the dragon and the raven-第37章

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————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


had　told　him　that　the　best　course　was　to　sail　west　to　the
extremity　of　England；　then　to　steer　due　south　until　they　came
upon　the　north　coast　of　Spain。　They　would　follow　this　to　its
western　extremity；　and　then　run　south；　following　the　land
till　they　came　to　a　channel　some　ten　miles　wide；　which　formed
the　entrance　to　the　Mediterranean。

They　decided；　therefore；　to　follow　this　course　in　hopes
of　interrupting　the　galleys　there；　they　would　thus　avoid　the
dangerous　navigation　of　the　west　coast　of　France；　where　there
were　known　to　be　many　islands　and　rocks；　around　which　the
tides　ran　with　great　fury。　For　a　fortnight　the　Dragon　lay
windbound；　then　came　two　days　of　calm；　and　then；　to　their
delight；　the　pennon　on　the　top　of　the　mast　blew　out
from　the　east。

They　were　lying　in　the　mouth　of　the　Colne；　and　would
therefore　have　no　difficulty　in　making　the　Foreland；　and　with
her　sail　set　and　her　oars　out　the　Dragon　dashed　away　from
her　moorings。　Swiftly　they　ran　round　the　south…easterly　point
of　England　and　then　flew　before　the　breeze　along　the　southern
coast。　On　the　third　day　they　were　off　Land's　End　and
hauled　her　head　to　the　south。　The　east　wind　held；　the　Bay　of
Biscay　was　calm；　and　after　a　rapid　voyage　they　sighted　the
high　lands　of　Spain　ahead。　Then　they　sheered　to　the　west　till
they　rounded　its　extremity　and　then　sailed　down　the　coast　of
Spain。　They　put　into　a　river　for　provisions；　and　the　natives
assembled　in　great　numbers　on　the　banks　with　the　evident
intention　of　opposing　a　landing；　but　upon　Egbert　shouting
that　they　were　not　Danes　but　Saxons；　and　were　ready　to　barter
for　the　provisions　they　required；　the　natives　allowed　them
to　approach。　There　was　no　wrangling　for　terms。　Cattle　were
purchased；　and　the　water…tanks　filled　up；　and　a　few　hours
after　entering　the　river　the　Dragon　was　again　under　way。
Rounding　the　southern　point　they　followed　the　land。　After　a
day's　sailing　they　perceived　land　on　their　right；　and　gave　a
shout　of　joy　at　the　thought　that　they　had　arrived　at　the
entrance　of　the　straits。　At　nightfall　they　dropped　anchor。

〃What　are　you　looking　at；　Siegbert？〃　Edmund　asked；
seeing　the　jarl　looking　thoughtfully　at　the　anchor…chain
as　the　ship　swung　round。

〃I　am　thinking；〃　the　jarl　said；　〃that　we　must　have　made
some　error。　Do　you　not　see　that　she　rides；　just　as　we　were
sailing；　with　her　head　to　the　north…east？　That　shows　that　the
current　is　against　us。〃

〃Assuredly　it　does；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but　the　current　is　a
very　slack　one；　for　the　ropes　are　not　tight。〃

〃But　that　agrees　not；〃　Siegbert　said；　〃with　what　I　have
been　told。　In　the　first　place；　this　channel　points　to　the
northeast；　whereas；　as　I　have　heard；　the　straits　into　the
Mediterranean　run　due　east。　In　the　next　place；　those　who　have
been　through　have　told　me　that　there　are　no　tides　as　in　the
northern　seas；　but　that　the　current　runs　ever　like　a　river　to
the　east。〃

〃If　that　be　so；〃　Edmund　said；　〃we　must　have　mistaken
our　way；　for　here　what　current　there　is　runs　to　the　west。
To…morrow　morning；　instead　of　proceeding　farther；　we　will　cross
to　the　opposite　side；　and　will　follow　that　down　until　we　strike
upon　the　right　channel。〃

In　the　morning　sail　was　again　made；　and　crossing　what
was　really　the　Bay　of　Cadiz　they　sailed　on　till　they　arrived　at
the　mouth　of　the　straits。　There　was　no　doubt　now　that　they
were　right。　The　width　of　the　channel；　its　direction；　and　the
steady　current　through　it；　all　corresponded　with　what　Siegbert
had　heard；　and　proceeding　a　mile　along　it　they　cast　anchor。

They　soon　opened　communications　with　the　natives；
who；　although　speaking　a　tongue　unknown　to　them；　soon
comprehended　by　their　gestures　and　the　holding　up　of　articles
of　barter　that　their　intentions　were　friendly。　Trade　was
established；　and　there　was　now　nothing　to　do　but　to　await
the　coming　of　the　galleys。

