the dragon and the raven-第39章

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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　speedily　have　slain　them　had　not　the
Genoese；　with　a　great　effort；　pulled　from　his　breast　a　cross；
which　was　suspended　there　by　a　silken　cord；　and　held　it　up；
shouting；　〃We　are　Christians；　we　are　Italians；　and　no　Danes。〃

So　surprised　were　the　peasants　at　the　sight　that　they
recoiled　from　their　victims。　The　Dane　was　already　insensible。
Edmund　had　just　strength　to　draw　his　dagger　and　hold
up　the　cross　hilt　and　repeat　the　words；　〃We　are　Christians。〃
It　was　the　sight　of　the　cross　rather　than　the　words　which　had
arrested　the　attacks　of　the　peasants。　Indeed；　the　words　of
the　Genoese　were　scarce　understood　by　them；　so　widely　did
their　own　patois　differ　from　the　language　of　polished　Italy。

The　fact；　however；　that　these　Danes　were　Christians
seemed　so　extraordinary　to　them　that　they　desisted　from　their
attack。　The　Danes；　they　knew；　were　pagans　and　bitterly　hostile
to　Christianity；　the　monasteries　and　priests　being　special
objects　of　their　hostility。　The　suggestion　of　one　of　the　peasants；
that　the　cross　had　no　doubt　been　taken　from　the　body
of　some　man　murdered　by　the　Danes；　revived　the　passion　of
the　rest　and　nearly　cost　the　prisoners　their　lives；　but　an　older
man　who　seemed　to　have　a　certain　authority　over　the　others
said　that　the　matter　must　be　inquired　into；　especially　as　the
man　who　had　the　cross；　and　who　continued　to　address　them
in　Italian；　clearly　spoke　some　language　approaching　their　own。
He　would　have　questioned　him　further；　but　the　Genoese　was
now　rapidly　losing　consciousness　from　the　pain　of　his　wounds
and　the　loss　of　blood。

The　three　prisoners　were　therefore　bound；　and　being
placed　on　rough　litters　constructed　of　boughs；　were　carried
off　by　the　peasants。　The　strength　and　excellence　of　Edmund's
armour　had　enabled　him　to　withstand　the　blows　better　than
his　companions；　and　he　retained　his　consciousness　of　what
was　passing。　For　three　hours　their　journey　continued。　At
the　end　of　that　time　they　entered　a　wood　high　up　on　the　hillside。
There　was　a　great　clamour　of　voices　round；　and　he
judged　that　his　conductors　had　met　another　party　and　that
they　were　at　the　end　of　their　journey。

The　litters　were　now　laid　down　and　Edmund　struggled
to　his　feet。　Before　him　stood　a　tall　and　handsome　man　in　the
attire　of　a　person　of　the　upper　class。　The　old　peasant　was
explaining　to　him　the　manner　of　their　capture　of　the　prisoners；
and　the　reason　why　they　had　spared　their　lives。

〃How　is　it；〃　the　noble　asked　when　he　had　finished；　turning
to　Edmund；　〃that　you　who　are　Danes　and　pagans；　plunderers
and　murderers；　claim　to　be　Christians？〃

Edmund　did　not　understand　the　entire　address；　but　he
had　already　picked　up　a　little　Italian；　which　was　not　difficult
for　him　from　his　acquaintance　with　French。

〃We　are　not　Danes；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　their　enemies；　I　am
a　Saxon　earl；　and　this　my　friend　is　a　noble　of　Genoa。〃

〃A　Saxon！〃　the　Italian　exclaimed　in　surprise；　〃one　of　the
people　of　King　Alfred；　and　this　a　Genoese　noble！　How　is　it
that　you　are　masquerading　here　as　Danes？〃

〃I　speak　but　a　few　words　of　Italian；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but
my　friend　will　tell　you　the　whole　story　when　he　recovers。
I　pray　you　to　order　aid　to　be　given　to　him　at　once。〃

Although　still　at　a　loss　to　understand　how　it　had　come
about；　the　Count　of　Ugolifor　it　was　that　noble　himself…
saw　that　his　prisoner's　statement　must　be　a　true　one。　In　their
native　patois　he　hastily　told　the　peasants　that　there　must　be
some　mistake；　and　that　although　their　prisoners　seemed　to
be　Danes　they　were　really　Christians　and　friends；　He　bade
them　then　instantly　to　strip　off　their　armour；　to　bind　up　their
wounds；　and　to　use　all　their　efforts　to　restore　them　to　life；

