the dragon and the raven-第27章

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fear；　but　as　he　saw　the　Saxons　standing　about　unarmed　he
was　reassured。　〃Is　this　really　a　Saxon　ship；〃　he　asked；　as　its
flag　testifies？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃it　is　my　vessel；　and　I　am　an
ealdorman　of　King　Alfred。　We　have　been　chasing　the　Danish
pirates；　but　this　storm　having　arisen；　we　were　blown　down
the　French　coast　and　forced　to　seek　shelter　here。〃

〃The　governor　bids　you　welcome；〃　the　officer　said；　〃and
bade　me　invite　you　to　land。〃

〃That　will　I　gladly；　the　more　so　since　my　ship　has　suffered
some　damage　in　the　gale；　her　bulwarks　having　been
partly　shattered；　and　it　will　need　a　stay　of　a　few　days　here　to
repair　her　for　sea。　Will　you　tell　the　governor　that　in　a　short
time　I　will　land　with　my　kinsman　Egbert　and　accept
his　hospitality？〃

An　hour　later　Edmund　and　Egbert　landed　and　were　at
once　conducted　to　the　governor；　who　welcomed　them　cordially。

They　found　there　many　whom　they　had　known　at　the
court　of　King　Alfred。　The　wealthier　men；　the　bishops　and
thanes；　had　for　the　most　part　journeyed　to　Paris　or　to　other
towns　in　the　interior　to　escape　the　dreaded　Northmen；　but
there　were　many　detained　at　Havre　from　want　of　funds　to
journey　farther。

〃It　is　a　sad　pity；〃　the　governor　said　as　they　talked　over
the　troubled　state　of　Western　Europe；　〃that　your　English　king
and　our　Frankish　monarch　did　not　make　common　cause
against　these　sea　robbers。　They　are　the　enemies　of　mankind。
Not　only　do　they　ravage　all　our　coasts；　but　they　have　entered
the　Mediterranean；　and　have　plundered　and　ravaged　the
coasts　of　Provence　and　Italy；　laying　towns　under　ransom；
burning　and　destroying。〃

〃I　would　that　I　could　meet　some　of　their　ships　on　their
way　back　from　Italy；〃　Edmund　said。　〃I　warrant　that　we　should
obtain　a　rare　booty；　with　gems　of　art　such　as　would　delight
King　Alfred；　but　are　thrown　away　on　these　barbarians；　but　I
agree　with　you　that　'tis　shameful　that　the　coasts　of　all　Europe
should　be　overrun　with　these　pirates。〃

〃Yes；〃　the　governor　replied；　〃if　every　country　in
Christendom　would　unite　against　their　common　foe；　and　send
a　quota　of　ships　and　men；　we　would　drive　the　Black　Raven
from　the　seas；　and　might　even　land　on　the　Danish　shores
and　give　them　a　taste　of　the　suffering　they　have　inflicted
elsewhere。　As　it　is；　all　seem　paralysed。　Local　efforts　are
made　to　resist　them；　but　their　numbers　are　too　great　to　be
thus　withstood。　I　wonder　that　the　pope　does　not　call
Christendom　to　arms　against　these　pagan　robbers；　who　not
only　destroy　towns　and　villages；　but　level　to　the　ground　the
holy　shrines；　and　slay　the　ministers　of　God　on　the　altars。〃





CHAPTER　XIII：　THE　SIEGE　OF　PARIS




On　the　following　morning　Edmund；　who　had　returned
to　his　ship　to　sleep；　was　aroused　by　loud　shouts　on
deck。　Hurrying　from　his　cabin　he　saw　a　vast　fleet　of　ships
approaching　the　mouth　of　the　river。　They　were　of　all
sizesfrom　great　sailing　ships　to　rowing　galleys。　It　needed
but　a　glance　at　them　to　assure　him　that　they　were　the　dreaded
ships　of　the　Northmen；　for　the　Black　Raven　floated　at　many
of　the　mast…heads。

》From　the　town　the　sounds　of　horns　and　great　shoutings
could　be　heard；　showing　that　there　too　the　approaching　fleet
had　just　been　discerned　as　the　morning　fog　lifted　from　the
sea。　Edmund　held　a　hurried　consultation　with　his　kinsman。
It　was　now　too　late　to　gain　the　sea；　for　the　Danish　ships　had
already　reached　the　mouth　of　the　river。　To　attempt　to　escape
by　fighting　would　be　madness；　and　they　hesitated　only
whether　to　run　the　ship　ashore；　and；　leaving　her　there；　enter
the　town　and　share　in　its　defence；　or　to　proceed　up　the　river
with　all　speed　to　Rouen；　or　even　to　Paris。

