the dragon and the raven-第4节

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attired　himself　in　a　white　tunic　with　a　broad　purple
band　round　the　lower　edge；　with　a　short　cloak　of　green　cloth。
This　was　fastened　with　a　gold　brooch　at　the　neck；　a　necklet
of　the　same　metal　and　several　gold　bracelets　completed　his
costume；　except　that　he　wore　a　flat　cap　and　sandals。　Edmund
had　a　green　tunic　and　cloak　of　deep　red　colour；　while　Egbert
was　dressed　in　yellow　with　a　green　cloakthe　Saxons　being
extremely　fond　of　bright　colours。

All　wore　daggers；　whose　sheaths　were　incrusted　in　silver；
in　their　belts；　and　the　ealdorman　and　his　kinsman　carried
short　broad…bladed　swords；　while　Edmund　had　his　boar…spear。
Eldred　placed　in　the　pouch　which　hung　at　his　side　a
bag　containing　a　number　of　silver　cubes　cut　from　a　long　bar
and　roughly　stamped。　The　chest　was　then　buried　again　in　its
place　of　concealment　among　the　bushes　near　the　hut；
Edmund　placed　his　bows　and　arrows　in　the　boatnot　that　in
which　Edmund　had　fished；　but　the　much　larger　and　heavier
craft　which　Eldred　and　Egbert　had　usedand　then　the　party；
with　the　hound；　took　their　places　in　it。　The　ealdorman　and
Egbert　were　provided　with　long　poles；　and　with　these　they
sent　the　little　boat　rapidly　through　the　water。

After　poling　their　way　for　some　eight　hours　they　reached
the　town　of　Norwich；　to　which　the　Danes　had　not　yet　penetrated；
here；　procuring　what　articles　they　needed；　they　proceeded　on
their　journey　to　Croyland；　making　a　great　circuit
to　avoid　the　Danes　at　Thetford。　The　country　was　for　the
most　part　covered　with　thick　forests；　where　the　wild　boar
and　deer　roamed　undisturbed　by　man；　and　where　many　wolves
still　lurked；　although　the　number　in　the　country　had　been
greatly　diminished　by　the　energetic　measures　which　King
Egbert　had　taken　for　the　destruction　of　these　beasts。　Their
halting…places　were　for　the　most　part　at　religious　houses；　which
then　served　the　purpose　of　inns　for　travellers；　being　freely
opened　to　those　whom　necessity　or　pleasure　might　cause　to
journey。　Everywhere　they　found　the　monks　in　a　state　of　alarm
at　the　progress　of　the　Danes；　who；　wherever　they　went；
destroyed　the　churches　and　religious　houses；　and　slew
the　monks。

Eldred　was　everywhere　received　with　marked　honour；
being　known　as　a　wise　and　valiant　noble；　his　opinions　on　the
chances　of　the　situation　were　eagerly　listened　to；　and　he　found
the　monks　at　all　their　halting…places　prepared；　if　need　be；　to
take　up　arms　and　fight　the　pagan　invaders；　as　those　of　Mercia
and　Wessex　had　done　in　the　preceding　autumn。　The　travellers；
on　arriving　at　Croyland；　were　warmly　welcomed。

〃I　heard；　brother；〃　the　abbot　said；　〃that　you　had　bravely
fought　against　the　Danes　near　Thetford；　and　have　been　sorely
anxious　since　the　news　came　of　the　dispersal　of　your　force。〃

〃I　have　been　in　hiding；〃　Eldred　said；　〃hoping　that　a　general
effort　would　be　made　against　the　invaders。　My　own　power
was　broken；　since　all　my　lands　are　in　their　hands。　The　people
of　East　Anglia　foolishly　seem　to　suppose　that；　so　long　as　the
Danes　remain　quiet；　the　time　has　not　come　for　action。　They
will　repent　their　lethargy　some　day；　for；　as　the　Danes　gather
in　strength；　they　will　burst　out　over　the　surrounding　country
as　a　dammed…up　river　breaks　its　banks。　No；　brother；　I　regard
East　Anglia　as　lost　so　far　as　depends　upon　itself；　its　only　hope
is　in　the　men　of　Kent　and　Wessex；　whom　we　must　now　look
upon　as　our　champions；　and　who　may　yet　stem　the　tide　of
invasion　and　drive　back　the　Danes。　This　abbey　of　yours　stands
in　a　perilous　position；　being　not　far　removed　from　the
Humber；　where　so　many　of　the　Danes　find　entrance　to
England。〃

〃It　is　not　without　danger；　Eldred；　but　the　men　of　the
fens　are　numerous；　hardy　and　brave；　and　will　offer　a　tough
resistance　to　any　who　may　venture　to　march　hitherward；　and
if；　as　I　hope；　you　will　stay　with　us；　and　will　undertake　their
command；　we　may　yet　for　a　long　time　keep　the　Danes　from
our　doors。〃

For　some　weeks　the　time　passed　quietly。　Edmund　spent
most　of　his　time　in　hunting；　being　generally　accompanied　by
Egbert。　The　Saxon　was　an　exceedingly　tall　and　powerful
man；　slow　and　scanty　of　speech；　who　had　earned　for　himself
the　title　of　Egbert　the　Silent。　He　was　devoted　to　his　kinsmen
and　regarded　himself　as　special　guardian　of　Edmund。　He
had　instructed　him　in　the　use　of　arms；　and　always　accompanied
him　when　he　went　out　to　hunt　the　boar；　standing　ever
by　his　side　to　aid　him　to　receive　the　rush　of　the　wounded　and
furious　beasts；　and　more　than　once；　when　Edmund　had　been
borne　down　by　their　onslaughts；　and　would　have　been　severely
wounded；　if　not　killed；　a　sweeping　blow　of　Egbert's
sword　had　rid　him　of　his　assailant。

