the dragon and the raven-第26章

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there；　he　must　have　had　opportunities　for　learning　the
nature　of　their　tenets；　and　of　contrasting　its　mild　and
beneficent　teaching　with　the　savage　worship　of　the　pagan　gods。
By　far　the　greater　proportion　of　his　people　followed　their　king's
example；　but　the　wilder　spirits　quitted　the　country；　and　under
their　renowned　leader　Hastings　sailed　to　harry　the　shores
of　France。　The　departure　of　the　more　turbulent　portion　of
his　followers　rendered　it　more　easy　for　the　Danish　king　to
carry　his　plans　into　effect。

After　the　holding　of　the　witan　Edmund　and　Egbert　at
once　left　the　army　with　their　followers；　and　for　some　months
the　young　ealdorman　devoted　himself　to　the　work　of　restoring
the　shattered　homes　of　his　people；　aiding　them　with　loans
from　the　plunder　he　had　gained　on　the　seas；　Alfred　having
at　once　repaid　him　the　sums　which　he　had　lent　at　Athelney。
As　so　many　of　his　followers　had　also　brought　home　money
after　their　voyage；　the　work　of　rebuilding　and　restoration　went
on　rapidly；　and　in　a　few　months　the　marks　left　of　the　ravages
by　the　Danes　had　been　well…nigh　effaced。

Flocks　and　herds　again　grazed　in　the　pastures；　herds　of
swine　roamed　in　the　woods；　the　fields　were　cultivated；　and
the　houses　rebuilt。　In　no　part　of　Wessex　was　prosperity　so
speedily　re…established　as　in　the　district　round　Sherborne
governed　by　Edmund。　The　Dragon　was　thoroughly　overhauled
and　repaired；　for　none　could　say　how　soon　fresh　fleets　of　the
Northmen　might　make　their　appearance　upon　the　southern
shores　of　England。　It　was　not　long；　indeed；　before　the
Northmen　reappeared；　a　great　fleet　sailing　up　the　Thames
at　the　beginning　of　the　winter。　It　ascended　as　high　as　Fulham；
where　a　great　camp　was　formed。　Seeing　that　the　Saxons　and
East　Anglians　would　unite　against　them　did　they　advance
further；　the　Danes　remained　quietly　in　their　encampment
during　the　winter；　and　in　the　spring　again　took　ship　and　sailed
for　France。

For　the　next　two　years　England　enjoyed　comparative
quiet；　the　Danes　turning　their　attention　to　France　and　Holland；
sailing　up　the　Maas；　Scheldt；　Somme；　and　Seine。　Spreading
from　these　rivers　they　carried　fire　and　sword　over　a　great
extent　of　country。　The　Franks　resisted　bravely；　and　in　two
pitched　battles　defeated　their　invaders　with　great　loss。　The
struggle　going　on　across　the　Channel　was　watched　with　great
interest　by　the　Saxons；　who　at　first　hoped　to　see　the　Danes
completely　crushed　by　the　Franks。

The　ease；　however；　with　which　the　Northmen　moved
from　point　to　point　in　their　ships　gave　them　such　immense
advantage　that　their　defeats　at　Hasle　and　Saucourt　in　no　way
checked　their　depredations。　Appearing　suddenly　off　the
coast；　or　penetrating　into　the　interior　by　a　river；　their　hordes
would　land；　ravage　the　country；　slay　all　who　opposed　them；
and　carry　off　the　women　and　children　captives；　and　would
then　take　to　their　ships　again　before　the　leaders　of　the　Franks
could　assemble　an　army。

Alfred　spent　this　time　of　repose　in　restoring　as　far　as
possible　the　loss　and　damage　which　his　kingdom　had
suffered。　Many　wise　laws　were　passed；　churches　were　rebuilt；
and　order　restored；　great　numbers　of　the　monks　and　wealthier
people　who　had　fled　to　France　in　the　days　of　the　Danish
supremacy　now　returned　to　England；　which　was　for　the　time
freer　from　danger　than　the　land　in　which　they　had　sought
refuge；　and　many　Franks　from　the　districts　exposed　to　the
Danish　ravages　came　over　and　settled　in　England。

