emulation between these young men, who +may fairly claim to be the champions of the youth of the two races. +Such a challenge the Saxon will hardly refuse." + +In accordance with the customs of the day it would have been impossible +for Edmund to have refused such a challenge without disgrace, and he +did not for a moment think of doing so. + +"I am ready to fight Sweyn," he said. "I have no great cause of quarrel +with him; but if he conceives that he has grounds of quarrel with me, +that is enough. As to championship of the Saxons, we have no champions; +we fight not for personal honour or glory, but for our homes, our +countries, and our religion, each doing his best according to the +strength God has given him, and without thought of pride on the one +hand or envy on the other because the strength or courage of one may be +somewhat greater than that of another. Still, as a Saxon standing here +as the only representative of my nation in an assembly of Northmen, I +cannot refuse such a challenge, for to do so would be to infer that we +Saxons are less brave than you. Therefore I am ready for the combat." + +The Northmen clashed their weapons against their shields in token of +their approval of the young Saxon's words, and the young champions +prepared for the combat. They were naked to the waist save for shield +and helmet; below the waist each wore a short and tightly-fitting +garment covered with plates of brass; the legs were naked, and each +wore a pair of light sandals; their weapons were long straight swords. +The weapon Edmund had chosen was considerably lighter than that of his +opponent, but was of toughest steel, on which were engraved in rough +characters, "Prayers to Woden for victory." + +The difference in height between the combatants was considerable. +Edmund stood five feet ten, but looked shorter from the squareness and +width of his shoulders. Sweyn was nearly four inches taller, and he too +was very strongly built. His muscles indeed stood out in stronger +development than did those of Edmund, and if pure strength was to win +the day few of those who looked on doubted that the Dane would be the +victor. + +The combat was a long one. For some time Edmund contented himself with +standing upon the defensive and guarding the tremendous blows which +Sweyn rained upon him. In spite of the efforts of the Northman, he +could neither beat down the Saxon's guard nor force him to fall back a +single step. + +Again and again the rattle of the spectators' arms clashed an approval +of Edmund's steady resistance to his opponent's assaults. The Norsemen +delighted beyond all things in a well-fought encounter. Each man, +himself a warrior, was able to appreciate the value of the strokes and +parries. The betting at the commencement had run high upon Sweyn, and +horses, armour, arms, and slaves had been freely wagered upon his +success; but as the fight went on the odds veered round, and the +demeanour of the combatants had as much to do with this as the skill +and strength shown by Edmund in his defence. The Dane was flushed and +furious; his temper gave way under the failure of his assaults. The +Saxon, on the contrary, fought as calmly and coolly as if practicing +with blunted weapons; his eyes never left those of his adversary, a +half smile played on his lips, and although drops of perspiration from +his forehead showed how great were his exertions, his breathing hardly +quickened. + +Twice Sweyn drew back for breath, and Edmund each time, instead of +pressing him, dropped the point of his sword and waited for him to +renew the combat. At present he had scarce struck a blow, and while his +own shield was riven in several places and his helmet dinted, those of +Sweyn were unmarked. + +At the third assault Sweyn came up determined to end the conflict, and +renewed the attack with greater fury than before. Three times his sword +descended with tremendous force, but each time it met the blade of the +Saxon; the fourth time his arm was raised, then there was a flash and a +sudden shout from the crowd. + +With a mighty blow Edmund had smitten full on his opponent's uplifted +arm, and, striking it just above the elbow, the sword clove through +flesh and bone, and the severed limb, still grasping the sword, fell to +the ground. + +A loud shout of approval burst from the Danes. Although the conqueror +was their enemy they appreciated so highly the virtues of coolness and +courage that their applause was no less hearty than if the victor had +been a countryman. Sweyn had fallen almost the instant the blow had +been struck. The ring was at once broken up, and his friends ran to +him. The Norsemen were adepts at the treatment of wounds, and +everything had been prepared in case of emergencies. + +A bandage was instantly tied tightly round the upper part of the arm to +stop the rush of blood, and the stump was then dipped into boiling +pitch, and Sweyn, who had become almost instantly insensible from the +loss of blood, was carried to his father's tent. According to custom +handsome presents of swords and armour were made to Edmund by those who +had won by his success. + +It would have been considered churlish to refuse them, and Edmund had +no thought of doing so, for he needed money, and these things in those +days were equivalent to wealth. + +"You have done well and gallantly indeed, my young friend," Siegbert +said as, followed by several slaves bearing Edmund's presents, they +returned to the tent. "I am glad you did not slay him, for I think not +that he will die. Such a blow given in battle would assuredly have been +fatal, but here the means of stanching the blood were at hand, and I +trust for Bijorn's sake that he will recover; but whether or no he +brought it on himself." + +On reaching the tent Freda ran out radiant. + +"I hear that you have conquered," she said, "and I am glad indeed; it +serves him right, for all say that he forced the fight upon you." + +"I did not know that your sympathies were so strongly against Sweyn," +Siegbert said in a somewhat reproachful tone. "He has always been your +devoted follower." + +"He has always been my tyrant, father, for he has always insisted on my +doing his pleasure; but if he had been ten times my follower, and had +been a valiant warrior instead of a youth, and I a maiden of twenty +instead of a girl of fifteen, I should still be glad that he was +conquered, because without any reason for quarrel he has sought to slay +this Saxon youth who did us such great service, and to whom as he knew +we were so indebted." + +Siegbert smiled. "Hitherto I have wondered, daughter mine, at the +reason which induced Sweyn to challenge Edmund, but now methinks I +understand it. Sweyn has, as his father has told me, youth as he is, +set his heart on winning your hand when you shall reach the age of +womanhood, and it is just because Edmund has done you and me service +that he hates him. You are young, child, for your bright eyes to have +caused bloodshed; if you go on like this there will be no end to the +trouble I shall have on your account before I get you fairly wedded." + +Freda coloured hotly. + +"That is nonsense, father; another five years will be soon enough to +begin to think of such things. At any rate," she said with a laugh, "I +am rid of Sweyn, for he can hardly expect me ever to love a one-armed +man." + +"There have been brave warriors," Seigbert said, "with but one arm." + +"It makes no difference," Freda laughed; "if he had fifty arms I should +never love him." + +Edmund now entreated Siegbert to repay himself from the presents he had +received for the goods he had the evening before given to Bijorn as the +price of his liberty, but this the jarl would not hear of. Edmund then +begged him to buy with them, of Bijorn, the four Saxon slaves with whom +he had agreed to attempt an escape, and to expend the rest of the +presents in freeing as many other Saxon prisoners as he could. + +This Siegbert did, and by the evening Edmund had the satisfaction of +finding around him twelve Saxons whose freedom he had purchased. He +remained as the guest of Siegbert until the expedition sailed in the +last week of March. Then with the twelve Saxons he embarked in +Siegbert's ship, which, instead of keeping with the others, sailed for +the mouth of the Thames. The wind was favourable and the passage quick, +and three days after sailing Edmund and his companions were disembarked +on the coast of Kent. His adieus with Siegbert were hearty and earnest. + +"I would you had been a Northman," the jarl said, "for I love you as a +son, and methinks that when the time comes, had you been so inclined, +you might have really stood in that relation to me, for I guess that my +little Freda would not have said no had you asked her hand; but now our +paths are to part. I shall never war again with the Saxons, for indeed +there is but scant booty to be gained there, while you are not likely +again to be cast upon our shores; but should the fates ever throw us +together again, remember that you have a friend for life in Jarl +Siegbert." + +Freda, who had accompanied her father as usual, wept bitterly at the +parting, which, however, she did not deem to be as final as it appeared +to her father; for the evening before, as she was standing on the poop +with Edmund, he had said to her, "You will not forget me, Freda; we are +both very young yet; but some day, when the wars are over, and England +no longer requires my sword, I will seek you again." + +"Is that a promise, Edmund?" + +"Yes, Freda, a solemn promise." + +"I will wait for you," she said simply, "if it were till the end of my +life." + +The youth and girl ratified the promise by a kiss, and Freda, as +through her tears she watched the boat which conveyed Edmund and his +companions to shore, felt sure that some day she should see her Saxon +hero again. + +On landing, Edmund soon learned that the Danes were everywhere masters, +and that since the autumn nothing had been heard of the king, who was +supposed to be somewhere in hiding. + +In every village through which they passed they found evidence of the +mastership of the Danes. Many of the houses were burnt or destroyed, +the people were all dressed in the poorest garb, and their sad faces +and listless mien told of the despair which everywhere prevailed. In +every church the altars had been thrown down, the holy emblems and +images destroyed, the monks and priests had fled across the sea or had +been slain. + +The Danish gods, Thor and Woden, had become the divinities of the land, +and the Saxons, in whom Christianity had but recently supplanted the +superstitions of paganism, were fast returning to the worship of the +pagan gods. Edmund and his companions were shocked at the change. On +reaching home they found that the ravages of the Danes had here been +particularly severe, doubtless in revenge for the heavy loss which had +been sustained by them in their attack upon Edmund's fortification. His +own abode had been completely levelled to the ground, and the villages +and farm-houses for the most part wholly destroyed. His people were +lying in rude shelters which they had raised, but their condition was +very much better than that of the people in general. + +The news of Edmund's return spread like wildfire, and excited the most +extreme joy among his people, who had long given him up for lost. He +found to his delight that the Dragon had returned safely, and that she +was laid up in her old hiding-place. The great amount of spoil with +which she was loaded had enabled her crew largely to assist their +friends, and it was this which had already raised the condition of the +people above that of their neighbours. Houses were being gradually +rebuilt, animals had been brought from districts which had been less +ravaged by the Danes, and something approaching comfort was being +rapidly restored. + +Upon the day after Edmund's return Egbert arrived. Feeling sure of +Edmund's death he had taken no steps towards rebuilding the house, but +was living a wild life in the woods, when the news reached him that +Edmund had reappeared. His own large share of the booty with that of +Edmund he had buried, with the portion set aside for the king, in the +wood near the spot where the Dragon was laid up. + +They had passed up the Parrot at night unobserved by the Danes, and +after taking the masts out of the Dragon, and dismantling her, they had +laid her up in the hole near the river where she was built. There was +little fear of her discovery there, for the Danes were for the most +part gathered in winter quarters at the great camp near Chippenham. + +Egbert's delight at the reappearance of Edmund was unbounded, for he +loved him as a son, and it was a long time before their joy at the +meeting was sufficiently calmed down to enable them to tell each other +the events which had happened since they parted three months before. +Egbert's narrative was indeed brief. He had remained two or three days +off the coast of Norway in the lingering hope that Edmund might in some +way have escaped death, and might yet come off and join him. At the end +of a week this hope had faded, and he sailed for England. Being winter, +but few Danish galleys were at sea, and he had encountered none from +the time he set sail until he arrived off the coast at the mouth of the +Parrot. + +He had entered the river at night so as to be unseen by any in the +village at its mouth, and had, after the Dragon was laid up, passed his +time in the forest. Edmund's narration was much more lengthy, and +Egbert was surprised indeed to find that his kinsman owed his freedom +to the jarl whose vessel they had captured at the mouth of the Humber. + + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY + + +Edmund spent a month on his lands, moving about among his vassals and +dwelling in their abodes. He inspired them by his words with fresh +spirit and confidence, telling them that this state of things could not +last, and that he was going to join the king, who doubtless would soon +call them to take part in a fresh effort to drive out their cruel +oppressors. Edmund found that although none knew with certainty the +hiding-place of King Alfred, it was generally reported that he had +taken refuge in the low lands of Somersetshire, and Athelney was +specially named as the place which he had made his abode. + +"It is a good omen," Edmund said, "for Athelney lies close to the +Parrot, where my good ship the Dragon is laid away." + +After visiting all the villages in his earldom Edmund started with +Egbert and four young men, whom he might use as messengers, for the +reported hiding-place of the king. First they visited the Dragon, and +found her lying undisturbed; then they followed the river down till +they reached the great swamps which extended for a considerable +distance near its mouth. After much wandering they came upon the hut of +a fisherman. The man on hearing the footsteps came to his door with a +bent bow. When he saw that the new-comers were Saxons he lowered the +arrow which was already fitted to the string. + +"Can you tell us," Edmund said, "which is the way to Athelney? We know +that it is an island amidst these morasses, but we are strangers to the +locality and cannot find it." + +"And you might search for weeks," the man said, "without finding it, so +thickly is it surrounded by deep swamps and woods. But what want ye +there?" + +"Men say," Edmund replied, "that King Alfred is hidden there. We are +faithful followers of his. I am Ealdorman Edmund of Sherborne, and have +good news for the king." + +"If ye are indeed the Ealdorman of Sherborne, of whose bravery I have +heard much, I will right willingly lead you to Athelney if you will, +but no king will you find there. There are a few fugitives from the +Danes scattered here and there in these marshes, but none, so far as I +know, of any rank or station. However, I will lead you thither should +you still wish to go." + +Edmund expressed his desire to visit the island even if the king were +not there. The man at once drew out a small boat from a hiding-place +near his hut. It would hold four at most. Edmund and Egbert stepped in +with one of their followers, charging the others to remain at the hut +until they received further instructions. The fisherman with a long +pole took his place in the bow of the boat and pushed off. For some +hours they made their way through the labyrinth of sluggish and narrow +channels of the morass. It was a gloomy journey. The leafless trees +frequently met overhead; the long rushes in the wetter parts of the +swamp rustled as the cold breezes swept across them, and a slight +coating of snow which had fallen the previous night added to the dreary +aspect of the scene. At last they came upon sharply rising ground. + +"This is Athelney," the fisherman said, "a good hiding-place truly; +for, as you see, it rises high over the surrounding country, which is +always swampy from the waters of the Parrot and Theme, and at high +tides the salt water of the sea fills all these waterways, and the +trees rise from a broad sheet of sea. No Dane has ever yet set foot +among these marshes; and were there but provisions to keep them alive, +a safe refuge might be found on this island for hundreds of fugitives. +Will you be returning to-night?" + +"That I cannot tell you," Edmund replied; "but at any rate I will hire +you and your boat to remain at my service for a week, and will pay you +a far higher price than you can obtain by your fishing." + +The fisherman readily agreed, and Edmund and his companions made their +way into the heart of the island. It was of some extent, and rose above +the tree-tops of the surrounding country. Presently they came to a +cottage. A man came out. + +"What do you seek?" he asked. + +"You have fugitives in refuge here," Edmund said. "Know you if among +them is our good King Alfred?" The man looked astonished. + +"A pretty place to seek for a king!" he replied. "There are a few +Saxons in hiding here. Some live by fishing, some chop wood; but for +the most part they are an idle and thriftless lot, and methinks have +fled hither rather to escape from honest work or to avoid the penalties +of crimes than for any other reason." + +"How may we find them?" Edmund asked. + +"They are scattered over the island. There are eight or ten dwellers +here like myself, and several of them have one or more of these fellows +with them; others have built huts for themselves and shift as they can; +but it is a hard shift, I reckon, and beech-nuts and acorns, eked out +with an occasional fish caught in the streams, is all they have to live +upon. I wonder that they do not go back to honest work among their +kinsfolk." + +"Ah!" Edmund said, "you do not know here how cruel are the ravages of +the Danes; our homes are broken up and our villages destroyed, and +every forest in the land is peopled with fugitive Saxons. Did you know +that you would speak less harshly of those here. At any rate the man I +seek is young and fair-looking, and would, I should think"--and he +smiled as he remembered Alfred's studious habits--"be one of the most +shiftless of those here." + +"There is such a one," the man replied, "and several times friends of +his have been hither to see him. He dwells at my next neighbour's, who +is often driven well-nigh out of her mind--for she is a dame with a +shrewish tongue and sharp temper--by his inattention. She only asks of +him that he will cut wood and keep an eye over her pigs, which wander +in the forest, in return for his food; and yet, simple as are his +duties, he is for ever forgetting them. I warrant me, the dame would +not so long have put up with him had he not been so fair and helpless. +However bad-tempered a woman may be, she has always a tender corner in +her heart for this sort of fellow. There, you can take this path +through the trees and follow it on; it will take you straight to her +cottage." + +The description given by the man tallied so accurately with that of the +king that Edmund felt confident that he was on the right track. The +fact, too, that from time to time men had come to see this person added +to the probability of his being the king. Presently they came upon the +hut. A number of pigs were feeding under the trees around it; the door +was open, and the shrill tones of a woman's voice raised in anger could +be heard as they approached. + +"You are an idle loon, and I will no longer put up with your ways, and +you may seek another mistress. You are worse than useless here. I do +but ask you to watch these cakes while I go over to speak with my +neighbour, and inquire how she and the child born yestereven are +getting on, and you go to sleep by the fire and suffer the case to burn. + +"You were not asleep, you say? then so much the worse. Where were your +eyes, then? And where was your nose? Why, I smelt the cakes a hundred +yards away, and you sitting over them, and as you say awake, neither +saw them burning nor smelt them! You are enough to break an honest +woman's heart with your mooning ways. You are ready enough to eat when +the meal-time comes, but are too lazy even to watch the food as it +cooks. I tell you I will have no more of you. I have put up with you +till I am verily ashamed of my own patience; but this is too much, and +you must go your way, for I will have no more of you." + +At this moment Edmund and Egbert appeared at the door of the hut. As he +had expected from the nature of the colloquy Edmund saw King Alfred +standing contrite and ashamed before the angry dame. + +"My beloved sovereign!" he cried, running in and falling on his knees. + +"My trusted Edmund," Alfred exclaimed cordially, "right glad am I to +see you, and you too, my valiant Egbert; truly I feared that the good +ship Dragon had long since fallen into the hands of our enemy." + +"The Dragon lies not many miles hence, your majesty, in the hole in +which she was built, by the river Parrot; she has done bravely and has +brought home a rich store of booty, a large share of which has been +hidden away for your majesty, and can be brought here in a few hours +should you wish it." + +"Verily I am glad to hear it, Edmund, for I have long been penniless; +and I have great need of something at least to pay this good woman for +all the trouble she has been at with me, and for her food which my +carelessness has destroyed, as you may have heard but now." + +Edmund and Egbert joined in the king's merry laugh. The dame looked a +picture of consternation and fell upon her knees. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," she cried; "to think that I have ventured to +abuse our good King Alfred, and have even in mine anger lifted my hand +against him!" + +"And with right good-will too," the king said laughing. "Never fear, +good dame, your tongue has been rough but your heart has been kindly, +or never would you have borne so long with so shiftless a serving-man. +But leave us now, I pray ye, for I have much to say to my good friends +here. And now, Edmund, what news do you bring? I do not ask after the +doings of the Dragon, for that no doubt is a long story which you shall +tell me later, but how fares it with my kingdom? I have been in +correspondence with several of my thanes, who have from time to time +sent me news of what passes without. From what they say I deem that the +time for action is at last nigh at hand. The people are everywhere +desperate at the oppression and exactions of the Danes, and are ready +to risk everything to free themselves from so terrible a yoke. I fled +here and gave up the strife because the Saxons deemed anything better +than further resistance. Now that they have found out their error it is +time to be stirring again." + +"That is so," Edmund said; "Egbert and I have found the people +desperate at their slavery, and ready to risk all did a leader but +appear. My own people will all take up arms the instant they receive my +summons; they have before now proved their valour, and in my crew of +the Dragon you have a body which will, I warrant me, pierce through any +Danish line." + +"This tallies with what I have heard," Alfred said, "and in the spring +I will again raise my banner; but in the meantime I will fortify this +place. There are but two or three spots where boats can penetrate +through the morasses; were strong stockades and banks erected at each +landing-place we might hold the island in case of defeat against any +number of the enemy." + +"That shall be done," Edmund said, "and quickly. I have a messenger +here with me, and others waiting outside the swamp, and can send and +bring my crew of the Dragon here at once." + +"Let that be one man's mission," the king said; "the others I will send +off with messages to the thanes of Somerset, who are only awaiting my +summons to take up arms. I will bid them send hither strong working +parties, but to make no show in arms until Easter, at which time I will +again spread the Golden Dragon to the winds. The treasure you speak of +will be right welcome, for all are so impoverished by the Danes that +they live but from hand to mouth, and we must at least buy provisions +to maintain the parties working here. Arms, too, must be made, for +although many have hidden their weapons, the Danes have seized vast +quantities, having issued an order that any Saxon found with arms shall +be at once put to death. Money will be needed to set all the smithies +to work at the manufacture of pikes and swords. Hides must be bought +for the manufacture of shields. It will be best to send orders to the +ealdormen and thanes to send hither privately the smiths, armourers, +and shield-makers in the villages and towns. They cannot work with the +Danes ever about, but must set up smithies here. They must bring their +tools and such iron as they can carry; what more is required we must +buy at the large towns and bring privately in carts to the edge of the +morass. The utmost silence and secrecy must be observed, that the Danes +may obtain no news of our preparations until we are ready to burst out +upon them." + +A fortnight later Athelney presented a changed appearance. A thousand +men were gathered there. Trees had been cut down, a strong fort erected +on the highest ground, and formidable works constructed at three points +where alone a landing could be effected. The smoke rose from a score of +great mounds, where charcoal-burners were converting timber into fuel +for the forges. Fifty smiths and armourers were working vigorously at +forges in the open air, roofs thatched with rushes and supported by +poles being erected over them to keep the rain and snow from the fires. +A score of boats were threading the mazes of the marshes bringing men +and cattle to the island. All was bustle and activity, every face shone +with renewed hope. King Alfred himself and his thanes moved to and fro +among the workers encouraging them at their labours. + +Messengers came and went in numbers, and from all parts of Wessex King +Alfred received news of the joy which his people felt at the tidings +that he was again about to raise his standard, and of the readiness of +all to obey his summons. So well was the secret kept that no rumour of +the storm about to burst upon them reached the Danes. The people, +rejoicing and eager as they were, suffered no evidence of their +feelings to be apparent to their cruel masters, who, believing the +Saxons to be finally crushed, were lulled into a false security. The +king's treasure had been brought from its hiding-place to Athelney, and +Edmund and Egbert had also handed over their own share of the booty to +the king. The golden cups and goblets he had refused to take, but had +gladly accepted the silver. + +Edmund and Egbert had left Athelney for a few days on a mission. The +king had described to them minutely where he had hidden the sacred +standard with the Golden Dragon. It was in the hut of a charcoal-burner +in the heart of the forests of Wiltshire. Upon reaching the hut, and +showing to the man the king's signet-ring, which when leaving the +standard he had told him would be the signal that any who might come +for it were sent by him, the man produced the standard from the thatch +of his cottage, in which it was deeply buried, and hearing that it was +again to be unfurled called his two stalwart sons from their work and +at once set out with Edmund and Egbert to join the army. + +Easter came and went, but the preparations were not yet completed. A +vast supply of arms was needed, and while the smiths laboured at their +work Edmund and Egbert drilled the fighting men who had assembled, in +the tactics which had on a small scale proved so effective. The wedge +shape was retained, and Edmund's own band claimed the honour of forming +the apex, but it had now swollen until it contained a thousand men, and +as it moved in a solid body, with its thick edge of spears outward, the +king felt confident that it would be able to break through the +strongest line of the Danes. + +From morning till night Edmund and Egbert, assisted by the thanes of +Somerset who had gathered there, drilled the men and taught them to +rally rapidly from scattered order into solid formation. Unaccustomed +to regular tactics the ease and rapidity with which these movements +came to be carried out at the notes of Edmund's bugle seemed to all to +be little less than miraculous, and they awaited with confidence and +eagerness their meeting with the Danes on the field. + +At the end of April messengers were sent out bidding the Saxons hold +themselves in readiness, and on the 6th of May Alfred moved with his +force from Athelney to Egbertesstan (now called Brixton), lying to the +east of the forest of Selwood, which lay between Devonshire and +Somerset. The Golden Dragon had been unfurled. On the fort in +Athelney, and after crossing the marshes to the mainland it was carried +in the centre of the phalanx. + +On the 12th they reached the appointed place, where they found a great +multitude of Saxons already gathered. They had poured in from +Devonshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, from Dorset and Hants. In spite of +the vigorous edicts of the Danes against arms a great proportion of +them bore weapons, which had been buried in the earth, or concealed in +hollow trees or other hiding-places until the time for action should +again arrive. + +As they saw the king approaching at the head of his band, with the +Golden Dragon fluttering in the breeze, a great shout of joy arose from +the multitude, and they crowded round the monarch with shouts of +welcome at his reappearance among them, and with vows to die rather +than again to yield to the tyranny of the Northmen. The rest of the day +was spent in distributing the newly fashioned arms to those who needed +them, and in arranging the men in bands under their own thanes, or, in +their absence, such leaders as the king appointed. + +Upon the following morning the army started, marching in a +north-easterly direction against the great camp of the Danes at +Chippenham. That night they rested at Okeley, and then marched on until +in the afternoon they came within sight of the Danes gathered at +Ethandune, a place supposed to be identical with Edington near Westbury. + +As the time for Alfred's reappearance approached the agitation and +movement on the part of the people had attracted the attention of the +Danes, and the news of his summons to the Saxons to meet him at +Egbertesstan having come to their ears, they gathered hastily from all +parts under Guthorn their king, who was by far the most powerful viking +who had yet appeared in England, and who ruled East Anglia as well as +Wessex. Confident of victory the great Danish army beheld the approach +of the Saxons. Long accustomed to success, and superior in numbers, +they regarded with something like contempt the approach of their foes. + +In the centre Alfred placed the trained phalanx which had accompanied +him from Athelney, in the centre of which waved the Golden Dragon, by +whose side he placed himself. Its command he left in the hands of +Edmund, he himself directing the general movements of the force. On his +right were the men of Somerset and Hants; on the left those of Wilts, +Dorset, and Devon. + +His orders were that the advance was to be made with regularity; that +the whole line were to fight for a while on the defensive, resisting +the onslaught of the Danes until he gave the word for the central +phalanx to advance and burst through the lines of the enemy, and that +when these had been thrown into confusion by this attack the flanks +were to charge forward and complete the rout. This plan was carried +out. The Danes advanced with their usual impetuosity, and for hours +tried to break through the lines of the Saxon spears. Both sides fought +valiantly, the Danes inspired by their pride in their personal prowess +and their contempt for the Saxons; the Saxons by their hatred for their +oppressors, and their determination to die rather than again submit to +their bondage. At length, after the battle had raged some hours, and +both parties were becoming wearied from their exertions, the king gave +Edmund the order. + +Hitherto his men had fought in line with the rest; but at the sound of +his bugle they quitted their places, and, ere the Danes could +understand the meaning of this sudden movement, had formed themselves +into their wedge, raised a mighty shout, and advanced against the +enemy. The onslaught was irresistible. The great wedge, with its thick +fringe of spears, burst its way straight through the Danish centre +carrying all before it. Then at another note of Edmund's bugle it broke +up into two bodies, which moved solidly to the right and left, +crumpling up the Danish lines. + +Alfred now gave the order for a general advance, and the Saxon ranks, +with a shout of triumph, flung themselves upon the disordered Danes. +Their success was instant and complete. Confounded at the sudden break +up of their line, bewildered by these new and formidable tactics, +attacked in front and in flank, the Danes broke and fled. The Saxons +pursued them hotly, Edmund keeping his men well together in case the +Danes should rally. Their rout, however, was too complete; vast numbers +were slain, and the remnant of their army did not pause until they +found themselves within the shelter of their camp at Chippenham. + +No quarter was given by the Saxons to those who fell into their hands, +and pressing upon the heels of the flying Danes the victorious army of +King Alfred sat down before Chippenham. Every hour brought fresh +reinforcements to the king's standard. Many were already on their way +when the battle was fought; and as the news of the victory spread +rapidly every man of the West Saxons capable of bearing arms made for +Chippenham, feeling that now or never must a complete victory over the +Danes be obtained. + +No assault was made upon the Danish camp. Confident in his now vastly +superior numbers, and in the enthusiasm which reigned in his army, +Alfred was unwilling to waste a single life in an attack upon the +entrenchments, which must ere long surrender from famine. There was no +risk of reinforcements arriving to relieve the Danes. Guthorn had led +to the battle the whole fighting force of the Danes in Wessex and East +Anglia. This was far smaller than it would have been a year earlier; +but the Northmen, having once completed their work of pillage, soon +turned to fresh fields of adventure. Those whose disposition led them +to prefer a quiet life had settled upon the land from which they had +dispossessed the Saxons; but the principal bands of rovers, finding +that England was exhausted and that no more plunder could be had, had +either gone back to enjoy at home the booty they had gained, or had +sailed to harry the shores of France, Spain, and Italy. + +Thus the position of the Danes in Chippenham was desperate, and at the +end of fourteen days, by which time they were reduced to an extremity +by hunger, they sent messengers into the royal camp offering their +submission. They promised if spared to quit the kingdom with all speed, +and to observe this contract more faithfully than those which they had +hitherto made and broken. They offered the king as many hostages as he +might wish to take for the fulfilment of their promises. The haggard +and emaciated condition of those who came out to treat moved Alfred to +pity. + +So weakened were they by famine that they could scarce drag themselves +along. It would have been easy for the Saxons to have slain them to the +last man; and the majority of the Saxons, smarting under the memory of +the cruel oppression which they had suffered, the destruction of home +and property, and the slaughter of friends and relations, would fain +have exterminated their foes. King Alfred, however, thought otherwise. + +Guthorn and the Danes had effected a firm settlement in East Anglia, +and lived at amity with the Saxons there. They had, it is true, wrested +from them the greatest portion of their lands. Still peace and order +were now established. The Saxons were allowed liberty and equal rights. +Intermarriages were taking place, and the two peoples were becoming +welded into one. Alfred then considered that it would be well to have +the king of this country as an ally; he and his settled people would +soon be as hostile to further incursions of the Northmen as were the +Saxons themselves, and their interests and those of Wessex would be +identical. + +Did he, on the other hand, carry out a general massacre of the Danes +now in his power he might have brought upon England a fresh invasion of +Northmen, who, next to plunder, loved revenge, and who might come over +in great hosts to avenge the slaughter of their countrymen. Moved, +then, by motives of policy as well as by compassion, he granted the +terms they asked, and hostages having been sent in from the camp he +ordered provisions to be supplied to the Danes. + +The same night a messenger of rank came in from Guthorn saying that he +intended to embrace Christianity. The news filled Alfred and the Saxons +with joy. The king, a sincere and devoted Christian, had fought as much +for his religion as for his kingdom, and his joy at the prospect of +Guthorn's conversion, which would as a matter of course be followed by +that of his subjects, was deep and sincere. + +To the Saxons generally the temporal consequence of the conversion had +no doubt greater weight than the spiritual. The conversion of Guthorn +and the Danes would be a pledge far more binding than any oaths of +alliance between the two kingdoms. Guthorn and his followers would be +viewed with hostility by their countrymen, whose hatred of Christianity +was intense, and East Anglia would, therefore, naturally seek the close +alliance and assistance of its Christian neighbour. + +Great were the rejoicings in the Saxon camp that night. Seldom, indeed, +has a victory had so great and decisive an effect upon the future of a +nation as that of Ethandune. Had the Saxons been crushed, the +domination of the Danes in England would have been finally settled. +Christianity would have been stamped out, and with it civilization, and +the island would have made a backward step into paganism and barbarism +which might have delayed her progress for centuries. + +The victory established the freedom of Wessex, converted East Anglia +into a settled and Christian country, and enabled King Alfred to frame +the wise laws and statutes and to establish on a firm basis the +institutions which raised Saxon England vastly in the scale of +civilization, and have in no small degree affected the whole course of +life of the English people. + + + + +CHAPTER XII: FOUR YEARS OF PEACE + + +Seven weeks afterwards Guthorn, accompanied by thirty of his noblest +warriors, entered Alfred's camp, which was pitched at Aller, a place +not far from Athelney. An altar was erected and a solemn service +performed, and Guthorn and his companions were all baptized, Alfred +himself becoming sponsor for Guthorn, whose name was changed to +Athelstan. The Danes remained for twelve days in the Saxon camp. For +the first eight they wore, in accordance with the custom of the times, +the chrismal, a white linen cloth put on the head when the rite of +baptism was performed; on the eighth day the solemn ceremony known as +the chrism, the loosing or removal of the cloths, took place at +Wedmore. This was performed by the Ealdorman Ethelnoth. + +During these twelve days many conferences were held between Alfred and +Athelstan as to the future of the two kingdoms. While the Danes were +still in the camp a witenagemot or Saxon parliament was held at +Wedmore. At this Athelstan and many of the nobles and inhabitants of +East Anglia were present, and the boundary of the two kingdoms was +settled. It was to commence at the mouth of the Thames, to run along +the river Lea to its source, and at Bedford turn to the right along the +Ouse as far as Watling Street. According to this arrangement a +considerable portion of the kingdom of Mercia fell to Alfred's share. + +The treaty comprehended various rules for the conduct of commerce, and +courts were instituted for the trial of disputes and crimes. The Danes +did not at once leave Mercia, but for a considerable time lay in camp +at Cirencester; but all who refused to become Christians were ordered +to depart beyond the seas, and the Danes gradually withdrew within +their boundary. + +Guthorn's conversion, although no doubt brought about at the moment by +his admiration of the clemency of Alfred, had probably been for some +time projected by him. Mingling as his people did in East Anglia with +the Christian Saxons there, he must have had opportunities for learning +the nature of their tenets, and of contrasting its mild and beneficent +teaching with the savage worship of the pagan gods. By far the greater +proportion of his people followed their king's example; but the wilder +spirits quitted the country, and under their renowned leader Hasting +sailed to harry the shores of France. The departure of the more +turbulent portion of his followers rendered it more easy for the Danish +king to carry his plans into effect. + +After the holding of the witan Edmund and Egbert at once left the army +with their followers, and for some months the young ealdorman devoted +himself to the work of restoring the shattered homes of his people, +aiding them with loans from the plunder he had gained on the seas, +Alfred having at once repaid him the sums which he had lent at +Athelney. As so many of his followers had also brought home money after +their voyage, the work of rebuilding and restoration went on rapidly, +and in a few months the marks left of the ravages by the Danes had been +well-nigh effaced. + +Flocks and herds again grazed in the pastures, herds of swine roamed in +the woods, the fields were cultivated, and the houses rebuilt. In no +part of Wessex was prosperity so speedily re-established as in the +district round Sherborne governed by Edmund. The Dragon was thoroughly +overhauled and repaired, for none could say how soon fresh fleets of +the Northmen might make their appearance upon the southern shores of +England. It was not long, indeed, before the Northmen reappeared, a +great fleet sailing up the Thames at the beginning of the winter. It +ascended as high as Fulham, where a great camp was formed. Seeing that +the Saxons and East Anglians would unite against them did they advance +further, the Danes remained quietly in their encampment during the +winter, and in the spring again took ship and sailed for France. + +For the next two years England enjoyed comparative quiet, the Danes +turning their attention to France and Holland, sailing up the Maas, +Scheldt, Somme, and Seine. Spreading from these rivers they carried +fire and sword over a great extent of country. The Franks resisted +bravely, and in two pitched battles defeated their invaders with great +loss. The struggle going on across the Channel was watched with great +interest by the Saxons, who at first hoped to see the Danes completely +crushed by the Franks. + +The ease, however, with which the Northmen moved from point to point in +their ships gave them such immense advantage that their defeats at +Hasle and Saucourt in no way checked their depredations. Appearing +suddenly off the coast, or penetrating into the interior by a river, +their hordes would land, ravage the country, slay all who opposed them, +and carry off the women and children captives, and would then take to +their ships again before the leaders of the Franks could assemble an +army. + +Alfred spent this time of repose in restoring as far as possible the +loss and damage which his kingdom had suffered. Many wise laws were +passed, churches were rebuilt, and order restored; great numbers of the +monks and wealthier people who had fled to France in the days of the +Danish supremacy now returned to England, which was for the time freer +from danger than the land in which they had sought refuge; and many +Franks from the districts exposed to the Danish ravages came over and +settled in England. + +Gradually the greater part of England acknowledged the rule of Alfred. +The kingdom of Kent was again united to that of Wessex; while Mercia, +which extended across the centre of England from Anglia to Wales, was +governed for Alfred by Ethelred the Ealdorman, who was the head of the +powerful family of the Hwiccas, and had received the hand of Alfred's +daughter Ethelfleda. He ruled Mercia according to its own laws and +customs, which differed materially from those of the West Saxons, and +which prevented a more perfect union of the two kingdoms until William +the Conqueror welded the whole country into a single whole. But +Ethelred acknowledged the supremacy of Alfred, consulted him upon all +occasions of importance, and issued all his edicts and orders in the +king's name. He was ably assisted by Werfrith, the Bishop of Worcester. +The energy and activity of these leaders enabled Mercia to keep abreast +of Wessex in the onward progress which Alfred laboured so indefatigably +to promote. + +Edmund, when not occupied with the affairs of his earldom, spent much +of his time with the king, who saw in him a spirit of intelligence and +activity which resembled his own. Edmund was, however, of a less +studious disposition than his royal master; and though he so far +improved his education as to be able to read and write well, Alfred +could not persuade him to undertake the study of Latin, being, as he +said, well content to master some of the learning of that people by +means of the king's translations. + +At the end of another two years of peace Edmund was again called upon +to take up arms. Although the Danes attempted no fresh invasion some of +their ships hung around the English coast, capturing vessels, +interfering with trade, and committing other acts of piracy. + +Great complaints were made by the inhabitants of the seaports to +Alfred. The king at once begged Edmund to fit out the Dragon, and +collecting a few other smaller ships he took his place on Edmund's ship +and sailed in search of the Danes. After some search they came upon the +four large ships of the Northmen which had been a scourge to the coast. + +The Saxons at once engaged them, and a desperate fight took place. The +Dragon was laid alongside the largest of the Danish vessels; and the +king, with Edmund and Egbert by his side, leapt on to the deck of the +Danish vessel, followed by the crew of the Dragon. The Danish ship was +crowded with men who fought desperately, but the discipline even more +than the courage of Edmund's crew secured for them the victory. For a +time each fought for himself; and although inspired by the presence of +the king they were able to gain no advantage, being much out-numbered +by the Northmen. + +Edmund, seeing this, sounded on his horn the signal with which in +battle he ordered the men to form their wedge. The signal was instantly +obeyed. The Saxons were all fighting with boarding-pikes against the +Northmen's swords and axes, for they had become used to these weapons +and preferred them to any other. + +The instant Edmund's horn was heard, each man desisted from fighting +and rushed to their leader, around whom they instantly formed in their +accustomed order. The Danes, astonished at the sudden cessation of the +battle, and understanding nothing of the meaning of the signal or of +the swift movement of the Saxons, for a minute lowered their weapons in +surprise. + +Before they again rushed forward the formation was complete, and in a +close body with levelled spears the Saxons advanced, Egbert as usual +leading the way, with Edmund and the king in the centre. + +In vain the Danes strove to resist the onset; in spite of their +superior numbers they were driven back step by step until crowded in a +close mass at one end. + +Still the Saxon line of spears pressed on. Many of the Danes leapt into +the sea, others were pushed over or run through, and in a few minutes +not a Northman remained alive in the captured vessel. + +In the meantime the battle was raging in other parts. Two of the small +vessels were engaged with one of the Danes at close quarters, while the +other ships hung around the remaining Danish vessels and kept up +volleys of arrows and javelins upon them. + +The Dragon at once went to the assistance of the two Saxon ships, whose +crews were almost overpowered by the Northmen. Laying the ship +alongside, Edmund boarded the Danes. The Northmen rushed back from the +decks of the Saxon ship to defend their own vessel; and the Saxons, +regaining courage, at once rallied and followed them. The combat was +short but desperate. Attacked on three sides, the Danes were speedily +overcome and were slaughtered to a man. + +An attack was next made upon the two remaining vessels. These resisted +for some time, but they were overwhelmed by the missiles from the Saxon +flotilla; and the greater portion of their crews being killed or +wounded, their commanders prayed for mercy, which was granted them by +Alfred; and with the four captured vessels the fleet returned to +England. + +On reaching port Alfred begged Edmund to continue for a while with the +Dragon, to cruise along the coasts and to stop the depredations of the +Danes; and for some weeks the Dragon kept the seas. She met with +considerable success, capturing many Danish galleys. Some of these +contained rich spoil, which had been gathered in France, for cruising +in the seas off Dover Edmund intercepted many of the Danish vessels on +their homeward way from raids up the Seine, Garonne, and other French +rivers. + +One day in the excitement of a long pursuit of a Danish galley, which +finally succeeded in making her escape, Edmund had paid less attention +than usual to the weather, and, on giving up the chase as hopeless, +perceived that the sky had become greatly overcast, while the wind was +rising rapidly. + +"We are in for a storm from the north, Egbert," he said, "and we must +make for the mouth of the Thames for shelter." + +The sails were lowered, and the Dragon's head turned west. Before two +hours had passed the sea had risen so greatly that it was no longer +possible to row. + +"What had we best do?" Edmund asked the chief of the sailors. "Think +you that we can make Dover and shelter under the cliffs there?" + +"I fear that we cannot do so," the sailor replied, "for there are +terrible sands and shallows off the Kentish coast between the mouth of +the Thames and Dover, and the wind blows so strongly that we can do +nought but run before it." + +"Then let us do so," Edmund replied; "anything is better than being +tossed at the mercy of the waves." + +A sail was hoisted, and the Dragon flew along before the wind. The +storm increased in fury, and for some hours the vessel ran before it. +She was but a short distance from the French coast, and as the wind +veered round more to the west her danger became great. + +"I fear we shall be cast ashore," Edmund said to the sailor. + +"Fortunately," the man answered, "we are but a mile or two from the +mouth of the Seine, and there we can run in and take shelter." + +It was an anxious time until they reached the mouth of the river, for +they were continually drifting nearer and nearer to the coast. However, +they cleared the point in safety, and, turning her head, ran up the +river and soon anchored under the walls of Havre. As she came to an +anchor armed men were seen crowding the walls. + +"They take us for Danes," Egbert said. "We had best hoist the Dragon, +and they will then know that we are a Saxon ship." + +Soon after the flag was hoisted the gates of the town were seen to +open, and an officer and some men issued out. These launched a boat and +rowed out to the ship. The officer mounted to the deck. He was +evidently in considerable fear, but as he saw the Saxons standing about +unarmed he was reassured. "Is this really a Saxon ship," he asked, "as +its flag testifies?" + +"It is so," Edmund replied; "it is my vessel, and I am an ealdorman of +King Alfred. We have been chasing the Danish pirates, but this storm +having arisen, we were blown down the French coast and forced to seek +shelter here." + +"The governor bids you welcome," the officer said, "and bade me invite +you to land." + +"That will I gladly; the more so since my ship has suffered some damage +in the gale, her bulwarks having been partly shattered; and it will +need a stay of a few days here to repair her for sea. Will you tell the +governor that in a short time I will land with my kinsman Egbert and +accept his hospitality?" + +An hour later Edmund and Egbert landed and were at once conducted to +the governor, who welcomed them cordially. + +They found there many whom they had known at the court of King Alfred. +The wealthier men, the bishops and thanes, had for the most part +journeyed to Paris or to other towns in the interior to escape the +dreaded Northmen; but there were many detained at Havre from want of +funds to journey farther. + +"It is a sad pity," the governor said as they talked over the troubled +state of Western Europe, "that your English king and our Frankish +monarch did not make common cause against these sea robbers. They are +the enemies of mankind. Not only do they ravage all our coasts, but +they have entered the Mediterranean, and have plundered and ravaged the +coasts of Provence and Italy, laying towns under ransom, burning and +destroying." + +"I would that I could meet some of their ships on their way back from +Italy," Edmund said. "I warrant that we should obtain a rare booty, +with gems of art such as would delight King Alfred, but are thrown away +on these barbarians; but I agree with you that 'tis shameful that the +coasts of all Europe should be overrun with these pirates." + +"Yes," the governor replied, "if every country in Christendom would +unite against their common foe, and send a quota of ships and men, we +would drive the Black Raven from the seas, and might even land on the +Danish shores and give them a taste of the suffering they have +inflicted elsewhere. As it is, all seem paralysed. Local efforts are +made to resist them; but their numbers are too great to be thus +withstood. I wonder that the pope does not call Christendom to arms +against these pagan robbers, who not only destroy towns and villages, +but level to the ground the holy shrines, and slay the ministers of God +on the altars." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII: THE SIEGE OF PARIS + + +On the following morning Edmund, who had returned to his ship to sleep, +was aroused by loud shouts on deck. Hurrying from his cabin he saw a +vast fleet of ships approaching the mouth of the river. They were of +all sizes--from great sailing ships to rowing galleys. It needed but a +glance at them to assure him that they were the dreaded ships of the +Northmen, for the Black Raven floated at many of the mast-heads. + +From the town the sounds of horns and great shoutings could be heard, +showing that there too the approaching fleet had just been discerned as +the morning fog lifted from the sea. Edmund held a hurried consultation +with his kinsman. It was now too late to gain the sea, for the Danish +ships had already reached the mouth of the river. To attempt to escape +by fighting would be madness, and they hesitated only whether to run +the ship ashore, and, leaving her there, enter the town and share in +its defence, or to proceed up the river with all speed to Rouen, or +even to Paris. + +The latter course was decided upon, for the Danish ships would contain +so vast a number of men that there was little hope that Havre could +resist their attack, nor was it likely that Rouen, which, on the +previous year had been captured and sacked, would even attempt another +resistance, which would only bring massacre and ruin upon its +inhabitants. Paris alone, the capital of the Frankish kings, seemed to +offer a refuge. The deliberation was a short one, and by the time the +men had taken their places at the oars their leaders had decided upon +their course. + +The anchor ropes were cut, for not a moment was to be lost, the leading +ships of the Danes being already less than half a mile distant. The +tide was flowing, and the Dragon swept rapidly up the river. Some of +the Danish galleys followed for a while, but seeing that the Dragon had +the speed of them, they abandoned the pursuit, and at a more easy +stroke the rowers continued their work until they reached Rouen. Here +the tide failed them, and they moored against the bank under the walls. + +Edmund and Egbert went on shore. They found the city in a state of wild +confusion. Saying that they had important news, and must see the +governor, they were led to the council-chamber, where the leading men +of the town were assembled. After stating who he and his companion +were, Edmund announced the arrival of a great Danish fleet at the mouth +of the river. + +"Your news, sir, is terrible for our poor country," the governor said, +"but to us it scarce brings any additional horror, although it will +probably decide the question which we are engaged in discussing. We +have news here that a great Danish army which landed at Abbeville is +marching hitherward, and we are met to discuss whether the town should +resist to the last or should open its gates at their approach. This +news you bring of the arrival of a fresh army of these sea robbers at +Havre renders our case desperate. So fierce is their attack that we +could hardly hope successfully to resist the approaching army, but +against it and this fleet you tell us of resistance could only bring +about our utter destruction. That, at least, is my opinion, the other +members of the council must speak for themselves." + +The other members, who were the principal merchants and traders of the +town, were unanimously of the same opinion. + +"Better," they said, "to give up all our worldly goods to the Northmen +than to be slaughtered pitilessly with our wives and families." + +"Such being your decision," Edmund said, "my kinsman and myself will +proceed up the river to Paris; hitherto, as we hear, the Northmen have +not ventured to attack that city, and should they do so, it will +doubtless resist to the last." + +Accordingly the two Saxons returned at once to the Dragon, and as soon +as the tide turned unmoored and proceeded up the river. Three days +after leaving Rouen they arrived in sight of Paris. The capital of the +Franks was but a small city, and was built entirely upon the island +situated just at the confluence of the Seine and Marne. It was +surrounded by a strong and lofty wall. + +On the approach of a vessel differing entirely from anything they had +before seen the citizens flocked to the walls. The Golden Dragon +floating at the mast-head showed them that the vessel did not belong to +the Danes, and some of the more experienced in these matters said at +once that she must be a Saxon ship. The Count Eudes, who had been left +by the king in command of Paris, himself came to the walls just as the +Dragon came abreast of them. Edmund ordered the rowers to pause at +their work. + +"Who are you?" the Count Eudes shouted. "Whence do you come and with +what intent?" + +"My name is Edmund. I am an ealdorman of King Alfred of the Saxons. +When at sea fighting the Northmen a tempest blew me down your coast, +and I took refuge in the port of Havre. Four days since at daybreak a +vast fleet of Northmen entered the river. We rowed up to Rouen hoping +to be able to find safe shelter there; but the citizens being aware +that a great army of the sea robbers was marching against their town, +and being further intimidated by the news I brought them, decided upon +surrendering without resistance. Therefore we have continued our +journey hither, being assured that here at least the Danish wolves +would not have their way unopposed. We have fought them long in our +native land, and wish for nothing better than to aid in the efforts of +the Franks against our common enemy." + +"You are welcome, sir earl," the Count Eudes said, "though the news you +bring us is bad indeed. We have heard how valiantly the thanes of King +Alfred have fought against the invaders, and shall be glad indeed of +your assistance should the Northmen, as I fear, come hither." + +So saying the count ordered the gates to be opened, and the Dragon +having been moored alongside, Edmund and Egbert with their crew entered +the town, where the leaders were received with great honour by the +count. He begged them to become guests at the castle, where quarters +were also assigned to the crew. A banquet was at once prepared, at +which many of the principal citizens were present. + +As soon as the demands of hunger were satisfied the count made further +inquiries as to the size of the fleet which had entered the Seine, and +as to the army reported to be marching against Rouen. + +"I doubt not," he said, when the Saxons had given him all the +particulars in their power, "that it is the armament of Siegfroi who +has already wrought such destruction. More than once he has appeared +before our walls, and has pillaged and ravaged the whole of the north +of France. The last time he was here he threatened to return with a +force which would suffice to raze Paris to the ground, and doubtless he +is coming to endeavour to carry out his threat; but he will not find +the task an easy one, we shall resist him to the last; and right glad +am I that I shall have the assistance of two of the Saxon thanes who +have so often inflicted heavy defeats upon these wolves of the sea. +Your vessel is a strange one, and differs from those that I have +hitherto seen, either Dane or Saxon. She is a sailing ship, and yet +appears to row very fast." + +"She is built," Edmund said, "partly upon the design of King Alfred +himself, which were made from paintings he possessed of the war galleys +of Italy, which country he visited in his youth. They were carried out +by a clever shipwright of Exeter; and, indeed, the ship sails as well +as she rows, and, as the Danes have discovered to their cost, is able +to fight as well as she can sail and row. Had we been fairly out to sea +before the Danish fleet made its appearance we could have given a good +account of ourselves, but we were caught in a trap." + +"I fear that if the Northmen surround the city your ship will be +destroyed." + +"I was thinking of that," Edmund said, "and I pray you to let me have +some men who know the river higher up. There must assuredly be low +shores often overflowed where there are wide swamps covered with wood +and thickets, which the enemy would not enter, seeing that no booty +could be obtained there. The ship was built in such a spot, and we +could cut a narrow gap from the river and float her well in among the +trees so as to be hidden from the sight of any passing up the river in +galleys, closing up the cut again so that none might suspect its +existence." + +"That could be done easily enough," the count said; "there are plenty +of spots which would be suitable, for the banks are for the most part +low and the ground around swampy and wooded. To-morrow I will tell off +a strong body of men to accompany you in your ship, and aid your crew +in their work." + +Twenty miles up the Seine a suitable spot was found, and the crew of +the Dragon, with the hundred men whom the Count Eudes had lent for the +purpose, at once set about their work. They had but little trouble, for +a spot was chosen where a sluggish stream, some fifteen feet wide, +drained the water from a wide-spreading swamp into the river. The +channel needed widening but a little to allow of the Dragon entering, +and the water was quite deep enough to permit her being taken some +three hundred yards back from the river. + +The trees and underwood were thick, and Edmund was assured that even +when winter, which was now approaching, stripped the last leaf from the +trees, the Dragon could not be seen from the river. Her masts were +lowered, and bundles of brushwood were hung along her side so as to +prevent the gleam of black paint being discerned through the trees. + +The entrance to the stream was filled up to a width of three or four +feet, and the new work turfed with coarse grass similar to that which +grew beside it. Bushes were planted close to the water's edge, and +stakes were driven down in the narrow channel to within a few inches of +the surface of the water. + +Certain now that no Danish boats would be likely to turn aside from the +river to enter this channel into the swamp, the party embarked in some +boats which had been towed up by the Dragon and returned down the river +to Paris. + +The afternoon before starting all the valuable booty which had been +captured from the Danes was landed and placed in security in the +castle, and upon his return to Paris Edmund disposed of this at good +prices to the traders of the city. + +A fortnight after they had returned to Paris the news was brought in +that a vast fleet of Northmen was ascending the river. The next morning +it was close at hand, and the citizens mounting the walls beheld with +consternation the approaching armament. So numerous were the ships that +they completely covered the river. The fleet consisted of seven hundred +sailing ships, and a vastly greater number of rowing galleys and boats. +These vessels were crowded with men, and their fierce aspect, their +glittering arms, and their lofty stature, spread terror in the hearts +of the citizens. + +"This is truly a tremendous host!" the Count Eudes said to Edmund, who +stood beside him on the walls. + +"It is indeed," Edmund replied. "Numerous as are the fleets which have +poured down upon the shores of England, methinks that none approached +this in strength. It is clear that the Northmen have united their +forces for a great effort against this city; but having at home +successfully defended fortifications, which were not to be named in +comparison with those of Paris, against them, I see no reason to doubt +that we shall be able to beat them off here." + +The Danes landed on the opposite bank and formed a vast camp there, and +the following morning three of their number in a small boat rowed +across the river and said that their king Siegfroi desired to speak +with Goslin, archbishop of Paris, who stood in the position of civil +governor. They were told that the archbishop would receive the king in +his palace. + +An hour later a stately figure in glittering armour was seen to take +his place in a long galley, which, rowed by twenty men, quickly shot +across the stream. Siegfroi landed, and, accompanied by four of his +leading warriors, entered the gates, which were opened at his approach. +The chief of the Northmen was a warrior of lofty stature. On his head +he wore a helmet of gold, on whose crest was a raven with extended +wings wrought in the same metal. His hair fell loosely on his neck; his +face was clean shaved in Danish fashion, save for a long moustache. He +wore a breastplate of golden scales, and carried a shield of the +toughest bull's-hide studded with gold nails. + +He was unarmed, save a long dagger which he wore in his belt. He and +his followers, who were all men of immense stature, walked with a proud +and assured air between the lines of citizens who clustered thickly on +each side of the street, and who gazed in silence at these dreaded +figures. They were escorted by the chamberlain of the archbishop, and +on arriving at his palace were conducted into the chamber where Goslin, +Count Eudes, and several of the leading persons of Paris awaited them. + +Siegfroi bent his head before the prelate. + +"Goslin," he said, "I beg you to have compassion upon yourself and your +flock if you do not wish to perish. We beseech you to turn a favourable +ear to our words. Grant only that we shall march through the city. We +will touch nothing in the town, and we undertake to preserve all your +property, both yours and that of Eudes." + +The archbishop replied at once: + +"This city has been confided to us by the Emperor Charles, who is, +after God, the king and master of the powers of the earth. Holding +under his rule almost all the world, he confided it to us, with the +assurance that we should suffer no harm to come to the kingdom, but +should keep it for him safe and sure. If it had happened that the +defence of these walls had been committed to your hands, as it has been +committed to mine, what would you have done had such a demand been made +upon you? Would you have granted the demand?" + +"If I had granted it," Siegfroi replied, "may my head fall under the +axe and serve as food for dogs. Nevertheless, if you do not grant our +demands, by day we will overwhelm your city with our darts, and with +poisoned arrows by night. You shall suffer all the horrors of hunger, +and year after year we will return and make a ruin of your city." + +Without another word he turned, and followed by his companions, strode +through the streets of Paris, and taking his place in the boat returned +to his camp. + +At daybreak the next morning the Norsemen were seen crowding into their +ships. The trumpets sounded loudly, and the citizens seized their arms +and hastened to the walls. The Norsemen crossed the river, and directed +their attack against a tower which stood at the head of the bridge +connecting the city and island with the farther bank. Those who landed +were provided with picks, crowbars, and other implements for effecting +a breach, and their approach was protected by a cloud of arrows and +javelins from the fleet which covered the surface of the river. + +The French leaders soon assembled at the threatened point. Chief among +these were Eudes, his brother Robert, the Count Ragenaire, and the Abbe +Ebble, a nephew of the archbishop. The Franks bore themselves bravely, +and in spite of the rain of arrows defended the walls against the +desperate attacks of the Northmen. + +The fortifications in those days were very far from having attained the +strength and solidity which a few generations later were bestowed upon +them. The stones of which they were constructed were comparatively +small, and fastened together by mortar, consequently they could ill +resist even an assault by manual weapons. Covered by their shields the +Northmen worked untiringly at the foundations, and piece by piece the +walls crumbled to the ground. Every effort, however, to enter at the +breaches so made was repulsed, and Siegfroi kept back his warriors, +determined to delay the grand assault until the next day. By nightfall +the tower was in ruins, scarce a portion of the walls remaining erect. +Many of the besieged had been killed. The archbishop was wounded with +an arrow. Frederic, a young soldier who led the troops of the church +was killed. + +The besiegers had suffered much more severely, great numbers having +been killed by the stones and missiles hurled down by the defenders +while engaged in the demolition of the walls. At nightfall the Danes +carried off their wounded and recrossed the river, confident that next +day they would succeed in their assault. As soon as darkness had set in +Count Eudes collected the citizens, and these, bearing beams and +planks, crossed the bridge to the tower, and set to work. Outside the +circle of ruins holes were dug and the beams securely fixed. Planks +were nailed to these, and earth heaped up behind them. + +All night the work continued, and by morning a fortification much +higher than the original tower had been erected all round the ruin. The +Danes again crossed the river in their ships, and the assault was +renewed. Javelins and great stones were hurled at the fortification, +and clouds of arrows from the shipping fell within them. Covered with +portable roofs constructed of planks the Danes strove to destroy the +wall. The besieged poured upon them a blazing mixture of oil, wax, and +pitch. Numbers of the Danes were burned to death, while others, +maddened by the pain, threw themselves into the river. + +Over and over again Siegfroi led his warriors to the attack, but the +defenders, headed by Eudes and the brave Abbe Ebble, each time repelled +them. The abbe particularly distinguished himself, and he is reported +to have slain seven Danes at once with one javelin, a blow which may be +considered as bordering on the miraculous. But the number of the +defenders of the tower was small indeed to that of the enemy, and the +loss which they inflicted upon the Danes, great as it was, was as +nothing in so vast a host. + +The flames of the machines, lighted by the pitch and oil, communicated +to the planks of the fortification, and soon these too were on fire. As +they burned, the earth behind them gave way, and a breach was formed. +Encouraged by this result the Danes brought up faggots, and in several +places lighted great fires against the fortifications. The defenders +began to lose all hope, when a tremendous storm of rain suddenly burst +over Paris quenching the fire. + +The besieged gained heart, reinforcements crossed from the town, and +the Danes again withdrew to their ships, having lost in the day's +fighting three hundred men. After this repulse the Northmen desisted +for a time from their attack. They formed a strong fortified camp near +the church of St. Germain, and then spread over the country slaying and +burning, sparing none, man, woman, or child. From the walls of Paris +the smoke could be seen rising over the whole country, and every heart +was moved with rage and sorrow. + +Edmund and his party had taken no part in the defence of the tower. Its +loss would not have involved that of the town, and Eudes requested him +to keep his band in reserve in order that they might remain intact +until the Danes should make a breach in the walls of the city itself, +when the sudden reinforcement of a party of such well-trained warriors +might decide the result. + +While a portion of the Danish host were engaged upon the work of +devastation, a large number were employed upon the construction of +three great towers. These were built on wheels, and were each large +enough to hold sixty men. They far overtopped the walls, and the +citizens viewed with alarm the time when an assault should be delivered +under the protection of these formidable machines. Eighteen ships of +equal size were moored by the bank six deep. Great planks were laid +across them, and a sloping platform having been formed, the towers were +by the efforts of thousands of men moved up and placed on the ships. + +"If we do not destroy those towers, Egbert," Edmund said one day as he +saw them slowly moving into their position on board the ships, "all is +lost, for from their summits the Northmen with their bows and javelins +will be able to clear the walls, while those below effect a breach at +their leisure." + +"That is true enough, Edmund, but I do not see any way to destroy them. +Unfortunately we have no boats, or we might fill some of them with +combustibles, and tow them down until near enough for the stream to +carry them upon those vessels; but even then the chance were small +indeed, for the Danes would swarm out in their boats and manage to tow +or push them so that they would not touch the ships." + +"I should think, Egbert, that if we could get some skins or planks we +and our band might, when it is quite dark, sally out and take to the +water at the lower end of the island and float down quietly for a mile +or two, and then gain the further bank; then we might march along +quietly until we reach those ships. The Danes know that we have no +boats, and will not fear an attack. We must not do it until an hour or +two before morning, when, after spending the early hours of the night +as usual in feasting and drinking, they will sleep heavily. Just before +we are ready to begin a small party can unmoor two or three of the +boats by the bank and push them out, one to the outside of each tier of +six vessels, so that we may have a means of retreat across the river. +When that is done we will make a rush on board the ships, cut down any +Danes we may find there, and set fire to all the vessels. We must hold +the gangways to the shore until the flames get well alight, and then +take to the boats and return." + +"I think the plan is a good one, Edmund, and may well be carried out +without great loss. There are plenty of empty wine skins at present in +Paris. I will at once set about collecting a hundred of them. We will +fasten to each a stout cord so as to form a loop to go over the head +and shoulders, then we had best attach them all together by one long +cord, by which means we shall float in a body." + +"Fortunately the night is very dark and I think that we shall succeed. +Say nothing about it, Egbert, and tell the men to keep silent. The good +people of Paris shall know nothing of the matter until they see the +flames dancing round the towers which they hold in so much dread." + +The Saxons received with satisfaction the news of the intended +expedition. They had been disappointed at being kept back from taking +any part in the fighting during the two days' attack upon the tower, +and longed for an opportunity to inflict a blow upon their hated enemy +the Danes. The wine skins were fitted up with ropes as Egbert had +suggested, and soon after nightfall the party, armed with spear and +sword, and carrying each his float, sallied out from the gates, as +Edmund was by this time so well known among the citizens that the gate +was opened without demur on his order. + +They crept along the foot of the wall until they reached the lower +extremity of the island. Across the river innumerable fires blazed +high, and the songs and shouts of the Danes rose loud in the air. +Numbers of figures could be seen moving about or standing near the +fires, the tents of the chiefs were visible some distance back, but the +number of these as well as of the fires was much less than it had been +on the first arrival of the Northmen, owing to the numbers who had gone +to the camp round St. Germain. + +The night was very dark and a light rain was falling. Before taking to +the water Edmund bade his men strip off the greater portion of their +clothes and fasten them in a bundle on their heads, as it would be some +time after they landed before they could advance upon the camp, and the +cold and dripping garments would tend to lessen their spirits and +courage. + +When all was ready they stepped into the water, and keeping in a body, +drifted down the stream. The wine skins floated them well above the +water, the stream was running strong, and the lights of the Danish +fires were soon left behind. + +In half an hour Edmund and Egbert deemed that they were now far beyond +a point where they might chance upon any Danish stragglers. The word +was therefore given, and all made for the bank. The stream had already +drifted them in that direction, and they soon reached the shore. Here +the skins which had proved so useful were left behind, and putting on +their dry clothes, they felt comparatively comfortable. Edmund ordered +them to lay down their spears and swords by their sides, and to swing +their arms violently. This they continued to do until they were nearly +breathless, by which time the blood was coursing warmly in their veins. + +They were now in December, and the water was extremely cold, and Egbert +congratulated Edmund upon having made the men strip, for had they been +compelled to remain in their wet garments while waiting for the Danish +fires to die down, they would scarce have been in a fit state to fight +when the moment for so doing had arrived. + +Three hours elapsed before the glare of the distant fires began to +subside, another half hour passed, and then the band were formed up and +moved along on the bank of the river. