the dragon and the raven-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hence　to　join　him　under　the　command　of　lay　brother　Toley；
whose　deeds　of　arms　against　the　Danes　in　Mercia　are　well
known　to　him。　My　brother　here；　Eldred；　will　head　all　the
inhabitants　of　the　marshes　of　this　neighbourhood。　With　these
and　the　brothers　of　the　abbey；　in　all；　as　I　reckon；　nigh　four
hundred　men；　he　will　to…morrow　march　to　join　Algar。〃

Messengers　were　at　once　sent　off　through　the　surrounding
country　bidding　every　man　assemble　on　the　morrow
morning　at　Croyland；　and　soon　after　daybreak　they　began　to
arrive。　Some　were　armed　with　swords；　some　with　long　sickles；
used　in　cutting　rushes；　tied　to　poles；　some　had　fastened
long　pieces　of　iron　to　oars　to　serve　as　pikes。　They　were　a
rough　and　somewhat　ragged　throng；　but　Eldred　saw　with
satisfaction　that　they　were　a　hard　and　sturdy　set　of　men；
accustomed　to　fatigue　and　likely　to　stand　firm　in　the　hour
of　battle。

Most　of　them　carried　shields　made　of　platted　osiers　covered
with　skin。　The　armoury　of　the　abbey　was　well　supplied；
and　swords　and　axes　were　distributed　among　the　worst　armed
of　the　fenmen。　Then；　with　but　little　order　or　regularity；　but
with　firm　and　cheerful　countenances；　as　men　determined　to
win　or　die；　the　band　moved　off　under　Eldred's　command；
followed　by　the　contingent　of　the　abbey；　eighty　strong；　under
lay　brother　Toley。

A　sturdy　band　were　these　monks；　well　fed　and　vigorous。
They　knew　that　they　had　no　mercy　to　expect　from　the　Danes；
and；　regarding　them　as　pagans　and　enemies　of　their　religion
as　well　as　of　their　country；　could　be　trusted　to　do　their
utmost。　Late　that　evening　they　joined　Algar　at　the　place　they
had　appointed；　and　found　that　a　large　number　of　the　people
of　the　marshes　had　gathered　round　his　banner。

The　Danes　had　not　moved　as　yet　from　Bardenay；　and
Algar　determined　to　wait　for　another　day　or　two　before
advancing；　in　order　to　give　time　to　others　farther　from
the　scene　of　action　to　arrive。

The　next　day　came　the　contingents　from　several　other
priories　and　abbeys；　and　the　sight　of　the　considerable　force
gathered　together　gave　heart　and　confidence　to　all。　Algar；
Eldred；　and　the　other　leaders；　Morcar；　Osgot；　and　Harding；
moved　about　among　the　host；　encouraging　them　with　cheering
words；　warning　them　to　be　in　no　way　intimidated　by　the
fierce　appearance　of　the　Danes；　but　to　hold　steadfast　and
firm　in　the　ranks；　and　to　yield　no　foot　of　ground　to　the
onslaught　of　the　enemy。　Many　priests　had　accompanied　the
contingents　from　the　religious　houses；　and　these　added　their
exhortations　to　those　of　the　leaders；　telling　the　men　that　God
would　assuredly　fight　on　their　side　against　the　heathen；　and
bidding　each　man　remember　that　defeat　meant　the　destruction
of　their　churches　and　altars；　the　overthrow　of　their　whole
religion；　and　the　restored　worship　of　the　pagan　gods。

Edmund　went　about　among　the　gathering　taking　great
interest　in　the　wild　scene；　for　these　marsh　men　differed　much
in　their　appearance　from　the　settled　inhabitants　of　his　father's
lands。　The　scenes　in　the　camp　were　indeed　varied　in　their
character。　Here　and　there　were　harpers　with　groups　of
listeners　gathered　round；　as　they　sung　the　exploits　of　their
fathers；　and　animated　their　hearers　to　fresh　fire　and　energy　by
relating　legends　of　the　cruelty　of　the　merciless　Danes。　Other
groups　there　were　surrounding　the　priests；　who　were　appealing
to　their　religious　feelings　as　well　as　to　their　patriotism。

Men　sat　about　sharpening　their　weapons；　fixing　on　more
firmly　the　handles　of　their　shields；　adjusting　arrows　to
bowstrings；　and　preparing　in　other　ways　for　the　coming　fight。
》From　some　of　the　fires；　round　which　the　marsh　men　were
sitting；　came　snatches　of　boisterous　song；　while　here　and　there；
apart　from　the　crowd；　priests　were　hearing　confessions；　and
shriving　penitents。

