the dragon and the raven-第42节

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they　were　now　engaged　in　chopping　out　planks　for　their　sides。
Two　huts　were　erected　in　the　middle　of　the　clearing。　One
was　large；　and　Sweyn's　banner　floated　from　a　spear　before　it。
The　other　which　stood　close　by　was　much　smaller；　and
Edmund　doubted　not　that　this　was　appropriated　to　Freda。

Nothing　more　could　be　done　nowtheir　object　was　so
far　attained；　and　retiring　they　joined　the　two　Saxons　and　made
their　way　along　the　river　bank　till　they　reached　the　edge　of
the　forest。　One　of　the　Saxons　was　now　sent　off　to　the　peasant's
hut；　where　he　was　to　remain　until　the　return　of　the　other
party；　and　was　then　to　bring　them　on　to　the　spot　which
Edmund　had　chosen　for　his　encampment。　This　was　in　the
heart　of　a　large　clump　of　underwood　extending　down　to　the
river。

The　brushwood　was　so　thick　that　it　was　entered　with
difficulty；　and　no　passer…by　would　dream　that　a　party　was
hidden　within　it。　Near　the　stream　Edmund　and　his　companions
with　their　swords　soon　cleared　away　a　circle；　and　with
the　boughs　constructed　an　arbour。　A　thin　screen　of　bushes
separated　them　from　the　river；　but　they　could　see　the　water；
and　none　could　pass　up　or　down　unperceived。

The　Saxon　was　charged　to　bring　with　him　on　his　return
a　considerable　supply　of　provisions；　for　it　would　have　been
dangerous　to　wander　in　the　woods　in　pursuit　of　game。　The
Northmen　had；　Edmund　noticed；　some　cattle　with　them；　but
they　would　be　sure　to　be　hunting　in　the　woods；　as　they　would
wish　to　save　the　cattle　for　provision　on　their　voyage。　It　was
nightfall　before　the　hut　was　completed；　and　as　they　had
journeyed　far　for　many　days　Edmund　determined　to　postpone　an
attempt　to　discover　what　was　passing　in　Sweyn's　camp　until
the　following　evening。

The　day　passed　quietly；　and　towards　evening　Edmund
and　the　Dane　started　for　Sweyn's　camp。　When　they　approached
it　they　saw　many　fires　burning；　and　the　shouting
and　singing　of　the　Norsemen　rang　through　the　forest。　They
waited　until　the　fires　burnt　down　somewhat　and　they　could
see　many　of　the　Danes　stretching　themselves　down　by　them。
Then　Edmund's　companion　proceeded　to　the　camp。

Anxious　as　Edmund　was　himself　to　learn　what　was　doing；
he　restrained　his　impatience；　for　it　was　safer　that　the
Northman　should　go　alone。　In　the　dull　light　of　the　dying
fires　his　features　would　be　unnoticed；　and　his　tongue　would
not　betray　him　if　spoken　to。　Siegbert　had　commended　him
as　a　crafty　and　ready　fellow；　and　Edmund　felt　that　he　would
be　able　to　gather　more　information　than　he　could　do　himself。
》From　his　place　of　concealment　he　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on
the　Northman's　figure。　Presently　he　saw　him　enter　the　clearing；
and　sauntering　slowly　across　it　throw　himself　down　near
a　fire　by　which　a　party　of　Danes　were　still　sitting　talking。

One　by　one　these　lay　down；　and　when　the　last　had　done
so　the　Northman　rose　quietly　and　stole　out　again　into　the
forest。　When　he　rejoined　Edmund　the　latter　set　forward　with
him；　and　not　a　word　was　spoken　until　they　were　some　distance
from　the　camp；　then　Edmund　stopped。

〃What　have　you　learned？〃　he　asked。

〃All　that　there　is　to　learn；　I　think；〃　the　Northman　replied。
〃The　lady　Freda　is；　as　you　supposed；　a　captive　in　the
little　hut。　Two　men　only　keep　watch　over　it　by　day；　but　at
night　six　lie　around　it；　two　being　always　on　foot。　They　speak
in　admiration　of　her　courage　and　spirit。　She　has　sworn　to
Sweyn　that　she　will　slay　herself　if　he　attempts　to　use　violence
to　force　her　to　marriage　with　him；　and　they　doubt　not　that
she　will　keep　her　word。　However；　they　believe　that　she　will
grow　tired　out　at　last　when　she　finds　that　there　is　no　hope
whatever　of　a　rescue。　The　ships　are　being　built　for　a　long　sea
voyage；　for　Sweyn　is　going　to　lead　them　to　join　the　Viking
Hasting　in　the　Mediterranean；　and　has　promised　his　men
the　plunder　of　countries　ten　times　richer　than　France　or
England。　With　so　long　an　expedition　in　view；　they　may　well
think　that　the　Lady　Freda's　resolution　will　soon　give　way；　and
that　she　may　come　to　see　that　the　position　of　the　wife　of　a
bold　viking　is　a　thousand　times　preferable　to　that　of　a　captive。
Many　of　the　men　loudly　express　their　wonder　why　she
would　refuse　the　love　of　so　valiant　a　warrior　as　Sweyn。〃

The　news　was　at　once　good　and　bad。　Edmund　did　not
fear　Freda's　resolution　giving　way　for　a　long　time；　but　the
news　that　Sweyn　intended　to　carry　her　upon　so　distant　an
expedition　troubled　him。　It　was　of　course　possible　that　he
might　intercept　them　with　the　Dragon　at　the　mouth　of　the
Maas；　but　it　was　uncertain　whether　the　ship　would　arrive　at
the　mouth　of　the　Rhine　in　time　to　be　brought　round　before
the　Northmen　descended。　The　length　of　her　voyage　would
depend　entirely　on　the　wind。　Were　this　favourable　when　she
reached　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　a　week　would　carry　her　to
her　destination。　Should　it　be　unfavourable　there　was　no　saying
how　long　the　voyage　would　last。

