the dragon and the raven-第38章

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could　man　and　place　under　your　orders；　but　in　truth　the
people　of　this　town　are　not　skilled　in　naval　fighting。　I　have
already　endeavoured　to　unite　the　states　of　Genoa；　Pisa；　and
Venice　against　them；　for　it　is　only　by　common　effort　that　we
can　hope　to　overwhelm　these　wolves　of　the　sea。〃

Edmund　expressed　his　thanks　to　the　pope　for　his　offer；
but　said　that　he　would　rather　proceed　with　the　Dragon　alone。

〃She　is　to　the　full　as　swift　as　the　Northmen's　vessels；〃　he
said；　〃and　although　I　would　right　gladly　join　any　great　fleet
which　might　be　assembled　for　an　attack　upon　them；　I　would
rather　proceed　alone　than　with　a　few　other　ships。　Not　being
strong　enough　to　attack　their　whole　armament　I　must　depend
upon　stratagem　to　capture　the　galley　of　which　I　am
specially　in　pursuit；　and　will　with　your　permission　set　out　as
soon　as　I　have　transformed　my　ship　so　that　she　will　pass　muster
as　a　galley　of　Genoa　or　Venice。〃

The　holy　father　gave　orders　that　every　assistance　should
be　afforded　to　Edmund　to　carry　out　his　designs；　and　the　next
morning　a　large　number　of　artisans　and　workmen　took　possession
of　the　Dragon。　She　was　painted　from　stem　to　stern
with　bright　colours。　Carved　wood…work　was　added　to　her
forecastle　and　poop；　and　a　great　deal　of　gilding　overlaid　upon
her。　The　shape　of　her　bow　was　altered；　and　so　transformed
was　she　that　none　would　have　known　her　for　the　vessel　which
had　entered　the　Tiber；　and　she　would　have　passed　without
observation　as　a　galley　of　Genoa。

A　number　of　prisoners　accustomed　to　row　in　the　state
galleys　were　placed　on　board　to　work　the　oars；　thus　leaving
the　whole　of　the　crew　available　for　fighting　purposes；　and　a
state　officer　was　put　in　command　of　these　galley…slaves。　The
ship　was　well　stored　with　provisions；　and　after　a　farewell
interview　with　the　pope；　Edmund　and　his　companions　returned
on　board　ship；　and　the　Dragon　took　her　way　down　the　river。

The　fleet　of　the　Northmen　was　at　Palermo；　and　keeping
under　the　land；　the　Saxon　ship　sailed　down　the　coast　of
Calabria；　and　at　night　crossed　near　the　mouth　of　the　straits
to　the　shore　of　Sicily。　They　entered　a　quiet　bay；　and　Edmund
dressed　as　a　Dane；　with　the　two　Northmen　who　had　accompanied
him　from　Paris；　landed　and　journeyed　on　foot　to　Palermo。

Everywhere　they　came　upon　scenes　similar　to　those　with
which　they　were　familiar　in　France。　Villages　burned　and
destroyed；　houses　deserted；　orchards　and　crops　wasted；　and
a　country　destitute　of　inhabitants；　all　having　fled　to　the
mountains　to　escape　the　invader。　They　did　not　meet　with　a　single
person　upon　their　journey。　When　they　approached　Palermo
they　waited　until　nightfall；　and　then　boldly　entered　the　town。
Here　the　most　intense　state　of　misery　prevailed。　Many　of　the
inhabitants　had　fled　before　the　arrival　of　the　Danes；　but　those
who　remained　were　kept　in　a　state　of　cruel　subjection　by　their
conquerors；　who　brutally　oppressed　and　ill…used　them；　making
free　with　all　their　possessions　and　treating　them　as　slaves。

The　Danes　entered　into　conversation　with　some　of　their
countrymen；　and　professing　to　have　that　evening　but　newly
arrived　from　home；　learned　much　of　the　disposition　of　the
fleet　of　the　Northmen。　They　pretended　that　they　were　desirous
of　joining　the　galleys　under　the　command　of　Sweyn；　and
were　told　that　these　had　arrived　three　weeks　before；　and　were
now　absent　with　some　others　on　the　southern　side　of　the
island。

Having　obtained　this　information；　Edmund　and　his　companions
started　without　delay　to　rejoin　the　Dragon。　Upon
reaching　her　she　at　once　put　to　sea。　Palermo　was　passed　in
the　night；　and　the　vessel　held　her　way　down　the　western　coast
of　Sicily。　She　was　now　under　sail　alone；　and　each　night　lay
up　at　anchor　in　order　that　she　might　not　pass　the　Danish
galleys　unobserved。　On　the　third　day　after　passing　Palermo；
several　galleys　were　seen　riding　off　a　small　port。　The　wind
was　very　light；　and　after　a　consultation　with　his　friends
Edmund　determined　to　simulate　flight　so　as　to　tempt　the
Danes　to　pursue；　for　with　so　light　a　breeze　their　smaller
galleys　would　row　faster　than　the　Dragon；　besides；　it　was
possible　that　Sweyn　might　be　on　shore。