The　next　morning　early；　one　of　the　scouts；　who　had
been　sent　to　observe　the　movements　of　the　Danes；　reported
that　these　were　issuing　from　their　camp；　and　advancing　into
the　country。

Algar　marshalled　his　host；　each　part　under　its　leaders；
and　moved　to　meet　them。　Near　Kesteven　the　armies　came　in
sight　of　each　other；　and　after　advancing　until　but　a　short
distance　apart　both　halted　to　marshal　their　ranks　anew。　Eldred；
with　the　men　of　the　marshes　near　Croyland　and　the　contingent
from　the　abbey；　had　their　post　in　the　central　division；
which　was　commanded　by　Algar　himself；　Edmund　took　post
by　his　father；　and　Egbert　stood　beside　him。

Edmund　had　never　before　seen　the　Danes；　and　he　could
not　but　admit　that　their　appearance　was　enough　to　shake　the
stoutest　heart。　All　carried　great　shields　covering　them　from
head　to　foot。　These　were　composed　of　wood；　bark；　or　leather
painted　or　embossed；　and　in　the　cases　of　the　chiefs　plated
with　gold　and　silver。　So　large　were　these　that　in　naval
encounters；　if　the　fear　of　falling　into　the　enemy's　hands　forced
them　to　throw　themselves　into　the　sea；　they　could　float　on
their　shields；　and　after　death　in　battle　a　soldier　was　carried
to　his　grave　on　his　buckler。　As　they　stood　facing　the　Saxons
they　locked　their　shields　together　so　as　to　form　a　barrier
well…nigh　impregnable　against　the　arrows。

All　wore　helmets；　the　common　men　of　leather；　the　leaders
of　iron　or　copper；　while　many　in　addition　wore　coats　of
mail。　Each　carried　a　sword；　a　battle…axe；　and　a　bow　and
arrows。　Some　of　the　swords　were　short　and　curled　like　a
scimitar；　others　were　long　and　straight；　and　were　wielded　with
both　hands。　They　wore　their　hair　long　and　hanging　down
their　shoulders；　and　for　the　most　part　shaved　their　cheeks
and　chins；　but　wore　their　moustaches　very　long。

They　were；　for　the　most；　tall；　lithe；　and　sinewy　men；　but
physically　in　no　way　superior　to　the　Saxons；　from　whom　they
differed　very　widely　in　complexion；　the　Saxons　being　fair
while　the　Danes　were　very　dark；　as　much　so　as　modern　gypsies；
indeed；　the　Saxon　historians　speak　of　them　as　the　black
pagans。　Upon　the　other　hand　many　of　the　Northmen；　being
Scandinavians；　were　as　fair　as　the　Saxons　themselves。

The　Danes　began　the　battle；　those　in　front　shouting
fiercely；　and　striking　their　swords　on　their　shields　with　a
clashing　noise；　while　the　ranks　behind　shot　a　shower　of　arrows
among　the　Saxons。　These　at　once　replied。　The　combat　was
not　continued　long　at　a　distance；　for　the　Danes　with　a　mighty
shout　rushed　upon　the　Saxons。　These　stood　their　ground
firmly　and　a　desperate　conflict　ensued。　The　Saxon　chiefs
vied　with　each　other　in　acts　of　bravery；　and　singling　out　the
leaders　of　the　Danes　engaged　with　them　in　hand…to…hand
conflict。

Algar　had　placed　his　swordsmen　in　the　front　line；　those
armed　with　spears　in　the　second；　and　as　the　swordsmen
battled　with　the　Danes　the　spearmen；　when　they　saw　a　shield
uplifted　to　guard　the　head；　thrust　under　with　their　weapons
and　slew　many。　Edmund；　seeing　that　with　his　sword　he　should
have　but　little　chance　against　these　fierce　soldiers；　fell　a　little
behind　his　father　and　kinsman；　and　as　these　were　engaged
with　the　enemy　he　from　time　to　time；　when　he　saw　an　opportunity；
rushed　in　and　delivered　a　thrust　with　his　spear　at　an
unguarded　point。　The　Saxon　shouts　rose　louder　and　louder
as　the　Danes　in　vain　endeavoured　to　break　through　their　line。
The　monks　fought　stoutly；　and　many　a　fierce　Norseman　fell
before　their　blows。