The　risk　was　so　great　that　Edmund　determined　to　make
an　effort　to　rouse　the　country　against　the　Danes；　and　to　fall
upon　them　in　their　encampment；　but　the　task　would　he　knew
be　a　hard　one；　for　the　dread　of　the　Danes　was　so　great　that
only　in　large　towns　was　any　resistance　to　them　ever　offered。
However　he　determined　to　try；　for　if　the　Northmen　succeeded
in　getting　to　the　sea　the　pursuit　would　indeed　be　a　long　one；
and　many　weeks　and　even　months　might　elapse　before　he
could　again　come　up　to　them。

On　the　following　day　the　rest　of　the　party　arrived；　and
leaving　the　forest　Edmund　proceeded　with　them　through　the
country；　visiting　every　village；　and　endeavouring　to　rouse　the
people　to　attack　the　Danes；　but　the　news　that　the　dreaded
marauders　were　so　near　excited　terror　only。　The　assurances
of　Edmund　that　there　was　much　rich　plunder　in　their　camp
which　would　become　the　property　of　those　who　destroyed
them；　excited　but　a　feeble　interest。　The　only　point　in　the
narrative　which　excited　their　contentment　was　the　news　that
the　Danes　were　building　ships　and　were　going　to　make　their
way　down　to　the　sea。

〃In　Heaven's　name　let　them　go！〃　was　the　cry；　〃who　would
interfere　with　the　flight　of　a　savage　beast？　If　they　are　going
down　the　river　they　will　scarcely　land　to　scatter　and　plunder
the　country；　and　he　would　be　mad　indeed　who　would　seek
them　when　they　are　disposed　to　let　us　alone。〃

Finding　his　efforts　vain　in　the　country　near　the　forest
Edmund　went　down　the　river　to　the　town　of　Liege；　which
stood　on　its　banks。　When　it　became　known　that　a　band　of
Northmen　was　on　the　upper　river；　and　was　likely　to　pass　down；
the　alarm　spread　quickly　through　the　town；　and　a　council　of
the　principal　inhabitants　was　summoned。　Before　these
Edmund　told　his　story；　and　suggested　that　the　fighting　men
of　the　town　should　march　up　the　river　and　fall　upon　the
Danes　in　their　camp。

〃It　is　but　two　days'　marchthe　Northmen　will　be　unsuspicious
of　danger；　and　taken　by　surprise　may　be　easily　defeated。〃
The　proposition；　however；　was　received　with　absolute　derision。

〃You　must　be　mad　to　propose　such　a　thing；　young　Saxon；
if　Saxon　indeed　you　are；　but　for　aught　we　know　you　may　be　a
Northman　sent　by　them　to　draw　us　into　an　ambush。　No；　we
will　prepare　for　their　coming。　We　will　man　our　walls　and
stand　on　the　defensive；　and　if　there　be；　as　you　say；　but　three
hundred　of　them；　we　can　defend　ourselves　successfully；　and
we　may　hope　that；　seeing　our　strength；　and　that　we　are　prepared
for　their　coming；　the　Northmen　will　pass　by　without
molesting　us；　but　as　for　moving　outside　our　walls；　it　would　be
worse　than　folly　even　to　think　of　such　a　thing。〃

After　this　rebuff　Edmund　concluded　that　he　could　hope
for　no　assistance　from　the　inhabitants　of　the　country；　but
must　depend　upon　himself　and　the　Dragon　alone。　He　at　once
despatched　two　of　his　men；　a　Dane　and　a　Saxon；　with　orders
to　journey　as　rapidly　as　possible　to　the　rendezvous；　where
the　Dragon　was　to　be　found　at　the　mouth　of　the　Rhine；　and　to
beg　Egbert　to　move　round　with　all　speed　to　the　Maas。

Having　done　this；　he　purchased　a　small　and　very　fast
rowing…skiff　at　Liege；　and　taking　his　place　in　this　with　his
four　remaining　followers；　he　rowed　up　the　river。　It　took　them
three　days　before　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　forest。　On
reaching　their　former　hiding…place；　they　landed。　The　bushes
were　carefully　drawn　aside；　and　the　boat　hauled　up　until
completely　screened　from　sight　of　the　river；　and　Edmund　and
the　Dane　at　once　started　for　the　encampment　of　the
Northmen。

They　had　been　ten　days　absent；　and　in　that　time　great
progress　had　been　made　with　the　galleys。　They　looked　indeed
completely　finished　as　they　stood　high　and　lofty　on　the
river　bank。　The　planks　were　all　in　their　places；　the　long　rows
of　benches　for　the　rowers　were　fastened　in；　the　poop　and
forecastle　were　finished　and　decked。　A　number　of　long
straight　poles　lay　alongside　ready　to　be　fashioned　into　oars；
and　Edmund　thought　that　in　another　two　or　three　days　the
galleys　would　be　ready　for　launching。　They　were　long　and
low　in　the　waist；　and　were　evidently　built　for　great　speed。
Edmund　did　not　think　that　they　were　intended　to　sail；　except
perhaps　occasionally　when　the　wind　was　favourable；　as　an
aid　to　the　rowers。　Each　would　carry　a　hundred　and　fifty
men；　and　there　were　thirty　seats；　so　that　six