the dragon and the raven-第5章

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joined　his　son　in　his　hunting　excursions；　as　he　was　busied
with　his　brother　the　abbot　in　concerting　the　measures　of
defence　and　in　organizing　a　band　of　messengers；　who；　on
the　first　warning　of　danger；　could　be　despatched　throughout
the　fens　to　call　in　the　fisher　population　to　the　defence　of　the
abbey。

It　was　on　the　18th　of　September；　870；　that　a　messenger
arrived　at　the　abbey　and　craved　instant　speech　with　the　prior。
The　latter；　who　was　closeted　with　his　brother；　ordered　the
man　to　be　admitted。

〃I　come；〃　he　said；　〃from　Algar　the　ealdorman。　He　bids
me　tell　you　that　a　great　Danish　host　has　landed　from　the
Humber　at　Lindsay。　The　rich　monastery　of　Bardenay　has
been　pillaged　and　burned。　Algar　is　assembling　all　the
inhabitants　of　the　marsh　lands　to　give　them　battle；　and　he　prays
you　to　send　what　help　you　can　spare；　for　assuredly　they　will
march　hither　should　he　be　defeated。〃

〃Return　to　the　ealdorman；〃　the　abbot　said；　〃tell　him　that
every　lay　brother　and　monk　who　can　bear　arms　shall　march
hence　to　join　him　under　the　command　of　lay　brother　Toley；
whose　deeds　of　arms　against　the　Danes　in　Mercia　are　well
known　to　him。　My　brother　here；　Eldred；　will　head　all　the
inhabitants　of　the　marshes　of　this　neighbourhood。　With　these
and　the　brothers　of　the　abbey；　in　all；　as　I　reckon；　nigh　four
hundred　men；　he　will　to…morrow　march　to　join　Algar。〃

Messengers　were　at　once　sent　off　through　the　surrounding
country　bidding　every　man　assemble　on　the　morrow
morning　at　Croyland；　and　soon　after　daybreak　they　began　to
arrive。　Some　were　armed　with　swords；　some　with　long　sickles；
used　in　cutting　rushes；　tied　to　poles；　some　had　fastened
long　pieces　of　iron　to　oars　to　serve　as　pikes。　They　were　a
rough　and　somewhat　ragged　throng；　but　Eldred　saw　with
satisfaction　that　they　were　a　hard　and　sturdy　set　of　men；
accustomed　to　fatigue　and　likely　to　stand　firm　in　the　hour
of　battle。

Most　of　them　carried　shields　made　of　platted　osiers　covered
with　skin。　The　armoury　of　the　abbey　was　well　supplied；
and　swords　and　axes　were　distributed　among　the　worst　armed
of　the　fenmen。　Then；　with　but　little　order　or　regularity；　but
with　firm　and　cheerful　countenances；　as　men　determined　to
win　or　die；　the　band　moved　off　under　Eldred's　command；
followed　by　the　contingent　of　the　abbey；　eighty　strong；　under
lay　brother　Toley。

A　sturdy　band　were　these　monks；　well　fed　and　vigorous。
They　knew　that　they　had　no　mercy　to　expect　from　the　Danes；
and；　regarding　them　as　pagans　and　enemies　of　their　religion
as　well　as　of　their　country；　could　be　trusted　to　do　their
utmost。　Late　that　evening　they　joined　Algar　at　the　place　they
had　appointed；　and　found　that　a　large　number　of　the　people
of　the　marshes　had　gathered　round　his　banner。

The　Danes　had　not　moved　as　yet　from　Bardenay；　and
Algar　determined　to　wait　for　another　day　or　two　before
advancing；　in　order　to　give　time　to　others　farther　from
the　scene　of　action　to　arrive。

The　next　day　came　the　contingents　from　several　other
priories　and　abbeys；　and　the　sight　of　the　considerable　force
gathered　together　gave　heart　and　confidence　to　all。　Algar；
Eldred；　and　the　other　leaders；　Morcar；　Osgot；　and　Harding；
moved　about　among　the　host；　encouraging　them　with　cheering
words；　warning　them　to　be　in　no　way　intimidated　by　the
fierce　appearance　of　the　Danes；　but　to　hold　steadfast　and
firm　in　the　ranks；　and　to　yield　no　foot　of　ground　to　the
onslaught　of　the　enemy。　Many　priests　had　accompanied　the
contingents　from　the　religious　houses；　and　these　added　their
exhortations　to　those　of　the　leaders；　telling　the　men　that　God
would　assuredly　fight　on　their　side　against　the　heathen；　and
bidding　each　man　remember　that　defeat　meant　the　destruction
of　their　churches　and　altars；　the　overthrow　of　their　whole
religion；　and　the　restored　worship　of　the　pagan　gods。