The　Danes；　who　had　not　expected　so　firm　a　resistance；
began　to　hesitate；　and　Algar　giving　the　word；　the　Saxons　took
the　offensive；　and　the　line　pressed　forward　step　by　step。　The
archers　poured　their　arrows　in　a　storm　among　the　Danish
ranks。　These　fell　back　before　the　onslaught。　Already　three
of　their　kings　and　many　of　their　principal　leaders　had　fallen；
and　at　last；　finding　themselves　unable　to　withstand　the
impetuous　onslaught　of　the　Saxons；　they　turned　and　fled　in
confusion　towards　their　camp。　The　Saxons　with　exulting
shouts　pursued　them；　and　great　numbers　were　slaughtered。
The　Danes　had；　however；　as　was　their　custom；　fortified　the
camp　before　advancing；　and　Algar　drew　off　his　troops；
deeming　that　it　would　be　better　to　defer　the　attack　on
this　position　until　the　following　day。

There　was　high　feasting　in　the　Saxon　camp　that　evening；
but　this　was　brought　to　an　abrupt　conclusion　by　the　arrival
of　a　scout；　who　reported　that　a　great　Danish　army　marching
from　the　Humber　was　approaching　the　camp　of　the　compatriots。
The　news　was　but　too　true。　The　kings　Guthorm；　Bergsecg；
Oskytal；　Halfdene；　and　Amund；　and　the　Jarls　Frene；　Hingwar；
Hubba；　and　the　two　Sidrocs；　with　all　their　followers；
had　marched　down　from　Yorkshire　to　join　the　invaders
who　had　just　landed。

The　news　of　this　immense　reinforcement　spread　consternation
among　the　Angles。　In　vain　their　leaders　went　about
among　them　and　exhorted　them　to　courage；　promising　them
another　victory　as　decisive　as　that　they　had　won　that　day。
Their　entreaties　were　in　vain；　for　when　the　morning　dawned
it　was　found　that　three…fourths　of　their　number　had　left　the
camp　during　the　night；　and　had　made　off　to　the　marshes
and　fastnesses。

A　council　of　the　chiefs　was　held。　The　chances　of　conflict
appeared　hopeless；　so　vastly　were　they　out…numbered　by
the　Danes。　Algar；　however；　declared　that　he　would　die　rather
than　retreat。

〃If　we　fly　now；〃　he　said；　〃all　East　Anglia　will　fall　into　the
hands　of　the　heathen。　Even　should　we　fight　and　fall；　the
example　of　what　a　handful　of　brave　men　can　do　against　the
invaders　will　surely　animate　the　Angles　to　further　resistance；
while　if　we　conquer；　so　great　a　blow　will　be　dealt　to　the
renown　of　these　Danes　that　all　England　will　rise　against　them。〃

On　hearing　these　words　all　the　chiefs　came　to　the　determination
to　win　or　die　as　they　stood。　Eldred　took　Edmund　aside　after
this　determination　had　been　arrived　at。

〃My　son；〃　he　said；　〃I　allowed　you　yesterday　to　stand　by
my　side　in　battle；　and　well　and　worthily　did　you　bear　yourself；
but　to…day　you　must　withdraw。　The　fight　is　well…nigh
hopeless；　and　I　believe　that　all　who　take　part　in　it　are　doomed
to　perish。　I　would　not　that　my　house　should　altogether
disappear；　and　shall　die　more　cheerfully　in　the　hope　that　some
day　you　will　avenge　me　upon　these　heathen。　Therefore；
Edmund；　I　bid　you　take　station　at　a　distance　behind　the　battle；
so　that　when　you　see　the　day　goes　against　us　you　may　escape
in　time。　I　shall　urge　our　faithtul　Egbert　to　endeavour；　when
he　sees　that　all　is　lost；　to　make　his　way　from　the　fight　and
rejoin　you；　and　to　journey　with　you　to　Wessex　and　there
present　you　to　the　king。　For　myself；　if　the　battle　is　lost　I　shall
die　rather　than　fly。　Such　is　the　resolution　of　Algar　and　our
other　brave　chiefs；　and　Eldred　the　ealdorman　must　not　be
the　only　one　of　the　leaders　to　run　from　the　fray。〃

Edmund　was　deeply　touched　at　his　father's　words；　but
the　parental　rule　was　so　strict　in　those　days　that　it　did　not
even　enter　his　mind　to　protest　against　Eldred's　decision。

As　the　morning　went　on　the　Danes　were　engaged　in　the
funeral　ceremonies　of　their　dead　kings；　while　the　Saxons；
quiet　and　resolute；　received　the　holy　sacrament　and　prepared
for　the　fight。　Algar　chose　a　position　on　rising　ground。　He
himself　with　Eldred　commanded　the　centre；　Toley　and　Morcar
led　the　right　wing；　Osgot　and　Harding　the　left。

Each　of　these　wings　contained　about　five　hundred　men。
Algar's　cent