the dragon and the raven-第23章

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instead　of　keeping　with　the　others；　sailed　for　the　mouth　of
the　Thames。　The　wind　was　favourable　and　the　passage　quick；
and　three　days　after　sailing　Edmund　and　his　companions　were
disembarked　on　the　coast　of　Kent。　His　adieus　with　Siegbert
were　hearty　and　earnest。

〃I　would　you　had　been　a　Northman；〃　the　jarl　said；　〃for　I
love　you　as　a　son；　and　methinks　that　when　the　time　comes；
had　you　been　so　inclined；　you　might　have　really　stood　in　that
relation　to　me；　for　I　guess　that　my　little　Freda　would　not　have
said　no　had　you　asked　her　hand；　but　now　our　paths　are　to
part。　I　shall　never　war　again　with　the　Saxons；　for　indeed
there　is　but　scant　booty　to　be　gained　there；　while　you　are　not
likely　again　to　be　cast　upon　our　shores；　but　should　the　fates
ever　throw　us　together　again；　remember　that　you　have　a　friend
for　life　in　Jarl　Siegbert。〃

Freda；　who　had　accompanied　her　father　as　usual；　wept
bitterly　at　the　parting；　which；　however；　she　did　not　deem　to
be　as　final　as　it　appeared　to　her　father；　for　the　evening　before；
as　she　was　standing　on　the　poop　with　Edmund；　he　had
said　to　her　〃You　will　not　forget　me；　Freda；　we　are　both　very
young　yet；　but　some　day；　when　the　wars　are　over；　and　England
no　longer　requires　my　sword；　I　will　seek　you　again。〃

〃Is　that　a　promise；　Edmund？〃

〃Yes；　Freda；　a　solemn　promise。〃

〃I　will　wait　for　you；〃　she　said　simply；　〃if　it　were　till　the
end　of　my　life。〃

The　youth　and　girl　ratified　the　promise　by　a　kiss；　and
Freda；　as　through　her　tears　she　watched　the　boat　which
conveyed　Edmund　and　his　companions　to　shore；　felt　sure　that
some　day　she　should　see　her　Saxon　hero　again。

On　landing；　Edmund　soon　learned　that　the　Danes　were
everywhere　masters；　and　that　since　the　autumn　nothing　had
been　heard　of　the　king；　who　was　supposed　to　be　somewhere
in　hiding。

In　every　village　through　which　they　passed　they　found
evidence　of　the　mastership　of　the　Danes。　Many　of　the　houses
were　burnt　or　destroyed；　the　people　were　all　dressed　in　the
poorest　garb；　and　their　sad　faces　and　listless　mien　told　of　the
despair　which　everywhere　prevailed。　In　every　church　the
altars　had　been　thrown　down；　the　holy　emblems　and　images
destroyed；　the　monks　and　priests　had　fled　across　the　sea　or
had　been　slain。

The　Danish　gods；　Thor　and　Woden；　had　become　the　divinities
of　the　land；　and　the　Saxons；　in　whom　Christianity
had　but　recently　supplanted　the　superstitions　of　paganism；
were　fast　returning　to　the　worship　of　the　pagan　gods。　Edmund
and　his　companions　were　shocked　at　the　change。　On　reaching
home　they　found　that　the　ravages　of　the　Danes　had　here
been　particularly　severe；　doubtless　in　revenge　for　the　heavy
loss　which　had　been　sustained　by　them　in　their　attack　upon
Edmund's　fortification。　His　own　abode　had　been　completely
levelled　to　the　ground；　and　the　villages　and　farm…houses　for
the　most　part　wholly　destroyed。　His　people　were　lying　in
rude　shelters　which　they　had　raised；　but　their　condition　was
very　much　better　than　that　of　the　people　in　general。

The　news　of　Edmund's　return　spread　like　wildfire；　and
excited　the　most　extreme　joy　among　his　people；　who　had
long　given　him　up　for　lost。　He　found　to　his　delight　that　the
Dragon　had　returned　safely；　and　that　she　was　laid　up　in　her
old　hiding…place。　The　great　amount　of　spoil　with　which　she
was　loaded　had　enabled　her　crew　largely　to　assist　their　friends；
and　it　was　this　which　had　already　raised　the　condition　of　the
people　above　that　of　their　neighbours。　Houses　were　being
gradually　rebuilt；　animals　had　been　brought　from　districts
which　had　been　less　ravaged　by　the　Danes；　and　something
approaching　comfort　was　being　rapidly　restored。

