the dragon and the raven-第28章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃there　are　plenty　of　spots　which　would　be　suitable；　for　the
banks　are　for　the　most　part　low　and　the　ground　around
swampy　and　wooded。　To…morrow　I　will　tell　off　a　strong　body
of　men　to　accompany　you　in　your　ship；　and　aid　your　crew　in
their　work。〃

Twenty　miles　up　the　Seine　a　suitable　spot　was　found；
and　the　crew　of　the　Dragon；　with　the　hundred　men　whom　the
Count　Eudes　had　lent　for　the　purpose；　at　once　set　about　their
work。　They　had　but　little　trouble；　for　a　spot　was　chosen　where
a　sluggish　stream；　some　fifteen　feet　wide；　drained　the　water
from　a　wide…spreading　swamp　into　the　river。　The　channel
needed　widening　but　a　little　to　allow　of　the　Dragon　entering；
and　the　water　was　quite　deep　enough　to　permit　her　being
taken　some　three　hundred　yards　back　from　the　river。

The　trees　and　underwood　were　thick；　and　Edmund　was
assured　that　even　when　winter；　which　was　now　approaching；
stripped　the　last　leaf　from　the　trees；　the　Dragon　could　not　be
seen　from　the　river。　Her　masts　were　lowered；　and　bundles　of
brushwood　were　hung　along　her　side　so　as　to　prevent　the
gleam　of　black　paint　being　discerned　through　the　trees。

The　entrance　to　the　stream　was　filled　up　to　a　width　of
three　or　four　feet；　and　the　new　work　turfed　with　coarse　grass
similar　to　that　which　grew　beside　it。　Bushes　were　planted
close　to　the　water's　edge；　and　stakes　were　driven　down　in　the
narrow　channel　to　within　a　few　inches　of　the　surface　of　the
water。

Certain　now　that　no　Danish　boats　would　be　likely　to
turn　aside　from　the　river　to　enter　this　channel　into　the　swamp；
the　party　embarked　in　some　boats　which　had　been　towed　up
by　the　Dragon　and　returned　down　the　river　to　Paris。

The　afternoon　before　starting　all　the　valuable　booty
which　had　been　captured　from　the　Danes　was　landed　and
placed　in　security　in　the　castle；　and　upon　his　return　to　Paris
Edmund　disposed　of　this　at　good　prices　to　the　traders　of　the
city。

A　fortnight　after　they　had　returned　to　Paris　the　news
was　brought　in　that　a　vast　fleet　of　Northmen　was　ascending
the　river。　The　next　morning　it　was　close　at　hand；　and　the
citizens　mounting　the　walls　beheld　with　consternation　the
approaching　armament。　So　numerous　were　the　ships　that
they　completely　covered　the　river。　The　fleet　consisted　of
seven　hundred　sailing　ships；　and　a　vastly　greater　number　of
rowing　galleys　and　boats。　These　vessels　were　crowded　with
men；　and　their　fierce　aspect；　their　glittering　arms；　and　their
lofty　stature；　spread　terror　in　the　hearts　of　the　citizens。

〃This　is　truly　a　tremendous　host！〃　the　Count　Eudes　said
to　Edmund；　who　stood　beside　him　on　the　walls。

〃It　is　indeed；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃Numerous　as　are　the
fleets　which　have　poured　down　upon　the　shores　of　England；
methinks　that　none　approached　this　in　strength。　It　is　clear
that　the　Northmen　have　united　their　forces　for　a　great　effort
against　this　city；　but　having　at　home　successfully　defended
fortifications；　which　were　not　to　be　named　in　comparison
with　those　of　Paris；　against　them；　I　see　no　reason　to　doubt
that　we　shall　be　able　to　beat　them　off　here。〃

The　Danes　landed　on　the　opposite　bank　and　formed　a
vast　camp　there；　and　the　following　morning　three　of　their
number　in　a　small　boat　rowed　across　the　river　and　said　that
their　king　Siegfroi　desired　to　speak　with　Goslin；　archbishop
of　Paris；　who　stood　in　the　position　of　civil　governor。　They
were　told　that　the　archbishop　would　receive　the　king　in　his
palace。

