the dragon and the raven-第29章

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————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


far　overtopped　the　walls；　and　the　citizens　viewed　with　alarm
the　time　when　an　assault　should　be　delivered　under　the　protection
of　these　formidable　machines。　Eighteen　ships　of　equal
size　were　moored　by　the　bank　six　deep。　Great　planks　were
laid　across　them；　and　a　sloping　platform　having　been　formed；
the　towers　were　by　the　efforts　of　thousands　of　men　moved　up
and　placed　on　the　ships。

〃If　we　do　not　destroy　those　towers；　Egbert；〃　Edmund
said　one　day　as　he　saw　them　slowly　moving　into　their　position
on　board　the　ships；　〃all　is　lost；　for　from　their　summits
the　Northmen　with　their　bows　and　javelins　will　be　able　to
clear　the　walls；　while　those　below　effect　a　breach　at　their
leisure。〃

〃That　is　true　enough；　Edmund；　but　I　do　not　see　any　way
to　destroy　them。　Unfortunately　we　have　no　boats；　or　we　might
fill　some　of　them　with　combustibles；　and　tow　them　down
until　near　enough　for　the　stream　to　carry　them　upon　those
vessels；　but　even　then　the　chance　were　small　indeed；　for　the
Danes　would　swarm　out　in　their　boats　and　manage　to　tow　or
push　them　so　that　they　would　not　touch　the　ships。〃

〃I　should　think；　Egbert；　that　if　we　could　get　some　skins
or　planks　we　and　our　band　might；　when　it　is　quite　dark；　sally
out　and　take　to　the　water　at　the　lower　end　of　the　island　and
float　down　quietly　for　a　mile　or　two；　and　then　gain　the　further
bank；　then　we　might　march　along　quietly　until　we　reach
those　ships。　The　Danes　know　that　we　have　no　boats；　and　will
not　fear　an　attack。　We　must　not　do　it　until　an　hour　or　two
before　morning；　when；　after　spending　the　early　hours　of　the
night　as　usual　in　feasting　and　drinking；　they　will　sleep　heavily。
Just　before　we　are　ready　to　begin　a　small　party　can　unmoor
two　or　three　of　the　boats　by　the　bank　and　push　them　out；
one　to　the　outside　of　each　tier　of　six　vessels；　so　that　we　may
have　a　means　of　retreat　across　the　river。　When　that　is　done
we　will　make　a　rush　on　board　the　ships；　cut　down　any　Danes
we　may　find　there；　and　set　fire　to　all　the　vessels。　We　must
hold　the　gangways　to　the　shore　until　the　flames　get　well　alight；
and　then　take　to　the　boats　and　return。〃

〃I　think　the　plan　is　a　good　one；　Edmund；　and　may　well
be　carried　out　without　great　loss。　There　are　plenty　of　empty
wine　skins　at　present　in　Paris。　I　will　at　once　set　about　collecting
a　hundred　of　them。　We　will　fasten　to　each　a　stout　cord　so
as　to　form　a　loop　to　go　over　the　head　and　shoulders；　then　we
had　best　attach　them　all　together　by　one　long　cord；　by　which
means　we　shall　float　in　a　body。〃

〃Fortunately　the　night　is　very　dark　and　I　think　that　we
shall　succeed。　Say　nothing　about　it；　Egbert；　and　tell　the　men
to　keep　silent。　The　good　people　of　Paris　shall　know　nothing
of　the　matter　until　they　see　the　flames　dancing　round　the
towers　which　they　hold　in　so　much　dread。〃

The　Saxons　received　with　satisfaction　the　news　of　the
intended　expedition。　They　had　been　disappointed　at　being
kept　back　from　taking　any　part　in　the　fighting　during　the
two　days'　attack　upon　the　tower；　and　longed　for　an　opportunity
to　inflict　a　blow　upon　their　hated　enemy　the　Danes。　The
wine　skins　were　fitted　up　with　ropes　as　Egbert　had　suggested；
and　soon　after　nightfall　the　party；　armed　with　spear　and
sword；　and　carrying　each　his　float；　sallied　out　from　the　gates；
as　Edmund　was　by　this　time　so　well　known　among　the　citizens
that　the　gate　was　opened　without　demur　on　his　order。

They　crept　along　the　foot　of　the　wall　until　they　reached
the　lower　extremity　of　the　island。　Across　the　river　innumerable
fires　blazed　high；　and　the　songs　and　shouts　of　the　Danes
rose　loud　in　the　air。　Numbers　of　figures　could　be　seen　moving
about　or　standing　near　the　fires；　the　tents　of　the　chiefs
were　visible　some　distance　back；　but　the　number　of　these　as
well　as　of　the　fires　was　much　less　than　it　had　been　on　the　first
arrival　of　the　Northmen；　owing　to　the　numbers　who　had　gone
to　the　camp　round　St。　Germain。

