the dragon and the raven-第1章

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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
XlV。　　　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　reignevents　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…nightnot　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　co