the dragon and the raven-第32节

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acknowledged　the　supremacy　of　Alfred；　consulted　him　upon　all
occasions　of　importance；　and　issued　all　his　edicts　and　orders
in　the　king's　name。　He　was　ably　assisted　by　Werfrith；　the　Bishop
of　Worcester。　The　energy　and　activity　of　these　leaders　enabled
Mercia　to　keep　abreast　of　Wessex　in　the　onward　progress
which　Alfred　laboured　so　indefatigably　to　promote。

Edmund；　when　not　occupied　with　the　affairs　of　his　earldom；
spent　much　of　his　time　with　the　king；　who　saw　in　him　a
spirit　of　intelligence　and　activity　which　resembled　his　own。
Edmund　was；　however；　of　a　less　studious　disposition　than　his
royal　master；　and　though　he　so　far　improved　his　education
as　to　be　able　to　read　and　write　well；　Alfred　could　not　persuade
him　to　undertake　the　study　of　Latin；　being；　as　he　said；
well　content　to　master　some　of　the　learning　of　that　people　by
means　of　the　king's　translations。

At　the　end　of　another　two　years　of　peace　Edmund　was
again　called　upon　to　take　up　arms。　Although　the　Danes
attempted　no　fresh　invasion　some　of　their　ships　hung　around
the　English　coast；　capturing　vessels；　interfering　with　trade；
and　committing　other　acts　of　piracy。

Great　complaints　were　made　by　the　inhabitants　of　the
seaports　to　Alfred。　The　king　at　once　begged　Edmund　to　fit
out　the　Dragon；　and　collecting　a　few　other　smaller　ships　he
took　his　place　on　Edmund's　ship　and　sailed　in　search　of　the
Danes。　After　some　search　they　came　upon　the　four　large
ships　of　the　Northmen　which　had　been　a　scourge　to　the　coast。

The　Saxons　at　once　engaged　them；　and　a　desperate　fight
took　place。　The　Dragon　was　laid　alongside　the　largest　of　the
Danish　vessels；　and　the　king；　with　Edmund　and　Egbert　by　his
side；　leapt　on　to　the　deck　of　the　Danish　vessel；　followed　by
the　crew　of　the　Dragon。　The　Danish　ship　was　crowded　with
men　who　fought　desperately；　but　the　discipline　even　more
than　the　courage　of　Edmund's　crew　secured　for　them　the
victory。　For　a　time　each　fought　for　himself；　and　although
inspired　by　the　presence　of　the　king　they　were　able　to　gain
no　advantage；　being　much　out…numbered　by　the　Northmen。

Edmund；　seeing　this；　sounded　on　his　horn　the　signal
with　which　in　battle　he　ordered　the　men　to　form　their　wedge。
The　signal　was　instantly　obeyed。　The　Saxons　were　all　fighting
with　boarding…pikes　against　the　Northmen's　swords　and
axes；　for　they　had　become　used　to　these　weapons　and
preferred　them　to　any　other。

The　instant　Edmund's　horn　was　heard；　each　man　desisted
from　fighting　and　rushed　to　their　leader；　around　whom
they　instantly　formed　in　their　accustomed　order。　The　Danes；
astonished　at　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　battle；　and
understanding　nothing　of　the　meaning　of　the　signal　or　of
the　swift　movement　of　the　Saxons；　for　a　minute　lowered　their
weapons　in　surprise。

Before　they　again　rushed　forward　the　formation　was
complete；　and　in　a　close　body　with　levelled　spears　the　Saxons
advanced；　Egbert　as　usual　leading　the　way；　with　Edmund　and
the　king　in　the　centre。

In　vain　the　Danes　strove　to　resist　the　onset；　in　spite　of
their　superior　numbers　they　were　driven　back　step　by　step
until　crowded　in　a　close　mass　at　one　end。

Still　the　Saxon　line　of　spears　pressed　on。　Many　of　the
Danes　leapt　into　the　sea；　others　were　pushed　over　or　run
through；　and　in　a　few　minutes　not　a　Northman　remained
alive　in　the　captured　vessel。

In　the　meantime　the　battle　was　raging　in　other　parts。
Two　of　the　small　vessels　were　engaged　with　one　of　the　Danes
at　close　quarters；　while　the　other　ships　hung　around　the
remaining　Danish　vessels　and　kept　up　volleys　of　arrows　and
javelins　upon　them。

The　Dragon　at　once　went　to　the　assistance　of　the　two
Saxon　ships；　whose　crews　were　almost　overpowered　by　the
Northmen。　Laying　the　ship　alongside；　Edmund　boarded　the
Danes。　The　Northmen　rushed　back　from　the　decks　of　the
Saxon　ship　to　defend　their　own　vessel；　and　the　Saxons；
regaining　courage；　at　once　rallied　and　followed　them。　The
combat　was　short　but　desperate。　Attacked　on　three　sides；
the　Danes　were　speedily　overcome　and　were　slaughtered　to　a
man。

An　attack　was　next　made　upon　the　two　remaining　vessels。
These　resisted　for　some　time；　but　they　were　overwhelmed
by　the　missiles　from　the　Saxon　flotilla；　and　the　greater
portion　of　their　crews　being　killed　or　wounded；　their
commanders　prayed　for　mercy；　which　was　granted　them　by　Alfred；
and　with　the　four　captured　vessels　the　fleet　returned　to
England。

On　reaching　port　Alfred　begged　Edmund　to　continue
for　a　while　with　the　Dragon；　to　cruise　along　the　coasts　and　to
stop　the　depredations　of　the　Danes；　and　for　some　weeks　the
Dragon　kept　the　seas。　She　met　with　considerable　success；
capturing　many　Danish　galleys。　Some　of　these　contained
rich　spoil；　which　had　been　gathered　in　France；　for　cruising
in　the　seas　off　Dover　Edmund　intercepted　many　of　the　Danish
vessels　on　their　homeward　way　from　raids　up　the　Seine；
Garonne；　and　other　French　rivers。

