the dragon and the raven-第34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！


powerful　friends；　and　the　carrying　off　of　the　jarl's　daughter
from　the　side　of　her　wounded　father　would　be　regarded　as　a
grave　offence；　and　Sweyn　might　well　wish　to　keep　clear　of　his
countrymen　until　he　had　forced　Freda　to　become　his　wife。
Even　then　it　would　not　be　safe　for　him　for　a　long　time　to
return　to　his　country。　Striking　through　the　Ardennes　he　would
come　down　upon　the　Scheldt；　the　Moselle；　the　Maas；　or　other
rivers　flowing　into　the　North　Sea　direct；　or　into　the　Rhine。

Edmund　knew　nothing　of　these　streams；　but　the　Danes
with　him　said　there　were　several　rivers　so　situated；　for　they
had　sailed　up　them。　Where　they　took　their　rise　they　knew
not；　but　it　would　probably　be　in　or　beyond　the　forest　of
Ardennes。

〃Then　in　that　way　we　will　search；〃　Edmund　said。　〃If
they　come　upon　a　river　they　will　doubtless　set　to　work　to
build　galleys　to　carry　them　to　the　sea；　for　with　only　three
hundred　men　Sweyn　will　not　venture　to　march　by　land　through
a　country　which　has　but　lately　suffered　heavily　at　the　hands
of　the　Danes。　It　will　take　him　a　month　or　six　weeks　to　cut
down　trees　and　build　his　ships；　therefore　we　may　hope　to
find　him　before　he　is　ready　to　embark。　First　we　will　push
through　the　forest　to　the　other　side；　there　we　will　question
the　inhabitants　concerning　the　position　of　the　nearest　rivers；
then　we　will　divide　into　parties　and　go　on　the　search；　appointing
a　place　of　rendezvous　where　we　may　rejoin　each　other。
It　can　hardly　be　that　we　shall　fail　to　find　them　if　they
have　taken　that　way。〃

Before　entering　the　forest　they　obtained　a　considerable
store　of　provisions；　for　they　had　no　idea　of　its　extent；　and
had　no　time　to　spend　in　hunting　game。　The　forest　of
Ardennes　was　at　that　time　of　immense　size；　extending　from
Verdun　and　Metz　on　the　south；　to　Liege　and　Aix　on　the　north。

Men　of　the　present　day　would　have　found　it　impossible
to　find　their　way　through；　but　would　speedily　have　been　lost
in　its　trackless　recesses；　but　the　Saxons　and　Danes　were
accustomed　to　travel　in　forests；　and　knew　the　signs　as　well　as
did　the　Red…skins　and　hunters　of　the　American　forests。
Therefore　they　felt　no　hesitation　in　entering　the　forest
without　a　guide。

The　danger　which　might　beset　them　was　of　a　different
kind。　Immense　numbers　of　the　inhabitants　of　France；　Champagne；
and　Burgundy　had　taken　refuge　in　the　forests；　driving　their
flocks　and　herds　before　them。　Here　they　lived　a　wild　life；
hoping　that　the　emperor　would　ere　long　clear　the
country　of　the　invaders。　No　mercy　could　be　expected　if
Edmund　and　his　party　fell　in　with　a　number　of　these　fugitives。
They　would　have　no　time　to　tell　their　story；　but　would
be　attacked　at　once　as　a　party　of　plundering　Danes。

Knowing　that　the　horses　would　be　an　encumbrance　to
them　in　the　forest；　they　were　sold　to　the　last　party　of
Northmen　they　encountered　before　entering　it；　and　they
pursued　their　way　on　foot。　The　greatest　caution　was　observed；
every　sound　was　marked；　and　at　the　call　of　a　human　voice；
the　low　of　cattle；　or　the　bleating　of　sheep；　they　turned　their
course　so　as　to　avoid　encounter　with　the　inhabitants　of　the
forest。　They　lit　no　fires　at　night；　and　scarce　a　word　was　spoken
on　the　march。　Several　times　they　had　to　take　refuge　in
thickets　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　approaching　voices；
and　it　needed　all　their　knowledge　of　woodcraft　to　maintain
their　direction　steadily　towards　the　north。　At　last；　after　six
days'　journey；　they　issued　out　into　the　open　country　beyond
the　forest　and　soon　arrived　at　a　cottage。

