the dragon and the raven-第18章

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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　ad