Edmund　went　about　among　the　gathering　taking　great
interest　in　the　wild　scene；　for　these　marsh　men　differed　much
in　their　appearance　from　the　settled　inhabitants　of　his　father's
lands。　The　scenes　in　the　camp　were　indeed　varied　in　their
character。　Here　and　there　were　harpers　with　groups　of
listeners　gathered　round；　as　they　sung　the　exploits　of　their
fathers；　and　animated　their　hearers　to　fresh　fire　and　energy　by
relating　legends　of　the　cruelty　of　the　merciless　Danes。　Other
groups　there　were　surrounding　the　priests；　who　were　appealing
to　their　religious　feelings　as　well　as　to　their　patriotism。

Men　sat　about　sharpening　their　weapons；　fixing　on　more
firmly　the　handles　of　their　shields；　adjusting　arrows　to
bowstrings；　and　preparing　in　other　ways　for　the　coming　fight。
》From　some　of　the　fires；　round　which　the　marsh　men　were
sitting；　came　snatches　of　boisterous　song；　while　here　and　there；
apart　from　the　crowd；　priests　were　hearing　confessions；　and
shriving　penitents。

The　next　morning　early；　one　of　the　scouts；　who　had
been　sent　to　observe　the　movements　of　the　Danes；　reported
that　these　were　issuing　from　their　camp；　and　advancing　into
the　country。

Algar　marshalled　his　host；　each　part　under　its　leaders；
and　moved　to　meet　them。　Near　Kesteven　the　armies　came　in
sight　of　each　other；　and　after　advancing　until　but　a　short
distance　apart　both　halted　to　marshal　their　ranks　anew。　Eldred；
with　the　men　of　the　marshes　near　Croyland　and　the　contingent
from　the　abbey；　had　their　post　in　the　central　division；
which　was　commanded　by　Algar　himself；　Edmund　took　post
by　his　father；　and　Egbert　stood　beside　him。

Edmund　had　never　before　seen　the　Danes；　and　he　could
not　but　admit　that　their　appearance　was　enough　to　shake　the
stoutest　heart。　All　carried　great　shields　covering　them　from
head　to　foot。　These　were　composed　of　wood；　bark；　or　leather
painted　or　embossed；　and　in　the　cases　of　the　chiefs　plated
with　gold　and　silver。　So　large　were　these　that　in　naval
encounters；　if　the　fear　of　falling　into　the　enemy's　hands　forced
them　to　throw　themselves　into　the　sea；　they　could　float　on
their　shields；　and　after　death　in　battle　a　soldier　was　carried
to　his　grave　on　his　buckler。　As　they　stood　facing　the　Saxons
they　locked　their　shields　together　so　as　to　form　a　barrier
well…nigh　impregnable　against　the　arrows。

All　wore　helmets；　the　common　men　of　leather；　the　leaders
of　iron　or　copper；　while　many　in　addition　wore　coats　of
mail。　Each　carried　a　sword；　a　battle…axe；　and　a　bow　and
arrows。　Some　of　the　swords　were　short　and　curled　like　a
scimitar；　others　were　long　and　straight；　and　were　wielded　with
both　hands。　They　wore　their　hair　long　and　hanging　down
their　shoulders；　and　for　the　most　part　shaved　their　cheeks
and　chins；　but　wore　their　moustaches　very　long。

They　were；　for　the　most；　tall；　lithe；　and　sinewy　men；　but
physically　in　no　way　superior　to　the　Saxons；　from　whom　they
differed　very　widely　in　complexion；　the　Saxons　being　fair
while　the　Danes　were　very　dark；　as　much　so　as　modern　gypsies；
indeed；　the　Saxon　historians　speak　of　them　as　the　black
pagans。　Upon　the　other　hand　many　of　the　Northmen；　being
Scandinavians；　were　as　fair　as　the　Saxons　themselves。

The　Danes　began　the　battle；　those　in　front　shouting
fiercely；　and　striking　their　swords　on　their　shields　with　a
clashing　noise；　while　the　ranks　behind　shot　a　shower　of　arrows
among　the　Saxons。　These　at　once　replied。　The　combat　was
not　continued　long　at　a　distance；　for　the　Danes　with　a　mighty
shout　rushed　upon　the　Saxons。　These　stood　their　ground
firmly　and　a　desperate　conflict　ensued。　The　Saxon　chiefs
vied　with　each　other　in　acts　of　bravery；　and　singling　out　the
leaders　of　the　Danes　engaged　with　them　in　hand…to…hand
conflict。

Algar　had　placed　his　swordsmen　in　the　front　line；　those
armed　with　spears　in　the　second；　and　as　the　swordsmen
battled　with　the　Danes　the　spearmen；　when　they　saw　a　shield
uplifted　to　guard　the　head；　thrust　under　with　their　weapons
and　slew　many。　Edmund；　seeing　that　with　his　sword　he　should
have　but　little　chance　against　these　fierce　soldiers；　fell　a　little
behind　his　father　and　kinsman；　and　as　these　were　engaged
with　the　enemy　he　from　time　to　time；　when　he　saw　an　opportunity；
rushed　in　and　delivered　a　thrust　with　his　spear　at　an
unguarded　point。　The　Saxon　shouts　rose　louder　and　louder
as　the　Danes　in　vain　endeavoured　to　break　through　their　line。
T