the dragon and the raven-第5章

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led　the　right　wing；　Osgot　and　Harding　the　left。

Each　of　these　wings　contained　about　five　hundred　men。
Algar's　centre；　which　was　a　little　withdrawn　from　its　wings；
contained　about　200　of　his　best　warriors；　and　was　designed
as　a　reserve；　with　which；　if　need　be；　he　could　move　to　the
assistance　of　either　of　the　wings　which　might　be　sorely　pressed
and　in　danger。　The　Saxons　formed　in　a　solid　mass　with　their
bucklers　linked　together。　The　Danish　array　which　issued　out
from　their　camp　was　vastly　superior　in　numbers；　and　was
commanded　by　four　kings　and　eight　jarls　or　earls；　while　two
kings　and　four　earls　remained　in　charge　of　the　camp；　and　of
the　great　crowd　of　prisoners；　for　the　most　part　women　and
children；　whom　they　had　brought　with　them。

With　the　Danes　who　had　come　down　from　Yorkshire
were　a　large　body　of　horsemen；　who　charged　furiously　down
upon　the　Saxons；　but　these　maintained　so　firm　an　array　with
their　lances　and　spears　projecting　outward　that　the　Danes
failed　to　break　through　them；　and　after　making　repeated　efforts
and　suffering　heavy　loss　they　drew　back。　Then　the　Danish
archers　and　slingers　poured　in　a　storm　of　missiles；　but
these　effected　but　little　harm；　as　the　Saxons　stooped　a　little
behind　their　closely　packed　line　of　bucklers；　which　were　stout
enough　to　keep　out　the　shower　of　arrows。　All　day　the　struggle
continued。　Again　and　again　the　Danes　strove　to　break　the
solid　Saxon　array；　and　with　sword　and　battle…axe　attempted
to　hew　down　the　hedge　of　spears；　but　in　vain。　At　last　their
leaders；　convinced　that　they　could　not　overcome　the　obstinacy
of　the　resistance；　ordered　their　followers　to　feign　a　retreat。

As　the　Danes　turned　to　fly　the　Saxons　set　up　a　triumphant
shout；　and　breaking　up　their　solid　phalanx　rushed　after　them
in　complete　disorder。　In　vain　Algar；　Osgot；　Toley；
Eldred；　ahd　the　other　readers　shouted　to　them　to　stand　firm。
Weary　of　their　long　inactivity；　and　convinced　that　the　Danes
were　routed；　the　Saxons　pursued　them　across　the　plain。
Suddenly　the　Danish　horse；　who　after　failing　to　break　through
the　ranks　had　remained　apart　at　a　short　distance　from　the
conflict；　dashed　down　upon　the　disordered　Saxons；　while
the　flying　infantry　turning　round　also　fell　upon　them　with
exulting　shouts。

Taken　wholly　by　surprise；　confused　and　disordered；　the
Saxons　could　offer　no　effectual　opposition　to　the　charge。　The
Danish　horse　rode　among　them　hewing　and　slaying；　and　the
swords　and　battle…axes　of　the　footmen　completed　the　work。
In　a　few　minutes　of　all　the　Saxon　band　which　had　for　so
many　hours　successfully　resisted　the　onslaught　of　the　Danes；
not　one　survived　save　a　few　fleet…footed　young　men　who；
throwing　away　their　arms；　succeeded　in　making　their　escape；
and　a　little　group；　consisting　of　Algar；　Toley；　Eldred；　and　the
other　leaders　who　had　gathered　together　when　their　men
broke　their　ranks　and　had　taken　up　their　position　on　a　knoll
of　ground　rising　above　the　plain。　Here　for　a　long　time　they
resisted　the　efforts　of　the　whole　of　the　Danes；　surrounding
themselves　with　a　heap　of　slain；　but　at　length　one　by　one　they
succumbed　to　the　Danish　onslaught；　each　fighting　valiantly
to　the　last。

》From　his　position　at　a　distance　Edmund　watched　the
last　desperate　struggle。　With　streaming　eyes　and　a　heart　torn
by　anxiety　for　his　father　he　could　see　the　Danish　foe　swarming
round　the　little　band　who　defended　the　crest。　These
were　lost　from　his　sight；　and　only　the　flashing　of　swords
showed　where　the　struggle　was　still　going　on　in　the　centre　of
the　confused　mass。　Edmund　had　been　on　his　knees　for　some
time；　but　he　now　rose。

〃Come；　old　boy；〃　he　said　to　the　hound；　who　lay　beside
him　watching　the　distant　conflict　and　occasionally　uttering
deep　angry　growls。　〃I　must　obey　my　father's　last　command；
let　us　away。〃

