the dragon and the raven-第17章

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Already　the　Danes　were　thronging　up；　but　at　present　in
confusion　and　disorder；　coming　rather　to　see　what　was　the
matter　than　to　fight；　and　hardly　believing　that　the　Saxons
could　have　had　the　audacity　to　attack　them。　In　an　instant　the
Saxons　fell　into　their　usual　formation；　and　overturning　and
cutting　down　those　who　happened　to　be　in　their　path；　burst
through　the　straggling　Danes；　and　at　a　trot　proceeded　across
the　country。

It　was　still　quite　dark；　and　it　was　some　time　before　the
Danes　became　thoroughly　aware　of　what　had　happened；　then
missing　the　voices　of　their　leaders；　some　of　them　rushed　into
the　house；　and　the　news　that　the　two　jarls　and　their
companions　had　been　slain　roused　them　to　fury。　At　once　they
set　off　in　pursuit　of　the　Saxons　in　a　tumultuous　throng；
but　the　band　had　already　a　considerable　start；　and　had　the
advantage　of　knowing　every　foot　of　the　country；　of　which
the　Danes　were　ignorant。　When　once　fairly　through　the　enemy；
Edmund　had　given　the　word　and　the　formation　had　broken　up；　so
that　each　man　could　run　freely　and　without　jostling　his
comrades。　Thus　they　were　enabled　to　proceed　at　a　rapid　pace；
and　reached　the　fort　just　as　day　was　breaking；　without　having
been　discovered　or　overtaken　by　the　Danes。

The　news　of　this　successful　exploit　raised　the　spirits　of
the　garrison　of　the　fort。　The　Danes　swarmed　nearly　up　to
the　walls；　but　seeing　how　formidable　was　the　position；　and
being　without　leaders；　they　fell　back　without　making　an
attack；　some　of　the　more　impetuous　having　fallen　from　the
arrows　of　the　bowmen。

About　mid…day　a　solid　mass　of　the　enemy　were　seen　approaching；
and　the　banners　with　the　Black　Raven　on　a　blood…red　field
showed　that　it　contained　leaders　of　importance；　and
was；　in　fact；　the　main　body　of　the　Danes。　It　was　an　imposing
sight　as　it　marched　towards　the　fort；　with　the　fluttering
banners；　the　sun　shining　upon　the　brass　helmets　and　shields　of
the　chiefs；　and　the　spear…heads　and　swords　of　the　footmen。
Here　and　there　parties　of　horsemen　galloped　about　the　plain。

〃Their　number　has　not　been　exaggerated；〃　Egbert　said
to　Edmund；　〃there　must　be　ten　thousand　of　them。　There　are
full　twice　as　many　as　attacked　us　on　the　field　of　Kesteven。〃

The　sight　of　the　great　array　struck　terror　into　the　minds
of　a　great　part　of　the　defenders　of　the　fort；　but　the　confident
bearing　of　their　young　ealdorman　and　the　thought　of　the
strength　of　their　walls　reassured　them。　The　Danes　halted　at
a　distance　of　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　walls；　and
three　or　four　of　their　chiefs　rode　forward。　These　by　the
splendour　of　their　helmets；　shields；　and　trappings　were　clearly
men　of　great　importance。　They　halted　just　out　of　bowshot
distance；　and　one　of　them；　raising　his　voice；　shouted：

〃Dogs　of　Saxons；　had　you　laid　down　your　arms；　and　made
submission　to　me；　I　would　have　spared　you；　but　for　the　deed
which　you　did　last　night；　and　the　slaying　of　my　brave　jarls；　I
swear　that　I　will　have　revenge　upon　you；　and；　by　the　god
Wodin；　I　vow　that　not　one　within　your　walls；　man；　woman；　or
child；　shall　be　spared。　This　is　the　oath　of　King　Uffa。〃

〃It　were　well；　King　Uffa；〃　Edmund　shouted　back；　〃to　take
no　rash　oaths；　before　you　talk　of　slaying　you　have　got　to
capture；　and　you　will　need　all　the　aid　of　your　false　gods　before
you　take　this　fort。　As　to　mercy；　we　should　as　soon　ask　it　of
wolves。　We　have　God　and　our　good　swords　to　protect　us；　and
we　fear　not　your　host　were　it　three　times　as　strong　as　it　is。〃

The　Saxons　raised　a　great　shout；　and　the　Danish　king
rode　back　to　his　troops。　The　lesson　which　had　been　given
them　of　the　enterprise　of　the　Saxons　was　not　lost；　for　the
Danes　at　once　began　to　form　a　camp；　raising　an　earthen　bank
which　they　crowned　with　stakes　and　bushes　as　a　defence
against　sudden　attacks。　This　work　occupied　them　two　days；
and　during　this　time　no　blow　was　struck　on　either　side；　as
the　Danes　posted　a　strong　body　of　men　each　night　to　prevent
the　Saxons　from　sallying　out。　On　the　third　day　the　work　was
finished；　and　the　Danish　kings　with　their　jarls　made　a　circuit
round　the　walls；　evidently　to　select　the　place　for　attack。

