the dragon and the raven-第36章

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precede　them。

〃The　boat　must　have　been　hauled　up　and　hidden；〃　he
said；　〃we　might　as　well　have　stopped　and　landed　at　some　of
the　villages　and　replenished　our　larder。　Now　we　shall　find
the　small　places　all　deserted；　and　the　cattle　driven　away　from
the　river。　It　is　an　unfortunate　mischance。〃

As　the　Northmen　anticipated　they　found　the　villages
they　passed　the　next　day　entirely　deserted　by　their　inhabitants；
and　not　a　head　of　cattle　was　to　be　seen　grazing　near　the
banks。　In　the　afternoon　they　came　to　Liege。　The　gates　were
shut；　and　the　walls　bristled　with　spears。　The　galleys　passed
without　a　stay。　Sweyn　had　other　objects　in　view。　Any　booty
that　might　be　obtained　without　severe　fighting　he　would　have
been　glad　enough　to　gather　in；　but　with　a　long　sea…voyage
before　him　he　cared　not　to　burden　his　galleys；　and　his　principal
desire　was　to　obtain　a　sufficient　supply　of　provisions　for
the　voyage。　For　several　days　the　galleys　proceeded　down　the
river。　The　villages　were　all　deserted；　and　the　towns　prepared
for　defence。

When　he　arrived　within　a　day's　journey　of　the　sea　he
was　forced　to　halt。　Half　the　crews　were　left　in　charge　of　the
ships；　and　with　the　others　he　led　a　foray　far　inland；　and　after
some　sharp　fighting　with　the　natives　succeeded　in　driving
down　a　number　of　cattle　to　the　ships　and　in　bringing　in　a
store　of　flour。

Edmund　had　kept　ahead　of　the　galleys；　stopping　at　every　town
and　village　and　warning　the　people　of　the　approach　of　the
marauders。　He　reached　the　mouth　of　the　river　two
days　before　them；　but　to　his　deep　disappointment　saw　that
the　Dragon　had　not　arrived　at　the　rendezvous。　On　the　following
afternoon；　however；　a　distant　sail　was　seen；　and　as　it
approached　Edmund　and　his　followers　gave　a　shout　of　joy　as
they　recognized　the　Dragon；　which　was　using　her　oars　as　well
as　sails　and　was　approaching　at　full　speed。　Edmund　leaped
into　the　boat　and　rowed　to　meet　them；　and　a　shout　of　welcome
arose　from　the　Dragon　as　the　crew　recognized　their
commander。

〃Are　we　in　time？〃　Egbert　shouted。

〃Just　in　time；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃They　will　be　here　to…morrow。〃
Edmund　was　soon　on　board；　and　was　astonished　at　seeing　Siegbert
standing　by　the　side　of　his　kinsman。

〃What　is　the　news　of　Freda？〃　the　jarl　asked　eagerly。

〃She　is　well　and　keeps　up　a　brave　heart；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃She
has　sworn　to　kill　herself　if　Sweyn　attempts　to　make　her　his　wife
by　violence。　I　have　spoken　to　her　and　told　her　that　rescue
will　come。　But　how　is　it　that　you　are　here？〃

〃After　you　had　left　us　your　good　kinsman　Egbert　suggested
to　me　that　I　should　take　passage　in　the　Dragon。　In　the
first　place　I　should　the　sooner　see　my　daughter；　and　in　the
next；　it　would　be　perilous　work；　after　the　Danish　army　had
left；　for　a　small　party　of　us　to　traverse　France。〃

〃I　would　I　had　thought　of　it；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but　my
mind　was　so　disturbed　with　the　thought　of　Freda's　peril　that
it　had　no　room　for　other　matters。　And　how　fares　it　with
you？〃

〃Bravely；〃　the　Northman　replied。　〃As　soon　as　I　sniffed
the　salt　air　of　the　sea　my　strength　seemed　to　return　to　me。
My　wound　is　well…nigh　healed；　but　the　joint　has　stiffened；
and　my　leg　will　be　stiff　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　But　that
matters　little。　And　now　tell　me　all　your　adventures。　We　have
heard　from　the　messenger　you　sent　how　shrewdly　you　hunted
out　Sweyn's　hiding…place。〃





CHAPTER　XVII：　A　LONG　CHASE



The　following　morning　the　weather　was　still　and　dull。
Not　a　breath　of　wind　ruffled　the　surface　of　the　river。

〃This　is　unfortunate；〃　Edmund　said　to　his　companion。
〃Sweyn's　galleys　will　row　faster　than　we　can　go　with　oars
alone；　and　though　they　may　not　know　the　Dragon　they　will　be
sure　that　she　is　not　one　of　their　own　ships。　We　must　hope　that
they　may　attack　us。〃