〃I　would；〃　Edmund　said；　as；　when　evening　was　closing；
he　looked　across　the　straits　at　the　low　hills　on　the　opposite
side；　〃that　this　passage　was　narrower。　Sweyn　will；　doubtless；
have　men　on　board　his　ship　who　have　sailed　in　these　seas
before；　and　will　not　need　to　grope　his　way　along　as　we　have
done。　If　he　enters　the　straits　at　night　we　shall　see　nothing　of
him；　and　the　current　runs　so　fast　that　he　would　sweep　speedily
by。　It　is　possible；　indeed；　that　he　has　already　passed。　If　he
continued　to　row　down　the　shores　of　France　all　the　time　we
were　lying　wind…bound　he　would　have　had　so　long　a　start　when
the　east　wind　began　to　blow；　that；　although　the　galleys　carry
but　little　sail；　they　might　well　have　been　here　some　days
before　us。　Sweyn　would　be　anxious　to　join　Hasting　as　soon　as
he　could。　The　men　would　be　thirsting　for　booty；　and　would
make　but　short　halt　anywhere。　I　will　stay　but　a　week。　If　in
that　time　they　come　not　we　will　enter　this　southern　sea　and
seek　the　fleet　of　Hasting。　When　we　find　that　we　shall　find
Sweyn；　but　I　fear　that　the　search　will　be　a　long　one；　for　these
people　speak　not　our　tongue；　and　we　shall　have　hard　work　in
gaining　tidings　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　Northmen's　fleet。〃

Day　and　night　a　vigilant　watch　was　kept　up　from　the
mast…head　of　the　Dragon；　but　without　success。　Each　day　they
became　more　and　more　convinced　that　Sweyn　must　be　ahead
of　them；　and　on　the　morning　of　the　seventh　they　lifted　their
anchor　and　proceeded　through　the　straits。　Many　had　been
the　consultations　between　Edmund　and　his　friends；　and　it
had　been　determined　at　last　to　sail　direct　for　Rome。　Siegbert
knew　that　by　sailing　somewhat　to　the　north　of　east；　after
issuing　from　the　passage；　they　would　in　time　arrive　at　Italy。

At　Rome　there　was　a　monastery　of　Saxon　monks；　and
through　them　they　would　be　able　to　obtain　full　information
as　to　the　doings　and　whereabouts　of　the　squadron　of　Hasting。
Scarcely　were　they　through　the　straits　than　the　wind；
veering　to　the　south…east；　prevented　them　from　making　the
course　they　had　fixed　upon；　but　they　were　able　to　coast　along
by　the　shore　of　Spain。　They　put　into　several　small　ports　as
they　cruised　up；　but　could　obtain　no　intelligence　of　the　Danes；
being　unable　to　converse　except　by　signs。

When　they　reached　Marseilles　they　were　pleased　to　meet
with　Franks；　with　whom　they　could　converse；　and　hired　a
pilot　acquainted　with　the　coasts　of　the　Mediterranean。　They
learned　that　Hasting　and　his　fleet　had　harried　the　coasts　of
Provence　and　Italy；　that　the　Genoese　galleys　had　had　several
engagements　with　them；　but　had　been　worsted。

The　Danish　fleet　was　now　off　the　coast　of　Sicily；　and
the　Northmen　were　ravaging　that　rich　and　fertile　island。
They　were　reported　to　have　even　threatened　to　ascend　the　Tiber
and　to　burn　Rome。　Having　obtained　the　services　of　a　man
who　spoke　both　the　Italian　and　Frankish　tongues；　Edmund
started　again。　He　first　went　to　Genoa；　as　he　thought　that　the
people　there　might　be　despatching　another　fleet　against　the
Northmen　in　which　case　he　would　have　joined　himself　to
them。　On　his　arrival　there　he　was　well　entertained　by　the
Genoese　when　they　learned；　through　the　interpreter；　who
they　were；　and　that　they　had　come　from　England　as　enemies
of　the　Danes。

Edmund　and　his　Saxons　were　much　surprised　at　the
splendour　of　Genoa；　which　immensely　surpassed　anything
they　had　hitherto　seen　in　the　magnificence　of　its　buildings；
the　dress　and　appearance　of　its　inhabitants；　the　variety　of
the　goods　displayed　by　the　traders；　and　the　wealth　and　luxury
which　distinguished　it。　It　was　indeed　their　first　sight　of
civilization；　and　Edmund　felt　how　vastly　behind　was　Northern
Europe；　and　understood　for　the　first　time　Alfred's　extreme
eagerness　to　raise　the　condition　of　his　people。　On　the　other
hand；　the　Genoese　were　surprised　at　the　dress　and　appearance
of　the　Saxons。