Gradually　the　greater　part　of　England　acknowledged
the　rule　of　Alfred。　The　kingdom　of　Kent　was　again　united　to
that　of　Wessex；　while　Mercia；　which　extended　across　the
centre　of　England　from　Anglia　to　Wales；　was　governed　for　Alfred
by　Ethelred　the　Ealdorman；　who　was　the　head　of　the　powerful
family　of　the　Hwiccas；　and　had　received　the　hand　of
Alfred's　daughter　Ethelfleda。　He　ruled　Mercia　according　to
its　own　laws　and　customs；　which　differed　materially　from　those
of　the　West　Saxons；　and　which　prevented　a　more　perfect　union
of　the　two　kingdoms　until　William　the　Conqueror　welded
the　whole　country　into　a　single　whole。　But　Ethelred
acknowledged　the　supremacy　of　Alfred；　consulted　him　upon　all
occasions　of　importance；　and　issued　all　his　edicts　and　orders
in　the　king's　name。　He　was　ably　assisted　by　Werfrith；　the　Bishop
of　Worcester。　The　energy　and　activity　of　these　leaders　enabled
Mercia　to　keep　abreast　of　Wessex　in　the　onward　progress
which　Alfred　laboured　so　indefatigably　to　promote。

Edmund；　when　not　occupied　with　the　affairs　of　his　earldom；
spent　much　of　his　time　with　the　king；　who　saw　in　him　a
spirit　of　intelligence　and　activity　which　resembled　his　own。
Edmund　was；　however；　of　a　less　studious　disposition　than　his
royal　master；　and　though　he　so　far　improved　his　education
as　to　be　able　to　read　and　write　well；　Alfred　could　not　persuade
him　to　undertake　the　study　of　Latin；　being；　as　he　said；
well　content　to　master　some　of　the　learning　of　that　people　by
means　of　the　king's　translations。

At　the　end　of　another　two　years　of　peace　Edmund　was
again　called　upon　to　take　up　arms。　Although　the　Danes
attempted　no　fresh　invasion　some　of　their　ships　hung　around
the　English　coast；　capturing　vessels；　interfering　with　trade；
and　committing　other　acts　of　piracy。

Great　complaints　were　made　by　the　inhabitants　of　the
seaports　to　Alfred。　The　king　at　once　begged　Edmund　to　fit
out　the　Dragon；　and　collecting　a　few　other　smaller　ships　he
took　his　place　on　Edmund's　ship　and　sailed　in　search　of　the
Danes。　After　some　search　they　came　upon　the　four　large
ships　of　the　Northmen　which　had　been　a　scourge　to　the　coast。

The　Saxons　at　once　engaged　them；　and　a　desperate　fight
took　place。　The　Dragon　was　laid　alongside　the　largest　of　the
Danish　vessels；　and　the　king；　with　Edmund　and　Egbert　by　his
side；　leapt　on　to　the　deck　of　the　Danish　vessel；　followed　by
the　crew　of　the　Dragon。　The　Danish　ship　was　crowded　with
men　who　fought　desperately；　but　the　discipline　even　more
than　the　courage　of　Edmund's　crew　secured　for　them　the
victory。　For　a　time　each　fought　for　himself；　and　although
inspired　by　the　presence　of　the　king　they　were　able　to　gain
no　advantage；　being　much　out…numbered　by　the　Northmen。

Edmund；　seeing　this；　sounded　on　his　horn　the　signal
with　which　in　battle　he　ordered　the　men　to　form　their　wedge。
The　signal　was　instantly　obeyed。　The　Saxons　were　all　fighting
with　boarding…pikes　against　the　Northmen's　swords　and
axes；　for　they　had　become　used　to　these　weapons　and
preferred　them　to　any　other。

The　instant　Edmund's　horn　was　heard；　each　man　desisted
from　fighting　and　rushed　to　their　leader；　around　whom
they　instantly　formed　in　their　accustomed　order。　The　Danes；
astonished　at　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　battle；　and
understanding　nothing　of　the　meaning　of　the　signal　or　of
the　swift　movement　of　the　Saxons；　for　a　minute　lowered　their
weapons　in　surprise。

Before　they　again　rushed　forward　the　formation　was
complete；　and　in　a　close　body　with　levelled　spears　the　Saxons
advanced；　Egbert　as　usual　leading　the　way；　with　Edmund　and
the　king　in　the　centre。

In　vain　the　Danes　strove　to　resist　the　onset；　in　spite　of
their　superior　numbers　they　were　driven　back　step　by　step
until　crowded　in　a　close　mass　at　one　end。

Still　the　Saxon　line　of　spears　pressed　on。　Many　of　the
Danes　leapt　into　the　sea；　others　were　pushed　over　or　run
through；　and　in　a　few　minutes　not　a　Northman　remained
alive　in　the　captured　vessel。

In　the　meantime　the　battle　was　raging　in　other　parts。
Two　of　the　small　vessels　were　engaged　with　one　of　the　Danes
at　close　quarters；　while　the　other　ships　hung　around　the
remaining　Danish　vessels　and　kept　up　volleys　of　arrows　and
javelins　upon　them。

