the dragon and the raven-第53章

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be　the　scourge　of　Europe？〃

〃Why　indeed？〃　the　Genoese　repeated　when　the　interpreter
had　translated　Edmund's　exclamation　to　him。　〃'Tis　shame
and　disgrace　that　Christendom　does　not　unite　against
them。　They　are　no　more　invincible　now　than　they　were　when
Caesar　overran　their　country　and　brought　them　into　subjection。
What　the　Romans　could　do　then　would　be　easy　for　the
Christian　powers　to　do　now　if　they　would　but　make　common
cause　against　these　maraudersnay；　Italy　alone　should　be
able　at　any　rate　to　sweep　the　Mediterranean　free　of　their
pirate　galleys；　but　Venice　and　Genoa　and　Pisa　are　consumed
by　their　own　petty　jealousies　and　quarrels；　while　all　our
seacoasts　are　ravaged　by　these　wolves　of　the　ocean。〃

　〃Ah！　what　is　that？〃　he　exclaimed；　breaking　off；　as　an
arrow　struck　smartly　against　his　helmet。

They　were　at　the　moment　passing　through　a　small　wood
which　bordered　the　road　on　both　sides。　The　first　arrow
seemed　but　a　signal；　for　in　an　instant　a　score　of　others　flew
among　the　party。　It　was　well　that　they　carried　with　them　the
long　Danish　shields；　which　nearly　covered　their　whole　body。
As　it　was；　several　slight　wounds　were　inflicted；　and　the
interpreter　fell　dead　with　an　arrow　in　his　forehead。

Immediately　following　the　flight　of　arrows　a　crowd　of
peasants　armed　with　staves；　axes；　and　pikes　dashed　out　from
the　wood　on　both　sides　and　fell　upon　them；　uttering　shouts
of　〃Death　to　the　marauders！〃　〃Kill　the　sea…wolves！〃

So　great　was　the　din；　that；　although　the　Genoese　shouted
loudly　that　they　were　not　Danes　but　friends；　his　words　were
unheard　in　the　din；　and　attacked　fiercely　on　all　sides；　the
three　men　were　forced　to　defend　themselves　for　their　lives。
Standing　back　to　back　in　the　form　of　a　triangle；　they　defended
themselves　valiantly　against　the　desperate　attacks　of　their
assailants。

Several　of　these　were　cut　down；　but　so　furious　was　the
attack　of　the　maddened　peasants　that　the　defenders　were
borne　down　by　the　weight　of　numbers；　and　one　by　one　beaten
to　the　ground。　Then　the　peasants　rained　blows　upon　them
as　if　they　had　been　obnoxious　wild　beasts；　and　in　spite　of
their　armour　would　speedily　have　slain　them　had　not　the
Genoese；　with　a　great　effort；　pulled　from　his　breast　a　cross；
which　was　suspended　there　by　a　silken　cord；　and　held　it　up；
shouting；　〃We　are　Christians；　we　are　Italians；　and　no　Danes。〃

So　surprised　were　the　peasants　at　the　sight　that　they
recoiled　from　their　victims。　The　Dane　was　already　insensible。
Edmund　had　just　strength　to　draw　his　dagger　and　hold
up　the　cross　hilt　and　repeat　the　words；　〃We　are　Christians。〃
It　was　the　sight　of　the　cross　rather　than　the　words　which　had
arrested　the　attacks　of　the　peasants。　Indeed；　the　words　of
the　Genoese　were　scarce　understood　by　them；　so　widely　did
their　own　patois　differ　from　the　language　of　polished　Italy。

The　fact；　however；　that　these　Danes　were　Christians
seemed　so　extraordinary　to　them　that　they　desisted　from　their
attack。　The　Danes；　they　knew；　were　pagans　and　bitterly　hostile
to　Christianity；　the　monasteries　and　priests　being　special
objects　of　their　hostility。　The　suggestion　of　one　of　the　peasants；
that　the　cross　had　no　doubt　been　taken　from　the　body
of　some　man　murdered　by　the　Danes；　revived　the　passion　of
the　rest　and　nearly　cost　the　prisoners　their　lives；　but　an　older
man　who　seemed　to　have　a　certain　authority　over　the　others
said　that　the　matter　must　be　inquired　into；　especially　as　the
man　who　had　the　cross；　and　who　continued　to　address　them
in　Italian；　clearly　spoke　some　language　approaching　their　own。
He　would　have　questioned　him　further；　but　the　Genoese　was
now　rapidly　losing　consciousness　from　the　pain　of　his　wounds
and　the　loss　of　blood。

The　three　prisoners　were　therefore　bound；　and　being
placed　on　rough　litters　constructed　of　boughs；　were　carried
off　by　the　peasants。　The　strength　and　excellence　of　Edmund's
armour　had　enabled　him　to　withstand　the　blows　better　than
his　companions；　and　he　retained　his　consciousness　of　what
was　passing。　For　three　hours　their　journey　continued。　At
the　end　of　that　time　they　entered　a　wood　high　up　on　the　hillside。
There　was　a　great　clamour　of　voices　round；　and　he
judged　that　his　conductors　had　met　another　party　and　that
they　were　at　the　end　of　their　journey。