He　took　one　more　glance　at　the　distant　conflict　before
turning。　It　was　plain　that　it　was　nearly　finished。　The　swords
had　well…nigh　ceased　to　rise　and　fall　when　he　saw　a　sudden
movement　in　the　throng　of　Danes　and　suddenly　a　man　burst
out　from　them　and　started　at　headlong　speed　towards　him；
pursued　by　a　number　of　Danes。　Even　at　that　distance　Edmund
thought　that　he　recognized　the　tall　figure　of　his　kinsman；
but　he　had　no　time　to　assure　himself　of　this；　and　he　at　once；
accompanied　by　the　hound；　set　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed
from　the　field　of　battle。　He　had　fully　a　quarter　of　a　mile
start；　and　being　active　and　hardy　and　accustomed　to　exercise
from　his　childhood；　he　had　no　fear　that　the　Danes　would
overtake　him。　Still　he　ran　his　hardest。

Looking　over　his　shoulder　from　time　to　time　he　saw　that
at　first　the　Danes　who　were　pursuing　the　fugitive　were　gaining
upon　him　also；　but　after　a　time　he　again　increased　the
distance；　while；　being　unencumbered　with　shield　or　heavy
weapons；　the　fugitive　kept　the　advantage　he　had　at　first　gained。
Three　miles　from　the　battle…field　Edmund　reached　the　edge
of　a　wide…spreading　wood。　Looking　round　as　he　entered　its
shelter　he　saw　that　the　flying　Saxon　was　still　about　a　quarter
of　a　mile　behind　him；　and　that　the　Danes；　despairing　of
over…taking　him；　had　ceased　their　pursuit。　Edmund　therefore
checked　his　footsteps　and　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　fugitive；
who　he　now　felt　certain　was　his　kinsman。

In　a　few　minutes　Egbert　came　up；　having　slackened　his
speed　considerably　when　he　saw　that　he　was　no　longer　pursued。
He　was　bleeding　from　several　wounds；　and　now　that
the　necessity　for　exertion　had　passed　he　walked　but　feebly
along。　Without　a　word　he　flung　himself　on　the　ground　by
Edmund　and　buried　his　face　in　his　arms；　and　the　lad　could
see　by　the　shaking　of　his　broad　shoulders　that　he　was　weeping
bitterly。　The　great　hound　walked　up　to　the　prostrate　figure
and　gave　vent　to　a　long　and　piteous　howl；　and　then　lying
down　by　Egbert's　side　placed　his　head　on　his　shoulder。





CHAPTER　III：　THE　MASSACRE　AT　CROYLAND



Edmund　wept　sorely　for　some　time；　for　he　knew　that
his　kinsman's　agitation　could　be　only　caused　by　the
death　of　his　father。　At　last　he　approached　Egbert。

〃My　brave　kinsman；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　ask　you　no　questions；
for　I　know　but　too　well　that　my　dear　father　has　fallen；
but　rouse　yourself；　I　pray　you；　let　me　bandage　your　wounds；
which　bleed　fast；　for　you　will　want　all　your　strength；　and　we
must　needs　pursue　our　way　well　into　the　forest；　for　with
to…morrow's　dawn　the　Danes　will　scatter　over　the　whole　country。〃

〃Yes；〃　Egbert　said；　turning　round　and　sitting　up；　〃I　must
not　in　my　grief　forget　my　mission；　and　in　truth　I　am　faint
with　loss　of　blood。　It　was　well　the　Danes　stopped　when　they
did；　for　I　felt　my　strength　failing　me；　and　could　have　held　out
but　little　further。　Yes；　Edmund；〃　he　continued；　as　the　lad；
tearing　strips　from　his　garments；　proceeded　to　bandage　his
wounds；　〃your　father　is　dead。　Nobly；　indeed；　did　he　fight；
nobly　did　he　die；　with　a　circle　of　dead　Danes　around　him。
He；　Algar；　Toley；　and　myself　were　the　last　four　to　resist。　Back
to　back　we　stood；　and　many　were　the　Danes　who　fell　before
our　blows。　Toley　fell　first　and　then　Algar。　The　Danes　closed
closer　around　us。　Still　we　fought　on；　till　your　father　was　beaten
to　his　knee；　and　then　he　cried　to　me；　'Fly；　Egbert；　to　my　son。'
Then　I　flung　myself　upon　the　Danes　like　a　wild　boar　upon
the　dogs；　and　with　the　suddenness　of　my　rush　and　the　heavy
blows　of　my　battle…axe　cut　a　way　for　myself　through　them。
It　was　well…nigh　a　miracle；　and　I　could　scarce　believe　it　when
I　was　free。　I　flung　away　my　shield　and　helmet　as　soon　as　I　had
well　begun　to　run；　for　I　felt　the　blood　gushing　out　from　a
dozen　wounds；　and　knew　that　I　should　want　all　my　strength。
I　soon　caught　sight　of　you　running　ahead　of　me。　Had　I　found
we　were　gaining　upon　you　I　should　have　turned　off　and　made
another　way　to　lead　the　Danes　aside；　but　I　soon　saw　that　you
were　holding　your　own；　and　so　followed　straight　on。　My　knees
trembled；　and　I　felt　my　strength　was　well…nigh　gone；　when；
looking　round；　I　found　the　Danes　had　desisted　from　their
pursuit。　I　grieve；　Edmund；　that　I　should　have　left　the　battle
alive　when　all　the　others　have　died　bravely；　for；　save　a　few
fleet…footed　youths；　I　believe　that　not　a　single　Saxon　has
escaped　the　fight；　but　your　father　had　laid　his　commands　upon
me；　and　I　was　forced　to　obey；　though　God　knows　I　would
rather　have　died　with　the　heroes　on　that　field。〃