The　day　passed　on　without　a　sight　of　the　galleys；　but
late　in　the　afternoon　they　were　seen　in　the　distance。　The
Dragon　was　moored　near　the　middle　of　the　rivet。　Her　oars
were　stowed　away；　and　the　crews　ordered　to　keep　below　the
bulwarks；　in　hopes　that　the　Danes；　seeing　but　few　men　about
and　taking　her　for　an　easy　prize；　might　attack　her。　When
they　approached　within　half　a　mile　the　Danish　galleys
suddenly　ceased　rowing。

〃What　is　that　strange…looking　vessel？〃　Sweyn　asked　the
Northmen　standing　round　him。

〃I　know　her；〃　one　of　them　said；　〃for　I　have　twice　seen
her　before　to　my　cost。　The　first　time　she　chased　us　hotly　at
the　mouth　of　the　Thames；　destroying　several　of　the　vessels
with　which　we　were　sailing　in　convoy。　The　next　time　was　in
the　battle　where　King　Alfred　defeated　us　last　year；　nearly　in
the　same　water。　She　is　a　Saxon　ship；　wondrous　fast　and
well…handled。　She　did　more　damage　in　the　battle　than　any
four　of　her　consorts。〃

〃Were　it　not　that　I　have　other　game　in　view；〃　Sweyn　said；
〃we　would　fight　her；　for　we　are　two　to　one　and　strongly
manned；　and　the　Saxon　can　scarce　carry　more　men　than　one
of　our　galleys；　but　she　is　not　likely　to　be　worth　the　lives　she
would　cost　us　to　capture　her；　therefore　we　will　e'en　let　her
alone；　which　will　be　easy　enough；　for　see　that　bank　of　sea…fog
rolling　up　the　river；　another　ten　minutes　and　we　shall　not　see
across　the　deck。　Give　orders　to　the　other　galley　to　lay　in　oars
till　the　fog　comes；　then　to　make　for　the　left　bank　of　the　river
and　to　drift　with　the　tide　close　inshore。　Let　none　speak　a
word；　and　silence　be　kept　until　they　hear　my　horn。　I　will
follow　the　right　bank　till　we　reach　the　mouth。〃

Freda　was　standing　near　and　heard　these　orders　with　a
sinking　heart。　She　had　no　doubt　that　Edmund　was　on　board
the　Saxon　ship；　and　she　had　looked　forward　with　confidence
to　be　delivered　from　her　captor；　but　now　it　seemed　that　owing
to　the　evil　change　of　the　weather　the　hope　was　to　be
frustrated。

Edmund　and　the　Saxons　had　viewed　with　consternation
the　approach　of　the　sea…fog。　The　instant　it　enveloped　the
ship　the　oars　were　got　out　and　they　rowed　in　the　direction　of
the　Danish　vessels；　which　they　hoped　would　drop　anchor　when
the　fog　reached　them。　Not　a　word　was　spoken　on　board　the
Dragon。　Edmund；　Egbert；　and　Siegbert　stood　on　the　forecastle
intently　listening　for　any　sound　which　would　betray　the
position　of　the　Danes；　but　not　a　sound　was　to　be　heard。　They
had；　they　calculated；　already　reached　the　spot　where　the　Dane
should　have　been　anchored　when　from　the　left；　but　far　away
astern；　a　loud　call　in　a　woman's　voice　was　heard。

〃That　must　be　Freda！〃　Edmund　exclaimed。　〃Turn　the
ship；　they　have　passed　us　in　the　fog。〃

The　Dragon's　head　was　turned　and　she　was　rowed　rapidly
in　the　direction　of　the　voice。　No　further　sound　was　heard。
Presently　there　was　a　sudden　shock　which　threw　everyone
on　to　the　deck。　The　Dragon　had　run　high　on　the　low　muddy
bank　of　the　river。　The　tide　was　falling；　and　although　for　a
few　minutes　the　crew　tried　desperately　to　push　her　off　they
soon　found　that　their　efforts　were　in　vain；　and　it　was　not
until　the　tide　again　rose　high　nine　hours　later　that　the　Dragon
floated。　Until　morning　broke　nothing　could　be　done；　and
even　when　it　did　so　matters　were　not　mended；　for　the　fog
was　still　dense。

The　disappointment　of　Edmund　and　Siegbert　at　the　escape
of　the　Danes　was　extreme。　Their　plans　had　been　so　well
laid　that　when　it　was　found　that　the　Dragon　had　arrived　in
time　no　doubts　were　entertained　of　the　success　of　the　enterprise；
and　to　be　foiled　just　when　Freda　seemed　within　reach
was　a　terrible　disappointment。

