the dragon and the raven-第23章

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in　their　phalanx；　the　others　must　keep　the　boat　moving　close
alongside；　and　from　the　forecastle　they　will　be　able　to　fire
down　upon　the　Danes　and　aid　those　on　shore　to　drive　them
back　and　make　their　way　to　the　end　of　the　boom。　They　have
but　to　cut　the　lashings　there　and　the　whole　will　swing　round。
But　now　we　see　the　nature　of　the　obstacle；　and　what　is　to　be
done；　it　were　best　to　wait　until　the　tide　turns。　In　the　first
place；　fewer　men　will　be　needed　on　board　the　ship；　as　she
will　advance　by　herself　abreast　of　the　men　on　shore。　In　the
second　place；　when　the　lashing　is　cut　the　boom　will　then
swing　down　the　stream；　will　cause　confusion　among　the　boats
behind　it；　and　will　open　a　clear　space　for　us　to　make　our　way
down。〃

Edmund　agreed；　a　light　anchor　was　dropped；　and　the
Dragon　rode　quietly　in　the　stream。　Great　animation　was　evident
among　the　Danes；　large　numbers　crossed　the　river；　and
a　strong　force　gathered　at　either　end　of　the　boom　and　in
boats　close　behind　it；　to　prevent　the　Saxons　from　attempting
to　cut　the　lashings。　There　was　little　uneasiness　on　board　the
Dragon；　the　Saxons　were　confident　now　of　the　power　of　their
close　formation　to　force　its　way　through　any　number　of　the
enemy；　and　they　would　gain　such　assistance　from　the　fire
from　the　lofty　forecastle　that　they　doubted　not　that　they
should　be　able　to　drive　back　the　Danes　and　destroy　the　boom。
In　an　hour　the　tide　no　longer　rose。　They　waited　till　it　ran
down　with　full　force；　then　the　anchor　was　hauled　up；　and　the
Dragon　rowed　to　the　bank。

Sixty　of　the　fighting　men　headed　by　Egbert　leapt　on
shore。　Edmund　with　the　remainder　took　his　place　on　the
forecastle。　The　oars　next　to　the　bank　were　drawn　in；　and
some　of　those　on　the　outward　side　manned　by　the　sailors。
Then　in　its　usual　order　the　phalanx　moved　slowly　forward
while　the　ship　floated　along　beside　them　close　to　the　bank。
The　Danes　with　loud　shouts　advanced　to　meet　them；　and　the
arrows　soon　began　to　fly　thickly。　Covered　by　the　long　shields
of　the　front　rank　the　Saxons　moved　forward　steadily；　while；
as　the　Danes　approached；　the　archers　on　the　forecastle
opened　a　destructive　fire　upon　them。

The　confidence　of　the　Saxons　was　justified；　for　the　combat
was　never　in　doubt。　Although　the　Northmen　fought
bravely　they　were　unable　to　withstand　the　steady　advance　of
the　wedge　of　spears；　and　very　many　fell　beneath　the　rain　of
arrows　from　above。　Steadily　the　wedge　made　its　way　until　it
reached　the　end　of　the　boom。　A　few　blows　with　their　axes
sufficed　to　cut　the　cables　which　fastened　it　in　its　place。　As
soon　as　this　was　done　Edmund　gave　a　shout；　and　the　Saxons
at　once　sprang　on　board　the　ship；　which　before　the　Danes
could　follow　them　was　steered　out　into　the　stream。

As　Egbert　had　foreseen；　the　boom　as　it　swung　round
swept　before　it　a　number　of　the　Danish　boats；　and　imprisoned
them　between　it　and　the　shore。　The　oars　were　soon
run　out；　and　while　the　men　on　the　forecastle　continued　their
fire　at　the　Danish　boats；　the　others　seizing　the　oars　swept　the
Dragon　along　the　stream。　The　Danes　strove　desperately　to
arrest　her　progress。　Some　tried　to　run　alongside　and　board；
others　dashed　in　among　the　oars　and　impeded　the　work　of
the　rowers；　while　from　the　walls　of　the　town　showers　of　missiles
were　poured　down　upon　her。　But　the　tide　was　gaining
every　moment　in　strength；　and　partly　drifting；　partly　rowing；
the　Dragon；　like　a　bull　attacked　by　a　pack　of　dogs；　made　her
way　down　the　river。　Every　effort　of　the　Danes　to　board　was
defeated；　and　many　of　their　boats　sunk；　and　at　last　she　made
her　way　into　the　open　sea。　There　her　sails　were　hoisted；　and
she　soon　left　her　pursuers　behind。　Once　at　sea　her　course
was　again　turned　north；　and　picking　up　some　prizes　on　the
way　she　took　up　her　station　off　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。

Several　ships　were　captured　as　they　sailed　out　from　the
river。　After　the　spoil　on　board　was　taken　out；　these；　instead
of　being　burnt；　as　had　always　been　the　case　before；　were
allowed　to　proceed　on　their　way；　since　had　they　been　destroyed
the　crews　must　either　have　been　slain　or　landed。　The　first
course　was　repugnant　to　Edmund；　the　second　could　not　be
adopted；　because　they　would　have　carried　the　news　to　the
Danes；　that　the　Dragon　was　off　the　river　and　no　more　ships
would　have　put　to　sea；　and　indeed；　so　large　was　the　number
of　Danish　vessels　always　up　the　Humber　that　a　fleet　could
easily　have　been　equipped　and　sent　out；　before　which　the
Dragon　must　have　taken　flight。