The　night　was　very　dark　and　a　light　rain　was　falling。
Before　taking　to　the　water　Edmund　bade　his　men　strip　off
the　greater　portion　of　their　clothes　and　fasten　them　in　a
bundle　on　their　heads；　as　it　would　be　some　time　after　they
landed　before　they　could　advance　upon　the　camp；　and　the
cold　and　dripping　garments　would　tend　to　lessen　their　spirits
and　courage。

When　all　was　ready　they　stepped　into　the　water；　and
keeping　in　a　body；　drifted　down　the　stream。　The　wine　skins
floated　them　well　above　the　water；　the　stream　was　running
strong；　and　the　lights　of　the　Danish　fires　were　soon　left
behind。

In　half　an　hour　Edmund　and　Egbert　deemed　that　they
were　now　far　beyond　a　point　where　they　might　chance　upon
any　Danish　stragglers。　The　word　was　therefore　given；　and　all
made　for　the　bank。　The　stream　had　already　drifted　them　in
that　direction；　and　they　soon　reached　the　shore。　Here　the
skins　which　had　proved　so　useful　were　left　behind；　and　putting
on　their　dry　clothes；　they　felt　comparatively　comfortable。
Edmund　ordered　them　to　lay　down　their　spears　and　swords
by　their　sides；　and　to　swing　their　arms　violently。　This
they　continued　to　do　until　they　were　nearly　breathless；　by
which　time　the　blood　was　coursing　warmly　in　their　veins。

They　were　now　in　December；　and　the　water　was　extremely　cold；
and　Egbert　congratulated　Edmund　upon　having　made　the　men　strip；
for　had　they　been　compelled　to　remain　in　their　wet　garments
while　waiting　for　the　Danish　fires　to　die　down；　they　would
scarce　have　been　in　a　fit　state　to　fight　when　the　moment
for　so　doing　had　arrived。

Three　hours　elapsed　before　the　glare　of　the　distant　fires
began　to　subside；　another　half　hour　passed；　and　then　the
band　were　formed　up　and　moved　along　on　the　bank　of　the
river。





CHAPTER　XIV：　THE　REPULSE　OF　THE　NORTHMEN



When　within　half　a　mile　of　the　Danish　camp　Edmund　and　Egbert
left　the　band　and　advanced　alone。　They　were　pretty　confident
that　they　should　find　but　few　of　the　Danes　near　the　bank
of　the　river；　for　the　arrows　from　the　walls　of　Paris　carried
some　distance　beyond　it；　and　the　Northmen　consequently　encamped
some　hundred　yards　away。　They　had　to　pick　their　way　carefully；
for　the　ships　were　moored　along　the　bank；　their　ropes　being
fastened　to　great　stakes　driven　into　the　ground。

There　were　lights　on　board　the　vessels；　many　of　the　crews
remaining　on　board。　They　made　their　way　along　until　they
reached　the　spot　they　aimed　at。　Here　lay　the　three　sets　of
vessels；　each　six　deep；　their　masts　had　been　removed；　and
the　great　towers　rose　high　into　the　darkness　above　the
platforms　extending　over　their　decks。

The　planks　forming　the　gangways　up　which　the　towers
had　been　moved　had　been　taken　away；　save　one　which　gave
access　to　each　tier；　and　Edmund　doubted　not　that　it　was
intended　that　they　should　the　next　morning　move　across　the
river　in　tow　of　the　numerous　row…boats。　The　two　Saxons　did
not　attempt　to　go　on　board；　as　they　had　now　found　out　all
they　wanted；　and　might　mar　all　by　disturbing　some　sleeper
upon　the　platform。　They　accordingly　returned　to　the　spot
where　the　band　were　awaiting　them。

〃I　propose；　Egbert；〃　Edmund　said；　〃that　as　we　go　along
we　cut　the　mooring…ropes　of　all　the　vessels。　We　must　do　it
quietly　so　as　not　to　excite　any　alarm；　and　they　will　know　nothing
of　it　until　they　find　themselves　drifting　down　the　river　in
a　mass。　Then　there　will　be　great　jostling　and　carrying　away
of　bowsprits　and　bulwarks；　and　the　confusion　and　shouting
which　will　arise　will　tend　to　confuse　the　Danes　and　to　distract
their　attention　from　us。〃

