the dragon and the raven-第36节

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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　themselves　drifting　down　the　river　in
a　mass。　Then　there　will　be　great　jostling　and　carrying　away
of　bowsprits　and　bulwarks；　and　the　confusion　and　shouting
which　will　arise　will　tend　to　confuse　the　Danes　and　to　distract
their　attention　from　us。〃

Egbert　agreed　to　the　proposal；　and　as　soon　as　they
reached　the　first　ships　the　Saxons　began　their　work；　sawing
with　their　knives　and　daggers　through　the　ropes。　The　vessels
lay　four　or　five　deep　and　there　were　many　cables　to　cut；　but
the　keen　knives　of　the　Saxons　made　short　work　of　these。
Before　beginning　their　work　they　had　spread　along　the　bank；
leaving　only　two　men　abreast　of　each　ship；　so　that　in　the
course　of　two　or　three　minutes　the　cables　for　the　length　of
forty　ships　were　severed；　and　these　and　their　consorts　beyond
them　began　to　drift　out　into　the　stream。

The　Saxons　ran　quickly　on　ahead　and　repeated　the　work
until　the　whole　of　the　vessels　below　those　forming　the　platform
for　the　towers　were　adrift　in　the　stream；　but　by　this　time
those　in　the　ships　at　the　lower　end　of　the　tiers　had　taken　the
alarm；　and　shouts　of　wonder　and　anger　rose　on　the　air。　The
nine　Saxons　told　off　for　the　purpose　leaped　into　three　small
boats　and　rowed　out　into　the　stream；　while　the　rest　of　the
band；　divided　into　three　parties；　dashed　across　the　planks　on
to　the　platforms。　The　Danes　here　had　already　been　alarmed
by　the　uproar　from　the　vessels　adrift；　and　although　unable　to
see　what　was　passing　judged　that　something　was　wrong；　and
had　called　to　their　comrades　sleeping　in　the　holds　to　come
up。

Some　of　these　bearing　torches　came　up　on　deck　just　as
the　Saxons；　pouring　across　the　planks　which　connected　the
ships　with　the　shore；　fell　upon　them。　Taken　utterly　by　surprise；
the　Danes　could　offer　no　effective　resistance。　The　Saxons；
charging　with　levelled　spears；　drove　those　above　headlong
into　the　water；　then；　having　made　themselves　masters
of　the　platforms；　they　dashed　below　and　despatched　the　Danes
they　found　there。　The　torches　were　now　applied　to　the　contents
of　the　holds。　These　were　for　the　most　part　crammed
with　the　booty　which　the　Norsemen　had　gained　at　Havre；
Rouen；　and　other　places；　and　the　flames　speedily　shot　up。
By　this　time　the　Danes　in　the　camp；　alarmed　by　the　shouting
from　the　drifting　ships　and　the　sounds　of　conflict　from　the
towers；　came　flocking　down　in　haste。　The　planks　had　already
been　thrown　overboard。　The　Danes　strove　by　pulling
at　the　ropes　to　haul　the　vessels　nearer　to　land。　Some　ran
towards　their　ships；　others　jumped　into　boats；　and　pushing
out　to　the　platforms　strove　to　get　on　board　them；　but　by　this
time　the　flames　were　rising　high　through　the　hatchways。
According　to　previous　agreement　Edmund　and　the　leaders
of　the　other　two　parties；　seeing　that　the　flames　had　now　firm
hold；　cut　the　ropes　which　fastened　them　to　the　bank；　and　as
soon　as　the　stream　began　to　swing　them　out　leaped　into　the
boats　and　rowed　for　the　opposite　shore。

The　uproar　was　now　tremendous；　and　shouts　of　rage
rose　from　the　Northmen；　who　were　amazed　and　puzzled　by
the　appearance　of　the　Saxons；　whose　attire　differed　but
slightly　from　their　own；　and　the　general　belief　among　them
was　that　this　sudden　alarm　was　the　result　of　treachery　among
themselves。　There　was　no　time　to　waste　in　conjecture；　the
three　groups　of　ships　were　now　masses　of　flame；　in　the　midst
of　which　the　lofty　towers　rose　high。　The　shouts　of　the　sailors
in　the　vessels　crowded　together　in　helpless　confusion　in　the
stream　below　rose　higher　and　higher　as　the　blazing　vessels
drifted　down　and　threatened　to　overtake　them。

Some　tried　to　hoist　their　sails；　others　got　out　long　oars
and　strove　to　sweep　their　vessels　towards　the　shore；　but　they
were　huddled　too　closely　in　the　stream；　the　yards　and　rigging
of　many　having　become　interlocked　with　each　other。　The
Northmen　leaped　into　the　rowing　boats　by　the　bank　above
where　the　tower…ships　had　been　moored；　and　rowing　down
endeavoured　to　tow　them　to　the　bank；　but　they　were　now　in　a
blaze　from　end　to　end；　the　heat　was　so　great　that　it　was　difficult
to　approach　them；　and　all　endeavours　to　fasten　ropes　to
them　were　frustrated；　as　these　were　instantly　consumed。　The
Northmen；　finding　their　efforts　unavailing；　then　turned　their
attention　to　trying　to　tow　the　ships　below　to　the　banks。

In　some　cases　they　were　successful。　A　few　of　the　vessels
also　at　the　lower　end　of　the　mass　succeeded　in　getting　up
their　sails　and　drawing　out　from　their　fellows；　for　the　wind
was　blowing　down　stream。　This；　however；　proved　the　destruction
of　the　rest　of　the　ships；　for　the　great　towers　rising
amid　the　lofty　pillars　of　flames　acted　as　sails　and　bore　the
fire…ships　down　upon　the　helpless　crowd　of　vessels。

