the dragon and the raven-第35章

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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　he　determined　to　try；　for　if　the　Northmen　succeeded
in　getting　to　the　sea　the　pursuit　would　indeed　be　a　long　one；
and　many　weeks　and　even　months　might　elapse　before　he
could　again　come　up　to　them。

On　the　following　day　the　rest　of　the　party　arrived；　and
leaving　the　forest　Edmund　proceeded　with　them　through　the
country；　visiting　every　village；　and　endeavouring　to　rouse　the
people　to　attack　the　Danes；　but　the　news　that　the　dreaded
marauders　were　so　near　excited　terror　only。　The　assurances
of　Edmund　that　there　was　much　rich　plunder　in　their　camp
which　would　become　the　property　of　those　who　destroyed
them；　excited　but　a　feeble　interest。　The　only　point　in　the
narrative　which　excited　their　contentment　was　the　news　that
the　Danes　were　building　ships　and　were　going　to　make　their
way　down　to　the　sea。

〃In　Heaven's　name　let　them　go！〃　was　the　cry；　〃who　would
interfere　with　the　flight　of　a　savage　beast？　If　they　are　going
down　the　river　they　will　scarcely　land　to　scatter　and　plunder
the　country；　and　he　would　be　mad　indeed　who　would　seek
them　when　they　are　disposed　to　let　us　alone。〃

Finding　his　efforts　vain　in　the　country　near　the　forest
Edmund　went　down　the　river　to　the　town　of　Liege；　which
stood　on　its　banks。　When　it　became　known　that　a　band　of
Northmen　was　on　the　upper　river；　and　was　likely　to　pass　down；
the　alarm　spread　quickly　through　the　town；　and　a　council　of
the　principal　inhabitants　was　summoned。　Before　these
Edmund　told　his　story；　and　suggested　that　the　fighting　men
of　the　town　should　march　up　the　river　and　fall　upon　the
Danes　in　their　camp。

〃It　is　but　two　days'　marchthe　Northmen　will　be　unsuspicious
of　danger；　and　taken　by　surprise　may　be　easily　defeated。〃
The　proposition；　however；　was　received　with　absolute　derision。

〃You　must　be　mad　to　propose　such　a　thing；　young　Saxon；
if　Saxon　indeed　you　are；　but　for　aught　we　know　you　may　be　a
Northman　sent　by　them　to　draw　us　into　an　ambush。　No；　we
will　prepare　for　their　coming。　We　will　man　our　walls　and
stand　on　the　defensive；　and　if　there　be；　as　you　say；　but　three
hundred　of　them；　we　can　defend　ourselves　successfully；　and
we　may　hope　that；　seeing　our　strength；　and　that　we　are　prepared
for　their　coming；　the　Northmen　will　pass　by　without
molesting　us；　but　as　for　moving　outside　our　walls；　it　would　be
worse　than　folly　even　to　think　of　such　a　thing。〃

After　this　rebuff　Edmund　concluded　that　he　could　hope
for　no　assistance　from　the　inhabitants　of　the　country；　but
must　depend　upon　himself　and　the　Dragon　alone。　He　at　once
despatched　two　of　his　men；　a　Dane　and　a　Saxon；　with　orders
to　journey　as　rapidly　as　possible　to　the　rendezvous；　where
the　Dragon　was　to　be　found　at　the　mouth　of　the　Rhine；　and　to
beg　Egbert　to　move　round　with　all　speed　to　the　Maas。

Having　done　this；　he　purchased　a　small　and　very　fast
rowing…skiff　at　Liege；　and　taking　his　place　in　this　with　his
four　remaining　followers；　he　rowed　up　the　river。　It　took　them
three　days　before　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　forest。　On
reaching　their　former　hiding…place；　they　landed。　The　bushes
were　carefully　drawn　aside；　and　the　boat　hauled　up　until
completely　screened　from　sight　of　the　river；　and　Edmund　and
the　Dane　at　once　started　for　the　encampment　of　the
Northmen。

They　had　been　ten　days　absent；　and　in　that　time　great
progress　had　been　made　with　the　galleys。　They　looked　indeed
completely　finished　as　they　stood　high　and　lofty　on　the
river　bank。　The　planks　were　all　in　their　places；　the　long　rows
of　benches　for　the　rowers　were　fastened　in；　the　poop　and
forecastle　were　finished　and　decked。　A　number　of　long
straight　poles　lay　alongside　ready　to　be　fashioned　into　oars；
and　Edmund　thought　that　in　another　two　or　three　days　the
galleys　would　be　ready　for　launching。　They　were　long　and
low　in　the　waist；　and　were　evidently　built　for　great　speed。
Edmund　did　not　think　that　they　were　intended　to　sail；　except
perhaps　occasionally　when　the　wind　was　favourable；　as　an
aid　to　the　rowers。　Each　would　carry　a　hundred　and　fifty
men；　and　there　were　thirty　seats；　so　that　sixty　would　row　at
once。