One　day　in　the　excitement　of　a　long　pursuit　of　a　Danish
galley；　which　finally　succeeded　in　making　her　escape；　Edmund
had　paid　less　attention　than　usual　to　the　weather；　and；　on
giving　up　the　chase　as　hopeless；　perceived　that　the　sky　had
become　greatly　overcast；　while　the　wind　was　rising　rapidly。

〃We　are　in　for　a　storm　from　the　north；　Egbert；〃　he　said；
〃and　we　must　make　for　the　mouth　of　the　Thames　for　shelter。〃

The　sails　were　lowered；　and　the　Dragon's　head　turned
west。　Before　two　hours　had　passed　the　sea　had　risen　so　greatly
that　it　was　no　longer　possible　to　row。

〃What　had　we　best　do？〃　Edmund　asked　the　chief　of　the
sailors。　〃Think　you　that　we　can　make　Dover　and　shelter
under　the　cliffs　there？〃

〃I　fear　that　we　cannot　do　so；〃　the　sailor　replied　〃for　there
are　terrible　sands　and　shallows　off　the　Kentish　coast　between
the　mouth　of　the　Thames　and　Dover；　and　the　wind　blows　so
strongly　that　we　can　do　nought　but　run　before　it。〃

〃Then　let　us　do　so；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃anything　is　better
than　being　tossed　at　the　mercy　of　the　waves。〃

A　sail　was　hoisted；　and　the　Dragon　flew　along　before　the
wind。　The　storm　increased　in　fury；　and　for　some　hours　the
vessel　ran　before　it。　She　was　but　a　short　distance　from　the
French　coast；　and　as　the　wind　veered　round　more　to　the　west
her　danger　became　great。

〃I　fear　we　shall　be　cast　ashore；〃　Edmund　said　to　the　sailor。

〃Fortunately；〃　the　man　answered；　〃we　are　but　a　mile　or
two　from　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　and　there　we　can　run　in
and　take　shelter。〃

It　was　an　anxious　time　until　they　reached　the　mouth　of
the　river；　for　they　were　continually　drifting　nearer　and　nearer
to　the　coast。　However；　they　cleared　the　point　in　safety；　and；
turning　her　head；　ran　up　the　river　and　soon　anchored　under
the　walls　of　Havre。　As　she　came　to　an　anchor　armed　men
were　seen　crowding　the　walls。

〃They　take　us　for　Danes；〃　Egbert　said。　〃We　had　best
hoist　the　Dragon；　and　they　will　then　know　that　we　are　a　Saxon
ship。〃

Soon　after　the　flag　was　hoisted　the　gates　of　the　town
were　seen　to　open；　and　an　officer　and　some　men　issued　out。
These　launched　a　boat　and　rowed　out　to　the　ship。　The　officer
mounted　to　the　deck。　He　was　evidently　in　considerable
fear；　but　as　he　saw　the　Saxons　standing　about　unarmed　he
was　reassured。　〃Is　this　really　a　Saxon　ship；〃　he　asked；　as　its
flag　testifies？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　Edmund　replied；　〃it　is　my　vessel；　and　I　am　an
ealdorman　of　King　Alfred。　We　have　been　chasing　the　Danish
pirates；　but　this　storm　having　arisen；　we　were　blown　down
the　French　coast　and　forced　to　seek　shelter　here。〃

〃The　governor　bids　you　welcome；〃　the　officer　said；　〃and
bade　me　invite　you　to　land。〃

〃That　will　I　gladly；　the　more　so　since　my　ship　has　suffered
some　damage　in　the　gale；　her　bulwarks　having　been
partly　shattered；　and　it　will　need　a　stay　of　a　few　days　here　to
repair　her　for　sea。　Will　you　tell　the　governor　that　in　a　short
time　I　will　land　with　my　kinsman　Egbert　and　accept
his　hospitality？〃

An　hour　later　Edmund　and　Egbert　landed　and　were　at
once　conducted　to　the　governor；　who　welcomed　them　cordially。

They　found　there　many　whom　they　had　known　at　the
court　of　King　Alfred。　The　wealthier　men；　the　bishops　and
thanes；　had　for　the　most　part　journeyed　to　Paris　or　to　other
towns　in　the　interior　to　escape　the　dreaded　Northmen；　but
there　were　many　detained　at　Havre　from　want　of　funds　to
journey　farther。

〃It　is　a　sad　pity；〃　the　governor　said　as　they　talked　over
the　troubled　state　of　Western　Europe；　〃that　your　English　king
and　our　Frankish　monarch　did　not　make　common　cause
against　these　sea　robbers。　They　are　the　enemies　of　mankind。
Not　only　do　they　ravage　all　our　coasts；　but　they　have　entered
the　Mediterranean；　and　have　plundered　and　ravaged　the
coasts　of　Provence　and　Italy；　laying　towns　under　ransom；
burning　and　destroying。〃

〃I　would　that　I　could　meet　some　of　their　ships　on　their
way　back　from　Italy；〃　Edmund　said。　〃I　warrant　that　we　should
obtain　a　rare　booty；　with　gems　of　art　such　as　would　delight
King　Alfred；　but　are　thrown　away　on　these　barbarians；　but　I
agree　with　you　that　'tis　shameful　that　the　coasts　of　all　Europe
should　be　overrun　with　these　pirates。〃

〃Yes；〃　the　governor　replied；　〃if　every　country　in
Christendom　would　unite　against　their　common　foe；　and　send
a　quota　of　ships　and　men；　we　would　drive　the　Blac