The　latter　course　was　decided　upon；　for　the　Danish　ships
would　contain　so　vast　a　number　of　men　that　there　was　little
hope　that　Havre　could　resist　their　attack；　nor　was　it　likely
that　Rouen；　which；　on　the　previous　year　had　been　captured
and　sacked；　would　even　attempt　another　resistance；　which
would　only　bring　massacre　and　ruin　upon　its　inhabitants。
Paris　alone；　the　capital　of　the　Frankish　kings；　seemed　to
offer　a　refuge。　The　deliberation　was　a　short　one；　and　by　the
time　the　men　had　taken　their　places　at　the　oars　their　leaders
had　decided　upon　their　course。

The　anchor　ropes　were　cut；　for　not　a　moment　was　to　be
lost；　the　leading　ships　of　the　Danes　being　already　less　than
half　a　mile　distant。　The　tide　was　flowing；　and　the　Dragon
swept　rapidly　up　the　river。　Some　of　the　Danish　galleys
followed　for　a　while；　but　seeing　that　the　Dragon　had　the　speed
of　them；　they　abandoned　the　pursuit；　and　at　a　more　easy
stroke　the　rowers　continued　their　work　until　they　reached
Rouen。　Here　the　tide　failed　them；　and　they　moored　against
the　bank　under　the　walls。

Edmund　and　Egbert　went　on　shore。　They　found　the
city　in　a　state　of　wild　confusion。　Saying　that　they　had
important　news；　and　must　see　the　governor；　they　were　led　to
the　council…chamber；　where　the　leading　men　of　the　town　were
assembled。　After　stating　who　he　and　his　companion　were；
Edmund　announced　the　arrival　of　a　great　Danish　fleet　at　the
mouth　of　the　river。

〃Your　news；　sir；　is　terrible　for　our　poor　country；〃　the
governor　said；　〃but　to　us　it　scarce　brings　any　additional
horror；　although　it　will　probably　decide　the　question　which　we
are　engaged　in　discussing。　We　have　news　here　that　a　great
Danish　army　which　landed　at　Abbeville　is　marching
hitherward；　and　we　are　met　to　discuss　whether　the　town
should　resist　to　the　last　or　should　open　its　gates　at　their
approach。　This　news　you　bring　of　the　arrival　of　a　fresh　army　of
these　sea　robbers　at　Havre　renders　our　case　desperate。　So
fierce　is　their　attack　that　we　could　hardly　hope　successfully
to　resist　the　approaching　army；　but　against　it　and　this　fleet
you　tell　us　of　resistance　could　only　bring　about　our　utter
destruction。　That；　at　least；　is　my　opinion；　the　other　members
of　the　council　must　speak　for　themselves。〃

The　other　members；　who　were　the　principal　merchants
and　traders　of　the　town；　were　unanimously　of　the　same
opinion。

〃Better；〃　they　said；　〃to　give　up　all　our　worldly　goods　to
the　Northmen　than　to　be　slaughtered　pitilessly　with　our　wives
and　families。〃

〃Such　being　your　decision；〃　Edmund　said；　〃my　kinsman
and　myself　will　proceed　up　the　river　to　Paris；　hitherto；　as　we
hear；　the　Northmen　have　not　ventured　to　attack　that　city；
and　should　they　do　so；　it　will　doubtless　resist　to　the　last。〃

Accordingly　the　two　Saxons　returned　at　once　to　the
Dragon；　and　as　soon　as　the　tide　turned　unmoored　and　proceeded
up　the　river。　Three　days　after　leaving　Rouen　they
arrived　in　sight　of　Paris。　The　capital　of　the　Franks　was　but　a
small　city；　and　was　built　entirely　upon　the　island　situated　just
at　the　confluence　of　the　Seine　and　Marne。　It　was　surrounded
by　a　strong　and　lofty　wall。

On　the　approach　of　a　vessel　differing　entirely　from　anything
they　had　before　seen　the　citizens　flocked　to　the　walls。
The　Golden　Dragon　floating　at　the　mast…head　showed　them
that　the　vessel　did　not　belong　to　the　Danes；　and　some　of　the
more　experienced　in　these　matters　said　at　once　that　she　must
be　a　Saxon　ship。　The　Count　Eudes；　who　had　been　left　by　the
king　in　command　of　Paris；　himself　came　to　the　walls　just　as
the　Dragon　came　abreast　of　them。　Edmund　ordered　the　rowers
to　pause　at　their　work。

〃Who　are　you？〃　the　Count　Eudes　shouted。　〃Whence　do
you　come　and　with　what　intent？〃