It　was　early　morning　when　the　Danish　galleys　were　seen；
and　apparently　the　crews　were　still　asleep；　for　no　movement
on　board　was　visible；　and　the　Dragon　sailed　back　round　a
projecting　point　of　land　and　then　cast　anchor。　It　was　so
important　to　learn　whether　Sweyn　was　with　Freda　on　board　his
ship；　or　whether；　as　was　likely；　he　had　established　himself　on
shore；　that　it　was　decided　it　would　be　better　to　send　the　two
Danes　to　reconnoitre　before　determining　what　plan　should
be　adopted。





CHAPTER　XVIII：　FREDA　DISCOVERED



The　spies　upon　their　return　reported　that　Sweyn　had
taken　up　his　abode　in　the　mansion　of　the　Count　of　Ugoli；
who　was　the　lord　of　that　part　of　the　country。
Most　of　the　Danes　lived　on　shore　in　the　houses　of　the
townspeople。　Many　of　these　had　been　slain；　and　the　rest　were
treated　as　slaves。　The　lady　Freda　was　also　on　shore；　and　it
was　thought　that　she　would　ere　long　become　the　bride　of　the
Viking。

〃Think　you　that　there　will　be　any　possibility　of　surprising
the　house　and　carrying　her　off？〃

〃I　think　not；〃　the　Dane　said；　〃for　Sweyn's　men　are　on
the　alert；　and　keep　good　guard；　for　the　people　of　this　part　of
the　island；　being　maddened　by　their　exactions　and　cruelty；
have　banded　themselves　together；　and　although　they　cannot
withstand　the　strong　parties　which　go　out　in　search　of　plunder
they　cut　off　stragglers；　and　have　made　several　attacks　on
small　parties。　It　is　thought　that　they　may　even　venture　an
attack　upon　the　place　at　night；　therefore　sentries　are　set；　and
a　portion　of　the　force　remains　always　under　arms　in　readiness
to　sally　out　in　case　of　alarm。〃

〃I　would　fain　go　myself；〃　Edmund　said；　〃and　see　how
matters　stand；　and　try　to　communicate　with　Freda。　It　may　be
that　her　long　resistance　has　tired　her　out；　and　that　she　is　at
the　point　of　consenting　to　become　Sweyn's　bride。〃

〃I　think　not　that；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃When　Freda　has
once　made　up　her　mind　she　is　not　given　to　change。〃

〃I　doubt　not　her　resolution；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but　none
can　blame　her　if；　after　all　these　months；　she　has　begun　to
despair　of　rescue；　nay；　it　is　even　probable　that；　having　Sweyn；
who　is　assuredly　a　brave　and　enterprising　Viking；　always　near
her；　she　may　have　come　to　love　him。〃

〃No；　Edmund；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃I　am　sure　you　need
have　no　fear　that　she　has　softened　towards　Sweyn。　But　how
do　you　think　of　proceeding　if　you　land？〃

〃I　will　take　with　me　this　Dane；　and　if　one　of　the　Genoese
nobles　will　go　with　me　I　will　take　him；　and　also　the　man　we
brought　from　Marseilles；　who　acts　as　an　interpreter　between
us　and　the　Italians。〃

〃But　why　hamper　yourself　with　two　men；　who　would　be
even　more　likely　to　be　detected　by　the　Danes　than　would　you
yourself？〃

〃I　shall　leave　them　in　the　outskirts　of　the　place；〃　Edmund
replied。　〃I　would　fain　see　if　I　can　enter　into　any　negotiations
with　the　natives。　Perhaps　we　may　arrange　that　they　shall
attack　the　place　on　the　land　side；　while　the　Dragon　falls　upon
the　galleys；　and　in　any　case　we　may　need　an　interpreter　with
the　people。〃

One　of　the　young　Genoese；　upon　being　asked　whether
he　would　take　part　in　the　adventure；　at　once　consented；　and
the　four　men；　attiring　themselves　as　Danes；　speedily　landed
in　the　Dragon's　boat。　The　bay　in　which　the　ship　was　lying　was
some　ten　miles　along　the　shore　from　the　town。　The　spies
had　made　their　way　along　the　sea…coast　by　night；　but　as　it　was
morning　when　Edmund　landed；　he　thought　that　it　would　be
safer　to　make　a　detour　so　as　to　arrive　near　the　landward　side
of　the　town　and　so　enter　it　after　dark。