The　Dragon　at　once　went　to　the　assistance　of　the　two
Saxon　ships；　whose　crews　were　almost　overpowered　by　the
Northmen。　Laying　the　ship　alongside；　Edmund　boarded　the
Danes。　The　Northmen　rushed　back　from　the　decks　of　the
Saxon　ship　to　defend　their　own　vessel；　and　the　Saxons；
regaining　courage；　at　once　rallied　and　followed　them。　The
combat　was　short　but　desperate。　Attacked　on　three　sides；
the　Danes　were　speedily　overcome　and　were　slaughtered　to　a
man。

An　attack　was　next　made　upon　the　two　remaining　vessels。
These　resisted　for　some　time；　but　they　were　overwhelmed
by　the　missiles　from　the　Saxon　flotilla；　and　the　greater
portion　of　their　crews　being　killed　or　wounded；　their
commanders　prayed　for　mercy；　which　was　granted　them　by　Alfred；
and　with　the　four　captured　vessels　the　fleet　returned　to
England。

On　reaching　port　Alfred　begged　Edmund　to　continue
for　a　while　with　the　Dragon；　to　cruise　along　the　coasts　and　to
stop　the　depredations　of　the　Danes；　and　for　some　weeks　the
Dragon　kept　the　seas。　She　met　with　considerable　success；
capturing　many　Danish　galleys。　Some　of　these　contained
rich　spoil；　which　had　been　gathered　in　France；　for　cruising
in　the　seas　off　Dover　Edmund　intercepted　many　of　the　Danish
vessels　on　their　homeward　way　from　raids　up　the　Seine；
Garonne；　and　other　French　rivers。

One　day　in　the　excitement　of　a　long　pursuit　of　a　Danish
galley；　which　finally　succeeded　in　making　her　escape；　Edmund
had　paid　less　attention　than　usual　to　the　weather；　and；　on
giving　up　the　chase　as　hopeless；　perceived　that　the　sky　had
become　greatly　overcast；　while　the　wind　was　rising　rapidly。

〃We　are　in　for　a　storm　from　the　north；　Egbert；〃　he　said；
〃and　we　must　make　for　the　mouth　of　the　Thames　for　shelter。〃

The　sails　were　lowered；　and　the　Dragon's　head　turned
west。　Before　two　hours　had　passed　the　sea　had　risen　so　greatly
that　it　was　no　longer　possible　to　row。

〃What　had　we　best　do？〃　Edmund　asked　the　chief　of　the
sailors。　〃Think　you　that　we　can　make　Dover　and　shelter
under　the　cliffs　there？〃

〃I　fear　that　we　cannot　do　so；〃　the　sailor　replied　〃for　there
are　terrible　sands　and　shallows　off　the　Kentish　coast　between
the　mouth　of　the　Thames　and　Dover；　and　the　wind　blows　so
strongly　that　we　can　do　nought　but　run　before　it。〃

〃Then　let　us　do　so；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃anything　is　better
than　being　tossed　at　the　mercy　of　the　waves。〃

A　sail　was　hoisted；　and　the　Dragon　flew　along　before　the
wind。　The　storm　increased　in　fury；　and　for　some　hours　the
vessel　ran　before　it。　She　was　but　a　short　distance　from　the
French　coast；　and　as　the　wind　veered　round　more　to　the　west
her　danger　became　great。

〃I　fear　we　shall　be　cast　ashore；〃　Edmund　said　to　the　sailor。

〃Fortunately；〃　the　man　answered；　〃we　are　but　a　mile　or
two　from　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　and　there　we　can　run　in
and　take　shelter。〃

It　was　an　anxious　time　until　they　reached　the　mouth　of
the　river；　for　they　were　continually　drifting　nearer　and　nearer
to　the　coast。　However；　they　cleared　the　point　in　safety；　and；
turning　her　head；　ran　up　the　river　and　soon　anchored　under
the　walls　of　Havre。　As　she　came　to　an　anchor　armed　men
were　seen　crowding　the　walls。

〃They　take　us　for　Danes；〃　Egbert　said。　〃We　had　best
hoist　the　Dragon；　and　they　will　then　know　that　we　are　a　Saxon
ship。〃

Soon　after　the　flag　was　hoisted　the　gates　of　the　town
were　seen　to　open；　and　an　officer　and　some　men　issued　out。
These　launched　a　boat　and　rowed　out　to　the　ship。　The　officer
mounted　to　the　deck。　He　was　evidently　in　considerable
fear；　but　as　he　saw　the　Saxons　standing　about　unarmed　he
was　re