An　hour　later　a　stately　figure　in　glittering　armour　was
seen　to　take　his　place　in　a　long　galley；　which；　rowed　by　twenty
men；　quickly　shot　across　the　stream。　Siegfroi　landed；　and；
accompanied　by　four　of　his　leading　warriors；　entered　the
gates；　which　were　opened　at　his　approach。　The　chief　of　the
Northmen　was　a　warrior　of　lofty　stature。　On　his　head　he
wore　a　helmet　of　gold；　on　whose　crest　was　a　raven　with　extended
wings　wrought　in　the　same　metal。　His　hair　fell　loosely
on　his　neck；　his　face　was　clean　shaved　in　Danish　fashion；　save
for　a　long　moustache。　He　wore　a　breastplate　of　golden　scales；
and　carried　a　shield　of　the　toughest　bull's…hide　studded　with
gold　nails。

He　was　unarmed；　save　a　long　dagger　which　he　wore　in
his　belt。　He　and　his　followers；　who　were　all　men　of　immense
stature；　walked　with　a　proud　and　assured　air　between　the
lines　of　citizens　who　clustered　thickly　on　each　side　of　the
street；　and　who　gazed　in　silence　at　these　dreaded　figures。
They　were　escorted　by　the　chamberlain　of　the　archbishop；
and　on　arriving　at　his　palace　were　conducted　into　the　chamber
where　Goslin；　Count　Eudes；　and　several　of　the　leading
persons　of　Paris　awaited　them。

Siegfroi　bent　his　head　before　the　prelate。

〃Goslin；〃　he　said；　〃I　beg　you　to　have　compassion　upon
yourself　and　your　flock　if　you　do　not　wish　to　perish。　We
beseech　you　to　turn　a　favourable　ear　to　our　words。　Grant
only　that　we　shall　march　through　the　city。　We　will　touch
nothing　in　the　town；　and　we　undertake　to　preserve　all　your
property；　both　yours　and　that　of　Eudes。〃

The　archbishop　replied　at　once：

〃This　city　has　been　confided　to　us　by　the　Emperor
Charles；　who　is；　after　God；　the　king　and　master　of　the　powers
of　the　earth。　Holding　under　his　rule　almost　all　the　world；
he　confided　it　to　us；　with　the　assurance　that　we　should　suffer
no　harm　to　come　to　the　kingdom；　but　should　keep　it　for　him
safe　and　sure。　If　it　had　happened　that　the　defence　of　these
walls　had　been　committed　to　your　hands；　as　it　has　been
committed　to　mine；　what　would　you　have　done　had　such　a
demand　been　made　upon　you？　Would　you　have　granted　the
demand？〃

〃If　I　had　granted　it；〃　Siegfroi　replied；　〃may　my　head　fall
under　the　axe　and　serve　as　food　for　dogs。　Nevertheless；　if
you　do　not　grant　our　demands；　by　day　we　will　overwhelm
your　city　with　our　darts；　and　with　poisoned　arrows　by　night。
You　shall　suffer　all　the　horrors　of　hunger；　and　year　after　year
we　will　return　and　make　a　ruin　of　your　city。〃

Without　another　word　he　turned；　and　followed　by　his
companions；　strode　through　the　streets　of　Paris；　and　taking
his　place　in　the　boat　returned　to　his　camp。

At　daybreak　the　next　morning　the　Norsemen　were　seen
crowding　into　their　ships。　The　trumpets　sounded　loudly；　and
the　citizens　seized　their　arms　and　hastened　to　the　walls。　The
Norsemen　crossed　the　river；　and　directed　their　attack　against
a　tower　which　stood　at　the　head　of　the　bridge　connecting　the
city　and　island　with　the　farther　bank。　Those　who　landed
were　provided　with　picks；　crowbars；　and　other　implements
for　effecting　a　breach；　and　their　approach　was　protected　by　a
cloud　of　arrows　and　javelins　from　the　fleet　which　covered
the　surface　of　the　river。

The　French　leaders　soon　assembled　at　the　threatened
point。　Chief　among　these　were　Eudes；　his　brother　Robert；
the　Count　Ragenaire；　and　the　Abbe　Ebble；　a　nephew　of　the
archbishop。　The　Franks　bore　themselves　bravely；　and　in　spite
of　the　rain　of　arrows　defended　the　walls　against　the　desperate
attacks　of　the　Northmen。

The　fortifications　in　those　days　were　very　far　from　having
attained　the　strength　and　solidity　which　a　few　generations
later　were　bestowed　upon　them。　The　stones　of　which
they　were　constructed　were　comparatively　small；　and　fastened
together　by　mortar；　consequently　they　could　ill　resist　even　an
assault　by　manual　weapons。　Covered　by　their　shields　the
Northmen　worked　untiringly　at　the　foundations；　and　piece
by　piece　the　walls　crumbled　to　the　ground。　Every　effort；
however；　to　enter　at　the　breaches　so　made　was　repulsed；　and
Siegfroi　kept　back　his　warriors；　determined　to　delay　the　grand
assault　until　the　next　day。　By　nightfall　the　tower　was　in　ruins；
scarce　a　portion　of　the　walls　remaining　erect。　Many　of　the
besieged　had　been　killed。　The　archbishop　was　wounded　with
an　arrow。　Frederic；　a　young　soldier　who　led　the　troops　of　the
church　was　killed。