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV: THE REPULSE OF THE NORSEMEN + + +When within half a mile of the Danish camp Edmund and Egbert left the +band and advanced alone. They were pretty confident that they should +find but few of the Danes near the bank of the river, for the arrows +from the walls of Paris carried some distance beyond it, and the +Northmen consequently encamped some hundred yards away. They had to +pick their way carefully, for the ships were moored along the bank, +their ropes being fastened to great stakes driven into the ground. + +There were lights on board the vessels, many of the crews remaining on +board. They made their way along until they reached the spot they aimed +at. Here lay the three sets of vessels, each six deep; their masts had +been removed, and the great towers rose high into the darkness above +the platforms extending over their decks. + +The planks forming the gangways up which the towers had been moved had +been taken away, save one which gave access to each tier, and Edmund +doubted not that it was intended that they should the next morning move +across the river in tow of the numerous row-boats. The two Saxons did +not attempt to go on board, as they had now found out all they wanted, +and might mar all by disturbing some sleeper upon the platform. They +accordingly returned to the spot where the band were awaiting them. + +"I propose, Egbert," Edmund said, "that as we go along we cut the +mooring-ropes of all the vessels. We must do it quietly so as not to +excite any alarm, and they will know nothing of it until they find +themselves drifting down the river in a mass. Then there will be great +jostling and carrying away of bowsprits and bulwarks, and the confusion +and shouting which will arise will tend to confuse the Danes and to +distract their attention from us." + +Egbert agreed to the proposal, and as soon as they reached the first +ships the Saxons began their work, sawing with their knives and daggers +through the ropes. The vessels lay four or five deep and there were +many cables to cut, but the keen knives of the Saxons made short work +of these. Before beginning their work they had spread along the bank, +leaving only two men abreast of each ship, so that in the course of two +or three minutes the cables for the length of forty ships were severed, +and these and their consorts beyond them began to drift out into the +stream. + +The Saxons ran quickly on ahead and repeated the work until the whole +of the vessels below those forming the platform for the towers were +adrift in the stream; but by this time those in the ships at the lower +end of the tiers had taken the alarm, and shouts of wonder and anger +rose on the air. The nine Saxons told off for the purpose leaped into +three small boats and rowed out into the stream, while the rest of the +band, divided into three parties, dashed across the planks on to the +platforms. The Danes here had already been alarmed by the uproar from +the vessels adrift, and although unable to see what was passing judged +that something was wrong, and had called to their comrades sleeping in +the holds to come up. + +Some of these bearing torches came up on deck just as the Saxons, +pouring across the planks which connected the ships with the shore, +fell upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, the Danes could offer no +effective resistance. The Saxons, charging with levelled spears, drove +those above headlong into the water; then, having made themselves +masters of the platforms, they dashed below and despatched the Danes +they found there. The torches were now applied to the contents of the +holds. These were for the most part crammed with the booty which the +Norsemen had gained at Havre, Rouen, and other places, and the flames +speedily shot up. By this time the Danes in the camp, alarmed by the +shouting from the drifting ships and the sounds of conflict from the +towers, came flocking down in haste. The planks had already been thrown +overboard. The Danes strove by pulling at the ropes to haul the vessels +nearer to land. Some ran towards their ships, others jumped into boats, +and pushing out to the platforms strove to get on board them; but by +this time the flames were rising high through the hatchways. According +to previous agreement Edmund and the leaders of the other two parties, +seeing that the flames had now firm hold, cut the ropes which fastened +them to the bank, and as soon as the stream began to swing them out +leaped into the boats and rowed for the opposite shore. + +The uproar was now tremendous; and shouts of rage rose from the +Northmen, who were amazed and puzzled by the appearance of the Saxons, +whose attire differed but slightly from their own; and the general +belief among them was that this sudden alarm was the result of +treachery among themselves. There was no time to waste in conjecture; +the three groups of ships were now masses of flame, in the midst of +which the lofty towers rose high. The shouts of the sailors in the +vessels crowded together in helpless confusion in the stream below rose +higher and higher as the blazing vessels drifted down and threatened to +overtake them. + +Some tried to hoist their sails; others got out long oars and strove to +sweep their vessels towards the shore, but they were huddled too +closely in the stream; the yards and rigging of many having become +interlocked with each other. The Northmen leaped into the rowing boats +by the bank above where the tower-ships had been moored, and rowing +down endeavoured to tow them to the bank; but they were now in a blaze +from end to end, the heat was so great that it was difficult to +approach them, and all endeavours to fasten ropes to them were +frustrated, as these were instantly consumed. The Northmen, finding +their efforts unavailing, then turned their attention to trying to tow +the ships below to the banks. + +In some cases they were successful. A few of the vessels also at the +lower end of the mass succeeded in getting up their sails and drawing +out from their fellows, for the wind was blowing down stream. This, +however, proved the destruction of the rest of the ships, for the great +towers rising amid the lofty pillars of flames acted as sails and bore +the fire-ships down upon the helpless crowd of vessels. + +Soon they reached those nearest to them, and the flames, borne forward +by the wind, sprang from vessel to vessel. There was no longer any hope +of saving a single ship; and the crews, climbing hastily across from +one to the other till they reached those nearest to the shore, leaped +overboard. Although now more than half a mile below the city the flames +lit up the walls with a bright glare, and the shouts of the exulting +Franks rose loud and continuous. + +The sudden shouting which had broken out among the Danes had alarmed +the watchmen, who, ignorant of the cause, called the citizens to arms, +and these on reaching the walls had stood astonished at the spectacle. +The flames were already rising from the three groups of ships which +they had regarded with so much anxiety on the previous evening, and by +the light they could see the river below covered with a mass of +drifting vessels. Then they saw the tower-ships float away from the +bank, and the figures on their decks leap into three small boats, which +at once rowed with all speed across the river. + +That they were friends who had wrought this destruction was certain, +and Count Eudes threw open the gate, and with the Abbe Ebble ran down +to meet them. They were astonished when Edmund with his Saxons leaped +to land. + +"What miracle is this?" the count exclaimed. + +"A simple matter, Sir Count," Edmund answered. "My kinsman and I, +seeing that the townspeople were troubled by yonder towers, determined +to destroy them. We have succeeded in doing so, and with them I trust +fully half of the Danish fleet will perish." + +"You are the saviour of our town, my brave young Saxon," Count Eudes +cried, embracing him. "If Paris is saved it will be thanks to the +valiant deed that you have accomplished this night. But let us to the +walls again, where we may the better see whether the Danes can remove +their ships from those great furnaces which are bearing down upon them." + +The sight from the walls, when the fire-ships reached the fleet and the +flames spread, was grand in the extreme, for in half an hour nigh three +hundred vessels were in flames. For some time the three towers rose +like pillars of fire above the burning mass; then one by one they fell +with a crash, which could be plainly heard, although they were now near +a mile away. + +Paris was wild with joy at the destruction of the towers which had +menaced it, and the conflagration of nigh half the Danish fleet, laden +with the spoil of northern France. Edmund and his Saxons were conducted +in triumph by a shouting crowd to the palace of the archbishop, where +Goslin, in the name of the city, returned them the heartiest thanks for +the services which they had rendered. The wealthy citizens vied with +each other in bestowing costly presents upon them, bonfires were +lighted in the streets, and till morning the town gave itself up to +revelry and rejoicing. + +A month elapsed before the Danes recovered from the blow which had been +dealt them and resumed the assault. Part of this time had been spent in +manufacturing great shields of bull's hide. These were strongly +constructed, and were each capable of covering six men. On the 29th of +January their preparations were complete, and at daybreak the warders +on the wall saw them pouring down into their ships and galleys. As the +fleet crossed the river its aspect was singular. The decks were covered +by the black shields, above which appeared a forest of spears, +sparkling in the morning sunlight. As they reached the shore the +Northmen sprang to land, while from the decks of the vessels a storm of +missiles flew towards the walls. Vast numbers of catapults, which they +had manufactured since their last attack, hurled masses of stone, heavy +javelins, and leaden bullets, while thousands of arrows darkened the +air. + +The bells of the church sounded the alarm, which called every citizen +capable of bearing arms to the walls. The archbishop took his place at +the spot most threatened by the enemy, with his nephew, the valiant +abbe, by his side. The Counts Eudes, Robert, Ragenaire, Utton, and +Herilang stood foremost among the defenders. + +The Saxons, as before, were held in reserve, but to Edmund and Egbert +had been assigned, at their urgent request, the command of the defence +of the tower. It was against this point that the Danes again made their +most desperate effort. Their main body advanced against it, and smaller +parties attacked the city at other points, while the rowing galleys, +divided into two bodies, strove to destroy the bridge, and so isolate +the defenders of the post. + +Around the tower the combat was desperate. The assailants were +well-nigh hidden under their great bucklers. Their shouts, and the +constant clashing of arms which they maintained, made a terrific +uproar; a storm of missiles from the fleet poured upon the tower, while +from the crevices between the shields the bowmen shot incessantly at +the defenders. The very number of the Danes hindered their attack, for +the tower was so small that comparatively few could approach at once. + +It had been greatly strengthened since the last assault, and through +the loopholes in the walls the archers did their best to answer the +storm of missiles poured into the fort. Edmund and Egbert went among +them, begging them not to fire at random, but to choose moments when +the movements of the assailants opened a space in the roof of shields +which covered them. + +Whenever this took place a dozen arrows fell true to the mark. Some of +those bearing the shield would be struck, and these falling, a gap +would be caused through which the arrows of the defenders flew thickly, +causing death and confusion until the shield could be raised in its +place again. Boiling liquids were poured over those who approached the +walls, and huge stones crushed the shields and their bearers. + +Eudes and his men valiantly defended the wall, and the Danes in vain +strove to scale it. All day long the battle continued, but at nightfall +the tower still remained in the hands of the defenders, the deep ditch +which they had dug round it having prevented the Danes from working at +the wall, as they had done in the previous assault. + +When darkness came on the Danes did not retire, but lay down in the +positions they occupied, under their shields. In the morning many ships +were seen crossing the river again, and the defenders saw to their +surprise numbers of captives who had been collected from the +surrounding country, troops of oxen, ship-loads of branches of trees, +trusses of hay and corn, and faggots of vines landed. Their surprise +became horror when they saw the captives and the cattle alike +slaughtered as they landed. Their bodies were brought forward under +cover of the shields and thrown into the moat, in which, too, were cast +the hay, straw, faggots, and trees. + +At the sight of the massacre the archbishop prayed to the Virgin to +give him strength, and drawing a bow to its full strength, let fly an +arrow, which, great as was the distance, flew true to its mark and +struck the executioner full in the face. This apparent miracle of the +Virgin in their favour re-animated the spirit of the defenders; and a +solemn service was instantly held in the church in her honour, and +prayers were offered to her to save Lutece, which was the original name +of Paris, and was still cherished by its inhabitants. + +The Danes were occupied all day at their work of filling up the moat. +The besieged were not idle, but laboured at the construction of several +mangonels capable of casting huge blocks of stone. In the morning the +Danes planted their battering-rams, one on each side of the tower, and +recommenced the assault. The new machines of the defenders did great +havoc in their ranks, their heavy stones crashing through the roof of +bucklers and crushing those who held them, and for a time the Norsemen +desisted from the attack. + +They now filled three of their largest vessels with combustibles, and +placing them on the windward side of the bridge, set them alight. The +people of Paris beheld with afright these fire-ships bearing down upon +the bridge, and old and young burst into tears and cries at the view of +the approaching destruction, and, led by the archbishop, all joined in +a prayer to St. Germain, the patron saint of Paris, to protect the +city. The exulting Danes replied to the cries of those on the walls +with triumphant shouts. Thanks, as the Franks believed, to the +interposition of St. Germain, the fireships struck against the pile of +stones from which the beams supporting the bridge in the centre were +raised. Eudes and his companions leaped down from the bridge and with +hatchets hewed holes in the sides of the ships at the water-line, and +they sank without having effected any damage to the bridge. + +It was now the turn of the Franks to raise triumphant shouts, while the +Danes, disheartened, fell back from the attack, and at night recrossed +the river, leaving two of their battering-rams as tokens of the triumph +of the besieged. Paris had now a respite while the Danes again spread +over the surrounding country, many of them ascending the river in their +ships and wasting the country as far as Burgundy. + +The monastery of St. Germain and the church in which the body of the +saint was buried still remained untouched. The bands of Northmen who +had invaded England had never hesitated to plunder and destroy the +churches and shrines of the Christians, but hitherto some thought of +superstition had kept the followers of Siegfroi from assailing the +monastery of St. Germain. + +One soldier, bolder than the rest, now approached the church and with +his spear broke some of the windows. The Abbe D'Abbon, an eye-witness +and minute historian of the siege of Paris, states that the impious +Dane was at once struck dead. The same fate befell one of his comrades, +who mounted to the platform at the top of the church and in descending +fell off and was killed. A third who entered the church and looked +round lost his sight for ever. A fourth entering it fell dead; and a +fifth, who, more bold than all, tried to break into the tomb of the +saint, was killed by a stone which fell upon him. + +One night after a continuance of heavy rain the Seine, being greatly +swollen, swept away the centre of the bridge connecting the tower with +the town. At daybreak the Northmen, seeing what had taken place, +hastened across the river and attacked the tower. The garrison was but +a small one, no more than twenty men having slept there. For a time +these repulsed every effort of the Danes, but gradually their numbers +were lessened until at last fourteen only remained. Their names have +come down to us. Besides Edmund and Egbert there were Hermanfroi, +Herivee, Herilard, Odoacre, Herric, Arnold, Sohie, Gerbert, Elvidon, +Havderad, Ermard, and Gossuin. These resisted so valiantly that the +Danes, after losing large numbers in the vain attempt to storm the +walls, brought up a wagonful of grain; this they rolled forward to the +gate of the tower and set it on fire. + +The flames rapidly spread from the gates to the walls, which were all +of wood, and soon the whole were a sheet of flames. The little band of +defenders retreated on to the end of the bridge, and there, when the +flames had sufficiently abated to allow them to pass, the Northmen +attacked them. Edmund and Egbert were both good swimmers, but this was +an accomplishment which but few of the Franks possessed, and none of +the remnant of the garrison were able to swim. For a long time the +little band repulsed all the efforts of the Danes, but were gradually +driven back foot by foot until they reached the edge of the chasm. Here +they made a last desperate stand, but were at length cut down or driven +over by sheer weight of numbers. Egbert and Edmund had disencumbered +themselves of all their defensive armour, and at the last moment, +throwing off their helmets and relinquishing their spears, they plunged +into the stream, diving deeply to avoid the arrows of the Northmen. + +The fact of the river being in flood, which had caused the destruction +of the tower, now proved the cause of their safety. Had the water been +clear, the Danes on the bridge above could have marked their progress +and poured a storm of arrows upon them as they came to the surface; but +its yellow and turbid waters concealed them from sight, and each time +they rose to the surface for air they were enabled to take a rapid +breath and dive again before their enemies could direct and launch +their arrows at them. + +As they drifted far down the stream, they reached the land beyond +bowshot of the Danes, and they soon entered the town amid the loud +acclamations of the citizens. The Danes now for the most part drew off +from the neighbourhood, and the Abbe Ebble led out a sortie, which +reached the Danish camp, and driving back those whom they found within +it, set it on fire and effected their retreat to Paris without loss, in +spite of the efforts of the enemy, who rapidly assembled at the sight +of the flames. + +The Danes had brought in from the surrounding country such vast +quantities of cattle, sheep, and goats, that their camps would not +suffice to hold them, and they turned the church of St. Germain into a +stable and crowded it with these animals. The saint, as the Abbe +D'Abbon relates, indignant at this desecration, sent a terrible plague +among the cattle, and when the Danes in the morning entered the church +it contained nothing but carcasses in the last state of decomposition. + +The valiant defence of Paris had given time for the rest of France to +arm, and the Danes scattered over the country now met with a stout +resistance. The Northmen were defeated in their efforts to capture Le +Mans, Chartres, and other towns, and were defeated in several battles +near Chartres by Godefroi and Odon. + +In March Henri advanced with a strong force to the relief of Paris, and +arriving at night attacked the camp of the Danes, slew great numbers, +and captured a vast booty; and then, having supplied Paris with a +considerable amount of provisions, retired with his band before the +Danes had time to assemble in sufficient strength to oppose him. +Shortly afterwards the Danes expressed the desire of Siegfroi to hold +parley with the Count Eudes. Siegfroi and a number of his warriors +landed, and Eudes left the city and advanced to meet them. No sooner +had he reached them than he was attacked by the Northmen, but drawing +his sword he defended himself with immense bravery until the garrison +ran down to his succour, and the Danes were driven back to their ship +with loss of nearly half of their party. + +The Danes now left the church of St. Germain L'Auxerrois and surrounded +the monastery of St. Germain des Pres, but the monks there paid him +sixty pounds of pure silver to leave them in peace. Siegfroi now wished +to abandon the siege which had already cost him so dear, but the +Northmen, furious at their losses, determined upon another assault. + +"Very well," the king said; "have your way then. Attack Paris on all +sides, hew down its towers, and make breaches in its walls; for once I +will remain a spectator." + +The Danes crossed the river and landed on the island, but owing to the +absence of large numbers on other expeditions, and the heavy losses +which they had suffered, their numbers were no longer so overwhelming, +and Count Eudes led out his forces to oppose them outside the walls. +This time Edmund headed his band of Saxons, who until now had only +taken part as archers in the defence. + +The combat was a furious one. In spite of the valour of Eudes and Ebble +the Danes pressed hard upon the Franks, and were driving them back +towards the gates when Edmund led his Saxons, in the close phalanx in +which they had so often met the Danes in the field, to the front. With +irresistible force the wedge burst its way through the ranks of the +Danes, bearing all before it with its wedge of spears. Into the gap +thus formed Eudes and Ebble with their bravest men threw themselves, +and the Danes, severed in two, were driven back towards their ships. +But for some hours the rain had been falling heavily and the river was +rapidly rising and had already overflowed a portion of the island. Thus +the Danes had great difficulty in getting on board their ships again, +and great numbers were killed in doing so. + +There was no longer any resistance to Siegfroi's wishes. A parley was +held with the city, and a further sum being added to that contributed +by the monks of St. Germain des Pres the Danes drew off from the town. + +At this time the long confinement of so many men within the walls had +caused a pestilence to break out in Paris. The Archbishop Goslin, the +Bishop Everard of Sens, the Prince Hugues, and many others died. The +16th of April was the day on which the Parisians were accustomed to go +in solemn procession to the church of St. Germain. The Northmen, +knowing this, in mockery filled a wagon with grain and organized a mock +procession. The bullocks who drew the chariot suddenly became lame; +numbers of other bullocks were attached, but although goaded by spears +their united efforts were unable to drag the wagon an inch, and the +Danes were obliged at last to abandon their intention. + +The same day St. Germain is reported to have further shown his power. +One of the Northmen, condemned for some offence to be executed, fled to +the church for refuge, and was there slain by his countrymen; but all +who took part in the deed at once fell dead. The Northmen, struck by +these miracles, placed a certain number as guard over the church to +prevent any from touching aught that it contained. One of these men, a +Dane of great stature, spread his bed in the church and slept there; +but to the astonishment of his comrades he was found in the morning to +have shrunk to the size of a new-born infant, at which stature he +remained for the rest of his life. + +A miracle of an opposite kind was at the same time performed in the +town. A valiant warrior had from the effects of fever fallen into an +extreme weakness, and was devoured with grief at the thought that he +should no longer be able to take share in the defence of the town. To +him St. Germain appeared at night and told him that his prayers had +been heard, and that his strength should be restored to him. On +awakening in the morning he found that he was as vigorous and as robust +as ever. + +Another day when the soldiers were carrying the banner of the saint +round the walls of the town, followed by the citizens chanting hymns, +one of the bearers of the holy relics, named Gozbert, was struck by a +stone from a catapult. The man who had fired it fell dead, while +Gozbert continued his promenade in no way injured by the blow. The Abbe +D'Abbon vouches for these miracles on the part of St. Germain in +defence of his faithful city. + + + + +CHAPTER XV: FRIENDS IN TROUBLE + + +Although for a time the Northmen abstained from grand assaults, +continued skirmishes took place. Sometimes parties landed beneath the +walls, and strove to carry off the cattle which the besieged turned out +to gather a little fresh food there. Sometimes the citizens, led by +Eudes or Ebble, would take boat and cross, and endeavour to cut off +small parties of the enemy. They had now sufficient boats at their +disposal for expeditions of this kind; for, in their last defeat, the +Danes had in their haste left several boats behind them. Of one of the +largest of these Edmund took possession, and going out in her at night, +several times succeeded in capturing Danish vessels, sometimes while +they were rowing along the river unsuspicious that any foes were near, +sometimes by boarding them as they lay alongside the bank. + +As the vessels so captured were too large to be dragged ashore, and +could have been easily recaptured by the Danes, they were, after being +emptied of their contents, always burned. The plague continued its +ravages, and the city became straitened for provisions. Count Eudes +therefore determined to go to King Charles to urge him to hurry to the +succour of the town. Almost all the chiefs of the defence had fallen +victims to the pest, or had been killed in battle with the Danes, and +the count at his departure committed the defence of the city to the +Abbe Ebble and Edmund. He then crossed the stream at night, and made +his way successfully through the Danes. + +The abbe and Edmund vied with each other in keeping up the spirits of +the garrison with successful little forays with the Danes, frequently +crossing the river to the one bank or the other, sometimes with parties +of only five or six men, and falling upon similar bodies of the enemy. +Several times they pounced upon small herds of the enemy's cattle, and +driving them into the river, directed them in their boats across the +stream. + +In the commencement of July Eudes appeared on the slopes on Mont Martre +with three battalions of soldiers. The enemy, who were for the most +part on the other side of the Seine, crossed the river. A desperate +battle ensued. A portion of the garrison crossed in boats to the +assistance of their friends, Edmund leading over his band of Saxons. +With these he fell upon the rear of the Danes engaged in fighting with +the force under the count, and the Northmen, attacked on both sides, +gave way and took to flight. They were hotly pursued by the Franks. + +The reinforcements entered Paris triumphantly by the bridge, which had +long since been repaired. But the siege was not yet over. When the news +of the victory of Eudes spread, the Danes again drew together from all +parts, and crossing the river, attacked the city on every side. The +onslaught was more furious than any which had preceded it. The Danes +had provided themselves with large numbers of mangonels and catapults. +Every man capable of bearing arms was upon the walls; but so furious +was the attack, so vast the number of the assailants, so prodigious +were the clouds of missiles which they rained upon the walls, that the +besieged almost lost heart. + +The relics of St. Genevieve were taken round the walls. In several +places the Danes had formed breaches in the walls, and although the +besieged still struggled, hope had well-nigh left them, and abject +terror reigned in the city. Women ran about the streets screaming, and +crying that the end was at hand. The church bells tolled dismally, and +the shouts of the exultant Danes rose higher and higher. Again a +general cry rose to St. Germain to come to the aid of the town. Just at +this moment Edmund and Egbert, who had till now held the Saxons in +reserve, feeling that a desperate effort must be made, formed up their +band, and advancing to the principal breach, passed through the ranks +of the disheartened Franks, and with levelled pikes charged headlong +down into the crowd of Danes. The latter, already exhausted by their +efforts, were at once borne back before the serried pikes of their +fresh assailants. In vain their chiefs at that point tried to rally +them; nothing could withstand the impetus of the Saxon attack. + +Astonished at seeing the tide of battle swept away from the breach, the +French believed that St. Germain had wrought a miracle in their favour, +and taking heart poured out in the rear of the Saxons. The news of the +miracle spread rapidly. Through the breaches, and from every gate, they +poured out suddenly upon the Danes, who, struck with consternation at +this sudden onslaught by a foe whom they had already regarded as +beaten, hesitated, and soon took to flight. Vast numbers were cut down +before they could reach their vessels. A great portion fled towards the +bridge and endeavoured to cross there; but their numbers impeded them, +and the Saxons and Franks, falling upon their rear, effected a terrible +slaughter. + +Two days after the battle a force of six hundred Franks arrived from +the Emperor Charles. The Danes sought to oppose their entrance to the +city, but were defeated with a loss of three thousand men. The siege +was now virtually over, and in a short time the emperor himself with a +great army arrived. It was now November, and after some negotiations +the Danes agreed upon the receipt of seven hundred pounds of silver to +retire to Burgundy and to leave the country at the beginning of March. + +Having wasted Burgundy, however, they again returned to Paris. +Consternation seized the capital when the fleet of the Northmen was +seen approaching. A treaty was, however, made, for the wind had fallen +just when the Danish fleet, which had but lately arrived and was +descending the river, was abreast of Paris. As soon as the wind became +favourable the Northmen broke the truce, slew a number of Franks who +had mingled among them, and passed up the Marne. + +In the meantime Emperor Charles had died and Count Eudes had been +chosen his successor. When the Danes again advanced against Paris he +speedily sent reinforcements. The town had already repulsed an attack. +Eudes himself on St. John's Day was advancing with 1000 men-at-arms +when he was attacked by 10,000 mounted Danes and 9000 footmen. The +combat was desperate but the Franks were victorious. Eudes, however, +had other difficulties. Burgundy and Aquitaine revolted, and in order +to secure peace to the kingdom he made a treaty with the Danes, giving +over to them the province of Normandy. + +Edmund and Egbert had no part in the second siege of Paris. As soon as +the place was relieved by the Emperor Charles they prepared to depart. +Taking boats they ascended the river, and to their joy found the Dragon +safe in the hiding place where she had been lying for nearly a year. +She was brought out into the stream and floated down to Paris, where by +the order of Count Eudes she was thoroughly repaired and redecorated. + +The Franks, convinced that next only to the assistance of St. Germain +they owed the safety of their city to the valour of the Saxons, loaded +them with presents; and these, with the gifts which they had previously +received after the destruction of the three towers, and the sums for +which the booty captured from the Danes had been sold, made up a great +treasure. + +Upon the day before they had arranged to sail a Danish boat was seen +rowing down the stream. It approached the Dragon and the helmsman asked: + +"Is this ship the Dragon? and has it for a captain Edmund the Saxon?" + +"I am Edmund," he replied, "and this is the Dragon. What would you with +me?" + +"I am sent by the Jarl Siegbert, who lies wounded near, to beg that you +will come to him immediately, as he is in a sore strait and needs your +assistance." + +"I will come at once," Edmund said. "Put one of your men on board to +show me where he is, for I shall be there before you." + +Edmund's horn sounded the signal, and messengers were sent to the town +to order the crew at once to repair on board the Dragon. Edmund landed +and took leave of the Frankish leaders. The provisions and stores were +hastily carried on board, and then, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of +the inhabitants, who thronged the walls and shore, the oars were got +out and the Dragon proceeded at the top of her speed up the river. + +On the way Edmund questioned the Dane, and found that Siegbert had been +wounded in the last assault upon Paris. He had not been present at the +first part of the siege, having but recently arrived from Norway. His +daughter Freda had accompanied him. "Yes," she was still unmarried, +although many valiant Northmen had sought her hand, chief among them +the brave leader Sweyn "of the left hand;" but there had been a fray on +the previous night in Siegbert's camp, and it was said--but for that he +could not vouch--that Freda had been carried off. + +The news filled Edmund with anxiety. Ever since the day he left her on +her father's galley his thoughts had turned often to the Danish maiden, +and the resolution to carry out his promise and some day seek her again +had never for a moment wavered. He had seen many fair young Saxons, and +could have chosen a bride where he would among these, for few Saxons +girls would have turned a deaf ear to the wooing of one who was at once +of high rank, a prime favourite with the king, and regarded by his +countrymen as one of the bravest of the Saxon champions; but the +dark-haired Freda, who united the fearlessness and independence of a +woman with the frankness and gaiety of a child, had won his heart. + +It was true she was a Dane and a pagan; but her father was his friend, +and would, he felt sure, offer no objections on the ground of the +enmity of the races. Since Guthorn and his people had embraced +Christianity, the enmity between the races, in England at least, was +rapidly declining. As to her religion, Edmund doubted not that she +would, under his guidance and teaching, soon cast away the +blood-stained gods of the Northmen and accept Christianity. + +In the five years of strife and warfare which had elapsed since he saw +her Edmund had often pictured their next meeting. He had not doubted +that she would remain true to him. Few as were the words which had been +spoken, he knew that when she said, "I will wait for you even till I +die," she had meant it, and that she was not one to change. He had even +been purposing, on his return to England, to ask King Alfred to arrange +through Guthorn for a safe pass for him to go to Norway. To hear, then, +that she had been carried off from her father's side was a terrible +blow, and in his anxiety to arrive at Siegbert's tent Edmund urged the +rowers to their fullest exertions. + +It was three hours after leaving Paris when the Dane pointed to a +village at a short distance from the river and told him that Siegbert +was lying there. The Dragon was steered to shore, and Edmund leaping +out followed the Dane with rapid footsteps to the village. The wounded +jarl was lying upon a heap of straw. + +"Is it really you, Edmund?" he exclaimed as the young Saxon entered. +"Glad am I indeed that my messenger did not arrive too late. I heard of +you when we first landed--how the Danes, when they sailed up the Seine, +had seen a Saxon galley of strange shape which had rowed rapidly up the +river; how the galley herself had never again been seen; but how a +young Saxon with his band had performed wonders in the defence of +Paris, and had burned well-nigh half the Danish fleet. + +"They said that the leader was named Edmund, for they had heard the +name shouted in battle; and especially when he, with one other alone, +escaped from the burning tower and swam the river. So I was sure that +it was you. Then, a week back, my men told me of a strange ship which +had passed down the river to Paris, and I doubted not that it was your +Dragon, which had been hidden somewhere during the siege. I thought +then of sending to tell you that I was lying here wounded; but Freda, +who had always been talking of you, suddenly turned coy and said that +you might have forgotten us, and if you wanted us you would come to us +in Norway." + +"But where is Freda?" Edmund, who had been listening impatiently, +exclaimed. "One of your men told me that she had been carried off. Is +it true?" + +"Alas! it is true," Siegbert replied; "and that is why I sent for you. +I have never been good friends with Bijorn since the wounding of his +son, but after a time the matter blew over. Sweyn, who though but with +one arm, and that the left, has grown into a valiant warrior, is now, +Bijorn being dead, one of our boldest vikings. A year since he became a +declared suitor for Freda's hand. In this, indeed, he is not alone, +seeing that she has grown up one of our fairest maidens, and many are +the valorous deeds that have been done to win a smile from her; but she +has refused all suitors, Sweyn with the others. He took his refusal in +bad part, and even ventured to vow she should be his whether she willed +it or not. Of course I took the matter up and forbade all further +intimacy, and we had not met again till the other day before Paris. We +had high words there, but I thought no more of it. A few days +afterwards I was struck by a crossbow bolt in the leg. It smashed my +knee, and I shall never be able to use my leg again. I well-nigh died +of fever and vexation, but Freda nursed me through it. She had me +carried on a litter here to be away from the noise and revelry of the +camp. Last night there was a sudden outcry. Some of my men who sprang +to arms were smitten down, and the assailants burst in here and tore +Freda, shrieking, away. Their leader was Sweyn of the left hand. As I +lay tossing here, mad with the misfortune which ties me to my couch, I +thought of you. I said, 'If any can follow and recapture Freda it is +Edmund.' The Danes had for the most part moved away, and there were few +would care to risk a quarrel with Sweyn in a matter which concerned +them not closely; but I felt that I could rely upon you, and that you +would spare no pains to rescue my child." + +"That will I not!" Edmund exclaimed; "but tell me first what you think +are his plans. Which way has he gone, and what force has he with him?" + +"The band he commands are six shiploads, each numbering fifty men. What +his plans may be I know not, but many of the Danes, I know, purposed, +when the war was finished here, to move east through Burgundy. Some +intended to build boats on the banks of the Rhine and sail down on that +river, others intended to journey further and to descend by the Elbe. I +know not which course Sweyn may adopt. The country between this and the +Rhine swarms with Danes. I do not suppose that Sweyn will join any +other party. Having Freda with him, he will prefer keeping apart; but +in any case it would not be safe for you to journey with your band, who +would assuredly become embroiled with the first party of Danes they +met; and even if they be as brave as yourself they would be defeated by +such superior numbers." + +"You do not think that Sweyn will venture to use violence to force +Freda to become his wife?" + +"I think he will hardly venture upon that," Siegbert said, "however +violent and headstrong he may be. To carry off a maiden for a wife is +accounted no very evil deed, for the maiden is generally not unwilling; +but to force her by violence to become his wife would be a deed so +contrary to our usages that it would bring upon him the anger of the +whole nation. Knowing Sweyn's disposition, I believe that were there no +other way, he would not hesitate even at this, but might take ship and +carry her to some distant land; but he would not do this until all +other means fail. He will strive to tire her out, and so bring her in +her despair to consent to wed him." + +Edmund was silent for three or four minutes; then he said: "I must +consult my kinsman Egbert. I will return and tell you what I purpose +doing." + +On leaving the cottage Edmund found Egbert walking up and down outside +awaiting the result of the interview. He had been present when the Dane +had told of Freda's abduction, and knew how sore a blow it was to the +young ealdorman, for Edmund had made no secret to him of his intention +some day to wed the Danish jarl's daughter. Edmund in a few words +related to him the substance of Siegbert's narrative, and ended by +saying: "Now, Egbert, what is best to be done?" + +"'Tis of no use asking me, Edmund; you know well enough that it is you +that always decide and I agree. I have a hand to strike, but no head to +plan. Tell me only what you wish, and you may be sure that I will do my +best to execute it." + +"Of course we must follow," Edmund said; "of that there is no question. +The only doubt is as to the force we must take. What Siegbert said is +true. The Danish bands are so numerous to the east that we should be +sure to fall in with some of them, and fight as we might, should be +destroyed; and yet with a smaller number how could we hope to rescue +Freda from Sweyn's hands?" + +Edmund walked up and down for some time. + +"I think," he went on at last, "the best plan will be to take a party +of but four at most. I must choose those who will be able to pass best +as Danes. With so small a number I may traverse the country unobserved. +I will take with me two of Siegbert's men, who, when we get nigh to +Sweyn's band, may join with him and tell me how things are going, and +how Sweyn treats his captive. If I find he is pushing matters to an +extreme I must make some desperate effort to carry her off; but if, as +is more probable, he trusts to time to break her resolution, I shall +follow at a short distance." + +"Shall I go with you, Edmund?" + +"I think it will be better not, Egbert. Your beard would mark you as a +Saxon at once." + +"But that I can cut off," Egbert said. "It would be a sacrifice truly, +but I would do it without hesitation." + +"Thanks, dear kinsman, but I think it would be of more purpose for you +to remain in command of the Dragon. She may meet many foes, and it were +best that you were there to fight and direct her. I pray you at once to +descend the Seine and sailing round the north coast of France, place +the Dragon at the mouth of the Rhine. Do not interfere with any Danish +ships that you may see pass out, but keep at a distance. Should Sweyn +descend the Rhine I will, if possible, send a messenger down before +him, so do you look out for small boats; and if you see one in which +the rower hoists a white flag at the end of his oar, you will know he +is my messenger. If I find Sweyn goes on towards the Elbe I will also +send you word, and you will then move the Dragon to the mouth of that +river. + +"Lastly, if you receive no message, but if you mark that in a Danish +vessel when passing you a white cloth is waved from one of the windows +of the cabins in the poop, that will be a signal to you that the vessel +is Sweyn's, and that Freda is a captive on board. In that case you will +of course at once attack it. Let us ask Siegbert. He has sailed up both +the Rhine and the Elbe, and can tell us of some quiet port near the +mouth of each river where you may lay the Dragon somewhat out of sight +of passers-by, while you can yet note all ships that go down the river. +My messengers will then know where to find you." Having settled this +point they returned to Siegbert, and Edmund told him what he thought of +doing. + +"I can advise no better," Siegbert said. "Assuredly you cannot prevail +by force. At present I have only ten of my followers with me; the rest, +after I was wounded, and it was plain that a long time must elapse +before I could again lead them in the field, asked me to let them +follow some other chief, and as they could not be idle here I +consented. I have ten men with me, but these would be but a small +reinforcement. As you say, your Saxons would be instantly known, and +the Northmen have suffered so at their hands during the siege that the +first party you met would set upon you." + +"I will take two only of your men," Edmund said. "Choose me two who are +not known by sight to Sweyn. I wish one to be a subtle fellow, who will +act as a spy for me; the other I should choose of commanding stature; +and the air of a leader. He will go with my party, and should we come +upon Danes he will assume the place of leader, and can answer any +questions. There is far too much difference between the Saxon and +Danish tongue for me and my men to pass as Danes if we have many words +to say. I shall take four of my men, all full grown, strong, and good +fighters. They have but little hair upon their chins at present, and +they can shave that off. Now, jarl, I want five Danish dresses, for +your costume differs somewhat from ours. Have you horses? If not, I +must send back to Paris to buy some." + +"I have plenty to mount you and your party." + +"Good," Edmund said; "I will go down to my ship and pick my men." + +In half an hour the party were ready to start. Egbert had received from +Siegbert particulars of villages at the mouths of the Rhine and Elbe, +and he promised Edmund that a watch should be kept night and day at the +mouth of the Rhine until a messenger arrived. Edmund had already +ascertained that Sweyn had left a fortnight before with his following, +and had marched towards Champagne. There probably he had halted his +main body, returning only with a party of horsemen to carry off Freda. + +"I would I could go with you," Siegbert groaned as Edmund said adieu to +him. "I would ride straight into his camp and challenge him to mortal +combat, but as it is I am helpless." + +"Never fear, good Siegbert," Edmund said cheerfully; "when your leg is +cured travel straight homeward, and there, I trust, before very long to +place Freda safe and unharmed in your arms. If I come not you will know +that I have perished." + +A minute later, after a few parting words with Egbert, Edmund mounted +his horse, and followed by his six companions, rode off at full speed. +He knew that it would be useless making any inquiries about Sweyn and +his party. But few of the inhabitants of the country were to be seen +about, for the Danes had burned every house within very many miles of +Paris, and the peasants would assuredly not have paid any special +attention to a party of Danes, for whenever they saw the dreaded +marauders even at a distance they forsook their homes and fled to the +forests. The party therefore rode eastward until nightfall, then +picketed their horses, and having lit a fire, made their supper from +the store of provisions they had brought with them, and then lay down +to sleep for the night. + +At daybreak they again started and continued their journey until it was +necessary to halt to give their horses a rest. They had passed several +parties of Danes, for these in great numbers, after the siege of Paris +had been given up, were journeying towards Burgundy. There was but +slight greeting as they passed; but on one occasion a horseman rode out +from one of the bands and entered into conversation with the two Danes +who rode at the head of the party. They told them that they were +followers of the Jarl Siegbert, and were riding to join the rest of his +band, who were with the company of Jarl Eric, as Siegbert would be long +before he would be able to move, and had therefore kept only a few of +his followers with him. + +"Eric is a long way ahead," the Dane said; "he must be full as far as +Nancy by this time. Those who left first," he grumbled, "will have the +pick of the country. We were fools to linger so long before Paris." +Then turning his horse, he rode back to his comrades, and the party +continued their way. + +They avoided all towns and large Danish encampments on the way, but +made inquiries from all small parties they met after the party of +Sweyn. They learned without difficulty the place where he had been +encamped a few days before, but on their arriving in the neighbourhood +they found that the place was deserted, nor could any tell them the +direction in which the Northmen had travelled. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI: FREDA + + +For some days Edmund and his party scoured the country round, +journeying now in one direction, now in another, but without hearing +ought of Sweyn's party. Certainly they had not gone along the track +which the main body of the Danes had followed; but the question was +whether they had turned rather to the south in order to cross the +mountain ranges between them and the Rhine, or had turned north and +journeyed through the great forest of Ardennes, and so to some of the +other rivers which run down into the North Sea. + +The latter was in some respects the most likely course to have been +chosen. By taking it Sweyn would avoid altogether the track which the +majority of his countrymen were taking, and this would naturally be his +object. Siegbert had many powerful friends, and the carrying off of the +jarl's daughter from the side of her wounded father would be regarded +as a grave offence; and Sweyn might well wish to keep clear of his +countrymen until he had forced Freda to become his wife. Even then it +would not be safe for him for a long time to return to his country. +Striking through the Ardennes he would come down upon the Scheldt, the +Moselle, the Maas, or other rivers flowing into the North Sea direct, +or into the Rhine. + +Edmund knew nothing of these streams; but the Danes with him said there +were several rivers so situated, for they had sailed up them. Where +they took their rise they knew not, but it would probably be in or +beyond the forest of Ardennes. + +"Then in that way we will search," Edmund said. "If they come upon a +river they will doubtless set to work to build galleys to carry them to +the sea, for with only three hundred men Sweyn will not venture to +march by land through a country which has but lately suffered heavily +at the hands of the Danes. It will take him a month or six weeks to cut +down trees and build his ships; therefore we may hope to find him +before he is ready to embark. First we will push through the forest to +the other side; there we will question the inhabitants concerning the +position of the nearest rivers; then we will divide into parties and go +on the search, appointing a place of rendezvous where we may rejoin +each other. It can hardly be that we shall fail to find them if they +have taken that way." + +Before entering the forest they obtained a considerable store of +provisions; for they had no idea of its extent, and had no time to +spend in hunting game. The forest of Ardennes was at that time of +immense size, extending from Verdun and Metz on the south, to Liege and +Aix on the north. + +Men of the present day would have found it impossible to find their way +through, but would speedily have been lost in its trackless recesses; +but the Saxons and Danes were accustomed to travel in forests, and knew +the signs as well as did the Red-skins and hunters of the American +forests. Therefore they felt no hesitation in entering the forest +without a guide. + +The danger which might beset them was of a different kind. Immense +numbers of the inhabitants of France, Champagne, and Burgundy had taken +refuge in the forests, driving their flocks and herds before them. Here +they lived a wild life, hoping that the emperor would ere long clear +the country of the invaders. No mercy could be expected if Edmund and +his party fell in with a number of these fugitives. They would have no +time to tell their story, but would be attacked at once as a party of +plundering Danes. + +Knowing that the horses would be an encumbrance to them in the forest, +they were sold to the last party of Northmen they encountered before +entering it, and they pursued their way on foot. The greatest caution +was observed; every sound was marked, and at the call of a human voice, +the low of cattle, or the bleating of sheep, they turned their course +so as to avoid encounter with the inhabitants of the forest. They lit +no fires at night, and scarce a word was spoken on the march. Several +times they had to take refuge in thickets when they heard the sound of +approaching voices, and it needed all their knowledge of woodcraft to +maintain their direction steadily towards the north. At last, after six +days' journey, they issued out into the open country beyond the forest +and soon arrived at a cottage. + +The peasant was struck with terror and astonishment at the appearance +of seven Danes; and he could with difficulty be made to understand that +their object was neither plunder nor murder, but that they wished only +information from him of the situation and direction of the various +rivers of the country. After learning from him all that he knew Edmund +arrived at the conclusion that Sweyn would probably attempt to descend +either by a branch of the Moselle, and so to the Rhine on the right, or +by one of the Maas on the left of the place at which they had emerged +from the forest. + +Edmund decided to strike the Maas, and to follow its course up into the +forest, taking with him one of the Danes and two of his Saxons, and to +send the others to search the banks of the tributary of the Moselle. +Before starting he sent the peasant to the nearest village to purchase +garments of the country for the whole party. He had already told the +man that they were not Danes but Saxons, the bitter enemies of the +Northmen, and that he had been aiding in the defence of Paris against +them. + +The peasant did not doubt what Edmund told him, for the conduct of his +visitors was so opposed to all that he had heard of the doings of the +Danes that he well believed they could not belong to that nation. He +was away some hours, and returned with the required dresses. Having put +these on, and laying aside their helmets and shields, the two parties +started, the Danes alone carrying with them their former garments. The +next day Edmund arrived at the river, and at once followed its course +upwards, for Sweyn and his party would be building their ships in the +forest. + +They had not proceeded many miles before they heard the sound of axes. +Edmund gave an exclamation of delight. It was almost certain that he +had hit upon Sweyn's track, for it was unlikely that any of the +inhabitants of the country would have gone so far into the forest for +timber. They now moved with the greatest caution, and as they +approached the place whence the sound proceeded Edmund halted the two +Saxons and bade them conceal themselves. The Dane resumed his own +garments and put on his helmet and shield; and then, taking advantage +of every clump of undergrowth, and moving with the greatest caution, he +and Edmund made their way forward. Presently they came within sight of +an animated scene. + +A large number of trees had been felled by the banks of the river and +three hundred Northmen were busily at work. The frames of two great +galleys had already been set up, and they were now engaged in chopping +out planks for their sides. Two huts were erected in the middle of the +clearing. One was large, and Sweyn's banner floated from a spear before +it. The other which stood close by was much smaller, and Edmund doubted +not that this was appropriated to Freda. + +Nothing more could be done now--their object was so far attained; and +retiring they joined the two Saxons and made their way along the river +bank till they reached the edge of the forest. One of the Saxons was +now sent off to the peasant's hut, where he was to remain until the +return of the other party, and was then to bring them on to the spot +which Edmund had chosen for his encampment. This was in the heart of a +large clump of underwood extending down to the river. + +The brushwood was so thick that it was entered with difficulty, and no +passer-by would dream that a party was hidden within it. Near the +stream Edmund and his companions with their swords soon cleared away a +circle, and with the boughs constructed an arbour. A thin screen of +bushes separated them from the river, but they could see the water, and +none could pass up or down unperceived. + +The Saxon was charged to bring with him on his return a considerable +supply of provisions, for it would have been dangerous to wander in the +woods in pursuit of game. The Northmen had, Edmund noticed, some cattle +with them; but they would be sure to be hunting in the woods, as they +would wish to save the cattle for provision on their voyage. It was +nightfall before the hut was completed; and as they had journeyed far +for many days Edmund determined to postpone an attempt to discover what +was passing in Sweyn's camp until the following evening. + +The day passed quietly, and towards evening Edmund and the Dane started +for Sweyn's camp. When they approached it they saw many fires burning, +and the shouting and singing of the Norsemen rang through the forest. +They waited until the fires burnt down somewhat and they could see many +of the Danes stretching themselves down by them. Then Edmund's +companion proceeded to the camp. + +Anxious as Edmund was himself to learn what was doing, he restrained +his impatience, for it was safer that the Northman should go alone. In +the dull light of the dying fires his features would be unnoticed, and +his tongue would not betray him if spoken to. Siegbert had commended +him as a crafty and ready fellow, and Edmund felt that he would be able +to gather more information than he could do himself. From his place of +concealment he kept his eyes fixed on the Northman's figure. Presently +he saw him enter the clearing, and sauntering slowly across it throw +himself down near a fire by which a party of Danes were still sitting +talking. + +One by one these lay down, and when the last had done so the Northman +rose quietly and stole out again into the forest. When he rejoined +Edmund the latter set forward with him, and not a word was spoken until +they were some distance from the camp; then Edmund stopped. + +"What have you learned?" he asked. + +"All that there is to learn, I think," the Northman replied. "The lady +Freda is, as you supposed, a captive in the little hut. Two men only +keep watch over it by day, but at night six lie around it, two being +always on foot. They speak in admiration of her courage and spirit. She +has sworn to Sweyn that she will slay herself if he attempts to use +violence to force her to marriage with him, and they doubt not that she +will keep her word. However, they believe that she will grow tired out +at last when she finds that there is no hope whatever of a rescue. The +ships are being built for a long sea voyage, for Sweyn is going to lead +them to join the Viking Hasting in the Mediterranean, and has promised +his men the plunder of countries ten times richer than France or +England. With so long an expedition in view, they may well think that +the Lady Freda's resolution will soon give way, and that she may come +to see that the position of the wife of a bold viking is a thousand +times preferable to that of a captive. Many of the men loudly express +their wonder why she would refuse the love of so valiant a warrior as +Sweyn." + +The news was at once good and bad. Edmund did not fear Freda's +resolution giving way for a long time, but the news that Sweyn intended +to carry her upon so distant an expedition troubled him. It was of +course possible that he might intercept them with the Dragon at the +mouth of the Maas, but it was uncertain whether the ship would arrive +at the mouth of the Rhine in time to be brought round before the +Northmen descended. The length of her voyage would depend entirely on +the wind. Were this favourable when she reached the mouth of the Seine, +a week would carry her to her destination. Should it be unfavourable +there was no saying how long the voyage would last. + +The risk was so great that Edmund determined to make an effort to rouse +the country against the Danes, and to fall upon them in their +encampment; but the task would he knew be a hard one, for the dread of +the Danes was so great that only in large towns was any resistance to +them ever offered. However he determined to try, for if the Northmen +succeeded in getting to the sea the pursuit would indeed be a long one, +and many weeks and even months might elapse before he could again come +up to them. + +On the following day the rest of the party arrived, and leaving the +forest Edmund proceeded with them through the country, visiting every +village, and endeavouring to rouse the people to attack the Danes, but +the news that the dreaded marauders were so near excited terror only. +The assurances of Edmund that there was much rich plunder in their camp +which would become the property of those who destroyed them, excited +but a feeble interest. The only point in the narrative which excited +their contentment was the news that the Danes were building ships and +were going to make their way down to the sea. + +"In Heaven's name let them go!" was the cry; "who would interfere with +the flight of a savage beast? If they are going down the river they +will scarcely land to scatter and plunder the country, and he would be +mad indeed who would seek them when they are disposed to let us alone." + +Finding his efforts vain in the country near the forest Edmund went +down the river to the town of Liege, which stood on its banks. When it +became known that a band of Northmen was on the upper river, and was +likely to pass down, the alarm spread quickly through the town, and a +council of the principal inhabitants was summoned. Before these Edmund +told his story, and suggested that the fighting men of the town should +march up the river and fall upon the Danes in their camp. + +"It is but two days' march--the Northmen will be unsuspicious of +danger, and taken by surprise may be easily defeated." The proposition, +however, was received with absolute derision. + +"You must be mad to propose such a thing, young Saxon, if Saxon indeed +you are, but for aught we know you may be a Northman sent by them to +draw us into an ambush. No; we will prepare for their coming. We will +man our walls and stand on the defensive, and if there be, as you say, +but three hundred of them, we can defend ourselves successfully; and we +may hope that, seeing our strength, and that we are prepared for their +coming, the Northmen will pass by without molesting us; but as for +moving outside our walls, it would be worse than folly even to think of +such a thing." + +After this rebuff Edmund concluded that he could hope for no assistance +from the inhabitants of the country, but must depend upon himself and +the Dragon alone. He at once despatched two of his men, a Dane and a +Saxon, with orders to journey as rapidly as possible to the rendezvous, +where the Dragon was to be found at the mouth of the Rhine, and to beg +Egbert to move round with all speed to the Maas. + +Having done this, he purchased a small and very fast rowing-skiff at +Liege, and taking his place in this with his four remaining followers, +he rowed up the river. It took them three days before they reached the +edge of the forest. On reaching their former hiding-place, they landed. +The bushes were carefully drawn aside, and the boat hauled up until +completely screened from sight of the river, and Edmund and the Dane at +once started for the encampment of the Northmen. + +They had been ten days absent, and in that time great progress had been +made with the galleys. They looked indeed completely finished as they +stood high and lofty on the river bank. The planks were all in their +places; the long rows of benches for the rowers were fastened in; the +poop and forecastle were finished and decked. A number of long straight +poles lay alongside ready to be fashioned into oars; and Edmund thought +that in another two or three days the galleys would be ready for +launching. They were long and low in the waist, and were evidently +built for great speed. Edmund did not think that they were intended to +sail, except perhaps occasionally when the wind was favourable, as an +aid to the rowers. Each would carry a hundred and fifty men, and there +were thirty seats, so that sixty would row at once. + +"They are fine galleys," the Dane whispered. "Sweyn has a good eye for +a boat." + +"Yes," Edmund said, "they look as if they will be very fast. With oars +alone they would leave the Dragon behind, but with sails and oars we +should overhaul them in a wind. I wish it had been otherwise, for if, +when they reach the mouth of the river, there is no wind, they may give +the Dragon the slip. Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is Freda." + +As he spoke a tall maiden came out from the small hut. The distance was +too great for Edmund to distinguish her features, but he doubted not +from the style of her garments that it was Siegbert's daughter. There +were other women moving about the camp, for the Danes were generally +accompanied by their wives on their expeditions; but there was +something in the carriage and mien of the figure at the door of the hut +which distinguished it from the rest. She did not move far away, but +stood watching the men at work on the ships and the scene around. +Presently a tall figure strode down from the vessels towards her. + +"There is Sweyn!" Edmund exclaimed, seeing that the warrior possessed +but one arm. + +"Ah! you know him by sight then?" The Dane said. + +"I should do so," Edmund answered grimly, "seeing that it was I who +smote off that right arm of his. I regret now that I did not strike at +his head instead." + +The Dane looked with admiration and surprise at his leader. He had +heard of the fight between the Saxon champion and Sweyn, which had cost +the latter his right arm, but until now he had been ignorant of +Edmund's identity with Sweyn's conqueror. + +Freda did not seek to avoid her captor, but remained standing quietly +until he approached. For some time they conversed; then she turned and +left him and re-entered her hut. Sweyn stood looking after her, and +then with an angry stamp of the foot returned to the galleys. + +"I would give much to be able to warn her that I am present and will +follow her until I rescue her from Sweyn," Edmund said. "Once at sea +and on her way south she may well despair of escape, and may consent, +from sheer hopelessness, to become his wife. Were it not that her hut +is so strongly guarded at night I would try to approach it, but as this +cannot be done I must take my chance in the day. To-morrow I will dress +myself in your garments and will hide in the wood as near as I can to +the hut; then if she come out to take the air I will walk boldly out +and speak with her. I see no other way of doing it." + +On the following morning, attired in the Dane's clothes and helmet, +Edmund took his place near the edge of the wood. It was not until late +in the afternoon that Freda made her appearance. The moment was +propitious; almost all the men were at work on the ships and their +oars. The women were cooking the evening meal, and there was no one +near Freda, with the exception of the two armed Danes who sat on the +trunk of a fallen tree on guard, a short distance away. Edmund issued +boldly from the wood, and, waiting till Freda's steps, as she passed +backwards and forwards, took her to the farthest point from the guards, +he approached her. + +"Freda," he said, "do not start or betray surprise, for you are +watched." + +At the sound of his voice the girl had paused in her steps, and +exclaimed in a low voice, "Edmund!" and then, obeying his words, stood +motionless. + +"I am near you, dear, and will watch over you. I have not strength to +carry you away; but my ship will be at the mouth of the river as you +pass out. Hang a white cloth from the window of your cabin in the poop +as a signal. If we fail to rescue you there we will follow you +wheresoever you may go, even to Italy, where I hear you are bound. So +keep up a brave heart. I have seen your father, and he has sent me to +save you. See, the guards are approaching, I must go." + +Edmund then made for the forest. "Stop there!" the guards cried. "Who +are you, and whence do you come?" + +Edmund made no answer, but, quickening his steps, passed among the +trees, and was soon beyond pursuit. This, indeed, the Danes did not +attempt. They had been surprised at seeing, as they supposed, one of +their party addressing Freda, for Sweyn's orders that none should speak +with her were precise. He had given this command because he feared, +that by the promise of rich rewards she might tempt some of his +followers to aid her escape. They had, therefore, risen to interrupt +the conversation, but it was not until they approached that it struck +them that the Northman's face was unfamiliar to them, and that he was +not one of their party, but Edmund had entered the wood before they +recovered from their surprise. Their shouts to him to stop brought +Sweyn to the spot. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"A strange Northman has come out of the wood, and spoken to the lady +Freda." + +Sweyn turned to his captive. She stood pale and trembling, for the +shock of the surprise had been a severe one. + +"Who is this whom you have spoken to?" he asked. Freda did not answer. + +"I insist upon knowing," Sweyn exclaimed angrily. + +Freda recovered herself with an effort, and, raising her head, said, +"Your insistence has small effect with me, as you know, Jarl Sweyn; but +as there is no reason for concealment I will tell you. He is a +messenger whom my dear father has sent to me to tell me that some day +he hopes to rescue me from your hands." + +Sweyn laughed loudly. + +"He might have saved himself the trouble," he said. "Your good father +lies wounded near Paris, and by the time he is able to set out to your +rescue we shall be with Hasting on the sunny waters of Italy, and long +ere that you will, I hope, have abandoned your obstinate disposition, +and consented to be my wife." + +Freda did not answer at once. Now that there was a hope of rescue, +however distant, she thought it might be as well to give Sweyn some +faint hope that in time she might yield to his wishes. Then she said: + +"I have told you often, jarl, that I will never be your wife, and I do +not think that I shall ever change my mind. It may be that the sunny +skies you speak of may work a wonderful change in me, but that remains +to be seen." Sweyn retired well satisfied. Her words were less defiant +than any she had hitherto addressed to him. As to the message of her +father, who could know nothing of his intention to sail to the +Mediterranean, he thought no further of it. + +Three days later the galleys were launched, and after a day spent in +putting everything in its place they started on their way down the +river. They rowed many miles, and at night moored by the bank. After +darkness had fallen a small boat rowed at full speed past them. It paid +no attention to the summons to stop, enforced though it was by several +arrows, but continued its way down the river, and was soon lost in the +darkness. Sweyn was much displeased. As they rowed down they had +carefully destroyed every boat they found on the river, in order that +the news of their coming might not precede them. + +"The boat must have been hauled up and hidden," he said; "we might as +well have stopped and landed at some of the villages and replenished +our larder. Now we shall find the small places all deserted, and the +cattle driven away from the river. It is an unfortunate mischance." + +As the Northmen anticipated they found the villages they passed the +next day entirely deserted by their inhabitants, and not a head of +cattle was to be seen grazing near the banks. In the afternoon they +came to Liege. The gates were shut, and the walls bristled with spears. +The galleys passed without a stay. Sweyn had other objects in view. Any +booty that might be obtained without severe fighting he would have been +glad enough to gather in; but with a long sea-voyage before him he +cared not to burden his galleys, and his principal desire was to obtain +a sufficient supply of provisions for the voyage. For several days the +galleys proceeded down the river. The villages were all deserted, and +the towns prepared for defence. + +When he arrived within a day's journey of the sea he was forced to +halt. Half the crews were left in charge of the ships, and with the +others he led a foray far inland, and after some sharp fighting with +the natives succeeded in driving down a number of cattle to the ships +and in bringing in a store of flour. + +Edmund had kept ahead of the galleys, stopping at every town and +village and warning the people of the approach of the marauders. He +reached the mouth of the river two days before them, but to his deep +disappointment saw that the Dragon had not arrived at the rendezvous. +On the following afternoon, however, a distant sail was seen, and as it +approached Edmund and his followers gave a shout of joy as they +recognized the Dragon, which was using her oars as well as sails and +was approaching at full speed. Edmund leaped into the boat and rowed to +meet them, and a shout of welcome arose from the Dragon as the crew +recognized their commander. + +"Are we in time?" Egbert shouted. + +"Just in time," Edmund replied. "They will be here to-morrow." Edmund +was soon on board, and was astonished at seeing Siegbert standing by +the side of his kinsman. + +"What is the news of Freda?" the jarl asked eagerly. + +"She is well and keeps up a brave heart," Edmund replied. "She has +sworn to kill herself if Sweyn attempts to make her his wife by +violence. I have spoken to her and told her that rescue will come. But +how is it that you are here?" + +"After you had left us your good kinsman Egbert suggested to me that I +should take passage in the Dragon. In the first place I should the +sooner see my daughter; and in the next, it would be perilous work, +after the Danish army had left, for a small party of us to traverse +France." + +"I would I had thought of it," Edmund said; "but my mind was so +disturbed with the thought of Freda's peril that it had no room for +other matters. And how fares it with you?" + +"Bravely," the Northman replied. "As soon as I sniffed the salt air of +the sea my strength seemed to return to me. My wound is well-nigh +healed; but the joint has stiffened, and my leg will be stiff for the +rest of my life. But that matters little. And now tell me all your +adventures. We have heard from the messenger you sent how shrewdly you +hunted out Sweyn's hiding-place." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII: A LONG CHASE + + +The following morning the weather was still and dull. Not a breath of +wind ruffled the surface of the river. + +"This is unfortunate," Edmund said to his companion. "Sweyn's galleys +will row faster than we can go with oars alone, and though they may not +know the Dragon they will be sure that she is not one of their own +ships. We must hope that they may attack us." + +The day passed on without a sight of the galleys, but late in the +afternoon they were seen in the distance. The Dragon was moored near +the middle of the rivet. Her oars were stowed away, and the crews +ordered to keep below the bulwarks, in hopes that the Danes, seeing but +few men about and taking her for an easy prize, might attack her. When +they approached within half a mile the Danish galleys suddenly ceased +rowing. + +"What is that strange-looking vessel?" Sweyn asked the Northmen +standing round him. + +"I know her," one of them said, "for I have twice seen her before to my +cost. The first time she chased us hotly at the mouth of the Thames, +destroying several of the vessels with which we were sailing in convoy. +The next time was in the battle where King Alfred defeated us last +year, nearly in the same water. She is a Saxon ship, wondrous fast and +well-handled. She did more damage in the battle than any four of her +consorts." + +"Were it not that I have other game in view," Sweyn said, "we would +fight her, for we are two to one and strongly manned, and the Saxon can +scarce carry more men than one of our galleys; but she is not likely to +be worth the lives she would cost us to capture her; therefore we will +e'en let her alone, which will be easy enough, for see that bank of +sea-fog rolling up the river; another ten minutes and we shall not see +across the deck. Give orders to the other galley to lay in oars till +the fog comes, then to make for the left bank of the river and to drift +with the tide close inshore. Let none speak a word, and silence be kept +until they hear my horn. I will follow the right bank till we reach the +mouth." + +Freda was standing near and heard these orders with a sinking heart. +She had no doubt that Edmund was on board the Saxon ship, and she had +looked forward with confidence to be delivered from her captor; but now +it seemed that owing to the evil change of the weather the hope was to +be frustrated. + +Edmund and the Saxons had viewed with consternation the approach of the +sea-fog. The instant it enveloped the ship the oars were got out and +they rowed in the direction of the Danish vessels, which they hoped +would drop anchor when the fog reached them. Not a word was spoken on +board the Dragon. Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert stood on the forecastle +intently listening for any sound which would betray the position of the +Danes, but not a sound was to be heard. They had, they calculated, +already reached the spot where the Dane should have been anchored when +from the left, but far away astern, a loud call in a woman's voice was +heard. + +"That must be Freda!" Edmund exclaimed. "Turn the ship; they have +passed us in the fog." + +The Dragon's head was turned and she was rowed rapidly in the direction +of the voice. No further sound was heard. Presently there was a sudden +shock which threw everyone on to the deck. The Dragon had run high on +the low muddy bank of the river. The tide was falling; and although for +a few minutes the crew tried desperately to push her off they soon +found that their efforts were in vain, and it was not until the tide +again rose high nine hours later that the Dragon floated. Until morning +broke nothing could be done, and even when it did so matters were not +mended, for the fog was still dense. + +The disappointment of Edmund and Siegbert at the escape of the Danes +was extreme. Their plans had been so well laid that when it was found +that the Dragon had arrived in time no doubts were entertained of the +success of the enterprise, and to be foiled just when Freda seemed +within reach was a terrible disappointment. + +"My only consolation is," Edmund said as he paced the deck impatiently +side by side with Egbert, "that this fog which delays us will also +hinder the Danes." + +"That may be so or it may not," Egbert answered. "It is evident that +some on board the Danish ships must have recognized us, and that they +were anxious to escape rather than fight. They draw so little water +that they would not be afraid of the sandbanks off the mouth of the +river, seeing that even if they strike them they can jump out, lighten +the boats, and push them off; and once well out at sea it is probable +that they may get clearer weather, for Siegbert tells me that the fog +often lies thick at the mouths of these rivers when it is clear enough +in the open sea." + +When the tide again began to run out Edmund determined at all risks to +proceed to sea. The moorings were cast off from the shore and the +Dragon suffered to drift down. Men with poles took their stations in +her bows and sounded continually, while at her stern two anchors were +prepared in readiness to drop at a moment's notice. Several times the +water shoaled so much that Edmund was on the point of giving orders to +drop the anchors, but each time it deepened again. + +So they continued drifting until they calculated that the tide must be +nearly on the turn, and they then dropped anchor. It was much lighter +now than it had been in the river, but was still so misty that they +could not see more than a hundred yards or so round the vessel. No +change took place until night, and then Edmund, who had been too +excited and anxious to sleep on the previous night, lay down to rest, +ordering that he should be woke if any change took place in the +weather. As the sun rose next morning the fog gradually lifted, and +they were able to see where they were. Their head pointed west; far +away on their left could be seen a low line of coast. Not a sail was in +sight, and indeed sails would have been useless, for the water was +still unruffled by a breath of wind. The anchors were at once got up +and the oars manned, and the ship's head turned towards shore. + +Two hours' rowing took them within a short distance of land, and +keeping about a mile out they rowed to the west. The men, knowing how +anxious was their leader to overtake the Danish galleys, rowed their +hardest, relieving each other by turns, so that half the oars were +constantly going. Without intermission they rowed until night set in, +and then cast anchor. When the wind came--it was not until the third +day--it was ahead, and instead of helping the Dragon it greatly impeded +its progress. + +So far they had seen nothing of the galleys, and had the mortification +of knowing that in spite of all their efforts these were probably +gaining ground upon them every day. Even without wind the galleys would +row faster than the Dragon, and being so fully manned would be able to +keep all their oars going; but against the wind their advantage would +be increased greatly, for lying low in the water they would offer but +little resistance to it, and would be able to make way at a brisk pace, +while the Dragon could scarce move against it. + +The Saxon ship was off Calais when the breeze sprang up, and as it +increased and their progress became slower and slower Edmund held a +consultation with his companions and it was determined to run across +the channel and lie in the mouth of the Thames till the wind turned. So +long as it continued to blow they would lag farther and farther behind +the chase, who might, moreover enter any of the rivers in search of +shelter or provisions, and so escape their pursuers altogether. +Siegbert had never been up the Mediterranean, but he had talked with +many Danes who had been. These had told him that the best course was to +sail west to the extremity of England, then to steer due south until +they came upon the north coast of Spain. They would follow this to its +western extremity; and then run south, following the land till they +came to a channel some ten miles wide, which formed the entrance to the +Mediterranean. + +They decided, therefore, to follow this course in hopes of interrupting +the galleys there; they would thus avoid the dangerous navigation of +the west coast of France, where there were known to be many islands and +rocks, around which the tides ran with great fury. For a fortnight the +Dragon lay windbound; then came two days of calm; and then, to their +delight, the pennon on the top of the mast blew out from the east. + +They were lying in the mouth of the Colne, and would therefore have no +difficulty in making the Foreland; and with her sail set and her oars +out the Dragon dashed away from her moorings. Swiftly they ran round +the south-easterly point of England and then flew before the breeze +along the southern coast. On the third day they were off Land's End and +hauled her head to the south. The east wind held, the Bay of Biscay was +calm, and after a rapid voyage they sighted the high lands of Spain +ahead. Then they sheered to the west till they rounded its extremity +and then sailed down the coast of Spain. They put into a river for +provisions, and the natives assembled in great numbers on the banks +with the evident intention of opposing a landing; but upon Egbert +shouting that they were not Danes but Saxons, and were ready to barter +for the provisions they required, the natives allowed them to approach. +There was no wrangling for terms. Cattle were purchased, and the +water-tanks filled up, and a few hours after entering the river the +Dragon was again under way. Rounding the southern point they followed +the land. After a day's sailing they perceived land on their right, and +gave a shout of joy at the thought that they had arrived at the +entrance of the straits. At nightfall they dropped anchor. + +"What are you looking at, Siegbert?" Edmund asked, seeing the jarl +looking thoughtfully at the anchor-chain as the ship swung round. + +"I am thinking," the jarl said, "that we must have made some error. Do +you not see that she rides, just as we were sailing, with her head to +the north-east? That shows that the current is against us." + +"Assuredly it does," Edmund said; "but the current is a very slack one, +for the ropes are not tight." + +"But that agrees not," Siegbert said, "with what I have been told. In +the first place, this channel points to the northeast, whereas, as I +have heard, the straits into the Mediterranean run due east. In the +next place, those who have been through have told me that there are no +tides as in the northern seas, but that the current runs ever like a +river to the east." + +"If that be so," Edmund said, "we must have mistaken our way, for here +what current there is runs to the west. To-morrow morning, instead of +proceeding farther, we will cross to the opposite side, and will follow +that down until we strike upon the right channel." + +In the morning sail was again made, and crossing what was really the +Bay of Cadiz they sailed on till they arrived at the mouth of the +straits. There was no doubt now that they were right. The width of the +channel, its direction, and the steady current through it, all +corresponded with what Siegbert had heard, and proceeding a mile along +it they cast anchor. + +They soon opened communications with the natives, who, although +speaking a tongue unknown to them, soon comprehended by their gestures +and the holding up of articles of barter that their intentions were +friendly. Trade was established, and there was now nothing to do but to +await the coming of the galleys. + +"I would," Edmund said, as, when evening was closing, he looked across +the straits at the low hills on the opposite side, "that this passage +was narrower. Sweyn will, doubtless, have men on board his ship who +have sailed in these seas before, and will not need to grope his way +along as we have done. If he enters the straits at night we shall see +nothing of him, and the current runs so fast that he would sweep +speedily by. It is possible, indeed, that he has already passed. If he +continued to row down the shores of France all the time we were lying +wind-bound he would have had so long a start when the east wind began +to blow, that, although the galleys carry but little sail, they might +well have been here some days before us. Sweyn would be anxious to join +Hasting as soon as he could. The men would be thirsting for booty, and +would make but short halt anywhere. I will stay but a week. If in that +time they come not we will enter this southern sea and seek the fleet +of Hasting. When we find that we shall find Sweyn; but I fear that the +search will be a long one, for these people speak not our tongue, and +we shall have hard work in gaining tidings of the whereabouts of the +Northmen's fleet." + +Day and night a vigilant watch was kept up from the mast-head of the +Dragon, but without success. Each day they became more and more +convinced that Sweyn must be ahead of them, and on the morning of the +seventh they lifted their anchor and proceeded through the straits. +Many had been the consultations between Edmund and his friends, and it +had been determined at last to sail direct for Rome. Siegbert knew that +by sailing somewhat to the north of east, after issuing from the +passage, they would in time arrive at Italy. + +At Rome there was a monastery of Saxon monks, and through them they +would be able to obtain full information as to the doings and +whereabouts of the squadron of Hasting. Scarcely were they through the +straits than the wind, veering to the south-east, prevented them from +making the course they had fixed upon, but they were able to coast +along by the shore of Spain. They put into several small ports as they +cruised up, but could obtain no intelligence of the Danes, being unable +to converse except by signs. + +When they reached Marseilles they were pleased to meet with Franks, +with whom they could converse, and hired a pilot acquainted with the +coasts of the Mediterranean. They learned that Hasting and his fleet +had harried the coasts of Provence and Italy; that the Genoese galleys +had had several engagements with them, but had been worsted. + +The Danish fleet was now off the coast of Sicily, and the Northmen were +ravaging that rich and fertile island. They were reported to have even +threatened to ascend the Tiber and to burn Rome. Having obtained the +services of a man who spoke both the Italian and Frankish tongues, +Edmund started again. He first went to Genoa, as he thought that the +people there might be despatching another fleet against the Northmen in +which case he would have joined himself to them. On his arrival there +he was well entertained by the Genoese when they learned, through the +interpreter, who they were, and that they had come from England as +enemies of the Danes. + +Edmund and his Saxons were much surprised at the splendour of Genoa, +which immensely surpassed anything they had hitherto seen in the +magnificence of its buildings, the dress and appearance of its +inhabitants, the variety of the goods displayed by the traders, and the +wealth and luxury which distinguished it. It was indeed their first +sight of civilization, and Edmund felt how vastly behind was Northern +Europe, and understood for the first time Alfred's extreme eagerness to +raise the condition of his people. On the other hand, the Genoese were +surprised at the dress and appearance of the Saxons. + +The crew of the Dragon were picked men, and their strength and stature, +the width of their shoulders, and the muscles of their arms, and, above +all, their fair hair and blue eyes, greatly astonished the Genoese. +Edmund and his companions might have remained in Genoa and received +entertainment and hospitality from its people for a long time; but +after a stay of a day or two, and having obtained the various stores +necessary for their voyage, Edmund determined to proceed. Three of the +young Genoese nobles, fired by the story which they heard of the +adventures which the Dragon had gone through, and desirous of taking +part in any action which she might fight against the Danes, begged +leave to accompany them. + +Edmund gladly acceded to the request, as their presence would be of +great utility in other ports at which the Dragon might touch. At Genoa +Edmund procured garments for his men similar to those worn by the +Italian soldiers and sailors, and here he sold to the gold and +silversmiths a large number of articles of value which they had +captured from the Danes, or with which the Count Eudes and the people +of Paris had presented them. + +The Dragon differed but little in appearance from the galleys of the +Genoese, and Edmund determined when he approached the shores where the +Northmen were plundering to pass as a Genoese ship, for should the news +come to Sweyn's ears that a Saxon galley was in the Mediterranean it +might put him on his guard, as he would believe that she was specially +in pursuit of his own vessel. + +On arriving at the mouth of the Tiber the Dragon ascended the river and +anchored under the walls of the imperial city. The Genoese nobles had +many friends and relations there, and Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert were +at once installed as guests in a stately palace. + +The pope, upon hearing that the strange galley which had anchored in +the river was a Saxon, sent an invitation to its commander to visit +him, and Edmund and his kinsman were taken by their Italian friends to +his presence. The pope received them most graciously, and after +inquiring after King Alfred and the state of things in England, asked +how it was that a Saxon ship had made so long a voyage. + +Edmund explained that he was in search of a Danish damsel who had once +shown him great kindness, and who had been carried off from her father +by one of the vikings of Hasting's fleet. When he said that they had +taken part in the defence of Paris the holy father told him that he now +recognized his name, for that a full account of the siege had been sent +to him by one of the monks there, and that he had spoken much of the +valour of a Saxon captain and the crew of his galley, to whom indeed +their successful resistance to the Northmen was in no slight degree due. + +"Would I could aid you, my son, in your enterprise against these +northern pirates. The depredations which they are committing on the +shores of Italy are terrible indeed, and we are powerless to resist +them; they have even threatened to ascend the Tiber and attack Rome, +and though I trust that we might resist their attacks, yet rather than +such misfortune as a siege should fall upon my people I have paid a +large sum of money to the leader of the Northmen to abstain from coming +hither; but I know that the greed of these pirates does but increase +with their gains, and that ere long we may see their pagan banner +floated before our walls. A few galleys I could man and place under +your orders, but in truth the people of this town are not skilled in +naval fighting. I have already endeavoured to unite the states of +Genoa, Pisa, and Venice against them, for it is only by common effort +that we can hope to overwhelm these wolves of the sea." + +Edmund expressed his thanks to the pope for his offer, but said that he +would rather proceed with the Dragon alone. + +"She is to the full as swift as the Northmen's vessels," he said; "and +although I would right gladly join any great fleet which might be +assembled for an attack upon them, I would rather proceed alone than +with a few other ships. Not being strong enough to attack their whole +armament I must depend upon stratagem to capture the galley of which I +am specially in pursuit, and will with your permission set out as soon +as I have transformed my ship so that she will pass muster as a galley +of Genoa or Venice." + +The holy father gave orders that every assistance should be afforded to +Edmund to carry out his designs, and the next morning a large number of +artisans and workmen took possession of the Dragon. She was painted +from stem to stern with bright colours. Carved wood-work was added to +her forecastle and poop, and a great deal of gilding overlaid upon her. +The shape of her bow was altered, and so transformed was she that none +would have known her for the vessel which had entered the Tiber, and +she would have passed without observation as a galley of Genoa. + +A number of prisoners accustomed to row in the state galleys were +placed on board to work the oars, thus leaving the whole of the crew +available for fighting purposes, and a state officer was put in command +of these galley-slaves. The ship was well stored with provisions, and +after a farewell interview with the pope, Edmund and his companions +returned on board ship, and the Dragon took her way down the river. + +The fleet of the Northmen was at Palermo, and keeping under the land, +the Saxon ship sailed down the coast of Calabria, and at night crossed +near the mouth of the straits to the shore of Sicily. They entered a +quiet bay, and Edmund dressed as a Dane, with the two Northmen who had +accompanied him from Paris, landed and journeyed on foot to Palermo. + +Everywhere they came upon scenes similar to those with which they were +familiar in France. Villages burned and destroyed, houses deserted, +orchards and crops wasted, and a country destitute of inhabitants, all +having fled to the mountains to escape the invader. They did not meet +with a single person upon their journey. When they approached Palermo +they waited until nightfall, and then boldly entered the town. Here the +most intense state of misery prevailed. Many of the inhabitants had +fled before the arrival of the Danes, but those who remained were kept +in a state of cruel subjection by their conquerors, who brutally +oppressed and ill-used them, making free with all their possessions and +treating them as slaves. + +The Danes entered into conversation with some of their countrymen, and +professing to have that evening but newly arrived from home, learned +much of the disposition of the fleet of the Northmen. They pretended +that they were desirous of joining the galleys under the command of +Sweyn, and were told that these had arrived three weeks before, and +were now absent with some others on the southern side of the island. + +Having obtained this information, Edmund and his companions started +without delay to rejoin the Dragon. Upon reaching her she at once put +to sea. Palermo was passed in the night, and the vessel held her way +down the western coast of Sicily. She was now under sail alone, and +each night lay up at anchor in order that she might not pass the Danish +galleys unobserved. On the third day after passing Palermo, several +galleys were seen riding off a small port. The wind was very light, and +after a consultation with his friends Edmund determined to simulate +flight so as to tempt the Danes to pursue, for with so light a breeze +their smaller galleys would row faster than the Dragon; besides, it was +possible that Sweyn might be on shore. + +It was early morning when the Danish galleys were seen, and apparently +the crews were still asleep, for no movement on board was visible, and +the Dragon sailed back round a projecting point of land and then cast +anchor. It was so important to learn whether Sweyn was with Freda on +board his ship, or whether, as was likely, he had established himself +on shore, that it was decided it would be better to send the two Danes +to reconnoitre before determining what plan should be adopted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: FREDA DISCOVERED + + +The spies upon their return reported that Sweyn had taken up his abode +in the mansion of the Count of Ugoli, who was the lord of that part of +the country. Most of the Danes lived on shore in the houses of the +townspeople. Many of these had been slain, and the rest were treated as +slaves. The lady Freda was also on shore, and it was thought that she +would ere long become the bride of the Viking. + +"Think you that there will be any possibility of surprising the house +and carrying her off?" + +"I think not," the Dane said, "for Sweyn's men are on the alert, and +keep good guard, for the people of this part of the island, being +maddened by their exactions and cruelty, have banded themselves +together; and although they cannot withstand the strong parties which +go out in search of plunder they cut off stragglers, and have made +several attacks on small parties. It is thought that they may even +venture an attack upon the place at night, therefore sentries are set, +and a portion of the force remains always under arms in readiness to +sally out in case of alarm." + +"I would fain go myself," Edmund said, "and see how matters stand, and +try to communicate with Freda. It may be that her long resistance has +tired her out, and that she is at the point of consenting to become +Sweyn's bride." + +"I think not that," Siegbert replied. "When Freda has once made up her +mind she is not given to change." + +"I doubt not her resolution," Edmund said; "but none can blame her if, +after all these months, she has begun to despair of rescue; nay, it is +even probable that, having Sweyn, who is assuredly a brave and +enterprising Viking, always near her, she may have come to love him." + +"No, Edmund," Siegbert replied. "I am sure you need have no fear that +she has softened towards Sweyn. But how do you think of proceeding if +you land?" + +"I will take with me this Dane, and if one of the Genoese nobles will +go with me I will take him, and also the man we brought from +Marseilles, who acts as an interpreter between us and the Italians." + +"But why hamper yourself with two men, who would be even more likely to +be detected by the Danes than would you yourself?" + +"I shall leave them in the outskirts of the place," Edmund replied. "I +would fain see if I can enter into any negotiations with the natives. +Perhaps we may arrange that they shall attack the place on the land +side, while the Dragon falls upon the galleys, and in any case we may +need an interpreter with the people." + +One of the young Genoese, upon being asked whether he would take part +in the adventure, at once consented, and the four men, attiring +themselves as Danes, speedily landed in the Dragon's boat. The bay in +which the ship was lying was some ten miles along the shore from the +town. The spies had made their way along the sea-coast by night, but as +it was morning when Edmund landed, he thought that it would be safer to +make a detour so as to arrive near the landward side of the town and so +enter it after dark. + +They had not proceeded far when they came upon the ruins of a village. +It had been destroyed by fire, and the freshness of the charred beams +showed that it had been done but a short time before, probably not many +days. Marks of blood could be seen in the roadway, but no bodies were +visible, and Edmund supposed that, after the Danes had retired, the +survivors must have returned and buried their dead. They had not +proceeded far when the Dane pointed out to Edmund a half-naked lad who +was running with the swiftness of a deer over a slope of some little +distance. + +"He is going too fast for us to catch him," Edmund said carelessly; +"and as, even if we did so, he could give us no information of any use, +for you may be sure he has not ventured near the town, we may well let +him go on in his way." + +For three or four miles further they pursued their course. The country, +which was exceedingly fertile, and covered with corn-fields and +vineyards, appeared entirely deserted. Here and there a wide blackened +tract showed where, from carelessness or malice, a brand had been +thrown into the standing corn. + +"The Danes are ever the same," Edmund said. "Well may they be called +the sea-wolves. It would be bad enough did they only plunder and kill +those who oppose them; but they destroy from the pure love of +destroying, and slay for the pleasure of slaying. Why are these robbers +permitted to be the scourge of Europe?" + +"Why indeed?" the Genoese repeated when the interpreter had translated +Edmund's exclamation to him. "'Tis shame and disgrace that Christendom +does not unite against them. They are no more invincible now than they +were when Caesar overran their country and brought them into +subjection. What the Romans could do then would be easy for the +Christian powers to do now if they would but make common cause against +these marauders--nay, Italy alone should be able at any rate to sweep +the Mediterranean free of their pirate galleys; but Venice and Genoa +and Pisa are consumed by their own petty jealousies and quarrels, while +all our sea-coasts are ravaged by these wolves of the ocean." + +"Ah! what is that?" he exclaimed, breaking off, as an arrow struck +smartly against his helmet. + +They were at the moment passing through a small wood which bordered the +road on both sides. The first arrow seemed but a signal, for in an +instant a score of others flew among the party. It was well that they +carried with them the long Danish shields, which nearly covered their +whole body. As it was, several slight wounds were inflicted, and the +interpreter fell dead with an arrow in his forehead. + +Immediately following the flight of arrows a crowd of peasants armed +with staves, axes, and pikes dashed out from the wood on both sides and +fell upon them, uttering shouts of "Death to the marauders!" "Kill the +sea-wolves!" + +So great was the din, that, although the Genoese shouted loudly that +they were not Danes but friends, his words were unheard in the din; and +attacked fiercely on all sides, the three men were forced to defend +themselves for their lives. Standing back to back in the form of a +triangle, they defended themselves valiantly against the desperate +attacks of their assailants. + +Several of these were cut down, but so furious was the attack of the +maddened peasants that the defenders were borne down by the weight of +numbers, and one by one beaten to the ground. Then the peasants rained +blows upon them as if they had been obnoxious wild beasts, and in spite +of their armour would speedily have slain them had not the Genoese, +with a great effort, pulled from his breast a cross, which was +suspended there by a silken cord, and held it up, shouting, "We are +Christians, we are Italians, and no Danes." + +So surprised were the peasants at the sight that they recoiled from +their victims. The Dane was already insensible. Edmund had just +strength to draw his dagger and hold up the cross hilt and repeat the +words, "We are Christians." It was the sight of the cross rather than +the words which had arrested the attacks of the peasants. Indeed, the +words of the Genoese were scarce understood by them, so widely did +their own patois differ from the language of polished Italy. + +The fact, however, that these Danes were Christians seemed so +extraordinary to them that they desisted from their attack. The Danes, +they knew, were pagans and bitterly hostile to Christianity, the +monasteries and priests being special objects of their hostility. The +suggestion of one of the peasants, that the cross had no doubt been +taken from the body of some man murdered by the Danes, revived the +passion of the rest and nearly cost the prisoners their lives; but an +older man who seemed to have a certain authority over the others said +that the matter must be inquired into, especially as the man who had +the cross, and who continued to address them in Italian, clearly spoke +some language approaching their own. He would have questioned him +further, but the Genoese was now rapidly losing consciousness from the +pain of his wounds and the loss of blood. + +The three prisoners were therefore bound, and being placed on rough +litters constructed of boughs, were carried off by the peasants. The +strength and excellence of Edmund's armour had enabled him to withstand +the blows better than his companions, and he retained his consciousness +of what was passing. For three hours their journey continued. At the +end of that time they entered a wood high up on the hillside. There was +a great clamour of voices round, and he judged that his conductors had +met another party and that they were at the end of their journey. + +The litters were now laid down and Edmund struggled to his feet. Before +him stood a tall and handsome man in the attire of a person of the +upper class. The old peasant was explaining to him the manner of their +capture of the prisoners, and the reason why they had spared their +lives. + +"How is it," the noble asked when he had finished, turning to Edmund, +"that you who are Danes and pagans, plunderers and murderers, claim to +be Christians?" + +Edmund did not understand the entire address, but he had already picked +up a little Italian, which was not difficult for him from his +acquaintance with French. + +"We are not Danes," he said; "we are their enemies, I am a Saxon earl, +and this my friend is a noble of Genoa." + +"A Saxon!" the Italian exclaimed in surprise; "one of the people of +King Alfred, and this a Genoese noble! How is it that you are +masquerading here as Danes?" + +"I speak but a few words of Italian," Edmund said, "but my friend will +tell you the whole story when he recovers. I pray you to order aid to +be given to him at once." + +Although still at a loss to understand how it had come about, the Count +of Ugoli--for it was that noble himself--saw that his prisoner's +statement must be a true one. In their native patois he hastily told +the peasants that there must be some mistake, and that although their +prisoners seemed to be Danes they were really Christians and friends. +He bade them then instantly to strip off their armour, to bind up their +wounds, and to use all their efforts to restore them to life. + +At his bidding one of the peasants brought a wine-skin, and filling a +large cup with the liquid, offered it to Edmund. The latter drained it +at a draught, for he was devoured by a terrible thirst. After this he +felt revived, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing his comrades +recovering under the ministrations of the peasants, who chafed their +hands, applied cool poultices of bruised leaves to their bruises, and +poured wine down their throats. + +In half an hour the Genoese was sufficiently recovered to be able to +sit up and to give a full account of their presence there, and of their +object in assuming the disguise of Danes. He then told the count that +Edmund intended to reconnoitre the place alone, and that he hoped he +and his people would attack the town, while the Saxons in their galley +made an assault from the sea. The count replied that the peasantry +could not be induced to take such a step. + +"I will, however, aid your friend," he said, "by a feigned attack +to-morrow evening when he is there. This may help him to escape, and if +the Danes sally out next day in pursuit there will be the fewer for him +to cope with." + +When Edmund awoke the next morning he found himself able to walk and +move without difficulty and with but little pain, thanks to the care of +the peasants, and in the afternoon, being furnished by the count with a +guide, he started for the town. + +When he arrived within a short distance he dismissed his guide and lay +down in some bushes till nightfall, then he rose and made his way into +the town, passing unobserved between the watch-fires made by the +parties of Danes encamped in its outskirts to protect it against +surprise. Once in the town, he walked boldly on, having no fear of +recognition or question. + +Sounds of carousing came through the open casements, but few people +were in its streets. He made his way down to the sea-shore, which he +followed until he came to a large and stately mansion standing in +beautifully laid out gardens at the end of the town. Several tents were +erected in the garden; and although the night was not cold great fires +had been lighted, around which the Danes were carousing. + +Avoiding these Edmund walked up to the open windows. The first room he +looked into was deserted, but in the next, which was a large apartment, +a number of Danes were seated at table. At its head sat Sweyn with +Freda on his right hand. Around were a number of his leading men, the +captains of the galleys and their wives. The meal was over, and the +winecup was passing round. A number of attendants moved about the room, +and many of the warriors who had supped elsewhere stood around the +table, joining in the conversation and taking their share of the wine. + +Edmund saw at once that he could not hope for a more favourable +opportunity, and he accordingly entered the mansion, and, passing +through the open door, joined the party within, keeping himself in rear +of those standing round the table, so that the light from the lamps +placed there should not fall upon his face. + +Just as he had taken his place, Sweyn called out: "Let us have a song. +Odoacre the minstrel, do you sing to us the song of the Raven." + +A minstrel bearing a small harp advanced into the centre of the +horse-shoe table, and after striking a chord, began to sing, or rather +to chant one of the favourite songs of the sea-rovers. + +A shout of applause rose from the Danes as the minstrel ceased, and +holding their goblets high above their heads, they drank to the Raven. + +While the singing was going on Edmund quietly made his way round to one +of the open windows. It was the hour at which the count had promised to +make his attack, and he listened eagerly for any sound which might tell +that the peasants had begun their work. Other songs followed the first, +and Edmund began to be afraid that the courage of the peasants had +failed at the last moment. + +Suddenly he saw lights appear at five or six points in the distance, +and, putting his head out, he thought he could hear distant cries and +shouts. The lights grew brighter, and soon broad tongues of flame shot +up. Shouts at once arose from the guards without. Some of the revellers +hearing these went to the windows to see what was happening, and gave a +cry of alarm. "Sweyn, we must be attacked; fires are rising in the +outskirts of the town." + +"These cowards would never venture to disturb us," Sweyn said +scornfully; "of all the foes we have ever met none were so feeble and +timid as these Italians." + +"But see, Sweyn, the flames are rising from eight points; this cannot +be accident." + +Sweyn rose from his seat and went to the window. + +"No, by Wodin," he exclaimed, "there is mischief here; let us arm +ourselves, and do you," he said, turning to a young man, "run swiftly +to the outposts, and learn what is the meaning of this." + +Scarcely, however, had he spoken when a man ran breathlessly into the +hall. + +"Haste to the front, jarl," he said to Sweyn, "we are attacked. Some of +the enemy creeping in between our fires set fire to the houses in the +outskirts, and as we leapt to our feet in astonishment at the sudden +outbreak, they fell upon us. Many of my comrades were killed with the +first discharge of arrows, then they rushed on in such numbers that +many more were slain, and the rest driven in. How it fares with the +other posts I know not, but methinks they were all attacked at the same +moment. I waited not to see, for my captain bade me speed here with the +news." + +"Sound the horn of assembly," Sweyn said. "Do you, Oderic, take twenty +of the guard without, and at once conduct the ladies here to the boats +and get them on board the galleys. Let all others hasten to the scene +of attack. But I can hardly even now believe that this coward herd +intend to attack us in earnest." + +In the confusion which reigned as the warriors were seizing their +shields and arms, Edmund approached Freda, who had with the rest risen +from her seat. + +"The Dragon is at hand," he whispered; "in a few hours we will attack +Sweyn's galley; barricade yourself in your cabin until the fight is +over." + +Freda gave a little start as Edmund's first words reached her ear. Then +she stood still and silent. She felt her hand taken and pressed, and +glancing round, met Edmund's eye for a moment just as he turned and +joined the Danes who were leaving the hall. A minute later Oderic +entered with the guard, and at once escorted the women down to the +boats, and rowed them off to the galleys. + +Sweyn and the main body of the Danes rushed impetuously to the +outskirts of the town. The fighting was already at an end, the peasants +having withdrawn after their first success. Two or three of the parties +round the watch-fires had been annihilated before they could offer any +effectual resistance, others had beaten off the attack, and had fallen +back in good order to the houses, losing, however, many men on the way +from the arrows which their assailants shot among them. + +Sweyn and the Norsemen were furious at the loss they had suffered; but +as pursuit would have been useless, there was nothing to be done for +the present, and after posting strong guards in case the attack should +be renewed, the Danish leaders returned to the banqueting hall, where, +over renewed draughts of wine, a council was held. + +Most of those present were in favour of sending out a strong expedition +on the following day to avenge the attack; but Sweyn argued that it +might be that the natives had assembled from all parts of the island, +and that this sudden attack, the like of which had not been attempted +before, was perhaps made only to draw them out into an ambush or to +attack the town in their absence. Therefore he urged it was better to +delay making an expedition for a short time, when they would find the +enemy unprepared. + +After some discussion Sweyn's arguments prevailed, and it was +determined to postpone the expedition for a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX: UNITED + + +No sooner did Edmund find himself outside the mansion than he separated +himself from the Danes, and following the sea-shore, set out on his +return to the Dragon. The tide was out, and although the night was dark +he had no difficulty in finding his way along the shore, keeping close +to the margin of the waves. When he approached the headland he was +forced to take to the land, as the waves beat against the foot of the +rock. Guided by the stars he made his way across the cape and came down +on to the shore of the bay. + +A light was burning on the poop of the Dragon, and his hail was at once +answered. A few minutes later a boat touched the shore beside him, and +he was soon on board the ship, and at once held council with Egbert and +Siegbert, to whom he related all that had happened. He learned from +them that his two wounded comrades had been brought down to the beach +that evening by the country people, and had told them how narrow an +escape they had had of death at the hands of the enraged peasants. + +After a discussion of all the different plans upon which they might +act, it was determined that the attempt to rescue Freda should be made +at once, as they considered it certain that Sweyn with a large portion +of his band would set out at daybreak to take vengeance upon the +natives. + +The plan decided upon was that they should proceed along the shore, and +that if the Danish galleys, being undermanned, did not put out in +pursuit, they should sail in and attack them. The Danes were indeed +greatly superior in force, for they had counted the ships, the smallest +of which would carry a hundred men. Still in the absence of a portion +of their crews, and from the effects of surprise, they thought that +success was possible. + +The next morning sail was hoisted, and the Dragon made her way along +the coast. The hour was later than that at which she had shown herself +on the previous day. She sailed on until within two miles of the town, +and then suddenly turned her head seaward, as if she had only then +perceived the Danish vessels. The instant she did so a great bustle was +observed among them. Many boats were seen pushing off from shore +crowded with men, oars were got out, and sails loosed. + +"From the number of men who are crowding on board," Egbert said, "I +believe that Sweyn cannot have started in pursuit of the natives; in +that case we shall have a hard fight of it." + +"So much the better," Siegbert exclaimed. "I should consider our task +was half accomplished if we rescued Freda without punishing Sweyn. Let +them come," he said, shaking his battle-axe at the galleys. "Though my +leg is stiff my arms are not, as Sweyn shall learn if I meet him." + +The Dragon's oars were now put out and the galley-slaves began to row, +the Saxons concealing themselves behind the bulwarks. In a few minutes +the whole of the Danish galleys were unmoored and started in the +pursuit of the supposed Italian vessel. The breeze was light, but +somewhat helped the Dragon. Four of the Northmen vessels were large +ships with sails, and these speedily fell behind, but the others with +their oars gained slowly on the Dragon. + +Edmund saw with satisfaction that the two galleys of Sweyn, which he at +once recognized, were somewhat faster than their consorts, and the +slaves were made to row as hard as they could in order to prolong the +chase as much as possible, by which means Sweyn's galleys would be the +further separated from the others. + +After the pursuit had been continued for some miles Sweyn's galleys +were but a few hundred yards in the rear, and were nearly a quarter of +a mile ahead of those of their comrades, which had gained but little +upon the Dragon since the chase began. Edmund ordered the men to cease +rowing, as if despairing of escape. The Genoese took their station on +the poop, and as Sweyn's galley came rushing up they shouted to it that +they would surrender if promised their lives. The Northmen answered +with a shout of triumph and derision, and dashed alongside. + +Sweyn's own galley was slightly in advance of the others. Edmund +ordered the oars to be pulled in as the Northmen came up, so as to +allow them to come alongside. Not a word was spoken on board the Dragon +till the Danes, leaving their oars, swarmed up the side headed by Sweyn +himself. Then Edmund gave a shout, the Saxons leaped to their feet, and +raising their battle-cry fell upon the astonished Danes. + +Those who had climbed up were instantly cut down or hurled back into +their own galley, and the Saxons leaping down, a tremendous fight +ensued. Edmund with Siegbert and half his crew boarded the Dane close +to the poop, and so cut the Northmen off from that part of the vessel, +while Egbert with the rest boarded farther forward. The Danes would +have been speedily overpowered had not the second galley arrived upon +the spot; and these, seeing the combat which was raging, at once leaped +upon Sweyn's galley. With this accession of force, although numbers of +the Danes had fallen in the first attack, they still outnumbered the +Saxons. + +Sweyn, heading his men, made a desperate effort to drive back Edmund's +party. His men, however, fought less bravely than usual. Their +astonishment at finding the ship which they had regarded as an easy +prize manned by Saxons was overwhelming, and the sight of Siegbert, +whom many of them knew, in the front rank of their enemies added to +their confusion. + +Sweyn himself, as he recognized Edmund, at once made at him, and, +wielding a heavy axe in his left hand, strove to cut him down; and +Edmund, strong and skilful as he was, had great difficulty in parrying +the blows which the Northman rained upon him. The combat, however, was +decided by Siegbert, who hurled his javelin at Sweyn, the weapon +passing completely through his body. + +Sweyn fell on the deck with a crash. + +The Northmen, dispirited at the fall of their leader, hesitated, and as +the Saxons sprang upon them turned and fled into the other galley. The +door of the poop opened and Freda flew into her father's arms. + +"Quick, Siegbert, to the Dragon!" Edmund cried, and shouted orders to +his men. "There is not a moment to be lost. The other galleys are just +upon us!" + +The Saxons rushed back to the Dragon; the oars were thrust out again, +and the vessel got under weigh just as the other Danish galleys arrived +on the spot. While some of the Saxons poured volleys of arrows and +javelins into the Northmen, the others at Edmund's order leaped down +and double-banked the oars. The increase of power was soon manifest, +and the Dragon began to draw away from the Danes. Gradually their +galleys fell back out of bow-shot, and after continuing the chase for +some little time longer they abandoned it as hopeless and lay upon +their oars to rest. + +A shout of triumph rose from the Saxons, and then Edmund, who had +hitherto been fully occupied with the command of the vessel, turned to +Freda, who was still standing by her father. + +"I have been a long time in fulfilling my promise, Freda," he said; +"but as your father will tell you I have done my best. Thank God, who +has given me success at last!" + +"I never doubted that you would come, Edmund," she said, "and the +knowledge has enabled me to stand firm against both the entreaties and +threats of Sweyn. How can I thank you for all you have done for me?" + +"I have spoken to your father, Freda; and he has promised me your hand +if you, indeed, are willing to bestow it. I promised to come for you if +you would wait, nearly five years ago, and I have never thought of any +other woman." + +"I have waited for you, Edmund," she said simply, "and would never have +wed another had you not come. You are my hero, and methinks I have +loved you ever since the day when you boarded our ship off the mouth of +the Humber." + +"Take her, Edmund," Siegbert said; "you have nobly won her, and there +is no one to whom I could be so well content to intrust her. I now join +your hands in token of betrothal." + +The crew of the Dragon, who had been watching the scene, raised a shout +of gladness as they saw Siegbert place Freda's hand in that of Edmund. +They had guessed that their lord must have an affection for this Danish +maiden in whose pursuit they had come so far, and were delighted at the +happy issue of the expedition. + +"I trust, Freda," Edmund said to her after a while, "that you have +thought of the talk we had about religion, and that you will forsake +the barbarous gods of your people and become a Christian, as so many of +your people have done in England, and that you will be wedded to me not +in the rude way of the Danes, but in a Christian church." + +"I have thought much of it," she said, "and have come to think that +your God of peace must be better than the gods of war; but I would fain +know more of Him before I desert the religion of my fathers." + +"That shall you," Edmund said. "With your father's permission I will +place you for a short time in a convent in Rome, and one of the Saxon +monks shall teach you the tenets of our faith. It will be but for a +short time, dear; and while you are there we will try and capture some +of Hasting's galleys, filled with plunder, for my men have come far, +and I would fain that they returned with an ample booty." + +Freda and Siegbert agreed to the plan, and the latter said, "I too will +tarry in Rome while you are away, Edmund. I could fight against Sweyn, +for it was in a private quarrel, but I cannot war against my +countrymen. I too will talk with your Saxon monks, and hear about this +new religion of yours, for I think that as I have no others to love or +care for I shall return to England with you, and, if you will have me, +take up my abode in your English home so as to be near you and my +daughter." + +The Dragon returned to Rome. There Edmund procured lodgings for +Siegbert and Freda, and the Saxon monks gladly arranged to visit them +and instruct them in the doctrines of Christianity. The Dragon sailed +again for the coast of Sicily and was absent a month, during which time +she captured a number of Danish galleys, most of which were laden with +rich booty. Then she returned to Rome. A few days later a solemn +service was held, at which Freda and Siegbert were baptized as +Christians, and after this was done a marriage service was held, and +Edmund and Freda married with the rites of the Christian Church. The +pope himself was present at the services and bestowed his blessing upon +the newly married couple, the novelty of the occasion drawing a vast +crowd of spectators. + +A few days later the Dragon again put to sea, and after a speedy voyage +with favourable weather arrived in England without further adventure. +Edmund's arrival at home was the occasion of great rejoicings. The news +of the share which the Dragon and her crew had taken in the defence of +Paris had reached England, but none knew what had become of her from +that time, and when months had passed without tidings of her being +received it was generally supposed that she must have been lost. + +Her return laden with rich booty excited the greatest enthusiasm, and +the king himself journeyed to Sherborne to welcome Edmund on his +arrival there. + +"So this is the reason," he said smiling, when Edmund presented Freda +to him, "why you were ever so insensible to the attractions to our +Saxon maidens! Truly the reason is a fair one and fully excuses you, +and right glad am I to welcome your bonnie bride to our shores." + +Alfred remained three days at Sherborne and then left Edmund to +administer the affairs of his earldom, for which a substitute had been +provided in his absence. The large plunder which the Dragon had brought +home had enriched all who had sailed in her, and greatly added to the +prosperity which prevailed in Edmund's district. + +He found that in his absence Alfred had introduced many changes. The +administration of justice was no longer in the hands of the ealdormen, +judges having been appointed who journeyed through the land and +administered justice. Edmund highly approved of the change, for +although in most cases the ealdormen had acted to the best of their +powers they had a great deal of other business to do; besides, their +decisions necessarily aggrieved one party or the other and sometimes +caused feuds and bad feelings, and were always liable to be suspected +of being tinged with partiality; whereas the judges being strangers in +the district would give their decisions without bias or favour. + +Freda had, as was the custom, taken a new name in baptism, but at +Edmund's request her name had only been changed to the Christian one of +Elfrida, and Edmund to the end of his life continued to call her by her +old name. She speedily became as popular in the earldom as was her +husband. + +Siegbert, who had been christened Harold, took kindly to his new life. +Between him and Egbert a great friendship had sprung up, and Edmund +built for their joint use a house close to his own. + +In 884 Alfred heard that the Danes of East Anglia were in +correspondence with their countrymen at home and in France, and that +there was danger that the peace of England would be disturbed. The +thanes were therefore bidden to prepare for another struggle, to gather +sufficient arms in readiness for all the able-bodied men in their +district, and to call out their contingents from time to time to +practise in the use of arms. + +The ealdormen whose seats of government bordered on the sea were +ordered to construct ships of war, so that any Danish armament might be +met at sea. Edmund was appointed to command this fleet, and was +instructed to visit the various ports to superintend the construction +of the ships, and when they were completed to exercise their crews in +naval maneuvers. + +The winter of 884 was spent by Edmund in the performance of these +duties. The Dragon was again fitted out, and in her he cruised from +port to port. Freda, who was passionately fond of the sea, accompanied +him, as did Siegbert and Egbert. It was not until May in 885 that the +threatened invasion took place. Then the news came to the king that the +Danes had landed in large numbers near Rochester and had laid siege to +the town. The king instantly summoned his fighting array, and in a few +days moved at the head of a large army towards Kent. Rochester was +defending itself valiantly. The Danes erected a great tower opposite to +the principal gate, and overwhelming the defenders on the walls with +their missiles endeavoured to force their way in by battering down the +gate. + +The inhabitants, however, piled great masses of stone behind it, and +even when the gate was battered in the Danes, with all their efforts, +were unable to force an entrance. The Saxon army advanced with such +celerity that the Danes had received no news of their coming until they +were close at hand. Then one of their foraging parties arrived with the +intelligence that a great Saxon army was upon them. The Danes were +seized with a sudden panic, and fled precipitately to their ships, +leaving behind them the horses they had brought from France, their +stores, and all the prisoners and spoil they had gathered in their +incursions in the neighbourhood of Rochester. Seeing how well the +Saxons were prepared for resistance the greater portion of the Danes +crossed to France, but sixteen of their vessels entered the Stour and +joined their allies of East Anglia. + +Alfred ordered his fleet to assemble in the Medway, and in a fortnight +the vessels from all the southern ports arrived. They were filled with +fighting men, and sailed to attack the Danes in the Stour, after which +the force was to land and to inflict a severe punishment upon East +Anglia. On hearing of the gathering of the Saxon fleet Athelstan sent +across to France and begged the Danes to come to his assistance, but +none of their vessels had arrived when the Saxon fleet reached the +mouth of the Stour. + +The fighting force on board the Danish ships had been largely +reinforced by their countrymen of East Anglia, and in a close body they +rowed out to give battle to the Saxons. A desperate fight ensued, but +after a struggle, which continued for many hours, the Danes were +completely defeated, the whole of their vessels were captured, and all +on board put to the sword. + +On the following day the army landed and ravaged the surrounding +country and returned to the ships with much booty. As they sailed out +of the river they saw a vast fleet of the enemy approaching. Athelstan +had assembled his ships from all the ports of East Anglia, and had been +joined by a large reinforcement of his countrymen from France. The +Saxons were greatly outnumbered, but a portion of the fleet fought with +great bravery. Some of the ships, however, being manned with +newly-collected crews unaccustomed to naval war, lost heart, and made +but a poor resistance. + +Alfred was on board the Dragon, which sank several of the Danish +galleys, and with some of her consorts continued the fight until +nightfall, beating off every attempt of the Danes to board them. Seeing +that several of the ships had been captured, that others had taken to +flight, and that there was no longer a hope of victory, Alfred gave the +signal, and the Dragon and her remaining consorts fought their way +through the Danish fleet and made their escape. + +The valour which the Saxons had shown in these two sea-fights, and the +strength of the army with which Alfred had so speedily marched to the +relief of Rochester, greatly impressed the enemy, and although Rollo +came across from Normandy to the assistance of Athelstan, the Danes +concluded that it was better to leave the Saxons to themselves. + +Alfred in the following spring again assembled his army and laid siege +to London, which was still in the possession of the Danes. Athelstan +did not venture to march to its assistance, and the town, which had +long been in the Northmen's hands, was captured. The greater portion of +the city was burned in the siege. Alfred ordered it to be rebuilt, +invited its former inhabitants to return, and offered privileges to all +who would take up their abode there. The walls were rebuilt, and the +city placed in a position of defence. Alfred then handed it over to +Ethelred, the ealdorman of Mercia. + +Peace was now made with Athelstan, and for some years remained +unbroken. In 893 a Danish fleet of 250 ships sailed across from +Boulogne and landed in the Weald of Kent, which was then covered with a +great forest, and there wintered, while the viking Hasting with eighty +ships sailed up the Thames and built a strong fort at Milton. + +Alfred stationed his army in a strong position half-way between the +forest and the Danish camp at Milton, so that he could attack either +army when they moved out of their stronghold. The Danes for many months +remained in the forest, issuing out occasionally to plunder in the open +country of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, but they met with a stout +resistance from the Saxons who had remained in the towns and country. + +After Easter, having collected a considerable amount of spoil, and +finding the resistance ever increasing, the Danes moved northwards from +their forest, intending to march into Essex. The king's forces at once +set off to intercept them, and overtook them at Farnham, where the +Northmen were completely defeated. All their booty was recaptured, with +their horses and stores. Those who escaped fled across the Thames and +took refuge on an island in the Colne. The Saxons besieged them there; +but when the Danes were about to surrender from want of provisions the +news arrived that the Northmen of Northumbria and East Anglia, with 240 +ships, had landed suddenly in Devonshire, and had laid siege to Exeter. + +The siege of the island was at once raised, and King Alfred marched +against the new arrivals, and advancing with great speed fell upon them +and defeated them. Then hastily returning he came to London and, joined +by a strong force from Mercia, marched against Milton, where Hasting +had been joined by the great number of the Danes who had formed the +army in the Weald. Hasting himself was away, but his army marched out +to meet the Saxons. + +A great battle was fought, but the Danes could not resist the ardour of +their assailants. Their army was routed and their fortress stormed. All +the booty within it fell into the hands of the victors, together with +the wives and families of the Danes, among whom were the wife and two +sons of Hasting. The Danish fleet also was captured, and was burned or +taken to London. Another great fleet of the East Angles and +Northumbrians sailed up the Thames, and landing, the Northmen marched +across to the Severn, but were defeated and destroyed by Ethelred of +Mercia. + +Exeter was again invested by a Danish fleet, and again saved by Alfred. +The Danes, as they retired along the south coast, landed near +Chichester, where they suffered a heavy defeat from the South Saxons. + +In the following year a fresh fleet sailed up the Thames and thence up +the Lea, where they constructed a fortress twenty miles above London. + +Alfred caused two fortresses to be erected on the Lea below them, with +vast balks of timber entirely obstructing the river. The Danes, finding +their retreat cut off, abandoned their ships and marched across England +to Cwatbridge on the Severn. Their fleet fell into the hands of the +Londoners, who burned and broke up all the smaller ships and carried +the rest down to London. The Danes were so disconcerted by the many and +severe defeats which had befallen them that they now abandoned the idea +of again conquering England, and taking ship, sailed for France. + +Four years later, in 901, King Alfred died, having reigned twenty-nine +years and six months. During his reign England had made immense +advances in civilization, and in spite of the devastation wrought by +the Danish occupation of Wessex during the early years of his reign, +and the efforts required afterwards to oppose them, the wealth and +prosperity of the country vastly increased during his reign. Abbeys and +monasteries had multiplied, public buildings been erected, towns +rebuilt and beautified, and learning had made great advances. The laws +of the country had been codified and regulated, the administration of +justice placed on a firm basis. The kingly authority had greatly +increased, and the great ealdormen were no longer semi-independent +nobles, but officers of the crown. Serfdom, although not entirely +abolished, had been mitigated and regulated. Arts and manufactures had +made great progress. + +Edmund and Freda survived King Alfred many years, and their district +continued to be one of the most prosperous and well-ruled in the +kingdom. Their descendants continued to hold the office of ealdorman +until the invasion by William the Conqueror, and the holder of the +office at that time fell, with numbers of his followers, at the battle +of Hastings. For very many years after that event the prow of the +Dragon was kept in the great hall of Sherborne as a memorial of the +valiant deeds performed against the Danes by Ealdorman Edmund. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dragon and the Raven, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN *** + +***** This file should be named 3674.txt or 3674.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/3674/ + +Produced by Ronald J. Goodden. HTML version by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by Ronald J. Goodden <rgddn@hotmail.com> + + + + + +THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN: +Or The Days of King Alfred + +By G. A. Henty + + + + +C O N T E N T S + + PREFACE +I. THE FUGITIVES +II. THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN +III. THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND +IV. THE INVASION OF WESSEX +V. A DISCIPLINED BAND +VI. THE SAXON FORT +VII. THE DRAGON +VIII. THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON +IX. A PRIS0NER +X. THE COMBAT +XI. THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY +XII. FOUR YEARS OF PEACE +XIII. THE SIEGE OF PARIS +XIV. THE REPULSE OF THE NORSEMEN +XV. FRIENDS IN TROUBLE +XVI. FREDA +XVII. A LONG CHASE +XVIII. FREDA DISCOVERED +XIX. UNITED + + + + +PREFACE + + +MY DEAR LADS, + +Living in the present days of peace and tranquillity it is +difficult to picture the life of our ancestors in the days of +King Alfred, when the whole country was for years overrun +by hordes of pagan barbarians, who slaughtered, plundered, +and destroyed at will. You may gain, perhaps, a fair +conception of the state of things if you imagine that at the +time of the great mutiny the English population of India +approached that of the natives, and that the mutiny was +everywhere triumphant. The wholesale massacres and outrages +which would in such a case have been inflicted upon the +conquered whites could be no worse than those suffered by +the Saxons at the hands of the Danes. From this terrible state +of subjection and suffering the Saxons were rescued by the +prudence, the patience, the valour and wisdom of King Alfred. +In all subsequent ages England has produced no single man who +united in himself so many great qualities as did this first +of great Englishmen. He was learned, wise, brave, prudent, +and pious; devoted to his people, clement to his conquered +enemies. He was as great in peace as in war; and yet few +English boys know more than a faint outline of the events +of Alfred's reign--events which have exercised an influence +upon the whole future of the English people. School histories +pass briefly over them; and the incident of the burned cake +is that which is, of all the actions of a great and glorious +reign, the most prominent in boys' minds. In this story I have +tried to supply the deficiency. Fortunately in the Saxon +Chronicles and in the life of King Alfred written by his friend +and counsellor Asser, we have a trustworthy account of the events +and battles which first laid Wessex prostrate beneath the foot of +the Danes, and finally freed England for many years from the +invaders. These histories I have faithfully followed. The account +of the siege of Paris is taken from a very full and detailed +history of that event by the Abbe D'Abbon, who was a witness +of the scenes he described. + +Yours sincerely, +G. A. HENTY + + + + +CHAPTER I: THE FUGITIVES + + + +A low hut built of turf roughly thatched with rushes +and standing on the highest spot of some slightly +raised ground. It was surrounded by a tangled growth +of bushes and low trees, through which a narrow and winding +path gave admission to the narrow space on which the +hut stood. The ground sloped rapidly. Twenty yards from +the house the trees ceased, and a rank vegetation of reeds +and rushes took the place of the bushes, and the ground +became soft and swampy. A little further pools of stagnant +water appeared among the rushes, and the path abruptly +stopped at the edge of a stagnant swamp, though the passage +could be followed by the eye for some distance among the +tall rushes. The hut, in fact, stood on a hummock in the +midst of a wide swamp where the water sometimes deepened +into lakes connected by sluggish streams. + +On the open spaces of water herons stalked near the +margin, and great flocks of wild-fowl dotted the surface. +Other signs of life there were none, although a sharp eye +might have detected light threads of smoke curling up here +and there from spots where the ground rose somewhat above +the general level. These slight elevations, however, were not +visible to the eye, for the herbage here grew shorter than on +the lower and wetter ground, and the land apparently +stretched away for a vast distance in a dead flat-- +a rush-covered swamp, broken only here and there +by patches of bushes and low trees. + +The little hut was situated in the very heart of the fen +country, now drained and cultivated, but in the year 870 +untouched by the hand of man, the haunt of wild-fowl and +human fugitives. At the door of the hut stood a lad some +fourteen years old. His only garment was a short sleeveless +tunic girded in at the waist, his arms and legs were bare; +his head was uncovered, and his hair fell in masses on his +shoulders. In his hand he held a short spear, and leaning +against the wall of the hut close at hand was a bow and quiver +of arrows. The lad looked at the sun, which was sinking +towards the horizon. + +"Father is late," he said. "I trust that no harm has come +to him and Egbert. He said he would return to-day without +fail; he said three or four days, and this is the fourth. It is +dull work here alone. You think so, Wolf, don't you, old fellow? +And it is worse for you than it is for me, pent up on this +hummock of ground with scarce room to stretch your limbs." + +A great wolf-hound, who was lying with his head between +his paws by the embers of a fire in the centre of the +hut, raised his head on being addressed, and uttered a low +howl indicative of his agreement with his master's opinion +and his disgust at his present place of abode. + +"Never mind, old fellow," the boy continued, "we sha'n't +be here long, I hope, and then you shall go with me in the +woods again and hunt the wolves to your heart's content." +The great hound gave a lazy wag of his tail. "And now, Wolf, +I must go. You lie here and guard the hut while I am away. +Not that you are likely to have any strangers to call in my +absence." + +The dog rose and stretched himself, and followed his +master down the path until it terminated at the edge of the +water. Here he gave a low whimper as the lad stepped in and +waded through the water; then turning he walked back to +the hut and threw himself down at the door. The boy proceeded +for some thirty or forty yards through the water, then +paused and pushed aside the wall of rushes which bordered +the passage, and pulled out a boat which was floating among +them. + +It was constructed of osier rods neatly woven together +into a sort of basket-work, and covered with an untanned hide +with the hairy side in. It was nearly oval in shape, and +resembled a great bowl some three feet and a half wide and a +foot longer. A broad paddle with a long handle lay in it, and +the boy, getting into it and standing erect in the middle +paddled down the strip of water which a hundred yards further +opened out into a broad half a mile long and four or five +hundred yards wide. Beyond moving slowly away as the +coracle approached them, the water-fowl paid but little heed +to its appearance. + +The boy paddled to the end of the broad, whence a passage, +through which flowed a stream so sluggish that its current +could scarce be detected, led into the next sheet of water. +Across the entrance to this passage floated some bundles +of light rushes. These the boy drew out one by one. Attached +to each was a piece of cord which, being pulled upon, +brought to the surface a large cage, constructed somewhat +on the plan of a modern eel or lobster pot. They were baited +by pieces of dead fish, and from them the boy extracted half +a score of eels and as many fish of different kinds. + +"Not a bad haul," he said as he lowered the cages to the +bottom again. "Now let us see what we have got in our pen." + +He paddled a short way along the broad to a point where +a little lane of water ran up through the rushes. This +narrowed rapidly and the lad got out from his boat into the +water, as the coracle could proceed no further between the lines +of rushes. The water was knee-deep and the bottom soft and +oozy. At the end of the creek it narrowed until the rushes +were but a foot apart. They were bent over here, as it would +seem to a superficial observer naturally; but a close +examination would show that those facing each other were tied +together where they crossed at a distance of a couple of feet +above the water, forming a sort of tunnel. Two feet farther +on this ceased, and the rushes were succeeded by lines of +strong osier withies, an inch or two apart, arched over and +fastened together. At this point was a sort of hanging door +formed of rushes backed with osiers, and so arranged that at +the slightest push from without the door lifted and enabled a +wild-fowl to pass under, but dropping behind it prevented its +exit. The osier tunnel widened out to a sort of inverted basket +three feet in diameter. + +On the surface of the creek floated some grain which +had been scattered there the evening before as a bait. The +lad left the creek before he got to the narrower part, and, +making a small circuit in the swamp, came down upon the +pen. + +"Good!" he said, "I am in luck to-day; here are three fine +ducks." + +Bending the yielding osiers aside, he drew out the ducks +one by one, wrung their necks, and passing their heads +through his girdle, made his way again to the coracle. Then +he scattered another handful or two of grain on the water, +sparingly near the mouth of the creek, but more thickly at +the entrance to the trap, and then paddled back again by the +way he had come. + +Almost noiselessly as he dipped the paddle in the water, +the hound's quick ear had caught the sound, and he was standing +at the edge of the swamp, wagging his tail in dignified +welcome as his master stepped on to dry land. + +"There, Wolf, what do you think of that? A good score +of eels and fish and three fine wild ducks. That means bones +for you with your meal to-night--not to satisfy your hunger, +you know, for they would not be of much use in that way, but +to give a flavour to your supper. Now let us make the fire up +and pluck the birds, for I warrant me that father and Egbert, +if they return this evening, will be sharp-set. There are the +cakes to bake too, so you see there is work for the next hour +or two." + +The sun had set now, and the flames, dancing up as the +boy threw an armful of dry wood on the fire, gave the hut a +more cheerful appearance. For some time the lad busied +himself with preparation for supper. The three ducks were +plucked in readiness for putting over the fire should they be +required; cakes of coarse rye-flour were made and placed in +the red ashes of the fire; and then the lad threw himself down +by the side of the dog. + +"No, Wolf, it is no use your looking at those ducks. I am +not going to roast them if no one comes; I have got half a one +left from dinner." After sitting quiet for half an hour the dog +suddenly raised himself into a sitting position, with ears erect +and muzzle pointed towards the door; then he gave a low +whine, and his tail began to beat the ground rapidly. + +"What! do you hear them, old fellow?" the boy said, +leaping to his feet. "I wish my ears were as sharp as yours are, +Wolf; there would be no fear then of being caught asleep. +Come on, old boy, let us go and meet them." + +It was some minutes after he reached the edge of the +swamp before the boy could hear the sounds which the quick +ears of the hound had detected. Then he heard a faint splashing +noise, and a minute or two later two figures were seen wading +through the water. + +"Welcome back, father," the lad cried. "I was beginning +to be anxious about you, for here we are at the end of the +fourth day." + +"I did not name any hour, Edmund," the boy's father +said, as he stepped from the water, "but I own that I did not +reckon upon being so late; but in truth Egbert and I missed +our way in the windings of these swamps, and should not +have been back to-night had we not luckily fallen upon a man +fishing, who was able to put us right. You have got some +supper, I hope, for Egbert and I are as hungry as wolves, for +we have had nothing since we started before sunrise." + +"I have plenty to eat, father; but you will have to wait till +it is cooked, for it was no use putting it over the fire until I +knew that you would return; but there is a good fire, and you +will not have to wait long. And how has it fared with you, +and what is the news?" + +"The news is bad, Edmund. The Danes are ever receiving +reinforcements from Mercia, and scarce a day passes but +fresh bands arrive at Thetford, and I fear that ere long East +Anglia, like Northumbria, will fall into their clutches. Nay, +unless we soon make head against them they will come to +occupy all the island, just as did our forefathers." + +"That were shame indeed," Edmund exclaimed. "We +know that the people conquered by our ancestors were +unwarlike and cowardly; but it would be shame indeed were +we Saxons so to be overcome by the Danes, seeing moreover +that we have the help of God, being Christians, while the +Danes are pagans and idolaters." + +"Nevertheless, my son, for the last five years these heathen +have been masters of Northumbria, have wasted the +whole country, and have plundered and destroyed the +churches and monasteries. At present they have but made a +beginning here in East Anglia; but if they continue to flock +in they will soon overrun the whole country, instead of having, +as at present, a mere foothold near the rivers except for +those who have come down to Thetford. We have been among +the first sufferers, seeing that our lands lie round Thetford, +and hitherto I have hoped that there would be a general rising +against these invaders; but the king is indolent and unwarlike, +and I see that he will not arouse himself and call +his ealdormen and thanes together for a united effort until it +is too late. Already from the north the Danes are flocking +down into Mercia, and although the advent of the West Saxons +to the aid of the King of Mercia forced them to retreat +for a while, I doubt not that they will soon pour down again." + +"'Tis a pity, father, that the Saxons are not all under one +leading; then we might surely defend England against the +Danes. If the people did but rise and fall upon each band of +Northmen as they arrived they would get no footing among us." + +"Yes," the father replied, "it is the unhappy divisions +between the Saxon kingdoms which have enabled the Danes +to get so firm a footing in the land. Our only hope now lies +in the West Saxons. Until lately they were at feud with Mercia; +but the royal families are now related by marriage, seeing +that the King of Mercia is wedded to a West Saxon princess, +and that Alfred, the West Saxon king's brother and heir to +the throne, has lately espoused one of the royal blood of +Mercia. The fact that they marched at the call of the King of +Mercia and drove the Danes from Nottingham shows that +the West Saxon princes are alive to the common danger of +the country, and if they are but joined heartily by our people +of East Anglia and the Mercians, they may yet succeed in +checking the progress of these heathen. And now, Edmund, +as we see no hope of any general effort to drive the Danes +off our coasts, 'tis useless for us to lurk here longer. +I propose to-morrow, then, to journey north into Lincolnshire, +to the Abbey of Croyland, where, as you know, my brother +Theodore is the abbot; there we can rest in peace for a time, +and watch the progress of events. If we hear that the people +of these parts are aroused from their lethargy, we will come +back and fight for our home and lands; if not, I will no longer +stay in East Anglia, which I see is destined to fall piecemeal +into the hands of the Danes; but we will journey down to +Somerset, and I will pray King Ethelbert to assign me lands +there, and to take me as his thane." + +While they had been thus talking Egbert had been broiling +the eels and wild ducks over the fire. He was a freeman, +and a distant relation of Edmund's father, Eldred, who was +an ealdorman in West Norfolk, his lands lying beyond +Thetford, and upon whom, therefore, the first brunt of the +Danish invasion from Mercia had fallen. He had made a +stout resistance, and assembling his people had given battle +to the invaders. These, however, were too strong and numerous, +and his force having been scattered and dispersed, he +had sought refuge with Egbert and his son in the fen country. +Here he had remained for two months in hopes that some +general effort would be made to drive back the Danes; but +being now convinced that at present the Angles were too +disunited to join in a common effort, he determined to +retire for a while from the scene. + +"I suppose, father," Edmund said, "you will leave your +treasures buried here?" + +"Yes," his father replied; "we have no means of transporting +them, and we can at ally time return and fetch them. +We must dig up the big chest and take such garments as we +may need, and the personal ornaments of our rank; but the +rest, with the gold and silver vessels, can remain here till we +need them." + +Gold and silver vessels seem little in accordance with +the primitive mode of life prevailing in the ninth century. +The Saxon civilization was indeed a mixed one. Their mode +of life was primitive, their dwellings, with the exception of +the religious houses and the abodes of a few of the great +nobles, simple in the extreme; but they possessed vessels of +gold and silver, armlets, necklaces, and ornaments of the same +metals, rich and brightly coloured dresses, and elaborate bed +furniture while their tables and household utensils were of +the roughest kind, and their floors strewn with rushes. When +they invaded and conquered England they found existing the +civilization introduced by the Romans, which was far in advance +of their own; much of this they adopted. The introduction of +Christianity further advanced them in the scale. + +The prelates and monks from Rome brought with them +a high degree of civilization, and this to no small extent the +Saxons imitated and borrowed. The church was held in much +honour, great wealth and possessions were bestowed upon it, +and the bishops and abbots possessed large temporal as well +as spiritual power, and bore a prominent part in the councils +of the kingdoms. But even in the handsome and well-built +monasteries, with their stately services and handsome vestments, +learning was at the lowest ebb--so low, indeed, that +when Prince Alfred desired to learn Latin he could find no +one in his father's dominions capable of teaching him, and +his studies were for a long time hindered for want of an +instructor, and at the time he ascended the throne he was +probably the only Englishman outside a monastery who was able +to read and write fluently. + +"Tell me, father," Edmund said after the meal was concluded, +"about the West Saxons, since it is to them, as it seems, +that we must look for the protection of England against the +Danes. This Prince Alfred, of whom I before heard you speak +in terms of high praise, is the brother, is he not, of the king? +In that case how is it that he does not reign in Kent, which I +thought, though joined to the West Saxon kingdom, was always +ruled over by the eldest son of the king." + +"Such has been the rule, Edmund; but seeing the +troubled times when Ethelbert came to the throne, it was +thought better to unite the two kingdoms under one crown +with the understanding that at Ethelbert's death Alfred should +succeed him. Their father, Ethelwulf, was a weak king, and +should have been born a churchman rather than a prince. +He nominally reigned over Wessex, Kent, and Mercia, but +the last paid him but a slight allegiance. Alfred was his +favourite son, and he sent him, when quite a child, to Rome +for a visit. In 855 he himself, with a magnificent retinue, and +accompanied by Alfred, visited Rome, travelling through the +land of the Franks, and it was there, doubtless, that Alfred +acquired that love of learning, and many of those ideas, far +in advance of his people, which distinguish him. His mother, +Osburgha, died before he and his father started on the +pilgrimage. The king was received with much honour by the +pope, to whom he presented a gold crown of four pounds +weight, ten dishes of the purest gold, a sword richly set in +gold, two gold images, some silver-gilt urns, stoles bordered +with gold and purple, white silken robes embroidered with +figures, and other costly articles of clothing for the +celebration of the service of the church, together with rich +presents in gold and silver to the churches, bishops, clergy, +and other dwellers in Rome. They say that the people of Rome +marvelled much at these magnificent gifts from a king of a +country which they had considered as barbarous. On his way +back he married Judith, daughter of the King of the Franks; +a foolish marriage, for the king was far advanced in years +and Judith was but a girl. + +"Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's eldest son, had acted as regent +in his father's absence, and so angered was he at this marriage +that he raised his standard of revolt against his father. +At her marriage Judith had been crowned queen, and this +was contrary to the customs of the West Saxons, therefore +Ethelbald was supported by the people of that country; on +his father's return to England, however, father and son met, +and a division of the kingdom was agreed upon. + +"Ethelbald received Wessex, the principal part of the +kingdom, and Ethelwulf took Kent, which he had already +ruled over in the time of his father Egbert. Ethelwulf died a +few months afterwards, leaving Kent to Ethelbert, his second +surviving son. The following year, to the horror and +indignation of the people of the country, Ethelbald married his +stepmother Judith, but two years afterwards died, and +Ethelbert, King of Kent, again united Wessex to his own +dominions, which consisted of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. +Ethelbert reigned but a short time, and at his death Ethelred, +his next brother, ascended the throne. Last year Alfred, the +youngest brother, married Elswitha, the daughter of Ethelred +Mucil, Earl of the Gaini, in Lincolnshire, whose mother was +one of the royal family of Mercia. + +"It was but a short time after the marriage that the Danes +poured into Mercia from the north. Messengers were sent to +ask the assistance of the West Saxons. These at once obeyed +the summons, and, joining the Mercians, marched against +the Danes, who shut themselves up in the strong city of +Nottingham, and were there for some time besieged. The +place was strong, the winter at hand, and the time of the +soldiers' service nearly expired. A treaty was accordingly +made by which the Danes were allowed to depart unharmed +to the north side of the Humber, and the West Saxons returned +to their kingdom. + +"Such is the situation at present, but we may be sure +that the Danes will not long remain quiet, but will soon gather +for another invasion; ere long, too, we may expect another of +their great fleets to arrive somewhere off these coasts, and +every Saxon who can bear arms had need take the field to +fight for our country and faith against these heathen invaders. +Hitherto, Edmund, as you know, I have deeply mourned +the death of your mother, and of your sisters who died in +infancy; but now I feel that it is for the best, for a terrible +time is before us. We men can take refuge in swamp and +forest, but it would have been hard for delicate women; and +those men are best off who stand alone and are able to give +every thought and energy to the defence of their country. +'Tis well that you are now approaching an age when the Saxon +youth are wont to take their place in the ranks of battle. +I have spared no pains with your training in arms, and though +assuredly you lack strength yet to cope in hand-to-hand conflict +with these fierce Danes, you may yet take your part in +battle, with me on one side of you and Egbert on the other. +I have thought over many things of late, and it seems to me +that we Saxons have done harm in holding the people of this +country as serfs." + +"Why, father," Edmund exclaimed in astonishment, +"surely you would not have all men free and equal." + +"The idea seems strange to you, no doubt, Edmund, and +it appears only natural that some men should be born to rule +and others to labour, but this might be so even without serfdom, +since, as you know, the poorer freemen labour just as +do the serfs, only they receive a somewhat larger guerdon +for their toil; but had the two races mixed more closely +together, had serfdom been abolished and all men been free +and capable of bearing arms, we should have been able to +show a far better front to the Danes, seeing that the serfs are +as three to one to the freemen." + +"But the serfs are cowardly and spiritless," Edmund said; +"they are not of a fighting race, and fell almost without +resistance before our ancestors when they landed here." + +"Their race is no doubt inferior to our own, Edmund," +his father said, "seeing that they are neither so tall nor so +strong as we Saxons, but of old they were not deficient in +bravery, for they fought as stoutly against the Romans as did +our own hardy ancestors. After having been for hundreds of +years subject to the Roman yoke, and having no occasion to +use arms, they lost their manly virtues, and when the Romans +left them were an easy prey for the first comer. Our +fathers could not foresee that the time would come when +they too in turn would be invaded. Had they done so, +methinks they would not have set up so broad a line of +separation between themselves and the Britons, but would have +admitted the latter to the rights of citizenship, in which case +intermarriage would have taken place freely, and the whole +people would have become amalgamated. The Britons, accustomed +to our free institutions, and taking part in the wars +between the various Saxon kingdoms, would have recovered +their warlike virtues, and it would be as one people that we +should resist the Danes. As it is, the serfs, who form by far +the largest part of the population, are apathetic and cowardly; +they view the struggle with indifference, for what signifies +to them whether Dane or Saxon conquer; they have no +interest in the struggle, nothing to lose or to gain, +it is but a change of masters." + +Edmund was silent. The very possibility of a state of +things in which there should be no serfs, and when all men +should be free and equal, had never occurred to him; but he +had a deep respect for his father, who bore indeed the +reputation of being one of the wisest and most clear-headed of +the nobles of East Anglia, and it seemed to him that this +strange and novel doctrine contained much truth in it. Still +the idea was as strange to him as it would have been to the +son of a southern planter in America half a century ago. The +existence of slaves seemed as much a matter of course as that +of horses or dogs, and although he had been accustomed to +see from time to time freedom bestowed upon some favourite +serf as a special reward for services, the thought of a general +liberation of the slaves was strange and almost bewildering, +and he lay awake puzzling over the problem long after his +father and kinsman had fallen asleep. + + + + + +CHAPTER II: THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN + + + +The following morning early the little party started. +The great chest was dug up from its place of concealment, +and they resumed their ordinary dresses. The ealdorman +attired himself in a white tunic with a broad purple +band round the lower edge, with a short cloak of green cloth. +This was fastened with a gold brooch at the neck; a necklet +of the same metal and several gold bracelets completed his +costume, except that he wore a flat cap and sandals. Edmund +had a green tunic and cloak of deep red colour; while Egbert +was dressed in yellow with a green cloak--the Saxons being +extremely fond of bright colours. + +All wore daggers, whose sheaths were incrusted in silver, +in their belts, and the ealdorman and his kinsman carried +short broad-bladed swords, while Edmund had his boar-spear. +Eldred placed in the pouch which hung at his side a +bag containing a number of silver cubes cut from a long bar +and roughly stamped. The chest was then buried again in its +place of concealment among the bushes near the hut, +Edmund placed his bows and arrows in the boat--not that in +which Edmund had fished, but the much larger and heavier +craft which Eldred and Egbert had used--and then the party, +with the hound, took their places in it. The ealdorman and +Egbert were provided with long poles, and with these they +sent the little boat rapidly through the water. + +After poling their way for some eight hours they reached +the town of Norwich, to which the Danes had not yet penetrated; +here, procuring what articles they needed, they proceeded on +their journey to Croyland, making a great circuit +to avoid the Danes at Thetford. The country was for the +most part covered with thick forests, where the wild boar +and deer roamed undisturbed by man, and where many wolves +still lurked, although the number in the country had been +greatly diminished by the energetic measures which King +Egbert had taken for the destruction of these beasts. Their +halting-places were for the most part at religious houses, which +then served the purpose of inns for travellers, being freely +opened to those whom necessity or pleasure might cause to +journey. Everywhere they found the monks in a state of alarm +at the progress of the Danes, who, wherever they went, +destroyed the churches and religious houses, and slew +the monks. + +Eldred was everywhere received with marked honour; +being known as a wise and valiant noble, his opinions on the +chances of the situation were eagerly listened to, and he found +the monks at all their halting-places prepared, if need be, to +take up arms and fight the pagan invaders, as those of Mercia +and Wessex had done in the preceding autumn. The travellers, +on arriving at Croyland, were warmly welcomed. + +"I heard, brother," the abbot said, "that you had bravely +fought against the Danes near Thetford, and have been sorely +anxious since the news came of the dispersal of your force." + +"I have been in hiding," Eldred said, "hoping that a general +effort would be made against the invaders. My own power +was broken, since all my lands are in their hands. The people +of East Anglia foolishly seem to suppose that, so long as the +Danes remain quiet, the time has not come for action. They +will repent their lethargy some day, for, as the Danes gather +in strength, they will burst out over the surrounding country +as a dammed-up river breaks its banks. No, brother, I regard +East Anglia as lost so far as depends upon itself; its only hope +is in the men of Kent and Wessex, whom we must now look +upon as our champions, and who may yet stem the tide of +invasion and drive back the Danes. This abbey of yours stands +in a perilous position, being not far removed from the +Humber, where so many of the Danes find entrance to +England." + +"It is not without danger, Eldred, but the men of the +fens are numerous, hardy and brave, and will offer a tough +resistance to any who may venture to march hitherward, and +if, as I hope, you will stay with us, and will undertake their +command, we may yet for a long time keep the Danes from +our doors." + +For some weeks the time passed quietly. Edmund spent +most of his time in hunting, being generally accompanied by +Egbert. The Saxon was an exceedingly tall and powerful +man, slow and scanty of speech, who had earned for himself +the title of Egbert the Silent. He was devoted to his kinsmen +and regarded himself as special guardian of Edmund. He +had instructed him in the use of arms, and always accompanied +him when he went out to hunt the boar, standing ever +by his side to aid him to receive the rush of the wounded and +furious beasts; and more than once, when Edmund had been +borne down by their onslaughts, and would have been severely +wounded, if not killed, a sweeping blow of Egbert's +sword had rid him of his assailant. + +Sometimes Edmund made excursions in the fens, where +with nets and snares he caught the fish which swarmed in +the sluggish waters; or, having covered his boat with a leafy +bower until it resembled a floating bush, drifted close to the +flocks of wild-fowl, and with his bow and arrows obtained +many a plump wild duck. Smaller birds were caught in snares +or traps, or with bird-lime smeared on twigs. Eldred seldom +joined his son in his hunting excursions, as he was busied +with his brother the abbot in concerting the measures of +defence and in organizing a band of messengers, who, on +the first warning of danger, could be despatched throughout +the fens to call in the fisher population to the defence of the +abbey. + +It was on the 18th of September, 870, that a messenger +arrived at the abbey and craved instant speech with the prior. +The latter, who was closeted with his brother, ordered the +man to be admitted. + +"I come," he said, "from Algar the ealdorman. He bids +me tell you that a great Danish host has landed from the +Humber at Lindsay. The rich monastery of Bardenay has +been pillaged and burned. Algar is assembling all the +inhabitants of the marsh lands to give them battle, and he prays +you to send what help you can spare, for assuredly they will +march hither should he be defeated." + +"Return to the ealdorman," the abbot said; "tell him that +every lay brother and monk who can bear arms shall march +hence to join him under the command of lay brother Toley, +whose deeds of arms against the Danes in Mercia are well +known to him. My brother here, Eldred, will