Soon　they　reached　those　nearest　to　them；　and　the　flames；
borne　forward　by　the　wind；　sprang　from　vessel　to　vessel。
There　was　no　longer　any　hope　of　saving　a　single　ship；　and
the　crews；　climbing　hastily　across　from　one　to　the　other　till
they　reached　those　nearest　to　the　shore；　leaped　overboard。
Although　now　more　than　half　a　mile　below　the　city　the　flames
lit　up　the　walls　with　a　bright　glare；　and　the　shouts　of　the
exulting　Franks　rose　loud　and　continuous。

The　sudden　shouting　which　had　broken　out　among　the
Danes　had　alarmed　the　watchmen；　who；　ignorant　of　the　cause；
called　the　citizens　to　arms；　and　these　on　reaching　the　walls
had　stood　astonished　at　the　spectacle。　The　flames　were　already
rising　from　the　three　groups　of　ships　which　they　had
regarded　with　so　much　anxiety　on　the　previous　evening；　and
by　the　light　they　could　see　the　river　below　covered　with　a
mass　of　drifting　vessels。　Then　they　saw　the　tower…ships　float
away　from　the　bank；　and　the　figures　on　their　decks　leap　into
three　small　boats；　which　at　once　rowed　with　all　speed　across
the　river。

That　they　were　friends　who　had　wrought　this　destruction
was　certain；　and　Count　Eudes　threw　open　the　gate；　and
with　the　Abbe　Ebble　ran　down　to　meet　them。　They　were
astonished　when　Edmund　with　his　Saxons　leaped　to　land。

〃What　miracle　is　this？〃　the　count　exclaimed。

〃A　simple　matter；　Sir　Count；〃　Edmund　answered。　〃My
kinsman　and　I；　seeing　that　the　townspeople　were　troubled　by
yonder　towers；　determined　to　destroy　them。　We　have　succeeded
in　doing　so；　and　with　them　I　trust　fully　half　of　the
Danish　fleet　will　perish。〃

〃You　are　the　saviour　of　our　town；　my　brave　young　Saxon；〃
Count　Eudes　cried；　embracing　him。　〃If　Paris　is　saved　it　will
be　thanks　to　the　valiant　deed　that　you　have　accomplished
this　night。　But　let　us　to　the　walls　again；　where　we　may　the
better　see　whether　the　Danes　can　remove　their　ships　from
those　great　furnaces　which　are　bearing　down　upon　them。〃

The　sight　from　the　walls；　when　the　fire…ships　reached
the　fleet　and　the　flames　spread；　was　grand　in　the　extreme；
for　in　half　an　hour　nigh　three　hundred　vessels　were　in　flames。
For　some　time　the　three　towers　rose　like　pillars　of　fire　above
the　burning　mass；　then　one　by　one　they　fell　with　a　crash；
which　could　be　plainly　heard；　although　they　were　now　near　a
mile　away。

Paris　was　wild　with　joy　at　the　destruction　of　the　towers
which　had　menaced　it；　and　the　conflagration　of　nigh　half
the　Danish　fleet；　laden　with　the　spoil　of　northern　France。
Edmund　and　his　Saxons　were　conducted　in　triumph　by　a
shouting　crowd　to　the　palace　of　the　archbishop；　where　Goslin；
in　the　name　of　the　city；　returned　them　the　heartiest　thanks
for　the　services　which　they　had　rendered。　The　wealthy　citizens
vied　with　each　other　in　bestowing　costly　presents　upon
them；　bonfires　were　lighted　in　the　streets；　and　till　morning
the　town　gave　itself　up　to　revelry　and　rejoicing。

A　month　elapsed　before　the　Danes　recovered　from　the
blow　which　had　been　dealt　them　and　resumed　the　assault。
Part　of　this　time　had　been　spent　in　manufacturing　great
shields　of　bull's　hide。　These　were　strongly　constructed；　and
were　each　capable　of　covering　six　men。　On　the　29th　of　January
their　preparations　were　complete；　and　at　daybreak　the
warders　on　the　wall　saw　them　pouring　down　into　their　ships
and　galleys。　As　the　fleet　crossed　the　river　its　aspect　was
singular。　The　decks　were　covered　by　the　black　shields；　above
which　appeared　a　forest　of　spears；　sparkling　in　the　morning
sunlight。　As　they　reached　the　shore　the　Northmen　sprang　to
land；　while　from　the　decks　of　the　vessels　a　storm　of　missiles
flew　towards　the　walls。　Vast　numbers　of　catapults；　which
they　had　manufactured　since　their　last　attack；　hurled　masses
of　stone；　heavy　javelins；　and　leaden　bullets；　while　thousands
of　arrows　darkened　the　air。

The　bells　of　the　church　sounded　the　alarm；　which　called
every　citizen　capable　of　bearing　arms　to　the　walls。　The
archbishop　took　his　place　at　the　spot　most　threatened　by　the
enemy；　with　his　nephew；　the　valiant　abbe；　by　his　side。　The
Counts　Eudes；　Robert；　Ragenaire；　Utton；　and　Herilang　stood
foremost　among　the　defenders。

The　Saxons；　as　before；　were　held　in　reserve；　but　to
Edmund　and　Egbert　had　been　assigned；　at　their　urgent　request；
the　command　of　the　defence　of　the　tower。　It　was　against
this　point　that　the　Danes　again　made　their　most　d