The　litters　were　now　laid　down　and　Edmund　struggled
to　his　feet。　Before　him　stood　a　tall　and　handsome　man　in　the
attire　of　a　person　of　the　upper　class。　The　old　peasant　was
explaining　to　him　the　manner　of　their　capture　of　the　prisoners；
and　the　reason　why　they　had　spared　their　lives。

〃How　is　it；〃　the　noble　asked　when　he　had　finished；　turning
to　Edmund；　〃that　you　who　are　Danes　and　pagans；　plunderers
and　murderers；　claim　to　be　Christians？〃

Edmund　did　not　understand　the　entire　address；　but　he
had　already　picked　up　a　little　Italian；　which　was　not　difficult
for　him　from　his　acquaintance　with　French。

〃We　are　not　Danes；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　their　enemies；　I　am
a　Saxon　earl；　and　this　my　friend　is　a　noble　of　Genoa。〃

〃A　Saxon！〃　the　Italian　exclaimed　in　surprise；　〃one　of　the
people　of　King　Alfred；　and　this　a　Genoese　noble！　How　is　it
that　you　are　masquerading　here　as　Danes？〃

〃I　speak　but　a　few　words　of　Italian；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but
my　friend　will　tell　you　the　whole　story　when　he　recovers。
I　pray　you　to　order　aid　to　be　given　to　him　at　once。〃

Although　still　at　a　loss　to　understand　how　it　had　come
about；　the　Count　of　Ugolifor　it　was　that　noble　himself…
saw　that　his　prisoner's　statement　must　be　a　true　one。　In　their
native　patois　he　hastily　told　the　peasants　that　there　must　be
some　mistake；　and　that　although　their　prisoners　seemed　to
be　Danes　they　were　really　Christians　and　friends；　He　bade
them　then　instantly　to　strip　off　their　armour；　to　bind　up　their
wounds；　and　to　use　all　their　efforts　to　restore　them　to　life；

At　his　bidding　one　of　the　peasants　brought　a　wine…skin；
and　filling　a　large　cup　with　the　liquid；　offered　it　to　Edmund。
The　latter　drained　it　at　a　draught；　for　he　was　devoured　by　a
terrible　thirst。　After　this　he　felt　revived；　and　soon　had　the
satisfaction　of　seeing　his　comrades　recovering　under　the
ministrations　of　the　peasants；　who　chafed　their　hands；　applied
cool　poultices　of　bruised　leaves　to　their　bruises；　and　poured
wine　down　their　throats。

In　half　an　hour　the　Genoese　was　sufficiently　recovered
to　be　able　to　sit　up　and　to　give　a　full　account　of　their　presence
there；　and　of　their　object　in　assuming　the　disguise　of　Danes。
He　then　told　the　count　that　Edmund　intended　to　reconnoitre
the　place　alone；　and　that　he　hoped　he　and　his　people
would　attack　the　town；　while　the　Saxons　in　their　galley　made
an　assault　from　the　sea。　The　count　replied　that　the　peasantry
could　not　be　induced　to　take　such　a　step。

〃I　will；　however；　aid　your　friend；〃　he　said；　〃by　a　feigned
attack　to…morrow　evening　when　he　is　there。　This　may　help
him　to　escape；　and　if　the　Danes　sally　out　next　day　in　pursuit
there　will　be　the　fewer　for　him　to　cope　with。〃

When　Edmund　awoke　the　next　morning　he　found　himself
able　to　walk　and　move　without　difficulty　and　with　but
little　pain；　thanks　to　the　care　of　the　peasants；　and　in　the
afternoon；　being　furnished　by　the　count　with　a　guide；　he　started
for　the　town。

When　he　arrived　within　a　short　distance　he　dismissed
his　guide　and　lay　down　in　some　bushes　till　nightfall；　then　he
rose　and　made　his　way　into　the　town；　passing　unobserved
between　the　watch…fires　made　by　the　parties　of　Danes　encamped
in　its　outskirts　to　protect　it　against　surprise。　Once
in　the　town；　he　walked　boldly　on；　having　no　fear　of
recognition　or　question。

Sounds　of　carousing　came　through　the　open　casements；
but　few　people　were　in　its　streets。　He　made　his　way　down　to
the　sea…shore；　which　he　followed　until　he　came　to　a　large　and
stately　mansion　standing　in　beautifully　laid　out　gardens　at
the　end　of　the　town。　Several　tents　were　erected　in　the　garden；
and　although　the　night　was　not　cold　great　fires　had　been
lighted；　around　which　the　Danes　were　carousing。

Avoiding　these　Edmund　walked　up　to　the　open　windows。
The　first　room　he　looked　into　was　deserted；　but　in　the　next；
which　was　a　large　apartment；　a　number　of　Danes　were　seated
at　table。　At　its　head　sat　Sweyn　with　Freda　on　his