the dragon and the raven-第7章

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pursued　by　a　number　of　Danes。　Even　at　that　distance　Edmund
thought　that　he　recognized　the　tall　figure　of　his　kinsman；
but　he　had　no　time　to　assure　himself　of　this；　and　he　at　once；
accompanied　by　the　hound；　set　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed
from　the　field　of　battle。　He　had　fully　a　quarter　of　a　mile
start；　and　being　active　and　hardy　and　accustomed　to　exercise
from　his　childhood；　he　had　no　fear　that　the　Danes　would
overtake　him。　Still　he　ran　his　hardest。

Looking　over　his　shoulder　from　time　to　time　he　saw　that
at　first　the　Danes　who　were　pursuing　the　fugitive　were　gaining
upon　him　also；　but　after　a　time　he　again　increased　the
distance；　while；　being　unencumbered　with　shield　or　heavy
weapons；　the　fugitive　kept　the　advantage　he　had　at　first　gained。
Three　miles　from　the　battle…field　Edmund　reached　the　edge
of　a　wide…spreading　wood。　Looking　round　as　he　entered　its
shelter　he　saw　that　the　flying　Saxon　was　still　about　a　quarter
of　a　mile　behind　him；　and　that　the　Danes；　despairing　of
over…taking　him；　had　ceased　their　pursuit。　Edmund　therefore
checked　his　footsteps　and　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　fugitive；
who　he　now　felt　certain　was　his　kinsman。

In　a　few　minutes　Egbert　came　up；　having　slackened　his
speed　considerably　when　he　saw　that　he　was　no　longer　pursued。
He　was　bleeding　from　several　wounds；　and　now　that
the　necessity　for　exertion　had　passed　he　walked　but　feebly
along。　Without　a　word　he　flung　himself　on　the　ground　by
Edmund　and　buried　his　face　in　his　arms；　and　the　lad　could
see　by　the　shaking　of　his　broad　shoulders　that　he　was　weeping
bitterly。　The　great　hound　walked　up　to　the　prostrate　figure
and　gave　vent　to　a　long　and　piteous　howl；　and　then　lying
down　by　Egbert's　side　placed　his　head　on　his　shoulder。





CHAPTER　III：　THE　MASSACRE　AT　CROYLAND



Edmund　wept　sorely　for　some　time；　for　he　knew　that
his　kinsman's　agitation　could　be　only　caused　by　the
death　of　his　father。　At　last　he　approached　Egbert。

〃My　brave　kinsman；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　ask　you　no　questions；
for　I　know　but　too　well　that　my　dear　father　has　fallen；
but　rouse　yourself；　I　pray　you；　let　me　bandage　your　wounds；
which　bleed　fast；　for　you　will　want　all　your　strength；　and　we
must　needs　pursue　our　way　well　into　the　forest；　for　with
to…morrow's　dawn　the　Danes　will　scatter　over　the　whole　country。〃

〃Yes；〃　Egbert　said；　turning　round　and　sitting　up；　〃I　must
not　in　my　grief　forget　my　mission；　and　in　truth　I　am　faint
with　loss　of　blood。　It　was　well　the　Danes　stopped　when　they
did；　for　I　felt　my　strength　failing　me；　and　could　have　held　out
but　little　further。　Yes；　Edmund；〃　he　continued；　as　the　lad；
tearing　strips　from　his　garments；　proceeded　to　bandage　his
wounds；　〃your　father　is　dead。　Nobly；　indeed；　did　he　fight；
nobly　did　he　die；　with　a　circle　of　dead　Danes　around　him。
He；　Algar；　Toley；　and　myself　were　the　last　four　to　resist。　Back
to　back　we　stood；　and　many　were　the　Danes　who　fell　before
our　blows。　Toley　fell　first　and　then　Algar。　The　Danes　closed
closer　around　us。　Still　we　fought　on；　till　your　father　was　beaten
to　his　knee；　and　then　he　cried　to　me；　'Fly；　Egbert；　to　my　son。'
Then　I　flung　myself　upon　the　Danes　like　a　wild　boar　upon
the　dogs；　and　with　the　suddenness　of　my　rush　and　the　heavy
blows　of　my　battle…axe　cut　a　way　for　myself　through　them。
It　was　well…nigh　a　miracle；　and　I　could　scarce　believe　it　when
I　was　free。　I　flung　away　my　shield　and　helmet　as　soon　as　I　had
well　begun　to　run；　for　I　felt　the　blood　gushing　out　from　a
dozen　wounds；　and　knew　that　I　should　want　all　my　strength。
I　soon　caught　sight　of　you　running　ahead　of　me。　Had　I　found
we　were　gaining　upon　you　I　should　have　turned　off　and　made
another　way　to　lead　the　Danes　aside；　but　I　soon　saw　that　you
were　holding　your　own；　and　so　followed　straight　on。　My　knees
trembled；　and　I　felt　my　strength　was　well…nigh　gone；　when；
looking　round；　I　found　the　Danes　had　desisted　from　their
pursuit。　I　grieve；　Edmund；　that　I　should　have　left　the　battle
alive　when　all　the　others　have　died　bravely；　for；　save　a　few
fleet…footed　youths；　I　believe　that　not　a　single　Saxon　has
escaped　the　fight；　but　your　father　had　laid　his　commands　upon
me；　and　I　was　forced　to　obey；　though　God　knows　I　would
rather　have　died　with　the　heroes　on　that　field。〃