Sometimes　Edmund　made　excursions　in　the　fens；　where
with　nets　and　snares　he　caught　the　fish　which　swarmed　in
the　sluggish　waters；　or；　having　covered　his　boat　with　a　leafy
bower　until　it　resembled　a　floating　bush；　drifted　close　to　the
flocks　of　wild…fowl；　and　with　his　bow　and　arrows　obtained
many　a　plump　wild　duck。　Smaller　birds　were　caught　in　snares
or　traps；　or　with　bird…lime　smeared　on　twigs。　Eldred　seldom
joined　his　son　in　his　hunting　excursions；　as　he　was　busied
with　his　brother　the　abbot　in　concerting　the　measures　of
defence　and　in　organizing　a　band　of　messengers；　who；　on
the　first　warning　of　danger；　could　be　despatched　throughout
the　fens　to　call　in　the　fisher　population　to　the　defence　of　the
abbey。

It　was　on　the　18th　of　September；　870；　that　a　messenger
arrived　at　the　abbey　and　craved　instant　speech　with　the　prior。
The　latter；　who　was　closeted　with　his　brother；　ordered　the
man　to　be　admitted。

〃I　come；〃　he　said；　〃from　Algar　the　ealdorman。　He　bids
me　tell　you　that　a　great　Danish　host　has　landed　from　the
Humber　at　Lindsay。　The　rich　monastery　of　Bardenay　has
been　pillaged　and　burned。　Algar　is　assembling　all　the
inhabitants　of　the　marsh　lands　to　give　them　battle；　and　he　prays
you　to　send　what　help　you　can　spare；　for　assuredly　they　will
march　hither　should　he　be　defeated。〃

〃Return　to　the　ealdorman；〃　the　abbot　said；　〃tell　him　that
every　lay　brother　and　monk　who　can　bear　arms　shall　march
hence　to　join　him　under　the　command　of　lay　brother　Toley；
whose　deeds　of　arms　against　the　Danes　in　Mercia　are　well
known　to　him。　My　brother　here；　Eldred；　will　head　all　the
inhabitants　of　the　marshes　of　this　neighbourhood。　With　these
and　the　brothers　of　the　abbey；　in　all；　as　I　reckon；　nigh　four
hundred　men；　he　will　to…morrow　march　to　join　Algar。〃

Messengers　were　at　once　sent　off　through　the　surrounding
country　bidding　every　man　assemble　on　the　morrow
morning　at　Croyland；　and　soon　after　daybreak　they　began　to
arrive。　Some　were　armed　with　swords；　some　with　long　sickles；
used　in　cutting　rushes；　tied　to　poles；　some　had　fastened
long　pieces　of　iron　to　oars　to　serve　as　pikes。　They　were　a
rough　and　somewhat　ragged　throng；　but　Eldred　saw　with
satisfaction　that　they　were　a　hard　and　sturdy　set　of　men；
accustomed　to　fatigue　and　likely　to　stand　firm　in　the　hour
of　battle。

Most　of　them　carried　shields　made　of　platted　osiers　covered
with　skin。　The　armoury　of　the　abbey　was　well　supplied；
and　swords　and　axes　were　distributed　among　the　worst　armed
of　the　fenmen。　Then；　with　but　little　order　or　regularity；　but
with　firm　and　cheerful　countenances；　as　men　determined　to
win　or　die；　the　band　moved　off　under　Eldred's　command；
followed　by　the　contingent　of　the　abbey；　eighty　strong；　under
lay　brother　Toley。

A　sturdy　band　were　these　monks；　well　fed　and　vigorous。
They　knew　that　they　had　no　mercy　to　expect　from　the　Danes；
and；　regarding　them　as　pagans　and　enemies　of　their　religion
as　well　as　of　their　country；　could　be　trusted　to　do　their
utmost。　Late　that　evening　they　joined　Algar　at　the　place　they
had　appointed；　and　found　that　a　large　number　of　the　people
of　the　marshes　had　gathered　round　his　banner。

The　Danes　had　not　moved　as　yet　from　Bardenay；　and
Algar　determined　to　wait　for　another　day　or　two　before
advancing；　in　order　to　give　time　to　others　farther　from
the　scene　of　action　to　arrive。

The　next　day　came　the　contingents　from　several　other
priories　and　abbeys；　and　the　sight　of　the　considerable　force
gathered　together　gave　heart　and　confidence　to　all。　Algar；
Eldred；　and　the　other　leaders；　Morcar；　Osgot；　and　Harding；
moved　about　among　the　host；　encouraging　them　with　cheering
words；　warning　them　to　be　in　no　way　intimidated　by　the
fierce　appearance　of　the　Danes；　but　to　hold　steadfast　and
firm　in　the　ranks；　and　to　yield　no　foot　of　ground　to　the
onslaught　of　the　enemy。　Many　priests　had　accompanied　the
contingents　from　the　religious　houses；　and　these　added　their
exhortations　to　those　of　the　leaders；　telling　the　men　that　God
would　assuredly　fight　on　their　side　against　the　heathen；　and
bidding　each　man　remember　that　defeat　meant　the　destruction
of　their　churches　and　altars；　the　overthrow　of　their　whole
religion；　and　the　restored　worship　of　the　pagan　gods。

Edmund　went　about　among　the　gathering　taking　great
interest　in　the　wild　scene；　for　these　marsh　men　differed　much
in　their　appearance　from　the　settled　inhabitants　of　his　father's
lands。　The　scenes　in　the　camp　were　indeed　varied　in　their
character。　Here　and　there　were　harpers　with　groups　of
listeners　gathered　round；　as　they　sung　the　exploits　of　their
fat