the dragon and the raven-第21节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　crews　must　either　have　been　slain　or　landed。　The　first
course　was　repugnant　to　Edmund；　the　second　could　not　be
adopted；　because　they　would　have　carried　the　news　to　the
Danes；　that　the　Dragon　was　off　the　river　and　no　more　ships
would　have　put　to　sea；　and　indeed；　so　large　was　the　number
of　Danish　vessels　always　up　the　Humber　that　a　fleet　could
easily　have　been　equipped　and　sent　out；　before　which　the
Dragon　must　have　taken　flight。

One　day　a　large　sailing　ship　was　seen　coming　out。　The
Dragon　remained　with　lowered　sail　until　she　had　passed；　then
started　in　pursuit；　and　speedily　came　up　with　the　Danish
vessel。　Edmund　summoned　her　to　surrender；　and　was　answered
by　a　Norseman　of　great　stature　and　noble　appearance；　who
from　the　poop　hurled　a　javelin；　which　would　have　pierced
Edmund　had　he　not　leapt　quickly　aside。　A　few　other　darts
were　thrown　and　then　the　Dragon　ran　alongside　the　enemy
and　boarded　her。

The　opposition　of　the　Northmen　was　speedily　beaten
down；　but　their　leader　desperately　defended　the　ladder　leading
to　the　poop。　He　was　struck　by　two　arrows；　and　fell　on
one　knee；　and　Edmund　was　about　to　climb　the　ladder　when
the　door　of　the　cabin　in　the　poop　opened；　and　a　Norse　maiden
some　sixteen　years　old　sprang　out。　Seeing　her　father　wounded
at　the　top　of　the　ladder　and　the　Saxons　preparing　to　ascend
it；　while　others　turned　their　bows　against　the　wounded
Northman；　she　sprang　forward　and　throwing　herself　upon
her　knees　before　Edmund　besought　him　to　spare　her　father's
life。　Edmund　raised　his　hand　and　the　bows　were　lowered。

〃I　have　no　wish　to　slay　your　father；　maiden；〃　he　said　gently；
〃we　slay　only　those　who　resist；　and　resistance　on　the　part
of　a　single　man；　and　he　wounded；　against　a　whole　ship's　crew
is　madness。　We　are　no　sea…wolves　who　slay　for　the　pleasure
of　slaying；　but　are　Saxons；　who　fight　for　our　country　against
the　oppressions　and　rapine　of　your　people。　Little　right　have
they　to　mercy　seeing　they　show　none；　but　our　religion　enjoins
us　to　have　pity　even　upon　our　enemies。　You　had　best
ascend　to　your　father　and　see　to　his　wounds；　none　will　harm
you　or　him。〃

The　girl　with　an　exclamation　of　thanks　sprang　up　the
ladder。　Edmund　superintended　the　searching　of　the　ship。
She　contained　a　great　store　of　valuables；　which　were　speedily
transferred　to　the　Dragon。　When　this　had　been　done　Edmund
ascended　to　the　poop。　The　jarl　was　sitting　in　a　great　chair
placed　there。　Edmund　had　already　learnt　from　the　crew　that
he　was　Jarl　Siegbert；　a　noted　leader　of　the　Northmen。　His
daughter　had　drawn　out　the　arrows　and　bandaged　the
wounds。

〃Jarl　Siegbert；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　approached　him；　〃you
have　been　a　bitter　enemy　of　the　Saxons；　and　small　mercy
have　you　shown　to　those　who　have　fallen　into　your　hands；
but　learn　now　that　we　Christian　Saxons　take　no　vengeance
on　a　defenceless　foe。　You　are　free　to　pursue　your　voyage　with
your　daughter　and　your　ship　to　Norway。　Your　stores　we　have
made　free　with；　seeing　that　they　are　all　plunder　taken　from
the　Saxons；　and　we　do　but　reclaim　our　own。〃

〃And　who　are　you；　young　sir？〃　the　jarl　asked。

〃I　am　one　of　King　Alfred's　ealdormen　of　Wessex；
Edmund　by　name。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　you；〃　the　Dane　said；　〃as　one　who　has
taught　the　Saxons　new　tactics；　fighting　in　a　close　body　which
has　more　than　once　pierced　our　lines　and　caused　our　overthrow；
but　you　are　a　mere　lad。〃

〃I　am　young；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃and　had　it　not　been　for
the　invasions　and　oppressions　of　your　countrymen；　might
have　still　accounted　myself　as　scarce　a　man；　but　you　have
made　warriors　of　every　West　Saxon　capable　of　bearing　a
sword。　Remember；　jarl；　that　your　life　has　been　in　Saxon　hands；
and　that　they　have　spared　it；　so　come　not　hither　to　our　shores
again。〃

〃I　purpose　not　doing　so；〃　the　Northman　replied。　〃I　have
seen　enough　of　stricken　fields；　and　was　returning　to　my　own
country　to　hang　up　my　sword；　content　with　the　fame　I　have
gained；　until　Woden　called　me　to　join　his　warriors　and　feast
in　his　halls。　Since　we　may　not　meet　there；　young　Saxonfor
they　say　that　you　Christians　look　to　a　place　where　arms　will
be　laid　aside　and　the　sound　of　feasting　be　unheardI　will
say　farewell。　For　myself；　I　thank　you　not　for　my　life；　for　I
would　rather　have　died　as　I　have　lived　with　my　sword　in　my
hand；　but　for　my　daughter's　sake　I　thank　you；　for　she　is　but
young　to　be　left　unprotected　in　the　world。〃

A　few　minutes　later；　the　Danish　vessel　continued　on　her
way；　and　the　Dragon　again　took　her　station　on　the　look…out。
She　was　now　deep　in　the　water；　and　after　picking　up　one　or
two　more　small　prizes；　Edmund　and　Egbert　determined　to
return　home。

