the dragon and the raven-第16章

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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；　intactand　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