the dragon and the raven-第24节

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horse　indicated　that　the　coming　of　this　Saxon　was　propitious
to　your　house。〃

The　jarl　gave　an　exclamation　of　satisfaction；　while
Sweyn's　brow　darkened。　Bijorn　had　indeed　set　his　heart　upon
retaining　this　famous　young　Saxon　leader　as　his　slave　and
cup…bearer；　and　it　was　probable　that　in　his　interview　with　the
priest　before　the　drawing　his　inclinations　had　been　clearly
shown；　for　a　slight　difference　between　the　thickness　of　the
sticks　might　well　have　existed　and　served　as　an　index　to　the
priest　in　drawing　them。

Bijorn；　in　his　gratification　at　the　answer　of　the　god；
bestowed　a　handsome　present　upon　the　priest；　and　then　rode
back　to　his　abode　well　content　with　his　journey。　Edmund
was　at　once　installed　in　his　new　duties。　Hitherto　he　had　not
entered　the　house　nor　seen　the　females　of　the　family。　Ulfra；
the　jarl's　wife；　was　a　woman　of　commanding　stature　and　appearance。
Like　most　of　the　northern　women　she　had　accompanied　her
husband　in　his　many　wanderings；　and　shared　his　dangers　and
privations。　The　wives　of　the　Norsemen　occupied　a　far
more　exalted　position　in　the　households　of　their
lords　than　did　those　of　the　people　of　southern　Europe；　they
were　not　only　mistresses　of　the　house；　but　were　treated　with
respect　as　well　as　with　affection；　they　were　not；　as　in　the　south；
regarded　as　puppets　for　the　amusements　of　an　idle　hour；　but
were　the　companions　and　advisers　of　their　husbands；　occupying
a　position　at　least　as　free　and　respected　as　at　the　present　day。

There　were　two　daughters；　who　both　bade　fair　to　resemble
their　mother　in　stature　and　dignity　of　demeanour；
for　both　were　models　of　female　strength　and　activity。
Edmund's　duties　were　light。　In　the　morning　he　gathered
firewood　for　the　household；　at　the　meals　he　handed　the
dishes；　and　taking　his　station　behind　the　jarl's　chair；　refilled
his　goblet　with　mead　as　often　as　it　was　empty。　Usually　a　large
party　sat　down　to　supper；　for　an　expedition　to　France　was
talked　of　in　the　spring；　and　the　jarls　and　warriors　often　met
to　discuss　the　place　of　starting；　the　arrangements　for　the
voyage；　and　the　numbers　which　each　leader　would　place　in　the
field。　The　feasts　were　kept　up　to　a　late　hour；　and；　as　was　the
invariable　custom　of　the　Northmen；　the　arrangements　decided
upon　overnight　were　rediscussed　at　a　morning　meeting；
for　they　held　that　while　over　the　wine…cup　each　man　would
speak　the　truth　frankly　and　honestly；　the　colder　counsels　and
greater　prudence　which　the　morning　brought　were　needed
before　any　matter　could　be　finally　settled。

A　month　thus　passed；　and　Bijorn；　his　family　and　followers
then　moved　south；　as　there　was　to　be　a　great　conference
near　the　southern　point　of　the　country；　at　which　a　large
number　of　the　chiefs　from　Denmark　were　to　be　present。

Edmund　observed　that　for　some　reason　Sweyn　was　looking
forward　anxiously　to　this　meeting；　and　his　sisters　more
than　once　joked　him　about　his　anxiety。

〃Pooh！　pooh！〃　the　jarl　said　one　day　in　answer　to　such
an　observation。　〃Sweyn　is　but　a　lad　yet。　I　know　what　you　are
driving　at；　and　that　Sweyn　is　smitten　with　the　charms　of　my
old　companion's　daughter；　the　pretty　Freda；　I　noted　it　when
we　were　in　camp　together；　but　it　will　be　fully　another　ten
years　yet　before　Sweyn　can　think　of　marrying。　He　has　got　to
win　for　himself　the　name　of　a　great　warrior　before　a　jarl's
daughter　of　proper　spirit　would　so　much　as　think　of　him。
When　he　has　the　spoils　of　France　to　lay　at　her　feet　it　will　be
time　enough。〃

Sweyn　made　no　reply；　but　Edmund　saw　that　he　was　far
from　pleased　at　his　father's　words；　and　a　look　of　surly
determination　on　his　face　showed　the　young　Saxon　that　he　would
go　his　own　way　in　the　matter　if　it　lay　in　his　power。

After　ten　days'　travelling　the　party　arrived　at　the
rendezvous。　Here　drawn　up　on　the　shore　were　a　vast　number　of
galleys　of　all　sizes；　for　the　greater　part　of　those　who　had
assembled　had　journeyed　by　sea。　Great　numbers　of　huts　of
boughs　and　many　tents　constructed　of　sails　had　been　erected。
Edmund　and　the　other　slaves；　these　being　either　Saxon　or
Franks　captured　in　war；　soon　erected　bowers　for　the　jarl　and
his　family。

Edmund　had　been　looking　forward　to　the　meeting　with
much　anxiety；　for　he　had　judged　that　some　mode　of　escape
might　there　open　to　him。　Among　the　Saxon　slaves　were　several
young　men　of　strength　and　vigour；　and　Edmund　had
confided　to　them　his　project　of　stealing　a　boat　and　sailing
away　in　it；　and　they；　knowing　that　he　had　experience　in
navigation；　had　readily　consented　to　join　him　in　making　an
effort　for　freedom。