The　peasant　was　struck　with　terror　and　astonishment　at
the　appearance　of　seven　Danes；　and　he　could　with　difficulty
be　made　to　understand　that　their　object　was　neither　plunder
nor　murder；　but　that　they　wished　only　information　from　him
of　the　situation　and　direction　of　the　various　rivers　of　the
country。　After　learning　from　him　all　that　he　knew　Edmund
arrived　at　the　conclusion　that　Sweyn　would　probably　attempt
to　descend　either　by　a　branch　of　the　Moselle；　and　so　to　the
Rhine　on　the　right；　or　by　one　of　the　Maas　on　the　left　of　the
place　at　which　they　had　emerged　from　the　forest。

Edmund　decided　to　strike　the　Maas；　and　to　follow　its
course　up　into　the　forest；　taking　with　him　one　of　the　Danes
and　two　of　his　Saxons；　and　to　send　the　others　to　search　the
banks　of　the　tributary　of　the　Moselle。　Before　starting　he　sent
the　peasant　to　the　nearest　village　to　purchase　garments　of
the　country　for　the　whole　party。　He　had　already　told　the
man　that　they　were　not　Danes　but　Saxons；　the　bitter　enemies
of　the　Northmen；　and　that　he　had　been　aiding　in　the　defence
of　Paris　against　them。

The　peasant　did　not　doubt　what　Edmund　told　him；　for
the　conduct　of　his　visitors　was　so　opposed　to　all　that　he　had
heard　of　the　doings　of　the　Danes　that　he　well　believed　they
could　not　belong　to　that　nation。　He　was　away　some　hours；
and　returned　with　the　required　dresses。　Having　put　these
on；　and　laying　aside　their　helmets　and　shields；　the　two　parties
started；　the　Danes　alone　carrying　with　them　their　former
garments。　The　next　day　Edmund　arrived　at　the　river；　and　at
once　followed　its　course　upwards；　for　Sweyn　and　his　party
would　be　building　their　ships　in　the　forest。

They　had　not　proceeded　many　miles　before　they　heard
the　sound　of　axes。　Edmund　gave　an　exclamation　of　delight。
It　was　almost　certain　that　he　had　hit　upon　Sweyn's　track；　for
it　was　unlikely　that　any　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　country　would
have　gone　so　far　into　the　forest　for　timber。　They　now　moved
with　the　greatest　caution；　and　as　they　approached　the　place
whence　the　sound　proceeded　Edmund　halted　the　two　Saxons
and　bade　them　conceal　themselves。　The　Dane　resumed
his　own　garments　and　put　on　his　helmet　and　shield；　and　then；
taking　advantage　of　every　clump　of　undergrowth；　and　moving
with　the　greatest　caution；　he　and　Edmund　made　their　way　forward。
Presently　they　came　within　sight　of　an　animated　scene。

A　large　number　of　trees　had　been　felled　by　the　banks　of
the　river　and　three　hundred　Northmen　were　busily　at　work。
The　frames　of　two　great　galleys　had　already　been　set　up；　and
they　were　now　engaged　in　chopping　out　planks　for　their　sides。
Two　huts　were　erected　in　the　middle　of　the　clearing。　One
was　large；　and　Sweyn's　banner　floated　from　a　spear　before　it。
The　other　which　stood　close　by　was　much　smaller；　and
Edmund　doubted　not　that　this　was　appropriated　to　Freda。

Nothing　more　could　be　done　nowtheir　object　was　so
far　attained；　and　retiring　they　joined　the　two　Saxons　and　made
their　way　along　the　river　bank　till　they　reached　the　edge　of
the　forest。　One　of　the　Saxons　was　now　sent　off　to　the　peasant's
hut；　where　he　was　to　remain　until　the　return　of　the　other
party；　and　was　then　to　bring　them　on　to　the　spot　which
Edmund　had　chosen　for　his　encampment。　This　was　in　the
heart　of　a　large　clump　of　underwood　extending　down　to　the
river。

The　brushwood　was　so　thick　that　it　was　entered　with
difficulty；　and　no　passer…by　would　dream　that　a　party　was
hidden　within　it。　Near　the　stream　Edmund　and　his　companions
with　their　swords　soon　cleared　away　a　circle；　and　with
the　boughs　constructed　an　arbour。　A　thin　screen　of　bushes
separated　them　from　the　river；　but　they　could　see　the　water；
and　none　could　pass　up　or　down　unperceived。

The　Saxon　was　charged　to　bring　with　him　on　his　return
a　considerable　supply　of　provisions；　for　it　would　have　been
dangerous　to　wander　in　the　woods　in　pursuit　of　game。　The
Northmen　had；　Edmund　noticed；　some　cattle　with　them；　but
they　would　be　sure　to　be　hunting　in　the　woods；　as　they　would
wish　to　save　the　cattle　for　provision　on　their　voyage。　It　was
nightfall　before　the　hut　was　completed；　and　as　they　had
journeyed　far　for　many　days　Edmund　determined　to　postpone　an
attempt　to　discover　what　was　passing　in　Sweyn's　camp　until
the　following　evening。