At　his　bidding　one　of　the　peasants　brought　a　wine…skin；
and　filling　a　large　cup　with　the　liquid；　offered　it　to　Edmund。
The　latter　drained　it　at　a　draught；　for　he　was　devoured　by　a
terrible　thirst。　After　this　he　felt　revived；　and　soon　had　the
satisfaction　of　seeing　his　comrades　recovering　under　the
ministrations　of　the　peasants；　who　chafed　their　hands；　applied
cool　poultices　of　bruised　leaves　to　their　bruises；　and　poured
wine　down　their　throats。

In　half　an　hour　the　Genoese　was　sufficiently　recovered
to　be　able　to　sit　up　and　to　give　a　full　account　of　their　presence
there；　and　of　their　object　in　assuming　the　disguise　of　Danes。
He　then　told　the　count　that　Edmund　intended　to　reconnoitre
the　place　alone；　and　that　he　hoped　he　and　his　people
would　attack　the　town；　while　the　Saxons　in　their　galley　made
an　assault　from　the　sea。　The　count　replied　that　the　peasantry
could　not　be　induced　to　take　such　a　step。

〃I　will；　however；　aid　your　friend；〃　he　said；　〃by　a　feigned
attack　to…morrow　evening　when　he　is　there。　This　may　help
him　to　escape；　and　if　the　Danes　sally　out　next　day　in　pursuit
there　will　be　the　fewer　for　him　to　cope　with。〃

When　Edmund　awoke　the　next　morning　he　found　himself
able　to　walk　and　move　without　difficulty　and　with　but
little　pain；　thanks　to　the　care　of　the　peasants；　and　in　the
afternoon；　being　furnished　by　the　count　with　a　guide；　he　started
for　the　town。

When　he　arrived　within　a　short　distance　he　dismissed
his　guide　and　lay　down　in　some　bushes　till　nightfall；　then　he
rose　and　made　his　way　into　the　town；　passing　unobserved
between　the　watch…fires　made　by　the　parties　of　Danes　encamped
in　its　outskirts　to　protect　it　against　surprise。　Once
in　the　town；　he　walked　boldly　on；　having　no　fear　of
recognition　or　question。

Sounds　of　carousing　came　through　the　open　casements；
but　few　people　were　in　its　streets。　He　made　his　way　down　to
the　sea…shore；　which　he　followed　until　he　came　to　a　large　and
stately　mansion　standing　in　beautifully　laid　out　gardens　at
the　end　of　the　town。　Several　tents　were　erected　in　the　garden；
and　although　the　night　was　not　cold　great　fires　had　been
lighted；　around　which　the　Danes　were　carousing。

Avoiding　these　Edmund　walked　up　to　the　open　windows。
The　first　room　he　looked　into　was　deserted；　but　in　the　next；
which　was　a　large　apartment；　a　number　of　Danes　were　seated
at　table。　At　its　head　sat　Sweyn　with　Freda　on　his　right　hand。
Around　were　a　number　of　his　leading　men；　the　captains　of
the　galleys　and　their　wives。　The　meal　was　over；　and　the　winecup
was　passing　round。　A　number　of　attendants　moved　about
the　room；　and　many　of　the　warriors　who　had　supped　elsewhere
stood　around　the　table；　joining　in　the　conversation
and　taking　their　share　of　the　wine。

Edmund　saw　at　once　that　he　could　not　hope　for　a　more
favourable　opportunity；　and　he　accordingly　entered　the　mansion；
and；　passing　through　the　open　door；　joined　the　party
within；　keeping　himself　in　rear　of　those　standing　round　the
table；　so　that　the　light　from　the　lamps　placed　there　should
not　fall　upon　his　face。

Just　as　he　had　taken　his　place；　Sweyn　called　out：
〃Let　us　have　a　song。　Odoacre　the　minstrel；　do　you　sing
to　us　the　song　of　the　Raven。〃

A　minstrel　bearing　a　small　harp　advanced　into　the　centre
of　the　horse…shoe　table；　and　after　striking　a　chord；　began
to　sing；　or　rather　to　chant　one　of　the　favourite　songs　of　the
sea…rovers。

A　shout　of　applause　rose　from　the　Danes　as　the　minstrel
ceased；　and　holding　their　goblets　high　above　their　heads；　they
drank　to　the　Raven。

While　the　singing　was　going　on　Edmund　quietly　made
his　way　round　to　one　of　the　open　windows。　It　was　the　hour　at
which　the　count　had　promised　to　make　his　attack；　and　he
listened　eagerly　for　any　sound　which　might　tell　that　the
peasants　had　begun　their　work。　Other　songs　followed　the　first；
and　Edmund　began　to　be　afraid　that　the　courage　of　the　peasants
had　failed　at　the　last　moment。