The　crew　of　the　Dragon　were　picked　men；　and　their
strength　and　stature；　the　width　of　their　shoulders；　and　the
muscles　of　their　arms；　and；　above　all；　their　fair　hair　and　blue
eyes；　greatly　astonished　the　Genoese。　Edmund　and　his　companions
might　have　remained　in　Genoa　and　received　entertainment
and　hospitality　from　its　people　for　a　long　time；　but
after　a　stay　of　a　day　or　two；　and　having　obtained　the　various
stores　necessary　for　their　voyage；　Edmund　determined　to
proceed。　Three　of　the　young　Genoese　nobles；　fired　by　the
story　which　they　heard　of　the　adventures　which　the　Dragon
had　gone　through；　and　desirous　of　taking　part　in　any　action
which　she　might　fight　against　the　Danes；　begged　leave　to
accompany　them。

Edmund　gladly　acceded　to　the　request；　as　their　presence
would　be　of　great　utility　in　other　ports　at　which　the
Dragon　might　touch。　At　Genoa　Edmund　procured　garments
for　his　men　similar　to　those　worn　by　the　Italian　soldiers　and
sailors；　and　here　he　sold　to　the　gold　and　silversmiths　a　large
number　of　articles　of　value　which　they　had　captured　from
the　Danes；　or　with　which　the　Count　Eudes　and　the　people　of
Paris　had　presented　them。

The　Dragon　differed　but　little　in　appearance　from　the
galleys　of　the　Genoese；　and　Edmund　determined　when　he
approached　the　shores　where　the　Northmen　were　plundering
to　pass　as　a　Genoese　ship；　for　should　the　news　come　to
Sweyn's　ears　that　a　Saxon　galley　was　in　the　Mediterranean　it
might　put　him　on　his　guard；　as　he　would　believe　that　she　was
specially　in　pursuit　of　his　own　vessel。

On　arriving　at　the　mouth　of　the　Tiber　the　Dragon　ascended
the　river　and　anchored　under　the　walls　of　the　imperial　city。
The　Genoese　nobles　had　many　friends　and　relations　there；
and　Edmund；　Egbert；　and　Siegbert　were　at　once　installed　as
guests　in　a　stately　palace。

The　pope；　upon　hearing　that　the　strange　galley　which
had　anchored　in　the　river　was　a　Saxon；　sent　an　invitation　to
its　commander　to　visit　him；　and　Edmund　and　his　kinsman
were　taken　by　their　Italian　friends　to　his　presence。　The　pope
received　them　most　graciously；　and　after　inquiring　after　King
Alfred　and　the　state　of　things　in　England；　asked　how　it　was
that　a　Saxon　ship　had　made　so　long　a　voyage。

Edmund　explained　that　he　was　in　search　of　a　Danish
damsel　who　had　once　shown　him　great　kindness；　and　who
had　been　carried　off　from　her　father　by　one　of　the　vikings　of
Hasting's　fleet。　When　he　said　that　they　had　taken　part　in　the
defence　of　Paris　the　holy　father　told　him　that　he　now　recognized
his　name；　for　that　a　full　account　of　the　siege　had　been
sent　to　him　by　one　of　the　monks　there；　and　that　he　had　spoken
much　of　the　valour　of　a　Saxon　captain　and　the　crew　of
his　galley；　to　whom　indeed　their　successful　resistance　to　the
Northmen　was　in　no　slight　degree　due。

〃Would　I　could　aid　you；　my　son；　in　your　enterprise　against
these　northern　pirates。　The　depredations　which　they　are
committing　on　the　shores　of　Italy　are　terrible　indeed；　and　we
are　powerless　to　resist　them；　they　have　even　threatened　to
ascend　the　Tiber　and　attack　Rome；　and　though　I　trust　that
we　might　resist　their　attacks；　yet　rather　than　such　misfortune
as　a　siege　should　fall　upon　my　people　I　have　paid　a　large　sum
of　money　to　the　leader　of　the　Northmen　to　abstain　from　coming
hither；　but　I　know　that　the　greed　of　these　pirates　does
but　increase　with　their　gains；　and　that　ere　long　we　may　see
their　pagan　banner　floated　before　our　walls。　A　few　galleys　I
could　man　and　place　under　your　orders；　but　in　truth　the
people　of　this　town　are　not　ski