the dragon and the raven-第55章

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〃So　much　the　better；〃　Siegbert　exclaimed。　〃I　should　consider
our　task　was　half　accomplished　if　we　rescued　Freda　without
punishing　Sweyn。　Let　them　come；〃　he　said；　shaking　his
battle…axe　at　the　galleys。　〃Though　my　leg　is　stiff　my　arms　are
not；　as　Sweyn　shall　learn　if　I　meet　him。〃

The　Dragon's　oars　were　now　put　out　and　the　galley…slaves
began　to　row；　the　Saxons　concealing　themselves　behind　the
bulwarks。　In　a　few　minutes　the　whole　of　the　Danish　galleys
were　unmoored　and　started　in　the　pursuit　of　the　supposed
Italian　vessel。　The　breeze　was　light；　but　somewhat　helped
the　Dragon。　Four　of　the　Northmen　vessels　were　large　ships
with　sails；　and　these　speedily　fell　behind；　but　the　others　with
their　oars　gained　slowly　on　the　Dragon。

Edmund　saw　with　satisfaction　that　the　two　galleys　of
Sweyn；　which　he　at　once　recognized；　were　somewhat　faster
than　their　consorts；　and　the　slaves　were　made　to　row　as　hard
as　they　could　in　order　to　prolong　the　chase　as　much　as　possible；
by　which　means　Sweyn's　galleys　would　be　the　further
separated　from　the　others。

After　the　pursuit　had　been　continued　for　some　miles
Sweyn's　galleys　were　but　a　few　hundred　yards　in　the　rear；　and
were　nearly　a　quarter　of　a　mile　ahead　of　those　of　their
comrades；　which　had　gained　but　little　upon　the　Dragon　since　the
chase　began。　Edmund　ordered　the　men　to　cease　rowing；　as
if　despairing　of　escape。　The　Genoese　took　their　station　on
the　poop；　and　as　Sweyn's　galley　came　rushing　up　they　shouted
to　it　that　they　would　surrender　if　promised　their　lives。　The
Northmen　answered　with　a　shout　of　triumph　and　derision；
and　dashed　alongside。

Sweyn's　own　galley　was　slightly　in　advance　of　the　others。
Edmund　ordered　the　oars　to　be　pulled　in　as　the
Northmen　came　up；　so　as　to　allow　them　to　come　alongside。
Not　a　word　was　spoken　on　board　the　Dragon　till　the　Danes；
leaving　their　oars；　swarmed　up　the　side　headed　by　Sweyn
himself。　Then　Edmund　gave　a　shout；　the　Saxons　leaped　to
their　feet；　and　raising　their　battle…cry　fell　upon　the
astonished　Danes。

Those　who　had　climbed　up　were　instantly　cut　down　or
hurled　back　into　their　own　galley；　and　the　Saxons　leaping
down；　a　tremendous　fight　ensued。　Edmund　with　Siegbert
and　half　his　crew　boarded　the　Dane　close　to　the　poop；　and　so
cut　the　Northmen　off　from　that　part　of　the　vessel；　while　Egbert
with　the　rest　boarded　farther　forward。　The　Danes　would
have　been　speedily　overpowered　had　not　the　second　galley
arrived　upon　the　spot；　and　these；　seeing　the　combat　which
was　raging；　at　once　leaped　upon　Sweyn's　galley。　With　this
accession　of　force；　although　numbers　of　the　Danes　had　fallen
in　the　first　attack；　they　still　outnumbered　the　Saxons。

Sweyn；　heading　his　men；　made　a　desperate　effort　to　drive
back　Edmund's　party。　His　men；　however；　fought　less　bravely
than　usual。　Their　astonishment　at　finding　the　ship　which
they　had　regarded　as　an　easy　prize　manned　by　Saxons　was
overwhelming；　and　the　sight　of　Siegbert；　whom　many　of　them
knew；　in　the　front　rank　of　their　enemies　added　to　their
confusion。

Sweyn　himself；　as　he　recognized　Edmund；　at　once　made
at　him；　and；　wielding　a　heavy　axe　in　his　left　hand；　strove　to
cut　him　down；　and　Edmund；　strong　and　skilful　as　he　was；
had　great　difficulty　in　parrying　the　blows　which　the　Northman
rained　upon　him。　The　combat；　however；　was　decided　by　Siegbert；
who　hurled　his　javelin　at　Sweyn；　the　weapon　passing
completely　through　his　body。

Sweyn　fell　on　the　deck　with　a　crash。

The　Northmen；　dispirited　at　the　fall　of　their　leader；
hesitated；　and　as　the　Saxons　sprang　upon　them　turned　and　fled
into　the　other　galley。　The　door　of　the　poop　opened　and　Freda
flew　into　her　father's　arms。

〃Quick；　Siegbert；　to　the　Dragon！　〃Edmund　cried；
and　shouted　orders　to　his　men。　〃There　is　not　a　moment　to　be　lost。
The　other　galleys　are　just　upon　us！〃