Upon　the　day　after　Edmund's　return　Egbert　arrived。
Feeling　sure　of　Edmund's　death　he　had　taken　no　steps　towards
rebuilding　the　house；　but　was　living　a　wild　life　in　the
woods；　when　the　news　reached　him　that　Edmund　had　reappeared。
His　own　large　share　of　the　booty　with　that　of　Edmund
he　had　buried；　with　the　portion　set　aside　for　the　king；　in　the
wood　near　the　spot　where　the　Dragon　was　laid　up。

They　had　passed　up　the　Parrot　at　night　unobserved　by
the　Danes；　and　after　taking　the　masts　out　of　the　Dragon；　and
dismantling　her；　they　had　laid　her　up　in　the　hole　near　the
river　where　she　was　built。　There　was　little　fear　of　her　discovery
there；　for　the　Danes　were　for　the　most　part　gathered　in　winter
quarters　at　the　great　camp　near　Chippenham。

Egbert's　delight　at　the　reappearance　of　Edmund　was　unbounded；
for　he　loved　him　as　a　son；　and　it　was　a　long　time　before
their　joy　at　the　meeting　was　sufficiently　calmed　down　to
enable　them　to　tell　each　other　the　events　which　had　happened
since　they　parted　three　months　before。　Egbert's　narrative
was　indeed　brief。　He　had　remained　two　or　three　days
off　the　coast　of　Norway　in　the　lingering　hope　that　Edmund
might　in　some　way　have　escaped　death；　and　might　yet　come
off　and　join　him。　At　the　end　of　a　week　this　hope　had　faded；
and　he　sailed　for　England。　Being　winter；　but　few　Danish　galleys
were　at　sea；　and　he　had　encountered　none　from　the　time
he　set　sail　until　he　arrived　off　the　coast　at　the　mouth　of　the
Parrot。

He　had　entered　the　river　at　night　so　as　to　be　unseen　by
any　in　the　village　at　its　mouth；　and　had；　after　the　Dragon　was
laid　up；　passed　his　time　in　the　forest。　Edmund's　narration
was　much　more　lengthy；　and　Egbert　was　surprised　indeed　to
find　that　his　kinsman　owed　his　freedom　to　the　jarl　whose
vessel　they　had　captured　at　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。





CHAPTER　XI：　THE　ISLE　OF　ATHELNEY



Edmund　spent　a　month　on　his　lands；　moving　about　among
his　vassals　and　dwelling　in　their　abodes。　He　inspired　them
by　his　words　with　fresh　spirit　and　confidence；
telling　them　that　this　state　of　things　could　not　last；
and　that　he　was　going　to　join　the　king；　who　doubtless　would
soon　call　them　to　take　part　in　a　fresh　effort　to　drive　out　their
cruel　oppressors。　Edmund　found　that　although　none　knew
with　certainty　the　hiding…place　of　King　Alfred；　it　was　generally
reported　that　he　had　taken　refuge　in　the　low　lands　of
Somersetshire；　and　Athelney　was　specially　named　as　the　place
which　he　had　made　his　abode。

〃It　is　a　good　omen；〃　Edmund　said；　〃for　Athelney　lies
close　to　the　Parrot；　where　my　good　ship　the　Dragon　is　laid
away。〃

After　visiting　all　the　villages　in　his　earldom　Edmund
started　with　Egbert　and　four　young　men；　whom　he　might　use
as　messengers；　for　the　reported　hiding…place　of　the　king。　First
they　visited　the　Dragon；　and　found　her　lying　undisturbed；
then　they　followed　the　river　down　till　they　reached　the　great
swamps　which　extended　for　a　considerable　distance　near　its
mouth。　After　much　wandering　they　came　upon　the　hut　of　a
fisherman。　The　man　on　hearing　the　footsteps　came　to　his
door　with　a　bent　bow。　When　he　saw　that　the　new…comers
were　Saxons　he　lowered　the　arrow　which　was　already　fitted
to　the　string。

〃Can　you　tell　us；〃　Edmund　said；　〃which　is　the　way　to
Athelney？　We　know　that　it　is　an　island　amidst　these　morasses；
but　we　are　strangers　to　the　locality　and　cannot　find　it。〃

〃And　you　might　search　for　weeks；〃　the　man　said；　〃without
finding　it；　so　thickly　is　it　surrounded　by　deep　swamps
and　woods。　But　what　want　ye　there？〃

〃Men　say；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃that　King　Alfred　is　hidden
there。　We　are　faithful　followers　of　his。　I　am　Ealdorman
Edmund　of　Sherborne；　and　have　good　news　for　the　king。〃

〃If　ye　are　indeed　the　Ealdorman　of　Sherborne；　of　whose
bravery　I　have　heard　much；　I　will　right　willingly　lead　you　to
Athelney　if　you　will；　but　no　king　will　you　find　there。　There
are　a　few　fugitives　from　the　Danes　scattered　here　and　there
in　these　marshes；　but　none；　so　far　as　I　know；　of　any　rank　or
station。　However；　I　will　lead　you　thither　should　you　still　wish
to　go。〃

