the dragon and the raven-第35节

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each　time　repelled　them。　The　abbe　particularly　distinguished
himself；　and　he　is　reported　to　have　slain　seven
Danes　at　once　with　one　javelin；　a　blow　which　may　be　considered
as　bordering　on　the　miraculous。　But　the　number　of　the
defenders　of　the　tower　was　small　indeed　to　that　of　the　enemy；
and　the　loss　which　they　inflicted　upon　the　Danes；　great
as　it　was；　was　as　nothing　in　so　vast　a　host。

The　flames　of　the　machines；　lighted　by　the　pitch　and
oil；　communicated　to　the　planks　of　the　fortification；　and　soon
these　too　were　on　fire。　As　they　burned；　the　earth　behind
them　gave　way；　and　a　breach　was　formed。　Encouraged　by
this　result　the　Danes　brought　up　faggots；　and　in　several　places
lighted　great　fires　against　the　fortifications。　The　defenders
began　to　lose　all　hope；　when　a　tremendous　storm　of　rain
suddenly　burst　over　Paris　quenching　the　fire。

The　besieged　gained　heart；　reinforcements　crossed　from
the　town；　and　the　Danes　again　withdrew　to　their　ships；　having
lost　in　the　day's　fighting　three　hundred　men。　After　this
repulse　the　Northmen　desisted　for　a　time　from　their　attack。
They　formed　a　strong　fortified　camp　near　the　church　of　St。
Germain；　and　then　spread　over　the　country　slaying　and　burning；
sparing　none；　man；　woman；　or　child。　From　the　walls　of
Paris　the　smoke　could　be　seen　rising　over　the　whole　country；
and　every　heart　was　moved　with　rage　and　sorrow。

Edmund　and　his　party　had　taken　no　part　in　the　defence
of　the　tower。　Its　loss　would　not　have　involved　that　of　the
town；　and　Eudes　requested　him　to　keep　his　band　in　reserve
in　order　that　they　might　remain　intact　until　the　Danes　should
make　a　breach　in　the　walls　of　the　city　itself；　when　the　sudden
reinforcement　of　a　party　of　such　well…trained　warriors　might
decide　the　result。

While　a　portion　of　the　Danish　host　were　engaged　upon
the　work　of　devastation；　a　large　number　were　employed　upon
the　construction　of　three　great　towers。　These　were　built　on
wheels；　and　were　each　large　enough　to　hold　sixty　men。　They
far　overtopped　the　walls；　and　the　citizens　viewed　with　alarm
the　time　when　an　assault　should　be　delivered　under　the　protection
of　these　formidable　machines。　Eighteen　ships　of　equal
size　were　moored　by　the　bank　six　deep。　Great　planks　were
laid　across　them；　and　a　sloping　platform　having　been　formed；
the　towers　were　by　the　efforts　of　thousands　of　men　moved　up
and　placed　on　the　ships。

〃If　we　do　not　destroy　those　towers；　Egbert；〃　Edmund
said　one　day　as　he　saw　them　slowly　moving　into　their　position
on　board　the　ships；　〃all　is　lost；　for　from　their　summits
the　Northmen　with　their　bows　and　javelins　will　be　able　to
clear　the　walls；　while　those　below　effect　a　breach　at　their
leisure。〃

〃That　is　true　enough；　Edmund；　but　I　do　not　see　any　way
to　destroy　them。　Unfortunately　we　have　no　boats；　or　we　might
fill　some　of　them　with　combustibles；　and　tow　them　down
until　near　enough　for　the　stream　to　carry　them　upon　those
vessels；　but　even　then　the　chance　were　small　indeed；　for　the
Danes　would　swarm　out　in　their　boats　and　manage　to　tow　or
push　them　so　that　they　would　not　touch　the　ships。〃

〃I　should　think；　Egbert；　that　if　we　could　get　some　skins
or　planks　we　and　our　band　might；　when　it　is　quite　dark；　sally
out　and　take　to　the　water　at　the　lower　end　of　the　island　and
float　down　quietly　for　a　mile　or　two；　and　then　gain　the　further
bank；　then　we　might　march　along　quietly　until　we　reach
those　ships。　The　Danes　know　that　we　have　no　boats；　and　will
not　fear　an　attack。　We　must　not　do　it　until　an　hour　or　two
before　morning；　when；　after　spending　the　early　hours　of　the
night　as　usual　in　feasting　and　drinking；　they　will　sleep　heavily。
Just　before　we　are　ready　to　begin　a　small　party　can　unmoor
two　or　three　of　the　boats　by　the　bank　and　push　them　out；
one　to　the　outside　of　each　tier　of　six　vessels；　so　that　we　may
have　a　means　of　retreat　across　the　river。　When　that　is　done
we　will　make　a　rush　on　board　the　ships；　cut　down　any　Danes
we　may　find　there；　and　set　fire　to　all　the　vessels。　We　must
hold　the　gangways　to　the　shore　until　the　flames　get　well　alight；
and　then　take　to　the　boats　and　return。〃

〃I　think　the　plan　is　a　good　one；　Edmund；　and　may　well
be　carried　out　without　great　loss。　There　are　plenty　of　empty
wine　skins　at　present　in　Paris。　I　will　at　once　set　about　collecting
a　hundred　of　them。　We　will　fasten　to　each　a　stout　cord　so
as　to　form　a　loop　to　go　over　the　head　and　shoulders；　then　we
had　best　attach　them　all　together　by　one　long　cord；　by　which
means　we　shall　float　in　a　body。〃

