the dragon and the raven-第13章

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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　a