It　was　probable　that　the　Danes　would　soon　take　the　alarm
and　despatch　a　fleet　to　attack　them。　Laden　down　as　the
Dragon　was；　her　speed　under　oars　was　materially　affected；
and　it　was　advisable　to　stow　away　their　booty　before　proceeding
with　further　adventures。　Her　head　was　turned　south；
and　she　coasted　down　the　eastern　shores　of　England　without
adventure。　Several　Danish　vessels　were　seen　arriving　at　or
quitting　the　coast；　but　the　Dragon　continued　her　course　without
heeding　them；　and　rounding　the　Forelands；　sailed　along
the　south　coast　and　made　her　way　up　the　Parrot。

Upon　inquiry　they　learnt　that　no　event　of　any　importance
had　taken　place　during　their　absence。　The　Danes　were
complete　masters　of　the　country。　King　Alfred　was　in　hiding；
none　knew　where。　The　greater　portion　of　the　Danes　were　at
their　camp　at　Chippenham；　but　parties　roamed　here　and　there
through　the　land。

Dressed　as　countrymen；　Edmund　and　Egbert　made　their
way　to　Exeter；　and　there　arranged　with　some　traders　for　the
purchase　of　the　less　valuable　portion　of　the　Dragons　cargo。
This　consisted　of　rich　clothing；　silks　and　other　stuffs；　wine；
vestments；　and　altar　hangings　from　churches；　arms　and
armour；　hides　and　skins。　The　prices　obtained　were　far　below
the　real　value　of　the　articles；　for　money　was　scarce；　and　none
could　say　when　the　Danes　might　again　swoop　down　and　clear
out　the　contents　of　the　warehouses。　Nevertheless　the　sum
obtained　was　a　large　one　for　those　days；　and　this　did　not
include　the　value　of　the　gold　and　silver　goblets；　salvers；　vases；
and　utensils　used　in　the　celebration　of　religious　services。

Of　these；　spoiled　from　the　houses　of　the　wealthy；　and
the　churches　and　monasteries；　they　had　obtained　a　considerable
number。　These　were　buried　in　the　wood　near　the　lonely
spot　at　which　the　Dragon　was　moored；　the　rest　of　the　cargo
was　sent　in　wagonsthe　more　valuable　portions　hidden　under
the　hides　and　skinsto　Exeter。　The　amount　which　had　been
obtained　from　the　cargo　was　divided　as　agreed　before　starting：
twenty…five　shares　were　set　apart　for　the　king；　twenty…five
shares　were　divided　between　the　two　leaders；　and　each
soldier　and　sailor　had　one　share。　All　were　well　satisfied　with
the　success　of　the　adventure；　and　with　the　damage　which
they　had　inflicted　upon　the　Danes。

A　fortnight's　leave　was　given；　for　the　men　to　visit　their
homes；　and　the　money　which　they　had　gained　in　their　trip
was　of　great　use　to　their　friends　in　enabling　them　to　repair
the　damages　effected　by　the　Danes。　Not　a　man　was　absent　at
the　appointed　time；　and　the　Dragon　again　made　her　way　down
to　the　sea。

It　was　midwinter　now；　and　they　cruised　along　the　southern
coast　of　England　without　perceiving　a　single　hostile　sail。
They　lay　for　a　week　off　the　mouth　of　the　Thames；　and　then
saw　four　large　Danish　vessels　making　their　way　down　the　river。
They　were　all　vessels　of　the　largest　size；　strongly　built；　and
full　of　men；　and　the　Saxons　judged　them　to　be　too　strong　to
be　attacked　in　company。　The　Northmen；　on　seeing　the　golden
dragon　flying　at　the　mast…head　of　the　Saxon　ship；　at　once
made　towards　her；　keeping　in　a　close　body；　but　the　Dragon
with　sails　and　oars　easily　left　them　behind；　and　the　Danes
giving　up　the　pursuit　continued　on　their　way。

The　Dragon　fell　into　their　wake　and　followed　at　a　distance；
hoping　that　one　might　prove　slower　than　the　others；
or　that　they　might　in　the　night　get　separated。　At　nightfall；
however；　the　Danes　lit　cressets　of　tar　and　hemp；　which　enabled
them　not　only　to　keep　close　together；　but　sent　out　a
wide　circle　of　light；　so　that　they　could　perceive　the　Dragon
should　she　venture　to　approach。

For　two　days　and　nights　the　Dragon　followed　patiently。

〃The　weather　is　about　to　change；〃　Egbert　said　on　the
third　morning。　〃Methinks　that　there　is　a　storm　brewing；　and
if　this　be　so　the　Northmen　may　well　get　separated；　and　we
may　pick　up　one　away　from　her　fellows。〃

Darker　and　darker　grew　the　sky；　and　the　wind　soon　blew
in　furious　gusts；　raising　a　sea　so　heavy　that　the　Saxons　were
obliged　to　lay　in　their　oars。　By　nightfall　it　was　blowing　a
furious　gale。　In　the　gathering　darkness　and　the　flying　scud
the　ships　of　the　Danes　were　lost　sight　of；　but　this　was　of　little
consequence　now；　for　the　attention　of　the　Saxons　was　directed
to　their　own　safety。

For　the　next　three　days　their　position　was　one　of　the
greatest　danger。　With　only　a　rag　of　sail　set　they　ran　before
the　gale　from　the　south…west。　Every　wave　as　it　overtook　them
threatened　the　destruction　of　the　ship；　but　the　Dragon；　light
and　buoyant；　and　ably　handled；　rode　safely　over　the　waves。
On　t