One　day　a　large　sailing　ship　was　seen　coming　out。　The
Dragon　remained　with　lowered　sail　until　she　had　passed；　then
started　in　pursuit；　and　speedily　came　up　with　the　Danish
vessel。　Edmund　summoned　her　to　surrender；　and　was　answered
by　a　Norseman　of　great　stature　and　noble　appearance；　who
from　the　poop　hurled　a　javelin；　which　would　have　pierced
Edmund　had　he　not　leapt　quickly　aside。　A　few　other　darts
were　thrown　and　then　the　Dragon　ran　alongside　the　enemy
and　boarded　her。

The　opposition　of　the　Northmen　was　speedily　beaten
down；　but　their　leader　desperately　defended　the　ladder　leading
to　the　poop。　He　was　struck　by　two　arrows；　and　fell　on
one　knee；　and　Edmund　was　about　to　climb　the　ladder　when
the　door　of　the　cabin　in　the　poop　opened；　and　a　Norse　maiden
some　sixteen　years　old　sprang　out。　Seeing　her　father　wounded
at　the　top　of　the　ladder　and　the　Saxons　preparing　to　ascend
it；　while　others　turned　their　bows　against　the　wounded
Northman；　she　sprang　forward　and　throwing　herself　upon
her　knees　before　Edmund　besought　him　to　spare　her　father's
life。　Edmund　raised　his　hand　and　the　bows　were　lowered。

〃I　have　no　wish　to　slay　your　father；　maiden；〃　he　said　gently；
〃we　slay　only　those　who　resist；　and　resistance　on　the　part
of　a　single　man；　and　he　wounded；　against　a　whole　ship's　crew
is　madness。　We　are　no　sea…wolves　who　slay　for　the　pleasure
of　slaying；　but　are　Saxons；　who　fight　for　our　country　against
the　oppressions　and　rapine　of　your　people。　Little　right　have
they　to　mercy　seeing　they　show　none；　but　our　religion　enjoins
us　to　have　pity　even　upon　our　enemies。　You　had　best
ascend　to　your　father　and　see　to　his　wounds；　none　will　harm
you　or　him。〃

The　girl　with　an　exclamation　of　thanks　sprang　up　the
ladder。　Edmund　superintended　the　searching　of　the　ship。
She　contained　a　great　store　of　valuables；　which　were　speedily
transferred　to　the　Dragon。　When　this　had　been　done　Edmund
ascended　to　the　poop。　The　jarl　was　sitting　in　a　great　chair
placed　there。　Edmund　had　already　learnt　from　the　crew　that
he　was　Jarl　Siegbert；　a　noted　leader　of　the　Northmen。　His
daughter　had　drawn　out　the　arrows　and　bandaged　the
wounds。

〃Jarl　Siegbert；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　approached　him；　〃you
have　been　a　bitter　enemy　of　the　Saxons；　and　small　mercy
have　you　shown　to　those　who　have　fallen　into　your　hands；
but　learn　now　that　we　Christian　Saxons　take　no　vengeance
on　a　defenceless　foe。　You　are　free　to　pursue　your　voyage　with
your　daughter　and　your　ship　to　Norway。　Your　stores　we　have
made　free　with；　seeing　that　they　are　all　plunder　taken　from
the　Saxons；　and　we　do　but　reclaim　our　own。〃

〃And　who　are　you；　young　sir？〃　the　jarl　asked。

〃I　am　one　of　King　Alfred's　ealdormen　of　Wessex；
Edmund　by　name。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　you；〃　the　Dane　said；　〃as　one　who　has
taught　the　Saxons　new　tactics；　fighting　in　a　close　body　which
has　more　than　once　pierced　our　lines　and　caused　our　overthrow；
but　you　are　a　mere　lad。〃

〃I　am　young；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃and　had　it　not　been　for
the　invasions　and　oppressions　of　your　countrymen；　might
have　still　accounted　myself　as　scarce　a　man；　but　you　have
made　warriors　of　every　West　Saxon　capable　of　bearing　a
sword。　Remember；　jarl；　that　your　life　has　been　in　Saxon　hands；
and　that　they　have　spared　it；　so　come　not　hither　to　our　shores
again。〃

〃I　purpose　not　doing　so；〃　the　Northman　replied。　〃I　have
seen　enough　of　stricken　fields；　and　was　returning　to　my　own
country　to　hang　up　my　sword；　content　with　the　fame　I　have
gained；　until　Woden　called　me　to　join　his　warriors　and　feast
in　his　halls。　Since　we　may　not　meet　there；　young　Saxonfor
they　say　that　you　Christians　look　to　a　place　where　arms　will
be　laid　aside　and　the　sound　of　feasting　be　unheardI　will
say　farewell。　For　myself；　I　than