The　jarl　and　his　family　were　warmly　welcomed　by　many
of　their　companions　in　arms；　and　the　day　after　their　arrival
Bijorn　told　Edmund　to　accompany　him　to　a　banquet　at　which
he　and　his　family　were　to　be　present。　At　four　in　the　afternoon
they　set　out　and　presently　arrived　at　a　large　tent。
Edmund　waited　without　until　the　attendants　carried　in　the
dishes；　when　he　entered　with　them　and　prepared　to　take　his
place　behind　his　master's　seat。　From　a　few　words　which　had
passed　between　Sweyn　and　his　sisters　Edmund　doubted　not
that　the　companion　with　whom　Bijorn　was　going　to　dine　was
the　father　of　the　maiden　about　whom　they　had　joked　him。
He　was　not　surprised　when　on　entering　he　saw　Sweyn　talking
earnestly　with　a　damsel　somewhat　apart　from　the　rest。

The　entrance　of　the　viands　was　the　signal　for　all　to　take
their　places　at　the　table。　There　were　in　all　sixteen　in　number；
and　as　nearly　half　were　women　the　meeting　was　evidently　of
a　family　character；　as　upon　occasions　of　importance　or　when
serious　discussions　were　to　take　place　men　alone　sat　down。
As　Edmund　advanced　to　take　his　place；　his　eye　fell　upon　the
jarl　who　seated　himself　at　the　head　of　the　table；　and　as　he　did
so　he　gave　a　slight　start　of　surprise；　for　he　at　once　recognized
in　him　the　Northman　Siegbert；　whose　ship　he　had　stopped
at　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。　From　him　his　eye　glanced　at
the　girl　by　whose　side　Sweyn　was　on　the　point　of　seating
himself；　and　recognized　in　her　the　maiden　who　had　besought
her　father's　life。　The　dinner　commenced　and　proceeded　for
some　little　time；　when　Edmund　saw　the　girl　looking　fixedly
at　him。

〃Who　is　that　who　is　standing　behind　your　father's　chair？〃
she　asked　Sweyn。

〃A　Saxon　slave；〃　he　answered。　〃His　vessel　was　well…nigh
wrecked　on　our　coast。　Our　people　captured　him　and　slew
some　of　his　followers；　and　the　ship　speedily　took　to　flight。〃

〃Father；〃　the　girl　said　in　a　clear　voice；　which　at　once
attracted　the　attention　of　all；　〃unless　my　eyes　deceive　me　the
young　Saxon　standing　behind　Jarl　Bijorn　is　he　whose　ship
captured　us　as　we　left　England；　and　who　suffered　no　harm　to
be　done　to　us。〃

The　Northman　turned　in　his　chair。

〃It　is　he；　Freda；　surely　enough；　though　how　he　comes　to
be　a　slave　here　to　my　comrade　Bijorn　I　know　not。　Bijorn；　my
friend；　I　owe　this　youth　a　deep　debt　of　gratitude；　he　had　my
life　and　the　life　and　honour　of　Freda　in　his　hands；　and　he
spared　both；　and；　slave　though　he　may　be　of　yours　at　present；
yet　I　hail　him　as　my　friend。　Tell　me　how　came　he　in　your
hands？　He　is　Edmund；　the　valiant　young　Saxon　who　smote
us　more　than　once　so　heavily　down　in　Wessex。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　Bijorn　replied；　〃and　will　tell　you　how　he　came
into　my　hands；　and　in　truth　he　was　captured　by　accident　and
not　by　any　valour　of　my　arm。〃　The　jarl　then　related　the
circumstances　under　which　Edmund　had　been　captured；　and
the　narrow　escape　he　had　had　of　being　offered　as　a　sacrifice
to　Odin。　And　Siegbert　then　told　his　guests　at　length　the
incidents　of　his　capture　by　the　Dragon。

〃He　let　me　go　free　and　without　a　ransom；〃　he　concluded；
〃and　that　part　of　my　obligation　I　should　be　glad　to　repay；
though　for　his　gentleness　to　Freda　I　must　still　remain　his
debtor。　What　say　you；　Bijorn；　will　you　sell　him　to　me？　Name
your　price　in　horses；　arms；　and　armour；　and　whatever　it　be　I
will　pay　it　to　you。〃

〃In　truth；　Siegbert；〃　Bijorn　said；　〃I　like　not　to　part　with
the　lad；　but　since　you　are　so　urgent；　and　seeing　that　you
cannot　otherwise　discharge　the　obligation　under　which；　as　you
say；　he　has　laid　you；　I　cannot　refuse　your　prayer。　As　to　the
price；　we　will　arrange　that　anon。〃

〃Then　it　is　settled；〃　Siegbert　said。　〃You　are　a　free　man；
Ealdorman　Edmund；〃　and　he　held　out　his　hand　to　the　youth。
〃Now　seat　yourself　at　the　table　with　my　guests；　there　are　none
here　but　may　feel　honoured　at　dining　with　one　of　King
Alfred's　bravest　thanes。〃

The　transformation　in　Edmund's　position　was　sudden
indeed；　a　moment　since　he　was　a　slave；　and　although　he　had
determined　upon　making　an　effort　for　freedom；　he　had
known　that　the　chances　of　escape　were　small；　as　swift　galleys
would　have　been　sent　off　in　pursuit；　and　it　was　probable　that
he　would　have　been　speedily　overtaken　and　brought　back。
Now　he　was　free；　and　would　doubtless　be　allowed　to　return
home　with　the　first　party　who　sailed　thither。

Siegbert　at　once　tried　to　make　Edmund　feel　at　home；
addressing　much　of　his　conversation　to　him。　Bijorn；　too；
spoke　in　a　friendly　manner　with　him；　but　Sweyn　was　silent
and　sullen；　he　was　clearly　ill…pleased　at　this　change　of　fortune
which　had　turned　his　father's　slave　into　a　fellow…guest　and
equal。　His　annoyance　was　greatly　heightened　by　the　fact　that
it　wa