the dragon and the raven-第46节

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Sweyn's　ears　that　a　Saxon　galley　was　in　the　Mediterranean　it
might　put　him　on　his　guard；　as　he　would　believe　that　she　was
specially　in　pursuit　of　his　own　vessel。

On　arriving　at　the　mouth　of　the　Tiber　the　Dragon　ascended
the　river　and　anchored　under　the　walls　of　the　imperial　city。
The　Genoese　nobles　had　many　friends　and　relations　there；
and　Edmund；　Egbert；　and　Siegbert　were　at　once　installed　as
guests　in　a　stately　palace。

The　pope；　upon　hearing　that　the　strange　galley　which
had　anchored　in　the　river　was　a　Saxon；　sent　an　invitation　to
its　commander　to　visit　him；　and　Edmund　and　his　kinsman
were　taken　by　their　Italian　friends　to　his　presence。　The　pope
received　them　most　graciously；　and　after　inquiring　after　King
Alfred　and　the　state　of　things　in　England；　asked　how　it　was
that　a　Saxon　ship　had　made　so　long　a　voyage。

Edmund　explained　that　he　was　in　search　of　a　Danish
damsel　who　had　once　shown　him　great　kindness；　and　who
had　been　carried　off　from　her　father　by　one　of　the　vikings　of
Hasting's　fleet。　When　he　said　that　they　had　taken　part　in　the
defence　of　Paris　the　holy　father　told　him　that　he　now　recognized
his　name；　for　that　a　full　account　of　the　siege　had　been
sent　to　him　by　one　of　the　monks　there；　and　that　he　had　spoken
much　of　the　valour　of　a　Saxon　captain　and　the　crew　of
his　galley；　to　whom　indeed　their　successful　resistance　to　the
Northmen　was　in　no　slight　degree　due。

〃Would　I　could　aid　you；　my　son；　in　your　enterprise　against
these　northern　pirates。　The　depredations　which　they　are
committing　on　the　shores　of　Italy　are　terrible　indeed；　and　we
are　powerless　to　resist　them；　they　have　even　threatened　to
ascend　the　Tiber　and　attack　Rome；　and　though　I　trust　that
we　might　resist　their　attacks；　yet　rather　than　such　misfortune
as　a　siege　should　fall　upon　my　people　I　have　paid　a　large　sum
of　money　to　the　leader　of　the　Northmen　to　abstain　from　coming
hither；　but　I　know　that　the　greed　of　these　pirates　does
but　increase　with　their　gains；　and　that　ere　long　we　may　see
their　pagan　banner　floated　before　our　walls。　A　few　galleys　I
could　man　and　place　under　your　orders；　but　in　truth　the
people　of　this　town　are　not　skilled　in　naval　fighting。　I　have
already　endeavoured　to　unite　the　states　of　Genoa；　Pisa；　and
Venice　against　them；　for　it　is　only　by　common　effort　that　we
can　hope　to　overwhelm　these　wolves　of　the　sea。〃

Edmund　expressed　his　thanks　to　the　pope　for　his　offer；
but　said　that　he　would　rather　proceed　with　the　Dragon　alone。

〃She　is　to　the　full　as　swift　as　the　Northmen's　vessels；〃　he
said；　〃and　although　I　would　right　gladly　join　any　great　fleet
which　might　be　assembled　for　an　attack　upon　them；　I　would
rather　proceed　alone　than　with　a　few　other　ships。　Not　being
strong　enough　to　attack　their　whole　armament　I　must　depend
upon　stratagem　to　capture　the　galley　of　which　I　am
specially　in　pursuit；　and　will　with　your　permission　set　out　as
soon　as　I　have　transformed　my　ship　so　that　she　will　pass　muster
as　a　galley　of　Genoa　or　Venice。〃

The　holy　father　gave　orders　that　every　assistance　should
be　afforded　to　Edmund　to　carry　out　his　designs；　and　the　next
morning　a　large　number　of　artisans　and　workmen　took　possession
of　the　Dragon。　She　was　painted　from　stem　to　stern
with　bright　colours。　Carved　wood…work　was　added　to　her
forecastle　and　poop；　and　a　great　deal　of　gilding　overlaid　upon
her。　The　shape　of　her　bow　was　altered；　and　so　transformed
was　she　that　none　would　have　known　her　for　the　vessel　which
had　entered　the　Tiber；　and　she　would　have　passed　without
observation　as　a　galley　of　Genoa。

A　number　of　prisoners　accustomed　to　row　in　the　state
galleys　were　placed　on　board　to　work　the　oars；　thus　leaving
the　whole　of　the　crew　available　for　fighting　purposes；　and　a
state　officer　was　put　in　command　of　these　galley…slaves。　The
ship　was　well　stored　with　provisions；　and　after　a　farewell
interview　with　the　pope；　Edmund　and　his　companions　returned
on　board　ship；　and　the　Dragon　took　her　way　down　the　river。

The　fleet　of　the　Northmen　was　at　Palermo；　and　keeping
under　the　land；　the　Saxon　ship　sailed　down　the　coast　of
Calabria；　and　at　night　crossed　near　the　mouth　of　the　straits
to　the　shore　of　Sicily。　They　entered　a　quiet　bay；　and　Edmund
dressed　as　a　Dane；　with　the　two　Northmen　who　had　accompanied
him　from　Paris；　landed　and　journeyed　on　foot　to　Palermo。