Egbert　agreed　to　the　proposal；　and　as　soon　as　they
reached　the　first　ships　the　Saxons　began　their　work；　sawing
with　their　knives　and　daggers　through　the　ropes。　The　vessels
lay　four　or　five　deep　and　there　were　many　cables　to　cut；　but
the　keen　knives　of　the　Saxons　made　short　work　of　these。
Before　beginning　their　work　they　had　spread　along　the　bank；
leaving　only　two　men　abreast　of　each　ship；　so　that　in　the
course　of　two　or　three　minutes　the　cables　for　the　length　of
forty　ships　were　severed；　and　these　and　their　consorts　beyond
them　began　to　drift　out　into　the　stream。

The　Saxons　ran　quickly　on　ahead　and　repeated　the　work
until　the　whole　of　the　vessels　below　those　forming　the　platform
for　the　towers　were　adrift　in　the　stream；　but　by　this　time
those　in　the　ships　at　the　lower　end　of　the　tiers　had　taken　the
alarm；　and　shouts　of　wonder　and　anger　rose　on　the　air。　The
nine　Saxons　told　off　for　the　purpose　leaped　into　three　small
boats　and　rowed　out　into　the　stream；　while　the　rest　of　the
band；　divided　into　three　parties；　dashed　across　the　planks　on
to　the　platforms。　The　Danes　here　had　already　been　alarmed
by　the　uproar　from　the　vessels　adrift；　and　although　unable　to
see　what　was　passing　judged　that　something　was　wrong；　and
had　called　to　their　comrades　sleeping　in　the　holds　to　come
up。

Some　of　these　bearing　torches　came　up　on　deck　just　as
the　Saxons；　pouring　across　the　planks　which　connected　the
ships　with　the　shore；　fell　upon　them。　Taken　utterly　by　surprise；
the　Danes　could　offer　no　effective　resistance。　The　Saxons；
charging　with　levelled　spears；　drove　those　above　headlong
into　the　water；　then；　having　made　themselves　masters
of　the　platforms；　they　dashed　below　and　despatched　the　Danes
they　found　there。　The　torches　were　now　applied　to　the　contents
of　the　holds。　These　were　for　the　most　part　crammed
with　the　booty　which　the　Norsemen　had　gained　at　Havre；
Rouen；　and　other　places；　and　the　flames　speedily　shot　up。
By　this　time　the　Danes　in　the　camp；　alarmed　by　the　shouting
from　the　drifting　ships　and　the　sounds　of　conflict　from　the
towers；　came　flocking　down　in　haste。　The　planks　had　already
been　thrown　overboard。　The　Danes　strove　by　pulling
at　the　ropes　to　haul　the　vessels　nearer　to　land。　Some　ran
towards　their　ships；　others　jumped　into　boats；　and　pushing
out　to　the　platforms　strove　to　get　on　board　them；　but　by　this
time　the　flames　were　rising　high　through　the　hatchways。
According　to　previous　agreement　Edmund　and　the　leaders
of　the　other　two　parties；　seeing　that　the　flames　had　now　firm
hold；　cut　the　ropes　which　fastened　them　to　the　bank；　and　as
soon　as　the　stream　began　to　swing　them　out　leaped　into　the
boats　and　rowed　for　the　opposite　shore。

The　uproar　was　now　tremendous；　and　shouts　of　rage
rose　from　the　Northmen；　who　were　amazed　and　puzzled　by
the　appearance　of　the　Saxons；　whose　attire　differed　but
slightly　from　their　own；　and　the　general　belief　among　them
was　that　this　sudden　alarm　was　the　result　of　treachery　among
themselves。　There　was　no　time　to　waste　in　conjecture；　the
three　groups　of　ships　were　now　masses　of　flame；　in　the　midst
of　which　the　lofty　towers　rose　high。　The　shouts　of　the　sailors
in　the　vessels　crowded　together　in　helpless　confusion　in　the
stream　below　rose　higher　and　higher　as　the　blazing　vessels
drifted　down　and　threatened　to　overtake　them。

Some　tried　to　hoist　their　sails；　others　got　out　long　oars
and　strove　to　sweep　their　vessels　towards　the　shore；　but　they
were　huddled　too　closely　in　the　stream；　the　yards　and　rigging
of　many　having　become　interlocked　with　each　other。　The
Northmen　leaped　into　the　rowing　boats　by　the　bank　above
where　the　tower…ships　had　been　moored；　and　rowing　down
endeavoured　to　tow　them　to　the　bank；　but　they　were　now　in　a
blaze　from　end　to　end；　the　heat