Edmund　expressed　his　desire　to　visit　the　island　even　if
the　king　were　not　there。　The　man　at　once　drew　out　a　small
boat　from　a　hiding…place　near　his　hut。　It　would　hold　four　at
most。　Edmund　and　Egbert　stepped　in　with　one　of　their　followers；
charging　the　others　to　remain　at　the　hut　until　they
received　further　instructions。　The　fisherman　with　a　long　pole
took　his　place　in　the　bow　of　the　boat　and　pushed　off。　For
some　hours　they　made　their　way　through　the　labyrinth　of
sluggish　and　narrow　channels　of　the　morass。　It　was　a　gloomy
journey。　The　leafless　trees　frequently　met　overhead；　the　long
rushes　in　the　wetter　parts　of　the　swamp　rustled　as　the　cold
breezes　swept　across　them；　and　a　slight　coating　of　snow　which
had　fallen　the　previous　night　added　to　the　dreary　aspect　of
the　scene。　At　last　they　came　upon　sharply　rising　ground。

〃This　is　Athelney；〃　the　fisherman　said；　〃a　good　hiding…place
truly；　for；　as　you　see；　it　rises　high　over　the　surrounding
country；　which　is　always　swampy　from　the　waters　of　the　Parrot
and　Theme；　and　at　high　tides　the　salt　water　of　the　sea　fills
all　these　waterways；　and　the　trees　rise　from　a　broad　sheet　of
sea。　No　Dane　has　ever　yet　set　foot　among　these　marshes；　and
were　there　but　provisions　to　keep　them　alive；　a　safe　refuge
might　be　found　on　this　island　for　hundreds　of　fugitives。　Will
you　be　returning　to…night？〃

〃That　I　cannot　tell　you；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃but　at　any
rate　I　will　hire　you　and　your　boat　to　remain　at　my　service　for
a　week；　and　will　pay　you　a　far　higher　price　than　you　can　obtain
by　your　fishing。〃

The　fisherman　readily　agreed；　and　Edmund　and　his
companions　made　their　way　into　the　heart　of　the　island。　It
was　of　some　extent；　and　rose　above　the　tree…tops　of　the
surrounding　country。　Presently　they　came　to　a　cottage。
A　man　came　out。

〃What　do　you　seek？〃　he　asked。

〃You　have　fugitives　in　refuge　here；〃　Edmund　said。　〃Know
you　if　among　them　is　our　good　King　Alfred？〃　The　man　looked
astonished。

〃A　pretty　place　to　seek　for　a　king！〃　he　replied。　〃There
are　a　few　Saxons　in　hiding　here。　Some　live　by　fishing；　some
chop　wood；　but　for　the　most　part　they　are　an　idle　and
thriftless　lot；　and　me　thinks　have　fled　hither　rather　to　escape
from　honest　work　or　to　avoid　the　penalties　of　crimes　than　for　any
other　reason。〃

〃How　may　we　find　them？〃　Edmund　asked。

〃They　are　scattered　over　the　island。　There　are　eight　or
ten　dwellers　here　like　myself；　and　several　of　them　have　one
or　more　of　these　fellows　with　them；　others　have　built　huts　for
themselves　and　shift　as　they　can；　but　it　is　a　hard　shift；　I　reckon；
and　beech…nuts　and　acorns；　eked　out　with　an　occasional　fish
caught　in　the　streams；　is　all　they　have　to　live　upon。　I　wonder
that　they　do　not　go　back　to　honest　work　among　their　kinsfolk。〃

〃Ah！〃　Edmund　said；　〃you　do　not　know　here　how　cruel
are　the　ravages　of　the　Danes；　our　homes　are　broken　up　and
our　villages　destroyed；　and　every　forest　in　the　land　is　peopled
with　fugitive　Saxons。　Did　you　know　that　you　would　speak
less　harshly　of　those　here。　At　any　rate　the　man　I　seek　is　young
and　fair…looking；　and　would；　I　should　think〃and　he　smiled
as　he　remembered　Alfred's　studious　habits〃be　one　of　the
most　shiftless　of　those　here。〃

〃There　is　such　a　one；〃　the　man　replied；　〃and　several　times
friends　of　his　have　been　hither　to　see　him。　He　dwells　at　my
next　neighbour's；　who　is　often　driven　well…nigh　out　of　her
mindfor　she　is　a　dame　with　a　shrewish　tongue　and　sharp
temperby　his　inattention。　She　only　asks　of　him　that　he　will
cut　wood　and　keep　an　eye　over　her　pi