the dragon and the raven-第15章

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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　kindsrich
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　the