the dragon and the raven-第39章

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later　were　bestowed　upon　them。　The　stones　of　which
they　were　constructed　were　comparatively　small；　and　fastened
together　by　mortar；　consequently　they　could　ill　resist　even　an
assault　by　manual　weapons。　Covered　by　their　shields　the
Northmen　worked　untiringly　at　the　foundations；　and　piece
by　piece　the　walls　crumbled　to　the　ground。　Every　effort；
however；　to　enter　at　the　breaches　so　made　was　repulsed；　and
Siegfroi　kept　back　his　warriors；　determined　to　delay　the　grand
assault　until　the　next　day。　By　nightfall　the　tower　was　in　ruins；
scarce　a　portion　of　the　walls　remaining　erect。　Many　of　the
besieged　had　been　killed。　The　archbishop　was　wounded　with
an　arrow。　Frederic；　a　young　soldier　who　led　the　troops　of　the
church　was　killed。

The　besiegers　had　suffered　much　more　severely；　great
numbers　having　been　killed　by　the　stones　and　missiles　hurled
down　by　the　defenders　while　engaged　in　the　demolition　of
the　walls。　At　nightfall　the　Danes　carried　off　their　wounded
and　recrossed　the　river；　confident　that　next　day　they　would
succeed　in　their　assault。　As　soon　as　darkness　had　set　in　Count
Eudes　collected　the　citizens；　and　these；　bearing　beams　and
planks；　crossed　the　bridge　to　the　tower；　and　set　to　work。
Outside　the　circle　of　ruins　holes　were　dug　and　the　beams
securely　fixed。　Planks　were　nailed　to　these；　and　earth　heaped
up　behind　them。

All　night　the　work　continued；　and　by　morning　a　fortification
much　higher　than　the　original　tower　had　been　erected
all　round　the　ruin。　The　Danes　again　crossed　the　river　in
their　ships；　and　the　assault　was　renewed。　Javelins　and　great
stones　were　hurled　at　the　fortification；　and　clouds　of　arrows
from　the　shipping　fell　within　them。　Covered　with　portable
roofs　constructed　of　planks　the　Danes　strove　to　destroy　the
wall。　The　besieged　poured　upon　them　a　blazing　mixture　of
oil；　wax；　and　pitch。　Numbers　of　the　Danes　were　burned　to
death；　while　others；　maddened　by　the　pain；　threw　themselves
into　the　river。

Over　and　over　again　Siegfroi　led　his　warriors　to　the　attack；
but　the　defenders；　headed　by　Eudes　and　the　brave　Abbe　Ebble；
each　time　repelled　them。　The　abbe　particularly　distinguished
himself；　and　he　is　reported　to　have　slain　seven
Danes　at　once　with　one　javelin；　a　blow　which　may　be　considered
as　bordering　on　the　miraculous。　But　the　number　of　the
defenders　of　the　tower　was　small　indeed　to　that　of　the　enemy；
and　the　loss　which　they　inflicted　upon　the　Danes；　great
as　it　was；　was　as　nothing　in　so　vast　a　host。

The　flames　of　the　machines；　lighted　by　the　pitch　and
oil；　communicated　to　the　planks　of　the　fortification；　and　soon
these　too　were　on　fire。　As　they　burned；　the　earth　behind
them　gave　way；　and　a　breach　was　formed。　Encouraged　by
this　result　the　Danes　brought　up　faggots；　and　in　several　places
lighted　great　fires　against　the　fortifications。　The　defenders
began　to　lose　all　hope；　when　a　tremendous　storm　of　rain
suddenly　burst　over　Paris　quenching　the　fire。

The　besieged　gained　heart；　reinforcements　crossed　from
the　town；　and　the　Danes　again　withdrew　to　their　ships；　having
lost　in　the　day's　fighting　three　hundred　men。　After　this
repulse　the　Northmen　desisted　for　a　time　from　their　attack。
They　formed　a　strong　fortified　camp　near　the　church　of　St。
Germain；　and　then　spread　over　the　country　slaying　and　burning；
sparing　none；　man；　woman；　or　child。　From　the　walls　of
Paris　the　smoke　could　be　seen　rising　over　the　whole　country；
and　every　heart　was　moved　with　rage　and　sorrow。

Edmund　and　his　party　had　taken　no　part　in　the　defence
of　the　tower。　Its　loss　would　not　have　involved　that　of　the
town；　and　Eudes　requested　him　to　keep　his　band　in　reserve
in　order　that　they　might　remain　intact　until　the　Danes　should
make　a　breach　in　the　walls　of　the　city　itself；　when　the　sudden
reinforcement　of　a　party　of　such　well…trained　warriors　might
decide　the　result。