〃My　name　is　Edmund。　I　am　an　ealdorman　of　King　Alfred
of　the　Saxons。　When　at　sea　fighting　the　Northmen　a　tempest
blew　me　down　your　coast；　and　I　took　refuge　in　the　port
of　Havre。　Four　days　since　at　daybreak　a　vast　fleet　of　Northmen
entered　the　river。　We　rowed　up　to　Rouen　hoping　to　be　able
to　find　safe　shelter　there；　but　the　citizens　being　aware　that　a
great　army　of　the　sea　robbers　was　marching　against　their
town；　and　being　further　intimidated　by　the　news　I　brought
them；　decided　upon　surrendering　without　resistance。　Therefore
we　have　continued　our　journey　hither；　being　assured　that
here　at　least　the　Danish　wolves　would　not　have　their　way
unopposed。　We　have　fought　them　long　in　our　native　land；　and
wish　for　nothing　better　than　to　aid　in　the　efforts　of　the　Franks
against　our　common　enemy。〃

〃You　are　welcome；　sir　earl；〃　the　Count　Eudes　said；
〃though　the　news　you　bring　us　is　bad　indeed。　We　have　heard
how　valiantly　the　thanes　of　King　Alfred　have　fought　against
the　invaders；　and　shall　be　glad　indeed　of　your　assistance
should　the　Northmen；　as　I　fear；　come　hither。〃

So　saying　the　count　ordered　the　gates　to　be　opened；
and　the　Dragon　having　been　moored　alongside；　Edmund　and
Egbert　with　their　crew　entered　the　town；　where　the　leaders
were　received　with　great　honour　by　the　count。　He　begged
them　to　become　guests　at　the　castle；　where　quarters　were
also　assigned　to　the　crew。　A　banquet　was　at　once　prepared；
at　which　many　of　the　principal　citizens　were　present。

As　soon　as　the　demands　of　hunger　were　satisfied　the
count　made　further　inquiries　as　to　the　size　of　the　fleet　which
had　entered　the　Seine；　and　as　to　the　army　reported　to　be
marching　against　Rouen。

〃I　doubt　not；〃　he　said；　when　the　Saxons　had　given　him
all　the　particulars　in　their　power；　〃that　it　is　the　armament　of
Siegfroi　who　has　already　wrought　such　destruction。　More
than　once　he　has　appeared　before　our　walls；　and　has　pillaged
and　ravaged　the　whole　of　the　north　of　France。　The　last　time
he　was　here　he　threatened　to　return　with　a　force　which　would
suffice　to　raze　Paris　to　the　ground；　and　doubtless　he　is　coming
to　endeavour　to　carry　out　his　threat；　but　he　will　not　find
the　task　an　easy　one；　we　shall　resist　him　to　the　last；　and　right
glad　am　I　that　I　shall　have　the　assistance　of　two　of　the　Saxon
thanes　who　have　so　often　inflicted　heavy　defeats　upon　these
wolves　of　the　sea。　Your　vessel　is　a　strange　one；　and　differs
from　those　that　I　have　hitherto　seen；　either　Dane　or　Saxon。
She　is　a　sailing　ship；　and　yet　appears　to　row　very　fast。〃

〃She　is　built；〃　Edmund　said；　〃partly　upon　the　design　of
King　Alfred　himself；　which　were　made　from　paintings　he
possessed　of　the　war　galleys　of　Italy；　which　country　he　visited
in　his　youth。　They　were　carried　out　by　a　clever　shipwright　of
Exeter；　and；　indeed；　the　ship　sails　as　well　as　she　rows；　and；　as
the　Danes　have　discovered　to　their　cost；　is　able　to　fight　as
well　as　she　can　sail　and　row。　Had　we　been　fairly　out　to　sea
before　the　Danish　fleet　made　its　appearance　we　could　have
given　a　good　account　of　ourselves；　but　we　were　caught　in　a
trap。〃

〃I　fear　that　if　the　Northmen　surround　the　city　your　ship
will　be　destroyed。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　that；〃　Edmund　said；　〃and　I　pray　you
to　let　me　have　some　men　who　know　the　river　higher　up。　There
must　assuredly　be　low　shores　often　overflowed　where　there
are　wide　swamps　covered　with　wood　and　thickets；　which　the
enemy　would　not　enter；　seeing　that　no　booty　could　be　obtained
there。　The　ship　was　built　in　such　a　spot；　and　we　could
cut　a　narrow　gap　from　the　river　and　float　her　well　in　among
the　trees　so　as　to　be　hidden　from　the　sight　of　any　passing　up
the　river　in　galleys；　closing　up　the　cut　again　so　that　none
might　suspect　its　existence。〃

〃That　could　be　done　easily　enough；〃　the　count　said；
〃there　are　plenty　of　spots　which　would　be　suitable；　for　the
banks　are　for　the　most　part　low　and