The　day　passed　quietly；　and　towards　evening　Edmund
and　the　Dane　started　for　Sweyn's　camp。　When　they　approached
it　they　saw　many　fires　burning；　and　the　shouting
and　singing　of　the　Norsemen　rang　through　the　forest。　They
waited　until　the　fires　burnt　down　somewhat　and　they　could
see　many　of　the　Danes　stretching　themselves　down　by　them。
Then　Edmund's　companion　proceeded　to　the　camp。

Anxious　as　Edmund　was　himself　to　learn　what　was　doing；
he　restrained　his　impatience；　for　it　was　safer　that　the
Northman　should　go　alone。　In　the　dull　light　of　the　dying
fires　his　features　would　be　unnoticed；　and　his　tongue　would
not　betray　him　if　spoken　to。　Siegbert　had　commended　him
as　a　crafty　and　ready　fellow；　and　Edmund　felt　that　he　would
be　able　to　gather　more　information　than　he　could　do　himself。
》From　his　place　of　concealment　he　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on
the　Northman's　figure。　Presently　he　saw　him　enter　the　clearing；
and　sauntering　slowly　across　it　throw　himself　down　near
a　fire　by　which　a　party　of　Danes　were　still　sitting　talking。

One　by　one　these　lay　down；　and　when　the　last　had　done
so　the　Northman　rose　quietly　and　stole　out　again　into　the
forest。　When　he　rejoined　Edmund　the　latter　set　forward　with
him；　and　not　a　word　was　spoken　until　they　were　some　distance
from　the　camp；　then　Edmund　stopped。

〃What　have　you　learned？〃　he　asked。

〃All　that　there　is　to　learn；　I　think；〃　the　Northman　replied。
〃The　lady　Freda　is；　as　you　supposed；　a　captive　in　the
little　hut。　Two　men　only　keep　watch　over　it　by　day；　but　at
night　six　lie　around　it；　two　being　always　on　foot。　They　speak
in　admiration　of　her　courage　and　spirit。　She　has　sworn　to
Sweyn　that　she　will　slay　herself　if　he　attempts　to　use　violence
to　force　her　to　marriage　with　him；　and　they　doubt　not　that
she　will　keep　her　word。　However；　they　believe　that　she　will
grow　tired　out　at　last　when　she　finds　that　there　is　no　hope
whatever　of　a　rescue。　The　ships　are　being　built　for　a　long　sea
voyage；　for　Sweyn　is　going　to　lead　them　to　join　the　Viking
Hasting　in　the　Mediterranean；　and　has　promised　his　men
the　plunder　of　countries　ten　times　richer　than　France　or
England。　With　so　long　an　expedition　in　view；　they　may　well
think　that　the　Lady　Freda's　resolution　will　soon　give　way；　and
that　she　may　come　to　see　that　the　position　of　the　wife　of　a
bold　viking　is　a　thousand　times　preferable　to　that　of　a　captive。
Many　of　the　men　loudly　express　their　wonder　why　she
would　refuse　the　love　of　so　valiant　a　warrior　as　Sweyn。〃

The　news　was　at　once　good　and　bad。　Edmund　did　not
fear　Freda's　resolution　giving　way　for　a　long　time；　but　the
news　that　Sweyn　intended　to　carry　her　upon　so　distant　an
expedition　troubled　him。　It　was　of　course　possible　that　he
might　intercept　them　with　the　Dragon　at　the　mouth　of　the
Maas；　but　it　was　uncertain　whether　the　ship　would　arrive　at
the　mouth　of　the　Rhine　in　time　to　be　brought　round　before
the　Northmen　descended。　The　length　of　her　voyage　would
depend　entirely　on　the　wind。　Were　this　favourable　when　she
reached　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　a　week　would　carry　her　to
her　destination。　Should　it　be　unfavourable　there　was　no　saying
how　long　the　voyage　would　last。

The　risk　was　so　great　that　Edmund　determined　to　make
an　effort　to　rouse　the　country　against　the　Danes；　and　to　fall
upon　them　in　their　encampment；　but　the　task　would　he　knew
be　a　hard　one；　for　the　dread　of　the　Danes　was　so　great　that
only　in　large　towns　was　any　resistance　to　them　ever　offered。
However　h