The　time　had　passed　quietly　in　the　fort。　In　one　corner
the　priests　had　erected　an　altar；　and　here　mass　was　said　three
times　a　day。　The　priests　went　among　the　soldiers　exhorting
them　to　resist　to　the　last；　confessing　them；　and　giving　them
absolution。

The　pains　which　the　Danes　had　taken　in　the　preparation　of
their　camp　was　a　proof　of　their　determination　to　capture
the　fort；　however　long　the　operation　might　be。　It　showed；
too；　that　they　recognized　the　difficulty　of　the　task；　for　had
they　believed　that　the　capture　could　be　easily　effected　they
would　at　once　upon　their　arrival　have　advanced　to　the　attack。

〃To…morrow　morning　early；〃　Egbert　said；　〃I　expect　that
they　will　assault　us。　In　the　first　place　probably　they　will
endeavour　to　carry　the　fort　by　a　general　attack；　if　they　fail　in
this　they　will　set　to　construct　engines　with　which　to　batter
the　wall。〃

At　daybreak　the　following　morning　the　Danes　issued
from　their　camp。　Having　formed　up　in　regular　order；　they
advanced　towards　the　castle。　They　divided　into　four　bands；
three　of　these　wheeled　round　to　opposite　sides　of　the　fort；
the　fourth；　which　was　as　large　as　the　other　three　together；
advanced　towards　the　entrance。　The　Saxons　all　took　the　posts
previously　assigned　to　them　on　the　walls。　Edmund　strengthened
the　force　on　the　side　where　the　gate　was　by　posting
there　in　addition　the　whole　of　his　band。　Altogether　there
were　nearly　350　fighting　men　within　the　walls；　of　whom　the
greater　part　had　fought　against　the　Danes　in　the　battles　of
the　previous　year。　The　attack　commenced　simultaneously
on　all　sides　by　a　discharge　of　arrows　by　the　archers　of　both
parties。　The　Saxons；　sheltered　behind　the　parapet　on　the
walls；　suffered　but　slightly；　but　their　missiles　did
considerable　execution　among　the　masses　of　the　Danes。　These；
however；　did　not　pause　to　continue　the　conflict　at　a　distance；
but　uttering　their　battle…cry　rushed　forward。

Edmund　and　Egbert　had　but　little　fear　of　the　attack　on
the　other　faces　of　the　fort　proving　successful；　the　chief
assault　was　against　the　gate；　and　it　was　here　that　the　real
danger　existed。

The　main　body　of　the　Danes　covered　themselves　with
their　shields　and　rushed　forward　with　the　greatest
determination；　pouring　through　the　gap　in　the　outer　bank
in　a　solid　mass；　and　then　turned　along　the　fosse　towards
the　inner　gate。　Closely　packed　together；　with　their　shields
above　their　heads　forming　a　sort　of　testudo　or　roof　which
protected　them　against　the　Saxons'　arrows；　they　pressed
forward　in　spite　of　the　shower　of　missiles　with　which　the
Saxons　on　the　walls　assailed　them。　Arrows；　darts；　and　great
stones　were　showered　down　upon　them；　the　latter　breaking
down　the　shields；　and　affording　the　archers　an　opportunity
of　pouring　in　their　arrows。

Numbers　fell；　but　the　column　swept　along　until　it　gained
the　gate。　Here　those　in　front　began　an　attack　upon　the
massive　beams　with　their　axes；　and　when　they　had　somewhat
weakened　it；　battered　it　with　heavy　beams　of　timber　until　it
was　completely　splintered。　While　this　was　going　on　the　Saxons
had　continued　to　shoot　without　intermission；　and　the
Danish　dead　were　heaped　thickly　around　the　gate。　The　Danish
archers；　assisted　by　their　comrades；　had　scrambled　up　on
to　the　outer　bank　and　kept　up　a　heavy　fire　on　the　defenders
of　the　wall。　The　Saxons　sheltered　their　heads　and　shoulders
which　were　above　the　parapet　with　their　shields；　and　between
these；　as　through　loopholes；　their　archers　shot　at　the　Danes。

Edmund　and　Egbert　had　debated　much　on　the　previous　days
whether　they　would　pile　stones　behind　the　gate；　but
had　finally　agreed　not　to　do　so。　They　argued　that　although
for　a　time　the　stones　would　impede　the　progress　of　the　Danes；
these　would；　if　they　shattered　the　door；　sooner　or　later　pull
down　the　stones　or　climb　over　them；　and　it　was　better　to
have　a　smooth　and　level　place　for　defence　inside。　They　had；
however；　raised　a　bank　of　earth　ten　feet　high　in　a　semicircle
at　a　distance　of　twenty　yards　within　the　gate。

When　it　was　seen　that　the　gates　were　yielding　Edmund
had　called　down　his　ow