the dragon and the raven-第42章

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to　protect　the　city。　The　exulting　Danes　replied　to　the　cries　of
those　on　the　walls　with　triumphant　shouts。　Thanks；　as　the
Franks　believed；　to　the　interposition　of　St。　Germain；　the
fireships　struck　against　the　pile　of　stones　from　which　the　beams
supporting　the　bridge　in　the　centre　were　raised。　Eudes　and
his　companions　leaped　down　from　the　bridge　and　with　hatchets
hewed　holes　in　the　sides　of　the　ships　at　the　water…line；
and　they　sank　without　having　effected　any　damage　to　the
bridge。

It　was　now　the　turn　of　the　Franks　to　raise　triumphant
shouts；　while　the　Danes；　disheartened；　fell　back　from　the　attack；
and　at　night　recrossed　the　river；　leaving　two　of　their
battering…rams　as　tokens　of　the　triumph　of　the　besieged。　Paris
had　now　a　respite　while　the　Danes　again　spread　over　the
surrounding　country；　many　of　them　ascending　the　river　in　their
ships　and　wasting　the　country　as　far　as　Burgundy。

The　monastery　of　St。　Germain　and　the　church　in　which
the　body　of　the　saint　was　buried　still　remained　untouched。
The　bands　of　Northmen　who　had　invaded　England　had　never
hesitated　to　plunder　and　destroy　the　churches　and　shrines　of
the　Christians；　but　hitherto　some　thought　of　superstition　had
kept　the　followers　of　Siegfroi　from　assailing　the　monastery
of　St。　Germain。

One　soldier；　bolder　than　the　rest；　now　approached　the
church　and　with　his　spear　broke　some　of　the　windows。　The
Abbe　D'Abbon；　an　eye…witness　and　minute　historian　of　the
siege　of　Paris；　states　that　the　impious　Dane　was　at　once　struck
dead。　The　same　fate　befell　one　of　his　comrades；　who　mounted
to　the　platform　at　the　top　of　the　church　and　in　descending
fell　off　and　was　killed。　A　third　who　entered　the　church　and
looked　round　lost　his　sight　for　ever。　A　fourth　entering　it　fell
dead；　and　a　fifth；　who；　more　bold　than　all；　tried　to　break　into
the　tomb　of　the　saint；　was　killed　by　a　stone　which　fell　upon
him。

One　night　after　a　continuance　of　heavy　rain　the　Seine；
being　greatly　swollen；　swept　away　the　centre　of　the　bridge
connecting　the　tower　with　the　town。　At　daybreak　the
Northmen；　seeing　what　had　taken　place；　hastened　across　the
river　and　attacked　the　tower。　The　garrison　was　but　a　small
one；　no　more　than　twenty　men　having　slept　there。　For　a
time　these　repulsed　every　effort　of　the　Danes；　but　gradually
their　numbers　were　lessened　until　at　last　fourteen　only　remained。
Their　names　have　come　down　to　us。　Besides　Edmund　and　Egbert
there　were　Hermanfroi；　Herivee；　Herilard；　Odoacre；
Herric；　Arnold；　Sohie；　Gerbert；　Elvidon；　Havderad；　Ermard；
and　Gossuin。　These　resisted　so　valiantly　that　the　Danes；
after　losing　large　numbers　in　the　vain　attempt　to　storm
the　walls；　brought　up　a　wagonful　of　grain；　this　they
rolled　forward　to　the　gate　of　the　tower　and　set　it　on　fire。

The　flames　rapidly　spread　from　the　gates　to　the　walls；
which　were　all　of　wood；　and　soon　the　whole　were　a　sheet　of
flames。　The　little　band　of　defenders　retreated　on　to　the　end
of　the　bridge；　and　there；　when　the　flames　had　sufficiently
abated　to　allow　them　to　pass；　the　Northmen　attacked　them。
Edmund　and　Egbert　were　both　good　swimmers；　but　this　was
an　accomplishment　which　but　few　of　the　Franks　possessed；
and　none　of　the　remnant　of　the　garrison　were　able　to　swim。
For　a　long　time　the　little　band　repulsed　all　the　efforts　of　the
Danes；　but　were　gradually　driven　back　foot　by　foot　until　they
reached　the　edge　of　the　chasm。　Here　they　made　a　last　desperate
stand；　but　were　at　length　cut　down　or　driven　over　by
sheer　weight　of　numbers。　Egbert　and　Edmund　had　disencumbered
themselves　of　all　their　defensive　armour；　and　at　the　last
moment；　throwing　off　their　helmets　and　relinquishing
their　spears；　they　plunged　into　the　stream；　diving　deeply
to　avoid　the　arrows　of　the　Northmen。

The　fact　of　the　river　being　in　flood；　which　had　caused
the　destruction　of　the　tower；　now　proved　the　cause　of　their
safety。　Had　the　water　been　clear；　the　Danes　on　the　bridge
above　could　have　marked　their　progress　and　poured　a　storm
of　arrows　upon　them　as　they　came　to　the　surface；　but　its
yellow　and　turbid　waters　concealed　them　from　sight；　and　each
time　they　rose　to　the　surface　for　air　they　were　enabled　to　take
a　rapid　breath　and　dive　again　before　their　enemies　could
direct　and　launch　their　arrows　at　them。