〃They　are　fine　galleys；〃　the　Dane　whispered。　〃Sweyn
has　a　good　eye　for　a　boat。〃

〃Yes；〃　Edmund　said；　〃they　look　as　if　they　will　be　very
fast。　With　oars　alone　they　would　leave　the　Dragon　behind；
but　with　sails　and　oars　we　should　overhaul　them　in　a　wind。　I
wish　it　had　been　otherwise；　for　if；　when　they　reach　the　mouth
of　the　river；　there　is　no　wind；　they　may　give　the　Dragon　the
slip。　Ah！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　Freda。〃

As　he　spoke　a　tall　maiden　came　out　from　the　small　hut。
The　distance　was　too　great　for　Edmund　to　distinguish　her
features；　but　he　doubted　not　from　the　style　of　her　garments
that　it　was　Siegbert's　daughter。　There　were　other　women
moving　about　the　camp；　for　the　Danes　were　generally　accompanied
by　their　wives　on　their　expeditions；　but　there　was
something　in　the　carriage　and　mien　of　the　figure　at　the　door
of　the　hut　which　distinguished　it　from　the　rest。　She　did　not
move　far　away；　but　stood　watching　the　men　at　work　on　the
ships　and　the　scene　around。　Presently　a　tall　figure　strode
down　from　the　vessels　towards　her。

〃There　is　Sweyn！〃　Edmund　exclaimed；　seeing　that　the
warrior　possessed　but　one　arm。

〃　Ah！　you　know　him　by　sight　then？〃　The　Dane　said。

〃I　should　do　so；〃　Edmund　answered　grimly；　〃seeing　that
it　was　I　who　smote　off　that　right　arm　of　his。　I　regret　now
that　I　did　not　strike　at　his　head　instead。〃

The　Dane　looked　with　admiration　and　surprise　at　his
leader。　He　had　heard　of　the　fight　between　the　Saxon　champion
and　Sweyn；　which　had　cost　the　latter　his　right　arm；　but
until　now　he　had　been　ignorant　of　Edmund's　identity　with
Sweyn's　conqueror。

Freda　did　not　seek　to　avoid　her　captor；　but　remained
standing　quietly　until　he　approached。　For　some　time　they
conversed；　then　she　turned　and　left　him　and　re…entered　her
hut。　Sweyn　stood　looking　after　her；　and　then　with　an　angry
stamp　of　the　foot　returned　to　the　galleys。

〃I　would　give　much　to　be　able　to　warn　her　that　I　am
present　and　will　follow　her　until　I　rescue　her　from　Sweyn；〃
Edmund　said。　〃Once　at　sea　and　on　her　way　south　she　may
well　despair　of　escape；　and　may　consent；　from　sheer
hopelessness；　to　become　his　wife。　Were　it　not　that　her　hut　is
so　strongly　guarded　at　night　I　would　try　to　approach　it；　but　as
this　cannot　be　done　I　must　take　my　chance　in　the　day。　To…morrow
I　will　dress　myself　in　your　garments　and　will　hide　in
the　wood　as　near　as　I　can　to　the　hut；　then　if　she　come　out　to
take　the　air　I　will　walk　boldly　out　and　speak　with　her。　I　see　no
other　way　of　doing　it。〃

On　the　following　morning；　attired　in　the　Dane's　clothes
and　helmet；　Edmund　took　his　place　near　the　edge　of　the
wood。　It　was　not　until　late　in　the　afternoon　that　Freda　made
her　appearance。　The　moment　was　propitious；　almost　all　the
men　were　at　work　on　the　ships　and　their　oars。　The　women
were　cooking　the　evening　meal；　and　there　was　no　one　near
Freda；　with　the　exception　of　the　two　armed　Danes　who　sat
on　the　trunk　of　a　fallen　tree　on　guard；　a　short　distance　away。
Edmund　issued　boldly　from　the　wood；　and；　waiting　till　Freda's
steps；　as　she　passed　backwards　and　fowards；　took　her　to　the
farthest　point　from　the　guards；　he　approached　her。

〃Freda；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　start　or　betray　surprise；　for　you
are　watched。〃

At　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　girl　had　paused　in　her
steps；　and　exclaimed　in　a　low　voice；　〃Edmund！〃　and　then；
obeying　his　words；　stood　motionless。