〃'Tis　well　for　me　that　you　did　not；　my　good　Egbert；〃
Edmund　said；　drying　his　eyes；　〃for　what　should　I　have　done
in　this　troubled　land　without　one　protector？〃

〃It　was　the　thought　of　that；〃　Egbert　said；　〃that　seemed
to　give　me　strength　as　I　dashed　at　the　Danes。　And　now；
methinks；　I　am　strong　enough　to　walk　again。　Let　us　make
our　way　far　into　the　forest；　then　we　must　rest　for　the　night。
A　few　hours'　sleep　will　make　a　fresh　man　of　me；　and　to…morrow
morning　we　will　go　to　Croyland　and　see　what　the　good　abbot
your　uncle　proposes　to　do；　then　will　we　to　the　hut　where　we
dwelt　before　coming　hither。　We　will　dig　up　the　chest　and
take　out　such　valuables　as　we　can　carry；　and　then　make　for
Wessex。　After　this　day's　work　I　have　no　longer　any　hope　that
East　Anglia　will　successfully　oppose　the　Danes。　And　yet　the
Angles　fought　well；　and　for　every　one　of　them　who　has　fallen
in　these　two　days'　fighting　at　least　four　Danes　must　have
perished。　Have　you　food；　Edmund；　for　in　truth　after　such　a
day's　work　I　would　not　lie　down　supperless？〃

〃I　have　in　my　pouch　here；　Egbert；　some　cakes；　which　I
cooked　this　morning；　and　a　capon　which　one　of　the　monks
of　Croyland　gave　me。　I　was　tempted　to　throw　it　away
as　I　ran。〃

〃I　am　right　glad；　Edmund；　that　the　temptation　was　not
too　strong　for　you。　If　we　can　find　a　spring　we　shall　do　well。〃

It　was　now　getting　dark；　but　after　an　hour's　walk　through
the　forest　they　came　upon　a　running　stream。　They　lit　a　fire
by　its　side；　and　sitting　down　ate　the　supper；　of　which　both
were　in　much　need。　Wolf　shared　the　repast；　and　then　the
three　lay　down　to　sleep。　Egbert；　overcome　by　the　immense
exertions　he　had　made　during　the　fight；　was　soon　asleep；　but
Edmund；　who　had　done　his　best　to　keep　a　brave　face　before
his　kinsman；　wept　for　hours　over　the　loss　of　his　gallant
father。

On　the　following　morning　Egbert　and　Edmund　started
for　Croyland。　The　news　of　the　defeat　at　Kesteven　had　already
reached　the　abbey；　and　terror　and　consternation
reigned　there。　Edmund　went　at　once　to　his　uncle　and　informed
him　of　the　circumstance　of　the　death　of　his　father
and　the　annihilation　of　the　Saxon　army。

〃Your　news；　Edmund；　is　even　worse　than　the　rumours
which　had　reached　me；　and　deeply　do　I　grieve　for　the　loss　of
my　brave　brother　and　of　the　many　valiant　men　who　died
with　him。　This　evening　or　to…morrow　the　spoilers　will　be
here；　and　doubtless　will　do　to　Croyland　as　they　have　done　to
all　the　other　abbeys　and　monasteries　which　have　fallen　into
their　hands。　Before　they　come　you　and　Egbert　must　be　far
away。　Have　you　bethought　you　whither　you　will　betake
yourselves？〃

〃We　are　going　to　the　king　of　the　West　Saxons；〃　Edmund
replied。　〃Such　was　my　father's　intention；　and　I　fear　that
all　is　now　lost　in　East　Anglia。〃

〃'Tis　your　best　course；　and　may　God's　blessing　and
protection　rest　upon　you！〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do；　uncle？　Surely　you　will
not　remain　here　until　the　Danes　arriv