Everywhere　they　came　upon　scenes　similar　to　those　with
which　they　were　familiar　in　France。　Villages　burned　and
destroyed；　houses　deserted；　orchards　and　crops　wasted；　and
a　country　destitute　of　inhabitants；　all　having　fled　to　the
mountains　to　escape　the　invader。　They　did　not　meet　with　a　single
person　upon　their　journey。　When　they　approached　Palermo
they　waited　until　nightfall；　and　then　boldly　entered　the　town。
Here　the　most　intense　state　of　misery　prevailed。　Many　of　the
inhabitants　had　fled　before　the　arrival　of　the　Danes；　but　those
who　remained　were　kept　in　a　state　of　cruel　subjection　by　their
conquerors；　who　brutally　oppressed　and　ill…used　them；　making
free　with　all　their　possessions　and　treating　them　as　slaves。

The　Danes　entered　into　conversation　with　some　of　their
countrymen；　and　professing　to　have　that　evening　but　newly
arrived　from　home；　learned　much　of　the　disposition　of　the
fleet　of　the　Northmen。　They　pretended　that　they　were　desirous
of　joining　the　galleys　under　the　command　of　Sweyn；　and
were　told　that　these　had　arrived　three　weeks　before；　and　were
now　absent　with　some　others　on　the　southern　side　of　the
island。

Having　obtained　this　information；　Edmund　and　his　companions
started　without　delay　to　rejoin　the　Dragon。　Upon
reaching　her　she　at　once　put　to　sea。　Palermo　was　passed　in
the　night；　and　the　vessel　held　her　way　down　the　western　coast
of　Sicily。　She　was　now　under　sail　alone；　and　each　night　lay
up　at　anchor　in　order　that　she　might　not　pass　the　Danish
galleys　unobserved。　On　the　third　day　after　passing　Palermo；
several　galleys　were　seen　riding　off　a　small　port。　The　wind
was　very　light；　and　after　a　consultation　with　his　friends
Edmund　determined　to　simulate　flight　so　as　to　tempt　the
Danes　to　pursue；　for　with　so　light　a　breeze　their　smaller
galleys　would　row　faster　than　the　Dragon；　besides；　it　was
possible　that　Sweyn　might　be　on　shore。

It　was　early　morning　when　the　Danish　galleys　were　seen；
and　apparently　the　crews　were　still　asleep；　for　no　movement
on　board　was　visible；　and　the　Dragon　sailed　back　round　a
projecting　point　of　land　and　then　cast　anchor。　It　was　so
important　to　learn　whether　Sweyn　was　with　Freda　on　board　his
ship；　or　whether；　as　was　likely；　he　had　established　himself　on
shore；　that　it　was　decided　it　would　be　better　to　send　the　two
Danes　to　reconnoitre　before　determining　what　plan　should
be　adopted。





CHAPTER　XVIII：　FREDA　DISCOVERED



The　spies　upon　their　return　reported　that　Sweyn　had
taken　up　his　abode　in　the　mansion　of　the　Count　of　Ugoli；
who　was　the　lord　of　that　part　of　the　country。
Most　of　the　Danes　lived　on　shore　in　the　houses　of　the
townspeople。　Many　of　these　had　been　slain；　and　the　rest　were
treated　as　slaves。　The　lady　Freda　was　also　on　shore；　and　it
was　thought　that　she　would　ere　long　become　the　bride　of　the
Viking。

〃Think　you　that　there　will　be　any　possibility　of　surprising
the　house　and　carrying　her　off？〃

〃I　think　not；〃　the　Dane　said；　〃for　Sweyn's　men　are　on
the　alert；　and　keep　good　guard；　for　the　people　of　this　part　of
the　island；　being　maddened　by　their　exactions　and　cruelty；
have　banded　themselves　together；　and　although　they　cannot
withstand　the　strong　parties　which　go　out　in　search　of　plunder
they　cut　off　stragglers；　and　have　made　several　attacks　on
small　parties。　It　is　thought　that　they　may　even　venture　an
attack　upon　the　place　at　night；　therefore　sentries　are　set；　and
a　portion　of　the　force　remains　always　under　arms　in　readiness
to　sally　out　in　case　of　alarm。〃

〃I　would　fain　go　myself；〃　Edmund　said；　〃and　see　how
matters　stand；　and　try　to　communicate　with　Freda。　It　may　be
that　her　long　resistance　has　tired　her　out；　and　that　she　is　at
the　point　of　consenting　to　become　Sweyn's　bride。〃

〃I　think　not　that；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃When　Freda　has
once　made　up　her　mind　she　is　not　given　to　change。〃

〃I　doubt　not　her　resolution；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but　none
can　blame　her　if；　after　all　these　months；　she　has　begun　to
despair　of　rescue；　nay；　it　is　even　probable　that；　having　Sweyn；
who　is　assuredly　a　brave　and　enterprising　Viking；　always　near
her；　she　may　have　come　to　love　him。〃

〃No；　Edmund；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃I　am　sure　you　need
have　no　fear　that　she　has　softened　towards　Sweyn。　But　how
do　you　think　of　proceeding　if　you　land？〃

〃I　will　take　with　me　this　Dane；　and　if　one　of　the　Genoese
nobles　will　go　with　me　I　will　take　him；　and　also　the　man　we
brought　from　Marseilles；　who　acts　as　an　interpreter　between
us　and　the　Italians。〃

〃But　why　hamper　yourself　with　two　men；　who　would　be
even　more　likely　to　be　detected　by　the　Danes　than　would　you
yourself？〃

〃I　shall　leave　them　in　the　outskirts　of　the　place；〃　Edmund
replied。　〃I　would　fain　see　if　I　can　enter　into　any　negotiations
with　the　natives。　Perhaps　we　may　arrange　that　they　shall
attack　the　place　on　the　land　side；　while　the　Dragon　falls　upon
the　galleys；　and　in　any　case　we　may　n