〃My　only　consolation　is；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　paced　the
deck　impatiently　side　by　side　with　Egbert；　〃that　this　fog　which
delays　us　will　also　hinder　the　Danes。〃

〃That　may　be　so　or　it　may　not；〃　Egbert　answered。　〃It　is
evident　that　some　on　board　the　Danish　ships　must　have　recognized
us；　and　that　they　were　anxious　to　escape　rather　than　fight。
They　draw　so　little　water　that　they　would　not　be　afraid
of　the　sandbanks　off　the　mouth　of　the　river；　seeing　that　even
if　they　strike　them　they　can　jump　out；　lighten　the　boats；　and
push　them　off；　and　once　well　out　at　sea　it　is　probable　that
they　may　get　clearer　weather；　for　Siegbert　tells　me　that　the
fog　often　lies　thick　at　the　mouths　of　these　rivers　when　it　is
clear　enough　in　the　open　sea。〃

When　the　tide　again　began　to　run　out　Edmund　determined
at　all　risks　to　proceed　to　sea。　The　moorings　were　cast
off　from　the　shore　and　the　Dragon　suffered　to　drift　down。
Men　with　poles　took　their　stations　in　her　bows　and　sounded
continually；　while　at　her　stern　two　anchors　were　prepared　in
readiness　to　drop　at　a　moment's　notice。　Several　times　the
water　shoaled　so　much　that　Edmund　was　on　the　point　of
giving　orders　to　drop　the　anchors；　but　each　time　it　deepened
again。

So　they　continued　drifting　until　they　calculated　that　the
tide　must　be　nearly　on　the　turn；　and　they　then　dropped　anchor。
It　was　much　lighter　now　than　it　had　been　in　the　river；
but　was　still　so　misty　that　they　could　not　see　more　than　a
hundred　yards　or　so　round　the　vessel。　No　change　took　place
until　night；　and　then　Edmund；　who　had　been　too　excited
and　anxious　to　sleep　on　the　previous　night；　lay　down　to　rest；
ordering　that　he　should　be　woke　if　any　change　took　place　in
the　weather。　As　the　sun　rose　next　morning　the　fog　gradually
lifted；　and　they　were　able　to　see　where　they　were。　Their　head
pointed　west；　far　away　on　their　left　could　be　seen　a　low　line　of
coast。　Not　a　sail　was　in　sight；　and　indeed　sails　would　have
been　useless；　for　the　water　was　still　unruffled　by　a　breath　of
wind。　The　anchors　were　at　once　got　up　and　the　oars　manned；
and　the　ship's　head　turned　towards　shore。

Two　hours'　rowing　took　them　within　a　short　distance　of
land；　and　keeping　about　a　mile　out　they　rowed　to　the　west。
The　men；　knowing　how　anxious　was　their　leader　to　overtake
the　Danish　galleys；　rowed　their　hardest；　relieving　each　other
by　turns；　so　that　half　the　oars　were　constantly　going。　Without
intermission　they　rowed　until　night　set　in；　and　then　cast　anchor。
When　the　wind　cameit　was　not　until　the　third　dayit　was　ahead；
and　instead　of　helping　the　Dragon　it　greatly　impeded　its　progress。

So　far　they　had　seen　nothing　of　the　galleys；　and　had　the
mortification　of　knowing　that　in　spite　of　all　their　efforts　these
were　probably　gaining　ground　upon　them　every　day。　Even
without　wind　the　galleys　would　row　faster　than　the　Dragon；
and　being　so　fully　manned　would　be　able　to　keep　all　their
oars　going；　but　against　the　wind　their　advantage　would　be
increased　greatly；　for　lying　low　in　the　water　they　would　offer
but　little　resistance　to　it；　and　would　be　able　to　make　way　at　a
brisk　pace；　while　the　Dragon　could　scarce　move　against　it。

The　Saxon　ship　was　off　Calais　when　the　breeze　sprang
up；　and　as　it　increased　and　their　progress　became　slower　and
slower　Edmund　held　a　consultation　with　his　companions　and
it　was　determined　to　run　across　the　channel　and　lie　in　the
mouth　of　the　Thames　till　the　wind　turned。　So　long　as　it
continued　to　blow　they　would　lag　farther　and　farther　behind
the　chase；　who　might；　moreover　enter　any　of　the　rivers　in
search　of　shelter　or　provisions；　and　so　escape　their　pursuers
altogether。　Siegbert　had　never　been　up　the　Mediterranean；
but　he　had　talked　with　many　Danes　who　had　been。　These
had　told　him　that　the　best　course　was　to　sail　west　to　the
extremity　of　England；　then　to　steer　due　south　until　they