The　besiegers　had　suffered　much　more　severely；　great
numbers　having　been　killed　by　the　stones　and　missiles　hurled
down　by　the　defenders　while　engaged　in　the　demolition　of
the　walls。　At　nightfall　the　Danes　carried　off　their　wounded
and　recrossed　the　river；　confident　that　next　day　they　would
succeed　in　their　assault。　As　soon　as　darkness　had　set　in　Count
Eudes　collected　the　citizens；　and　these；　bearing　beams　and
planks；　crossed　the　bridge　to　the　tower；　and　set　to　work。
Outside　the　circle　of　ruins　holes　were　dug　and　the　beams
securely　fixed。　Planks　were　nailed　to　these；　and　earth　heaped
up　behind　them。

All　night　the　work　continued；　and　by　morning　a　fortification
much　higher　than　the　original　tower　had　been　erected
all　round　the　ruin。　The　Danes　again　crossed　the　river　in
their　ships；　and　the　assault　was　renewed。　Javelins　and　great
stones　were　hurled　at　the　fortification；　and　clouds　of　arrows
from　the　shipping　fell　within　them。　Covered　with　portable
roofs　constructed　of　planks　the　Danes　strove　to　destroy　the
wall。　The　besieged　poured　upon　them　a　blazing　mixture　of
oil；　wax；　and　pitch。　Numbers　of　the　Danes　were　burned　to
death；　while　others；　maddened　by　the　pain；　threw　themselves
into　the　river。

Over　and　over　again　Siegfroi　led　his　warriors　to　the　attack；
but　the　defenders；　headed　by　Eudes　and　the　brave　Abbe　Ebble；
each　time　repelled　them。　The　abbe　particularly　distinguished
himself；　and　he　is　reported　to　have　slain　seven
Danes　at　once　with　one　javelin；　a　blow　which　may　be　considered
as　bordering　on　the　miraculous。　But　the　number　of　the
defenders　of　the　tower　was　small　indeed　to　that　of　the　enemy；
and　the　loss　which　they　inflicted　upon　the　Danes；　great
as　it　was；　was　as　nothing　in　so　vast　a　host。

The　flames　of　the　machines；　lighted　by　the　pitch　and
oil；　communicated　to　the　planks　of　the　fortification；　and　soon
these　too　were　on　fire。　As　they　burned；　the　earth　behind
them　gave　way；　and　a　breach　was　formed。　Encouraged　by
this　result　the　Danes　brought　up　faggots；　and　in　several　places
lighted　great　fires　against　the　fortifications。　The　defenders
began　to　lose　all　hope；　when　a　tremendous　storm　of　rain
suddenly　burst　over　Paris　quenching　the　fire。

The　besieged　gained　heart；　reinforcements　crossed　from
the　town；　and　the　Danes　again　withdrew　to　their　ships；　having
lost　in　the　day's　fighting　three　hundred　men。　After　this
repulse　the　Northmen　desisted　for　a　time　from　their　attack。
They　formed　a　strong　fortified　camp　near　the　church　of　St。
Germain；　and　then　spread　over　the　country　slaying　and　burning；
sparing　none；　man；　woman；　or　child。　From　the　walls　of
Paris　the　smoke　could　be　seen　rising　over　the　whole　country；
and　every　heart　was　moved　with　rage　and　sorrow。

Edmund　and　his　party　had　taken　no　part　in　the　defence
of　the　tower。　Its　loss　would　not　have　involved　that　of　the
town；　and　Eudes　requested　him　to　keep　his　band　in　reserve
in　order　that　they　might　remain　intact　until　the　Danes　should
make　a　breach　in　the　walls　of　the　city　itself；　when　the　sudden
reinforcement　of　a　party　of　such　well…trained　warriors　might
decide　the　result。

While　a　portion　of　the　Danish　host　were　engaged　upon
the　work　of　devastation；　a　large　number　were　employed　upon
the　construction　of　three　great　towers。　These　were　built　on
wheels；　and　were　each　large　enough　to　hold　sixty　men。　They
far　overtopped　the　walls；　and　the　citizens　viewed　with　alarm
the　time　when　an　assault　should　be　delivered　under　the　protection