While　a　portion　of　the　Danish　host　were　engaged　upon
the　work　of　devastation；　a　large　number　were　employed　upon
the　construction　of　three　great　towers。　These　were　built　on
wheels；　and　were　each　large　enough　to　hold　sixty　men。　They
far　overtopped　the　walls；　and　the　citizens　viewed　with　alarm
the　time　when　an　assault　should　be　delivered　under　the　protection
of　these　formidable　machines。　Eighteen　ships　of　equal
size　were　moored　by　the　bank　six　deep。　Great　planks　were
laid　across　them；　and　a　sloping　platform　having　been　formed；
the　towers　were　by　the　efforts　of　thousands　of　men　moved　up
and　placed　on　the　ships。

〃If　we　do　not　destroy　those　towers；　Egbert；〃　Edmund
said　one　day　as　he　saw　them　slowly　moving　into　their　position
on　board　the　ships；　〃all　is　lost；　for　from　their　summits
the　Northmen　with　their　bows　and　javelins　will　be　able　to
clear　the　walls；　while　those　below　effect　a　breach　at　their
leisure。〃

〃That　is　true　enough；　Edmund；　but　I　do　not　see　any　way
to　destroy　them。　Unfortunately　we　have　no　boats；　or　we　might
fill　some　of　them　with　combustibles；　and　tow　them　down
until　near　enough　for　the　stream　to　carry　them　upon　those
vessels；　but　even　then　the　chance　were　small　indeed；　for　the
Danes　would　swarm　out　in　their　boats　and　manage　to　tow　or
push　them　so　that　they　would　not　touch　the　ships。〃

〃I　should　think；　Egbert；　that　if　we　could　get　some　skins
or　planks　we　and　our　band　might；　when　it　is　quite　dark；　sally
out　and　take　to　the　water　at　the　lower　end　of　the　island　and
float　down　quietly　for　a　mile　or　two；　and　then　gain　the　further
bank；　then　we　might　march　along　quietly　until　we　reach
those　ships。　The　Danes　know　that　we　have　no　boats；　and　will
not　fear　an　attack。　We　must　not　do　it　until　an　hour　or　two
before　morning；　when；　after　spending　the　early　hours　of　the
night　as　usual　in　feasting　and　drinking；　they　will　sleep　heavily。
Just　before　we　are　ready　to　begin　a　small　party　can　unmoor
two　or　three　of　the　boats　by　the　bank　and　push　them　out；
one　to　the　outside　of　each　tier　of　six　vessels；　so　that　we　may
have　a　means　of　retreat　across　the　river。　When　that　is　done
we　will　make　a　rush　on　board　the　ships；　cut　down　any　Danes
we　may　find　there；　and　set　fire　to　all　the　vessels。　We　must
hold　the　gangways　to　the　shore　until　the　flames　get　well　alight；
and　then　take　to　the　boats　and　return。〃

〃I　think　the　plan　is　a　good　one；　Edmund；　and　may　well
be　carried　out　without　great　loss。　There　are　plenty　of　empty
wine　skins　at　present　in　Paris。　I　will　at　once　set　about　collecting
a　hundred　of　them。　We　will　fasten　to　each　a　stout　cord　so
as　to　form　a　loop　to　go　over　the　head　and　shoulders；　then　we
had　best　attach　them　all　together　by　one　long　cord；　by　which
means　we　shall　float　in　a　body。〃

〃Fortunately　the　night　is　very　dark　and　I　think　that　we
shall　succeed。　Say　nothing　about　it；　Egbert；　and　tell　the　men
to　keep　silent。　The　good　people　of　Paris　shall　know　nothing
of　the　matter　until　they　see　the　flames　dancing　round　the
towers　which　they　hold　in　so　much　dread。〃

The　Saxons　received　with　satisfaction　the　news　of　the
intended　expedition。　They　had　been　disappointed　at　being
kept　back　from　taking　any　part　in　the　fighting　during　the
two　days'　attack　upon　the　tower；　and　longed　for　an　opportunity
to　inflict　a　blow　upon　their　hated　enemy　the　Danes。　The
wine　skins　were　fitted　up　with　ropes　as　Egbert　had　suggested；
and　soon　after　nightfall　the　party；　armed　with　spear　and
sword；　and　carrying　each　his　float；　sallied　out　from　the　gates；
as　Edmund　was　by　this　time　so　well　known　among　the　citizens
that　the　gate　was　opened　without　demur　on　his　order。

They　crept　along　the　foot　of　the　wall　until　they　reached
the　lower　extremity　of　the　island。　Across　the　river　innumerable
fires　blazed　high；　and　the　songs　and　shouts　of　the　Danes
rose　loud　in　the　air。　Numbers　of　figures　could　be　seen　moving
about　or　standing　near　the　fires；　the　tents　of　the　chiefs
were　visible　some　distance　back；　but　the　number　of　these　as
well　as　of　the　fires　was　much　less　than　it　had　been　on　the　first
arrival　of　the　Northmen；　owing　to　the　numbers　who　had　gone
to　the　camp　round　St。　Germain。

The　night　was　very　dark　and　a　light　rain　was　falling。
Before　taking　to　the　water　Edmund　bade　his　men　strip　off
the　greater　portion　of　their　clothes　and　fasten　them　in　a
bundle　on　their　heads；　as　it　would　be　some　time　after　they