〃I　am　near　you；　dear；　and　will　watch　over　you。　I　have　not
strength　to　carry　you　away；　but　my　ship　will　be　at　the　mouth
of　the　river　as　you　pass　out。　Hang　a　white　cloth　from　the
window　of　your　cabin　in　the　poop　as　a　signal。　If　we　fail　to
rescue　you　there　we　will　follow　you　wheresoever　you　may　go；
even　to　Italy；　where　I　hear　you　are　bound。　So　keep　up　a　brave
heart。　I　have　seen　your　father；　and　he　has　sent　me　to　save
you。　See；　the　guards　are　approaching；　I　must　go。〃

Edmund　then　made　for　the　forest。　〃Stop　there！〃　the
guards　cried。　〃Who　are　you；　and　whence　do　you　come？〃

Edmund　made　no　answer；　but；　quickening　his　steps；
passed　among　the　trees；　and　was　soon　beyond　pursuit。　This；
indeed；　the　Danes　did　not　attempt。　They　had　been　surprised
at　seeing；　as　they　supposed；　one　of　their　party　addressing
Freda；　for　Sweyn's　orders　that　none　should　speak　with　her
were　precise。　He　had　given　this　command　because　he　feared；
that　by　the　promise　of　rich　rewards　she　might　tempt　some　of
his　followers　to　aid　her　escape。　They　had；　therefore；　risen　to
interrupt　the　conversation；　but　it　was　not　until　they
approached　that　it　struck　them　that　the　Northman's　face　was
unfamiliar　to　them；　and　that　he　was　not　one　of　their　party；
but　Edmund　had　entered　the　wood　before　they　recovered
from　their　surprise。　Their　shouts　to　him　to　stop　brought
Sweyn　to　the　spot。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃A　strange　Northman　has　come　out　of　the　wood；　and
spoken　to　the　lady　Freda。〃

Sweyn　turned　to　his　captive。　She　stood　pale　and　trembling；
for　the　shock　of　the　surprise　had　been　a　severe　one。

〃Who　is　this　whom　you　have　spoken　to？〃　he　asked。　Freda
did　not　answer。

〃I　insist　upon　knowing；〃　Sweyn　exclaimed　angrily。

Freda　recovered　herself　with　an　effort；　and；　raising　her
head；　said；　〃Your　insistence　has　small　effect　with　me；　as　you
know；　Jarl　Sweyn；　but　as　there　is　no　reason　for　concealment
I　will　tell　you。　He　is　a　messenger　whom　my　dear　father　has
sent　to　me　to　tell　me　that　some　day　he　hopes　to　rescue　me
from　your　hands。〃

Sweyn　laughed　loudly。

〃He　might　have　saved　himself　the　trouble；〃　he　said。　〃Your
good　father　lies　wounded　near　Paris；　and　by　the　time　he　is
able　to　set　out　to　your　rescue　we　shall　be　with　Hasting　on　the
sunny　waters　of　Italy；　and　long　ere　that　you　will；　I　hope；　have
abandoned　your　obstinate　disposition；　and　consented　to　be
my　wife。〃

Freda　did　not　answer　at　once。　Now　that　there　was　a
hope　of　rescue；　however　distant；　she　thought　it　might　be　as
well　to　give　Sweyn　some　faint　hope　that　in　time　she　might
yield　to　his　wishes。　Then　she　said：

〃I　have　told　you　often；　jarl；　that　I　will　never　be　your　wife；
and　I　do　not　think　that　I　shall　ever　change　my　mind。　It　may
be　that　the　sunny　skies　you　speak　of　may　work　a　wonderful
change　in　me；　but　that　remains　to　be　seen。〃　Sweyn　retired
well　satisfied。　Her　words　were　less　defiant　than　any　she　had
hitherto　addressed　to　him。　As　to　the　message　of　her　father；
who　could　know　nothing　of　his　intention　to　sail　to　the
Mediterranean；　he　thought　no　further　of　it。

Three　days　later　the　galleys　were　launched；　and　after　a
day　spent　in　putting　everything　in　its　place　they　started　on
their　way　down　the　river。　They　rowed　many　miles；　and　at
night　moored　by　the　bank。　After　darkness　had　fallen　a　small
boat　rowed　at　full　speed　past　them。　It　paid　no　attention　to
the　summons　to　stop；　enforced　though　it　was　by　several　arrows；
but　continued　its　way　down　the　river；　and　was　soon　lost
in　the　darkness。　Sweyn　was　much　displeased。　As　they　rowed
down　they　had　carefully　destroyed　every　boat　they　found　on
the　river；　in　order　that　the　news　of　their　coming　might　not
precede　them。

〃The　boat　must　have　been　hauled　up　and