As　they　drifted　far　down　the　stream；　they　reached　the
land　beyond　bowshot　of　the　Danes；　and　they　soon　entered
the　town　amid　the　loud　acclamations　of　the　citizens。　The
Danes　now　for　the　most　part　drew　off　from　the　neighbourhood；
and　the　Abbe　Ebble　led　out　a　sortie；　which　reached
the　Danish　camp；　and　driving　back　those　whom　they　found
within　it；　set　it　on　fire　and　effected　their　retreat　to
Paris　without　loss；　in　spite　of　the　efforts　of　the　enemy；
who　rapidly　assembled　at　the　sight　of　the　flames。

The　Danes　had　brought　in　from　the　surrounding　country
such　vast　quantities　of　cattle；　sheep；　and　goats；　that　their
camps　would　not　suffice　to　hold　them；　and　they　turned　the
church　of　St。　Germain　into　a　stable　and　crowded　it　with　these
animals。　The　saint；　as　the　Abbe　D'Abbon　relates；　indignant
at　this　desecration；　sent　a　terrible　plague　among　the　cattle；
and　when　the　Danes　in　the　morning　entered　the　church　it
contained　nothing　but　carcasses　in　the　last　state　of
decomposition。

The　valiant　defence　of　Paris　had　given　time　for　the　rest
of　France　to　arm；　and　the　Danes　scattered　over　the　country
now　met　with　a　stout　resistance。　The　Northmen　were　defeated
in　their　efforts　to　capture　Le　Mans；　Chartres；　and　other
towns；　and　were　defeated　in　several　battles　near　Chartres　by
Godefroi　and　Odon。

In　March　Henri　advanced　with　a　strong　force　to　the　relief
of　Paris；　and　arriving　at　night　attacked　the　camp　of　the
Danes；　slew　great　numbers；　and　captured　a　vast　booty；　and
then；　having　supplied　Paris　with　a　considerable　amount　of
provisions；　retired　with　his　band　before　the　Danes　had　time
to　assemble　in　sufficient　strength　to　oppose　him。　Shortly
afterwards　the　Danes　expressed　the　desire　of　Siegfroi　to　hold
parley　with　the　Count　Eudes。　Siegfroi　and　a　number　of　his
warriors　landed；　and　Eudes　left　the　city　and　advanced　to　meet
them。　No　sooner　had　he　reached　them　than　he　was　attacked
by　the　Northmen；　but　drawing　his　sword　he　defended　himself
with　immense　bravery　until　the　garrison　ran　down　to　his
succour；　and　the　Danes　were　driven　back　to　their　ship　with
loss　of　nearly　half　of　their　party。

The　Danes　now　left　the　church　of　St。　Germain　L'Auxerrois
and　surrounded　the　monastery　of　St。　Germain　des　Pres；
but　the　monks　there　paid　him　sixty　pounds　of　pure　silver
to　leave　them　in　peace。　Siegfroi　now　wished　to　abandon
the　siege　which　had　already　cost　him　so　dear；　but　the
Northmen；　furious　at　their　losses；　determined　upon　another
assault。

〃Very　well；〃　the　king　said；　〃have　your　way　then。　Attack
Paris　on　all　sides；　hew　down　its　towers；　and　make　breaches　in
its　walls；　for　once　I　will　remain　a　spectator。〃

The　Danes　crossed　the　river　and　landed　on　the　island；
but　owing　to　the　absence　of　large　numbers　on　other　expeditions；
and　the　heavy　losses　which　they　had　suffered；　their
numbers　were　no　longer　so　over…whelming；　and　Count　Eudes
led　out　his　forces　to　oppose　them　outside　the　walls。　This
time　Edmund　headed　his　band　of　Saxons；　who　until　now　had
only　taken　part　as　archers　in　the　defence。

The　combat　was　a　furious　one。　In　spite　of　the　valour　of
Eudes　and　Ebble　the　Danes　pressed　hard　upon　the　Franks；
and　were　driving　them　back　towards　the　gates　when　Edmund
led　his　Saxons；　in　the　close　phalanx　in　which　they　had　so
often　met　the　Danes　in　the　field；　to　the　front。　With　irresistible
force　the　wedge　burst　its　way　through　the　ranks　of　the
Danes；　bearing　all　before　it　with　its　wedge　of　spears。　Into　the
gap　thus　formed　Eudes　and　Ebble　with　their　bravest　men
threw　themselves；　and　the　Danes；　severed　in　two；　were　driven
back　towards　their　ships。　But　for　some　hours　the　rain　had
been　falling　heavily　and　the　river　was　rapidly　rising　and　had
already　overflowed　a　portion　of　the　island。　Thus　the　Danes
had　great　difficulty　in　getting　on　board　their　ships　again；
and　great　numbers　were　killed　in　doing　so。

There　was　no　longer　any　resistance　to　Siegfroi's　wishes。
A　parley　was　held　with　the　city；　and　a　further　sum　bei