Suddenly　he　saw　lights　appear　at　five　or　six　points　in　the
distance；　and；　putting　his　head　out；　he　thought　he　could　hear
distant　cries　and　shouts。　The　lights　grew　brighter；　and　soon
broad　tongues　of　flame　shot　up。　Shouts　at　once　arose　from
the　guards　without。　Some　of　the　revellers　hearing　these　went
to　the　windows　to　see　what　was　happening；　and　gave　a　cry　of
alarm。　〃Sweyn；　we　must　be　attacked；　fires　are　rising　in　the
outskirts　of　the　town。〃

〃These　cowards　would　never　venture　to　disturb　us；〃
Sweyn　said　scornfully；　〃of　all　the　foes　we　have　ever　met　none
were　so　feeble　and　timid　as　these　Italians。〃

〃But　see；　Sweyn；　the　flames　are　rising　from　eight　points；
this　cannot　be　accident。〃

Sweyn　rose　from　his　seat　and　went　to　the　window。

〃No；　by　Wodin；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　mischief　here；
let　us　arm　ourselves；　and　do　you；〃　he　said；　turning　to　a　young
man；　〃run　swiftly　to　the　outposts；　and　learn　what　is　the
meaning　of　this。〃

Scarcely；　however；　had　he　spoken　when　a　man　ran　breathlessly
into　the　hall。

〃Haste　to　the　front；　jarl；〃　he　said　to　Sweyn；　〃we　are　attacked。
Some　of　the　enemy　creeping　in　between　our　fires　set
fire　to　the　houses　in　the　outskirts；　and　as　we　leapt　to　our　feet
in　astonishment　at　the　sudden　outbreak；　they　fell　upon　us。
Many　of　my　comrades　were　killed　with　the　first　discharge　of
arrows；　then　they　rushed　on　in　such　numbers　that　many　more
were　slain；　and　the　rest　driven　in。　How　it　fares　with　the　other
posts　I　know　not；　but　methinks　they　were　all　attacked　at　the
same　moment。　I　waited　not　to　see；　for　my　captain　bade　me
speed　here　with　the　news。〃

〃Sound　the　horn　of　assembly；〃　Sweyn　said。　〃Do　you；
Oderic；　take　twenty　of　the　guard　without；　and　at　once　conduct
the　ladies　here　to　the　boats　and　get　them　on　board　the
galleys。　Let　all　others　hasten　to　the　scene　of　attack。　But　I
can　hardly　even　now　believe　that　this　coward　herd　intend　to
attack　us　in　earnest。〃

In　the　confusion　which　reigned　as　the　warriors　were
seizing　their　shields　and　arms；　Edmund　approached　Freda；
who　had　with　the　rest　risen　from　her　seat。

〃The　Dragon　is　at　hand；〃　he　whispered；　〃in　a　few　hours
we　will　attack　Sweyn's　galley；　barricade　yourself　in　your　cabin
until　the　fight　is　over。〃

Freda　gave　a　little　start　as　Edmund's　first　words　reached
her　ear。　Then　she　stood　still　and　silent。　She　felt　her　hand
taken　and　pressed；　and　glancing　round；　met　Edmund's　eye
for　a　moment　just　as　he　turned　and　joined　the　Danes　who
were　leaving　the　hall。　A　minute　later　Oderic　entered　with
the　guard；　and　at　once　escorted　the　women　down　to　the　boats；
and　rowed　them　off　to　the　galleys。

Sweyn　and　the　main　body　of　the　Danes　rushed　impetuously
to　the　outskirts　of　the　town。　The　fighting　was　already
at　an　end；　the　peasants　having　withdrawn　after　their　first
success。　Two　or　three　of　the　parties　round　the　watch…fires
had　been　annihilated　before　they　could　offer　any　effectual
resistance；　others　had　beaten　off　the　attack；　and　had　fallen
back　in　good　order　to　the　houses；　losing；　however；　many　men
on　the　way　from　the　arrows　which　their　assailants　shot　among
them。

Sweyn　and　the　Norsemen　were　furious　at　the　loss　they
had　suffered；　but　as　pursuit　would　have　been　useless；　there
was　nothing　to　be　done　for　the　present；　and　after　posting
strong　guards　in　case　the　attack　should　be　renewed；　the　Danish
leaders　returned　to　the　banqueting　hall；　where；　over　renewed
draughts　of　wine；　a　council　was　held。

Most　of　those　present　were　in　favour　of　sending　out　a
strong　expedition　on　the　followin