The　Saxons　rushed　back　to　the　Dragon；　the　oars　were
thrust　out　again；　and　the　vessel　got　under　weigh　just　as　the
other　Danish　galleys　arrived　on　the　spot。　While　some　of　the
Saxons　poured　volleys　of　arrows　and　javelins　into　the
Northmen；　the　others　at　Edmund's　order　leaped　down　and
double…banked　the　oars。　The　increase　of　power　was　soon
manifest；　and　the　Dragon　began　to　draw　away　from　the　Danes。
Gradually　their　galleys　fell　back　out　of　bow…shot；　and　after
continuing　the　chase　for　some　little　time　longer　they　abandoned
it　as　hopeless　and　lay　upon　their　oars　to　rest。

A　shout　of　triumph　rose　from　the　Saxons；　and　then
Edmund；　who　had　hitherto　been　fully　occupied　with　the　command
of　the　vessel；　turned　to　Freda；　who　was　still　standing
by　her　father。

〃I　have　been　a　long　time　in　fulfilling　my　promise；　Freda；〃
he　said；　〃but　as　your　father　will　tell　you　I　have　done　my　best。
Thank　God；　who　has　given　me　success　at　last！〃

〃I　never　doubted　that　you　would　come；　Edmund；〃　she
said；　〃and　the　knowledge　has　enabled　me　to　stand　firm　against
both　the　entreaties　and　threats　of　Sweyn。　How　can　I　thank
you　for　all　you　have　done　for　me？〃

〃I　have　spoken　to　your　father；　Freda；　and　he　has　promised　me
your　hand　if　you；　indeed；　are　willing　to　bestow　it。　I　promised
to　come　for　you　if　you　would　wait；　nearly　five　years　ago；
and　I　have　never　thought　of　any　other　woman。〃

〃I　have　waited　for　you；　Edmund；〃　she　said　simply；　〃and
would　never　have　wed　another　had　you　not　come。　You　are
my　hero；　and　methinks　I　have　loved　you　ever　since　the　day
when　you　boarded　our　ship　off　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。〃

〃Take　her；　Edmund；〃　Siegbert　said；　〃you　have　nobly　won
her；　and　there　is　no　one　to　whom　I　could　be　so　well　content
to　intrust　her。　I　now　join　your　hands　in　token　of　betrothal。〃

The　crew　of　the　Dragon；　who　had　been　watching　the　scene；
raised　a　shout　of　gladness　as　they　saw　Siegbert　place
Freda's　hand　in　that　of　Edmund。　They　had　guessed　that　their
lord　must　have　an　affection　for　this　Danish　maiden　in　whose
pursuit　they　had　come　so　far；　and　were　delighted　at　the　happy
issue　of　the　expedition。

〃I　trust；　Freda；〃　Edmund　said　to　her　after　a　while；　〃that
you　have　thought　of　the　talk　we　had　about　religion；　and　that
you　will　forsake　the　barbarous　gods　of　your　people　and　become
a　Christian；　as　so　many　of　your　people　have　done　in
England；　and　that　you　will　be　wedded　to　me　not　in　the　rude
way　of　the　Danes；　but　in　a　Christian　church。〃

〃I　have　thought　much　of　it；〃　she　said；　〃and　have　come　to
think　that　your　God　of　peace　must　be　better　than　the　gods　of
war；　but　I　would　fain　know　more　of　Him　before　I　desert　the
religion　of　my　fathers。〃

〃That　shall　you；〃　Edmund　said。　〃With　your　father's　permission
I　will　place　you　for　a　short　time　in　a　convent　in　Rome；
and　one　of　the　Saxon　monks　shall　teach　you　the　tenets　of　our
faith。　It　will　be　but　for　a　short　time；　dear；　and　while　you　are
there　we　will　try　and　capture　some　of　Hasting's　galleys；　filled
with　plunder；　for　my　men　have　come　far；　and　I　would　fain
that　they　returned　with　an　ample　booty。〃

Freda　and　Siegbert　agreed　to　the　plan；　and　the　latter
said；　〃I　too　will　tarry　in　Rome　while　you　are　away；　Edmund。　I
could　fight　against　Sweyn；　for　it　was　in　a　private　quarrel；　but
I　cannot　war　against　my　countrymen。　I　too　will　talk　with
your　Saxon　monks；　and　hear　about　this　new　religion　of　yours；
for　I　think　that　as　I　have　no　others　to　love　or　care　for　I　shall
return　to　England　with　you；　and；　if　you　will　have　me；　take　up
my　abode　in　your　English　home　so　as　to　be　near　you　and　my
daughter。〃

The　Dragon　returned　to　Rome。　There　Edmund　procured
lodgings　for　Siegbert　and　Freda；　and　the　Saxon　monks　gladly
arranged　to　visit　them　and　instruct　them　in　the　doctrines　of
Christianity。　The　Dragon　sailed　again　for　the　coast　of　Sicily
and　was　absent　a　month；　during　which　time　she　captured　a
number　of　Danish　galleys；　most　of　which　were　laden　with
rich　booty。　Then　she　returned　to　Rome。　A　few　days　later　a
solemn　service　was　held；　at　which　Freda　and　Siegbert　were
baptized　as　Christians；　and　after　this　was　done　a　marriage
service　was　held；　and　Edmund　and　Freda　married　with　the
rites　of　the　Christian　Church。　The　pope　himself　was　present
at　the　services　and　bestowed　his　blessing　upon　the　newly
married　couple；　the　novelty　of　the　occasion　drawing　a　vast
crowd　of　spectators。

A　few　days　later　the　Dragon　again　put　to　sea；　a