〃'Tis　well　for　me　that　you　did　not；　my　good　Egbert；〃
Edmund　said；　drying　his　eyes；　〃for　what　should　I　have　done
in　this　troubled　land　without　one　protector？〃

〃It　was　the　thought　of　that；〃　Egbert　said；　〃that　seemed
to　give　me　strength　as　I　dashed　at　the　Danes。　And　now；
methinks；　I　am　strong　enough　to　walk　again。　Let　us　make
our　way　far　into　the　forest；　then　we　must　rest　for　the　night。
A　few　hours'　sleep　will　make　a　fresh　man　of　me；　and　to…morrow
morning　we　will　go　to　Croyland　and　see　what　the　good　abbot
your　uncle　proposes　to　do；　then　will　we　to　the　hut　where　we
dwelt　before　coming　hither。　We　will　dig　up　the　chest　and
take　out　such　valuables　as　we　can　carry；　and　then　make　for
Wessex。　After　this　day's　work　I　have　no　longer　any　hope　that
East　Anglia　will　successfully　oppose　the　Danes。　And　yet　the
Angles　fought　well；　and　for　every　one　of　them　who　has　fallen
in　these　two　days'　fighting　at　least　four　Danes　must　have
perished。　Have　you　food；　Edmund；　for　in　truth　after　such　a
day's　work　I　would　not　lie　down　supperless？〃

〃I　have　in　my　pouch　here；　Egbert；　some　cakes；　which　I
cooked　this　morning；　and　a　capon　which　one　of　the　monks
of　Croyland　gave　me。　I　was　tempted　to　throw　it　away
as　I　ran。〃

〃I　am　right　glad；　Edmund；　that　the　temptation　was　not
too　strong　for　you。　If　we　can　find　a　spring　we　shall　do　well。〃

It　was　now　getting　dark；　but　after　an　hour's　walk　through
the　forest　they　came　upon　a　running　stream。　They　lit　a　fire
by　its　side；　and　sitting　down　ate　the　supper；　of　which　both
were　in　much　need。　Wolf　shared　the　repast；　and　then　the
three　lay　down　to　sleep。　Egbert；　overcome　by　the　immense
exertions　he　had　made　during　the　fight；　was　soon　asleep；　but
Edmund；　who　had　done　his　best　to　keep　a　brave　face　before
his　kinsman；　wept　for　hours　over　the　loss　of　his　gallant
father。

On　the　following　morning　Egbert　and　Edmund　started
for　Croyland。　The　news　of　the　defeat　at　Kesteven　had　already
reached　the　abbey；　and　terror　and　consternation
reigned　there。　Edmund　went　at　once　to　his　uncle　and　informed
him　of　the　circumstance　of　the　death　of　his　father
and　the　annihilation　of　the　Saxon　army。

〃Your　news；　Edmund；　is　even　worse　than　the　rumours
which　had　reached　me；　and　deeply　do　I　grieve　for　the　loss　of
my　brave　brother　and　of　the　many　valiant　men　who　died
with　him。　This　evening　or　to…morrow　the　spoilers　will　be
here；　and　doubtless　will　do　to　Croyland　as　they　have　done　to
all　the　other　abbeys　and　monasteries　which　have　fallen　into
their　hands。　Before　they　come　you　and　Egbert　must　be　far
away。　Have　you　bethought　you　whither　you　will　betake
yourselves？〃

〃We　are　going　to　the　king　of　the　West　Saxons；〃　Edmund
replied。　〃Such　was　my　father's　intention；　and　I　fear　that
all　is　now　lost　in　East　Anglia。〃

〃'Tis　your　best　course；　and　may　God's　blessing　and
protection　rest　upon　you！〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do；　uncle？　Surely　you　will
not　remain　here　until　the　Danes　arrive；　for　though　they　may
spare　other　men　they　have　no　mercy　on　priests　and　monks？〃

〃I　shall　assuredly　remain　here；　Edmund；　at　my　post；　and
as　my　brother　Eldred　and　Earl　Algar　and　their　brave
companions　died　at　their　posts　in　the　field　of　battle；
so　I　am　prepared　to　die　here　where　God　has　placed　me。
I　shall　retain　here　with　me　only　a　few　of　the　most　aged　and
infirm　monks；　too　old　to　fly　or　to　support　the　hardships　of
the　life　of　a　hunted　fugitive　in　the　fens；　together　with　some
of　the　children　who　have　fled　here；　and　who；　too；　could　not
support　such　a　life。　It　may　be　that　when　the　fierce　Danes
arrive　and　find　nought　but　children　and　aged　men　even　their
savage　breasts　may　be　moved　to　pity；　but　if　not；　God's　will　be
done。　The　younger　brethren　will　seek　refuge　in　the　fens；　and
will　carry　with　them　the　sacred　relics　of　the　monastery。　The
most　holy　body　of　St。　Guthlac　with　his　scourge　and　psalmistry；
together　with　the　most　valuable　jewels　and　muniments；　the
charters　of　the　foundation　of　the　abbey；　given　by　King
Ethelbald；