They　had　not　proceeded　far　when　they　came　upon　the
ruins　of　a　village。　It　had　been　destroyed　by　fire；　and　the
freshness　of　the　charred　beams　showed　that　it　had　been　done
but　a　short　time　before；　probably　not　many　days。　Marks　of
blood　could　be　seen　in　the　roadway；　but　no　bodies　were　visible；
and　Edmund　supposed　that；　after　the　Danes　had　retired；
the　survivors　must　have　returned　and　buried　their　dead。　They
had　not　proceeded　far　when　the　Dane　pointed　out　to　Edmund
a　half…naked　lad　who　was　running　with　the　swiftness　of　a　deer
over　a　slope　of　some　little　distance。

〃He　is　going　too　fast　for　us　to　catch　him；〃　Edmund　said
carelessly；　〃and　as；　even　if　we　did　so；　he　could　give　us　no
information　of　any　use；　for　you　may　be　sure　he　has　not　ventured
near　the　town；　we　may　well　let　him　go　on　in　his　way。〃

For　three　or　four　miles　further　they　pursued　their　course。
The　country；　which　was　exceedingly　fertile；　and　covered　with
corn…fields　and　vineyards；　appeared　entirely　deserted。　Here
and　there　a　wide　blackened　tract　showed　where；　from
carelessness　or　malice；　a　brand　had　been　thrown　into　the
standing　corn。

〃The　Danes　are　ever　the　same；〃　Edmund　said。　〃Well
may　they　be　called　the　sea…wolves。　It　would　be　bad　enough
did　they　only　plunder　and　kill　those　who　oppose　them；　but
they　destroy　from　the　pure　love　of　destroying；　and　slay　for
the　pleasure　of　slaying。　Why　are　these　robbers　permitted　to
be　the　scourge　of　Europe？〃

〃Why　indeed？〃　the　Genoese　repeated　when　the　interpreter
had　translated　Edmund's　exclamation　to　him。　〃'Tis　shame
and　disgrace　that　Christendom　does　not　unite　against
them。　They　are　no　more　invincible　now　than　they　were　when
Caesar　overran　their　country　and　brought　them　into　subjection。
What　the　Romans　could　do　then　would　be　easy　for　the
Christian　powers　to　do　now　if　they　would　but　make　common
cause　against　these　maraudersnay；　Italy　alone　should　be
able　at　any　rate　to　sweep　the　Mediterranean　free　of　their
pirate　galleys；　but　Venice　and　Genoa　and　Pisa　are　consumed
by　their　own　petty　jealousies　and　quarrels；　while　all　our
seacoasts　are　ravaged　by　these　wolves　of　the　ocean。〃

　〃Ah！　what　is　that？〃　he　exclaimed；　breaking　off；　as　an
arrow　struck　smartly　against　his　helmet。

They　were　at　the　moment　passing　through　a　small　wood
which　bordered　the　road　on　both　sides。　The　first　arrow
seemed　but　a　signal；　for　in　an　instant　a　score　of　others　flew
among　the　party。　It　was　well　that　they　carried　with　them　the
long　Danish　shields；　which　nearly　covered　their　whole　body。
As　it　was；　several　slight　wounds　were　inflicted；　and　the
interpreter　fell　dead　with　an　arrow　in　his　forehead。

Immediately　following　the　flight　of　arrows　a　crowd　of
peasants　armed　with　staves；　axes；　and　pikes　dashed　out　from
the　wood　on　both　sides　and　fell　upon　them；　uttering　shouts
of　〃Death　to　the　marauders！〃　〃Kill　the　sea…wolves！〃

So　great　was　the　din；　that；　although　the　Genoese　shouted
loudly　that　they　were　not　Danes　but　friends；　his　words　were
unheard　in　the　din；　and　attacked　fiercely　on　all　sides；　the
three　men　were　forced　to　defend　themselves　for　their　lives。
Standing　back　to　back　in　the　form　of　a　triangle；　they　defended
themselves　valiantly　against　the　desperate　attacks　of　their
assailants。

Several　of　these　were　cut　down；　but　so　furious　was　the
attack　of　the　maddened　peasants　that　the　defenders　were
borne　down　by　the　weight　of　numbers；　and　one　by　one　beaten
to　the　ground。　Then　the　peasants　rained　blows　upon　them
as　if　they　had　been　obnoxious　wild　beasts；　and　in　spite　of
their　armour　would　sp