head all the +inhabitants of the marshes of this neighbourhood. With these +and the brothers of the abbey, in all, as I reckon, nigh four +hundred men, he will to-morrow march to join Algar." + +Messengers were at once sent off through the surrounding +country bidding every man assemble on the morrow +morning at Croyland, and soon after daybreak they began to +arrive. Some were armed with swords, some with long sickles, +used in cutting rushes, tied to poles, some had fastened +long pieces of iron to oars to serve as pikes. They were a +rough and somewhat ragged throng, but Eldred saw with +satisfaction that they were a hard and sturdy set of men, +accustomed to fatigue and likely to stand firm in the hour +of battle. + +Most of them carried shields made of platted osiers covered +with skin. The armoury of the abbey was well supplied, +and swords and axes were distributed among the worst armed +of the fenmen. Then, with but little order or regularity, but +with firm and cheerful countenances, as men determined to +win or die, the band moved off under Eldred's command, +followed by the contingent of the abbey, eighty strong, under +lay brother Toley. + +A sturdy band were these monks, well fed and vigorous. +They knew that they had no mercy to expect from the Danes, +and, regarding them as pagans and enemies of their religion +as well as of their country, could be trusted to do their +utmost. Late that evening they joined Algar at the place they +had appointed, and found that a large number of the people +of the marshes had gathered round his banner. + +The Danes had not moved as yet from Bardenay, and +Algar determined to wait for another day or two before +advancing, in order to give time to others farther from +the scene of action to arrive. + +The next day came the contingents from several other +priories and abbeys, and the sight of the considerable force +gathered together gave heart and confidence to all. Algar, +Eldred, and the other leaders, Morcar, Osgot, and Harding, +moved about among the host, encouraging them with cheering +words, warning them to be in no way intimidated by the +fierce appearance of the Danes, but to hold steadfast and +firm in the ranks, and to yield no foot of ground to the +onslaught of the enemy. Many priests had accompanied the +contingents from the religious houses, and these added their +exhortations to those of the leaders, telling the men that God +would assuredly fight on their side against the heathen, and +bidding each man remember that defeat meant the destruction +of their churches and altars, the overthrow of their whole +religion, and the restored worship of the pagan gods. + +Edmund went about among the gathering taking great +interest in the wild scene, for these marsh men differed much +in their appearance from the settled inhabitants of his father's +lands. The scenes in the camp were indeed varied in their +character. Here and there were harpers with groups of +listeners gathered round, as they sung the exploits of their +fathers, and animated their hearers to fresh fire and energy by +relating legends of the cruelty of the merciless Danes. Other +groups there were surrounding the priests, who were appealing +to their religious feelings as well as to their patriotism. + +Men sat about sharpening their weapons, fixing on more +firmly the handles of their shields, adjusting arrows to +bowstrings, and preparing in other ways for the coming fight. +From some of the fires, round which the marsh men were +sitting, came snatches of boisterous song, while here and there, +apart from the crowd, priests were hearing confessions, and +shriving penitents. + +The next morning early, one of the scouts, who had +been sent to observe the movements of the Danes, reported +that these were issuing from their camp, and advancing into +the country. + +Algar marshalled his host, each part under its leaders, +and moved to meet them. Near Kesteven the armies came in +sight of each other, and after advancing until but a short +distance apart both halted to marshal their ranks anew. Eldred, +with the men of the marshes near Croyland and the contingent +from the abbey, had their post in the central division, +which was commanded by Algar himself, Edmund took post +by his father, and Egbert stood beside him. + +Edmund had never before seen the Danes, and he could +not but admit that their appearance was enough to shake the +stoutest heart. All carried great shields covering them from +head to foot. These were composed of wood, bark, or leather +painted or embossed, and in the cases of the chiefs plated +with gold and silver. So large were these that in naval +encounters, if the fear of falling into the enemy's hands forced +them to throw themselves into the sea, they could float on +their shields; and after death in battle a soldier was carried +to his grave on his buckler. As they stood facing the Saxons +they locked their shields together so as to form a barrier +well-nigh impregnable against the arrows. + +All wore helmets, the common men of leather, the leaders +of iron or copper, while many in addition wore coats of +mail. Each carried a sword, a battle-axe, and a bow and +arrows. Some of the swords were short and curled like a +scimitar; others were long and straight, and were wielded with +both hands. They wore their hair long and hanging down +their shoulders, and for the most part shaved their cheeks +and chins, but wore their moustaches very long. + +They were, for the most, tall, lithe, and sinewy men, but +physically in no way superior to the Saxons, from whom they +differed very widely in complexion, the Saxons being fair +while the Danes were very dark, as much so as modern gypsies; +indeed, the Saxon historians speak of them as the black +pagans. Upon the other hand many of the Northmen, being +Scandinavians, were as fair as the Saxons themselves. + +The Danes began the battle, those in front shouting +fiercely, and striking their swords on their shields with a +clashing noise, while the ranks behind shot a shower of arrows +among the Saxons. These at once replied. The combat was +not continued long at a distance, for the Danes with a mighty +shout rushed upon the Saxons. These stood their ground +firmly and a desperate conflict ensued. The Saxon chiefs +vied with each other in acts of bravery, and singling out the +leaders of the Danes engaged with them in hand-to-hand +conflict. + +Algar had placed his swordsmen in the front line, those +armed with spears in the second; and as the swordsmen +battled with the Danes the spearmen, when they saw a shield +uplifted to guard the head, thrust under with their weapons +and slew many. Edmund, seeing that with his sword he should +have but little chance against these fierce soldiers, fell a little +behind his father and kinsman, and as these were engaged +with the enemy he from time to time, when he saw an opportunity, +rushed in and delivered a thrust with his spear at an +unguarded point. The Saxon shouts rose louder and louder +as the Danes in vain endeavoured to break through their line. +The monks fought stoutly, and many a fierce Norseman fell +before their blows. + +The Danes, who had not expected so firm a resistance, +began to hesitate, and Algar giving the word, the Saxons took +the offensive, and the line pressed forward step by step. The +archers poured their arrows in a storm among the Danish +ranks. These fell back before the onslaught. Already three +of their kings and many of their principal leaders had fallen, +and at last, finding themselves unable to withstand the +impetuous onslaught of the Saxons, they turned and fled in +confusion towards their camp. The Saxons with exulting +shouts pursued them, and great numbers were slaughtered. +The Danes had, however, as was their custom, fortified the +camp before advancing, and Algar drew off his troops, +deeming that it would be better to defer the attack on +this position until the following day. + +There was high feasting in the Saxon camp that evening, +but this was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the arrival +of a scout, who reported that a great Danish army marching +from the Humber was approaching the camp of the compatriots. +The news was but too true. The kings Guthorn, Bergsecg, +Oskytal, Halfdene, and Amund, and the Jarls Frene, Hingwar, +Hubba, and the two Sidrocs, with all their followers, +had marched down from Yorkshire to join the invaders +who had just landed. + +The news of this immense reinforcement spread consternation +among the Angles. In vain their leaders went about +among them and exhorted them to courage, promising them +another victory as decisive as that they had won that day. +Their entreaties were in vain, for when the morning dawned +it was found that three-fourths of their number had left the +camp during the night, and had made off to the marshes +and fastnesses. + +A council of the chiefs was held. The chances of conflict +appeared hopeless, so vastly were they out-numbered by +the Danes. Algar, however, declared that he would die rather +than retreat. + +"If we fly now," he said, "all East Anglia will fall into the +hands of the heathen. Even should we fight and fall, the +example of what a handful of brave men can do against the +invaders will surely animate the Angles to further resistance; +while if we conquer, so great a blow will be dealt to the +renown of these Danes that all England will rise against them." + +On hearing these words all the chiefs came to the determination +to win or die as they stood. Eldred took Edmund aside after +this determination had been arrived at. + +"My son," he said, "I allowed you yesterday to stand by +my side in battle, and well and worthily did you bear yourself, +but to-day you must withdraw. The fight is well-nigh +hopeless, and I believe that all who take part in it are doomed +to perish. I would not that my house should altogether +disappear, and shall die more cheerfully in the hope that some +day you will avenge me upon these heathen. Therefore, +Edmund, I bid you take station at a distance behind the battle, +so that when you see the day goes against us you may escape +in time. I shall urge our faithful Egbert to endeavour, when +he sees that all is lost, to make his way from the fight and +rejoin you, and to journey with you to Wessex and there +present you to the king. For myself, if the battle is lost I shall +die rather than fly. Such is the resolution of Algar and our +other brave chiefs, and Eldred the ealdorman must not be +the only one of the leaders to run from the fray." + +Edmund was deeply touched at his father's words, but +the parental rule was so strict in those days that it did not +even enter his mind to protest against Eldred's decision. + +As the morning went on the Danes were engaged in the +funeral ceremonies of their dead kings, while the Saxons, +quiet and resolute, received the holy sacrament and prepared +for the fight. Algar chose a position on rising ground. He +himself with Eldred commanded the centre, Toley and Morcar +led the right wing, Osgot and Harding the left. + +Each of these wings contained about five hundred men. +Algar's centre, which was a little withdrawn from its wings, +contained about 200 of his best warriors, and was designed +as a reserve, with which, if need be, he could move to the +assistance of either of the wings which might be sorely pressed +and in danger. The Saxons formed in a solid mass with their +bucklers linked together. The Danish array which issued out +from their camp was vastly superior in numbers, and was +commanded by four kings and eight jarls or earls, while two +kings and four earls remained in charge of the camp, and of +the great crowd of prisoners, for the most part women and +children, whom they had brought with them. + +With the Danes who had come down from Yorkshire +were a large body of horsemen, who charged furiously down +upon the Saxons; but these maintained so firm an array with +their lances and spears projecting outward that the Danes +failed to break through them, and after making repeated efforts +and suffering heavy loss they drew back. Then the Danish +archers and slingers poured in a storm of missiles, but +these effected but little harm, as the Saxons stooped a little +behind their closely packed line of bucklers, which were stout +enough to keep out the shower of arrows. All day the struggle +continued. Again and again the Danes strove to break the +solid Saxon array, and with sword and battle-axe attempted +to hew down the hedge of spears, but in vain. At last their +leaders, convinced that they could not overcome the obstinacy +of the resistance, ordered their followers to feign a retreat. + +As the Danes turned to fly the Saxons set up a triumphant +shout, and breaking up their solid phalanx rushed after them +in complete disorder. In vain Algar, Osgot, Toley, +Eldred, and the other leaders shouted to them to stand firm. +Weary of their long inactivity, and convinced that the Danes +were routed, the Saxons pursued them across the plain. +Suddenly the Danish horse, who after failing to break through +the ranks had remained apart at a short distance from the +conflict, dashed down upon the disordered Saxons, while +the flying infantry turning round also fell upon them with +exulting shouts. + +Taken wholly by surprise, confused and disordered, the +Saxons could offer no effectual opposition to the charge. The +Danish horse rode among them hewing and slaying, and the +swords and battle-axes of the footmen completed the work. +In a few minutes of all the Saxon band which had for so +many hours successfully resisted the onslaught of the Danes, +not one survived save a few fleet-footed young men who, +throwing away their arms, succeeded in making their escape, +and a little group, consisting of Algar, Toley, Eldred, and the +other leaders who had gathered together when their men +broke their ranks and had taken up their position on a knoll +of ground rising above the plain. Here for a long time they +resisted the efforts of the whole of the Danes, surrounding +themselves with a heap of slain; but at length one by one they +succumbed to the Danish onslaught, each fighting valiantly +to the last. + +From his position at a distance Edmund watched the +last desperate struggle. With streaming eyes and a heart torn +by anxiety for his father he could see the Danish foe swarming +round the little band who defended the crest. These +were lost from his sight, and only the flashing of swords +showed where the struggle was still going on in the centre of +the confused mass. Edmund had been on his knees for some +time, but he now rose. + +"Come, old boy," he said to the hound, who lay beside +him watching the distant conflict and occasionally uttering +deep angry growls. "I must obey my father's last command; +let us away." + +He took one more glance at the distant conflict before +turning. It was plain that it was nearly finished. The swords +had well-nigh ceased to rise and fall when he saw a sudden +movement in the throng of Danes and suddenly a man burst +out from them and started at headlong speed towards him, +pursued by a number of Danes. Even at that distance Edmund +thought that he recognized the tall figure of his kinsman, +but he had no time to assure himself of this, and he at once, +accompanied by the hound, set off at the top of his speed +from the field of battle. He had fully a quarter of a mile +start, and being active and hardy and accustomed to exercise +from his childhood, he had no fear that the Danes would +overtake him. Still he ran his hardest. + +Looking over his shoulder from time to time he saw that +at first the Danes who were pursuing the fugitive were gaining +upon him also, but after a time he again increased the +distance, while, being unencumbered with shield or heavy +weapons, the fugitive kept the advantage he had at first gained. +Three miles from the battle-field Edmund reached the edge +of a wide-spreading wood. Looking round as he entered its +shelter he saw that the flying Saxon was still about a quarter +of a mile behind him, and that the Danes, despairing of +over-taking him, had ceased their pursuit. Edmund therefore +checked his footsteps and awaited the arrival of the fugitive, +who he now felt certain was his kinsman. + +In a few minutes Egbert came up, having slackened his +speed considerably when he saw that he was no longer pursued. +He was bleeding from several wounds, and now that +the necessity for exertion had passed he walked but feebly +along. Without a word he flung himself on the ground by +Edmund and buried his face in his arms, and the lad could +see by the shaking of his broad shoulders that he was weeping +bitterly. The great hound walked up to the prostrate figure +and gave vent to a long and piteous howl, and then lying +down by Egbert's side placed his head on his shoulder. + + + + + +CHAPTER III: THE MASSACRE AT CROYLAND + + + +Edmund wept sorely for some time, for he knew that +his kinsman's agitation could be only caused by the +death of his father. At last he approached Egbert. + +"My brave kinsman," he said, "I need ask you no questions, +for I know but too well that my dear father has fallen; +but rouse yourself, I pray you; let me bandage your wounds, +which bleed fast, for you will want all your strength, and we +must needs pursue our way well into the forest, for with +to-morrow's dawn the Danes will scatter over the whole country." + +"Yes," Egbert said, turning round and sitting up, "I must +not in my grief forget my mission, and in truth I am faint +with loss of blood. It was well the Danes stopped when they +did, for I felt my strength failing me, and could have held out +but little further. Yes, Edmund," he continued, as the lad, +tearing strips from his garments, proceeded to bandage his +wounds, "your father is dead. Nobly, indeed, did he fight; +nobly did he die, with a circle of dead Danes around him. +He, Algar, Toley, and myself were the last four to resist. Back +to back we stood, and many were the Danes who fell before +our blows. Toley fell first and then Algar. The Danes closed +closer around us. Still we fought on, till your father was beaten +to his knee, and then he cried to me, 'Fly, Egbert, to my son.' +Then I flung myself upon the Danes like a wild boar upon +the dogs, and with the suddenness of my rush and the heavy +blows of my battle-axe cut a way for myself through them. +It was well-nigh a miracle, and I could scarce believe it when +I was free. I flung away my shield and helmet as soon as I had +well begun to run, for I felt the blood gushing out from a +dozen wounds, and knew that I should want all my strength. +I soon caught sight of you running ahead of me. Had I found +we were gaining upon you I should have turned off and made +another way to lead the Danes aside, but I soon saw that you +were holding your own, and so followed straight on. My knees +trembled, and I felt my strength was well-nigh gone, when, +looking round, I found the Danes had desisted from their +pursuit. I grieve, Edmund, that I should have left the battle +alive when all the others have died bravely, for, save a few +fleet-footed youths, I believe that not a single Saxon has +escaped the fight; but your father had laid his commands upon +me, and I was forced to obey, though God knows I would +rather have died with the heroes on that field." + +"'Tis well for me that you did not, my good Egbert," +Edmund said, drying his eyes, "for what should I have done +in this troubled land without one protector?" + +"It was the thought of that," Egbert said, "that seemed +to give me strength as I dashed at the Danes. And now, +methinks, I am strong enough to walk again. Let us make +our way far into the forest, then we must rest for the night. +A few hours' sleep will make a fresh man of me, and to-morrow +morning we will go to Croyland and see what the good abbot +your uncle proposes to do, then will we to the hut where we +dwelt before coming hither. We will dig up the chest and +take out such valuables as we can carry, and then make for +Wessex. After this day's work I have no longer any hope that +East Anglia will successfully oppose the Danes. And yet the +Angles fought well, and for every one of them who has fallen +in these two days' fighting at least four Danes must have +perished. Have you food, Edmund, for in truth after such a +day's work I would not lie down supperless?" + +"I have in my pouch here, Egbert, some cakes, which I +cooked this morning, and a capon which one of the monks +of Croyland gave me. I was tempted to throw it away +as I ran." + +"I am right glad, Edmund, that the temptation was not +too strong for you. If we can find a spring we shall do well." + +It was now getting dark, but after an hour's walk through +the forest they came upon a running stream. They lit a fire +by its side, and sitting down ate the supper, of which both +were in much need. Wolf shared the repast, and then the +three lay down to sleep. Egbert, overcome by the immense +exertions he had made during the fight, was soon asleep; but +Edmund, who had done his best to keep a brave face before +his kinsman, wept for hours over the loss of his gallant +father. + +On the following morning Egbert and Edmund started +for Croyland. The news of the defeat at Kesteven had already +reached the abbey, and terror and consternation +reigned there. Edmund went at once to his uncle and informed +him of the circumstance of the death of his father +and the annihilation of the Saxon army. + +"Your news, Edmund, is even worse than the rumours +which had reached me, and deeply do I grieve for the loss of +my brave brother and of the many valiant men who died +with him. This evening or to-morrow the spoilers will be +here, and doubtless will do to Croyland as they have done to +all the other abbeys and monasteries which have fallen into +their hands. Before they come you and Egbert must be far +away. Have you bethought you whither you will betake +yourselves?" + +"We are going to the king of the West Saxons," Edmund +replied. "Such was my father's intention, and I fear that +all is now lost in East Anglia." + +"'Tis your best course, and may God's blessing and +protection rest upon you!" + +"But what are you going to do, uncle? Surely you will +not remain here until the Danes arrive, for though they may +spare other men they have no mercy on priests and monks?" + +"I shall assuredly remain here, Edmund, at my post, and +as my brother Eldred and Earl Algar and their brave +companions died at their posts in the field of battle, +so I am prepared to die here where God has placed me. +I shall retain here with me only a few of the most aged and +infirm monks, too old to fly or to support the hardships of +the life of a hunted fugitive in the fens; together with some +of the children who have fled here, and who, too, could not +support such a life. It may be that when the fierce Danes +arrive and find nought but children and aged men even their +savage breasts may be moved to pity; but if not, God's will be +done. The younger brethren will seek refuge in the fens, and +will carry with them the sacred relics of the monastery. The +most holy body of St. Guthlac with his scourge and psalmistry, +together with the most valuable jewels and muniments, the +charters of the foundation of the abbey, given by King +Ethelbald, and the confirmation thereof by other kings, with +some of the most precious gifts presented to the abbey." + +Edmund and Egbert set to work to assist the weeping +monks in making preparations for their departure. A boat +was laden with the relics of the saints, the muniments of the +king, and the most precious vessels. The table of the great +altar covered with plates of gold, which King Wichtlof had +presented, with ten gold chalices, and many other vessels, +was thrown into the well of the convent. + +In the distance the smoke of several villages could now +be seen rising over the plain, and it was clear that the Danes +were approaching. The ten priests and twenty monks who +were to leave now knelt, and received the solemn benediction +of the abbot, then, with Edmund and Egbert, they took +their places in the boat and rowed away to the wood of +Ancarig, which lay not far from the abbey. + +The abbot Theodore and the aged monks and priests +now returned to the church, and, putting on their vestments, +commenced the services of the day; the abbot himself +celebrated high mass, assisted by brother Elfget the deacon, +brother Savin the sub-deacon, and the brothers Egelred and +Wyelric, youths who acted as taper-bearers. When the mass +was finished, just as the abbot and his assistants had +partaken of the holy communion, the Danes burst into the +church. The abbot was slain upon the holy altar by the hand +of the Danish king Oskytal, and the other priests and monks +were beheaded by the executioner. + +The old men and children in the choir were seized and +tortured to disclose where the treasures of the abbey were +concealed, and were also put to death with the prior and +sub-prior. Turgar, an acolyte of ten years of age; a +remarkably beautiful boy, stood by the side of the sub-prior +as he was murdered and fearlessly confronted the Danes, and +bade them put him to death with the holy father. The young +Earl Sidroc, however, struck with the bearing of the child, +and being moved with compassion, stripped him of his robe and +cowl, and threw over him a long Danish tunic without sleeves, +and ordering him to keep close by him, made his way out of +the monastery, the boy being the only one who was saved +from the general massacre. + +The Danes, furious at being able to find none of the +treasures of the monastery, broke open all the shrines and +levelled the marble tombs, including those of St. Guthlac, +the holy virgin Ethelbritha, and many others, but found in +these none of the treasure searched for. They piled the bodies +of the saints in a heap, and burned them, together with +the church and all the buildings of the monastery; then, with +vast herds of cattle and other plunder, they moved away from +Croyland, and attacked the monastery of Medeshamsted. +Here the monks made a brave resistance. The Danes brought +up machines and attacked the monastery on all sides, and +effected a breach in the walls. Their first assault, however, +was repelled, and Fulba, the brother of Earl Hulba, was +desperately wounded by a stone. + +Hulba was so infuriated at this that when, at the second +assault, the monastery was captured, he slew with his own +hand everyone of the monks, while all the country people +who had taken refuge within the walls were slaughtered by +his companions, not one escaping. The altars were levelled +to the ground, the monuments broken in pieces. The great +library of parchments and charters was burnt. The holy relics +were trodden under foot, and the church itself, with all +the monastic buildings, burnt to the ground. Four days later, +the Danes, having devastated the whole country round and +collected an enormous booty, marched away against +Huntingdon. + +Edmund and Egbert remained but a few hours with the +monks who had escaped from the sack of Croyland; for, as +soon as they saw the flames mounting up above the church, +they knew that the Danes had accomplished their usual work +of massacre, and there being no use in their making further +stay, they started upon their journey. They travelled by easy +stages, for time was of no value to them. For the most part +their way lay among forests, and when once they had passed +south of Thetford they had no fear of meeting with the Danes. +Sometimes they slept at farm-houses or villages, being +everywhere hospitably received, the more so when it was known +that Edmund was the son of the brave ealdorman Eldred; +but the news which they brought of the disastrous battle of +Kesteven, and the southward march of the great Danish army, +filled everyone with consternation. + +The maids and matrons wept with terror at the thought +of the coming of these terrible heathen, and although the +men everywhere spoke of resistance to the last, the prospect +seemed so hopeless that even the bravest were filled with +grief and despair. Many spoke of leaving their homes and +retiring with their wives and families, their serfs and herds to +the country of the West Saxons, where alone there appeared +any hope of a successful resistance being made. Wherever +they went Edmund and Egbert brought by their news lamentation +and woe to the households they entered, and at last Edmund said: + +"Egbert, let us enter no more houses until we reach the +end of our journey; wherever we go we are messengers of +evil, and turn houses of feasting into abodes of grief. Every +night we have the same sad story to tell, and have to witness +the weeping and wailing of women. A thousand times better +were it to sleep among the woods, at any rate until we are +among the West Saxons, where our news may cause indignation +and rage at least, but where it will arouse a brave resolve +to resist to the last instead of the hopelessness of despair." + +Egbert thoroughly agreed with the lad, and henceforth +they entered no houses save to buy bread and mead. Of meat +they had plenty, for as they passed through the forests Wolf +was always upon the alert, and several times found a wild +boar in his lair, and kept him at bay until Edmund and Egbert +ran up and with spears and swords slew him. This supplied +them amply with meat, and gave them indeed far more than +they could eat, but they exchanged portions of the flesh for +bread in the villages. At last they came down upon the +Thames near London, and crossing the river journeyed west. +They were now in the kingdom of the West Saxons, the most +warlike and valiant of the peoples of England, and who had +gradually extended their sway over the whole of the country. +The union was indeed but little more than nominal, as the +other kings retained their thrones, paying only a tribute to +the West Saxon monarchs. + +As Egbert had predicted, their tale of the battle of +Kesteven here aroused no feeling save that of wrath and a +desire for vengeance upon the Danes. Swords were grasped, +and all swore by the saints of what should happen to the +invaders should they set foot in Wessex. The travellers felt +their spirits rise at the martial and determined aspect +of the people. + +"It is a sad pity," Egbert said to Edmund one day, "that +these West Saxons had not had time to unite England firmly +together before the Danes set foot on the island. It is our +divisions which have rendered their task so far easy. +Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia have one by one been +invaded, and their kings have had to fight single-handed +against them, whereas had one strong king reigned over the +whole country, so that all our force could have been exerted +against the invader wherever he might land, the Danes would +never have won a foot of our soil. The sad day of Kesteven +showed at least that we are able to fight the Danes man for +man. The first day we beat them, though they were in +superior numbers, the second we withstood them all day, +although they were ten to one against us, and they would +never have triumphed even then had our men listened to their +leaders and kept their ranks. I do not believe that even +the West Saxons could have fought more bravely than did our +men on that day; but they are better organized, their king +is energetic and determined, and when the Danes invade Wessex +they will find themselves opposed by the whole people instead +of merely a hastily raised assemblage gathered in the +neighbourhood." + +They presently approached Reading, where there was a +royal fortress, in which King Ethelred and his brother Alfred +were residing. + +"It is truly a fine city," Edmund said as he approached it; +"its walls are strong and high, and the royal palace, which +rises above them, is indeed a stately building." + +They crossed the river and entered the gates of the town. +There was great bustle and traffic in the streets, cynings, or +nobles, passed along accompanied by parties of thanes, serfs +laden with fuel or provisions made their way in from the +surrounding country, while freemen, with their shields flung +across their shoulders and their swords by their sides, stalked +with an independent air down the streets. + +The travellers approached the royal residence. The gates +were open, and none hindered their entrance, for all who +had business were free to enter the royal presence and to lay +their complaints or petitions before the king. + +Entering they found themselves in a large hall. The lower +end of this was occupied by many people, who conversed +together in little groups or awaited the summons of the king. +Across the upper end of the room was a raised dais, and in +the centre of this was a wide chair capable of holding three +persons. The back and sides were high and richly carved. A +table supported by four carved and gilded legs stood before +it. Two persons were seated in the chair. + +One was a man of three or four and twenty, the other +was his junior by some two years. Both wore light crowns of +gold somewhat different in their fashion. Before the younger +was a parchment, an inkhorn, and pens. King Ethelred was +a man of a pleasant face, but marked by care and by long +vigils and rigorous fastings. Alfred was a singularly handsome +young prince, with an earnest and intellectual face. Both +had their faces shaven smooth. Ethelred wore his hair parted +in the middle, and falling low on each side of the face, but +Alfred's was closely cut. On the table near the younger +brother stood a silver harp. + +Edmund looked with great curiosity and interest on the +young prince, who was famous throughout England for his +great learning, his wisdom, and sweetness of temper. Although +the youngest of the king's brothers, he had always +been regarded as the future King of England, and had his +father survived until he reached the age of manhood, he +would probably have succeeded directly to the throne. The +law of primogeniture was by no means strictly observed +among the Saxons, a younger brother of marked ability or of +distinguished prowess in war being often chosen by a father +to succeed him in place of his elder brothers. + +Alfred had been his father's favourite son. He had when +a child been consecrated by the pope as future King of +England; and his two journeys to Rome, and his residence at +the court of the Frankish king had, with his own great learning +and study, given him a high prestige and reputation among +his people as one learned in the ways of the world. Although +but a prince, his authority in the kingdom nearly equalled +that of his brother, and it was he rather than Ethelred whom +men regarded as the prop and stay of the Saxons in the perils +which were now threatening them. + +One after another, persons advanced to the table and +laid their complaints before the king; in cases of dispute +both parties were present and were often accompanied by +witnesses. Ethelred and Alfred listened attentively to all that +was said on both sides, and then gave their judgment. An +hour passed, and then seeing that no one else approached +the table, Egbert, taking Edmund by the hand, led him forward +and knelt before the royal table. + +"Whom have we here?" the king said. "This youth is by +his attire one of noble race, but I know not his face." + +"We have come, sir king," Egbert said, "as fugitives and +suppliants to you. This is Edmund, the son of Ealdorman +Eldred, a valiant cyning of East Anglia, who, after fighting +bravely against the Danes near Thetford, joined Earl Algar, +and died by his side on the fatal field of Kesteven. He had +himself purposed to come hither to you and to ask you to +accept him as your thane, and on the morn of the battle he +charged me if he fell to bring hither his son to you; and we +pray you to accept, in token of our homage to you, these +vessels." + +And here he placed two handsome goblets of silver gilt +upon the table. + +"I pray you rise," the king said. "I have assuredly heard +of the brave Eldred, and will gladly receive his son as my +thane. I had not heard of Eldred's death, though two days +since the rumour of a heavy defeat of the East Angles at +Kesteven, and the sacrilegious destruction of the holy houses +of Bardenay, Croyland, and Medeshamsted reached our ears. +Were you present at the battle?" + +"I was, sir king," Egbert said, "and fought beside Earl +Algar and my kinsman the Ealdorman Eldred until both were +slain by the Danes, and I with difficulty cut my way through +them and escaped to carry out my kinsman's orders regarding +his son." + +"You are a stout champion yourself," the king said, +regarding with admiration Egbert's huge proportions; "but tell +us the story of this battle, of which at present but vague +rumours have reached us." Egbert related the incidents of +the battle of Kesteven. "It was bravely fought," the king said +when he had concluded; "right well and bravely, and better +fortune should have attended such valour. Truly the brave +Algar has shown that we Saxons have not lost the bravery +which distinguished our ancestors, and that, man for man, +we are equal to these heathen Danes." + +"But methinks," Prince Alfred said, "that the brave Algar +and his valiant companions did wrong to throw away their +lives when all was lost. So long as there is the remotest chance +of victory it is the duty of a leader to set an example of valour +to his followers, but when all is lost he should think of his +country. What though the brave thanes slew each a score of +Danes before they died, their death has left their countrymen +without a leader, and by that one battle the Danes have +made themselves masters of the north of East Anglia. Better +far had they, when the day was lost, retreated, to gather the +people together when a better opportunity presented itself, +and again to make head against the invaders. It is heathen +rather than Christian warfare thus to throw away their lives +rather than to retreat and wait for God's time to come again. +To stake all on one throw, which if lost loses a whole people, +seems to me the act of a gamester. I trust that, should the +time ever come, as it is too much to be feared it will ere long, +that the Danes invade my brother's kingdom of Wessex, I +shall not be found wanting in courage; but assuredly when +defeated in battle I would not throw away my life, for that +belongs to our people rather than to myself, but would retire +to some refuge until I could again gather the Saxons around +me and attack the invaders. I like the face of the young +ealdorman, and doubt not that he will prove a valiant warrior +like his father. My brother will doubtless assign him +lands for his maintenance and yours; but if he will let me I +will attach him to my person, and will be at once a master +and a friend to him. Wouldst thou like this, young Edmund?" + +The lad, greatly pleased at the young prince's kindness +of speech and manner, replied enthusiastically that he would +follow him to the death if he would accept him as his faithful +thane. + +"Had the times been more peaceful, Edmund," Alfred +said, "I would fain have imparted to you some of the little +knowledge that I have gained, for I see an intelligence in your +face which tells me that you would have proved an apt and +eager pupil; but, alas, in the days that are coming it is the +sword rather than the book which will prevail, and the cares +of state, and the defence of the country, will shortly engross +all my time and leave me but little leisure for the studies I +love so well." + +"There are the lands," the king said, "of Eabald, +Ealdorman of Sherborne, in Dorset. He died but last week +and has left no children. These lands I will grant to Edmund +in return for liege and true service." The lad knelt before +the king, and, kissing his hand, swore to be his true and +faithful thane, and to spend land, goods, and life in +his service. + +"And now," the king said, "since the audience is over, +and none other comes before us with petitions, we will retire +to our private apartments, and there my brother Alfred will +present you to the fair Elswitha, his wife." + +The room into which Egbert and Edmund followed the +king and his brother was spacious and lofty. The walls were +covered with hangings of red cloth, and a thick brown baize +covered the floor. The ceiling was painted a dark brown +with much gilding. Round the sides of the room stood several +dressers of carved oak, upon which stood gold and silver cups. + +On a table were several illuminated vellums. At Croyland +Edmund had seen a civilization far in advance of that to which +he had been accustomed in his father's abode; but he saw +here a degree of luxury and splendour which surprised him. +Alfred had, during his two visits to Rome, learned to +appreciate the high degree of civilization which reigned there, +and many of the articles of furniture and other objects which +met Edmund's eye he had brought with him on his return +with his father from that city. + +Across the upper end of the room was a long table laid +with a white cloth. Elswitha was sitting in a large gilded chair +by the great fire which was blazing on the hearth. + +Prince Alfred presented Edmund and Egbert to her. +Elswitha was well acquainted with the Ealdorman Eldred, as +his lands lay on the very border of her native Mercia, and she +received the lad and his kinsman with great kindness. In a +short time they took their places at table. First the +attendance brought in bowls containing broth, which they +presented, kneeling, to each of those at table. The broth was +drunk from the bowl itself; then a silver goblet was placed by +each diner, and was filled with wine. Fish was next served. +Plates were placed before each; but instead of their cutting +food with their own daggers, as Edmund had been accustomed +to see in his father's house, knives were handed round. +After the fish came venison, followed by wild boar, chickens, +and other meats. After these confections, composed chiefly +of honey, were placed on the table. The king and Prince +Alfred pledged their guests when they drank. No forks were +used, the meat as cut being taken up by pieces of bread to +the mouth. During the meal a harper played and sung. + +Edmund observed the decorum with which his royal +hosts fed, and the care which they took to avoid dipping their +fingers into their saucers or their plates. He was also struck +with the small amount of wine which they took; for the Saxons +in general were large feeders, and drank heavily at +their meals. + +When the dinner was over a page brought round a basin of +warm water, in which lavender had been crushed, and +each dipped his fingers in this and then dried them on the +cloth. Then at Prince Alfred's request Egbert again related +in full the details of the two days' desperate struggle at +Kesteven, giving the most minute particulars of the Danes' +method of fighting. Egbert and Edmund then retired to the +royal guest-house adjoining the palace, where apartments +were assigned to them. + +After remaining for a week at Reading they took leave +of the king and started for the lands which he had assigned +to Edmund. They were accompanied by an officer of the +royal household, who was to inform the freemen and serfs of +the estate that by the king's pleasure Edmund had been +appointed ealdorman of the lands. They found on arrival that +the house had been newly built, and was large and comfortable. +The thanes of the district speedily came in to pay their +respects to their new ealdorman, and although surprised to +find him so young, they were pleased with his bearing and +manner, and knowing that he came of good fighting blood +doubted not that in time he would make a valiant leader. All +who came were hospitably entertained, and for many days +there was high feasting. So far removed was this part of +England from the district which the Danes had invaded, +that at present but slight alarm had been caused by them; +but Edmund and his kinsman lost no time in impressing upon +them the greatness of the coming danger. + +"You may be sure," he said, "that ere long we shall see +their galleys on the coast. When they have eaten up Mercia +and Anglia they will assuredly come hither, and we shall have +to fight for our lives, and unless we are prepared it will go +hard with us." + +After he had been at his new residence for a month +Edmund sent out messengers to all the thanes in his district +requesting them to assemble at a council, and then formally +laid the matter before them. + +"It is, above all things," he said, "necessary that we should +have some place where we can place the women and children +in case of invasion and where we can ourselves retire in +extreme necessity. Therefore I propose that we shall build a +fort of sufficient size to contain all the inhabitants of the +district, with many flocks and herds. My cousin Egbert has +ridden far over the country, and recommends that the Roman +fortification at Moorcaster shall be utilized. It is large +in extent, and has a double circle of earthen banks. These +differ from those which we are wont to build, since we Saxons +always fill up the ground so as to be flat with the top of +the earthen banks, while the Romans left theirs hollow. +However, the space is so large that it would take a vast labour +to fill it up, therefore I propose that we should merely thicken +the banks, and should, in Saxon custom, build a wall with +turrets upon them. The sloping banks alone would be but a +small protection against the onslaught of the Danes, but stone +walls are another matter, and could only be carried after a +long siege. If you fall in with my views you will each of you +send half your serfs to carry out the work, and I will do the +same, and will, moreover, pay fifty freemen who may do the +squaring of the stones and the proper laying of them." + +The proposal led to a long discussion, as some thought +that there was no occasion as yet to take such a measure; but +the thanes finally agreed to carry out Edmund's proposal. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV: THE INVASION OF WESSEX + + + +Edmund and Egbert devoted most of their time to +the building of the new fort, living very simply, and +expended the whole of the revenues of the lands on +the payment of the freemen and masons engaged upon the +work. The Roman fort was a parallelogram, the sides being +about 200 yards long, and the ends half that length. It was +surrounded by two earthen banks with wide ditches. These +were deepened considerably, and the slopes were cut down +more sharply. The inner bank was widened until it was 15 +feet across the top. + +On this the wall was built. It was faced on both sides +with square stones, the space between filled up with rubble +and cement, the total thickness being 4 feet. The height of +the wall was 8 feet, and at intervals of 30 yards apart towers +were raised 10 feet above it, one of these being placed at +either side of the entrance. Here the bank was cut away, and +solid buttresses of masonry supported the high gates. The +opening in the outer bank was not opposite to the gate in the +inner, being fifty yards away, so that any who entered by it +would have for that distance to follow the ditch between the +two banks, exposed to the missiles of those on the wall +before arriving at the inner gate. + +Five hundred men laboured incessantly at the work. The stone +for the walls was fortunately found close at hand, but, +notwithstanding this, the work took nearly six months to +execute; deep wells were sunk in the centre of the fort, +and by this means an ample supply of water was secured, +however large might be the number within it. + +A very short time after the commencement of the work +the news arrived that King Edmund of East Anglia had +gathered his forces together and had met the Danes in a great +battle near Thetford on Sunday the 20th of November, and +had been totally defeated by them, Edmund himself having +been taken prisoner. The captive king, after having been for +a long time cruelly tortured by the Danes, was shot to death +with arrows. It was not long after this that news came that +the whole of East Anglia had fallen into the hands of the +Danes. + +Early in the month of February, 871, just as the walls of +his fort had begun to rise, a messenger arrived from the king +bidding Edmund assemble all the men in his earlship and +march at once to join him near Devizes, as the news had +come that a great Danish fleet had sailed up the Thames and +had already captured the royal town of Reading. + +Messengers were sent out in all directions, and early the +next morning, 400 men having assembled, Edmund and his +kinsman marched away with them towards Devizes. Upon +their arrival at that town they found the king and his brother +with 8000 men, and the following day the army moved east +towards Reading. + +They had not marched many miles before a messenger +arrived saying that two of the Danish jarls with a great +following had gone out to plunder the country, that they had +been encountered by Aethelwulf, Earl of Berkshire, with his +men at Englefield, and a fierce battle had taken place. The +Saxons had gained the victory, and great numbers of the +Danes had been slain, Sidroc, one of their jarls, being among +the fallen. + +Three days later the royal army arrived in sight of Reading, +being joined on their march by Aethelwulf and his men. +The Danes had thrown up a great rampart between the +Thames and the Kennet, and many were still at work on this +fortification. These were speedily slain by the Saxons, but +their success was a short one. The main body of the invaders +swarmed out from the city and a desperate engagement took +place. + +The Saxons fought valiantly, led by the king and Prince +Alfred; but being wholly undisciplined and unaccustomed to +war they were unable to withstand the onslaught of the Danes, +who fought in better order, keeping together in ranks: after +four hours' hard fighting the Saxons were compelled to fall +back. + +They rallied again a few miles from Reading. Ethelred +and Alfred went among them bidding them be of good cheer, +for that another time, when they fought in better order, they +would gain the victory; and that their loss had not been greater +than the Danes, only that unhappily the valiant Ealdorman +Aethelwulf had been slain. Fresh messengers were sent +throughout the country bidding all the men of Wessex to +rally round their king, and on the fourth morning after the +defeat Ethelred found himself at the head of larger forces +than had fought with him in the last battle. + +The Danes had moved out from Reading and had taken +post at Ashdown, and as the Saxon army approached they +were seen to be divided into two bodies, one of which was +commanded by their two kings and the other by two jarls. +The Saxons therefore made a similar division of their army, +the king commanding one division and Prince Alfred the +other. + +Edmund with the men of Sherborne was in the division +of Alfred. The Danes advanced to the attack and fell with +fury upon them. It had been arranged that this division +should not advance to the attack until that commanded by +the king was also put in motion. For some time Alfred and +his men supported the assaults of the Danes, and then, being +hardly pressed, the prince sent a messenger to his brother +to urge that a movement should be made. The Saxons were +impatient at standing on the defensive, and Alfred saw that +he must either allow them to charge the enemy or must retreat. + +Presently the messenger returned saying that the king +was in his tent hearing mass, and that he had given orders +that no man should move or any should disturb him until +mass was concluded. Alfred hesitated no longer; he formed +his men into a solid body, and then, raising his battle cry, +rushed upon the Danes. The battle was a furious one. The +Danes were upon higher ground, their standard being planted +by the side of a single thorn-tree which grew on the slopes of +the hill. Towards this Alfred with his men fought their way. + +The lesson of the previous battle had not been lost, the +Saxons kept together in a solid body which made its way with +irresistible weight through the ranks of the Danes. Still the +latter closed in on all sides, and the fight was doubtful until +the king, having finished his devotions, led his division into +the battle. For a long time a desperate strife continued and +great numbers on both sides were killed; but the Saxons, +animated at once by love of their country and hatred of the +invaders and by humiliation at their previous defeat, fought +with such fury that the Danes began to give way. Then the +Saxons pressed them still more hotly, and the invaders +presently lost heart and fled in confusion, pursued in all +directions by the exulting Saxons. + +The Danish king Bergsecg and five jarls, the two Sidrocs, +Osbearn, Frene, and Hareld, were slain, and many thousands +of their followers. Great spoil of arms and armour fell into +the hands of the victors. + +Edmund had fought bravely in the battle at the head of +his men. Egbert had kept beside him, and twice, when the +lad had been smitten to his knees by the enemy, covered him +with his shield and beat off the foe. + +"You are over-young for such a fight as this, Edmund," +he said when the Danes had taken to flight. "You will need +another four or five years over your head before you can stand +in battle against these fierce Northmen. They break down +your guard by sheer weight; but you bore yourself gallantly, +and I doubt not will yet be as famous a warrior as was your +brave father." + +Edmund did not join in the pursuit, being too much +bruised and exhausted to do so; but Egbert with the men of +Sherborne followed the flying Danes until nightfall. + +"You have done well, my young ealdorman," Prince +Alfred said to the lad after the battle. "I have been wishing +much that you could be with me during the past month, but +I heard that you were building a strong fort and deemed it +better to let you continue your work undisturbed. When it is +finished I trust that I shall have you often near me; but I fear +that for a time we shall have but little space for peaceful +pursuits, for the Danes are coming, as I hear, in great troops +westward, and we shall have many battles to fight ere we clear +the land of the them." + +In those days a defeat, however severe, had not the same +decisive effect as it has in modern warfare. There were no +cannons to lose, no great stores to fall into the hands of the +victors. The army was simply dispersed, and its component +parts reassembled in the course of a day or two, ready, when +reinforcements arrived, to renew the fight. Thus, decisive as +was the victory of Ashdown, Prince Alfred saw that many +such victories must be won, and a prolonged and exhausting +struggle carried on before the tide of invasion would be +finally hurled back from Wessex. The next few days were spent +in making a fair distribution of the spoil and arms among +the conquerors. Some of the thanes then returned home +with their people; but the remainder, on the king's entreaty, +agreed to march with him against the Danes, who after the +battle had fallen back to Basing, where they had been joined +by others coming from the coast. The royal army advanced +against them, and fourteen days after the battle of Ashdown +the struggle was renewed. The fight lasted for many hours, +but towards nightfall the Saxons were compelled to retreat, +moving off the field, however, in good order, so that no spoil +fell into the hands of the Danes. + +This check was a great disappointment to the Saxons, +who after their late victory had hoped that they should +speedily clear the kingdom of the Danes. These, indeed, taught +prudence by the manner in which the West Saxons had fought, +for a while refrained from plundering excursions. Two +months later the Saxons were again called to arms. Somerled, +a Danish chieftain, had again advanced to Reading, and had +captured and burned the town. The king marched against +him, and the two armies met at Merton. Here another +desperate battle took place. + +During the first part of the day the Saxons were victorious +over both the divisions of the Danish army, but in the +afternoon the latter received some reinforcements and +renewed the fight. The Saxons, believing that the victory had +been won, had fallen into disorder and were finally driven +from the field. Great numbers were slain on both sides. +Bishop Edmund and many Saxon nobles were killed, and +King Ethelred so severely wounded that he expired a few days +later, April 23rd, 871, having reigned for five years. He was +buried at Wimbourne Minster, and Prince Alfred ascended +the throne. + +Ethelred was much regretted by his people, but the accession +of Alfred increased their hopes of battling successfully +against the Danes. Although wise and brave, King +Ethelred had been scarcely the monarch for a warlike people +in troubled times. Religious exercises occupied too large a +share of his thoughts. His rule was kindly rather than strong, +and his authority was but weak over his nobles. From Prince +Alfred the Saxons hoped better things. From his boyhood +he had been regarded with special interest and affection by +the people, as his father had led them to regard him as their +future king. + +The fact that he had been personally consecrated by +the pope appeared to invest him with a special authority. +His immense superiority in learning over all his people greatly +impressed them. Though gentle he was firm and resolute, +prompt in action, daring in the field. Thus, then, although +the people regretted King Ethelred, there was a general feeling +of hope and joy when Alfred took his place on the throne. +He had succeeded to the crown but a month when the Danes +again advanced in great numbers. The want of success which +had attended them in the last two battles had damped the +spirit of the people, and it was with a very small force only +that Alfred was able to advance against them. + +The armies met near Wilton, where the Danes in vastly +superior numbers were posted on a hill. King Alfred led his +forces forward and fell upon the Danes, and so bravely did +the Saxons fight that for some time the day went favourably +for them. Gradually the Danes were driven from their post +of vantage, and after some hours' fighting turned to fly; but, +as at Merton and Kesteven, the impetuosity of the Saxons +proved their ruin. Breaking their compact ranks they scattered +in pursuit of the Danes, and these, seeing how small +was the number of their pursuers, rallied and turned upon +them, and the Saxons were driven from the field which they +had so bravely won. + +"Unless my brave Saxons learn order and discipline," +the king said to Edmund and some of his nobles who gathered +round him on the evening after the defeat, "our cause is +assuredly lost. We have proved now in each battle that we are +superior man to man to the Danes, but we throw away the +fruits of victory by our impetuosity. The great Caesar, who +wrote an account of his battles which I have read in Latin, +described the order and discipline with which the Roman +troops fought. They were always in heavy masses, and even +after a battle the heavy-armed soldiers kept their ranks and +did not scatter in pursuit of the enemy, leaving this task to +the more lightly armed troops. + +"Would that we had three or four years before us to teach +our men discipline and order, but alas! there is no time for +this. The Danes have fallen in great numbers in every fight, +but they are ever receiving reinforcements and come on in +fresh waves of invasion; while the Saxons, finding that all +their efforts and valour seem to avail nothing, are beginning +fast to lose heart. See how small a number assembled round +my standard yesterday, and yet the war is but beginning. Truly +the look-out is bad for England." + +The king made strenuous efforts again to raise an army, +but the people did not respond to his call. In addition to the +battles which have been spoken of several others had been +fought in different parts of Wessex by the ealdormen and +their followers against bodies of invading Danes. In the space +of one year the Saxons had engaged in eight pitched battles +and in many skirmishes. Great numbers had been slain on +both sides, but the Danes ever received fresh accessions of +strength, and seemed to grow stronger and more numerous +after every battle, while the Saxons were dwindling rapidly. +Wide tracts of country had been devastated, the men slaughtered, +and the women and children taken captives, and the +people, utterly dispirited and depressed, no longer listened +to the voices of their leaders, and refused again to peril their +lives in a strife which seemed hopeless. Alfred therefore called +his ealdormen together and proposed to them, that since +the people would no longer fight, the sole means that remained +to escape destruction was to offer to buy off the Danes. + +The proposal was agreed to, for although none of them +had any hope that the Danes would long keep any treaty they +might make, yet even a little respite might give heart and +spirit to the Saxons again. Accordingly negotiations were +entered into with the Danes, and these, in consideration of a +large money payment, agreed to retire from Wessex. The +money was paid, the Danes retired from Reading, which they +had used as their headquarters, and marched to London. +King Burhred, the feeble King of Mercia, could do nothing +to oppose them, and he too agreed to pay them a large annual +tribute. + +From the end of 872 till the autumn of 875 the country +was comparatively quiet. Alfred ruled it wisely, and tried to +repair the terrible damages the war had made. Edmund +looked after his earldom, and grew into a powerful young +man of nineteen years old. + +King Alfred had not deceived himself for a moment as +to the future. "The Danes," he said, "are still in England. +East Anglia and Northumbria swarm with them. Had this +army, after being bought off by us and my brother of Mercia, +sailed across the seas and landed in France there would have +been some hope for us, but their restless nature will not +allow them to stay long in the parts which they +have conquered. + +"In Anglia King Guthrum has divided the land among +his jarls, and there they seem disposed to settle down; but +elsewhere they care not for the land, preferring to leave it in +the hands of its former owners to till, and after to wring from +the cultivators the fruits of the harvest; then, as the country +becomes thoroughly impoverished, they must move elsewhere. +Mercia they can overrun whensoever they choose, and after +that there is nothing for them to do but to sweep down again +upon Wessex, and with all the rest of England at their feet it +is hopeless to think that we alone can withstand their united +power." + +"Then what, think you, must be the end of this?" Edmund +asked. + +"'Tis difficult to see the end," Alfred replied. "It would +seem that our only hope of release from them is that when +they have utterly eaten up and ravaged England they may +turn their thoughts elsewhere. Already they are harrying +the northern coasts of France, but there are richer prizes on +the Mediterranean shores, and it may be that when England +is no longer worth plundering they may sail away to Spain +and Italy. We have acted foolishly in the way we have fought +them. When they first began to arrive upon our coasts we +should have laboured hard to build great fleets, so that we +could go forth and meet them on the seas. + +"Some, indeed, might have escaped our watch and +landed, but the fleets could have cut off reinforcements +coming to them, and thus those who reached our shores could +have been overwhelmed. Even now, I think that something +might be done that way, and I purpose to build a fleet which +may, when they again invade us, take its station near the +mouth of the Thames and fall upon the vessels bringing stores +and reinforcements. This would give much encouragement +to the people, whose hopelessness and desperation are caused +principally by the fact that it seems to be of no use killing +the enemy, since so many are ready constantly to take +their places." + +"I will gladly undertake to build one ship," Edmund said. +"The fort is now finished, and with the revenues of the land +I could at once commence a ship; and if the Danes give us +time, when she is finished I would build another. I will the +more gladly do it, since it seems to me that if the Danes +entirely overrun our country we must take to the sea and so in +turn become plunderers. With this view I will have the ship +built large and strong, so that she may keep the sea in all +weathers and be my home if I am driven out of England. +There must be plenty of ports in France, and many a quiet +nook and inlet round England, where one can put in to refit +when necessary, and we could pick up many a prize of Danish +ships returning laden with booty. With such a ship I could +carry a strong crew, and with my trusty Egbert and the best +of my fighting men we should be able to hold our own, even +if attacked by two or three of the Danish galleys." + +"The idea is a good one, Edmund," the king said, "and I +would that I myself could carry it into effect. It were a thousand +times better to live a free life on the sea, even if certain +at last to be overpowered by a Danish fleet, than to lurk a +hunted fugitive in the woods; but I cannot do it. So long as I +live I must remain among my people, ready to snatch any +chance that may offer of striking a blow against the invader. +But for you it is different." + +"I should not, of course, do it," Edmund said, "until all is +lost here, and mean to defend my fort to an extremity; still +should it be that the Danes conquer all our lands, it were well +to have such a refuge." + +Edmund talked the matter over with Egbert, who warmly +entered into the plan. "So long as I have life I will fight against +the Danes, and in a ship at least we can fight manfully till the +end. We must not build her on the sea-coast, or before the +time when we need her she may be destroyed by the Danes. +We will build her on the Parrot. The water is deep enough +far up from the sea to float her when empty, and if we choose +some spot where the river runs among woods we might hide +her so that she may to the last escape the attention of the +Danes. + +"We must get some men crafty in ship-building from +one of the ports, sending down a body of our own serfs to do +the rough work. We will go to Exeter first and there choose +us the craftsman most skilled in building ships, and will take +council with him as to the best form and size. She must be +good to sail and yet able to row fast with a strong crew, and +she must have room to house a goodly number of rowing and +fighting men. You, Edmund, might, before we start, consult +King Alfred. He must have seen at Rome and other ports on +the Mediterranean the ships in use there, which are doubtless +far in advance of our own. For we know from the Holy Bible +that a thousand years ago St. Paul made long voyages in +ships, and doubtless they have learned much since those days." + +Edmund thought the idea a good one, and asked the +king to make him a drawing of the vessels in use in the +Mediterranean. This King Alfred readily did, and Egbert and +Edmund then journeyed to Exeter, where finding out the man +most noted for his skill in building ships, they told him the +object they had in view, and showed him the drawings the +king had made. There were two of them, the one a long +galley rowed with double banks of oars, the other a heavy +trading ship. + +"This would be useless to you," the shipwright said, laying +the second drawing aside. "It would not be fast enough +either to overtake or to fly. The other galley would, methinks, +suit you well. I have seen a drawing of such a ship before. It +is a war galley such as is used by the Genoese in their fights +against the African pirates. They are fast and roomy, and +have plenty of accommodation for the crews. One of them +well manned and handled should be a match for six at least +of the Danish galleys, which are much lower in the water and +smaller in all ways. But it will cost a good deal of money to +build such a ship." + +"I will devote all the revenues of my land to it until it is +finished," Edmund said. "I will place a hundred serfs at your +service, and will leave it to you to hire as many craftsmen as +may be needed. I intend to build her in a quiet place in a +deep wood on the river Parrot, so that she may escape the +eyes of the Danes." + +"I shall require seasoned timber," the shipwright urged. + +"That will I buy," Edmund replied, as you shall direct, +and can have it brought up the river to the spot." + +"Being so large and heavy," the shipwright said, "she will +be difficult to launch. Methinks it were best to dig a hole or +dock at some little distance from the river; then when she is +finished a way can be cut to the river wide enough for her to +pass out. When the water is turned in it will float her up +level to the surface, and as she will not draw more than two +feet of water the cut need not be more than three feet deep." + +"That will be the best plan by far," Edmund agreed, "for +you can make the hole so deep that you can build her entirely +below the level of the ground. Then we can, if needs be, fill +up the hole altogether with bushes, and cover her up, so that +she would not be seen by a Danish galley rowing up the river, +or even by any of the enemy who might enter the wood, unless +they made special search for her; and there she could lie +until I chose to embark." + +The shipwright at once set to work to draw out his plans, +and a week later sent to Edmund a messenger with an account +of the quantity and size of wood he should require. +This was purchased at once. Edmund and Egbert with their +serfs journeyed to the spot they had chosen, and were met +there by the shipwright, who brought with him twenty craftsmen +from Exeter. The wood was brought up the river, and +while the craftsmen began to cut it up into fitting sizes, the +serfs applied themselves to dig the deep dock in which the +vessel was to be built. + + + + + +CHAPTER V: A DISCIPLINED BAND + + + +The construction of the ship went on steadily. King +Alfred, who was himself building several war vessels +of ordinary size, took great interest in Edmund's craft +and paid several visits to it while it was in progress. + +"It will be a fine ship," he said one day as the vessel was +approaching completion, "and much larger than any in these +seas. It reminds me, Edmund, not indeed in size or shape, +but in its purpose, of the ark which Noah built before the +deluge which covered the whole earth. He built it, as you +know, to escape with his family from destruction. You, too, +are building against the time when the deluge of Danish +invasion will sweep over this land, and I trust that your +success will equal that of the patriarch." + +"I shall be better off than Noah was," Edmund said, "for +he had nothing to do, save to shut up his windows and wait +till the floods abated, while I shall go out and seek my +enemies on the sea." + +The respite purchased by the king from the Danes was +but a short one. In the autumn of 875 their bands were +again swarming around the borders of Wessex, and constant +irruptions took place. Edmund received a summons to gather +his tenants, but he found that these no longer replied +willingly to the call. Several of his chief men met him and +represented to him the general feeling which prevailed. + +"The men say," their spokesman explained, "that it is +useless to fight against the Danes. In 872 there were ten +pitched battles, and vast numbers of the Danes were slain, +and vast numbers also of Saxons. The Danes are already far +more numerous than before, for fresh hordes continue to +arrive on the shores, and more than fill up the places of those +who are killed; but the places of the Saxons are empty, and +our fighting force is far smaller than it was last year. If we +again go out and again fight many battles, even if we are +victorious, which we can hardly hope to be, the same thing +will happen. Many thousands will be slain, and the following +year we shall in vain try to put an army in the field which can +match that of the Danes, who will again have filled up their +ranks, and be as numerous as ever. So long as we continue to +fight, so long the Danes will slay, burn, and destroy +wheresoever they march, until there will remain of us but a +few fugitives hidden in the woods. We should be far better +off did we cease to resist, and the Danes become our masters, +as they have become the masters of Northumbria, Mercia, +and Anglia. + +"There, it is true, they have plundered the churches and +thanes' houses and have stolen all that is worth carrying away; +but when they have taken all that there is to take they leave +the people alone, and unmolested, to till the ground and to +gain their livelihood. They do not slay for the pleasure of +slaying, and grievous as is the condition of the Angles they +and their wives and children are free from massacre and are +allowed to gain their livings. The West Saxons have showed +that they are no cowards; they have defeated the Northmen +over and over again when far outnumbering them. It is no +dishonour to yield now when all the rest of England has +yielded, and when further fighting will only bring ruin upon +ourselves, our wives, and children." + +Edmund could find no reply to this argument. He knew +that even the king despaired of ultimately resisting the Danish +invasion, and after listening to all that the thanes had to +say he retired with Egbert apart. + +"What say you, Egbert? There is reason in the arguments +that they use. You and I have neither wives nor children, +and we risk only our own lives; but I can well understand +that those who have so much to lose are chary of further +effort. What say you?" + +"I do not think it will be fair to press them further," +Egbert answered; "but methinks that we might raise a band +consisting of all the youths and unmarried men in the earldom. +These we might train carefully and keep always together, +seeing that the lands will still be cultivated and all +able to pay their assessment, and may even add to it, since +you exempt them from service. Such a band we could train +and practise until we could rely upon them to defeat a far +larger force of the enemy, and they would be available for +our crew when we take to the ship." + +"I think the idea is a very good one, Egbert; we will propose +it to the thanes." The proposition was accordingly made +that all married men should be exempt from service, but +that the youths above the age of sixteen and the unmarried +men should be formed into a band and kept permanently +under arms. Landowners who lost the services of sons or +freemen working for them should pay the same assessment +only as before, but those who did not contribute men to the +levy should pay an additional assessment. Edmund said he +would pay the men composing the band the same wages they +would earn in the field, and would undertake all their +expenses. "So long as the king continues the struggle," +he said, "it is our duty to aid him, nor can we escape from +the dangers and perils of invasion. Should the Danes come +near us all must perforce fight, but so long as they continue +at a distance things can go on here as if we had peace +in the land." + +The proposal was, after some discussion, agreed to, and +the news caused gladness and contentment throughout the +earldom. The younger men who had been included in the +levy were quite satisfied with the arrangement. The spirit of +the West Saxons was still high, and those without wives and +families who would suffer by their absence or be ruined by +their death were eager to continue the contest. The proposal +that they should be paid as when at work was considered +perfectly satisfactory. + +The men of Sherborne had under their young leader +gained great credit by their steadiness and valour in the +battles four years before, and they looked forward to fresh +victories over the invader. The result was that ninety young +men assembled for service. Edmund had sent off a messenger to +the king saying that the people were utterly weary of war and +refused to take up arms, but that he was gathering a band of +young men with whom he would ere long join him; but he +prayed for a short delay in order that he might get them into +a condition to be useful on the day of battle. + +After consultation with Egbert, Edmund drew up a series +of orders somewhat resembling those of modern drill. +King Alfred had once, in speaking to him, described the +manner in which the Thebans, a people of Northern Greece, +had fought, placing their troops in the form of a wedge. The +formation he now taught his men. From morning to night +they were practised at rallying from pursuit or flight, or +changing from a line into the form of a wedge. Each man had +his appointed place both in the line and wedge. Those who +formed the outside line of this formation were armed with +large shields which covered them from chin to foot, and with +short spears; those in the inner lines carried no shields, but +bore spears of increasing length, so that four lines of spears +projected from the wedge to nearly the same distance. Inside +the four lines were twenty men armed with shields, bows, +and arrows. The sides of the wedge were of equal length, so +that they could march either way. + +Egbert's place was at the apex of the wedge intended +generally for attack. He carried no spear, nor did those at +the other corners, as they would be covered by those beside +and behind them; he was armed with a huge battle-axe. The +other leaders were also chosen for great personal strength. +Edmund's place was on horseback in the middle of the wedge, +whence he could overlook the whole and direct their movements. + +In three weeks the men could perform their simple +movements to perfection, and at a sound from Edmund's +horn would run in as when scattered in pursuit or flight, +or could form from line into the wedge, without the least +confusion, every man occupying his assigned place. + +The men were delighted with their new exercises, and +felt confident that the weight of the solid mass thickly +bristling with spears would break through the Danish line +without difficulty, or could draw off from the field in perfect +order and safety in case of a defeat, however numerous their +foes. The two front lines were to thrust with their pikes, the +others keeping their long spears immovable to form a solid +hedge. Each man carried a short heavy sword to use in case, +by any fatality, the wedge should get broken up. + +When assured that his band were perfect in their new +exercise Edmund marched and joined the king. He found +on his arrival that the summons to arms had been everywhere +disregarded. Many men had indeed come in, but these +were in no way sufficient to form a force which would enable +him to take the field against the Danes. + +Edmund therefore solicited and obtained permission to +march with his band to endeavour to check the plundering +bands of Danes, who were already committing devastations +throughout the country. + +"Be not rash, Edmund," the monarch said, "you have +but a handful of men, and I should grieve indeed did aught +of harm befall you. If you can fall upon small parties of +plunderers and destroy them you will do good service, not +only by compelling them to keep together but by raising the +spirits of the Saxons; but avoid conflict with parties likely to +defeat you." + +"You shall hear of us soon, I promise you," Edmund replied, +"and I trust that the news will be good." + +The little party set out towards the border, and before +long met numbers of fugitives, weeping women carrying children, +old men and boys, making their way from the neighbourhood of +the Danes. The men had for the most part driven their +herds into the woods, where they were prepared to defend them +as best they could against roving parties. They learned that +Haffa, a Danish jarl, with about 600 followers, was plundering +and ravaging the country about twelve miles away. The force +was a formidable one, but after consultation with Egbert, +Edmund determined to advance, deeming that he might find +the Danes scattered and cut off some of their parties. + +As they neared the country of which the Danes were in +possession the smoke of burning villages and homesteads +was seen rising heavily in the air. Edmund halted for the +night in a wood about a mile distant from a blazing farm, +and the band lay down for some hours. + +Before daybreak three or four of the swiftest-footed of +the men were sent out to reconnoitre. They learned, from +badly wounded men whom they found lying near the burning +farms, that the Danes had been plundering in parties of +twenty or thirty, but that the main body under Haffa lay five +miles away at the village of Bristowe. + +A consultation was held, and it was agreed that the party +should remain hidden in the wood during the day, and that +upon the following night they should fall upon the Danes, +trusting to the surprise to inflict much damage upon them, +and to be able to draw off before the enemy could recover +sufficiently to rally and attack them. + +Accordingly about nine o'clock in the evening they +started, and marching rapidly approached Bristowe an hour +and a half later. They could see great fires blazing, and round +them the Danes were carousing after their forays of the day. +Great numbers of cattle were penned up near the village. + +Edmund and Egbert having halted their men stole forward +until close to the village in order to learn the nature of +the ground and the position of the Danes. Upon their return +they waited until the fires burned low and the sound of +shouting and singing decreased. It was useless to wait longer, +for they knew that many of the Danes would, according to +their custom, keep up their revelry all night. Crawling along +the ground the band made for the great pen where were +herded the cattle which the Danes had driven in from the +surrounding country, and over which several guards had been +placed. Before starting Egbert assigned to each man the +special duties which he was to fulfil. + +The Saxons crept up quite close to the Danish guards +unobserved. To each of these three or four bowmen had +been told off, and they, on nearing the sentries lay prone on +the ground with bows bent and arrows fixed until a whistle +from Edmund gave the signal. Then the arrows were loosed, +and the distance being so short the Danish sentries were all +slain. Then a party of men removed the side of the pen +facing the village; the rest mingled with the cattle, and soon +with the points of their spears goaded them into flight. In a +mass the herd thundered down upon the village, the Saxons +keeping closely behind them and adding to their terror by +goading the hindermost. + +The Danes, astonished at the sudden thunder of hoofs +bearing down upon them, leaped to their feet and +endeavoured to turn the course of the herd, which they +deemed to have accidentally broken loose, by loud shouts +and by rattling their swords against their shields. The oxen, +however, were too terrified by those in their rear to check +their course, and charged impetuously down upon the Danes. + +Numbers of these were hurled to the ground and +trampled under foot, and the wildest confusion reigned in +the camp. This was increased when, as the herds swept along, +a number of active men with spear and sword fell suddenly +upon them. Scores were cut down or run through before +they could prepare for defence, or recover from their +surprise at the novel method of attack. + +At last, as the thunder of the herd died away in the distance, +and they became aware of the comparative fewness of +their foes, they began to rally and make head against their +assailants. No sooner was this the case than the note of a +horn was heard, and as if by magic their assailants instantly +darted away into the night, leaving the superstitious Danes +in some doubt whether the whole attack upon them had not +been of a supernatural nature. + +Long before they recovered themselves, and were ready +for pursuit, the Saxons were far away, no less than 200 of the +Danes having been slain or trampled to death, while of +Edmund's band not one had received so much as a wound. + +The Saxons regained the wood in the highest state of +exultation at their success, and more confident than before +in themselves and their leader. + +"I am convinced," Edmund said, "that this is the true +way to fight the Danes, to harry and attack them by night +assaults until they dare not break up into parties, and become +so worn out by constant alarms that they will be glad to +leave a country where plunder and booty are only to be earned +at so great a cost." + +Knowing that Haffa's band would for some time be thoroughly +on the alert Edmund moved his party to another portion of +the country, where he inflicted a blow, almost as heavy +as he had dealt Haffa, upon Sigbert, another of the Danish +jarls. Three or four more very successful night attacks were +made, and then the Danes, by this time thoroughly alarmed, +obtained from some Saxon country people whom they took +prisoners news as to the strength of Edmund's band. + +Furious at the heavy losses which had been inflicted +upon them by so small a number, they determined to unite +in crushing them. By threats of instant death, and by the +offers of a high reward, they succeeded in persuading two +Saxon prisoners to act as spies, and one day these brought in +to Haffa the news that the band had that morning, after +striking a successful blow at the Danes ten miles away, +entered at daybreak a wood but three miles from his camp. + +The Northman, disdaining to ask for assistance from +one of the other bands against so small a foe, moved out at +once with 300 of his men towards the wood. The Saxons had +posted guards, who on the approach of the Danes roused +Edmund with the news that the enemy were close at hand. +The Saxons were soon on their feet. + +"Now, my friends," Edmund said to them, "here is the +time for trying what benefit we have got from our exercise. +We cannot well draw off, for the Danes are as fleet-footed as +we; therefore let us fight and conquer them." + +The men formed up cheerfully, and the little body moved +out from the wood to meet the Danes. The latter gave a +shout of triumph as they saw them. The Saxon force, from +its compact formation, appeared even smaller than it was, +and the Norsemen advanced in haste, each eager to be the +first to fall upon an enemy whom they regarded as an easy +prey. As they arrived upon the spot, however, and saw the +thick hedge of spears which bristled round the little body of +Saxons, the first comers checked their speed and waited till +Haffa himself came up, accompanied by his principal warriors. + +Without a moment's hesitation the jarl flung himself +upon the Saxons. In vain, however, he tried to reach them +with his long sword. As he neared them the front line of the +Saxons dropped on one knee, and as the Danes with their +shields dashed against the spears and strove to cut through +them, the kneeling men were able with their pikes to thrust +at the unguarded portions of the bodies below their shields, +and many fell grievously wounded. After trying for some +time in vain, Haffa, finding that individual effort did not +suffice to break through the Saxon spears, formed his men +up in line four deep, and advanced in a solid body so as to +overwhelm them. + +The Saxons now rose to their feet. The spears, instead +of being pointed outwards, were inclined towards the front, +and the wedge advanced against the Danes. The Saxon war cry +rose loud as they neared the Danish line, and then, still +maintaining their close formation, they charged upon it. The +assault was irresistible. The whole weight was thrown upon +a point, and preceded, as it was, by the densely-packed spears, +it burst through the Danish line as if the latter had been +composed of osier twigs, bearing down all in its way. + +With shouts of surprise the Danes broke up their line +and closed in a thick mass round the Saxons, those behind +pressing forward and impeding the motions of the warriors +actually engaged. The Saxons no longer kept stationary. In +obedience to Edmund's orders the triangle advanced, sometimes +with one angle in front, sometimes with another, but +whichever way it moved sweeping away the Danes opposed +to it, while the archers from the centre shot fast and strong +into the mass of the enemy. + +Haffa himself, trying to oppose the advance of the +wedge, was slain by a blow of Egbert's axe, and after half an +hour's fierce fighting, the Danes, having lost upwards of fifty +of their best men, and finding all their efforts to produce an +impression upon the Saxons vain, desisted from the attack +and fled. + +At once the wedge broke up, and the Saxons followed +in hot pursuit, cutting down their flying enemies. Obedient, +however, to Edmund's repeated shouts they kept fairly together, +and when the Danes, thinking them broken and disordered, +turned to fall upon them, a single note of the horn +brought them instantly together again, and the astonished +Danes saw the phalanx which had proved so fatal to them +prepared to receive their attack. This they did not attempt to +deliver, but took to flight, the Saxons, as before, pursuing, +and twice as many of the Danes were slain in the retreat as in +the first attack. + +The pursuit was continued for many miles, and then, +fearing that he might come across some fresh body of the +enemy, Edmund called off his men. Great was the triumph +of the Saxons. A few of them had suffered from wounds +more or less serious, but not one had fallen. They had +defeated a body of Danes four times their own force, and had +killed nearly half of them, and they felt confident that the +tactics which they had adopted would enable them in future +to defeat any scattered bodies of Danes they might meet. + +For a week after the battle they rested, spending their +time in further improving themselves in their drill, +practicing especially the alterations of the position of +the spears requisite when changing from a defensive attitude, +with the pikes at right angles to each face, to that of an +attack, when the spears of both faces of the advancing wedge +were all directed forward. A messenger arrived from the king, +to whom Edmund had sent the news of his various successes, +and Alfred sent his warmest congratulations and thanks for +the great results which had been gained with so small a force, +the king confessing that he was unable to understand how with +such disproportionate numbers Edmund could so totally have +routed the force of so distinguished a leader as Haffa. + +For some weeks Edmund continued the work of checking +the depredations of the Danes, and so successful was he +that the freebooters became seized with a superstitious awe +of his band. The rapidity of its maneuvering, the manner in +which men, at one moment scattered, were in another formed +in a serried mass, against which all their efforts broke as +waves against a rock, seemed to them to be something +superhuman. In that part of Wessex, therefore, the invaders +gradually withdrew their forces across the frontier; but in +other parts of the country, the tide of invasion being +unchecked, large tracts of country had been devastated, and +the West Saxons could nowhere make head against them. One day +a messenger reached Edmund telling him that a large Danish +army was approaching Sherborne, and urging him to return +instantly to the defence of his earldom. + +With rapid marches he proceeded thither, and on arriving +at his house he found that the Danes were but a few miles +away, and that the whole country was in a state of panic. He +at once sent off messengers in all directions, bidding the +people hasten with their wives and families, their herds and +valuables, to the fort. His return to some extent restored +confidence. The news of the victories he had gained over +the Danes had reached Sherborne, and the confidence of +their power to defeat the invaders which his followers +expressed as they scattered to their respective farms again +raised the courage of the people. + +All through the night bands of fugitives poured into the +fort, and by morning the whole of the people for many miles +round were assembled there. Egbert and Edmund busied +themselves in assigning to each his duty and station. All the +men capable of bearing arms were told off to posts on the +walls. The old men and young boys were to draw water and +look after the cattle; the women to cook and attend to the +wounded. The men of his own band were not placed upon +the walls, but were held in readiness as a reserve to move to +any point which might be threatened, and to take part in +sorties against the enemy. + +Soon smoke was seen rising up in many directions, showing +that the enemy were at their accustomed work. Cries +broke from the women, and exclamations of rage from the +men, as they recognized by the direction of the smoke that +their own homesteads and villages were in the hands of the +spoilers. About mid-day a party of mounted Danes rode up +towards the fort and made a circuit of it. When they had +satisfied themselves as to the formidable nature of its +defences they rode off again, and for the rest of the day +none of the enemy approached the fort. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI: THE SAXON FORT + + + +A strict watch was kept all night, and several scouts +were sent out. These on their return reported that +the Danes were feasting, having slain many cattle and +broached the casks of mead which they found in the cellars +of Edmund's house. This they had not burned nor the houses +around it, intending, as the scouts supposed, to make it their +headquarters while they attacked the fort. + +Edmund and Egbert agreed that it would be well to show +the Danes at once that they had an active and enterprising +foe to deal with; they therefore awakened their band, who +were sleeping on skins close to the gate, and with them started +out. + +It was still two hours before dawn when they approached +the house. Save a few men on watch, the great Danish host, +which the messengers calculated to amount to ten thousand +men, were asleep. Cautiously making their way so as to avoid +stumbling over the Danes, who lay scattered in groups round +the house, the Saxons crept forward quietly until close to the +entrance, when a sleepy watchman started up. + +"Who are ye?" + +The answer was a blow from Egbert's battle-axe. Then +the leaders with twenty of their men rushed into the house, +while the rest remained on guard at the entrance. + +The combat was short but furious, and the clashing of +arms and shouts of the Danes roused those sleeping near, +and the men who escaped from the house spread the alarm. +The fight lasted but three or four minutes, for the Danes, +scattered through the house, and in many cases still stupid +from the effects of the previous night's debauch, were unable +to gather and make any collective resistance. The two jarls +fought in a manner worthy of their renown, but the Saxon +spears proved more than a match for their swords, and they +died fighting bravely till the last. Between Saxon and Dane +there was no thought of quarter; none asked for mercy on +either side, for none would be granted. The sea rovers never +spared an armed man who fell into their hands, and the Saxons +were infuriated by the sufferings which the invaders had +inflicted upon them, and had no more pity upon their foes +than if they had been wild animals. Besides the jarls some +thirty of their minor leaders were in the house, and but five +or six of them escaped. It was well for the Danes that the +detachment which lay there was not their principal body, +which was still a few miles in the rear, for had it been so two +of their kings and six jarls, all men of famed valour, would +have been slain. The instant the work was done the Saxons +rejoined those assembled at the entrance. + +Already the Danes were thronging up, but at present in +confusion and disorder, coming rather to see what was the +matter than to fight, and hardly believing that the Saxons +could have had the audacity to attack them. In an instant the +Saxons fell into their usual formation, and overturning and +cutting down those who happened to be in their path, burst +through the straggling Danes, and at a trot proceeded across +the country. + +It was still quite dark, and it was some time before the +Danes became thoroughly aware of what had happened; then +missing the voices of their leaders, some of them rushed into +the house, and the news that the two jarls and their +companions had been slain roused them to fury. At once they +set off in pursuit of the Saxons in a tumultuous throng; +but the band had already a considerable start, and had the +advantage of knowing every foot of the country, of which +the Danes were ignorant. When once fairly through the enemy, +Edmund had given the word and the formation had broken up, so +that each man could run freely and without jostling his +comrades. Thus they were enabled to proceed at a rapid pace, +and reached the fort just as day was breaking, without having +been discovered or overtaken by the Danes. + +The news of this successful exploit raised the spirits of +the garrison of the fort. The Danes swarmed nearly up to +the walls, but seeing how formidable was the position, and +being without leaders, they fell back without making an +attack, some of the more impetuous having fallen from the +arrows of the bowmen. + +About mid-day a solid mass of the enemy were seen approaching, +and the banners with the Black Raven on a blood-red field +showed that it contained leaders of importance, and +was, in fact, the main body of the Danes. It was an imposing +sight as it marched towards the fort, with the fluttering +banners, the sun shining upon the brass helmets and shields of +the chiefs, and the spear-heads and swords of the footmen. +Here and there parties of horsemen galloped about the plain. + +"Their number has not been exaggerated," Egbert said +to Edmund, "there must be ten thousand of them. There are +full twice as many as attacked us on the field of Kesteven." + +The sight of the great array struck terror into the minds +of a great part of the defenders of the fort; but the confident +bearing of their young ealdorman and the thought of the +strength of their walls reassured them. The Danes halted at +a distance of about a quarter of a mile from the walls, and +three or four of their chiefs rode forward. These by the +splendour of their helmets, shields, and trappings were clearly +men of great importance. They halted just out of bowshot +distance, and one of them, raising his voice, shouted: + +"Dogs of Saxons, had you laid down your arms, and made +submission to me, I would have spared you; but for the deed +which you did last night, and the slaying of my brave jarls, I +swear that I will have revenge upon you, and, by the god +Wodin, I vow that not one within your walls, man, woman, or +child, shall be spared. This is the oath of King Uffa." + +"It were well, King Uffa," Edmund shouted back, "to take +no rash oaths; before you talk of slaying you have got to +capture, and you will need all the aid of your false gods before +you take this fort. As to mercy, we should as soon ask it of +wolves. We have God and our good swords to protect us, and +we fear not your host were it three times as strong as it is." + +The Saxons raised a great shout, and the Danish king +rode back to his troops. The lesson which had been given +them of the enterprise of the Saxons was not lost, for the +Danes at once began to form a camp, raising an earthen bank +which they crowned with stakes and bushes as a defence +against sudden attacks. This work occupied them two days, +and during this time no blow was struck on either side, as +the Danes posted a strong body of men each night to prevent +the Saxons from sallying out. On the third day the work was +finished, and the Danish kings with their jarls made a circuit +round the walls, evidently to select the place for attack. + +The time had passed quietly in the fort. In one corner +the priests had erected an altar, and here mass was said three +times a day. The priests went among the soldiers exhorting +them to resist to the last, confessing them, and giving them +absolution. + +The pains which the Danes had taken in the preparation of +their camp was a proof of their determination to capture +the fort, however long the operation might be. It showed, +too, that they recognized the difficulty of the task, for had +they believed that the capture could be easily effected they +would at once upon their arrival have advanced to the attack. + +"To-morrow morning early," Egbert said, "I expect that +they will assault us. In the first place probably they will +endeavour to carry the fort by a general attack; if they fail in +this they will set to construct engines with which to batter +the wall." + +At daybreak the following morning the Danes issued +from their camp. Having formed up in regular order, they +advanced towards the castle. They divided into four bands; +three of these wheeled round to opposite sides of the fort, +the fourth, which was as large as the other three together, +advanced towards the entrance. The Saxons all took the posts +previously assigned to them on the walls. Edmund strengthened +the force on the side where the gate was by posting +there in addition the whole of his band. Altogether there +were nearly 350 fighting men within the walls, of whom the +greater part had fought against the Danes in the battles of +the previous year. The attack commenced simultaneously +on all sides by a discharge of arrows by the archers of both +parties. The Saxons, sheltered behind the parapet on the +walls, suffered but slightly; but their missiles did +considerable execution among the masses of the Danes. These, +however, did not pause to continue the conflict at a distance, +but uttering their battle-cry rushed forward. + +Edmund and Egbert had but little fear of the attack on +the other faces of the fort proving successful; the chief +assault was against the gate, and it was here that the real +danger existed. + +The main body of the Danes covered themselves with +their shields and rushed forward with the greatest +determination, pouring through the gap in the outer bank +in a solid mass, and then turned along the fosse towards +the inner gate. Closely packed together, with their shields +above their heads forming a sort of testudo or roof which +protected them against the Saxons' arrows, they pressed +forward in spite of the shower of missiles with which the +Saxons on the walls assailed them. Arrows, darts, and great +stones were showered down upon them, the latter breaking +down the shields, and affording the archers an opportunity +of pouring in their arrows. + +Numbers fell, but the column swept along until it gained +the gate. Here those in front began an attack upon the +massive beams with their axes, and when they had somewhat +weakened it, battered it with heavy beams of timber until it +was completely splintered. While this was going on the Saxons +had continued to shoot without intermission, and the +Danish dead were heaped thickly around the gate. The Danish +archers, assisted by their comrades, had scrambled up on +to the outer bank and kept up a heavy fire on the defenders +of the wall. The Saxons sheltered their heads and shoulders +which were above the parapet with their shields; and between +these, as through loopholes, their archers shot at the Danes. + +Edmund and Egbert had debated much on the previous days +whether they would pile stones behind the gate, but +had finally agreed not to do so. They argued that although +for a time the stones would impede the progress of the Danes, +these would, if they shattered the door, sooner or later pull +down the stones or climb over them; and it was better to +have a smooth and level place for defence inside. They had, +however, raised a bank of earth ten feet high in a semicircle +at a distance of twenty yards within the gate. + +When it was seen that the gates were yielding Edmund +had called down his own band from the walls and formed +them in a half-circle ten yards from the gate. They were four +deep, as in their usual formation, with the four lines of spears +projecting towards the gate. The mound behind them he +lined with archers. + +At last the gates fell, and with an exulting shout the Danes +poured in. As they did so the archers on the mound loosed +their arrows, and the head of the Danish column melted like +snow before the blast of a furnace. Still they poured in and +flung themselves upon the spearmen, but they strove in vain +to pierce the hedge of steel. Desperately they threw themselves +upon the pike-heads and died there bravely, but they +were powerless to break a passage. + +The archers on the mound still shot fast among them, +while those on the wall, turning round, smote them in the +back, where, unprotected by their shields, they offered a sure +and fatal mark. Soon the narrow semicircle inside the gate +became heaped high with dead, impeding the efforts of those +still pressing in. Several of the bravest of the Danish leaders +had fallen. The crowd in the fosse, unaware of the obstacle +which prevented the advance of the head of the column and +harassed by the missiles from above, grew impatient, and after +half an hour of desperate efforts, and having lost upwards +of three hundred of his best men, the Danish king, furious +with rage and disappointment, called off his men. + +On the other three sides the attack equally failed. The +Danes suffered heavily while climbing the steep side of the +inner mound. They brought with them faggots, which they +cast down at the foot of the wall, but this was built so near +the edge of the slope that they were unable to pile sufficient +faggots to give them the height required for a successful +assault upon it. Many climbed up on their comrades' shoulders, +and so tried to scale the wall, but they were thrust down +by the Saxon spears as they raised themselves to its level, and +in no place succeeded in gaining a footing. Over two hundred +fell in the three minor attacks. + +There were great rejoicings among the Saxons, on whose +side but twenty-three had been killed. A solemn mass was +held, at which all save a few look-outs on the walls attended, +and thanks returned to God for the repulse of the pagans; +then the garrison full of confidence awaited the next attack +of the enemy. + +Stones were piled up in the gateway to prevent any sudden +surprise being effected there. The Danes in their retreat +had carried off their dead, and the next morning the Saxons +saw that they were busy with the ceremonies of their burial. +At some little distance from their camp the dead were placed +in a sitting position, in long rows back to back with their +weapons by their sides, and earth was piled over them until a +great mound fifty yards long and ten feet high was raised. + +Three jarls and one of their kings were buried separately. +They were placed together in a sitting position, with their +helmets on their heads, their shields on their arms, and their +swords by their sides. Their four war-horses were killed and +laid beside them; twenty slaves were slaughtered and placed +lying round them, for their spirits to attend them in the +Walhalla of the gods. Golden drinking-vessels and other +ornaments were placed by them, and then a mound forty feet +in diameter and twenty feet high was piled over the whole. + +The whole force were occupied all day with this work. +The next day numbers of trees were felled and brought to +the camp, and for the next two days the Danes were occupied +in the manufacture of war-engines for battering down +the walls. Edmund and Egbert utilized the time in instructing +the soldiers who did not form part of the regular band, +in the formation of the quadruple line of defence which the +Danes had found it so impossible to break through, so that if +more than one breach was effected, a resistance similar to +that made at the gate could be offered at all points. The +skins of the oxen killed for the use of the garrison were +carefully laid aside, the inside being thickly rubbed +with grease. + +The Danish preparations were at length completed, the +war-engines were brought up and began to hurl great stones +against the wall at three points. The Saxons kept up a constant +fire of arrows at those employed at working them, but +the Danes, though losing many men, threw up breastworks +to protect them. + +The Saxons manufactured many broad ladders, and in +the middle of the night, lowering these over the walls, they +descended noiselessly, and three strong bodies fell upon the +Danes guarding the engines. These fought stoutly, but were +driven back, the engines were destroyed, and the Saxons retired +to their walls again and drew up their ladders before +the main body of Danes could arrive from the camp. This +caused a delay of some days in the siege, but fresh engines +having been constructed, the assault on the walls was +recommenced, this time the whole Danish army moving out and +sleeping at night close to them. + +After three days' battering, breaches of from thirty to +fifty feet wide were effected in the walls. The Saxons had +not been idle. Behind each of the threatened points they +raised banks of earth ten feet high, and cut away the bank +perpendicularly behind the shattered wall, so that the +assailants as they poured in at the gaps would have to +leap ten feet down. + +Each night the masses of wall which fell inside were +cleared away, and when the breach was complete, and it was +evident that the assault would take place the next morning, +the hides which had been prepared were laid with the hairy +side down, on the ground below. Through them they drove +firmly into the ground numbers of pikes with the heads sticking +up one or two feet, and pointed stakes hardened in the +fire. Then satisfied that all had been done the Saxons lay +down to rest. + +In the morning the Danes advanced to the assault. This +time they were but little annoyed in their advance by the +archers. These were posted on the walls at each side of the +gaps to shoot down at the backs of the Danes after they had +entered. On the inner semicircular mounds the Saxon force +gathered four deep. + +With loud shouts the Danes rushed forward, climbed +the outer mounds, and reached the breaches. Here the leaders +paused on seeing the gulf below them, but pressed by +those behind they could not hesitate long, but leapt down +from the breach on to the slippery hides below. + +Not one who did so lived. It was impossible to keep +their feet as they alighted, and as they fell they were impaled +by the pikes and stakes. Pressed by those behind, however, +fresh men leapt down, falling in their turn, until at length +the hides and stakes were covered, and those leaping down +found a foothold on the bodies of the fallen. Then they +crowded on and strove to climb the inner bank and attack +the Saxons. Now the archers on the walls opened fire upon +them, and, pierced through and through with the arrows +which struck them on the back, the Danes fell in great +numbers. Edmund commanded at one of the breaches, Egbert at +another, and Oswald, an old and experienced warrior, at the +third. + +At each point the scene was similar. The Danes struggled +up the mounds only to fail to break through the hedge of +spears which crowned them, fast numbers dying in the attempt, +while as many more fell pierced with arrows. For an +hour the Danes continued their desperate efforts, and not +until fifteen hundred had been slain did they draw off to +their camp, finding it impossible to break through the Saxon +defences. + +Loud rose the shouts of the triumphant Saxons as the +Danes retired, and it needed all the efforts of their leaders to +prevent them from pouring out in pursuit; but the events of +the preceding year had taught the Saxon leaders how often +their impetuosity after success had proved fatal to the Saxons, +and that once in the plain the Danes would turn upon +them and crush them by their still greatly superior numbers. +Therefore no one was allowed to sally out, and the discomfited +Danes retired unmolested. + +The next morning to their joy the Saxons saw that the +invaders had broken up their camp, and had marched away +in the night. Scouts were sent out in various directions, and +the Saxons employed themselves in stripping and burying +the Danes who had fallen within the fort, only a few of the +most distinguished having been carried off. The scouts +returned with news that the Danes had made no halt, but had +departed entirely from that part of the country. Finding that +for the present they were free of the invaders, the Saxons left +the fort and scattered again, to rebuild as best they might +their devastated homes. + +But if in the neighbourhood of Sherborne the Danes +had been severely repulsed, in other parts of the kingdom +they continued to make great progress, and the feeling of +despair among the Saxons increased. Great numbers left +their homes, and taking with them all their portable +possessions, made their way to the sea-coast, and there embarked +for France, where they hoped to be able to live peaceably and +quietly. + +Edmund placed no hindrance in the way of such of his +people who chose this course, for the prospect appeared +well-nigh hopeless. The majority of the Saxons were utterly +broken in spirit, and a complete conquest of the kingdom by the +Danes seemed inevitable. In the spring, however, of 877 King +Alfred again issued an urgent summons. A great horde of +Danes had landed at Exeter and taken possession of that town, +and he determined to endeavour to crush them. He sent to +Edmund begging him to proceed at once to Poole, where the +king's fleet was ready for sea, and to embark in it with what +force he could raise, and to sail and blockade the entrance to +the river Exe, and so prevent the Danes from reinforcing their +countrymen, while he with his forces laid siege to Exeter. + +Edmund would have taken his own vessel, but some time +would have been lost, and the king's ships were short of hands. +He was not sorry, indeed, that his men should have some +practise at sea, and taking his own band, in which the vacancies +which had been caused in the defence of the fort had +been filled up, he proceeded to Poole. Here he embarked +his men in one of the ships, and the fleet, comprising twenty +vessels, put to sea. + +The management of the vessels and their sails was in +the hands of experienced sailors, and Edmund's men had no +duties to perform except to fight the enemy when they met +them. + +The news of the siege of Exeter reached the Danes at +Wareham, which was their head-quarters, and 120 vessels +filled with their troops sailed for the relief of Exeter. + +The weather was unpropitious, heavy fogs lay on the +water, dissipated occasionally by fierce outbursts of wind. The +Saxon fleet kept the sea. It was well that for a time the Danish +fleet did not appear in sight, for the Saxons, save the +sailors, were unaccustomed to the water, and many suffered +greatly from the rough motion; and had the Danes appeared +for the first week after the fleet put to sea a combat must +have been avoided, as the troops were in no condition to +fight. + +Presently, however, they recovered from their malady +and became eager to meet the enemy; Edmund bade his men +take part in the working of the ship in order to accustom +themselves to the duties of seamen. The fleet did not keep +the sea all the time, returning often to the straits between +the Isle of Wight and the mainland, where they lay in shelter, +a look-out being kept from the top of the hills, whence a wide +sweep of sea could be seen, and where piles of wood were +collected by which a signal fire could warn the fleet to put to +sea should the enemy's vessels come in sight. + +A full month passed and the Saxons began to fear that +the Danes might have eluded them, having perhaps been +blown out to sea and having made the land again far to the +west. One morning, however, smoke was seen to rise from +the beacon fire. The crews who were on shore instantly hurried +on board. From the hills the Danish fleet was made out +far to the west and was seen to be approaching the land from +seaward, having been driven far out of its course by the winds. + +The weather was wild and threatening and the sailors +predicted a great storm. Nevertheless the fleet put to sea +and with reefed sails ran to the west. Their vessels were larger +than the Danish galleys and could better keep the sea in a +storm. Many miles were passed before, from the decks, the +Danish flotilla could be seen. Presently, however, a great +number of their galleys were discerned rowing in towards +Swanage Bay. + +In spite of the increasing fury of the wind the Saxons +spread more sail and succeeded in intercepting the Danes. A +desperate fight began, but the Danes in their low, long +vessels had all they could do to keep afloat on the waves. +Many were run down by the Saxons. The showers of arrows from +their lofty poops confused the rowers and slew many. Sweeping +along close to them they often broke off the oars and +disabled them. Sometimes two or three of the Danish galleys +would try to close with a Saxon ship, but the sea was too +rough for the boats to remain alongside while the men tried +to climb up the high sides, and the Saxons with their spears +thrust down those who strove to do so. Confusion and terror +soon reigned among the Danes, and fearing to try to escape +by sea in such a storm made for the shore, hotly pursued +by the Saxons. + +But the shore was even more inhospitable than their +foes. Great rocks bordered the coast, and upon these the +galleys were dashed into fragments. The people on shore, +who had gathered at the sight of the approaching fleets, fell +upon such of the Danes as succeeded in gaining the coast, +and everyone who landed was instantly slain. Thus, partly +from the effects of the Saxon fleet but still more from that of +the storm, the whole of the Danish fleet of one hundred and +twenty vessels was destroyed, not a single ship escaping the +general destruction. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII: THE DRAGON + + + +The Danes at Exeter, being now cut off from all hope +of relief, asked for terms, and the king granted them +their lives on condition of their promising to leave +Wessex and not to return. This promise they swore by their +most solemn oaths to observe, and marching northward +passed out of Wessex and settled near Gloucester. Some of +the Saxons thought that the king had been wrong in granting +such easy terms, but he pointed out to the ealdormen +who remonstrated with him that there were many other and +larger bands of Danes in Mercia and Anglia, and that had he +massacred the band at Exeter--and this he could not have +done without the loss of many men, as assuredly the Danes +would have fought desperately for their lives--the news of +their slaughter would have brought upon him fresh invasions +from all sides. + +By this time all resistance to the Danes in Mercia had +ceased. Again and again King Burhred had bought them +off, but this only brought fresh hordes down upon him, and +at last, finding the struggle hopeless, he had gone as a +pilgrim to Rome, where he had died. The Danes acted in Mercia +as they had done in Northumbria. They did not care, themselves, +to settle down for any length of time, and therefore +appointed a weak Saxon thane, Ceolwulf, as the King of Mercia. +He ruled cruelly and extorted large revenues from the +land-owners, and robbed the monasteries, which had escaped +destruction, of their treasures. + +The Danes suffered him to pursue this course until he +had amassed great wealth, when they swooped down upon +him, robbed him of all he possessed, and took away the nominal +kingship he had held. As there was now but little fresh +scope for plundering in England many of the Danes both in +Anglia and Mercia settled down in the cities and on the lands +which they had taken from the Saxons. + +The Danes who had gone from Exeter were now joined +by another band which had landed in South Wales. The latter, +finding but small plunder was to be obtained among the +mountains of that country, moved to Gloucester, and joining +the band there proposed a fresh invasion of Wessex. The +Danes, in spite of the oaths they had sworn to Alfred, and +the hostages they had left in his hands, agreed to the proposal; +and early in the spring of 878 the bands, swollen by +reinforcements from Mercia, marched into Wiltshire and captured +the royal castle of Chippenham on the Avon. From this point +they spread over the country and destroyed everything +with fire and sword. A general panic seized the inhabitants. +The better class, with the bishops, priests, and monks, +made for the sea-coasts and thence crossed to France, taking +with them all their portable goods, with the relics, precious +stones, and ornaments of the churches and monasteries. + +Another party of Danes in twenty-three ships had landed +in Devonshire. Here the ealdorman Adda had constructed a +castle similar to that which Edmund had built. It was fortified +by nature on three sides and had a strong rampart of +earth on another. The Danes tried to starve out the defenders +of the fort; but the Saxons held out for a long time, although +sorely pressed by want of water. At last they sallied +out one morning at daybreak and fell upon the Danes and +utterly defeated them, only a few stragglers regaining their +ships. + +A thousand Danes are said to have been slain at Kynwith; +but this was an isolated success; in all other parts of the +kingdom panic appeared to have taken possession of the West +Saxons. Those who could not leave the country retired to +the woods, and thence, when the Danes had passed by, leaving +ruin and desolation behind them, they sallied out and +again began to till the ground as best they could. Thus for a +time the West Saxons, formerly so valiant and determined, +sank to the condition of serfs; for when all resistance ceased +the Danes were well pleased to see the ground tilled, as +otherwise they would speedily have run short of stores. + +At the commencement of the invasion Edmund had +marched out with his band and had inflicted heavy blows +upon parties of plunderers; but he soon perceived that the +struggle was hopeless. He therefore returned to Sherborne, +and collecting such goods as he required and a good store of +provisions he marched to the place where the ship had been +hidden. No wandering band of Danes had passed that way, +and the bushes with which she had been covered were undisturbed. +These were soon removed and a passage three feet +deep, and wide enough for the ship to pass through, was dug +from the deep hole in which she was lying to the river. + +When the last barrier was cut the water poured in, and +the Saxons had the satisfaction of seeing the vessel rise +gradually until the water in the dock was level with that in the +river. Then she was taken out into the stream, the stores and +fittings placed aboard, and she was poled down to the mouth +of the river. Egbert had gone before and had already engaged +fifteen sturdy sailors to go with them. The Danes had +not yet reached the sea-coast from the interior, and there was +therefore no difficulty in obtaining the various equipments +necessary. In a week her masts were up and her sails in position. + +The Dragon, as she was called, excited great admiration +at the port, all saying that she was the finest and largest ship +that had ever been seen there. While her fitting out had +been going on she was hove up on shore and received several +coats of paint. Edmund was loath to start on his voyage without +again seeing the king, but no one knew where Alfred +now was, he, on finding the struggle hopeless, having retired +to the fastnesses of Somerset to await the time when the Saxons +should be driven by oppression again to take up arms. + +At last all was ready, and the Dragon put out to sea. She +was provided with oars as well as sails, but these were only to +be used when in pursuit, or when flying from a superior enemy. +As soon as she had been long enough at sea to enable +the band again to recover from the effects of sickness the +oars were got out and the men practised in their use. + +As in the models from which she had been built, she +rowed two banks of oars, the one worked by men upon deck, +the others through small port-holes. The latter could only +be used when the weather was fine; when the sea was high +they were closed up and fastened. The lower-deck oars were +each rowed by one man, while the upper bank, which were +longer and heavier, had each two men to work it. + +Before starting Edmund had increased the strength of +his band to ninety men, that number being required for the +oars, of which the Dragon had fifteen on each bank on each +side. At first there was terrible splashing and confusion, but +in time the men learned to row in order, and in three weeks +after putting to sea the oars worked well in time together, +and the Dragon, with her ninety rowers, moved through the +water at a great rate of speed. + +During this time she had never been far from land keeping +but a short distance from the port from which she had +sailed, as Edmund did not wish to fall in with the Danes until +his crew were able to maneuver her with the best effect. +When, at last, satisfied that all knew their duty he returned +to port, took in a fresh supply of provisions, and then sailed +away again in search of the enemy. He coasted along the +shore of Hampshire and Sussex without seeing a foe, and +then sailing round Kent entered the mouth of the Thames. +The Dragon kept on her way until she reached the point where +the river begins to narrow, and there the sails were furled +and the anchor thrown overboard to wait for Danish galleys +coming down the river. + +On the third day after they had anchored they perceived +four black specks in the distance, and these the sailors soon +declared to be Danish craft. They were rowing rapidly, having +ten oars on either side, and at their mast-heads floated +the Danish Raven. The anchor was got up, and as the Danes +approached, the Golden Dragon, the standard of Wessex, +was run up to the mast-head, the sails were hoisted, the oars +got out, and the vessel advanced to meet the approaching +Danes. + +These for a moment stopped rowing in astonishment at +seeing so large a ship bearing the Saxon flag. Then they at +once began to scatter in different directions; but the Dragon, +impelled both by the wind and her sixty oars, rapidly overtook +them. When close alongside the galley nearest to them +the men on the upper deck, at an order from Edmund, ran +in their oars, and seizing their bows poured a volley of arrows +into the galley, killing most of the rowers. Then the +Dragon was steered alongside, and the Saxons, sword in hand, +leaped down into the galley. Most of the Danes were cut +down at once; the rest plunged into the water and swam for +their lives. Leaving the deserted galley behind, the Dragon +continued the pursuit of the others, and overtook and captured +another as easily as she had done the first. + +The other two boats reached the shore before they were +overtaken, and those on board leaping out fled. The Saxons +took possession of the deserted galleys. They found them, +as they expected, stored full of plunder of all kinds--rich +wearing apparel, drinking goblets, massive vessels of gold and +silver which had been torn from some desecrated altar, rich +ornaments and jewels and other articles. These were at once +removed to the Dragon. Fire was applied to the boats, and +they were soon a mass of flames. Then the Dragon directed +her course to the two galleys she had first captured. These +were also rifled of their contents and burned. The Saxons +were delighted at the success which had attended their first +adventure. + +"We shall have rougher work next time," Egbert said. +"The Danes who escaped will carry news to London, and we +shall be having a whole fleet down to attack us in a few days." + +"If they are in anything like reasonable numbers we will +fight them; if not, we can run. We have seen to-day how +much faster we are than the Danish boats; and though I shall +be in favour of fighting if we have a fair chance of success, +it would be folly to risk the success of our enterprise by +contending against overwhelming numbers at the outset, seeing +that we shall be able to pick up so many prizes round the +coast." + +"We can beat a score of them," Egbert grumbled. "I am +in favour of fighting the Danes whenever we see them." + +"When there is a hope of success, Egbert, yes; but you +know even the finest bull can be pulled down by a pack of +dogs. The Dragon is a splendid ship, and does credit alike to +King Alfred's first advice, to the plans of the Italian +shipbuilders, and to the workmanship and design of the +shipwright of Exeter, and I hope she will long remain to be a +scourge to the Danes at sea as they have been a scourge to +the Saxons on shore; and it is because I hope she is going to +do such good service to England that I would be careful of +her. You must remember, too, that many of the Danish galleys +are far larger than those we had to do with to-day. We +are not going to gobble them all up as a pike swallows +minnows." + +The Dragon had now anchored again, and four days +elapsed before any Danish galleys were seen. At the end of +that time six large Danish war-ships were perceived in the +distance. Edmund and Egbert from the top of the lofty poop +watched them coming. + +"They row thirty oars each side," Egbert said, "and are +crowded with men. What say you, Edmund, shall we stop +and fight them, or shall the Dragon spread her wings?" + +"We have the advantage of height," Edmund said, "and +from our bow and stern castles can shoot down into them; +but if they lie alongside and board us their numbers will give +them an immense advantage. I should think that we might +run down one or two of them. The Dragon is much more +strongly built than these galleys of the Danes, and if when +they close round us we have the oars lashed on both sides as +when we are rowing, it will be next to impossible for them to +get alongside except at the stern and bow, which are far too +high for them to climb." + +"Very well," Egbert said, "if you are ready to fight, you +may be sure I am." + +The anchor was got up and the oars manned, and the +Dragon quietly advanced towards the Danish boats. The men +were instructed to row slowly, and it was not until within a +hundred yards of the leading galley that the order was given +to row hard. + +The men strained at the tough oars, and the Dragon leapt +ahead to meet the foe. Her bow was pointed as if she would +have passed close by the side of the Danish galley, which was +crowded with men. When close to her, however, the helmsman +pushed the tiller across and the Dragon swept straight +down upon her. A shout of dismay rose from the Danes, a +hasty volley of arrows and darts was hurled at the Dragon, +and the helmsman strove to avoid the collision, but in vain. +The Dragon struck her on the beam, the frail craft broke up +like an egg-shell under the blow, and sank almost instantly +under the bows of the Dragon. + +Without heeding the men struggling thickly in the water, +the Dragon continued her course. Warned by the fate of +the first boat, the next endeavoured to avoid her path. Her +commander shouted orders. The rowers on one side backed +while those on the other pulled, but she was not quite quick +enough. The Dragon struck her a few feet from the stern, +cutting her in two. + +The other galleys now closed in alongside. The Saxons +hastily fastened their oars as they had been rowing and then +betook themselves to their posts, those with spears and swords +to the sides to prevent the enemy from climbing up, the archers +to the lofty castles at either end. The Danes had the +greatest difficulty in getting alongside, the oars keeping the +galleys at a distance. For some time the combat was conducted +entirely by the archers on both sides, the Danes suffering +much the most heavily, as the Saxons were protected +by the bulwarks, while from their lofty positions they were +enabled to fire down into the galleys. + +At last one of the Danish vessels rowed straight at the +broadside of the Dragon, and breaking her way through the +oars her bow reached the side. Then the Danes strove to +leap on board, but the Saxons pursued the tactics which had +succeeded so well on land, and forming in a close mass where +the Danish vessel touched the Dragon, opposed a thick hedge +of spears to those who strove to board her. + +The Danes fought desperately. Several notable leaders, +hearing that a great Saxon ship had appeared on the Thames, +had come down to capture her, and leading their followers, +strove desperately to cut their way to the deck of the Dragon. +Taking advantage of the strife, the other galleys repeated the +maneuver which had succeeded, and each in turn ran their +stem through the Saxon oars, and reached the side of the +Dragon. In this position, however, they had the immense +disadvantage that only a few men at once could strive to board, +while the Saxons were able to oppose all their strength at +these four points. + +For a time the Saxons repulsed every effort, but as the +lashings of the oars gave way under the pressure of the Danish +ships, these drifted alongside, and they were thus able to +attack along the whole length of the bulwarks between the +castles. The Saxons were now hard put to it, but their superior +height still enabled them to keep the Danes in check. + +All this time the five vessels had been drifting down the +river together. Presently, when the conflict was hottest, the +chief of the sailors made his way to Edmund. + +"If we get up the sails we may be able to draw out from +the galleys." + +"Do so," Edmund said, "and at once, for we are hardly +pressed; they are four to one against us." + +The sailors at once sprang to the halliards, and soon +the great sail rose on the mast. Almost instantly the Dragon +began to glide away from the galleys. The Danes with ropes +endeavoured to lash themselves to her sides, but these were +severed as fast as thrown, and in two or three minutes the +Dragon had drawn herself clear of them. The Danes betook +themselves to their oars, but many of these had been broken +between the vessels, and rowing their utmost they could only +just keep up with the Dragon, for the wind was blowing freely. +Fully half the oars of the Dragon were broken, but the rest +were soon manned, and she then rapidly drew away from +her pursuers. + +"I am not going to run further," Edmund said. "Now +that we have once shaken them off, let us turn and meet +them again." + +As the vessel's head was brought up into the wind the +Danes ceased rowing. The fate which had befallen their two +galleys at the commencement of the fight was still before +them. They had lost great numbers of men in the attempt to +board from the Saxon pikes and arrows, and their desire to +renew the fight vanished when they saw that the Saxons were +equally ready. Therefore, as the Dragon approached them, +they sheered off on either side of her and rowed for the mouth +of the Medway. + +The Saxons did not pursue. They had lost eight men +killed, and seventeen wounded by the Danish arrows, and +were well content to be quit of their opponents, upon whom +they had inflicted a severe blow, as each of the galleys sunk +had contained fully a hundred and fifty men, and great numbers +of the Danes on board the other ships had fallen. + +They now left the Thames and sailed to Sandwich. The +town had been shortly before burned by the Danes, but these +had left, and some of the inhabitants had returned. Here +the Dragon waited for a week, by the end of which time the +traces of the conflict had been obliterated, and new oars +made. Edmund found no difficulty in filling up the vacancies +caused in the fight, as many of the young Saxons were +burning to avenge the sufferings which the Danes had inflicted, +and could have obtained several times the number +he required had there been room for them. He was therefore +enabled to pick out sturdy fellows accustomed to the +sea. When the Dragon again set sail her head was laid to the +northward, as Edmund intended to cruise off East Anglia, +from whose shores fleets were constantly crossing and +recrossing to Denmark. + +They picked up several prizes at the mouths of the eastern +rivers, scarcely having to strike a blow, so surprised were +the Danes at the appearances of the great Saxon galley. +Whenever the Danes surrendered without resistance Edmund +gave them quarter and landed them in small boats on the +shore; their ships, after being emptied of the booty they +contained, were burned. When off Yarmouth, where they had +captured four Danish vessels sailing out unsuspicious of danger, +the wind veered round to the north-east and began to blow +very strongly. + +The long line of sandbanks off the coast broke somewhat +the violence of the sea, and the Dragon rode all night to +her anchors; but in the morning the wind continued to rise. +The sea became more and more violent, and the anchors +began to drag. Edmund and Egbert, after a consultation, +agreed that their only chance of saving the vessel was to enter +the river. The tide was running in, but the sea was so +heavy on the bar of the river that the efforts of the crew at +the oars barely sufficed to keep her on her course. At length, +however, she made her way safely between the posts which +marked the entrance, and rowing up until they passed a turn, +and were sheltered from the force of the gale, they again +anchored. + +The oars were all lashed out firmly to keep any boats +from approaching her sides. Bales of goods with which her +hold was filled were brought on deck, and piled high along +the bulwarks so as to afford a shelter from missiles. Even as +they entered the harbour numbers of Danes had assembled +at the point; for the capture and destruction of their ships +had of course been seen, and the crews set ashore had spread +the news that the strange vessel was a Saxon. The Norfolk +bank being somewhat higher than the Suffolk, the boat was +anchored rather nearer to the latter, as it was from the town +of Yarmouth that an attack was anticipated. + +As soon as the anchors were let go the Danes began to +fire their arrows; but so powerful was the gale that the greater +part of them were swept far away. As the day went on the +numbers of Danes on the bank increased largely, and vast +numbers of arrows were discharged at the Dragon. The crew +kept under shelter, and although she was often struck no +damage was done. + +In the afternoon a fleet of galleys was seen coming down +the river. The Danes possessed a large number of these boats +at Yarmouth, and in these they navigated the inland waters +far into the interior. The wind had shifted until it was blowing +nearly due east, and Edmund and Egbert had agreed upon +the best course to be pursued. In case of attack they could +hardly hope finally to beat off the assault of a large fleet of +galleys, and would besides be exposed to attack by boats laden +with combustibles. Therefore as soon as the galleys were +seen approaching the oars were unlashed, the great sail +hoisted, and at her best speed the Dragon advanced up the +river to meet her foes. The Danes gave a shout of alarm as +the vessel advanced to meet them with the water surging in a +white wave from her bows, and the greater part of them hurried +towards one bank or the other to escape the shock. Some, +slower in movement or stouter in heart, awaited the attack, +while from all a storm of missiles was poured upon the +advancing boat. + +Heedless of these she continued her way. Her sharp +bow crashed right through the side of the Danish boats, and +having destroyed seven of them on her way she passed through +the flotilla and continued her course. The dragon waved +triumphantly from her mast as she passed under the walls of +Yarmouth. These were crowded with Danes, who vainly showered +arrows and javelins as she flew past, with the fleets of +galleys rowing in her wake. A few minutes and she was out +on the broad sheet of water beyond. The Danish galleys +paused at the entrance. In so wild a storm they would have +had difficulty in keeping their boats straight, while the great +galley with her sails and oars would be able to maneuver freely, +and could strike and run them down one by one. + +"What is that pile of buildings on the rising knoll of +ground some three miles away?" Edmund asked. + +"It is Bamborough Castle," Egbert replied, "a Roman +stronghold of immense strength." + +"Let us run up thither," Edmund said. "If, as is likely +enough, it is unoccupied, we will land there and take +possession. Are the walls complete?" + +"Assuredly they are," Egbert said. "They are of marvellous +strength, such as we cannot build in our days. They run +in a great semicircle from the edge of the water round the +crest of the knoll and down again to the water. There is but +one gateway in the wall on the land side, and this we can +block up. We need not fear an attack from the land, for +between the river and the castle there are wide swamps; so +that unless they row up and attack us from the water we are +safe." + +"I think that they will not do that," Edmund said, "after +the taste which the Dragon has given them of her quality. At +any rate I think we are safe till the storm abates." + +By this time, running rapidly before the wind, the Dragon +was approaching the great Roman fort, whose massive walls +struck Edmund with astonishment. No one was to be seen +moving about in the space inclosed by them. The sail was +lowered and the vessel brought to the bank. The anchors +were taken ashore and she was soon solidly moored. Then +the crew leapt on to the land and ascended the bank to the +great level inclosure. + +The walls were, as Egbert had said, intact--and indeed, +except on the side facing the river, remained almost unbroken +to the present day. An hour's labour sufficed to block +the gateway, where a pair of massive doors were in position, +for the place had been defended by the Saxons against the +Danes at their first landing on the coast. A few men were +placed as sentries on the walls, and, feeling now perfectly +safe from any attack on the land side, Edmund and his +followers returned on board the Dragon for the night. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII: THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON + + + +The night passed without alarm. The gale continued +to blow with fury, and until it abated Edmund had +little fear that the Danes would venture upon an attack. +They had indeed no reason for haste. The Saxon vessel +was in their waters, and could not return so long as the +storm continued to blow from the east. The next day parties +of Danes were seen making their way across the swampy +country from the direction of Yarmouth. + +As soon, however, as these approached near enough to +see the Saxons in readiness on the walls of the castle they +retired at once, knowing that the place could be captured by +nothing short of a prolonged and desperate siege. On the +fourth day the storm abated, and the Saxons prepared to make +their way seaward again. The wind still blew, but lightly, from +the same quarter, and the sails would therefore be of no use. +With their great oar-power they were confident that, once +through the Danish flotilla, they could defy pursuit. + +Accordingly they again embarked, and loosing their +moorings rowed down towards Yarmouth. They had chosen +a time when the tide was running in; for although this would +hinder their progress it would equally impede their pursuers, +while it would enable them to check their vessel in time +did they find any unforeseen obstacle in their way. They +entered the river and rowed along quietly until they neared +the walls of the town. Here the river was at its narrowest, +and they saw the Danish galleys gathered thickly in the stream. + +Edmund and Egbert were on the forecastle, and presently +gave the signal for the men to cease rowing. + +"It is just as I expected," Egbert said; "they have formed +a boom across the river of trunks of trees and beams lashed +together. We cannot make our way down until that obstacle +is removed. What say you Edmund?" + +"I agree with you," Edmund replied. + +"We had best keep along close to the right bank until +within a short distance of the boom; then we must land the +greater part of our men. These must march along the bank +in their phalanx; the others must keep the boat moving close +alongside, and from the forecastle they will be able to fire +down upon the Danes and aid those on shore to drive them +back and make their way to the end of the boom. They have +but to cut the lashings there and the whole will swing round. +But now we see the nature of the obstacle, and what is to be +done, it were best to wait until the tide turns. In the first +place, fewer men will be needed on board the ship, as she +will advance by herself abreast of the men on shore. In the +second place, when the lashing is cut the boom will then +swing down the stream, will cause confusion among the boats +behind it, and will open a clear space for us to make our way +down." + +Edmund agreed, a light anchor was dropped, and the +Dragon rode quietly in the stream. Great animation was evident +among the Danes, large numbers crossed the river, and +a strong force gathered at either end of the boom and in +boats close behind it, to prevent the Saxons from attempting +to cut the lashings. There was little uneasiness on board the +Dragon, the Saxons were confident now of the power of their +close formation to force its way through any number of the +enemy, and they would gain such assistance from the fire +from the lofty forecastle that they doubted not that they +should be able to drive back the Danes and destroy the boom. +In an hour the tide no longer rose. They waited till it ran +down with full force, then the anchor was hauled up, and the +Dragon rowed to the bank. + +Sixty of the fighting men headed by Egbert leapt on +shore. Edmund with the remainder took his place on the +forecastle. The oars next to the bank were drawn in, and +some of those on the outward side manned by the sailors. +Then in its usual order the phalanx moved slowly forward +while the ship floated along beside them close to the bank. +The Danes with loud shouts advanced to meet them, and the +arrows soon began to fly thickly. Covered by the long shields +of the front rank the Saxons moved forward steadily, while, +as the Danes approached, the archers on the forecastle +opened a destructive fire upon them. + +The confidence of the Saxons was justified, for the combat +was never in doubt. Although the Northmen fought +bravely they were unable to withstand the steady advance of +the wedge of spears, and very many fell beneath the rain of +arrows from above. Steadily the wedge made its way until it +reached the end of the boom. A few blows with their axes +sufficed to cut the cables which fastened it in its place. As +soon as this was done Edmund gave a shout, and the Saxons +at once sprang on board the ship, which before the Danes +could follow them was steered out into the stream. + +As Egbert had foreseen, the boom as it swung round +swept before it a number of the Danish boats, and imprisoned +them between it and the shore. The oars were soon +run out, and while the men on the forecastle continued their +fire at the Danish boats, the others seizing the oars swept the +Dragon along the stream. The Danes strove desperately to +arrest her progress. Some tried to run alongside and board, +others dashed in among the oars and impeded the work of +the rowers, while from the walls of the town showers of missiles +were poured down upon her. But the tide was gaining +every moment in strength, and partly drifting, partly rowing, +the Dragon, like a bull attacked by a pack of dogs, made her +way down the river. Every effort of the Danes to board was +defeated, and many of their boats sunk, and at last she made +her way into the open sea. There her sails were hoisted, and +she soon left her pursuers behind. Once at sea her course +was again turned north, and picking up some prizes on the +way she took up her station off the mouth of the Humber. + +Several ships were captured as they sailed out from the +river. After the spoil on board was taken out, these, instead +of being burnt, as had always been the case before, were +allowed to proceed on their way, since had they been destroyed +the crews must either have been slain or landed. The first +course was repugnant to Edmund, the second could not be +adopted, because they would have carried the news to the +Danes, that the Dragon was off the river and no more ships +would have put to sea; and indeed, so large was the number +of Danish vessels always up the Humber that a fleet could +easily have been equipped and sent out, before which the +Dragon must have taken flight. + +One day a large sailing ship was seen coming out. The +Dragon remained with lowered sail until she had passed; then +started in pursuit, and speedily came up with the Danish +vessel. Edmund summoned her to surrender, and was answered +by a Norseman of great stature and noble appearance, who +from the poop hurled a javelin, which would have pierced +Edmund had he not leapt quickly aside. A few other darts +were thrown and then the Dragon ran alongside the enemy +and boarded her. + +The opposition of the Northmen was speedily beaten +down, but their leader desperately defended the ladder leading +to the poop. He was struck by two arrows, and fell on +one knee, and Edmund was about to climb the ladder when +the door of the cabin in the poop opened, and a Norse maiden +some sixteen years old sprang out. Seeing her father wounded +at the top of the ladder and the Saxons preparing to ascend +it, while others turned their bows against the wounded +Northman, she sprang forward and throwing herself upon +her knees before Edmund besought him to spare her father's +life. Edmund raised his hand and the bows were lowered. + +"I have no wish to slay your father, maiden," he said gently; +"we slay only those who resist, and resistance on the part +of a single man, and he wounded, against a whole ship's crew +is madness. We are no sea-wolves who slay for the pleasure +of slaying, but are Saxons, who fight for our country against +the oppressions and rapine of your people. Little right have +they to mercy seeing they show none; but our religion enjoins +us to have pity even upon our enemies. You had best +ascend to your father and see to his wounds, none will harm +you or him." + +The girl with an exclamation of thanks sprang up the +ladder. Edmund superintended the searching of the ship. +She contained a great store of valuables, which were speedily +transferred to the Dragon. When this had been done Edmund +ascended to the poop. The jarl was sitting in a great chair +placed there. Edmund had already learnt from the crew that +he was Jarl Siegbert, a noted leader of the Northmen. His +daughter had drawn out the arrows and bandaged the +wounds. + +"Jarl Siegbert," Edmund said as he approached him, "you +have been a bitter enemy of the Saxons, and small mercy +have you shown to those who have fallen into your hands, +but learn now that we Christian Saxons take no vengeance +on a defenceless foe. You are free to pursue your voyage with +your daughter and your ship to Norway. Your stores we have +made free with, seeing that they are all plunder taken from +the Saxons, and we do but reclaim our own." + +"And who are you, young sir?" the jarl asked. + +"I am one of King Alfred's ealdormen of Wessex, +Edmund by name." + +"I have heard of you," the Dane said, "as one who has +taught the Saxons new tactics, fighting in a close body which +has more than once pierced our lines and caused our overthrow; +but you are a mere lad." + +"I am young," Edmund replied, "and had it not been for +the invasions and oppressions of your countrymen, might +have still accounted myself as scarce a man; but you have +made warriors of every West Saxon capable of bearing a +sword. Remember, jarl, that your life has been in Saxon hands, +and that they have spared it, so come not hither to our shores +again." + +"I purpose not doing so," the Northman replied. "I have +seen enough of stricken fields, and was returning to my own +country to hang up my sword, content with the fame I have +gained, until Woden called me to join his warriors and feast +in his halls. Since we may not meet there, young Saxon--for +they say that you Christians look to a place where arms will +be laid aside and the sound of feasting be unheard--I will +say farewell. For myself, I thank you not for my life, for I +would rather have died as I have lived with my sword in my +hand; but for my daughter's sake I thank you, for she is but +young to be left unprotected in the world." + +A few minutes later, the Danish vessel continued on her +way, and the Dragon again took her station on the look-out. +She was now deep in the water, and after picking up one or +two more small prizes, Edmund and Egbert determined to +return home. + +It was probable that the Danes would soon take the alarm +and despatch a fleet to attack them. Laden down as the +Dragon was, her speed under oars was materially affected, +and it was advisable to stow away their booty before proceeding +with further adventures. Her head was turned south, +and she coasted down the eastern shores of England without +adventure. Several Danish vessels were seen arriving at or +quitting the coast, but the Dragon continued her course without +heeding them, and rounding the Forelands, sailed along +the south coast and made her way up the Parrot. + +Upon inquiry they learnt that no event of any importance +had taken place during their absence. The Danes were +complete masters of the country. King Alfred was in hiding, +none knew where. The greater portion of the Danes were at +their camp at Chippenham, but parties roamed here and there +through the land. + +Dressed as countrymen, Edmund and Egbert made their +way to Exeter, and there arranged with some traders for the +purchase of the less valuable portion of the Dragons cargo. +This consisted of rich clothing, silks and other stuffs, wine, +vestments, and altar hangings from churches, arms and +armour, hides and skins. The prices obtained were far below +the real value of the articles, for money was scarce, and none +could say when the Danes might again swoop down and clear +out the contents of the warehouses. Nevertheless the sum +obtained was a large one for those days, and this did not +include the value of the gold and silver goblets, salvers, vases, +and utensils used in the celebration of religious services. + +Of these, spoiled from the houses of the wealthy, and +the churches and monasteries, they had obtained a considerable +number. These were buried in the wood near the lonely +spot at which the Dragon was moored, the rest of the cargo +was sent in wagons--the more valuable portions hidden under +the hides and skins--to Exeter. The amount which had been +obtained from the cargo was divided as agreed before starting: +twenty-five shares were set apart for the king, twenty-five +shares were divided between the two leaders, and each +soldier and sailor had one share. All were well satisfied with +the success of the adventure, and with the damage which +they had inflicted upon the Danes. + +A fortnight's leave was given, for the men to visit their +homes, and the money which they had gained in their trip +was of great use to their friends in enabling them to repair +the damages effected by the Danes. Not a man was absent at +the appointed time, and the Dragon again made her way down +to the sea. + +It was midwinter now, and they cruised along the southern +coast of England without perceiving a single hostile sail. +They lay for a week off the mouth of the Thames, and then +saw four large Danish vessels making their way down the river. +They were all vessels of the largest size, strongly built, and +full of men, and the Saxons judged them to be too strong to +be attacked in company. The Northmen, on seeing the golden +dragon flying at the mast-head of the Saxon ship, at once +made towards her, keeping in a close body; but the Dragon +with sails and oars easily left them behind, and the Danes +giving up the pursuit continued on their way. + +The Dragon fell into their wake and followed at a distance, +hoping that one might prove slower than the others, +or that they might in the night get separated. At nightfall, +however, the Danes lit cressets of tar and hemp, which enabled +them not only to keep close together, but sent out a +wide circle of light, so that they could perceive the Dragon +should she venture to approach. + +For two days and nights the Dragon followed patiently. + +"The weather is about to change," Egbert said on the +third morning. "Methinks that there is a storm brewing, and +if this be so the Northmen may well get separated, and we +may pick up one away from her fellows." + +Darker and darker grew the sky, and the wind soon blew +in furious gusts, raising a sea so heavy that the Saxons were +obliged to lay in their oars. By nightfall it was blowing a +furious gale. In the gathering darkness and the flying scud +the ships of the Danes were lost sight of; but this was of little +consequence now, for the attention of the Saxons was directed +to their own safety. + +For the next three days their position was one of the +greatest danger. With only a rag of sail set they ran before +the gale from the south-west. Every wave as it overtook them +threatened the destruction of the ship; but the Dragon, light +and buoyant, and ably handled, rode safely over the waves. +On the fourth morning the wind was still blowing fiercely, +although its force had in some degree moderated. As the +daylight dawned Edmund and Egbert, who had hardly left +the poop since the storm began, looked anxiously ahead. + +"Surely, Edmund, I see a dark mass ahead?" Egbert exclaimed. + +For a minute or two Edmund gazed silently ahead. + +"It is so, Egbert," he said; "it is a rocky coast. Do you not +see a white fringe below where the waves strike against it?" + +As the light became clearer the imminence of their peril +grew more distinct. A lofty iron-bound coast rose in front of +them, and extended as far as the eye could reach on either +hand. The seas broke with terrible force against its base, +sending its spray far up on the cliffs. + +"Could we bring her about?" Edmund asked the chief of +the sailors. + +"It would be useless," the man said. "She could not make +her way in the teeth of this gale." + +"That I see," Edmund said; "but at present we are rushing +on to destruction. If we bring her to the wind we may +run some distance along the coast before we are driven ashore, +and may perceive some spot towards which we may direct +her with a chance of making land ere she goes to pieces." + +The sail was still further lessened and the ship's head +brought round parallel with the coast. + +The Dragon laboured tremendously as the sea struck her +full on the beam, and every wave flooded her low waist. Each +sea which struck her lifted her bodily to leeward, and for +every foot she sailed forward she was driven one towards the +coast. This was now but three miles distant, and another +hour would ensure her destruction; for none there hoped +that the anchors, even should they find bottom, could hold +her for an instant in the teeth of the gale. Every eye was +directed towards the shore, but no break could be seen in the +wall of rock which rose almost perpendicularly from the water. + +"I fear it is hopeless," Edmund said to Egbert; "the strongest +swimmer would be dashed to pieces in an instant against +those rocks." + +"He would indeed," Egbert replied. "I wish now that we +had boldly engaged the four Danish ships. Far better would +it have been for us to have died fighting for England on her +decks than to have perished here." + +The time passed slowly. Every minute the Dragon was +swept nearer and nearer towards the rocks. + +"She will just make that headland," the master sailor said, +"and that is all. Once round it we had best turn her head to +the rocks. If the cliffs rise as here sheer from the water, the +moment she strikes will be the last for all of us; but if the +rocks are, as in some places, piled high at the foot of the +cliffs, a few may possibly manage to leap from her forecastle +as she strikes and to clamber up." + +Scarce a word was spoken on board the Dragon as she +came abreast of the headland. It was but a few hundred yards +away. The roar of the seas as they struck its base sounded +high above the din of the storm. Great sheets of foam were +thrown up to a vast height, and the turmoil of the water from +the reflux of the waves was so great that the Dragon was tossed +upon it like a cock-boat, and each man had to grasp at shroud +or bulwark to retain his footing. + +Suddenly a cheer burst from end to end of the ship. +Beyond the headland a great gap was visible a quarter of a +mile wide, as if the cliffs had been rent in sunder by some +tremendous convulsion, and a fiord was seen stretching away +in the bosom of the hills as far as the eye could reach. The +Dragon's head was turned, and soon she was flying before the +wind up the inlet. A mile farther and the fiord widened to a +lake some two miles across between steep hills clothed from +foot to summit with trees. + +Its course was winding and they were soon sheltered +from the gale and were gliding quietly over comparatively +tranquil water. Ten miles up the anchor was let go in a +sheltered inlet, and Edmund summoned the whole crew to +return thanks to God for their marvellous escape. + +The Dragon had suffered severely in her conflict with +the elements, her large sails had been split or blown away, +the bulwarks at her waist had been shattered, and considerable +damage done to her gear and fittings. Four-and-twenty +hours were allowed to the men for rest after their labours, +and then all hands were set to work to refit. + +The next morning Edmund said to his kinsman: + +"I will take two of the men and go ashore to hunt; there +should be wild boar and deer in these forests, and all would +be glad of some fresh meat." + +"Be careful, Edmund; remember you are in the country +of our enemies, for without doubt this land to which we have +been blown is Norway; and although we can see no signs of +habitations there may well be villages somewhere among these +hills." + +"I will be careful," Edmund said, laughing; "and if I do +not return in two days do you set sail without me. I should +like to discover the abode of some Northern jarl; it would +indeed be a grand retaliation to give them a taste of the +sufferings they have inflicted upon us." + +"That would be good work," Egbert said; "nevertheless I +own that at present I am anxious to be at sea again." + +"Two days will be sufficient to refit," Edmund said, "and +then we will spread our wings. Good-bye, Egbert, I will be +back by sunset, and I hope with a deer or two." + +Selecting a couple of followers, both skilled with the bow, +and all being armed with spears, Edmund leapt ashore, for +the water was deep up to the rocks, and the Dragon had been +moored alongside for the convenience of taking on board +the wood for the repairs. + +Although those on board the Dragon guessed it not, many +eyes were watching them. A small fishing village lay at the +edge of the fiord a mile or two beyond the inlet in which the +ship was moored. Hidden as they were among the trees the +huts had not been noticed by the Saxons, but the strange +ship had been seen by some of those in the village, and the +fishermen at once pronounced that whencesoever she might +have come she was assuredly no Northman's ship. Messengers +had immediately been sent to the villages among the +hills. These were widely scattered, and it was not until the +day after the ship's arrival that a force was collected which +was deemed sufficient to attack it. Already, as Edmund leapt +ashore, the Norsemen were making their way quietly through +the forest towards the Dragon. + +Edmund had advanced but a few hundred yards up the +hillside when a large party of Norsemen suddenly sprang upon +him. Two Saxon arrows flew true to their marks, then the +Danes rushed upon them. So far no words had been spoken, +but Edmund placed to his lips the whistle with which he gave +orders on board the ship and blew a long shrill note, and +then shouted at the top of his voice: + +"The Danes! the Danes! push off!" + +The instant afterwards he was attacked. He and his men +fought bravely, but in a few seconds the latter were cut down +and Edmund was levelled to the ground by a tremendous +blow from a club. + +A minute later the din of battle rose by the water's side; +Edmund's whistle and shout had been heard, and the Saxons +on shore sprang on board and seized their spears and bows +just as the Danes poured down through the trees. For a time +the Saxons defended the ship against the desperate attempts +of the Danes to gain footing on her; but seeing the number +of its assailants, and being certain that Edmund was killed or +captured, Egbert ordered the ropes to be cut, and the Dragon +was thrust away from the rocks. The oars were then got out +and she rowed out of bow-shot from the shore. Then Egbert +held a consultation with the leading men among the Saxons. + +All on board were filled with grief at the loss of their +young leader, but they felt that nothing could be done for +him, and it would be but courting danger to remain longer in +the fiord. Since so large a force had been collected in the +forest news might have been sent to the ports, and at any +moment they might see a fleet of the Northmen's galleys +barring their retreat; therefore with bitter grief and +lamentation the Dragon's sails were hoisted and she made +her way to sea. + +"My only consolation is," Egbert said, "that if the brave +lad is not killed at once he may yet find his way back to +England. He is ready of wit and full of invention that, if any +can possibly extricate themselves from such a strait, it is +assuredly he; but I fear that he fell in the first onslaught. +Brave lad, even in the moment of his own peril he thought first +of us. Had it not been for his timely warning we should have +been taken unawares, and many must have been killed even +if the Dragon herself escaped capture." + +The storm had entirely abated, and the waters sparkled +brightly in the cold January sun as the Dragon sailed out +between the two headlands into the sea. Very different were +the feelings of the crew to those which had animated them +when, two days before, they had passed through the channel; +then every heart beat with joy and thankfulness; now the +deepest depression and grief reigned on board. + +Edmund was adored by his followers. His kindness as +their ealdorman, his skill and bravery as a leader, his +cheerfulness and brightness under every danger and peril had +immensely endeared him to their hearts, and each man felt +that he had sustained an irretrievable loss, and that with their +chief the spirit which had animated the Dragon and directed +their enterprises was gone. + +Egbert was a valiant warrior, and was an admirable second +to an enterprising leader; but he was altogether without +initiative, and, except when excited by danger, was dull and +silent. Although all esteemed him and honoured him for his +strength and bravery, they felt that he would be a poor +substitute indeed for the leader they had lost. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX: A PRISONER + + + +When Edmund recovered his senses he found that +he was being carried along on a rough litter through +the forest. It was some little time before he realized +his position and recalled the circumstances of the attack. +After the Dragon had moved safely out into the fiord, +its assailants had returned to the spot where they had attacked +the three Saxons who had landed. Two of them were without +life, but they found that the third, who, from his +habiliments was evidently of higher rank, and whom they +judged, although still but a youth, to be the commander of +the Saxon party, had only been stunned by the blow of the +club which had felled him. + +It was at once resolved to carry him to the jarl of the +district, who would assuredly wish to learn from him the +meaning of the coming of the strange ship. That the Dragon +was a Saxon vessel the Northmen were sure. Many of them +had been on expeditions across the seas, and knew the Saxons +both from their dress and manner of wearing their hair, +but the ship was unlike anything they had seen before, and it +seemed above all things strange that when, as they understood, +England had been completely conquered, Saxon warships should +be entering a northern fiord. + +For many hours Edmund was carried through the forest. +He wondered to himself whether he would be slain on his arrival +or kept as a slave, for the Norse and Saxon tongues +were so similar that he was perfectly able to understand the +language of his captors. A party of twelve men accompanied +him, four of whom bore the litter, and were relieved at intervals +by the others. After some hours the feeling of giddiness +and weakness passed off, and on the men stopping to change +bearers he expressed his readiness to walk. + +Hitherto he had lain with his eyes closed, as he thought +it better to remain as he was until he felt perfectly able to +keep up with his captors in a journey which might, for aught +he knew, be a long one. The Northmen expressed their +satisfaction at finding that their burden need no longer be +carried, and throwing aside the boughs which had formed the +litter, proceeded with him on their way. They asked him +many questions concerning the Dragon. Most of these he +answered readily enough, but he evaded those as to the place +where she had been built, or the port from which she had +sailed. It was not until late in the afternoon that they arrived +at the abode of the Jarl Bijorn. + +It was a rough abode constructed of timber, thatched +with rushes, for as yet the Northmen were scarcely a settled +people, the tribes for the most part wandering in the forests +hunting when not engaged in those warlike expeditions which +they loved above all other things. Only the leaders dwelt in +anything like permanent abodes, the rest raising huts of +boughs at such places as they might make any stay at. + +One of Edmund's conductors had gone on ahead, and +as the party approached the building Bijorn came out from +his house to meet them. He was, like almost all Northmen, a +man of great stature and immense strength. Some fifty years +had passed over his head, but he was still in the prime of his +life; for the Northmen, owing to their life of constant +activity, the development of their muscles from childhood, and +their existence passed in the open air, retained their strength +and vigour to a great age. + +So assiduous was their training, and so rapidly did their +figures develop in consequence, that at the age of fifteen a +young Northman received arms and was regarded as a man, +although he did not marry until many years afterwards, early +wedlock being strongly discouraged among them. By Bijorn's +side stood his son, who, though but twenty-two years old, +rivalled him in stature and in muscular development, although +lacking the great width of shoulder of the jarl. + +As Edmund approached, a war-horse of the jarl fastened +up to a post close to the entrance of the house neighed loudly. +Bijorn looked surprised. The neighing of a horse among the +Northmen was regarded as the happiest of auguries, and in +their sacred groves horses were tied up, as the neighing of +these animals was considered an infallible proof that a +propitious answer would be given by the gods to the prayer of +any petitioner who sought their aid. + +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "my good war-horse welcomes +the stranger. As I said to you anon, Sweyn, I had intended +to offer him as a sacrifice to Odin; but as the gods +have thus declared him welcome here I must needs change +my intentions. Who are you, young Saxon?" he asked as +Edmund was brought before him, "and whence do you come? +And how is it that a war-ship of your people is found upon +our coasts?" + +"I am Edmund," the young man said steadily, "an +ealdorman of King Alfred of the West Saxons. The ship which +was seen on your coast is mine; I built it to attack the +Northmen who harry our coasts. I am here because, when +in chase of four of your ships, a storm arose and blew us +hither." + +"You speak boldly," the jarl said, "for one in the hands of +his foes. How old are you?" + +"I am twenty-two," Edmund replied. + +"The same age as you, Sweyn. Stand side by side and let +me compare you. Ay," he went on, "he lacks nigh three inches +of your height, but he is more than that bigger across the +shoulders--a stalwart young champion, indeed, and does +brave credit to his rearing. These West Saxons have shown +themselves worthy foemen, and handled us roughly last year, +as this will testify," and he pointed to the scar of a sword-cut +across his face. "Doubtless this is the son of that Saxon earl +who more than once last summer inflicted heavy losses upon +us. Is that so, young Saxon?" + +"I am the Ealdorman Edmund himself," the young man +replied quietly. "My successes were won not by my own +strength or courage, but by the valour of those under me, +who, fighting in a novel manner, gained advantage over your +Northmen." + +"By Thor!" Bijorn exclaimed, "and this is the youth who +attacked us at night and drove off the cattle we had taken +and slew many of our followers, Sweyn! Truly he would be a +rare sacrifice to offer to Odin; but the god has himself +welcomed him here." + +"It may be that he welcomed him as a sacrifice, father," +Sweyn suggested. + + "Ah! that may be so," the jarl replied. "We must consult +the omens to find out the true meaning of my charger's neighing. +Nevertheless in either case I shall be content, for if he +be not welcomed as a sacrifice he is welcome as bringing +good fortune; and in truth he will make a noble cup-bearer +to me. It is not every jarl who is waited upon by a Saxon +ealdorman. But till the omens have spoken let him be set +aside and carefully watched. In a day or two we will journey +to Odin's temple and there consult the auguries." + +Three days passed, during which Edmund was well fed +and treated. At the end of that time he was ordered to +accompany the jarl on a journey. Two days' travelling brought +them to a temple of Odin. It was a rough structure of unhewn +stones situated in a wood. Bijorn and his son entered, while +Edmund remained without under a guard. Presently the jarl +and his son came out with a priest. The latter carried a white +bag in his hand with twelve small pieces of wood. On half of +these four small nicks were cut, on the others five nicks. All +were placed in the bag, which was then shaken. + +"Now," the priest said, "you will see the will of Odin; the +first three sticks drawn out will declare it. If two of the three +bear an even number of nicks, the neigh of your horse signifies +that Odin accepted the sacrifice; if two of them bear unequal +numbers, then it meant that his coming was propitious to you." + +The bag was again shaken. Edmund looked on calmly, +for Saxons and Northmen alike disdained to show the slightest +fear of death; even the colour did not fade from his cheek +as he watched the trial upon which his life depended. + +The first stick drawn out bore five marks; the priest +showed it to the jarl, and without a word dropped it in the +bag again. This was again shaken and another stick drawn +out; this bore but four notches; the chances were even. The +silence was unbroken until the third twig was drawn. + +"Odin has spoken," the priest said. "The neigh of the +horse indicated that the coming of this Saxon was propitious +to your house." + +The jarl gave an exclamation of satisfaction, while +Sweyn's brow darkened. Bijorn had indeed set his heart upon +retaining this famous young Saxon leader as his slave and +cup-bearer, and it was probable that in his interview with the +priest before the drawing his inclinations had been clearly +shown, for a slight difference between the thickness of the +sticks might well have existed and served as an index to the +priest in drawing them. + +Bijorn, in his gratification at the answer of the god, +bestowed a handsome present upon the priest, and then rode +back to his abode well content with his journey. Edmund +was at once installed in his new duties. Hitherto he had not +entered the house nor seen the females of the family. Ulfra, +the jarl's wife, was a woman of commanding stature and appearance. +Like most of the northern women she had accompanied her +husband in his many wanderings, and shared his dangers and +privations. The wives of the Norsemen occupied a far +more exalted position in the households of their +lords than did those of the people of southern Europe; they +were not only mistresses of the house, but were treated with +respect as well as with affection; they were not, as in the south, +regarded as puppets for the amusements of an idle hour, but +were the companions and advisers of their husbands, occupying +a position at least as free and respected as at the present day. + +There were two daughters, who both bade fair to resemble +their mother in stature and dignity of demeanour, +for both were models of female strength and activity. +Edmund's duties were light. In the morning he gathered +firewood for the household; at the meals he handed the +dishes, and taking his station behind the jarl's chair, refilled +his goblet with mead as often as it was empty. Usually a large +party sat down to supper, for an expedition to France was +talked of in the spring, and the jarls and warriors often met +to discuss the place of starting, the arrangements for the +voyage, and the numbers which each leader would place in the +field. The feasts were kept up to a late hour, and, as was the +invariable custom of the Northmen, the arrangements decided +upon overnight were rediscussed at a morning meeting; +for they held that while over the wine-cup each man would +speak the truth frankly and honestly, the colder counsels and +greater prudence which the morning brought were needed +before any matter could be finally settled. + +A month thus passed, and Bijorn, his family and followers +then moved south, as there was to be a great conference +near the southern point of the country, at which a large +number of the chiefs from Denmark were to be present. + +Edmund observed that for some reason Sweyn was looking +forward anxiously to this meeting, and his sisters more +than once joked him about his anxiety. + +"Pooh! pooh!" the jarl said one day in answer to such +an observation. "Sweyn is but a lad yet. I know what you are +driving at, and that Sweyn is smitten with the charms of my +old companion's daughter, the pretty Freda; I noted it when +we were in camp together; but it will be fully another ten +years yet before Sweyn can think of marrying. He has got to +win for himself the name of a great warrior before a jarl's +daughter of proper spirit would so much as think of him. +When he has the spoils of France to lay at her feet it will be +time enough." + +Sweyn made no reply, but Edmund saw that he was far +from pleased at his father's words, and a look of surly +determination on his face showed the young Saxon that he would +go his own way in the matter if it lay in his power. + +After ten days' travelling the party arrived at the +rendezvous. Here drawn up on the shore were a vast number of +galleys of all sizes, for the greater part of those who had +assembled had journeyed by sea. Great numbers of huts of +boughs and many tents constructed of sails had been erected. +Edmund and the other slaves, these being either Saxon or +Franks captured in war, soon erected bowers for the jarl and +his family. + +Edmund had been looking forward to the meeting with +much anxiety, for he had judged that some mode of escape +might there open to him. Among the Saxon slaves were several +young men of strength and vigour, and Edmund had +confided to them his project of stealing a boat and sailing +away in it, and they, knowing that he had experience in +navigation, had readily consented to join him in making an +effort for freedom. + +The jarl and his family were warmly welcomed by many +of their companions in arms, and the day after their arrival +Bijorn told Edmund to accompany him to a banquet at which +he and his family were to be present. At four in the afternoon +they set out and presently arrived at a large tent. +Edmund waited without until the attendants carried in the +dishes, when he entered with them and prepared to take his +place behind his master's seat. From a few words which had +passed between Sweyn and his sisters Edmund doubted not +that the companion with whom Bijorn was going to dine was +the father of the maiden about whom they had joked him. +He was not surprised when on entering he saw Sweyn talking +earnestly with a damsel somewhat apart from the rest. + +The entrance of the viands was the signal for all to take +their places at the table. There were in all sixteen in number, +and as nearly half were women the meeting was evidently of +a family character, as upon occasions of importance or when +serious discussions were to take place men alone sat down. +As Edmund advanced to take his place, his eye fell upon the +jarl who seated himself at the head of the table, and as he did +so he gave a slight start of surprise, for he at once recognized +in him the Northman Siegbert, whose ship he had stopped +at the mouth of the Humber. From him his eye glanced at +the girl by whose side Sweyn was on the point of seating +himself, and recognized in her the maiden who had besought +her father's life. The dinner commenced and proceeded for +some little time, when Edmund saw the girl looking fixedly +at him. + +"Who is that who is standing behind your father's chair?" +she asked Sweyn. + +"A Saxon slave," he answered. "His vessel was well-nigh +wrecked on our coast. Our people captured him and slew +some of his followers, and the ship speedily took to flight." + +"Father," the girl said in a clear voice, which at once +attracted the attention of all, "unless my eyes deceive me the +young Saxon standing behind Jarl Bijorn is he whose ship +captured us as we left England, and who suffered no harm to +be done to us." + +The Northman turned in his chair. + +"It is he, Freda, surely enough, though how he comes to +be a slave here to my comrade Bijorn I know not. Bijorn, my +friend, I owe this youth a deep debt of gratitude; he had my +life and the life and honour of Freda in his hands, and he +spared both, and, slave though he may be of yours at present, +yet I hail him as my friend. Tell me how came he in your +hands? He is Edmund, the valiant young Saxon who smote +us more than once so heavily down in Wessex." + +"I know it," Bijorn replied, "and will tell you how he came +into my hands, and in truth he was captured by accident and +not by any valour of my arm." The jarl then related the +circumstances under which Edmund had been captured, and +the narrow escape he had had of being offered as a sacrifice +to Odin. And Siegbert then told his guests at length the +incidents of his capture by the Dragon. + +"He let me go free and without a ransom," he concluded, +"and that part of my obligation I should be glad to repay, +though for his gentleness to Freda I must still remain his +debtor. What say you, Bijorn, will you sell him to me? Name +your price in horses, arms, and armour, and whatever it be I +will pay it to you." + +"In truth, Siegbert," Bijorn said, "I like not to part with +the lad; but since you are so urgent, and seeing that you +cannot otherwise discharge the obligation under which, as you +say, he has laid you, I cannot refuse your prayer. As to the +price, we will arrange that anon." + +"Then it is settled," Siegbert said. "You are a free man, +Ealdorman Edmund," and he held out his hand to the youth. +"Now seat yourself at the table with my guests; there are none +here but may feel honoured at dining with one of King +Alfred's bravest thanes." + +The transformation in Edmund's position was sudden +indeed; a moment since he was a slave, and although he had +determined upon making an effort for freedom, he had +known that the chances of escape were small, as swift galleys +would have been sent off in pursuit, and it was probable that +he would have been speedily overtaken and brought back. +Now he was free, and would doubtless be allowed to return +home with the first party who sailed thither. + +Siegbert at once tried to make Edmund feel at home, +addressing much of his conversation to him. Bijorn, too, +spoke in a friendly manner with him, but Sweyn was silent +and sullen; he was clearly ill-pleased at this change of fortune +which had turned his father's slave into a fellow-guest and +equal. His annoyance was greatly heightened by the fact that +it was Freda who had recognized the young Saxon, and the +pleasure which her face evinced when her father proposed +to purchase him from Bijorn angered him still more. In his +heart he cursed the horse whose welcoming neigh had in the +first instance saved Edmund's life, and the trial by augury +which had confirmed the first omen. After the banquet was +over Siegbert requested Edmund to relate his various +adventures. + +The telling of tales of daring was one of the favourite +amusements of the Danes; Siegbert and his friends quaffed +great bumpers of mead; and the ladies sat apart listening +while Edmund told his story. + +"You have a brave record, indeed," Siegbert said when +he had finished, "for one so young; and fond as are our youths +of adventure there is not one of them of your age who has +accomplished a tithe of what you have done. Why, Freda, if +this youth were but one of us he would have the hearts of all +the Norse maidens at his feet. In the eyes of a Danish girl, as +of a Dane, valour is the highest of recommendations." + +"I don't know, father," Freda said, colouring at being +thus addressed, "that we should be as bold as that, although +assuredly it is but right that a maiden should esteem valour +highly. It is to her husband she has to look for protection, +and she shares in the honour and spoil which he gains by his +valiant deeds, so you have always taught me." + +"And rightly too, girl. Next to being a great hero, the +greatest honour is to be the wife of one. I pledge you, +Ealdorman Edmund, and should be right proud were you a +son of mine. You have told your story modestly, for many of +the battles and adventures of which you have spoken are +known to me by report, and fame has given you a larger share +in the successes than you claim for yourself. 'Tis a pity you +were not born a Northman, for there is little for you to do in +Saxon England now." + +"I do not despair yet," Edmund replied. "Things have +gone badly with us, but the last blow is not struck yet. You +will hear of King Alfred in the spring, unless I am mistaken." + +"But they say your King Alfred is half a monk, and that +he loves reading books more than handling the sword, though, +to do him justice, he has shown himself a brave warrior, and +has given us far more trouble than all the other Saxon kings +together." + +"King Alfred fights bravely," Edmund said, "because he +is fighting for his country and people; but it is true that he +loves not war nor strife. He reads much and thinks more, +and should he ever come to his kingdom again he will assuredly +be one of the wisest and best monarchs who has ever sat +on a throne. He has talked to me much of the things which +he has at heart, and I know he intends to draw up wise laws +for the ruling of his people." + +"We love not greatly being ruled, we Northmen," Bijorn +said, "but for each to go his own way as he wills, provided +only he inflicts no ill upon his neighbour. We come and we +go each as it pleases him. Our fleets traverse the sea and +bring home plunder and booty. What need we of laws?" + +"At present you have no great need of laws," Edmund +replied, "seeing that you lead a wandering life; but when the +time shall come--and it must come to you as it has come to +other nations--when you will settle down as a rich and +peaceful community, then laws will become necessary." + +"Well," Bijorn said, "right glad am I that I live before +such times have come. So far as I can see the settling down +you speak of, and the abandonment of the ancient gods has +done no great good either to you Saxons or to the Franks. +Both of you were in the old time valiant people, while now +you are unable to withstand our arms. You gather goods, +and we carry them off; you build cities, and we destroy them; +you cultivate the land, and we sweep off the crops. It seems +to me that we have the best of it." + +"It seems so at present," Edmund said, "but it will not +last. Already in Northumbria and in East Anglia the Danes, +seeing that there is no more plunder to be had, are settling +down and adopting the customs of the Saxons, and so will it +be in Mercia and Wessex if you keep your hold of them, and +so will it be in other places. The change is but beginning, +but it seems to me certain to come; so I have heard King +Alfred say." + +"And does he think," Sweyn said scoffingly, speaking +almost for the first time, "that we shall abandon the worship +of our gods and take to that of your Christ?" + +"He thinks so and hopes so," Edmund replied quietly. +"So long as men's lives are spent wholly in war they may worship +gods like yours, but when once settled in peaceful pursuits +they will assuredly recognize the beauty and holiness of +the life of Christ. Pardon me," he said, turning to Siegbert, +"if it seems to you that I, being still young, speak with +over-boldness, but I am telling you what King Alfred says, +and all men recognize his wisdom and goodness." + +"I know not of your religion myself," Siegbert replied, +"but I will own willingly that though its teachings may be +peaceful, it makes not cowards of those who believe in it. +I have seen over and over again old men and young men die +on the altars of their churches as fearlessly and calmly as a +Viking should do when his time comes. No Northman fears +death, for he knows that a joyous time awaits him; but I am +bound to say that your Christians meet death to the full as +calmly. Well, each his own way, I say, and for aught I know +there may be a Christian heaven as well as the Halls of Odin, +and all may be rewarded in their own way for their deeds." + +Bijorn and his party now rose to take leave. "I will come +across to your tent in the morning," Siegbert said, "and we +can then discuss what payment I shall make you for this young +Saxon. I fear not that you will prove over hard to your old +comrade." + +After Bijorn had departed Siegbert assigned to Edmund +a place in his tent as an honoured guest. Slaves brought in +bundles of rushes for the beds. Freda retired to a small tent +which had been erected for her adjoining the larger one, and +the jarl and Edmund lay down on their piles of rushes at the +upper end of the tent. Siegbert's companions and followers +stretched themselves along the sides, the slaves lay down +without, and in a few minutes silence reigned in the tent. + + + + + +CHAPTER X: THE COMBAT + + + +"I was thinking much of what you said last night," Freda +said at breakfast. "How is it that you, whose religion is as +you say a peaceful one, can yet have performed so many +deeds of valour and bloodshed?" + +"I am fighting for my home, my country, and my religion," +Edmund said. "Christianity does not forbid men to +defend themselves; for, did it do so, a band of pagans might +ravage all the Christian countries in the world. I fight not +because I love it. I hate bloodshed, and would rather die +than plunder and slay peaceful and unoffending people. You +have been in England and have seen the misery which war +has caused there. Such misery assuredly I would inflict on +none. I fight only to defend myself and my country men and +women. Did your people leave our land I would gladly never +draw sword again." + +"But what would you do with yourself?" Freda asked in +tones of surprise. "How would you pass your time if there +were no fighting?" + +"I should have plenty to do," Edmund said smiling; "I +have my people to look after. I have to see to their welfare; +to help those who need it; to settle disputes; to rebuild the +churches and houses which have been destroyed. There would +be no difficulty in spending my time." + +"But how could a man show himself to be a hero," the +Danish girl asked, "if there were no fighting?" + +"There would be no occasion for heroes," Edmund said, +"at least of heroes in the sense you mean--that is, of men +famous principally for the number they have slain, and the +destruction and misery they have caused. Our religion teaches +us that mere courage is not the highest virtue. It is one +possessed as much by animals as by men. Higher virtues than +this are kindness, charity, unselfishness, and a desire to +benefit our fellow-creatures. These virtues make a man a truer +hero than the bravest Viking who ever sailed the seas. Even +you, Freda, worshipper of Odin as you are, must see that it is +a higher and a better life to do good to your fellow-creatures +than to do evil." + +"It sounds so," the girl said hesitatingly; "but the idea is +so new to me that I must think it over before I can come to +any conclusion." + +Freda then went about her occupations, and Edmund, +knowing that Siegbert would not return for some time, as he +was going with Bijorn to a council which was to be held early +in the day, strolled down to look at the galleys ranged along +on the beach. These varied greatly in form and character. +Some of the sailing ships were large and clumsy, but the galleys +for rowing were lightly and gracefully built. They were +low in the water, rising to a lofty bow, which sometimes turned +over like the neck of a swan, at other times terminated in a +sharp iron prow, formed for running down a hostile boat. +Some of them were of great length, with seats for twenty +rowers on either side, while all were provided with sails as +well as oars. When the hour for dinner approached he returned +to Siegbert's tent. The jarl had not yet come back from +the council. When he did so Edmund perceived at once that he +was flushed and angry. + +"What has disturbed you, father?" Freda asked, as on +hearing his voice she entered the tent. "Has aught gone wrong +at the council?" + +"Yes," the jarl replied, "much has gone wrong. Bijorn +and I had not concluded our bargain when we went to the +council. We had, indeed, no difficulty about the terms, but +we had not clasped hands over them, as I was going back to +his tent after the council was over. At the council the +expedition against France was discussed, and it was proposed +that we should consult the gods as to the chances of the +adventure. Then the Jarl Eric rose and proposed that it should be +done in the usual way by a conflict between a Dane and a +captive. This was of course agreed to. + +"He then said that he understood that there was in the +camp a young Saxon of distinguished valour, and that he +proposed that Sweyn, the son of Bijorn, should fight with +him. Sweyn had expressed to him his willingness to do so +should the council agree. I rose at once and said that the +Saxon was no longer a captive, since I had ransomed him +because he had once done me a service; but upon being +pressed I was forced to admit that the bargain had not been +concluded. I must acquit Bijorn of any share in the matter, +for it came upon him as much by surprise as it did upon me. +It seems that it is all Sweyn's doing. He must have taken the +step as having a private grudge against you. Have you had +any quarrel with him?" + +"No," Edmund replied. "He has ever shown himself +haughty and domineering, but we have come to no quarrel." + +"At any rate he wants to kill you," Siegbert said. "I did +my best to prevent it, pointing out that the combat ought to +take place between a Frank and a Dane. However, the +Northmen are always glad to see a good fight, and having +satisfied themselves that in point of age and strength you +were not unfairly matched, they decided that the conflict +should take place. He is taller, and I think somewhat stronger +than you, and has proved himself a valiant fighter, and I +would give much if the combat could be avoided." + +"I fear him not," Edmund said quietly, "though I would +fain that this could be avoided. Had I met Sweyn upon a +battle-field in England I would have slain him as a natural +enemy; but to fight him in cold blood, either as a matter of +augury or to furnish amusement for the assembly, likes me +not. However, I must of course defend myself, and if harm +comes to him it is no blame of mine." + +"You will have no easy victory, I can tell you," Siegbert +said, "for none among our young Danes bears a higher +reputation." + +"But after the combat is over how shall I stand?" Edmund +asked; "for if I defeat or slay Sweyn I shall still be his +father's slave." + +"That will you not," Siegbert replied. "In these cases the +captive if victorious is always restored to liberty; but at any +rate you shall fight as a free man, for when I have finished +my dinner I will go to Bijorn and conclude our bargain. Do +not look so cast down, Freda; a Northman's daughter must +not turn pale at the thought of a conflict. Sweyn is the son +of my old friend, and was, before he took to arms, your +playfellow, and since then has, methought, been anxious to gain +your favour, though all too young yet for thinking of taking a +wife; but never mind, there are as good as he to be found; +and if our young Saxon here proves his conqueror other +suitors will come, never fear." + +Freda was silent, but her face flushed painfully, and +Edmund saw the tears falling down her cheeks as she bent +over her plate. + +After the meal was over Siegbert again went out, and +Edmund, approaching Freda, said, "Do not fret, Freda; if it +should be that I find my skill in arms greater than that of +Sweyn, I promise you that for your sake I will not wound him +mortally." + +"I care not," the girl said passionately; "spare him not +for my sake, for I hate him, and were there no other Norseman +in the world I would never be wife of his." + +So saying she left the tent. Edmund now regretted the +chance which had assigned him to Siegbert, for he would +rather have taken his chance of escape by sea than have +awaited the conflict with Sweyn. But he could not carry his +plan of escape into effect now, for it would seem as if he had +fled the conflict. That this would be a desperate one he did +not doubt. The course which Sweyn had taken showed a +bitter feeling of hatred against him, and even were it not so +the young Northman would, fighting in the presence of the +leaders of his nation, assuredly do his best to conquer. But +Edmund had already tried his strength with older and more +powerful men than his adversary and had little fear of results. + +The news of the approaching conflict caused considerable +excitement in the Danish camp, and Edmund's figure +was narrowly scrutinized as he wandered through it. All who +had been engaged in the war in Wessex had heard of Edmund, +and there was no slight curiosity, when the news went abroad +that the Saxon leader was a captive in the camp, to see what +he was like. + +At first when it was bruited abroad that Sweyn, the son +of Jarl Bijorn, was to fight this noted Saxon champion the +idea was that the enterprise was a rash one, strong and +valiant as Sweyn was known to be for a young man; but when it +was seen that Edmund was no older than he, and to the eye +less strong and powerful, they felt confident in the power of +their champion to overcome him. + +Siegbert spared no pains to see that his guest had an +even equal chance. He procured for him a strong and well-made +helmet which fitted him comfortably, and gave him +the choice out of a large number of shields and swords. +Edmund selected a weapon which answered nearly in weight +and balance that which he was accustomed to wield. There +was feasting again that night in Siegbert's tent; but he did +not allow Edmund to join in it, insisting after the meal was +over that he should retire to a small hut hard by. + +"You will want your head and your nerves in good order +to-morrow," he said. "Feasting is good in its way, and the +night before battle I always drink deeply, but for a single +combat it were best to be prudent." As Edmund left the tent +Freda, who had not appeared at dinner, came up to him. + +"I have been crying all day," she said simply. "I know +not why, for I have often seen my father go out to battle +without a tear. I think you must have upset me with your talk +this morning. I hope that you will win, because it was wrong and +unfair of Sweyn to force this battle upon you; and I hate him +for it! I shall pray Odin to give you victory. You don't believe +in him, I know; still my prayers can do you no harm." + +"Thank you," Edmund said. "I shall pray to One greater +and better than Odin. But weep not any longer, for I trust +neither of us will be killed. I shall do my best to guard myself, +and shall try not to slay him; for this fight is not for my +nation or for my religion, but concerns myself only." + +The following morning the Northmen assembled. The +jarls and other leading men formed the inner line of a circle +some thirty yards in diameter, the others stood without; Jarl +Eric entered the ring with Sweyn, while Edmund, accompanied +by Siegbert, entered at the other side of the circle. + +"I protest," Siegbert cried in a loud voice, "against this +conflict taking place. Edmund the Saxon is no captive here, +but a free man, and my guest; moreover, being a Saxon, the +issue of this fight between him and a Northman can serve no +purpose as an augury as to the success of our expedition +against the Franks. Therefore do I protest against +the conflict." + +There was again a consultation between the leaders, for +a murmur of approbation had run round the ranks of the +spectators, who it was evident were impressed in favour of +the young Saxon, and considered that the jarl's words were +just and reasonable. Eric spoke for a minute with Sweyn. + +"I feel," he said in a loud voice, "that what Jarl Siegbert +says is reasonable, that no augury can be drawn from the +fight, and that, since Edmund is no longer a captive, and a +friend of Siegbert's, he cannot be forced into fighting in +order that we may have an augury. But the Saxon, though so +young, has won a reputation even among us, the enemies of +his race; and my friend Sweyn, who has shown himself one of +the bravest of our young men, considers that he has cause of +quarrel with him, and challenges him to fight--not necessarily +to the death, or till one is slain, but till the jarls here +assembled do pronounce one or the other to be the victor. +This is a fair challenge--first, there is a private quarrel; +next, there is emulation between these young men, who may +fairly claim to be the champions of the youth of the two races. +Such a challenge the Saxon will hardly refuse." + +In accordance with the customs of the day it would have +been impossible for Edmund to have refused such a challenge +without disgrace, and he did not for a moment think of +doing so. + +"I am ready to fight Sweyn," he said. "I have no great +cause of quarrel with him; but if he conceives that he has +grounds of quarrel with me, that is enough. As to championship +of the Saxons, we have no champions; we fight not for +personal honour or glory, but for our homes, our countries, +and our religion, each doing his best according to the strength +God has given him, and without thought of pride on the one +hand or envy on the other because the strength or courage +of one may be somewhat greater than that of another. Still, +as a Saxon standing here as the only representative of my +nation in an assembly of Northmen, I cannot refuse such a +challenge, for to do so would be to infer that we Saxons are +less brave than you. Therefore I am ready for the combat." + +The Northmen clashed their weapons against their shields +in token of their approval of the young Saxon's words, and +the young champions prepared for the combat. They were +naked to the waist save for shield and helmet; below the waist +each wore a short and tightly-fitting garment covered with +plates of brass; the legs were naked, and each wore a pair of +light sandals; their weapons were long straight swords. The +weapon Edmund had chosen was considerably lighter than +that of his opponent, but was of toughest steel, on which +were engraved in rough characters, "Prayers to Woden for +victory." + +The difference in height between the combatants was +considerable. Edmund stood five feet ten, but looked shorter +from the squareness and width of his shoulders. Sweyn was +nearly four inches taller, and he too was very strongly built. +His muscles indeed stood out in stronger development than +did those of Edmund, and if pure strength was to win the day +few of those who looked on doubted that the Dane would be +the victor. + +The combat was a long one. For some time Edmund contented +himself with standing upon the defensive and guarding the +tremendous blows which Sweyn rained upon him. In spite of the +efforts of the Northman, he could neither beat down the Saxon's +guard nor force him to fall back a single step. + +Again and again the rattle of the spectators' arms clashed +an approval of Edmund's steady resistance to his opponent's +assaults. The Norsemen delighted beyond all things in a +well-fought encounter. Each man, himself a warrior, was able to +appreciate the value of the strokes and parries. The betting +at the commencement had run high upon Sweyn, and horses, +armour, arms, and slaves had been freely wagered upon his +success; but as the fight went on the odds veered round, and +the demeanour of the combatants had as much to do with +this as the skill and strength shown by Edmund in his defence. +The Dane was flushed and furious; his temper gave way under +the failure of his assaults. The Saxon, on the contrary, +fought as calmly and coolly as if practicing with blunted +weapons; his eyes never left those of his adversary, a half +smile played on his lips, and although drops of perspiration +from his forehead showed how great were his exertions, his +breathing hardly quickened. + +Twice Sweyn drew back for breath, and Edmund each +time, instead of pressing him, dropped the point of his sword +and waited for him to renew the combat. At present he had +scarce struck a blow, and while his own shield was riven in +several places and his helmet dinted, those of Sweyn were +unmarked. + +At the third assault Sweyn came up determined to end +the conflict, and renewed the attack with greater fury than +before. Three times his sword descended with tremendous +force, but each time it met the blade of the Saxon; the fourth +time his arm was raised, then there was a flash and a sudden +shout from the crowd. + +With a mighty blow Edmund had smitten full on his opponent's +uplifted arm, and, striking it just above the elbow, the sword +clove through flesh and bone, and the severed limb, still grasping +the sword, fell to the ground. + +A loud shout of approval burst from the Danes. Although the +conqueror was their enemy they appreciated so highly the virtues +of coolness and courage that their applause was no less hearty +than if the victor had been a countryman. Sweyn had fallen +almost the instant the blow had been struck. The ring was +at once broken up, and his friends ran to him. The Norsemen +were adepts at the treatment of wounds, and everything had been +prepared in case of emergencies. + +A bandage was instantly tied tightly round the upper +part of the arm to stop the rush of blood, and the stump was +then dipped into boiling pitch, and Sweyn, who had become +almost instantly insensible from the loss of blood, was carried +to his father's tent. According to custom handsome presents +of swords and armour were made to Edmund by those who had won +by his success. + +It would have been considered churlish to refuse them, +and Edmund had no thought of doing so, for he needed +money, and these things in those days were equivalent to +wealth. + +"You have done well and gallantly indeed, my young +friend," Siegbert said as, followed by several slaves bearing +Edmund's presents, they returned to the tent. "I am glad you +did not slay him, for I think not that he will die. Such a blow +given in battle would assuredly have been fatal, but here the +means of stanching the blood were at hand, and I trust for +Bijorn's sake that he will recover; but whether or no he +brought it on himself." + +On reaching the tent Freda ran out radiant. + +"I hear that you have conquered," she said, "and I am +glad indeed; it serves him right, for all say that he forced the +fight upon you." + +"I did not know that your sympathies were so strongly +against Sweyn," Siegbert said in a somewhat reproachful tone. +"He has always been your devoted follower." + +"He has always been my tyrant, father, for he has always +insisted on my doing his pleasure; but if he had been ten +times my follower, and had been a valiant warrior instead of +a youth, and I a maiden of twenty instead of a girl of fifteen, +I should still be glad that he was conquered, because without +any reason for quarrel he has sought to slay this Saxon youth +who did us such great service, and to whom as he knew we were +so indebted." + +Siegbert smiled. "Hitherto I have wondered, daughter +mine, at the reason which induced Sweyn to challenge +Edmund, but now methinks I understand it. Sweyn has, as +his father has told me, youth as he is, set his heart on +winning your hand when you shall reach the age of womanhood, +and it is just because Edmund has done you and me service +that he hates him. You are young, child, for your bright eyes +to have caused bloodshed; if you go on like this there will be +no end to the trouble I shall have on your account before I +get you fairly wedded." + +Freda coloured hotly. + +"That is nonsense, father; another five years will be soon +enough to begin to think of such things. At any rate," she +said with a laugh, "I am rid of Sweyn, for he can hardly +expect me ever to love a one-armed man." + +"There have been brave warriors," Seigbert said, "with +but one arm." + +"It makes no difference," Freda laughed; "if he had fifty +arms I should never love him." + +Edmund now entreated Siegbert to repay himself from +the presents he had received for the goods he had the evening +before given to Bijorn as the price of his liberty, but this the +jarl would not hear of. Edmund then begged him to buy +with them, of Bijorn, the four Saxon slaves with whom he +had agreed to attempt an escape, and to expend the rest of +the presents in freeing as many other Saxon prisoners as he +could. + +This Siegbert did, and by the evening Edmund had the +satisfaction of finding around him twelve Saxons whose freedom +he had purchased. He remained as the guest of Siegbert +until the expedition sailed in the last week of March. Then +with the twelve Saxons he embarked in Siegbert's ship, which, +instead of keeping with the others, sailed for the mouth of +the Thames. The wind was favourable and the passage quick, +and three days after sailing Edmund and his companions were +disembarked on the coast of Kent. His adieus with Siegbert +were hearty and earnest. + +"I would you had been a Northman," the jarl said, "for I +love you as a son, and methinks that when the time comes, +had you been so inclined, you might have really stood in that +relation to me, for I guess that my little Freda would not have +said no had you asked her hand; but now our paths are to +part. I shall never war again with the Saxons, for indeed +there is but scant booty to be gained there, while you are not +likely again to be cast upon our shores; but should the fates +ever throw us together again, remember that you have a friend +for life in Jarl Siegbert." + +Freda, who had accompanied her father as usual, wept +bitterly at the parting, which, however, she did not deem to +be as final as it appeared to her father; for the evening before, +as she was standing on the poop with Edmund, he had +said to her, "You will not forget me, Freda; we are both very +young yet; but some day, when the wars are over, and England +no longer requires my sword, I will seek you again." + +"Is that a promise, Edmund?" + +"Yes, Freda, a solemn promise." + +"I will wait for you," she said simply, "if it were till the +end of my life." + +The youth and girl ratified the promise by a kiss, and +Freda, as through her tears she watched the boat which +conveyed Edmund and his companions to shore, felt sure that +some day she should see her Saxon hero again. + +On landing, Edmund soon learned that the Danes were +everywhere masters, and that since the autumn nothing had +been heard of the king, who was supposed to be somewhere +in hiding. + +In every village through which they passed they found +evidence of the mastership of the Danes. Many of the houses +were burnt or destroyed, the people were all dressed in the +poorest garb, and their sad faces and listless mien told of the +despair which everywhere prevailed. In every church the +altars had been thrown down, the holy emblems and images +destroyed, the monks and priests had fled across the sea or +had been slain. + +The Danish gods, Thor and Woden, had become the divinities +of the land, and the Saxons, in whom Christianity +had but recently supplanted the superstitions of paganism, +were fast returning to the worship of the pagan gods. Edmund +and his companions were shocked at the change. On reaching +home they found that the ravages of the Danes had here +been particularly severe, doubtless in revenge for the heavy +loss which had been sustained by them in their attack upon +Edmund's fortification. His own abode had been completely +levelled to the ground, and the villages and farm-houses for +the most part wholly destroyed. His people were lying in +rude shelters which they had raised, but their condition was +very much better than that of the people in general. + +The news of Edmund's return spread like wildfire, and +excited the most extreme joy among his people, who had +long given him up for lost. He found to his delight that the +Dragon had returned safely, and that she was laid up in her +old hiding-place. The great amount of spoil with which she +was loaded had enabled her crew largely to assist their friends, +and it was this which had already raised the condition of the +people above that of their neighbours. Houses were being +gradually rebuilt, animals had been brought from districts +which had been less ravaged by the Danes, and something +approaching comfort was being rapidly restored. + +Upon the day after Edmund's return Egbert arrived. +Feeling sure of Edmund's death he had taken no steps towards +rebuilding the house, but was living a wild life in the +woods, when the news reached him that Edmund had reappeared. +His own large share of the booty with that of Edmund +he had buried, with the portion set aside for the king, in the +wood near the spot where the Dragon was laid up. + +They had passed up the Parrot at night unobserved by +the Danes, and after taking the masts out of the Dragon, and +dismantling her, they had laid her up in the hole near the +river where she was built. There was little fear of her discovery +there, for the Danes were for the most part gathered in winter +quarters at the great camp near Chippenham. + +Egbert's delight at the reappearance of Edmund was unbounded, +for he loved him as a son, and it was a long time before +their joy at the meeting was sufficiently calmed down to +enable them to tell each other the events which had happened +since they parted three months before. Egbert's narrative +was indeed brief. He had remained two or three days +off the coast of Norway in the lingering hope that Edmund +might in some way have escaped death, and might yet come +off and join him. At the end of a week this hope had faded, +and he sailed for England. Being winter, but few Danish galleys +were at sea, and he had encountered none from the time +he set sail until he arrived off the coast at the mouth of the +Parrot. + +He had entered the river at night so as to be unseen by +any in the village at its mouth, and had, after the Dragon was +laid up, passed his time in the forest. Edmund's narration +was much more lengthy, and Egbert was surprised indeed to +find that his kinsman owed his freedom to the jarl whose +vessel they had captured at the mouth of the Humber. + + + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY + + + +Edmund spent a month on his lands, moving about among +his vassals and dwelling in their abodes. He inspired them +by his words with fresh spirit and confidence, +telling them that this state of things could not last, +and that he was going to join the king, who doubtless would +soon call them to take part in a fresh effort to drive out their +cruel oppressors. Edmund found that although none knew +with certainty the hiding-place of King Alfred, it was generally +reported that he had taken refuge in the low lands of +Somersetshire, and Athelney was specially named as the place +which he had made his abode. + +"It is a good omen," Edmund said, "for Athelney lies +close to the Parrot, where my good ship the Dragon is laid +away." + +After visiting all the villages in his earldom Edmund +started with Egbert and four young men, whom he might use +as messengers, for the reported hiding-place of the king. First +they visited the Dragon, and found her lying undisturbed; +then they followed the river down till they reached the great +swamps which extended for a considerable distance near its +mouth. After much wandering they came upon the hut of a +fisherman. The man on hearing the footsteps came to his +door with a bent bow. When he saw that the new-comers +were Saxons he lowered the arrow which was already fitted +to the string. + +"Can you tell us," Edmund said, "which is the way to +Athelney? We know that it is an island amidst these morasses, +but we are strangers to the locality and cannot find it." + +"And you might search for weeks," the man said, "without +finding it, so thickly is it surrounded by deep swamps +and woods. But what want ye there?" + +"Men say," Edmund replied, "that King Alfred is hidden +there. We are faithful followers of his. I am Ealdorman +Edmund of Sherborne, and have good news for the king." + +"If ye are indeed the Ealdorman of Sherborne, of whose +bravery I have heard much, I will right willingly lead you to +Athelney if you will, but no king will you find there. There +are a few fugitives from the Danes scattered here and there +in these marshes, but none, so far as I know, of any rank or +station. However, I will lead you thither should you still wish +to go." + +Edmund expressed his desire to visit the island even if +the king were not there. The man at once drew out a small +boat from a hiding-place near his hut. It would hold four at +most. Edmund and Egbert stepped in with one of their followers, +charging the others to remain at the hut until they +received further instructions. The fisherman with a long pole +took his place in the bow of the boat and pushed off. For +some hours they made their way through the labyrinth of +sluggish and narrow channels of the morass. It was a gloomy +journey. The leafless trees frequently met overhead; the long +rushes in the wetter parts of the swamp rustled as the cold +breezes swept across them, and a slight coating of snow which +had fallen the previous night added to the dreary aspect of +the scene. At last they came upon sharply rising ground. + +"This is Athelney," the fisherman said, "a good hiding-place +truly; for, as you see, it rises high over the surrounding +country, which is always swampy from the waters of the Parrot +and Theme, and at high tides the salt water of the sea fills +all these waterways, and the trees rise from a broad sheet of +sea. No Dane has ever yet set foot among these marshes; and +were there but provisions to keep them alive, a safe refuge +might be found on this island for hundreds of fugitives. Will +you be returning to-night?" + +"That I cannot tell you," Edmund replied; "but at any +rate I will hire you and your boat to remain at my service for +a week, and will pay you a far higher price than you can obtain +by your fishing." + +The fisherman readily agreed, and Edmund and his +companions made their way into the heart of the island. It +was of some extent, and rose above the tree-tops of the +surrounding country. Presently they came to a cottage. +A man came out. + +"What do you seek?" he asked. + +"You have fugitives in refuge here," Edmund said. "Know +you if among them is our good King Alfred?" The man looked +astonished. + +"A pretty place to seek for a king!" he replied. "There +are a few Saxons in hiding here. Some live by fishing, some +chop wood; but for the most part they are an idle and +thriftless lot, and methinks have fled hither rather to escape +from honest work or to avoid the penalties of crimes than for any +other reason." + +"How may we find them?" Edmund asked. + +"They are scattered over the island. There are eight or +ten dwellers here like myself, and several of them have one +or more of these fellows with them; others have built huts for +themselves and shift as they can; but it is a hard shift, I reckon, +and beech-nuts and acorns, eked out with an occasional fish +caught in the streams, is all they have to live upon. I wonder +that they do not go back to honest work among their kinsfolk." + +"Ah!" Edmund said, "you do not know here how cruel +are the ravages of the Danes; our homes are broken up and +our villages destroyed, and every forest in the land is peopled +with fugitive Saxons. Did you know that you would speak +less harshly of those here. At any rate the man I seek is young +and fair-looking, and would, I should think"--and he smiled +as he remembered Alfred's studious habits--"be one of the +most shiftless of those here." + +"There is such a one," the man replied, "and several times +friends of his have been hither to see him. He dwells at my +next neighbour's, who is often driven well-nigh out of her +mind--for she is a dame with a shrewish tongue and sharp +temper--by his inattention. She only asks of him that he will +cut wood and keep an eye over her pigs, which wander in the +forest, in return for his food; and yet, simple as are his duties, +he is for ever forgetting them. I warrant me, the dame would +not so long have put up with him had he not been so fair and +helpless. However bad-tempered a woman may be, she has +always a tender corner in her heart for this sort of fellow. +There, you can take this path through the trees and follow it +on; it will take you straight to her cottage." + +The description given by the man tallied so accurately +with that of the king that Edmund felt confident that he was +on the right track. The fact, too, that from time to time men +had come to see this person added to the probability of his +being the king. Presently they came upon the hut. A number +of pigs were feeding under the trees around it; the door +was open, and the shrill tones of a woman's voice raised in +anger could be heard as they approached. + +"You are an idle loon, and I will no longer put up with +your ways, and you may seek another mistress. You are worse +than useless here. I do but ask you to watch these cakes while +I go over to speak with my neighbour, and inquire how she +and the child born yestereven are getting on, and you go to +sleep by the fire and suffer the case to burn. + +"You were not asleep, you say? then so much the worse. +Where were your eyes, then? And where was your nose? Why, +I smelt the cakes a hundred yards away, and you sitting over +them, and as you say awake, neither saw them burning nor +smelt them! You are enough to break an honest woman's +heart with your mooning ways. You are ready enough to eat +when the meal-time comes, but are too lazy even to watch +the food as it cooks. I tell you I will have no more of you. +I have put up with you till I am verily ashamed of my own +patience; but this is too much, and you must go your way, for +I will have no more of you." + +At this moment Edmund and Egbert appeared at the door of +the hut. As he had expected from the nature of the +colloquy Edmund saw King Alfred standing contrite and +ashamed before the angry dame. + +"My beloved sovereign!" he cried, running in and falling +on his knees. + +"My trusted Edmund," Alfred exclaimed cordially, "right +glad am I to see you, and you too, my valiant Egbert; truly I +feared that the good ship Dragon had long since fallen into +the hands of our enemy." + +"The Dragon lies not many miles hence, your majesty, in +the hole in which she was built, by the river Parrot; she has +done bravely and has brought home a rich store of booty, a +large share of which has been hidden away for your majesty, +and can be brought here in a few hours should you wish it." + +"Verily I am glad to hear it, Edmund, for I have long +been penniless; and I have great need of something at least +to pay this good woman for all the trouble she has been at +with me, and for her food which my carelessness has destroyed, +as you may have heard but now." + +Edmund and Egbert joined in the king's merry laugh. +The dame looked a picture of consternation and fell upon +her knees. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," she cried; "to think that I +have ventured to abuse our good King Alfred, and have even +in mine anger lifted my hand against him!" + +"And with right good-will too," the king said laughing. +"Never fear, good dame, your tongue has been rough but +your heart has been kindly, or never would you have borne +so long with so shiftless a serving-man. But leave us now, +I pray ye, for I have much to say to my good friends here. +And now, Edmund, what news do you bring? I do not ask after +the doings of the Dragon, for that no doubt is a long story +which you shall tell me later, but how fares it with my kingdom? +I have been in correspondence with several of my thanes, +who have from time to time sent me news of what passes without. +From what they say I deem that the time for action is at last +nigh at hand. The people are everywhere desperate at the +oppression and exactions of the Danes, and are ready to +risk everything to free themselves from so terrible a yoke. +I fled here and gave up the strife because the Saxons +deemed anything better than further resistance. Now that they +have found out their error it is time to be stirring again." + +"That is so," Edmund said; "Egbert and I have found the +people desperate at their slavery, and ready to risk all did a +leader but appear. My own people will all take up arms the +instant they receive my summons; they have before now +proved their valour, and in my crew of the Dragon you have a +body which will, I warrant me, pierce through any Danish +line." + +"This tallies with what I have heard," Alfred said, "and +in the spring I will again raise my banner; but in the meantime +I will fortify this place. There are but two or three spots +where boats can penetrate through the morasses; were strong +stockades and banks erected at each landing-place we might +hold the island in case of defeat against any number of the +enemy." + +"That shall be done," Edmund said, "and quickly. I have +a messenger here with me, and others waiting outside the +swamp, and can send and bring my crew of the Dragon here +at once." + +"Let that be one man's mission," the king said; "the others +I will send off with messages to the thanes of Somerset, +who are only awaiting my summons to take up arms. I will +bid them send hither strong working parties, but to make no +show in arms until Easter, at which time I will again spread +the Golden Dragon to the winds. The treasure you speak of +will be right welcome, for all are so impoverished by the Danes +that they live but from hand to mouth, and we must at least +buy provisions to maintain the parties working here. Arms, +too, must be made, for although many have hidden their +weapons, the Danes have seized vast quantities, having issued +an order that any Saxon found with arms shall be at +once put to death. Money will be needed to set all the +smithies to work at the manufacture of pikes and swords. Hides +must be bought for the manufacture of shields. It will be best +to send orders to the ealdormen and thanes to send hither +privately the smiths, armourers, and shield-makers in the +villages and towns. They cannot work with the Danes ever about, +but must set up smithies here. They must bring their tools +and such iron as they can carry; what more is required we +must buy at the large towns and bring privately in carts to +the edge of the morass. The utmost silence and secrecy must +be observed, that the Danes may obtain no news of our +preparations until we are ready to burst out upon them." + +A fortnight later Athelney presented a changed appearance. +A thousand men were gathered there. Trees had been +cut down, a strong fort erected on the highest ground, and +formidable works constructed at three points where alone a +landing could be effected. The smoke rose from a score of +great mounds, where charcoal-burners were converting timber +into fuel for the forges. Fifty smiths and armourers were +working vigorously at forges in the open air, roofs thatched +with rushes and supported by poles being erected over them +to keep the rain and snow from the fires. A score of boats +were threading the mazes of the marshes bringing men and +cattle to the island. All was bustle and activity, every face +shone with renewed hope. King Alfred himself and his thanes +moved to and fro among the workers encouraging them at +their labours. + +Messengers came and went in numbers, and from all +parts of Wessex King Alfred received news of the joy which +his people felt at the tidings that he was again about to raise +his standard, and of the readiness of all to obey his summons. +So well was the secret kept that no rumour of the +storm about to burst upon them reached the Danes. The +people, rejoicing and eager as they were, suffered no evidence +of their feelings to be apparent to their cruel masters, +who, believing the Saxons to be finally crushed, were lulled +into a false security. The king's treasure had been brought +from its hiding-place to Athelney, and Edmund and Egbert +had also handed over their own share of the booty to the +king. The golden cups and goblets he had refused to take, +but had gladly accepted the silver. + +Edmund and Egbert had left Athelney for a few days on +a mission. The king had described to them minutely where +he had hidden the sacred standard with the Golden Dragon. +It was in the hut of a charcoal-burner in the heart of the +forests of Wiltshire. Upon reaching the hut, and showing to +the man the king's signet-ring, which when leaving the +standard he had told him would be the signal that any who might +come for it were sent by him, the man produced the standard +from the thatch of his cottage, in which it was deeply +buried, and hearing that it was again to be unfurled called +his two stalwart sons from their work and at once set out +with Edmund and Egbert to join the army. + +Easter came and went, but the preparations were not +yet completed. A vast supply of arms was needed, and while +the smiths laboured at their work Edmund and Egbert drilled +the fighting men who had assembled, in the tactics which +had on a small scale proved so effective. The wedge shape +was retained, and Edmund's own band claimed the honour +of forming the apex, but it had now swollen until it contained +a thousand men, and as it moved in a solid body, with its +thick edge of spears outward, the king felt confident that it +would be able to break through the strongest line of the Danes. + +From morning till night Edmund and Egbert, assisted +by the thanes of Somerset who had gathered there, drilled +the men and taught them to rally rapidly from scattered order +into solid formation. Unaccustomed to regular tactics +the ease and rapidity with which these movements came to +be carried out at the notes of Edmund's bugle seemed to all +to be little less than miraculous, and they awaited with +confidence and eagerness their meeting with the Danes on the +field. + +At the end of April messengers were sent out bidding +the Saxons hold themselves in readiness, and on the 6th of +May Alfred moved with his force from Athelney to Egbertesstan +(now called Brixton), lying to the east of the forest of +Selwood, which lay between Devonshire and Somerset. The +Golden Dragon had been unfurled. On the fort in Athelney, +and after crossing the marshes to the mainland it was carried +in the centre of the phalanx. + +On the 12th they reached the appointed place, where +they found a great multitude of Saxons already gathered. +They had poured in from Devonshire, Somerset, and +Wiltshire, from Dorset and Hants. In spite of the vigorous +edicts of the Danes against arms a great proportion of them +bore weapons, which had been buried in the earth, or concealed +in hollow trees or other hiding-places until the time +for action should again arrive. + +As they saw the king approaching at the head of his +band, with the Golden Dragon fluttering in the breeze, a +great shout of joy arose from the multitude, and they crowded +round the monarch with shouts of welcome at his reappearance +among them, and with vows to die rather than again to +yield to the tyranny of the Northmen. The rest of the day +was spent in distributing the newly fashioned arms to those +who needed them, and in arranging the men in bands under +their own thanes, or, in their absence, such leaders as the +king appointed. + +Upon the following morning the army started, marching +in a north-easterly direction against the great camp of +the Danes at Chippenham. That night they rested at Okeley, +and then marched on until in the afternoon they came within +sight of the Danes gathered at Ethandune, a place supposed +to be identical with Edington near Westbury. + +As the time for Alfred's reappearance approached the +agitation and movement on the part of the people had +attracted the attention of the Danes, and the news of his +summons to the Saxons to meet him at Egbertesstan having come +to their ears, they gathered hastily from all parts under +Guthorn their king, who was by far the most powerful viking +who had yet appeared in England, and who ruled East Anglia +as well as Wessex. Confident of victory the great Danish +army beheld the approach of the Saxons. Long accustomed +to success, and superior in numbers, they regarded with +something like contempt the approach of their foes. + +In the centre Alfred placed the trained phalanx which +had accompanied him from Athelney, in the centre of which +waved the Golden Dragon, by whose side he placed himself. +Its command he left in the hands of Edmund, he himself +directing the general movements of the force. On his right +were the men of Somerset and Hants; on the left those of +Wilts, Dorset, and Devon. + +His orders were that the advance was to be made with +regularity; that the whole line were to fight for a while on +the defensive, resisting the onslaught of the Danes until he +gave the word for the central phalanx to advance and burst +through the lines of the enemy, and that when these had been +thrown into confusion by this attack the flanks were to charge +forward and complete the rout. This plan was carried out. The +Danes advanced with their usual impetuosity, and for hours +tried to break through the lines of the Saxon spears. Both +sides fought valiantly, the Danes inspired by their pride in +their personal prowess and their contempt for the Saxons; +the Saxons by their hatred for their oppressors, and their +determination to die rather than again submit to their bondage. +At length, after the battle had raged some hours, and +both parties were becoming wearied from their exertions, +the king gave Edmund the order. + +Hitherto his men had fought in line with the rest; but at +the sound of his bugle they quitted their places, and, ere the +Danes could understand the meaning of this sudden movement, +had formed themselves into their wedge, raised a mighty +shout, and advanced against the enemy. The onslaught was +irresistible. The great wedge, with its thick fringe of spears, +burst its way straight through the Danish centre carrying all +before it. Then at another note of Edmund's bugle it broke +up into two bodies, which moved solidly to the right and left, +crumpling up the Danish lines. + +Alfred now gave the order for a general advance, and +the Saxon ranks, with a shout of triumph, flung themselves +upon the disordered Danes. Their success was instant and +complete. Confounded at the sudden break up of their line, +bewildered by these new and formidable tactics, attacked in +front and in flank, the Danes broke and fled. The Saxons +pursued them hotly, Edmund keeping his men well together +in case the Danes should rally. Their rout, however, was too +complete; vast numbers were slain, and the remnant of their +army did not pause until they found themselves within the +shelter of their camp at Chippenham. + +No quarter was given by the Saxons to those who fell +into their hands, and pressing upon the heels of the flying +Danes the victorious army of King Alfred sat down before +Chippenham. Every hour brought fresh reinforcements to +the king's standard. Many were already on their way when +the battle was fought; and as the news of the victory spread +rapidly every man of the West Saxons capable of bearing arms +made for Chippenham, feeling that now or never must a complete +victory over the Danes be obtained. + +No assault was made upon the Danish camp. Confident in his +now vastly superior numbers, and in the enthusiasm which +reigned in his army, Alfred was unwilling to waste +a single life in an attack upon the entrenchments, which must +ere long surrender from famine. There was no risk of +reinforcements arriving to relieve the Danes. Guthorn had led +to the battle the whole fighting force of the Danes in Wessex +and East Anglia. This was far smaller than it would have +been a year earlier; but the Northmen, having once completed +their work of pillage, soon turned to fresh fields of +adventure. Those whose disposition led them to prefer a +quiet life had settled upon the land from which they had +dispossessed the Saxons; but the principal bands of rovers, +finding that England was exhausted and that no more plunder +could be had, had either gone back to enjoy at home the +booty they had gained, or had sailed to harry the shores of +France, Spain, and Italy. + +Thus the position of the Danes in Chippenham was +desperate, and at the end of fourteen days, by which time +they were reduced to an extremity by hunger, they sent +messengers into the royal camp offering their submission. They +promised if spared to quit the kingdom with all speed, and +to observe this contract more faithfully than those which they +had hitherto made and broken. They offered the king as +many hostages as he might wish to take for the fulfilment of +their promises. The haggard and emaciated condition of +those who came out to treat moved Alfred to pity. + +So weakened were they by famine that they could scarce +drag themselves along. It would have been easy for the Saxons +to have slain them to the last man; and the majority of +the Saxons, smarting under the memory of the cruel oppression +which they had suffered, the destruction of home and +property, and the slaughter of friends and relations, would +fain have exterminated their foes. King Alfred, however, +thought otherwise. + +Guthorn and the Danes had effected a firm settlement +in East Anglia, and lived at amity with the Saxons there. They +had, it is true, wrested from them the greatest portion of +their lands. Still peace and order were now established. The +Saxons were allowed liberty and equal rights. Intermarriages +were taking place, and the two peoples were becoming welded +into one. Alfred then considered that it would be well to +have the king of this country as an ally; he and his settled +people would soon be as hostile to further incursions of the +Northmen as were the Saxons themselves, and their interests +and those of Wessex would be identical. + +Did he, on the other hand, carry out a general massacre +of the Danes now in his power he might have brought upon +England a fresh invasion of Northmen, who, next to plunder, +loved revenge, and who might come over in great hosts +to avenge the slaughter of their countrymen. Moved, then, +by motives of policy as well as by compassion, he granted the +terms they asked, and hostages having been sent in from the +camp he ordered provisions to be supplied to the Danes. + +The same night a messenger of rank came in from +Guthorn saying that he intended to embrace Christianity. +The news filled Alfred and the Saxons with joy. The king, a +sincere and devoted Christian, had fought as much for his +religion as for his kingdom, and his joy at the prospect of +Guthorn's conversion, which would as a matter of course be +followed by that of his subjects, was deep and sincere. + +To the Saxons generally the temporal consequence of +the conversion had no doubt greater weight than the spiritual. +The conversion of Guthorn and the Danes would be a +pledge far more binding than any oaths of alliance between +the two kingdoms. Guthorn and his followers would be +viewed with hostility by their countrymen, whose hatred of +Christianity was intense, and East Anglia would, therefore, +naturally seek the close alliance and assistance of its +Christian neighbour. + +Great were the rejoicings in the Saxon camp that night. +Seldom, indeed, has a victory had so great and decisive an +effect upon the future of a nation as that of Ethandune. Had +the Saxons been crushed, the domination of the Danes in +England would have been finally settled. Christianity would +have been stamped out, and with it civilization, and the +island would have made a backward step into paganism and +barbarism which might have delayed her progress for centuries. + +The victory established the freedom of Wessex, converted +East Anglia into a settled and Christian country, and +enabled King Alfred to frame the wise laws and statutes and +to establish on a firm basis the institutions which raised Saxon +England vastly in the scale of civilization, and have in no +small degree affected the whole course of life of the English +people. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII: FOUR YEARS OF PEACE + + + +Seven weeks afterwards Guthorn, accompanied by thirty +of his noblest warriors, entered Alfred's camp, which was +pitched at Aller, a place not far from Athelney. +An altar was erected and a solemn service performed, +and Guthorn and his companions were all baptized, Alfred +himself becoming sponsor for Guthorn, whose name +was changed to Athelstan. The Danes remained for twelve +days in the Saxon camp. For the first eight they wore, in +accordance with the custom of the times, the chrismal, a white +linen cloth put on the head when the rite of baptism was +performed; on the eighth day the solemn ceremony known +as the chrism, the loosing or removal of the cloths, took place +at Wedmore. This was performed by the Ealdorman +Ethelnoth. + +During these twelve days many conferences were held +between Alfred and Athelstan as to the future of the two +kingdoms. While the Danes were still in the camp a +witenagemot or Saxon parliament was held at Wedmore. At +this Athelstan and many of the nobles and inhabitants of +East Anglia were present, and the boundary of the two kingdoms +was settled. It was to commence at the mouth of the +Thames, to run along the river Lea to its source, and at +Bedford turn to the right along the Ouse as far as Watling +Street. According to this arrangement a considerable portion +of the kingdom of Mercia fell to Alfred's share. + +The treaty comprehended various rules for the conduct +of commerce, and courts were instituted for the trial of +disputes and crimes. The Danes did not at once leave Mercia, +but for a considerable time lay in camp at Cirencester; but all +who refused to become Christians were ordered to depart +beyond the seas, and the Danes gradually withdrew within +their boundary. + +Guthorn's conversion, although no doubt brought about +at the moment by his admiration of the clemency of Alfred, +had probably been for some time projected by him. Mingling +as his people did in East Anglia with the Christian Saxons +there, he must have had opportunities for learning the +nature of their tenets, and of contrasting its mild and +beneficent teaching with the savage worship of the pagan gods. +By far the greater proportion of his people followed their king's +example; but the wilder spirits quitted the country, and under +their renowned leader Hasting sailed to harry the shores +of France. The departure of the more turbulent portion of +his followers rendered it more easy for the Danish king to +carry his plans into effect. + +After the holding of the witan Edmund and Egbert at +once left the army with their followers, and for some months +the young ealdorman devoted himself to the work of restoring +the shattered homes of his people, aiding them with loans +from the plunder he had gained on the seas, Alfred having +at once repaid him the sums which he had lent at Athelney. +As so many of his followers had also brought home money +after their voyage, the work of rebuilding and restoration went +on rapidly, and in a few months the marks left of the ravages +by the Danes had been well-nigh effaced. + +Flocks and herds again grazed in the pastures, herds of +swine roamed in the woods, the fields were cultivated, and +the houses rebuilt. In no part of Wessex was prosperity so +speedily re-established as in the district round Sherborne +governed by Edmund. The Dragon was thoroughly overhauled +and repaired, for none could say how soon fresh fleets of the +Northmen might make their appearance upon the southern +shores of England. It was not long, indeed, before the +Northmen reappeared, a great fleet sailing up the Thames +at the beginning of the winter. It ascended as high as Fulham, +where a great camp was formed. Seeing that the Saxons and +East Anglians would unite against them did they advance +further, the Danes remained quietly in their encampment +during the winter, and in the spring again took ship and sailed +for France. + +For the next two years England enjoyed comparative +quiet, the Danes turning their attention to France and Holland, +sailing up the Maas, Scheldt, Somme, and Seine. Spreading +from these rivers they carried fire and sword over a great +extent of country. The Franks resisted bravely, and in two +pitched battles defeated their invaders with great loss. The +struggle going on across the Channel was watched with great +interest by the Saxons, who at first hoped to see the Danes +completely crushed by the Franks. + +The ease, however, with which the Northmen moved +from point to point in their ships gave them such immense +advantage that their defeats at Hasle and Saucourt in no way +checked their depredations. Appearing suddenly off the +coast, or penetrating into the interior by a river, their hordes +would land, ravage the country, slay all who opposed them, +and carry off the women and children captives, and would +then take to their ships again before the leaders of the Franks +could assemble an army. + +Alfred spent this time of repose in restoring as far as +possible the loss and damage which his kingdom had +suffered. Many wise laws were passed, churches were rebuilt, +and order restored; great numbers of the monks and wealthier +people who had fled to France in the days of the Danish +supremacy now returned to England, which was for the time +freer from danger than the land in which they had sought +refuge; and many Franks from the districts exposed to the +Danish ravages came over and settled in England. + +Gradually the greater part of England acknowledged +the rule of Alfred. The kingdom of Kent was again united to +that of Wessex; while Mercia, which extended across the +centre of England from Anglia to Wales, was governed for Alfred +by Ethelred the Ealdorman, who was the head of the powerful +family of the Hwiccas, and had received the hand of +Alfred's daughter Ethelfleda. He ruled Mercia according to +its own laws and customs, which differed materially from those +of the West Saxons, and which prevented a more perfect union +of the two kingdoms until William the Conqueror welded +the whole country into a single whole. But Ethelred +acknowledged the supremacy of Alfred, consulted him upon all +occasions of importance, and issued all his edicts and orders +in the king's name. He was ably assisted by Werfrith, the Bishop +of Worcester. The energy and activity of these leaders enabled +Mercia to keep abreast of Wessex in the onward progress +which Alfred laboured so indefatigably to promote. + +Edmund, when not occupied with the affairs of his earldom, +spent much of his time with the king, who saw in him a +spirit of intelligence and activity which resembled his own. +Edmund was, however, of a less studious disposition than his +royal master; and though he so far improved his education +as to be able to read and write well, Alfred could not persuade +him to undertake the study of Latin, being, as he said, +well content to master some of the learning of that people by +means of the king's translations. + +At the end of another two years of peace Edmund was +again called upon to take up arms. Although the Danes +attempted no fresh invasion some of their ships hung around +the English coast, capturing vessels, interfering with trade, +and committing other acts of piracy. + +Great complaints were made by the inhabitants of the +seaports to Alfred. The king at once begged Edmund to fit +out the Dragon, and collecting a few other smaller ships he +took his place on Edmund's ship and sailed in search of the +Danes. After some search they came upon the four large +ships of the Northmen which had been a scourge to the coast. + +The Saxons at once engaged them, and a desperate fight +took place. The Dragon was laid alongside the largest of the +Danish vessels; and the king, with Edmund and Egbert by his +side, leapt on to the deck of the Danish vessel, followed by +the crew of the Dragon. The Danish ship was crowded with +men who fought desperately, but the discipline even more +than the courage of Edmund's crew secured for them the +victory. For a time each fought for himself; and although +inspired by the presence of the king they were able to gain +no advantage, being much out-numbered by the Northmen. + +Edmund, seeing this, sounded on his horn the signal +with which in battle he ordered the men to form their wedge. +The signal was instantly obeyed. The Saxons were all fighting +with boarding-pikes against the Northmen's swords and +axes, for they had become used to these weapons and +preferred them to any other. + +The instant Edmund's horn was heard, each man desisted +from fighting and rushed to their leader, around whom +they instantly formed in their accustomed order. The Danes, +astonished at the sudden cessation of the battle, and +understanding nothing of the meaning of the signal or of +the swift movement of the Saxons, for a minute lowered their +weapons in surprise. + +Before they again rushed forward the formation was +complete, and in a close body with levelled spears the Saxons +advanced, Egbert as usual leading the way, with Edmund and +the king in the centre. + +In vain the Danes strove to resist the onset; in spite of +their superior numbers they were driven back step by step +until crowded in a close mass at one end. + +Still the Saxon line of spears pressed on. Many of the +Danes leapt into the sea, others were pushed over or run +through, and in a few minutes not a Northman remained +alive in the captured vessel. + +In the meantime the battle was raging in other parts. +Two of the small vessels were engaged with one of the Danes +at close quarters, while the other ships hung around the +remaining Danish vessels and kept up volleys of arrows and +javelins upon them. + +The Dragon at once went to the assistance of the two +Saxon ships, whose crews were almost overpowered by the +Northmen. Laying the ship alongside, Edmund boarded the +Danes. The Northmen rushed back from the decks of the +Saxon ship to defend their own vessel; and the Saxons, +regaining courage, at once rallied and followed them. The +combat was short but desperate. Attacked on three sides, +the Danes were speedily overcome and were slaughtered to a +man. + +An attack was next made upon the two remaining vessels. +These resisted for some time, but they were overwhelmed +by the missiles from the Saxon flotilla; and the greater +portion of their crews being killed or wounded, their +commanders prayed for mercy, which was granted them by Alfred; +and with the four captured vessels the fleet returned to +England. + +On reaching port Alfred begged Edmund to continue +for a while with the Dragon, to cruise along the coasts and to +stop the depredations of the Danes; and for some weeks the +Dragon kept the seas. She met with considerable success, +capturing many Danish galleys. Some of these contained +rich spoil, which had been gathered in France, for cruising +in the seas off Dover Edmund intercepted many of the Danish +vessels on their homeward way from raids up the Seine, +Garonne, and other French rivers. + +One day in the excitement of a long pursuit of a Danish +galley, which finally succeeded in making her escape, Edmund +had paid less attention than usual to the weather, and, on +giving up the chase as hopeless, perceived that the sky had +become greatly overcast, while the wind was rising rapidly. + +"We are in for a storm from the north, Egbert," he said, +"and we must make for the mouth of the Thames for shelter." + +The sails were lowered, and the Dragon's head turned +west. Before two hours had passed the sea had risen so greatly +that it was no longer possible to row. + +"What had we best do?" Edmund asked the chief of the +sailors. "Think you that we can make Dover and shelter +under the cliffs there?" + +"I fear that we cannot do so," the sailor replied, "for there +are terrible sands and shallows off the Kentish coast between +the mouth of the Thames and Dover, and the wind blows so +strongly that we can do nought but run before it." + +"Then let us do so," Edmund replied; "anything is better +than being tossed at the mercy of the waves." + +A sail was hoisted, and the Dragon flew along before the +wind. The storm increased in fury, and for some hours the +vessel ran before it. She was but a short distance from the +French coast, and as the wind veered round more to the west +her danger became great. + +"I fear we shall be cast ashore," Edmund said to the sailor. + +"Fortunately," the man answered, "we are but a mile or +two from the mouth of the Seine, and there we can run in +and take shelter." + +It was an anxious time until they reached the mouth of +the river, for they were continually drifting nearer and nearer +to the coast. However, they cleared the point in safety, and, +turning her head, ran up the river and soon anchored under +the walls of Havre. As she came to an anchor armed men +were seen crowding the walls. + +"They take us for Danes," Egbert said. "We had best +hoist the Dragon, and they will then know that we are a Saxon +ship." + +Soon after the flag was hoisted the gates of the town +were seen to open, and an officer and some men issued out. +These launched a boat and rowed out to the ship. The officer +mounted to the deck. He was evidently in considerable +fear, but as he saw the Saxons standing about unarmed he +was reassured. "Is this really a Saxon ship," he asked, "as its +flag testifies?" + +"It is so," Edmund replied; "it is my vessel, and I am an +ealdorman of King Alfred. We have been chasing the Danish +pirates, but this storm having arisen, we were blown down +the French coast and forced to seek shelter here." + +"The governor bids you welcome," the officer said, "and +bade me invite you to land." + +"That will I gladly; the more so since my ship has suffered +some damage in the gale, her bulwarks having been +partly shattered; and it will need a stay of a few days here to +repair her for sea. Will you tell the governor that in a short +time I will land with my kinsman Egbert and accept +his hospitality?" + +An hour later Edmund and Egbert landed and were at +once conducted to the governor, who welcomed them cordially. + +They found there many whom they had known at the +court of King Alfred. The wealthier men, the bishops and +thanes, had for the most part journeyed to Paris or to other +towns in the interior to escape the dreaded Northmen; but +there were many detained at Havre from want of funds to +journey farther. + +"It is a sad pity," the governor said as they talked over +the troubled state of Western Europe, "that your English king +and our Frankish monarch did not make common cause +against these sea robbers. They are the enemies of mankind. +Not only do they ravage all our coasts, but they have entered +the Mediterranean, and have plundered and ravaged the +coasts of Provence and Italy, laying towns under ransom, +burning and destroying." + +"I would that I could meet some of their ships on their +way back from Italy," Edmund said. "I warrant that we should +obtain a rare booty, with gems of art such as would delight +King Alfred, but are thrown away on these barbarians; but I +agree with you that 'tis shameful that the coasts of all Europe +should be overrun with these pirates." + +"Yes," the governor replied, "if every country in +Christendom would unite against their common foe, and send +a quota of ships and men, we would drive the Black Raven +from the seas, and might even land on the Danish shores +and give them a taste of the suffering they have inflicted +elsewhere. As it is, all seem paralysed. Local efforts are +made to resist them; but their numbers are too great to be +thus withstood. I wonder that the pope does not call +Christendom to arms against these pagan robbers, who not +only destroy towns and villages, but level to the ground the +holy shrines, and slay the ministers of God on the altars." + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII: THE SIEGE OF PARIS + + + + +On the following morning Edmund, who had returned +to his ship to sleep, was aroused by loud shouts on +deck. Hurrying from his cabin he saw a vast fleet of ships +approaching the mouth of the river. They were of all +sizes--from great sailing ships to rowing galleys. It needed +but a glance at them to assure him that they were the dreaded +ships of the Northmen, for the Black Raven floated at many +of the mast-heads. + +From the town the sounds of horns and great shoutings +could be heard, showing that there too the approaching fleet +had just been discerned as the morning fog lifted from the +sea. Edmund held a hurried consultation with his kinsman. +It was now too late to gain the sea, for the Danish ships had +already reached the mouth of the river. To attempt to escape +by fighting would be madness, and they hesitated only +whether to run the ship ashore, and, leaving her there, enter +the town and share in its defence, or to proceed up the river +with all speed to Rouen, or even to Paris. + +The latter course was decided upon, for the Danish ships +would contain so vast a number of men that there was little +hope that Havre could resist their attack, nor was it likely +that Rouen, which, on the previous year had been captured +and sacked, would even attempt another resistance, which +would only bring massacre and ruin upon its inhabitants. +Paris alone, the capital of the Frankish kings, seemed to +offer a refuge. The deliberation was a short one, and by the +time the men had taken their places at the oars their leaders +had decided upon their course. + +The anchor ropes were cut, for not a moment was to be +lost, the leading ships of the Danes being already less than +half a mile distant. The tide was flowing, and the Dragon +swept rapidly up the river. Some of the Danish galleys +followed for a while, but seeing that the Dragon had the speed +of them, they abandoned the pursuit, and at a more easy +stroke the rowers continued their work until they reached +Rouen. Here the tide failed them, and they moored against +the bank under the walls. + +Edmund and Egbert went on shore. They found the +city in a state of wild confusion. Saying that they had +important news, and must see the governor, they were led to +the council-chamber, where the leading men of the town were +assembled. After stating who he and his companion were, +Edmund announced the arrival of a great Danish fleet at the +mouth of the river. + +"Your news, sir, is terrible for our poor country," the +governor said, "but to us it scarce brings any additional +horror, although it will probably decide the question which we +are engaged in discussing. We have news here that a great +Danish army which landed at Abbeville is marching +hitherward, and we are met to discuss whether the town +should resist to the last or should open its gates at their +approach. This news you bring of the arrival of a fresh army of +these sea robbers at Havre renders our case desperate. So +fierce is their attack that we could hardly hope successfully +to resist the approaching army, but against it and this fleet +you tell us of resistance could only bring about our utter +destruction. That, at least, is my opinion, the other members +of the council must speak for themselves." + +The other members, who were the principal merchants +and traders of the town, were unanimously of the same +opinion. + +"Better," they said, "to give up all our worldly goods to +the Northmen than to be slaughtered pitilessly with our wives +and families." + +"Such being your decision," Edmund said, "my kinsman +and myself will proceed up the river to Paris; hitherto, as we +hear, the Northmen have not ventured to attack that city, +and should they do so, it will doubtless resist to the last." + +Accordingly the two Saxons returned at once to the +Dragon, and as soon as the tide turned unmoored and proceeded +up the river. Three days after leaving Rouen they +arrived in sight of Paris. The capital of the Franks was but a +small city, and was built entirely upon the island situated just +at the confluence of the Seine and Marne. It was surrounded +by a strong and lofty wall. + +On the approach of a vessel differing entirely from anything +they had before seen the citizens flocked to the walls. +The Golden Dragon floating at the mast-head showed them +that the vessel did not belong to the Danes, and some of the +more experienced in these matters said at once that she must +be a Saxon ship. The Count Eudes, who had been left by the +king in command of Paris, himself came to the walls just as +the Dragon came abreast of them. Edmund ordered the rowers +to pause at their work. + +"Who are you?" the Count Eudes shouted. "Whence do +you come and with what intent?" + +"My name is Edmund. I am an ealdorman of King Alfred +of the Saxons. When at sea fighting the Northmen a tempest +blew me down your coast, and I took refuge in the port +of Havre. Four days since at daybreak a vast fleet of Northmen +entered the river. We rowed up to Rouen hoping to be able +to find safe shelter there; but the citizens being aware that a +great army of the sea robbers was marching against their +town, and being further intimidated by the news I brought +them, decided upon surrendering without resistance. Therefore +we have continued our journey hither, being assured that +here at least the Danish wolves would not have their way +unopposed. We have fought them long in our native land, and +wish for nothing better than to aid in the efforts of the Franks +against our common enemy." + +"You are welcome, sir earl," the Count Eudes said, +"though the news you bring us is bad indeed. We have heard +how valiantly the thanes of King Alfred have fought against +the invaders, and shall be glad indeed of your assistance +should the Northmen, as I fear, come hither." + +So saying the count ordered the gates to be opened, +and the Dragon having been moored alongside, Edmund and +Egbert with their crew entered the town, where the leaders +were received with great honour by the count. He begged +them to become guests at the castle, where quarters were +also assigned to the crew. A banquet was at once prepared, +at which many of the principal citizens were present. + +As soon as the demands of hunger were satisfied the +count made further inquiries as to the size of the fleet which +had entered the Seine, and as to the army reported to be +marching against Rouen. + +"I doubt not," he said, when the Saxons had given him +all the particulars in their power, "that it is the armament of +Siegfroi who has already wrought such destruction. More +than once he has appeared before our walls, and has pillaged +and ravaged the whole of the north of France. The last time +he was here he threatened to return with a force which would +suffice to raze Paris to the ground, and doubtless he is coming +to endeavour to carry out his threat; but he will not find +the task an easy one, we shall resist him to the last; and right +glad am I that I shall have the assistance of two of the Saxon +thanes who have so often inflicted heavy defeats upon these +wolves of the sea. Your vessel is a strange one, and differs +from those that I have hitherto seen, either Dane or Saxon. +She is a sailing ship, and yet appears to row very fast." + +"She is built," Edmund said, "partly upon the design of +King Alfred himself, which were made from paintings he +possessed of the war galleys of Italy, which country he visited +in his youth. They were carried out by a clever shipwright of +Exeter; and, indeed, the ship sails as well as she rows, and, as +the Danes have discovered to their cost, is able to fight as +well as she can sail and row. Had we been fairly out to sea +before the Danish fleet made its appearance we could have +given a good account of ourselves, but we were caught in a +trap." + +"I fear that if the Northmen surround the city your ship +will be destroyed." + +"I was thinking of that," Edmund said, "and I pray you +to let me have some men who know the river higher up. There +must assuredly be low shores often overflowed where there +are wide swamps covered with wood and thickets, which the +enemy would not enter, seeing that no booty could be obtained +there. The ship was built in such a spot, and we could +cut a narrow gap from the river and float her well in among +the trees so as to be hidden from the sight of any passing up +the river in galleys, closing up the cut again so that none +might suspect its existence." + +"That could be done easily enough," the count said; +"there are plenty of spots which would be suitable, for the +banks are for the most part low and the ground around +swampy and wooded. To-morrow I will tell off a strong body +of men to accompany you in your ship, and aid your crew in +their work." + +Twenty miles up the Seine a suitable spot was found, +and the crew of the Dragon, with the hundred men whom the +Count Eudes had lent for the purpose, at once set about their +work. They had but little trouble, for a spot was chosen where +a sluggish stream, some fifteen feet wide, drained the water +from a wide-spreading swamp into the river. The channel +needed widening but a little to allow of the Dragon entering, +and the water was quite deep enough to permit her being +taken some three hundred yards back from the river. + +The trees and underwood were thick, and Edmund was +assured that even when winter, which was now approaching, +stripped the last leaf from the trees, the Dragon could not be +seen from the river. Her masts were lowered, and bundles of +brushwood were hung along her side so as to prevent the +gleam of black paint being discerned through the trees. + +The entrance to the stream was filled up to a width of +three or four feet, and the new work turfed with coarse grass +similar to that which grew beside it. Bushes were planted +close to the water's edge, and stakes were driven down in the +narrow channel to within a few inches of the surface of the +water. + +Certain now that no Danish boats would be likely to +turn aside from the river to enter this channel into the swamp, +the party embarked in some boats which had been towed up +by the Dragon and returned down the river to Paris. + +The afternoon before starting all the valuable booty +which had been captured from the Danes was landed and +placed in security in the castle, and upon his return to Paris +Edmund disposed of this at good prices to the traders of the +city. + +A fortnight after they had returned to Paris the news +was brought in that a vast fleet of Northmen was ascending +the river. The next morning it was close at hand, and the +citizens mounting the walls beheld with consternation the +approaching armament. So numerous were the ships that +they completely covered the river. The fleet consisted of +seven hundred sailing ships, and a vastly greater number of +rowing galleys and boats. These vessels were crowded with +men, and their fierce aspect, their glittering arms, and their +lofty stature, spread terror in the hearts of the citizens. + +"This is truly a tremendous host!" the Count Eudes said +to Edmund, who stood beside him on the walls. + +"It is indeed," Edmund replied. "Numerous as are the +fleets which have poured down upon the shores of England, +methinks that none approached this in strength. It is clear +that the Northmen have united their forces for a great effort +against this city; but having at home successfully defended +fortifications, which were not to be named in comparison +with those of Paris, against them, I see no reason to doubt +that we shall be able to beat them off here." + +The Danes landed on the opposite bank and formed a +vast camp there, and the following morning three of their +number in a small boat rowed across the river and said that +their king Siegfroi desired to speak with Goslin, archbishop +of Paris, who stood in the position of civil governor. They +were told that the archbishop would receive the king in his +palace. + +An hour later a stately figure in glittering armour was +seen to take his place in a long galley, which, rowed by twenty +men, quickly shot across the stream. Siegfroi landed, and, +accompanied by four of his leading warriors, entered the +gates, which were opened at his approach. The chief of the +Northmen was a warrior of lofty stature. On his head he +wore a helmet of gold, on whose crest was a raven with extended +wings wrought in the same metal. His hair fell loosely +on his neck; his face was clean shaved in Danish fashion, save +for a long moustache. He wore a breastplate of golden scales, +and carried a shield of the toughest bull's-hide studded with +gold nails. + +He was unarmed, save a long dagger which he wore in +his belt. He and his followers, who were all men of immense +stature, walked with a proud and assured air between the +lines of citizens who clustered thickly on each side of the +street, and who gazed in silence at these dreaded figures. +They were escorted by the chamberlain of the archbishop, +and on arriving at his palace were conducted into the chamber +where Goslin, Count Eudes, and several of the leading +persons of Paris awaited them. + +Siegfroi bent his head before the prelate. + +"Goslin," he said, "I beg you to have compassion upon +yourself and your flock if you do not wish to perish. We +beseech you to turn a favourable ear to our words. Grant +only that we shall march through the city. We will touch +nothing in the town, and we undertake to preserve all your +property, both yours and that of Eudes." + +The archbishop replied at once: + +"This city has been confided to us by the Emperor +Charles, who is, after God, the king and master of the powers +of the earth. Holding under his rule almost all the world, +he confided it to us, with the assurance that we should suffer +no harm to come to the kingdom, but should keep it for him +safe and sure. If it had happened that the defence of these +walls had been committed to your hands, as it has been +committed to mine, what would you have done had such a +demand been made upon you? Would you have granted the +demand?" + +"If I had granted it," Siegfroi replied, "may my head fall +under the axe and serve as food for dogs. Nevertheless, if +you do not grant our demands, by day we will overwhelm +your city with our darts, and with poisoned arrows by night. +You shall suffer all the horrors of hunger, and year after year +we will return and make a ruin of your city." + +Without another word he turned, and followed by his +companions, strode through the streets of Paris, and taking +his place in the boat returned to his camp. + +At daybreak the next morning the Norsemen were seen +crowding into their ships. The trumpets sounded loudly, and +the citizens seized their arms and hastened to the walls. The +Norsemen crossed the river, and directed their attack against +a tower which stood at the head of the bridge connecting the +city and island with the farther bank. Those who landed +were provided with picks, crowbars, and other implements +for effecting a breach, and their approach was protected by a +cloud of arrows and javelins from the fleet which covered +the surface of the river. + +The French leaders soon assembled at the threatened +point. Chief among these were Eudes, his brother Robert, +the Count Ragenaire, and the Abbe Ebble, a nephew of the +archbishop. The Franks bore themselves bravely, and in spite +of the rain of arrows defended the walls against the desperate +attacks of the Northmen. + +The fortifications in those days were very far from having +attained the strength and solidity which a few generations +later were bestowed upon them. The stones of which +they were constructed were comparatively small, and fastened +together by mortar, consequently they could ill resist even an +assault by manual weapons. Covered by their shields the +Northmen worked untiringly at the foundations, and piece +by piece the walls crumbled to the ground. Every effort, +however, to enter at the breaches so made was repulsed, and +Siegfroi kept back his warriors, determined to delay the grand +assault until the next day. By nightfall the tower was in ruins, +scarce a portion of the walls remaining erect. Many of the +besieged had been killed. The archbishop was wounded with +an arrow. Frederic, a young soldier who led the troops of the +church was killed. + +The besiegers had suffered much more severely, great +numbers having been killed by the stones and missiles hurled +down by the defenders while engaged in the demolition of +the walls. At nightfall the Danes carried off their wounded +and recrossed the river, confident that next day they would +succeed in their assault. As soon as darkness had set in Count +Eudes collected the citizens, and these, bearing beams and +planks, crossed the bridge to the tower, and set to work. +Outside the circle of ruins holes were dug and the beams +securely fixed. Planks were nailed to these, and earth heaped +up behind them. + +All night the work continued, and by morning a fortification +much higher than the original tower had been erected +all round the ruin. The Danes again crossed the river in +their ships, and the assault was renewed. Javelins and great +stones were hurled at the fortification, and clouds of arrows +from the shipping fell within them. Covered with portable +roofs constructed of planks the Danes strove to destroy the +wall. The besieged poured upon them a blazing mixture of +oil, wax, and pitch. Numbers of the Danes were burned to +death, while others, maddened by the pain, threw themselves +into the river. + +Over and over again Siegfroi led his warriors to the attack, +but the defenders, headed by Eudes and the brave Abbe Ebble, +each time repelled them. The abbe particularly distinguished +himself, and he is reported to have slain seven +Danes at once with one javelin, a blow which may be considered +as bordering on the miraculous. But the number of the +defenders of the tower was small indeed to that of the enemy, +and the loss which they inflicted upon the Danes, great +as it was, was as nothing in so vast a host. + +The flames of the machines, lighted by the pitch and +oil, communicated to the planks of the fortification, and soon +these too were on fire. As they burned, the earth behind +them gave way, and a breach was formed. Encouraged by +this result the Danes brought up faggots, and in several places +lighted great fires against the fortifications. The defenders +began to lose all hope, when a tremendous storm of rain +suddenly burst over Paris quenching the fire. + +The besieged gained heart, reinforcements crossed from +the town, and the Danes again withdrew to their ships, having +lost in the day's fighting three hundred men. After this +repulse the Northmen desisted for a time from their attack. +They formed a strong fortified camp near the church of St. +Germain, and then spread over the country slaying and burning, +sparing none, man, woman, or child. From the walls of +Paris the smoke could be seen rising over the whole country, +and every heart was moved with rage and sorrow. + +Edmund and his party had taken no part in the defence +of the tower. Its loss would not have involved that of the +town, and Eudes requested him to keep his band in reserve +in order that they might remain intact until the Danes should +make a breach in the walls of the city itself, when the sudden +reinforcement of a party of such well-trained warriors might +decide the result. + +While a portion of the Danish host were engaged upon +the work of devastation, a large number were employed upon +the construction of three great towers. These were built on +wheels, and were each large enough to hold sixty men. They +far overtopped the walls, and the citizens viewed with alarm +the time when an assault should be delivered under the protection +of these formidable machines. Eighteen ships of equal +size were moored by the bank six deep. Great planks were +laid across them, and a sloping platform having been formed, +the towers were by the efforts of thousands of men moved up +and placed on the ships. + +"If we do not destroy those towers, Egbert," Edmund +said one day as he saw them slowly moving into their position +on board the ships, "all is lost, for from their summits +the Northmen with their bows and javelins will be able to +clear the walls, while those below effect a breach at their +leisure." + +"That is true enough, Edmund, but I do not see any way +to destroy them. Unfortunately we have no boats, or we might +fill some of them with combustibles, and tow them down +until near enough for the stream to carry them upon those +vessels; but even then the chance were small indeed, for the +Danes would swarm out in their boats and manage to tow or +push them so that they would not touch the ships." + +"I should think, Egbert, that if we could get some skins +or planks we and our band might, when it is quite dark, sally +out and take to the water at the lower end of the island and +float down quietly for a mile or two, and then gain the further +bank; then we might march along quietly until we reach +those ships. The Danes know that we have no boats, and will +not fear an attack. We must not do it until an hour or two +before morning, when, after spending the early hours of the +night as usual in feasting and drinking, they will sleep heavily. +Just before we are ready to begin a small party can unmoor +two or three of the boats by the bank and push them out, +one to the outside of each tier of six vessels, so that we may +have a means of retreat across the river. When that is done +we will make a rush on board the ships, cut down any Danes +we may find there, and set fire to all the vessels. We must +hold the gangways to the shore until the flames get well alight, +and then take to the boats and return." + +"I think the plan is a good one, Edmund, and may well +be carried out without great loss. There are plenty of empty +wine skins at present in Paris. I will at once set about collecting +a hundred of them. We will fasten to each a stout cord so +as to form a loop to go over the head and shoulders, then we +had best attach them all together by one long cord, by which +means we shall float in a body." + +"Fortunately the night is very dark and I think that we +shall succeed. Say nothing about it, Egbert, and tell the men +to keep silent. The good people of Paris shall know nothing +of the matter until they see the flames dancing round the +towers which they hold in so much dread." + +The Saxons received with satisfaction the news of the +intended expedition. They had been disappointed at being +kept back from taking any part in the fighting during the +two days' attack upon the tower, and longed for an opportunity +to inflict a blow upon their hated enemy the Danes. The +wine skins were fitted up with ropes as Egbert had suggested, +and soon after nightfall the party, armed with spear and +sword, and carrying each his float, sallied out from the gates, +as Edmund was by this time so well known among the citizens +that the gate was opened without demur on his order. + +They crept along the foot of the wall until they reached +the lower extremity of the island. Across the river innumerable +fires blazed high, and the songs and shouts of the Danes +rose loud in the air. Numbers of figures could be seen moving +about or standing near the fires, the tents of the chiefs +were visible some distance back, but the number of these as +well as of the fires was much less than it had been on the first +arrival of the Northmen, owing to the numbers who had gone +to the camp round St. Germain. + +The night was very dark and a light rain was falling. +Before taking to the water Edmund bade his men strip off +the greater portion of their clothes and fasten them in a +bundle on their heads, as it would be some time after they +landed before they could advance upon the camp, and the +cold and dripping garments would tend to lessen their spirits +and courage. + +When all was ready they stepped into the water, and +keeping in a body, drifted down the stream. The wine skins +floated them well above the water, the stream was running +strong, and the lights of the Danish fires were soon left +behind. + +In half an hour Edmund and Egbert deemed that they +were now far beyond a point where they might chance upon +any Danish stragglers. The word was therefore given, and all +made for the bank. The stream had already drifted them in +that direction, and they soon reached the shore. Here the +skins which had proved so useful were left behind, and putting +on their dry clothes, they felt comparatively comfortable. +Edmund ordered them to lay down their spears and swords +by their sides, and to swing their arms violently. This +they continued to do until they were nearly breathless, by +which time the blood was coursing warmly in their veins. + +They were now in December, and the water was extremely cold, +and Egbert congratulated Edmund upon having made the men strip, +for had they been compelled to remain in their wet garments +while waiting for the Danish fires to die down, they would +scarce have been in a fit state to fight when the moment +for so doing had arrived. + +Three hours elapsed before the glare of the distant fires +began to subside, another half hour passed, and then the +band were formed up and moved along on the bank of the +river. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV: THE REPULSE OF THE NORTHMEN + + + +When within half a mile of the Danish camp Edmund and Egbert +left the band and advanced alone. They were pretty confident +that they should find but few of the Danes near the bank +of the river, for the arrows from the walls of Paris carried +some distance beyond it, and the Northmen consequently encamped +some hundred yards away. They had to pick their way carefully, +for the ships were moored along the bank, their ropes being +fastened to great stakes driven into the ground. + +There were lights on board the vessels, many of the crews +remaining on board. They made their way along until they +reached the spot they aimed at. Here lay the three sets of +vessels, each six deep; their masts had been removed, and +the great towers rose high into the darkness above the +platforms extending over their decks. + +The planks forming the gangways up which the towers +had been moved had been taken away, save one which gave +access to each tier, and Edmund doubted not that it was +intended that they should the next morning move across the +river in tow of the numerous row-boats. The two Saxons did +not attempt to go on board, as they had now found out all +they wanted, and might mar all by disturbing some sleeper +upon the platform. They accordingly returned to the spot +where the band were awaiting them. + +"I propose, Egbert," Edmund said, "that as we go along +we cut the mooring-ropes of all the vessels. We must do it +quietly so as not to excite any alarm, and they will know nothing +of it until they find themselves drifting down the river in +a mass. Then there will be great jostling and carrying away +of bowsprits and bulwarks, and the confusion and shouting +which will arise will tend to confuse the Danes and to distract +their attention from us." + +Egbert agreed to the proposal, and as soon as they +reached the first ships the Saxons began their work, sawing +with their knives and daggers through the ropes. The vessels +lay four or five deep and there were many cables to cut, but +the keen knives of the Saxons made short work of these. +Before beginning their work they had spread along the bank, +leaving only two men abreast of each ship, so that in the +course of two or three minutes the cables for the length of +forty ships were severed, and these and their consorts beyond +them began to drift out into the stream. + +The Saxons ran quickly on ahead and repeated the work +until the whole of the vessels below those forming the platform +for the towers were adrift in the stream; but by this time +those in the ships at the lower end of the tiers had taken the +alarm, and shouts of wonder and anger rose on the air. The +nine Saxons told off for the purpose leaped into three small +boats and rowed out into the stream, while the rest of the +band, divided into three parties, dashed across the planks on +to the platforms. The Danes here had already been alarmed +by the uproar from the vessels adrift, and although unable to +see what was passing judged that something was wrong, and +had called to their comrades sleeping in the holds to come +up. + +Some of these bearing torches came up on deck just as +the Saxons, pouring across the planks which connected the +ships with the shore, fell upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, +the Danes could offer no effective resistance. The Saxons, +charging with levelled spears, drove those above headlong +into the water; then, having made themselves masters +of the platforms, they dashed below and despatched the Danes +they found there. The torches were now applied to the contents +of the holds. These were for the most part crammed +with the booty which the Norsemen had gained at Havre, +Rouen, and other places, and the flames speedily shot up. +By this time the Danes in the camp, alarmed by the shouting +from the drifting ships and the sounds of conflict from the +towers, came flocking down in haste. The planks had already +been thrown overboard. The Danes strove by pulling +at the ropes to haul the vessels nearer to land. Some ran +towards their ships, others jumped into boats, and pushing +out to the platforms strove to get on board them; but by this +time the flames were rising high through the hatchways. +According to previous agreement Edmund and the leaders +of the other two parties, seeing that the flames had now firm +hold, cut the ropes which fastened them to the bank, and as +soon as the stream began to swing them out leaped into the +boats and rowed for the opposite shore. + +The uproar was now tremendous; and shouts of rage +rose from the Northmen, who were amazed and puzzled by +the appearance of the Saxons, whose attire differed but +slightly from their own; and the general belief among them +was that this sudden alarm was the result of treachery among +themselves. There was no time to waste in conjecture; the +three groups of ships were now masses of flame, in the midst +of which the lofty towers rose high. The shouts of the sailors +in the vessels crowded together in helpless confusion in the +stream below rose higher and higher as the blazing vessels +drifted down and threatened to overtake them. + +Some tried to hoist their sails; others got out long oars +and strove to sweep their vessels towards the shore, but they +were huddled too closely in the stream; the yards and rigging +of many having become interlocked with each other. The +Northmen leaped into the rowing boats by the bank above +where the tower-ships had been moored, and rowing down +endeavoured to tow them to the bank; but they were now in a +blaze from end to end, the heat was so great that it was difficult +to approach them, and all endeavours to fasten ropes to +them were frustrated, as these were instantly consumed. The +Northmen, finding their efforts unavailing, then turned their +attention to trying to tow the ships below to the banks. + +In some cases they were successful. A few of the vessels +also at the lower end of the mass succeeded in getting up +their sails and drawing out from their fellows, for the wind +was blowing down stream. This, however, proved the destruction +of the rest of the ships, for the great towers rising +amid the lofty pillars of flames acted as sails and bore the +fire-ships down upon the helpless crowd of vessels. + +Soon they reached those nearest to them, and the flames, +borne forward by the wind, sprang from vessel to vessel. +There was no longer any hope of saving a single ship; and +the crews, climbing hastily across from one to the other till +they reached those nearest to the shore, leaped overboard. +Although now more than half a mile below the city the flames +lit up the walls with a bright glare, and the shouts of the +exulting Franks rose loud and continuous. + +The sudden shouting which had broken out among the +Danes had alarmed the watchmen, who, ignorant of the cause, +called the citizens to arms, and these on reaching the walls +had stood astonished at the spectacle. The flames were already +rising from the three groups of ships which they had +regarded with so much anxiety on the previous evening, and +by the light they could see the river below covered with a +mass of drifting vessels. Then they saw the tower-ships float +away from the bank, and the figures on their decks leap into +three small boats, which at once rowed with all speed across +the river. + +That they were friends who had wrought this destruction +was certain, and Count Eudes threw open the gate, and +with the Abbe Ebble ran down to meet them. They were +astonished when Edmund with his Saxons leaped to land. + +"What miracle is this?" the count exclaimed. + +"A simple matter, Sir Count," Edmund answered. "My +kinsman and I, seeing that the townspeople were troubled by +yonder towers, determined to destroy them. We have succeeded +in doing so, and with them I trust fully half of the +Danish fleet will perish." + +"You are the saviour of our town, my brave young Saxon," +Count Eudes cried, embracing him. "If Paris is saved it will +be thanks to the valiant deed that you have accomplished +this night. But let us to the walls again, where we may the +better see whether the Danes can remove their ships from +those great furnaces which are bearing down upon them." + +The sight from the walls, when the fire-ships reached +the fleet and the flames spread, was grand in the extreme, +for in half an hour nigh three hundred vessels were in flames. +For some time the three towers rose like pillars of fire above +the burning mass; then one by one they fell with a crash, +which could be plainly heard, although they were now near a +mile away. + +Paris was wild with joy at the destruction of the towers +which had menaced it, and the conflagration of nigh half +the Danish fleet, laden with the spoil of northern France. +Edmund and his Saxons were conducted in triumph by a +shouting crowd to the palace of the archbishop, where Goslin, +in the name of the city, returned them the heartiest thanks +for the services which they had rendered. The wealthy citizens +vied with each other in bestowing costly presents upon +them, bonfires were lighted in the streets, and till morning +the town gave itself up to revelry and rejoicing. + +A month elapsed before the Danes recovered from the +blow which had been dealt them and resumed the assault. +Part of this time had been spent in manufacturing great +shields of bull's hide. These were strongly constructed, and +were each capable of covering six men. On the 29th of January +their preparations were complete, and at daybreak the +warders on the wall saw them pouring down into their ships +and galleys. As the fleet crossed the river its aspect was +singular. The decks were covered by the black shields, above +which appeared a forest of spears, sparkling in the morning +sunlight. As they reached the shore the Northmen sprang to +land, while from the decks of the vessels a storm of missiles +flew towards the walls. Vast numbers of catapults, which +they had manufactured since their last attack, hurled masses +of stone, heavy javelins, and leaden bullets, while thousands +of arrows darkened the air. + +The bells of the church sounded the alarm, which called +every citizen capable of bearing arms to the walls. The +archbishop took his place at the spot most threatened by the +enemy, with his nephew, the valiant abbe, by his side. The +Counts Eudes, Robert, Ragenaire, Utton, and Herilang stood +foremost among the defenders. + +The Saxons, as before, were held in reserve, but to +Edmund and Egbert had been assigned, at their urgent request, +the command of the defence of the tower. It was against +this point that the Danes again made their most desperate +effort. Their main body advanced against it, and smaller +parties attacked the city at other points, while the rowing +galleys, divided into two bodies, strove to destroy the bridge, +and so isolate the defenders of the post. + +Around the tower the combat was desperate. The assailants +were well-nigh hidden under their great bucklers. +Their shouts, and the constant clashing of arms which they +maintained, made a terrific uproar; a storm of missiles from +the fleet poured upon the tower, while from the crevices +between the shields the bowmen shot incessantly at the defenders. +The very number of the Danes hindered their attack, for the +tower was so small that comparatively few could approach at once. + +It had been greatly strengthened since the last assault, +and through the loopholes in the walls the archers did their +best to answer the storm of missiles poured into the fort. +Edmund and Egbert went among them, begging them not to +fire at random, but to choose moments when the movements +of the assailants opened a space in the roof of shields which +covered them. + +Whenever this took place a dozen arrows fell true to the +mark. Some of those bearing the shield would be struck, +and these falling, a gap would be caused through which the +arrows of the defenders flew thickly, causing death and confusion +until the shield could be raised in its place again. +Boiling liquids were poured over those who approached the +walls, and huge stones crushed the shields and their bearers. + +Eudes and his men valiantly defended the wall, and the +Danes in vain strove to scale it. All day long the battle +continued, but at nightfall the tower still remained in the hands +of the defenders, the deep ditch which they had dug round it +having prevented the Danes from working at the wall, as they +had done in the previous assault. + +When darkness came on the Danes did not retire, but +lay down in the positions they occupied, under their shields. +In the morning many ships were seen crossing the river again, +and the defenders saw to their surprise numbers of captives +who had been collected from the surrounding country, troops +of oxen, ship-loads of branches of trees, trusses of hay and +corn, and faggots of vines landed. Their surprise became +horror when they saw the captives and the cattle alike +slaughtered as they landed. Their bodies were brought forward +under cover of the shields and thrown into the moat, in which, +too, were cast the hay, straw, faggots, and trees. + +At the sight of the massacre the archbishop prayed to +the Virgin to give him strength, and drawing a bow to its full +strength, let fly an arrow, which, great as was the distance, +flew true to its mark and struck the executioner full in the +face. This apparent miracle of the Virgin in their favour +re-animated the spirit of the defenders; and a solemn service +was instantly held in the church in her honour, and prayers +were offered to her to save Lutece, which was the original +name of Paris, and was still cherished by its inhabitants. + +The Danes were occupied all day at their work of filling +up the moat. The besieged were not idle, but laboured at the +construction of several mangonels capable of casting huge +blocks of stone. In the morning the Danes planted their +battering-rams, one on each side of the tower, and recommenced +the assault. The new machines of the defenders did great +havoc in their ranks, their heavy stones crashing through the +roof of bucklers and crushing those who held them, and for +a time the Norsemen desisted from the attack. + +They now filled three of their largest vessels with +combustibles, and placing them on the windward side of the +bridge, set them alight. The people of Paris beheld with +afright these fire-ships bearing down upon the bridge, and +old and young burst into tears and cries at the view of the +approaching destruction, and, led by the archbishop, all +joined in a prayer to St. Germain, the patron saint of Paris, +to protect the city. The exulting Danes replied to the cries of +those on the walls with triumphant shouts. Thanks, as the +Franks believed, to the interposition of St. Germain, the +fireships struck against the pile of stones from which the beams +supporting the bridge in the centre were raised. Eudes and +his companions leaped down from the bridge and with hatchets +hewed holes in the sides of the ships at the water-line, +and they sank without having effected any damage to the +bridge. + +It was now the turn of the Franks to raise triumphant +shouts, while the Danes, disheartened, fell back from the attack, +and at night recrossed the river, leaving two of their +battering-rams as tokens of the triumph of the besieged. Paris +had now a respite while the Danes again spread over the +surrounding country, many of them ascending the river in their +ships and wasting the country as far as Burgundy. + +The monastery of St. Germain and the church in which +the body of the saint was buried still remained untouched. +The bands of Northmen who had invaded England had never +hesitated to plunder and destroy the churches and shrines of +the Christians, but hitherto some thought of superstition had +kept the followers of Siegfroi from assailing the monastery +of St. Germain. + +One soldier, bolder than the rest, now approached the +church and with his spear broke some of the windows. The +Abbe D'Abbon, an eye-witness and minute historian of the +siege of Paris, states that the impious Dane was at once struck +dead. The same fate befell one of his comrades, who mounted +to the platform at the top of the church and in descending +fell off and was killed. A third who entered the church and +looked round lost his sight for ever. A fourth entering it fell +dead; and a fifth, who, more bold than all, tried to break into +the tomb of the saint, was killed by a stone which fell upon +him. + +One night after a continuance of heavy rain the Seine, +being greatly swollen, swept away the centre of the bridge +connecting the tower with the town. At daybreak the +Northmen, seeing what had taken place, hastened across the +river and attacked the tower. The garrison was but a small +one, no more than twenty men having slept there. For a +time these repulsed every effort of the Danes, but gradually +their numbers were lessened until at last fourteen only remained. +Their names have come down to us. Besides Edmund and Egbert +there were Hermanfroi, Herivee, Herilard, Odoacre, +Herric, Arnold, Sohie, Gerbert, Elvidon, Havderad, Ermard, +and Gossuin. These resisted so valiantly that the Danes, +after losing large numbers in the vain attempt to storm +the walls, brought up a wagonful of grain; this they +rolled forward to the gate of the tower and set it on fire. + +The flames rapidly spread from the gates to the walls, +which were all of wood, and soon the whole were a sheet of +flames. The little band of defenders retreated on to the end +of the bridge, and there, when the flames had sufficiently +abated to allow them to pass, the Northmen attacked them. +Edmund and Egbert were both good swimmers, but this was +an accomplishment which but few of the Franks possessed, +and none of the remnant of the garrison were able to swim. +For a long time the little band repulsed all the efforts of the +Danes, but were gradually driven back foot by foot until they +reached the edge of the chasm. Here they made a last desperate +stand, but were at length cut down or driven over by +sheer weight of numbers. Egbert and Edmund had disencumbered +themselves of all their defensive armour, and at the last +moment, throwing off their helmets and relinquishing +their spears, they plunged into the stream, diving deeply +to avoid the arrows of the Northmen. + +The fact of the river being in flood, which had caused +the destruction of the tower, now proved the cause of their +safety. Had the water been clear, the Danes on the bridge +above could have marked their progress and poured a storm +of arrows upon them as they came to the surface; but its +yellow and turbid waters concealed them from sight, and each +time they rose to the surface for air they were enabled to take +a rapid breath and dive again before their enemies could +direct and launch their arrows at them. + +As they drifted far down the stream, they reached the +land beyond bowshot of the Danes, and they soon entered +the town amid the loud acclamations of the citizens. The +Danes now for the most part drew off from the neighbourhood, +and the Abbe Ebble led out a sortie, which reached +the Danish camp, and driving back those whom they found +within it, set it on fire and effected their retreat to +Paris without loss, in spite of the efforts of the enemy, +who rapidly assembled at the sight of the flames. + +The Danes had brought in from the surrounding country +such vast quantities of cattle, sheep, and goats, that their +camps would not suffice to hold them, and they turned the +church of St. Germain into a stable and crowded it with these +animals. The saint, as the Abbe D'Abbon relates, indignant +at this desecration, sent a terrible plague among the cattle, +and when the Danes in the morning entered the church it +contained nothing but carcasses in the last state of +decomposition. + +The valiant defence of Paris had given time for the rest +of France to arm, and the Danes scattered over the country +now met with a stout resistance. The Northmen were defeated +in their efforts to capture Le Mans, Chartres, and other +towns, and were defeated in several battles near Chartres by +Godefroi and Odon. + +In March Henri advanced with a strong force to the relief +of Paris, and arriving at night attacked the camp of the +Danes, slew great numbers, and captured a vast booty; and +then, having supplied Paris with a considerable amount of +provisions, retired with his band before the Danes had time +to assemble in sufficient strength to oppose him. Shortly +afterwards the Danes expressed the desire of Siegfroi to hold +parley with the Count Eudes. Siegfroi and a number of his +warriors landed, and Eudes left the city and advanced to meet +them. No sooner had he reached them than he was attacked +by the Northmen, but drawing his sword he defended himself +with immense bravery until the garrison ran down to his +succour, and the Danes were driven back to their ship with +loss of nearly half of their party. + +The Danes now left the church of St. Germain L'Auxerrois +and surrounded the monastery of St. Germain des Pres, +but the monks there paid him sixty pounds of pure silver +to leave them in peace. Siegfroi now wished to abandon +the siege which had already cost him so dear, but the +Northmen, furious at their losses, determined upon another +assault. + +"Very well," the king said; "have your way then. Attack +Paris on all sides, hew down its towers, and make breaches in +its walls; for once I will remain a spectator." + +The Danes crossed the river and landed on the island, +but owing to the absence of large numbers on other expeditions, +and the heavy losses which they had suffered, their +numbers were no longer so overwhelming, and Count Eudes +led out his forces to oppose them outside the walls. This +time Edmund headed his band of Saxons, who until now had +only taken part as archers in the defence. + +The combat was a furious one. In spite of the valour of +Eudes and Ebble the Danes pressed hard upon the Franks, +and were driving them back towards the gates when Edmund +led his Saxons, in the close phalanx in which they had so +often met the Danes in the field, to the front. With irresistible +force the wedge burst its way through the ranks of the +Danes, bearing all before it with its wedge of spears. Into the +gap thus formed Eudes and Ebble with their bravest men +threw themselves, and the Danes, severed in two, were driven +back towards their ships. But for some hours the rain had +been falling heavily and the river was rapidly rising and had +already overflowed a portion of the island. Thus the Danes +had great difficulty in getting on board their ships again, +and great numbers were killed in doing so. + +There was no longer any resistance to Siegfroi's wishes. +A parley was held with the city, and a further sum being added +to that contributed by the monks of St. Germain des Pres +the Danes drew off from the town. + +At this time the long confinement of so many men within +the walls had caused a pestilence to break out in Paris. The +Archbishop Goslin, the Bishop Everard of Sens, the Prince +Hugues, and many others died. The 16th of April was the +day on which the Parisians were accustomed to go in solemn +procession to the church of St. Germain. The Northmen, +knowing this, in mockery filled a wagon with grain and organized +a mock procession. The bullocks who drew the chariot +suddenly became lame; numbers of other bullocks were attached, +but although goaded by spears their united efforts +were unable to drag the wagon an inch, and the Danes were +obliged at last to abandon their intention. + +The same day St. Germain is reported to have further +shown his power. One of the Northmen, condemned for +some offence to be executed, fled to the church for refuge, +and was there slain by his countrymen; but all who took part +in the deed at once fell dead. The Northmen, struck by these +miracles, placed a certain number as guard over the church +to prevent any from touching aught that it contained. One +of these men, a Dane of great stature, spread his bed in the +church and slept there; but to the astonishment of his comrades +he was found in the morning to have shrunk to the size +of a new-born infant, at which stature he remained for the +rest of his life. + +A miracle of an opposite kind was at the same time performed +in the town. A valiant warrior had from the effects +of fever fallen into an extreme weakness, and was devoured +with grief at the thought that he should no longer be able to +take share in the defence of the town. To him St. Germain +appeared at night and told him that his prayers had been +heard, and that his strength should be restored to him. On +awakening in the morning he found that he was as vigorous +and as robust as ever. + +Another day when the soldiers were carrying the banner +of the saint round the walls of the town, followed by the +citizens chanting hymns, one of the bearers of the holy relics, +named Gozbert, was struck by a stone from a catapult. +The man who had fired it fell dead, while Gozbert continued +his promenade in no way injured by the blow. The Abbe D'Abbon +vouches for these miracles on the part of St. Germain +in defence of his faithful city. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV: FRIENDS IN TROUBLE + + + +Although for a time the Northmen abstained from grand assaults, +continued skirmishes took place. Sometimes parties landed beneath +the walls, and strove to carry off the cattle which the besieged +turned out to gather a little fresh food there. Sometimes the +citizens, led by Eudes or Ebble, would take boat and cross, and +endeavour to cut off small parties of the enemy. They had +now sufficient boats at their disposal for expeditions of this +kind; for, in their last defeat, the Danes had in their haste +left several boats behind them. Of one of the largest of these +Edmund took possession, and going out in her at night, several +times succeeded in capturing Danish vessels, sometimes +while they were rowing along the river unsuspicious that any +foes were near, sometimes by boarding them as they lay +alongside the bank. + +As the vessels so captured were too large to be dragged +ashore, and could have been easily recaptured by the Danes, +they were, after being emptied of their contents, always +burned. The plague continued its ravages, and the city became +straitened for provisions. Count Eudes therefore determined +to go to King Charles to urge him to hurry to the +succour of the town. Almost all the chiefs of the defence +had fallen victims to the pest, or had been killed in battle +with the Danes, and the count at his departure committed +the defence of the city to the Abbe Ebble and Edmund. He +then crossed the stream at night, and made his way +successfully through the Danes. + +The abbe and Edmund vied with each other in keeping +up the spirits of the garrison with successful little forays +with the Danes, frequently crossing the river to the one bank +or the other, sometimes with parties of only five or six men, +and falling upon similar bodies of the enemy. Several times +they pounced upon small herds of the enemy's cattle, and +driving them into the river, directed them in their boats across +the stream. + +In the commencement of July Eudes appeared on the +slopes on Mont Martre with three battalions of soldiers. The +enemy, who were for the most part on the other side of the +Seine, crossed the river. A desperate battle ensued. A portion +of the garrison crossed in boats to the assistance of their +friends, Edmund leading over his band of Saxons. With these +he fell upon the rear of the Danes engaged in fighting with +the force under the count, and the Northmen, attacked on +both sides, gave way and took to flight. They were hotly +pursued by the Franks. + +The reinforcements entered Paris triumphantly by the +bridge, which had long since been repaired. But the siege +was not yet over. When the news of the victory of Eudes +spread, the Danes again drew together from all parts, and +crossing the river, attacked the city on every side. The +onslaught was more furious than any which had preceded it. +The Danes had provided themselves with large numbers of +mangonels and catapults. Every man capable of bearing arms +was upon the walls; but so furious was the attack, so vast the +number of the assailants, so prodigious were the clouds of +missiles which they rained upon the walls, that the besieged +almost lost heart. + +The relics of St. Genevieve were taken round the walls. +In several places the Danes had formed breaches in the walls, +and although the besieged still struggled, hope had well-nigh +left them, and abject terror reigned in the city. Women ran +about the streets screaming, and crying that the end was at +hand. The church bells tolled dismally, and the shouts of the +exultant Danes rose higher and higher. Again a general cry +rose to St. Germain to come to the aid of the town. Just at +this moment Edmund and Egbert, who had till now held the +Saxons in reserve, feeling that a desperate effort must be +made, formed up their band, and advancing to the principal +breach, passed through the ranks of the disheartened Franks, +and with levelled pikes charged headlong down into the crowd +of Danes. The latter, already exhausted by their efforts, were +at once borne back before the serried pikes of their fresh +assailants. In vain their chiefs at that point tried to rally them; +nothing could withstand the impetus of the Saxon attack. + +Astonished at seeing the tide of battle swept away from +the breach, the French believed that St. Germain had wrought +a miracle in their favour, and taking heart poured out in the +rear of the Saxons. The news of the miracle spread rapidly. +Through the breaches, and from every gate, they poured out +suddenly upon the Danes, who, struck with consternation at +this sudden onslaught by a foe whom they had already regarded +as beaten, hesitated, and soon took to flight. Vast +numbers were cut down before they could reach their vessels. +A great portion fled towards the bridge and endeavoured +to cross there; but their numbers impeded them, and the +Saxons and Franks, falling upon their rear, effected a +terrible slaughter. + +Two days after the battle a force of six hundred Franks +arrived from the Emperor Charles. The Danes sought to +oppose their entrance to the city, but were defeated with a +loss of three thousand men. The siege was now virtually +over, and in a short time the emperor himself with a great +army arrived. It was now November, and after some negotiations +the Danes agreed upon the receipt of seven hundred +pounds of silver to retire to Burgundy and to leave the +country at the beginning of March. + +Having wasted Burgundy, however, they again returned +to Paris. Consternation seized the capital when the fleet of +the Northmen was seen approaching. A treaty was, however, +made, for the wind had fallen just when the Danish fleet, +which had but lately arrived and was descending the river, +was abreast of Paris. As soon as the wind became favourable +the Northmen broke the truce, slew a number of Franks who +had mingled among them, and passed up the Marne. + +In the meantime Emperor Charles had died and Count +Eudes had been chosen his successor. When the Danes again +advanced against Paris he speedily sent reinforcements. The +town had already repulsed an attack. Eudes himself on +St. John's Day was advancing with 1000 men-at-arms when he +was attacked by 10,000 mounted Danes and 9000 footmen. +The combat was desperate but the Franks were victorious. +Eudes, however, had other difficulties. Burgundy and +Aquitaine revolted, and in order to secure peace to the kingdom +he made a treaty with the Danes, giving over to them +the province of Normandy. + +Edmund and Egbert had no part in the second siege of +Paris. As soon as the place was relieved by the Emperor +Charles they prepared to depart. Taking boats they ascended +the river, and to their joy found the Dragon safe in the +hiding place where she had been lying for nearly a year. She was +brought out into the stream and floated down to Paris, where +by the order of Count Eudes she was thoroughly repaired +and redecorated. + +The Franks, convinced that next only to the assistance +of St. Germain they owed the safety of their city to the valour +of the Saxons, loaded them with presents; and these, with +the gifts which they had previously received after the +destruction of the three towers, and the sums for which the booty +captured from the Danes had been sold, made up a great +treasure. + +Upon the day before they had arranged to sail a Danish +boat was seen rowing down the stream. It approached the +Dragon and the helmsman asked: + +"Is this ship the Dragon? and has it for a captain Edmund +the Saxon?" + +"I am Edmund," he replied, "and this is the Dragon. What +would you with me?" + +"I am sent by the Jarl Siegbert, who lies wounded near, +to beg that you will come to him immediately, as he is in a +sore strait and needs your assistance." + +"I will come at once," Edmund said. "Put one of your +men on board to show me where he is, for I shall be there +before you." + +Edmund's horn sounded the signal, and messengers were +sent to the town to order the crew at once to repair on board +the Dragon. Edmund landed and took leave of the Frankish +leaders. The provisions and stores were hastily carried on +board, and then, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the +inhabitants, who thronged the walls and shore, the oars were got +out and the Dragon proceeded at the top of her speed up the +river. + +On the way Edmund questioned the Dane, and found +that Siegbert had been wounded in the last assault upon Paris. +He had not been present at the first part of the siege, having +but recently arrived from Norway. His daughter Freda had +accompanied him. "Yes," she was still unmarried, although +many valiant Northmen had sought her hand, chief among +them the brave leader Sweyn "of the left hand;" but there +had been a fray on the previous night in Siegbert's camp, +and it was said--but for that he could not vouch--that Freda +had been carried off. + +The news filled Edmund with anxiety. Ever since the +day he left her on her father's galley his thoughts had turned +often to the Danish maiden, and the resolution to carry out +his promise and some day seek her again had never for a +moment wavered. He had seen many fair young Saxons, and +could have chosen a bride where he would among these, for +few Saxons girls would have turned a deaf ear to the wooing +of one who was at once of high rank, a prime favourite with +the king, and regarded by his countrymen as one of the bravest +of the Saxon champions; but the dark-haired Freda, who +united the fearlessness and independence of a woman with +the frankness and gaiety of a child, had won his heart. + +It was true she was a Dane and a pagan; but her father +was his friend, and would, he felt sure, offer no objections on +the ground of the enmity of the races. Since Guthorn and +his people had embraced Christianity, the enmity between +the races, in England at least, was rapidly declining. As to +her religion, Edmund doubted not that she would, under his +guidance and teaching, soon cast away the blood-stained gods +of the Northmen and accept Christianity. + +In the five years of strife and warfare which had elapsed +since he saw her Edmund had often pictured their next meeting. +He had not doubted that she would remain true to him. +Few as were the words which had been spoken, he knew that +when she said, "I will wait for you even till I die," she had +meant it, and that she was not one to change. He had even +been purposing, on his return to England, to ask King Alfred +to arrange through Guthorn for a safe pass for him to go to +Norway. To hear, then, that she had been carried off from +her father's side was a terrible blow, and in his anxiety to +arrive at Siegbert's tent Edmund urged the rowers to their +fullest exertions. + +It was three hours after leaving Paris when the Dane +pointed to a village at a short distance from the river and +told him that Siegbert was lying there. The Dragon was steered +to shore, and Edmund leaping out followed the Dane with +rapid footsteps to the village. The wounded jarl was lying +upon a heap of straw. + +"Is it really you, Edmund?" he exclaimed as the young +Saxon entered. "Glad am I indeed that my messenger did +not arrive too late. I heard of you when we first landed-- +how the Danes, when they sailed up the Seine, had seen a +Saxon galley of strange shape which had rowed rapidly up +the river; how the galley herself had never again been seen; +but how a young Saxon with his band had performed wonders +in the defence of Paris, and had burned well-nigh half +the Danish fleet. + +"They said that the leader was named Edmund, for they +had heard the name shouted in battle; and especially when +he, with one other alone, escaped from the burning tower +and swam the river. So I was sure that it was you. Then, a +week back, my men told me of a strange ship which had passed +down the river to Paris, and I doubted not that it was your +Dragon, which had been hidden somewhere during the siege. +I thought then of sending to tell you that I was lying here +wounded; but Freda, who had always been talking of you, +suddenly turned coy and said that you might have forgotten +us, and if you wanted us you would come to us in Norway." + +"But where is Freda?" Edmund, who had been listening +impatiently, exclaimed. "One of your men told me that she +had been carried off. Is it true?" + + "Alas! it is true," Siegbert replied; "and that is why I +sent for you. I have never been good friends with Bijorn +since the wounding of his son, but after a time the matter +blew over. Sweyn, who though but with one arm, and that +the left, has grown into a valiant warrior, is now, Bijorn +being dead, one of our boldest vikings. A year since he became +a declared suitor for Freda's hand. In this, indeed, he is not +alone, seeing that she has grown up one of our fairest maidens, +and many are the valorous deeds that have been done to +win a smile from her; but she has refused all suitors, Sweyn +with the others. He took his refusal in bad part, and even +ventured to vow she should be his whether she willed it or +not. Of course I took the matter up and forbade all further +intimacy, and we had not met again till the other day before +Paris. We had high words there, but I thought no more of it. +A few days afterwards I was struck by a crossbow bolt in the +leg. It smashed my knee, and I shall never be able to use my +leg again. I well-nigh died of fever and vexation, but Freda +nursed me through it. She had me carried on a litter here to +be away from the noise and revelry of the camp. Last night +there was a sudden outcry. Some of my men who sprang to +arms were smitten down, and the assailants burst in here and +tore Freda, shrieking, away. Their leader was Sweyn of the +left hand. As I lay tossing here, mad with the misfortune +which ties me to my couch, I thought of you. I said, 'If any +can follow and recapture Freda it is Edmund.' The Danes +had for the most part moved away, and there were few would +care to risk a quarrel with Sweyn in a matter which concerned +them not closely; but I felt that I could rely upon you, and +that you would spare no pains to rescue my child." + +"That will I not!" Edmund exclaimed; "but tell me first +what you think are his plans. Which way has he gone, and +what force has he with him?" + +"The band he commands are six shiploads, each numbering +fifty men. What his plans may be I know not, but +many of the Danes, I know, purposed, when the war was +finished here, to move east through Burgundy. Some intended +to build boats on the banks of the Rhine and sail +down on that river, others intended to journey further and to +descend by the Elbe. I know not which course Sweyn may +adopt. The country between this and the Rhine swarms with +Danes. I do not suppose that Sweyn will join any other party. +Having Freda with him, he will prefer keeping apart; but in +any case it would not be safe for you to journey with your +band, who would assuredly become embroiled with the first +party of Danes they met; and even if they be as brave as +yourself they would be defeated by such superior numbers." + +"You do not think that Sweyn will venture to use violence +to force Freda to become his wife?" + +"I think he will hardly venture upon that," Siegbert said, +"however violent and headstrong he may be. To carry off a +maiden for a wife is accounted no very evil deed, for the +maiden is generally not unwilling; but to force her by violence +to become his wife would be a deed so contrary to our +usages that it would bring upon him the anger of the whole +nation. Knowing Sweyn's disposition, I believe that were there +no other way, he would not hesitate even at this, but might +take ship and carry her to some distant land; but he would +not do this until all other means fail. He will strive to tire her +out, and so bring her in her despair to consent to wed him." + +Edmund was silent for three or four minutes; then he +said: "I must consult my kinsman Egbert. I will return and +tell you what I purpose doing." + +On leaving the cottage Edmund found Egbert walking +up and down outside awaiting the result of the interview. He +had been present when the Dane had told of Freda's abduction, +and knew how sore a blow it was to the young ealdorman, +for Edmund had made no secret to him of his intention some +day to wed the Danish jarl's daughter. Edmund in a few words +related to him the substance of Siegbert's narrative, and ended +by saying: "Now, Egbert, what is best to be done?" + +"'Tis of no use asking me, Edmund; you know well enough +that it is you that always decide and I agree. I have a +hand to strike, but no head to plan. Tell me only what you +wish, and you may be sure that I will do my best to execute +it." + +"Of course we must follow," Edmund said; "of that there +is no question. The only doubt is as to the force we must +take. What Siegbert said is true. The Danish bands are so +numerous to the east that we should be sure to fall in with +some of them, and fight as we might, should be destroyed; +and yet with a smaller number how could we hope to rescue +Freda from Sweyn's hands?" + +Edmund walked up and down for some time. + +"I think," he went on at last, "the best plan will be to take +a party of but four at most. I must choose those who will be +able to pass best as Danes. With so small a number I may +traverse the country unobserved. I will take with me two of +Siegbert's men, who, when we get nigh to Sweyn's band, may +join with him and tell me how things are going, and how +Sweyn treats his captive. If I find he is pushing matters to an +extreme I must make some desperate effort to carry her off; +but if, as is more probable, he trusts to time to break her +resolution, I shall follow at a short distance." + +"Shall I go with you, Edmund?" + +"I think it will be better not, Egbert. Your beard would +mark you as a Saxon at once." + +"But that I can cut off," Egbert said. "It would be a sacrifice +truly, but I would do it without hesitation." + +"Thanks, dear kinsman, but I think it would be of more +purpose for you to remain in command of the Dragon. She +may meet many foes, and it were best that you were there to +fight and direct her. I pray you at once to descend the Seine +and sailing round the north coast of France, place the Dragon +at the mouth of the Rhine. Do not interfere with any Danish +ships that you may see pass out, but keep at a distance. Should +Sweyn descend the Rhine I will, if possible, send a messenger +down before him, so do you look out for small boats; and +if you see one in which the rower hoists a white flag at the +end of his oar, you will know he is my messenger. If I find +Sweyn goes on towards the Elbe I will also send you word, +and you will then move the Dragon to the mouth of that river. + +"Lastly, if you receive no message, but if you mark that +in a Danish vessel when passing you a white cloth is waved +from one of the windows of the cabins in the poop, that will +be a signal to you that the vessel is Sweyn's, and that Freda is +a captive on board. In that case you will of course at once +attack it. Let us ask Siegbert. He has sailed up both the +Rhine and the Elbe, and can tell us of some quiet port near +the mouth of each river where you may lay the Dragon somewhat +out of sight of passers-by, while you can yet note all +ships that go down the river. My messengers will then know +where to find you." Having settled this point they returned +to Siegbert, and Edmund told him what he thought of doing. + +"I can advise no better," Siegbert said. "Assuredly you +cannot prevail by force. At present I have only ten of my +followers with me; the rest, after I was wounded, and it was +plain that a long time must elapse before I could again lead +them in the field, asked me to let them follow some other +chief, and as they could not be idle here I consented. I have +ten men with me, but these would be but a small reinforcement. +As you say, your Saxons would be instantly known, +and the Northmen have suffered so at their hands during +the siege that the first party you met would set upon you." + +"I will take two only of your men," Edmund said. "Choose +me two who are not known by sight to Sweyn. I wish one to +be a subtle fellow, who will act as a spy for me; the other I +should choose of commanding stature; and the air of a leader. +He will go with my party, and should we come upon Danes +he will assume the place of leader, and can answer any questions. +There is far too much difference between the Saxon +and Danish tongue for me and my men to pass as Danes if +we have many words to say. I shall take four of my men, all +full grown, strong, and good fighters. They have but little +hair upon their chins at present, and they can shave that off. +Now, jarl, I want five Danish dresses, for your costume differs +somewhat from ours. Have you horses? If not, I must send back +to Paris to buy some." + +"I have plenty to mount you and your party." + +"Good," Edmund said; "I will go down to my ship and +pick my men." + +In half an hour the party were ready to start. Egbert +had received from Siegbert particulars of villages at the +mouths of the Rhine and Elbe, and he promised Edmund +that a watch should be kept night and day at the mouth of +the Rhine until a messenger arrived. Edmund had already +ascertained that Sweyn had left a fortnight before with his +following, and had marched towards Champagne. There +probably he had halted his main body, returning only with a +party of horsemen to carry off Freda. + +"I would I could go with you," Siegbert groaned as +Edmund said adieu to him. "I would ride straight into his +camp and challenge him to mortal combat, but as it is I am +helpless." + +"Never fear, good Siegbert," Edmund said cheerfully; +"when your leg is cured travel straight homeward, and there, +I trust, before very long to place Freda safe and unharmed in +your arms. If I come not you will know that I have perished." + +A minute later, after a few parting words with Egbert, +Edmund mounted his horse, and followed by his six companions, +rode off at full speed. He knew that it would be useless +making any inquiries about Sweyn and his party. But few of +the inhabitants of the country were to be seen about, for the +Danes had burned every house within very many miles of +Paris, and the peasants would assuredly not have paid any +special attention to a party of Danes, for whenever they saw +the dreaded marauders even at a distance they forsook their +homes and fled to the forests. The party therefore rode eastward +until nightfall, then picketed their horses, and having +lit a fire, made their supper from the store of provisions they +had brought with them, and then lay down to sleep for the +night. + +At daybreak they again started and continued their journey +until it was necessary to halt to give their horses a rest. +They had passed several parties of Danes, for these in great +numbers, after the siege of Paris had been given up, were +journeying towards Burgundy. There was but slight greeting +as they passed; but on one occasion a horseman rode out +from one of the bands and entered into conversation with +the two Danes who rode at the head of the party. They told +them that they were followers of the Jarl Siegbert, and were +riding to join the rest of his band, who were with the company +of Jarl Eric, as Siegbert would be long before he would +be able to move, and had therefore kept only a few of his +followers with him. + +"Eric is a long way ahead," the Dane said; "he must be +full as far as Nancy by this time. Those who left first," he +grumbled, "will have the pick of the country. We were fools +to linger so long before Paris." Then turning his horse, he +rode back to his comrades, and the party continued their +way. + +They avoided all towns and large Danish encampments +on the way, but made inquiries from all small parties they +met after the party of Sweyn. They learned without difficulty +the place where he had been encamped a few days before, +but on their arriving in the neighbourhood they found +that the place was deserted, nor could any tell them the +direction in which the Northmen had travelled. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI: FREDA + + + +For some days Edmund and his party scoured the country +round, journeying now in one direction, now in another, +but without hearing ought of Sweyn's party. +Certainly they had not gone along the track which the main +body of the Danes had followed; but the question was whether +they had turned rather to the south in order to cross the +mountain ranges between them and the Rhine, or had turned +north and journeyed through the great forest of Ardennes, +and so to some of the other rivers which run down into the +North Sea. + +The latter was in some respects the most likely course to +have been chosen. By taking it Sweyn would avoid altogether +the track which the majority of his countrymen were taking, +and this would naturally be his object. Siegbert had many +powerful friends, and the carrying off of the jarl's daughter +from the side of her wounded father would be regarded as a +grave offence; and Sweyn might well wish to keep clear of his +countrymen until he had forced Freda to become his wife. +Even then it would not be safe for him for a long time to +return to his country. Striking through the Ardennes he would +come down upon the Scheldt, the Moselle, the Maas, or other +rivers flowing into the North Sea direct, or into the Rhine. + +Edmund knew nothing of these streams; but the Danes +with him said there were several rivers so situated, for they +had sailed up them. Where they took their rise they knew +not, but it would probably be in or beyond the forest of +Ardennes. + +"Then in that way we will search," Edmund said. "If +they come upon a river they will doubtless set to work to +build galleys to carry them to the sea, for with only three +hundred men Sweyn will not venture to march by land through +a country which has but lately suffered heavily at the hands +of the Danes. It will take him a month or six weeks to cut +down trees and build his ships; therefore we may hope to +find him before he is ready to embark. First we will push +through the forest to the other side; there we will question +the inhabitants concerning the position of the nearest rivers; +then we will divide into parties and go on the search, appointing +a place of rendezvous where we may rejoin each other. +It can hardly be that we shall fail to find them if they +have taken that way." + +Before entering the forest they obtained a considerable +store of provisions; for they had no idea of its extent, and +had no time to spend in hunting game. The forest of +Ardennes was at that time of immense size, extending from +Verdun and Metz on the south, to Liege and Aix on the north. + +Men of the present day would have found it impossible +to find their way through, but would speedily have been lost +in its trackless recesses; but the Saxons and Danes were +accustomed to travel in forests, and knew the signs as well as +did the Red-skins and hunters of the American forests. +Therefore they felt no hesitation in entering the forest +without a guide. + +The danger which might beset them was of a different +kind. Immense numbers of the inhabitants of France, Champagne, +and Burgundy had taken refuge in the forests, driving their +flocks and herds before them. Here they lived a wild life, +hoping that the emperor would ere long clear the +country of the invaders. No mercy could be expected if +Edmund and his party fell in with a number of these fugitives. +They would have no time to tell their story, but would +be attacked at once as a party of plundering Danes. + +Knowing that the horses would be an encumbrance to +them in the forest, they were sold to the last party of +Northmen they encountered before entering it, and they +pursued their way on foot. The greatest caution was observed; +every sound was marked, and at the call of a human voice, +the low of cattle, or the bleating of sheep, they turned their +course so as to avoid encounter with the inhabitants of the +forest. They lit no fires at night, and scarce a word was spoken +on the march. Several times they had to take refuge in +thickets when they heard the sound of approaching voices, +and it needed all their knowledge of woodcraft to maintain +their direction steadily towards the north. At last, after six +days' journey, they issued out into the open country beyond +the forest and soon arrived at a cottage. + +The peasant was struck with terror and astonishment at +the appearance of seven Danes; and he could with difficulty +be made to understand that their object was neither plunder +nor murder, but that they wished only information from him +of the situation and direction of the various rivers of the +country. After learning from him all that he knew Edmund +arrived at the conclusion that Sweyn would probably attempt +to descend either by a branch of the Moselle, and so to the +Rhine on the right, or by one of the Maas on the left of the +place at which they had emerged from the forest. + +Edmund decided to strike the Maas, and to follow its +course up into the forest, taking with him one of the Danes +and two of his Saxons, and to send the others to search the +banks of the tributary of the Moselle. Before starting he sent +the peasant to the nearest village to purchase garments of +the country for the whole party. He had already told the +man that they were not Danes but Saxons, the bitter enemies +of the Northmen, and that he had been aiding in the defence +of Paris against them. + +The peasant did not doubt what Edmund told him, for +the conduct of his visitors was so opposed to all that he had +heard of the doings of the Danes that he well believed they +could not belong to that nation. He was away some hours, +and returned with the required dresses. Having put these +on, and laying aside their helmets and shields, the two parties +started, the Danes alone carrying with them their former +garments. The next day Edmund arrived at the river, and at +once followed its course upwards, for Sweyn and his party +would be building their ships in the forest. + +They had not proceeded many miles before they heard +the sound of axes. Edmund gave an exclamation of delight. +It was almost certain that he had hit upon Sweyn's track, for +it was unlikely that any of the inhabitants of the country would +have gone so far into the forest for timber. They now moved +with the greatest caution, and as they approached the place +whence the sound proceeded Edmund halted the two Saxons +and bade them conceal themselves. The Dane resumed +his own garments and put on his helmet and shield; and then, +taking advantage of every clump of undergrowth, and moving +with the greatest caution, he and Edmund made their way forward. +Presently they came within sight of an animated scene. + +A large number of trees had been felled by the banks of +the river and three hundred Northmen were busily at work. +The frames of two great galleys had already been set up, and +they were now engaged in chopping out planks for their sides. +Two huts were erected in the middle of the clearing. One +was large, and Sweyn's banner floated from a spear before it. +The other which stood close by was much smaller, and +Edmund doubted not that this was appropriated to Freda. + +Nothing more could be done now--their object was so +far attained; and retiring they joined the two Saxons and made +their way along the river bank till they reached the edge of +the forest. One of the Saxons was now sent off to the peasant's +hut, where he was to remain until the return of the other +party, and was then to bring them on to the spot which +Edmund had chosen for his encampment. This was in the +heart of a large clump of underwood extending down to the +river. + +The brushwood was so thick that it was entered with +difficulty, and no passer-by would dream that a party was +hidden within it. Near the stream Edmund and his companions +with their swords soon cleared away a circle, and with +the boughs constructed an arbour. A thin screen of bushes +separated them from the river, but they could see the water, +and none could pass up or down unperceived. + +The Saxon was charged to bring with him on his return +a considerable supply of provisions, for it would have been +dangerous to wander in the woods in pursuit of game. The +Northmen had, Edmund noticed, some cattle with them; but +they would be sure to be hunting in the woods, as they would +wish to save the cattle for provision on their voyage. It was +nightfall before the hut was completed; and as they had +journeyed far for many days Edmund determined to postpone an +attempt to discover what was passing in Sweyn's camp until +the following evening. + +The day passed quietly, and towards evening Edmund +and the Dane started for Sweyn's camp. When they approached +it they saw many fires burning, and the shouting +and singing of the Norsemen rang through the forest. They +waited until the fires burnt down somewhat and they could +see many of the Danes stretching themselves down by them. +Then Edmund's companion proceeded to the camp. + +Anxious as Edmund was himself to learn what was doing, +he restrained his impatience, for it was safer that the +Northman should go alone. In the dull light of the dying +fires his features would be unnoticed, and his tongue would +not betray him if spoken to. Siegbert had commended him +as a crafty and ready fellow, and Edmund felt that he would +be able to gather more information than he could do himself. +From his place of concealment he kept his eyes fixed on +the Northman's figure. Presently he saw him enter the clearing, +and sauntering slowly across it throw himself down near +a fire by which a party of Danes were still sitting talking. + +One by one these lay down, and when the last had done +so the Northman rose quietly and stole out again into the +forest. When he rejoined Edmund the latter set forward with +him, and not a word was spoken until they were some distance +from the camp; then Edmund stopped. + +"What have you learned?" he asked. + +"All that there is to learn, I think," the Northman replied. +"The lady Freda is, as you supposed, a captive in the +little hut. Two men only keep watch over it by day, but at +night six lie around it, two being always on foot. They speak +in admiration of her courage and spirit. She has sworn to +Sweyn that she will slay herself if he attempts to use violence +to force her to marriage with him, and they doubt not that +she will keep her word. However, they believe that she will +grow tired out at last when she finds that there is no hope +whatever of a rescue. The ships are being built for a long sea +voyage, for Sweyn is going to lead them to join the Viking +Hasting in the Mediterranean, and has promised his men +the plunder of countries ten times richer than France or +England. With so long an expedition in view, they may well +think that the Lady Freda's resolution will soon give way, and +that she may come to see that the position of the wife of a +bold viking is a thousand times preferable to that of a captive. +Many of the men loudly express their wonder why she +would refuse the love of so valiant a warrior as Sweyn." + +The news was at once good and bad. Edmund did not +fear Freda's resolution giving way for a long time, but the +news that Sweyn intended to carry her upon so distant an +expedition troubled him. It was of course possible that he +might intercept them with the Dragon at the mouth of the +Maas, but it was uncertain whether the ship would arrive at +the mouth of the Rhine in time to be brought round before +the Northmen descended. The length of her voyage would +depend entirely on the wind. Were this favourable when she +reached the mouth of the Seine, a week would carry her to +her destination. Should it be unfavourable there was no saying +how long the voyage would last. + +The risk was so great that Edmund determined to make +an effort to rouse the country against the Danes, and to fall +upon them in their encampment; but the task would he knew +be a hard one, for the dread of the Danes was so great that +only in large towns was any resistance to them ever offered. +However he determined to try, for if the Northmen succeeded +in getting to the sea the pursuit would indeed be a long one, +and many weeks and even months might elapse before he +could again come up to them. + +On the following day the rest of the party arrived, and +leaving the forest Edmund proceeded with them through the +country, visiting every village, and endeavouring to rouse the +people to attack the Danes, but the news that the dreaded +marauders were so near excited terror only. The assurances +of Edmund that there was much rich plunder in their camp +which would become the property of those who destroyed +them, excited but a feeble interest. The only point in the +narrative which excited their contentment was the news that +the Danes were building ships and were going to make their +way down to the sea. + +"In Heaven's name let them go!" was the cry; "who would +interfere with the flight of a savage beast? If they are going +down the river they will scarcely land to scatter and plunder +the country, and he would be mad indeed who would seek +them when they are disposed to let us alone." + +Finding his efforts vain in the country near the forest +Edmund went down the river to the town of Liege, which +stood on its banks. When it became known that a band of +Northmen was on the upper river, and was likely to pass down, +the alarm spread quickly through the town, and a council of +the principal inhabitants was summoned. Before these +Edmund told his story, and suggested that the fighting men +of the town should march up the river and fall upon the +Danes in their camp. + +"It is but two days' march--the Northmen will be unsuspicious +of danger, and taken by surprise may be easily defeated." +The proposition, however, was received with absolute derision. + +"You must be mad to propose such a thing, young Saxon, +if Saxon indeed you are, but for aught we know you may be a +Northman sent by them to draw us into an ambush. No; we +will prepare for their coming. We will man our walls and +stand on the defensive, and if there be, as you say, but three +hundred of them, we can defend ourselves successfully; and +we may hope that, seeing our strength, and that we are prepared +for their coming, the Northmen will pass by without +molesting us; but as for moving outside our walls, it would be +worse than folly even to think of such a thing." + +After this rebuff Edmund concluded that he could hope +for no assistance from the inhabitants of the country, but +must depend upon himself and the Dragon alone. He at once +despatched two of his men, a Dane and a Saxon, with orders +to journey as rapidly as possible to the rendezvous, where +the Dragon was to be found at the mouth of the Rhine, and to +beg Egbert to move round with all speed to the Maas. + +Having done this, he purchased a small and very fast +rowing-skiff at Liege, and taking his place in this with his +four remaining followers, he rowed up the river. It took them +three days before they reached the edge of the forest. On +reaching their former hiding-place, they landed. The bushes +were carefully drawn aside, and the boat hauled up until +completely screened from sight of the river, and Edmund and +the Dane at once started for the encampment of the +Northmen. + +They had been ten days absent, and in that time great +progress had been made with the galleys. They looked indeed +completely finished as they stood high and lofty on the +river bank. The planks were all in their places; the long rows +of benches for the rowers were fastened in; the poop and +forecastle were finished and decked. A number of long +straight poles lay alongside ready to be fashioned into oars; +and Edmund thought that in another two or three days the +galleys would be ready for launching. They were long and +low in the waist, and were evidently built for great speed. +Edmund did not think that they were intended to sail, except +perhaps occasionally when the wind was favourable, as an +aid to the rowers. Each would carry a hundred and fifty +men, and there were thirty seats, so that sixty would row at +once. + +"They are fine galleys," the Dane whispered. "Sweyn +has a good eye for a boat." + +"Yes," Edmund said, "they look as if they will be very +fast. With oars alone they would leave the Dragon behind, +but with sails and oars we should overhaul them in a wind. I +wish it had been otherwise, for if, when they reach the mouth +of the river, there is no wind, they may give the Dragon the +slip. Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is Freda." + +As he spoke a tall maiden came out from the small hut. +The distance was too great for Edmund to distinguish her +features, but he doubted not from the style of her garments +that it was Siegbert's daughter. There were other women +moving about the camp, for the Danes were generally accompanied +by their wives on their expeditions; but there was +something in the carriage and mien of the figure at the door +of the hut which distinguished it from the rest. She did not +move far away, but stood watching the men at work on the +ships and the scene around. Presently a tall figure strode +down from the vessels towards her. + +"There is Sweyn!" Edmund exclaimed, seeing that the +warrior possessed but one arm. + +"Ah! you know him by sight then?" The Dane said. + +"I should do so," Edmund answered grimly, "seeing that +it was I who smote off that right arm of his. I regret now +that I did not strike at his head instead." + +The Dane looked with admiration and surprise at his +leader. He had heard of the fight between the Saxon champion +and Sweyn, which had cost the latter his right arm, but +until now he had been ignorant of Edmund's identity with +Sweyn's conqueror. + +Freda did not seek to avoid her captor, but remained +standing quietly until he approached. For some time they +conversed; then she turned and left him and re-entered her +hut. Sweyn stood looking after her, and then with an angry +stamp of the foot returned to the galleys. + +"I would give much to be able to warn her that I am +present and will follow her until I rescue her from Sweyn," +Edmund said. "Once at sea and on her way south she may +well despair of escape, and may consent, from sheer +hopelessness, to become his wife. Were it not that her hut is +so strongly guarded at night I would try to approach it, but as +this cannot be done I must take my chance in the day. To-morrow +I will dress myself in your garments and will hide in +the wood as near as I can to the hut; then if she come out to +take the air I will walk boldly out and speak with her. I see no +other way of doing it." + +On the following morning, attired in the Dane's clothes +and helmet, Edmund took his place near the edge of the +wood. It was not until late in the afternoon that Freda made +her appearance. The moment was propitious; almost all the +men were at work on the ships and their oars. The women +were cooking the evening meal, and there was no one near +Freda, with the exception of the two armed Danes who sat +on the trunk of a fallen tree on guard, a short distance away. +Edmund issued boldly from the wood, and, waiting till Freda's +steps, as she passed backwards and forwards, took her to the +farthest point from the guards, he approached her. + +"Freda," he said, "do not start or betray surprise, for you +are watched." + +At the sound of his voice the girl had paused in her +steps, and exclaimed in a low voice, "Edmund!" and then, +obeying his words, stood motionless. + +"I am near you, dear, and will watch over you. I have not +strength to carry you away; but my ship will be at the mouth +of the river as you pass out. Hang a white cloth from the +window of your cabin in the poop as a signal. If we fail to +rescue you there we will follow you wheresoever you may go, +even to Italy, where I hear you are bound. So keep up a brave +heart. I have seen your father, and he has sent me to save +you. See, the guards are approaching, I must go." + +Edmund then made for the forest. "Stop there!" the +guards cried. "Who are you, and whence do you come?" + +Edmund made no answer, but, quickening his steps, +passed among the trees, and was soon beyond pursuit. This, +indeed, the Danes did not attempt. They had been surprised +at seeing, as they supposed, one of their party addressing +Freda, for Sweyn's orders that none should speak with her +were precise. He had given this command because he feared, +that by the promise of rich rewards she might tempt some of +his followers to aid her escape. They had, therefore, risen to +interrupt the conversation, but it was not until they +approached that it struck them that the Northman's face was +unfamiliar to them, and that he was not one of their party, +but Edmund had entered the wood before they recovered +from their surprise. Their shouts to him to stop brought +Sweyn to the spot. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"A strange Northman has come out of the wood, and +spoken to the lady Freda." + +Sweyn turned to his captive. She stood pale and trembling, +for the shock of the surprise had been a severe one. + +"Who is this whom you have spoken to?" he asked. Freda +did not answer. + +"I insist upon knowing," Sweyn exclaimed angrily. + +Freda recovered herself with an effort, and, raising her +head, said, "Your insistence has small effect with me, as you +know, Jarl Sweyn; but as there is no reason for concealment +I will tell you. He is a messenger whom my dear father has +sent to me to tell me that some day he hopes to rescue me +from your hands." + +Sweyn laughed loudly. + +"He might have saved himself the trouble," he said. "Your +good father lies wounded near Paris, and by the time he is +able to set out to your rescue we shall be with Hasting on the +sunny waters of Italy, and long ere that you will, I hope, have +abandoned your obstinate disposition, and consented to be +my wife." + +Freda did not answer at once. Now that there was a +hope of rescue, however distant, she thought it might be as +well to give Sweyn some faint hope that in time she might +yield to his wishes. Then she said: + +"I have told you often, jarl, that I will never be your wife, +and I do not think that I shall ever change my mind. It may +be that the sunny skies you speak of may work a wonderful +change in me, but that remains to be seen." Sweyn retired +well satisfied. Her words were less defiant than any she had +hitherto addressed to him. As to the message of her father, +who could know nothing of his intention to sail to the +Mediterranean, he thought no further of it. + +Three days later the galleys were launched, and after a +day spent in putting everything in its place they started on +their way down the river. They rowed many miles, and at +night moored by the bank. After darkness had fallen a small +boat rowed at full speed past them. It paid no attention to +the summons to stop, enforced though it was by several arrows, +but continued its way down the river, and was soon lost +in the darkness. Sweyn was much displeased. As they rowed +down they had carefully destroyed every boat they found on +the river, in order that the news of their coming might not +precede them. + +"The boat must have been hauled up and hidden," he +said; "we might as well have stopped and landed at some of +the villages and replenished our larder. Now we shall find +the small places all deserted, and the cattle driven away from +the river. It is an unfortunate mischance." + +As the Northmen anticipated they found the villages +they passed the next day entirely deserted by their inhabitants, +and not a head of cattle was to be seen grazing near the +banks. In the afternoon they came to Liege. The gates were +shut, and the walls bristled with spears. The galleys passed +without a stay. Sweyn had other objects in view. Any booty +that might be obtained without severe fighting he would have +been glad enough to gather in; but with a long sea-voyage +before him he cared not to burden his galleys, and his principal +desire was to obtain a sufficient supply of provisions for +the voyage. For several days the galleys proceeded down the +river. The villages were all deserted, and the towns prepared +for defence. + +When he arrived within a day's journey of the sea he +was forced to halt. Half the crews were left in charge of the +ships, and with the others he led a foray far inland, and after +some sharp fighting with the natives succeeded in driving +down a number of cattle to the ships and in bringing in a +store of flour. + +Edmund had kept ahead of the galleys, stopping at every town +and village and warning the people of the approach of the +marauders. He reached the mouth of the river two +days before them, but to his deep disappointment saw that +the Dragon had not arrived at the rendezvous. On the following +afternoon, however, a distant sail was seen, and as it +approached Edmund and his followers gave a shout of joy as +they recognized the Dragon, which was using her oars as well +as sails and was approaching at full speed. Edmund leaped +into the boat and rowed to meet them, and a shout of welcome +arose from the Dragon as the crew recognized their +commander. + +"Are we in time?" Egbert shouted. + +"Just in time," Edmund replied. "They will be here to-morrow." +Edmund was soon on board, and was astonished at seeing Siegbert +standing by the side of his kinsman. + +"What is the news of Freda?" the jarl asked eagerly. + +"She is well and keeps up a brave heart," Edmund replied. "She +has sworn to kill herself if Sweyn attempts to make her his wife +by violence. I have spoken to her and told her that rescue +will come. But how is it that you are here?" + +"After you had left us your good kinsman Egbert suggested +to me that I should take passage in the Dragon. In the +first place I should the sooner see my daughter; and in the +next, it would be perilous work, after the Danish army had +left, for a small party of us to traverse France." + +"I would I had thought of it," Edmund said; "but my +mind was so disturbed with the thought of Freda's peril that +it had no room for other matters. And how fares it with +you?" + +"Bravely," the Northman replied. "As soon as I sniffed +the salt air of the sea my strength seemed to return to me. +My wound is well-nigh healed; but the joint has stiffened, +and my leg will be stiff for the rest of my life. But that +matters little. And now tell me all your adventures. We have +heard from the messenger you sent how shrewdly you hunted +out Sweyn's hiding-place." + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII: A LONG CHASE + + + +The following morning the weather was still and dull. +Not a breath of wind ruffled the surface of the river. + +"This is unfortunate," Edmund said to his companion. +"Sweyn's galleys will row faster than we can go with oars +alone, and though they may not know the Dragon they will be +sure that she is not one of their own ships. We must hope that +they may attack us." + +The day passed on without a sight of the galleys, but +late in the afternoon they were seen in the distance. The +Dragon was moored near the middle of the rivet. Her oars +were stowed away, and the crews ordered to keep below the +bulwarks, in hopes that the Danes, seeing but few men about +and taking her for an easy prize, might attack her. When +they approached within half a mile the Danish galleys +suddenly ceased rowing. + +"What is that strange-looking vessel?" Sweyn asked the +Northmen standing round him. + +"I know her," one of them said, "for I have twice seen +her before to my cost. The first time she chased us hotly at +the mouth of the Thames, destroying several of the vessels +with which we were sailing in convoy. The next time was in +the battle where King Alfred defeated us last year, nearly in +the same water. She is a Saxon ship, wondrous fast and +well-handled. She did more damage in the battle than any +four of her consorts." + +"Were it not that I have other game in view," Sweyn said, +"we would fight her, for we are two to one and strongly +manned, and the Saxon can scarce carry more men than one +of our galleys; but she is not likely to be worth the lives she +would cost us to capture her; therefore we will e'en let her +alone, which will be easy enough, for see that bank of sea-fog +rolling up the river; another ten minutes and we shall not see +across the deck. Give orders to the other galley to lay in oars +till the fog comes, then to make for the left bank of the river +and to drift with the tide close inshore. Let none speak a +word, and silence be kept until they hear my horn. I will +follow the right bank till we reach the mouth." + +Freda was standing near and heard these orders with a +sinking heart. She had no doubt that Edmund was on board +the Saxon ship, and she had looked forward with confidence +to be delivered from her captor; but now it seemed that owing +to the evil change of the weather the hope was to be +frustrated. + +Edmund and the Saxons had viewed with consternation +the approach of the sea-fog. The instant it enveloped the +ship the oars were got out and they rowed in the direction of +the Danish vessels, which they hoped would drop anchor when +the fog reached them. Not a word was spoken on board the +Dragon. Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert stood on the forecastle +intently listening for any sound which would betray the +position of the Danes, but not a sound was to be heard. They +had, they calculated, already reached the spot where the Dane +should have been anchored when from the left, but far away +astern, a loud call in a woman's voice was heard. + +"That must be Freda!" Edmund exclaimed. "Turn the +ship; they have passed us in the fog." + +The Dragon's head was turned and she was rowed rapidly +in the direction of the voice. No further sound was heard. +Presently there was a sudden shock which threw everyone +on to the deck. The Dragon had run high on the low muddy +bank of the river. The tide was falling; and although for a +few minutes the crew tried desperately to push her off they +soon found that their efforts were in vain, and it was not +until the tide again rose high nine hours later that the Dragon +floated. Until morning broke nothing could be done, and +even when it did so matters were not mended, for the fog +was still dense. + +The disappointment of Edmund and Siegbert at the escape +of the Danes was extreme. Their plans had been so well +laid that when it was found that the Dragon had arrived in +time no doubts were entertained of the success of the enterprise, +and to be foiled just when Freda seemed within reach +was a terrible disappointment. + +"My only consolation is," Edmund said as he paced the +deck impatiently side by side with Egbert, "that this fog which +delays us will also hinder the Danes." + +"That may be so or it may not," Egbert answered. "It is +evident that some on board the Danish ships must have recognized +us, and that they were anxious to escape rather than fight. +They draw so little water that they would not be afraid +of the sandbanks off the mouth of the river, seeing that even +if they strike them they can jump out, lighten the boats, and +push them off; and once well out at sea it is probable that +they may get clearer weather, for Siegbert tells me that the +fog often lies thick at the mouths of these rivers when it is +clear enough in the open sea." + +When the tide again began to run out Edmund determined +at all risks to proceed to sea. The moorings were cast +off from the shore and the Dragon suffered to drift down. +Men with poles took their stations in her bows and sounded +continually, while at her stern two anchors were prepared in +readiness to drop at a moment's notice. Several times the +water shoaled so much that Edmund was on the point of +giving orders to drop the anchors, but each time it deepened +again. + +So they continued drifting until they calculated that the +tide must be nearly on the turn, and they then dropped anchor. +It was much lighter now than it had been in the river, +but was still so misty that they could not see more than a +hundred yards or so round the vessel. No change took place +until night, and then Edmund, who had been too excited +and anxious to sleep on the previous night, lay down to rest, +ordering that he should be woke if any change took place in +the weather. As the sun rose next morning the fog gradually +lifted, and they were able to see where they were. Their head +pointed west; far away on their left could be seen a low line of +coast. Not a sail was in sight, and indeed sails would have +been useless, for the water was still unruffled by a breath of +wind. The anchors were at once got up and the oars manned, +and the ship's head turned towards shore. + +Two hours' rowing took them within a short distance of +land, and keeping about a mile out they rowed to the west. +The men, knowing how anxious was their leader to overtake +the Danish galleys, rowed their hardest, relieving each other +by turns, so that half the oars were constantly going. Without +intermission they rowed until night set in, and then cast anchor. +When the wind came--it was not until the third day--it was ahead, +and instead of helping the Dragon it greatly impeded its progress. + +So far they had seen nothing of the galleys, and had the +mortification of knowing that in spite of all their efforts these +were probably gaining ground upon them every day. Even +without wind the galleys would row faster than the Dragon, +and being so fully manned would be able to keep all their +oars going; but against the wind their advantage would be +increased greatly, for lying low in the water they would offer +but little resistance to it, and would be able to make way at a +brisk pace, while the Dragon could scarce move against it. + +The Saxon ship was off Calais when the breeze sprang +up, and as it increased and their progress became slower and +slower Edmund held a consultation with his companions and +it was determined to run across the channel and lie in the +mouth of the Thames till the wind turned. So long as it +continued to blow they would lag farther and farther behind +the chase, who might, moreover enter any of the rivers in +search of shelter or provisions, and so escape their pursuers +altogether. Siegbert had never been up the Mediterranean, +but he had talked with many Danes who had been. These +had told him that the best course was to sail west to the +extremity of England, then to steer due south until they came +upon the north coast of Spain. They would follow this to its +western extremity; and then run south, following the land +till they came to a channel some ten miles wide, which formed +the entrance to the Mediterranean. + +They decided, therefore, to follow this course in hopes +of interrupting the galleys there; they would thus avoid the +dangerous navigation of the west coast of France, where there +were known to be many islands and rocks, around which the +tides ran with great fury. For a fortnight the Dragon lay +windbound; then came two days of calm; and then, to their +delight, the pennon on the top of the mast blew out +from the east. + +They were lying in the mouth of the Colne, and would +therefore have no difficulty in making the Foreland; and with +her sail set and her oars out the Dragon dashed away from +her moorings. Swiftly they ran round the south-easterly point +of England and then flew before the breeze along the southern +coast. On the third day they were off Land's End and +hauled her head to the south. The east wind held, the Bay of +Biscay was calm, and after a rapid voyage they sighted the +high lands of Spain ahead. Then they sheered to the west till +they rounded its extremity and then sailed down the coast of +Spain. They put into a river for provisions, and the natives +assembled in great numbers on the banks with the evident +intention of opposing a landing; but upon Egbert shouting +that they were not Danes but Saxons, and were ready to barter +for the provisions they required, the natives allowed them +to approach. There was no wrangling for terms. Cattle were +purchased, and the water-tanks filled up, and a few hours +after entering the river the Dragon was again under way. +Rounding the southern point they followed the land. After a +day's sailing they perceived land on their right, and gave a +shout of joy at the thought that they had arrived at the +entrance of the straits. At nightfall they dropped anchor. + +"What are you looking at, Siegbert?" Edmund asked, +seeing the jarl looking thoughtfully at the anchor-chain +as the ship swung round. + +"I am thinking," the jarl said, "that we must have made +some error. Do you not see that she rides, just as we were +sailing, with her head to the north-east? That shows that the +current is against us." + +"Assuredly it does," Edmund said; "but the current is a +very slack one, for the ropes are not tight." + +"But that agrees not," Siegbert said, "with what I have +been told. In the first place, this channel points to the +northeast, whereas, as I have heard, the straits into the +Mediterranean run due east. In the next place, those who have +been through have told me that there are no tides as in the +northern seas, but that the current runs ever like a river to +the east." + +"If that be so," Edmund said, "we must have mistaken +our way, for here what current there is runs to the west. +To-morrow morning, instead of proceeding farther, we will cross +to the opposite side, and will follow that down until we strike +upon the right channel." + +In the morning sail was again made, and crossing what +was really the Bay of Cadiz they sailed on till they arrived at +the mouth of the straits. There was no doubt now that they +were right. The width of the channel, its direction, and the +steady current through it, all corresponded with what Siegbert +had heard, and proceeding a mile along it they cast anchor. + +They soon opened communications with the natives, +who, although speaking a tongue unknown to them, soon +comprehended by their gestures and the holding up of articles +of barter that their intentions were friendly. Trade was +established, and there was now nothing to do but to await +the coming of the galleys. + +"I would," Edmund said, as, when evening was closing, +he looked across the straits at the low hills on the opposite +side, "that this passage was narrower. Sweyn will, doubtless, +have men on board his ship who have sailed in these seas +before, and will not need to grope his way along as we have +done. If he enters the straits at night we shall see nothing of +him, and the current runs so fast that he would sweep speedily +by. It is possible, indeed, that he has already passed. If he +continued to row down the shores of France all the time we +were lying wind-bound he would have had so long a start when +the east wind began to blow, that, although the galleys carry +but little sail, they might well have been here some days +before us. Sweyn would be anxious to join Hasting as soon as +he could. The men would be thirsting for booty, and would +make but short halt anywhere. I will stay but a week. If in +that time they come not we will enter this southern sea and +seek the fleet of Hasting. When we find that we shall find +Sweyn; but I fear that the search will be a long one, for these +people speak not our tongue, and we shall have hard work in +gaining tidings of the whereabouts of the Northmen's fleet." + +Day and night a vigilant watch was kept up from the +mast-head of the Dragon, but without success. Each day they +became more and more convinced that Sweyn must be ahead +of them, and on the morning of the seventh they lifted their +anchor and proceeded through the straits. Many had been +the consultations between Edmund and his friends, and it +had been determined at last to sail direct for Rome. Siegbert +knew that by sailing somewhat to the north of east, after +issuing from the passage, they would in time arrive at Italy. + +At Rome there was a monastery of Saxon monks, and +through them they would be able to obtain full information +as to the doings and whereabouts of the squadron of Hasting. +Scarcely were they through the straits than the wind, +veering to the south-east, prevented them from making the +course they had fixed upon, but they were able to coast along +by the shore of Spain. They put into several small ports as +they cruised up, but could obtain no intelligence of the Danes, +being unable to converse except by signs. + +When they reached Marseilles they were pleased to meet +with Franks, with whom they could converse, and hired a +pilot acquainted with the coasts of the Mediterranean. They +learned that Hasting and his fleet had harried the coasts of +Provence and Italy; that the Genoese galleys had had several +engagements with them, but had been worsted. + +The Danish fleet was now off the coast of Sicily, and +the Northmen were ravaging that rich and fertile island. +They were reported to have even threatened to ascend the Tiber +and to burn Rome. Having obtained the services of a man +who spoke both the Italian and Frankish tongues, Edmund +started again. He first went to Genoa, as he thought that the +people there might be despatching another fleet against the +Northmen in which case he would have joined himself to +them. On his arrival there he was well entertained by the +Genoese when they learned, through the interpreter, who +they were, and that they had come from England as enemies +of the Danes. + +Edmund and his Saxons were much surprised at the +splendour of Genoa, which immensely surpassed anything +they had hitherto seen in the magnificence of its buildings, +the dress and appearance of its inhabitants, the variety of +the goods displayed by the traders, and the wealth and luxury +which distinguished it. It was indeed their first sight of +civilization, and Edmund felt how vastly behind was Northern +Europe, and understood for the first time Alfred's extreme +eagerness to raise the condition of his people. On the other +hand, the Genoese were surprised at the dress and appearance +of the Saxons. + +The crew of the Dragon were picked men, and their +strength and stature, the width of their shoulders, and the +muscles of their arms, and, above all, their fair hair and blue +eyes, greatly astonished the Genoese. Edmund and his companions +might have remained in Genoa and received entertainment +and hospitality from its people for a long time; but +after a stay of a day or two, and having obtained the various +stores necessary for their voyage, Edmund determined to +proceed. Three of the young Genoese nobles, fired by the +story which they heard of the adventures which the Dragon +had gone through, and desirous of taking part in any action +which she might fight against the Danes, begged leave to +accompany them. + +Edmund gladly acceded to the request, as their presence +would be of great utility in other ports at which the +Dragon might touch. At Genoa Edmund procured garments +for his men similar to those worn by the Italian soldiers and +sailors, and here he sold to the gold and silversmiths a large +number of articles of value which they had captured from +the Danes, or with which the Count Eudes and the people of +Paris had presented them. + +The Dragon differed but little in appearance from the +galleys of the Genoese, and Edmund determined when he +approached the shores where the Northmen were plundering +to pass as a Genoese ship, for should the news come to +Sweyn's ears that a Saxon galley was in the Mediterranean it +might put him on his guard, as he would believe that she was +specially in pursuit of his own vessel. + +On arriving at the mouth of the Tiber the Dragon ascended +the river and anchored under the walls of the imperial city. +The Genoese nobles had many friends and relations there, +and Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert were at once installed as +guests in a stately palace. + +The pope, upon hearing that the strange galley which +had anchored in the river was a Saxon, sent an invitation to +its commander to visit him, and Edmund and his kinsman +were taken by their Italian friends to his presence. The pope +received them most graciously, and after inquiring after King +Alfred and the state of things in England, asked how it was +that a Saxon ship had made so long a voyage. + +Edmund explained that he was in search of a Danish +damsel who had once shown him great kindness, and who +had been carried off from her father by one of the vikings of +Hasting's fleet. When he said that they had taken part in the +defence of Paris the holy father told him that he now recognized +his name, for that a full account of the siege had been +sent to him by one of the monks there, and that he had spoken +much of the valour of a Saxon captain and the crew of +his galley, to whom indeed their successful resistance to the +Northmen was in no slight degree due. + +"Would I could aid you, my son, in your enterprise against +these northern pirates. The depredations which they are +committing on the shores of Italy are terrible indeed, and we +are powerless to resist them; they have even threatened to +ascend the Tiber and attack Rome, and though I trust that +we might resist their attacks, yet rather than such misfortune +as a siege should fall upon my people I have paid a large sum +of money to the leader of the Northmen to abstain from coming +hither; but I know that the greed of these pirates does +but increase with their gains, and that ere long we may see +their pagan banner floated before our walls. A few galleys I +could man and place under your orders, but in truth the +people of this town are not skilled in naval fighting. I have +already endeavoured to unite the states of Genoa, Pisa, and +Venice against them, for it is only by common effort that we +can hope to overwhelm these wolves of the sea." + +Edmund expressed his thanks to the pope for his offer, +but said that he would rather proceed with the Dragon alone. + +"She is to the full as swift as the Northmen's vessels," he +said; "and although I would right gladly join any great fleet +which might be assembled for an attack upon them, I would +rather proceed alone than with a few other ships. Not being +strong enough to attack their whole armament I must depend +upon stratagem to capture the galley of which I am +specially in pursuit, and will with your permission set out as +soon as I have transformed my ship so that she will pass muster +as a galley of Genoa or Venice." + +The holy father gave orders that every assistance should +be afforded to Edmund to carry out his designs, and the next +morning a large number of artisans and workmen took possession +of the Dragon. She was painted from stem to stern +with bright colours. Carved wood-work was added to her +forecastle and poop, and a great deal of gilding overlaid upon +her. The shape of her bow was altered, and so transformed +was she that none would have known her for the vessel which +had entered the Tiber, and she would have passed without +observation as a galley of Genoa. + +A number of prisoners accustomed to row in the state +galleys were placed on board to work the oars, thus leaving +the whole of the crew available for fighting purposes, and a +state officer was put in command of these galley-slaves. The +ship was well stored with provisions, and after a farewell +interview with the pope, Edmund and his companions returned +on board ship, and the Dragon took her way down the river. + +The fleet of the Northmen was at Palermo, and keeping +under the land, the Saxon ship sailed down the coast of +Calabria, and at night crossed near the mouth of the straits +to the shore of Sicily. They entered a quiet bay, and Edmund +dressed as a Dane, with the two Northmen who had accompanied +him from Paris, landed and journeyed on foot to Palermo. + +Everywhere they came upon scenes similar to those with +which they were familiar in France. Villages burned and +destroyed, houses deserted, orchards and crops wasted, and +a country destitute of inhabitants, all having fled to the +mountains to escape the invader. They did not meet with a single +person upon their journey. When they approached Palermo +they waited until nightfall, and then boldly entered the town. +Here the most intense state of misery prevailed. Many of the +inhabitants had fled before the arrival of the Danes, but those +who remained were kept in a state of cruel subjection by their +conquerors, who brutally oppressed and ill-used them, making +free with all their possessions and treating them as slaves. + +The Danes entered into conversation with some of their +countrymen, and professing to have that evening but newly +arrived from home, learned much of the disposition of the +fleet of the Northmen. They pretended that they were desirous +of joining the galleys under the command of Sweyn, and +were told that these had arrived three weeks before, and were +now absent with some others on the southern side of the +island. + +Having obtained this information, Edmund and his companions +started without delay to rejoin the Dragon. Upon +reaching her she at once put to sea. Palermo was passed in +the night, and the vessel held her way down the western coast +of Sicily. She was now under sail alone, and each night lay +up at anchor in order that she might not pass the Danish +galleys unobserved. On the third day after passing Palermo, +several galleys were seen riding off a small port. The wind +was very light, and after a consultation with his friends +Edmund determined to simulate flight so as to tempt the +Danes to pursue, for with so light a breeze their smaller +galleys would row faster than the Dragon; besides, it was +possible that Sweyn might be on shore. + +It was early morning when the Danish galleys were seen, +and apparently the crews were still asleep, for no movement +on board was visible, and the Dragon sailed back round a +projecting point of land and then cast anchor. It was so +important to learn whether Sweyn was with Freda on board his +ship, or whether, as was likely, he had established himself on +shore, that it was decided it would be better to send the two +Danes to reconnoitre before determining what plan should +be adopted. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: FREDA DISCOVERED + + + +The spies upon their return reported that Sweyn had +taken up his abode in the mansion of the Count of Ugoli, +who was the lord of that part of the country. +Most of the Danes lived on shore in the houses of the +townspeople. Many of these had been slain, and the rest were +treated as slaves. The lady Freda was also on shore, and it +was thought that she would ere long become the bride of the +Viking. + +"Think you that there will be any possibility of surprising +the house and carrying her off?" + +"I think not," the Dane said, "for Sweyn's men are on +the alert, and keep good guard, for the people of this part of +the island, being maddened by their exactions and cruelty, +have banded themselves together; and although they cannot +withstand the strong parties which go out in search of plunder +they cut off stragglers, and have made several attacks on +small parties. It is thought that they may even venture an +attack upon the place at night, therefore sentries are set, and +a portion of the force remains always under arms in readiness +to sally out in case of alarm." + +"I would fain go myself," Edmund said, "and see how +matters stand, and try to communicate with Freda. It may be +that her long resistance has tired her out, and that she is at +the point of consenting to become Sweyn's bride." + +"I think not that," Siegbert replied. "When Freda has +once made up her mind she is not given to change." + +"I doubt not her resolution," Edmund said; "but none +can blame her if, after all these months, she has begun to +despair of rescue; nay, it is even probable that, having Sweyn, +who is assuredly a brave and enterprising Viking, always near +her, she may have come to love him." + +"No, Edmund," Siegbert replied. "I am sure you need +have no fear that she has softened towards Sweyn. But how +do you think of proceeding if you land?" + +"I will take with me this Dane, and if one of the Genoese +nobles will go with me I will take him, and also the man we +brought from Marseilles, who acts as an interpreter between +us and the Italians." + +"But why hamper yourself with two men, who would be +even more likely to be detected by the Danes than would you +yourself?" + +"I shall leave them in the outskirts of the place," Edmund +replied. "I would fain see if I can enter into any negotiations +with the natives. Perhaps we may arrange that they shall +attack the place on the land side, while the Dragon falls upon +the galleys, and in any case we may need an interpreter with +the people." + +One of the young Genoese, upon being asked whether +he would take part in the adventure, at once consented, and +the four men, attiring themselves as Danes, speedily landed +in the Dragon's boat. The bay in which the ship was lying was +some ten miles along the shore from the town. The spies +had made their way along the sea-coast by night, but as it was +morning when Edmund landed, he thought that it would be +safer to make a detour so as to arrive near the landward side +of the town and so enter it after dark. + +They had not proceeded far when they came upon the +ruins of a village. It had been destroyed by fire, and the +freshness of the charred beams showed that it had been done +but a short time before, probably not many days. Marks of +blood could be seen in the roadway, but no bodies were visible, +and Edmund supposed that, after the Danes had retired, +the survivors must have returned and buried their dead. They +had not proceeded far when the Dane pointed out to Edmund +a half-naked lad who was running with the swiftness of a deer +over a slope of some little distance. + +"He is going too fast for us to catch him," Edmund said +carelessly; "and as, even if we did so, he could give us no +information of any use, for you may be sure he has not ventured +near the town, we may well let him go on in his way." + +For three or four miles further they pursued their course. +The country, which was exceedingly fertile, and covered with +corn-fields and vineyards, appeared entirely deserted. Here +and there a wide blackened tract showed where, from +carelessness or malice, a brand had been thrown into the +standing corn. + +"The Danes are ever the same," Edmund said. "Well +may they be called the sea-wolves. It would be bad enough +did they only plunder and kill those who oppose them; but +they destroy from the pure love of destroying, and slay for +the pleasure of slaying. Why are these robbers permitted to +be the scourge of Europe?" + +"Why indeed?" the Genoese repeated when the interpreter +had translated Edmund's exclamation to him. "'Tis shame +and disgrace that Christendom does not unite against +them. They are no more invincible now than they were when +Caesar overran their country and brought them into subjection. +What the Romans could do then would be easy for the +Christian powers to do now if they would but make common +cause against these marauders--nay, Italy alone should be +able at any rate to sweep the Mediterranean free of their +pirate galleys; but Venice and Genoa and Pisa are consumed +by their own petty jealousies and quarrels, while all our +sea-coasts are ravaged by these wolves of the ocean." + + "Ah! what is that?" he exclaimed, breaking off, as an +arrow struck smartly against his helmet. + +They were at the moment passing through a small wood +which bordered the road on both sides. The first arrow +seemed but a signal, for in an instant a score of others flew +among the party. It was well that they carried with them the +long Danish shields, which nearly covered their whole body. +As it was, several slight wounds were inflicted, and the +interpreter fell dead with an arrow in his forehead. + +Immediately following the flight of arrows a crowd of +peasants armed with staves, axes, and pikes dashed out from +the wood on both sides and fell upon them, uttering shouts +of "Death to the marauders!" "Kill the sea-wolves!" + +So great was the din, that, although the Genoese shouted +loudly that they were not Danes but friends, his words were +unheard in the din; and attacked fiercely on all sides, the +three men were forced to defend themselves for their lives. +Standing back to back in the form of a triangle, they defended +themselves valiantly against the desperate attacks of their +assailants. + +Several of these were cut down, but so furious was the +attack of the maddened peasants that the defenders were +borne down by the weight of numbers, and one by one beaten +to the ground. Then the peasants rained blows upon them +as if they had been obnoxious wild beasts, and in spite of +their armour would speedily have slain them had not the +Genoese, with a great effort, pulled from his breast a cross, +which was suspended there by a silken cord, and held it up, +shouting, "We are Christians, we are Italians, and no Danes." + +So surprised were the peasants at the sight that they +recoiled from their victims. The Dane was already insensible. +Edmund had just strength to draw his dagger and hold +up the cross hilt and repeat the words, "We are Christians." +It was the sight of the cross rather than the words which had +arrested the attacks of the peasants. Indeed, the words of +the Genoese were scarce understood by them, so widely did +their own patois differ from the language of polished Italy. + +The fact, however, that these Danes were Christians +seemed so extraordinary to them that they desisted from their +attack. The Danes, they knew, were pagans and bitterly hostile +to Christianity, the monasteries and priests being special +objects of their hostility. The suggestion of one of the peasants, +that the cross had no doubt been taken from the body +of some man murdered by the Danes, revived the passion of +the rest and nearly cost the prisoners their lives; but an older +man who seemed to have a certain authority over the others +said that the matter must be inquired into, especially as the +man who had the cross, and who continued to address them +in Italian, clearly spoke some language approaching their own. +He would have questioned him further, but the Genoese was +now rapidly losing consciousness from the pain of his wounds +and the loss of blood. + +The three prisoners were therefore bound, and being +placed on rough litters constructed of boughs, were carried +off by the peasants. The strength and excellence of Edmund's +armour had enabled him to withstand the blows better than +his companions, and he retained his consciousness of what +was passing. For three hours their journey continued. At +the end of that time they entered a wood high up on the hillside. +There was a great clamour of voices round, and he +judged that his conductors had met another party and that +they were at the end of their journey. + +The litters were now laid down and Edmund struggled +to his feet. Before him stood a tall and handsome man in the +attire of a person of the upper class. The old peasant was +explaining to him the manner of their capture of the prisoners, +and the reason why they had spared their lives. + +"How is it," the noble asked when he had finished, turning +to Edmund, "that you who are Danes and pagans, plunderers +and murderers, claim to be Christians?" + +Edmund did not understand the entire address, but he +had already picked up a little Italian, which was not difficult +for him from his acquaintance with French. + +"We are not Danes," he said; "we are their enemies, I am +a Saxon earl, and this my friend is a noble of Genoa." + +"A Saxon!" the Italian exclaimed in surprise; "one of the +people of King Alfred, and this a Genoese noble! How is it +that you are masquerading here as Danes?" + +"I speak but a few words of Italian," Edmund said, "but +my friend will tell you the whole story when he recovers. +I pray you to order aid to be given to him at once." + +Although still at a loss to understand how it had come +about, the Count of Ugoli--for it was that noble himself- +saw that his prisoner's statement must be a true one. In their +native patois he hastily told the peasants that there must be +some mistake, and that although their prisoners seemed to +be Danes they were really Christians and friends. He bade +them then instantly to strip off their armour, to bind up their +wounds, and to use all their efforts to restore them to life. + +At his bidding one of the peasants brought a wine-skin, +and filling a large cup with the liquid, offered it to Edmund. +The latter drained it at a draught, for he was devoured by a +terrible thirst. After this he felt revived, and soon had the +satisfaction of seeing his comrades recovering under the +ministrations of the peasants, who chafed their hands, applied +cool poultices of bruised leaves to their bruises, and poured +wine down their throats. + +In half an hour the Genoese was sufficiently recovered +to be able to sit up and to give a full account of their presence +there, and of their object in assuming the disguise of Danes. +He then told the count that Edmund intended to reconnoitre +the place alone, and that he hoped he and his people +would attack the town, while the Saxons in their galley made +an assault from the sea. The count replied that the peasantry +could not be induced to take such a step. + +"I will, however, aid your friend," he said, "by a feigned +attack to-morrow evening when he is there. This may help +him to escape, and if the Danes sally out next day in pursuit +there will be the fewer for him to cope with." + +When Edmund awoke the next morning he found himself +able to walk and move without difficulty and with but +little pain, thanks to the care of the peasants, and in the +afternoon, being furnished by the count with a guide, he started +for the town. + +When he arrived within a short distance he dismissed +his guide and lay down in some bushes till nightfall, then he +rose and made his way into the town, passing unobserved +between the watch-fires made by the parties of Danes encamped +in its outskirts to protect it against surprise. Once +in the town, he walked boldly on, having no fear of +recognition or question. + +Sounds of carousing came through the open casements, +but few people were in its streets. He made his way down to +the sea-shore, which he followed until he came to a large and +stately mansion standing in beautifully laid out gardens at +the end of the town. Several tents were erected in the garden; +and although the night was not cold great fires had been +lighted, around which the Danes were carousing. + +Avoiding these Edmund walked up to the open windows. +The first room he looked into was deserted, but in the next, +which was a large apartment, a number of Danes were seated +at table. At its head sat Sweyn with Freda on his right hand. +Around were a number of his leading men, the captains of +the galleys and their wives. The meal was over, and the winecup +was passing round. A number of attendants moved about +the room, and many of the warriors who had supped elsewhere +stood around the table, joining in the conversation +and taking their share of the wine. + +Edmund saw at once that he could not hope for a more +favourable opportunity, and he accordingly entered the mansion, +and, passing through the open door, joined the party +within, keeping himself in rear of those standing round the +table, so that the light from the lamps placed there should +not fall upon his face. + +Just as he had taken his place, Sweyn called out: +"Let us have a song. Odoacre the minstrel, do you sing +to us the song of the Raven." + +A minstrel bearing a small harp advanced into the centre +of the horse-shoe table, and after striking a chord, began +to sing, or rather to chant one of the favourite songs of the +sea-rovers. + +A shout of applause rose from the Danes as the minstrel +ceased, and holding their goblets high above their heads, they +drank to the Raven. + +While the singing was going on Edmund quietly made +his way round to one of the open windows. It was the hour at +which the count had promised to make his attack, and he +listened eagerly for any sound which might tell that the +peasants had begun their work. Other songs followed the first, +and Edmund began to be afraid that the courage of the peasants +had failed at the last moment. + +Suddenly he saw lights appear at five or six points in the +distance, and, putting his head out, he thought he could hear +distant cries and shouts. The lights grew brighter, and soon +broad tongues of flame shot up. Shouts at once arose from +the guards without. Some of the revellers hearing these went +to the windows to see what was happening, and gave a cry of +alarm. "Sweyn, we must be attacked; fires are rising in the +outskirts of the town." + +"These cowards would never venture to disturb us," +Sweyn said scornfully; "of all the foes we have ever met none +were so feeble and timid as these Italians." + +"But see, Sweyn, the flames are rising from eight points; +this cannot be accident." + +Sweyn rose from his seat and went to the window. + +"No, by Wodin," he exclaimed, "there is mischief here; +let us arm ourselves, and do you," he said, turning to a young +man, "run swiftly to the outposts, and learn what is the +meaning of this." + +Scarcely, however, had he spoken when a man ran breathlessly +into the hall. + +"Haste to the front, jarl," he said to Sweyn, "we are attacked. +Some of the enemy creeping in between our fires set +fire to the houses in the outskirts, and as we leapt to our feet +in astonishment at the sudden outbreak, they fell upon us. +Many of my comrades were killed with the first discharge of +arrows, then they rushed on in such numbers that many more +were slain, and the rest driven in. How it fares with the other +posts I know not, but methinks they were all attacked at the +same moment. I waited not to see, for my captain bade me +speed here with the news." + +"Sound the horn of assembly," Sweyn said. "Do you, +Oderic, take twenty of the guard without, and at once conduct +the ladies here to the boats and get them on board the +galleys. Let all others hasten to the scene of attack. But I +can hardly even now believe that this coward herd intend to +attack us in earnest." + +In the confusion which reigned as the warriors were +seizing their shields and arms, Edmund approached Freda, +who had with the rest risen from her seat. + +"The Dragon is at hand," he whispered; "in a few hours +we will attack Sweyn's galley; barricade yourself in your cabin +until the fight is over." + +Freda gave a little start as Edmund's first words reached +her ear. Then she stood still and silent. She felt her hand +taken and pressed, and glancing round, met Edmund's eye +for a moment just as he turned and joined the Danes who +were leaving the hall. A minute later Oderic entered with +the guard, and at once escorted the women down to the boats, +and rowed them off to the galleys. + +Sweyn and the main body of the Danes rushed impetuously +to the outskirts of the town. The fighting was already +at an end, the peasants having withdrawn after their first +success. Two or three of the parties round the watch-fires +had been annihilated before they could offer any effectual +resistance, others had beaten off the attack, and had fallen +back in good order to the houses, losing, however, many men +on the way from the arrows which their assailants shot among +them. + +Sweyn and the Norsemen were furious at the loss they +had suffered; but as pursuit would have been useless, there +was nothing to be done for the present, and after posting +strong guards in case the attack should be renewed, the Danish +leaders returned to the banqueting hall, where, over renewed +draughts of wine, a council was held. + +Most of those present were in favour of sending out a +strong expedition on the following day to avenge the attack; +but Sweyn argued that it might be that the natives had +assembled from all parts of the island, and that this sudden +attack, the like of which had not been attempted before, was +perhaps made only to draw them out into an ambush or to +attack the town in their absence. Therefore he urged it was +better to delay making an expedition for a short time, when +they would find the enemy unprepared. + +After some discussion Sweyn's arguments prevailed, and it +was determined to postpone the expedition for a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX: UNITED + + + +No sooner did Edmund find himself outside the mansion +than he separated himself from the Danes, and +following the sea-shore, set out on his return to the +Dragon. The tide was out, and although the night was dark +he had no difficulty in finding his way along the shore, +keeping close to the margin of the waves. When he approached +the headland he was forced to take to the land, as the waves +beat against the foot of the rock. Guided by the stars he +made his way across the cape and came down on to the shore +of the bay. + +A light was burning on the poop of the Dragon, and his +hail was at once answered. A few minutes later a boat touched +the shore beside him, and he was soon on board the ship, +and at once held council with Egbert and Siegbert, to whom +he related all that had happened. He learned from them +that his two wounded comrades had been brought down to +the beach that evening by the country people, and had told +them how narrow an escape they had had of death at the +hands of the enraged peasants. + +After a discussion of all the different plans upon which +they might act, it was determined that the attempt to rescue +Freda should be made at once, as they considered it certain +that Sweyn with a large portion of his band would set out at +daybreak to take vengeance upon the natives. + +The plan decided upon was that they should proceed +along the shore, and that if the Danish galleys, being +undermanned, did not put out in pursuit, they should sail in +and attack them. The Danes were indeed greatly superior in +force, for they had counted the ships, the smallest of which +would carry a hundred men. Still in the absence of a portion +of their crews, and from the effects of surprise, they thought +that success was possible. + +The next morning sail was hoisted, and the Dragon made +her way along the coast. The hour was later than that at +which she had shown herself on the previous day. She sailed +on until within two miles of the town, and then suddenly +turned her head seaward, as if she had only then perceived +the Danish vessels. The instant she did so a great bustle was +observed among them. Many boats were seen pushing off +from shore crowded with men, oars were got out, and sails +loosed. + +"From the number of men who are crowding on board," Egbert said, +"I believe that Sweyn cannot have started in pursuit of +the natives; in that case we shall have a hard fight of it." + +"So much the better," Siegbert exclaimed. "I should consider +our task was half accomplished if we rescued Freda without +punishing Sweyn. Let them come," he said, shaking his +battle-axe at the galleys. "Though my leg is stiff my arms are +not, as Sweyn shall learn if I meet him." + +The Dragon's oars were now put out and the galley-slaves +began to row, the Saxons concealing themselves behind the +bulwarks. In a few minutes the whole of the Danish galleys +were unmoored and started in the pursuit of the supposed +Italian vessel. The breeze was light, but somewhat helped +the Dragon. Four of the Northmen vessels were large ships +with sails, and these speedily fell behind, but the others with +their oars gained slowly on the Dragon. + +Edmund saw with satisfaction that the two galleys of +Sweyn, which he at once recognized, were somewhat faster +than their consorts, and the slaves were made to row as hard +as they could in order to prolong the chase as much as possible, +by which means Sweyn's galleys would be the further +separated from the others. + +After the pursuit had been continued for some miles +Sweyn's galleys were but a few hundred yards in the rear, and +were nearly a quarter of a mile ahead of those of their +comrades, which had gained but little upon the Dragon since the +chase began. Edmund ordered the men to cease rowing, as +if despairing of escape. The Genoese took their station on +the poop, and as Sweyn's galley came rushing up they shouted +to it that they would surrender if promised their lives. The +Northmen answered with a shout of triumph and derision, +and dashed alongside. + +Sweyn's own galley was slightly in advance of the others. +Edmund ordered the oars to be pulled in as the +Northmen came up, so as to allow them to come alongside. +Not a word was spoken on board the Dragon till the Danes, +leaving their oars, swarmed up the side headed by Sweyn +himself. Then Edmund gave a shout, the Saxons leaped to +their feet, and raising their battle-cry fell upon the +astonished Danes. + +Those who had climbed up were instantly cut down or +hurled back into their own galley, and the Saxons leaping +down, a tremendous fight ensued. Edmund with Siegbert +and half his crew boarded the Dane close to the poop, and so +cut the Northmen off from that part of the vessel, while Egbert +with the rest boarded farther forward. The Danes would +have been speedily overpowered had not the second galley +arrived upon the spot; and these, seeing the combat which +was raging, at once leaped upon Sweyn's galley. With this +accession of force, although numbers of the Danes had fallen +in the first attack, they still outnumbered the Saxons. + +Sweyn, heading his men, made a desperate effort to drive +back Edmund's party. His men, however, fought less bravely +than usual. Their astonishment at finding the ship which +they had regarded as an easy prize manned by Saxons was +overwhelming, and the sight of Siegbert, whom many of them +knew, in the front rank of their enemies added to their +confusion. + +Sweyn himself, as he recognized Edmund, at once made +at him, and, wielding a heavy axe in his left hand, strove to +cut him down; and Edmund, strong and skilful as he was, +had great difficulty in parrying the blows which the Northman +rained upon him. The combat, however, was decided by Siegbert, +who hurled his javelin at Sweyn, the weapon passing +completely through his body. + +Sweyn fell on the deck with a crash. + +The Northmen, dispirited at the fall of their leader, +hesitated, and as the Saxons sprang upon them turned and fled +into the other galley. The door of the poop opened and Freda +flew into her father's arms. + +"Quick, Siegbert, to the Dragon!" Edmund cried, +and shouted orders to his men. "There is not a moment to be lost. +The other galleys are just upon us!" + +The Saxons rushed back to the Dragon; the oars were +thrust out again, and the vessel got under weigh just as the +other Danish galleys arrived on the spot. While some of the +Saxons poured volleys of arrows and javelins into the +Northmen, the others at Edmund's order leaped down and +double-banked the oars. The increase of power was soon +manifest, and the Dragon began to draw away from the Danes. +Gradually their galleys fell back out of bow-shot, and after +continuing the chase for some little time longer they abandoned +it as hopeless and lay upon their oars to rest. + +A shout of triumph rose from the Saxons, and then +Edmund, who had hitherto been fully occupied with the command +of the vessel, turned to Freda, who was still standing +by her father. + +"I have been a long time in fulfilling my promise, Freda," +he said; "but as your father will tell you I have done my best. +Thank God, who has given me success at last!" + +"I never doubted that you would come, Edmund," she +said, "and the knowledge has enabled me to stand firm against +both the entreaties and threats of Sweyn. How can I thank +you for all you have done for me?" + +"I have spoken to your father, Freda; and he has promised me +your hand if you, indeed, are willing to bestow it. I promised +to come for you if you would wait, nearly five years ago, +and I have never thought of any other woman." + +"I have waited for you, Edmund," she said simply, "and +would never have wed another had you not come. You are +my hero, and methinks I have loved you ever since the day +when you boarded our ship off the mouth of the Humber." + +"Take her, Edmund," Siegbert said; "you have nobly won +her, and there is no one to whom I could be so well content +to intrust her. I now join your hands in token of betrothal." + +The crew of the Dragon, who had been watching the scene, +raised a shout of gladness as they saw Siegbert place +Freda's hand in that of Edmund. They had guessed that their +lord must have an affection for this Danish maiden in whose +pursuit they had come so far, and were delighted at the happy +issue of the expedition. + +"I trust, Freda," Edmund said to her after a while, "that +you have thought of the talk we had about religion, and that +you will forsake the barbarous gods of your people and become +a Christian, as so many of your people have done in +England, and that you will be wedded to me not in the rude +way of the Danes, but in a Christian church." + +"I have thought much of it," she said, "and have come to +think that your God of peace must be better than the gods of +war; but I would fain know more of Him before I desert the +religion of my fathers." + +"That shall you," Edmund said. "With your father's permission +I will place you for a short time in a convent in Rome, +and one of the Saxon monks shall teach you the tenets of our +faith. It will be but for a short time, dear; and while you are +there we will try and capture some of Hasting's galleys, filled +with plunder, for my men have come far, and I would fain +that they returned with an ample booty." + +Freda and Siegbert agreed to the plan, and the latter +said, "I too will tarry in Rome while you are away, Edmund. I +could fight against Sweyn, for it was in a private quarrel, but +I cannot war against my countrymen. I too will talk with +your Saxon monks, and hear about this new religion of yours, +for I think that as I have no others to love or care for I shall +return to England with you, and, if you will have me, take up +my abode in your English home so as to be near you and my +daughter." + +The Dragon returned to Rome. There Edmund procured +lodgings for Siegbert and Freda, and the Saxon monks gladly +arranged to visit them and instruct them in the doctrines of +Christianity. The Dragon sailed again for the coast of Sicily +and was absent a month, during which time she captured a +number of Danish galleys, most of which were laden with +rich booty. Then she returned to Rome. A few days later a +solemn service was held, at which Freda and Siegbert were +baptized as Christians, and after this was done a marriage +service was held, and Edmund and Freda married with the +rites of the Christian Church. The pope himself was present +at the services and bestowed his blessing upon the newly +married couple, the novelty of the occasion drawing a vast +crowd of spectators. + +A few days later the Dragon again put to sea, and after a +speedy voyage with favourable weather arrived in England +without further adventure. Edmund's arrival at home was +the occasion of great rejoicings. The news of the share which +the Dragon and her crew had taken in the defence of Paris +had reached England, but none knew what had become of +her from that time, and when months had passed without +tidings of her being received it was generally supposed that +she must have been lost. + +Her return laden with rich booty excited the greatest +enthusiasm, and the king himself journeyed to Sherborne to +welcome Edmund on his arrival there. + +"So this is the reason," he said smiling, when Edmund +presented Freda to him, "why you were ever so insensible to +the attractions to our Saxon maidens! Truly the reason is a +fair one and fully excuses you, and right glad am I to welcome +your bonnie bride to our shores." + +Alfred remained three days at Sherborne and then left +Edmund to administer the affairs of his earldom, for which a +substitute had been provided in his absence. The large plunder +which the Dragon had brought home had enriched all +who had sailed in her, and greatly added to the prosperity +which prevailed in Edmund's district. + +He found that in his absence Alfred had introduced many +changes. The administration of justice was no longer in the +hands of the ealdormen, judges having been appointed who +journeyed through the land and administered justice. +Edmund highly approved of the change, for although in most +cases the ealdormen had acted to the best of their powers +they had a great deal of other business to do; besides, their +decisions necessarily aggrieved one party or the other and +sometimes caused feuds and bad feelings, and were always +liable to be suspected of being tinged with partiality; whereas +the judges being strangers in the district would give their +decisions without bias or favour. + +Freda had, as was the custom, taken a new name in baptism, +but at Edmund's request her name had only been +changed to the Christian one of Elfrida, and Edmund to the +end of his life continued to call her by her old name. She +speedily became as popular in the earldom as was her husband. + +Siegbert, who had been christened Harold, took kindly +to his new life. Between him and Egbert a great friendship +had sprung up, and Edmund built for their joint use a house +close to his own. + +In 884 Alfred heard that the Danes of East Anglia were +in correspondence with their countrymen at home and in +France, and that there was danger that the peace of England +would be disturbed. The thanes were therefore bidden to +prepare for another struggle, to gather sufficient arms in +readiness for all the able-bodied men in their district, and to +call out their contingents from time to time to practise in the +use of arms. + +The ealdormen whose seats of government bordered +on the sea were ordered to construct ships of war, so that any +Danish armament might be met at sea. Edmund was appointed +to command this fleet, and was instructed to visit +the various ports to superintend the construction of the ships, +and when they were completed to exercise their crews in naval +maneuvers. + +The winter of 884 was spent by Edmund in the performance +of these duties. The Dragon was again fitted out, and +in her he cruised from port to port. Freda, who was +passionately fond of the sea, accompanied him, as did Siegbert +and Egbert. It was not until May in 885 that the threatened +invasion took place. Then the news came to the king that the +Danes had landed in large numbers near Rochester and had +laid siege to the town. The king instantly summoned his fighting +array, and in a few days moved at the head of a large +army towards Kent. Rochester was defending itself valiantly. +The Danes erected a great tower opposite to the principal +gate, and overwhelming the defenders on the walls with their +missiles endeavoured to force their way in by battering down +the gate. + +The inhabitants, however, piled great masses of stone +behind it, and even when the gate was battered in the Danes, +with all their efforts, were unable to force an entrance. The +Saxon army advanced with such celerity that the Danes had +received no news of their coming until they were close at +hand. Then one of their foraging parties arrived with the +intelligence that a great Saxon army was upon them. The +Danes were seized with a sudden panic, and fled precipitately +to their ships, leaving behind them the horses they had +brought from France, their stores, and all the prisoners and +spoil they had gathered in their incursions in the +neighbourhood of Rochester. Seeing how well the Saxons +were prepared for resistance the greater portion of the Danes +crossed to France, but sixteen of their vessels entered the +Stour and joined their allies of East Anglia. + +Alfred ordered his fleet to assemble in the Medway, and +in a fortnight the vessels from all the southern ports arrived. +They were filled with fighting men, and sailed to attack the +Danes in the Stour, after which the force was to land and to +inflict a severe punishment upon East Anglia. On hearing +of the gathering of the Saxon fleet Athelstan sent across to +France and begged the Danes to come to his assistance, but +none of their vessels had arrived when the Saxon fleet reached +the mouth of the Stour. + +The fighting force on board the Danish ships had been +largely reinforced by their countrymen of East Anglia, and in +a close body they rowed out to give battle to the Saxons. A +desperate fight ensued, but after a struggle, which continued +for many hours, the Danes were completely defeated, the +whole of their vessels were captured, and all on board put to +the sword. + +On the following day the army landed and ravaged the +surrounding country and returned to the ships with much +booty. As they sailed out of the river they saw a vast fleet of +the enemy approaching. Athelstan had assembled his ships +from all the ports of East Anglia, and had been joined by a +large reinforcement of his countrymen from France. The +Saxons were greatly outnumbered, but a portion of the fleet +fought with great bravery. Some of the ships, however, being +manned with newly-collected crews unaccustomed to naval +war, lost heart, and made but a poor resistance. + +Alfred was on board the Dragon, which sank several of +the Danish galleys, and with some of her consorts continued +the fight until nightfall, beating off every attempt of the Danes +to board them. Seeing that several of the ships had been +captured, that others had taken to flight, and that there was +no longer a hope of victory, Alfred gave the signal, and the +Dragon and her remaining consorts fought their way through +the Danish fleet and made their escape. + +The valour which the Saxons had shown in these two +sea-fights, and the strength of the army with which Alfred +had so speedily marched to the relief of Rochester, greatly +impressed the enemy, and although Rollo came across from +Normandy to the assistance of Athelstan, the Danes concluded +that it was better to leave the Saxons to themselves. + +Alfred in the following spring again assembled his army +and laid siege to London, which was still in the possession of +the Danes. Athelstan did not venture to march to its assistance, +and the town, which had long been in the Northmen's +hands, was captured. The greater portion of the city was +burned in the siege. Alfred ordered it to be rebuilt, invited +its former inhabitants to return, and offered privileges to all +who would take up their abode there. The walls were rebuilt, +and the city placed in a position of defence. Alfred +then handed it over to Ethelred, the ealdorman of Mercia. + +Peace was now made with Athelstan, and for some years +remained unbroken. In 893 a Danish fleet of 250 ships sailed +across from Boulogne and landed in the Weald of Kent, which +was then covered with a great forest, and there wintered, while +the viking Hasting with eighty ships sailed up the Thames +and built a strong fort at Milton. + +Alfred stationed his army in a strong position half-way +between the forest and the Danish camp at Milton, so that he +could attack either army when they moved out of their stronghold. +The Danes for many months remained in the forest, +issuing out occasionally to plunder in the open country of +Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, but they met with a stout resistance +from the Saxons who had remained in the towns and country. + +After Easter, having collected a considerable amount of +spoil, and finding the resistance ever increasing, the Danes +moved northwards from their forest, intending to march into +Essex. The king's forces at once set off to intercept them, +and overtook them at Farnham, where the Northmen were +completely defeated. All their booty was recaptured, with +their horses and stores. Those who escaped fled across the +Thames and took refuge on an island in the Colne. The +Saxons besieged them there; but when the Danes were about +to surrender from want of provisions the news arrived that +the Northmen of Northumbria and East Anglia, with 240 +ships, had landed suddenly in Devonshire, and had laid siege +to Exeter. + +The siege of the island was at once raised, and King +Alfred marched against the new arrivals, and advancing with +great speed fell upon them and defeated them. Then hastily +returning he came to London and, joined by a strong force +from Mercia, marched against Milton, where Hasting had +been joined by the great number of the Danes who had +formed the army in the Weald. Hasting himself was away, +but his army marched out to meet the Saxons. + +A great battle was fought, but the Danes could not resist +the ardour of their assailants. Their army was routed and +their fortress stormed. All the booty within it fell into the +hands of the victors, together with the wives and families of +the Danes, among whom were the wife and two sons of Hasting. +The Danish fleet also was captured, and was burned or +taken to London. Another great fleet of the East Angles +and Northumbrians sailed up the Thames, and landing, the +Northmen marched across to the Severn, but were defeated +and destroyed by Ethelred of Mercia. + +Exeter was again invested by a Danish fleet, and again +saved by Alfred. The Danes, as they retired along the south +coast, landed near Chichester, where they suffered a heavy +defeat from the South Saxons. + +In the following year a fresh fleet sailed up the Thames +and thence up the Lea, where they constructed a fortress +twenty miles above London. + +Alfred caused two fortresses to be erected on the Lea +below them, with vast balks of timber entirely obstructing +the river. The Danes, finding their retreat cut off, abandoned +their ships and marched across England to Cwatbridge on +the Severn. Their fleet fell into the hands of the Londoners, +who burned and broke up all the smaller ships and carried +the rest down to London. The Danes were so disconcerted +by the many and severe defeats which had befallen them that +they now abandoned the idea of again conquering England, +and taking ship, sailed for France. + +Four years later, in 901, King Alfred died, having reigned +twenty-nine years and six months. During his reign England +had made immense advances in civilization, and in spite of +the devastation wrought by the Danish occupation of Wessex +during the early years of his reign, and the efforts required +afterwards to oppose them, the wealth and prosperity of the +country vastly increased during his reign. Abbeys and +monasteries had multiplied, public buildings been erected, +towns rebuilt and beautified, and learning had made great +advances. The laws of the country had been codified and +regulated, the administration of justice placed on a firm +basis. The kingly authority had greatly increased, and the +great ealdormen were no longer semi-independent nobles, but +officers of the crown. Serfdom, although not entirely +abolished, had been mitigated and regulated. Arts and +manufactures had made great progress. + +Edmund and Freda survived King Alfred many years, +and their district continued to be one of the most prosperous +and well-ruled in the kingdom. Their descendants continued +to hold the office of ealdorman until the invasion by +William the Conqueror, and the holder of the office at that +time fell, with numbers of his followers, at the battle of +Hastings. For very many years after that event the prow of +the Dragon was kept in the great hall of Sherborne as a +memorial of the valiant deeds performed against the Danes +by Ealdorman Edmund. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Dragon and the Raven, by G. A. Henty + diff --git a/old/tdatr10.zip b/old/tdatr10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8e90c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tdatr10.zip |