〃Fortunately　the　night　is　very　dark　and　I　think　that　we
shall　succeed。　Say　nothing　about　it；　Egbert；　and　tell　the　men
to　keep　silent。　The　good　people　of　Paris　shall　know　nothing
of　the　matter　until　they　see　the　flames　dancing　round　the
towers　which　they　hold　in　so　much　dread。〃

The　Saxons　received　with　satisfaction　the　news　of　the
intended　expedition。　They　had　been　disappointed　at　being
kept　back　from　taking　any　part　in　the　fighting　during　the
two　days'　attack　upon　the　tower；　and　longed　for　an　opportunity
to　inflict　a　blow　upon　their　hated　enemy　the　Danes。　The
wine　skins　were　fitted　up　with　ropes　as　Egbert　had　suggested；
and　soon　after　nightfall　the　party；　armed　with　spear　and
sword；　and　carrying　each　his　float；　sallied　out　from　the　gates；
as　Edmund　was　by　this　time　so　well　known　among　the　citizens
that　the　gate　was　opened　without　demur　on　his　order。

They　crept　along　the　foot　of　the　wall　until　they　reached
the　lower　extremity　of　the　island。　Across　the　river　innumerable
fires　blazed　high；　and　the　songs　and　shouts　of　the　Danes
rose　loud　in　the　air。　Numbers　of　figures　could　be　seen　moving
about　or　standing　near　the　fires；　the　tents　of　the　chiefs
were　visible　some　distance　back；　but　the　number　of　these　as
well　as　of　the　fires　was　much　less　than　it　had　been　on　the　first
arrival　of　the　Northmen；　owing　to　the　numbers　who　had　gone
to　the　camp　round　St。　Germain。

The　night　was　very　dark　and　a　light　rain　was　falling。
Before　taking　to　the　water　Edmund　bade　his　men　strip　off
the　greater　portion　of　their　clothes　and　fasten　them　in　a
bundle　on　their　heads；　as　it　would　be　some　time　after　they
landed　before　they　could　advance　upon　the　camp；　and　the
cold　and　dripping　garments　would　tend　to　lessen　their　spirits
and　courage。

When　all　was　ready　they　stepped　into　the　water；　and
keeping　in　a　body；　drifted　down　the　stream。　The　wine　skins
floated　them　well　above　the　water；　the　stream　was　running
strong；　and　the　lights　of　the　Danish　fires　were　soon　left
behind。

In　half　an　hour　Edmund　and　Egbert　deemed　that　they
were　now　far　beyond　a　point　where　they　might　chance　upon
any　Danish　stragglers。　The　word　was　therefore　given；　and　all
made　for　the　bank。　The　stream　had　already　drifted　them　in
that　direction；　and　they　soon　reached　the　shore。　Here　the
skins　which　had　proved　so　useful　were　left　behind；　and　putting
on　their　dry　clothes；　they　felt　comparatively　comfortable。
Edmund　ordered　them　to　lay　down　their　spears　and　swords
by　their　sides；　and　to　swing　their　arms　violently。　This
they　continued　to　do　until　they　were　nearly　breathless；　by
which　time　the　blood　was　coursing　warmly　in　their　veins。

They　were　now　in　December；　and　the　water　was　extremely　cold；
and　Egbert　congratulated　Edmund　upon　having　made　the　men　strip；
for　had　they　been　compelled　to　remain　in　their　wet　garments
while　waiting　for　the　Danish　fires　to　die　down；　they　would
scarce　have　been　in　a　fit　state　to　fight　when　the　moment
for　so　doing　had　arrived。

Three　hours　elapsed　before　the　glare　of　the　distant　fires
began　to　subside；　another　half　hour　passed；　and　then　the
band　were　formed　up　and　moved　along　on　the　bank　of　the
river。





CHAPTER　XIV：　THE　REPULSE　OF　THE　NORTHMEN



When　within　half　a　mile　of　the　Danish　camp　Edmund　and　Egbert
left　the　band　and　advanced　alone。　They　were　pretty　confident
that　they　should　find　but　few　of　the　Danes　near　the　bank
of　the　river；　for　the　arrows　from　the　walls　of　Paris　carried
some　distance　beyond　it；　and　the　Northmen　consequently　encamped
some　hundred　yards　away。　They　had　to　pick　their　way　carefully；
for　the　ships　were　moored　along　the　bank；　their　ropes　being
fastened　to　great　stakes　driven　into　the　ground。

There　were　lights　on　board　the　vessels；　many　of　the　crews
remaining　on　board。　They　made　their　way　along　until　they
reached　the　spot　they　aimed　at。　Here　lay　the　three　sets　of
vessels；　each　six　deep；　their　masts　had　been　removed；　and
the　great　towers　rose　high　into　the　darkness　above　the
platforms　extending　over　their　decks。

The　planks　forming　the　gangways　up　which　the　towers
had　been　moved　had　been　taken　away；　save　one　which　gave
access　to　each　tier；　and　Edmund　doubted　not　that　it　was
intended　that　they　should　the　next　morning　move　across　the
river　in　tow　of　the　numerous　row…boats。　The　two　Saxons　did
not　attempt　to　go　on　board；　as　they　had　now　found　out　all
they　wanted；　and　might　mar　all　by　disturbing　some　sleeper
upon　the　platform。　They　accordingly　returned　to　the　spot
where　the　band　were　awaiting　them。

〃I　propose；　Egbert；〃　Edmund　said；　〃that　as　we　go　along
we　cut　the　mooring…ropes　of　all　the　vessels。　We　must　do　it
quietly　so　as　not　to　excite　any　alarm；　and　they　will　know　nothing
of　it　until　they　find　th