the dragon and the raven-第48节

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little　pain；　thanks　to　the　care　of　the　peasants；　and　in　the
afternoon；　being　furnished　by　the　count　with　a　guide；　he　started
for　the　town。

When　he　arrived　within　a　short　distance　he　dismissed
his　guide　and　lay　down　in　some　bushes　till　nightfall；　then　he
rose　and　made　his　way　into　the　town；　passing　unobserved
between　the　watch…fires　made　by　the　parties　of　Danes　encamped
in　its　outskirts　to　protect　it　against　surprise。　Once
in　the　town；　he　walked　boldly　on；　having　no　fear　of
recognition　or　question。

Sounds　of　carousing　came　through　the　open　casements；
but　few　people　were　in　its　streets。　He　made　his　way　down　to
the　sea…shore；　which　he　followed　until　he　came　to　a　large　and
stately　mansion　standing　in　beautifully　laid　out　gardens　at
the　end　of　the　town。　Several　tents　were　erected　in　the　garden；
and　although　the　night　was　not　cold　great　fires　had　been
lighted；　around　which　the　Danes　were　carousing。

Avoiding　these　Edmund　walked　up　to　the　open　windows。
The　first　room　he　looked　into　was　deserted；　but　in　the　next；
which　was　a　large　apartment；　a　number　of　Danes　were　seated
at　table。　At　its　head　sat　Sweyn　with　Freda　on　his　right　hand。
Around　were　a　number　of　his　leading　men；　the　captains　of
the　galleys　and　their　wives。　The　meal　was　over；　and　the　winecup
was　passing　round。　A　number　of　attendants　moved　about
the　room；　and　many　of　the　warriors　who　had　supped　elsewhere
stood　around　the　table；　joining　in　the　conversation
and　taking　their　share　of　the　wine。

Edmund　saw　at　once　that　he　could　not　hope　for　a　more
favourable　opportunity；　and　he　accordingly　entered　the　mansion；
and；　passing　through　the　open　door；　joined　the　party
within；　keeping　himself　in　rear　of　those　standing　round　the
table；　so　that　the　light　from　the　lamps　placed　there　should
not　fall　upon　his　face。

Just　as　he　had　taken　his　place；　Sweyn　called　out：
〃Let　us　have　a　song。　Odoacre　the　minstrel；　do　you　sing
to　us　the　song　of　the　Raven。〃

A　minstrel　bearing　a　small　harp　advanced　into　the　centre
of　the　horse…shoe　table；　and　after　striking　a　chord；　began
to　sing；　or　rather　to　chant　one　of　the　favourite　songs　of　the
sea…rovers。

A　shout　of　applause　rose　from　the　Danes　as　the　minstrel
ceased；　and　holding　their　goblets　high　above　their　heads；　they
drank　to　the　Raven。

While　the　singing　was　going　on　Edmund　quietly　made
his　way　round　to　one　of　the　open　windows。　It　was　the　hour　at
which　the　count　had　promised　to　make　his　attack；　and　he
listened　eagerly　for　any　sound　which　might　tell　that　the
peasants　had　begun　their　work。　Other　songs　followed　the　first；
and　Edmund　began　to　be　afraid　that　the　courage　of　the　peasants
had　failed　at　the　last　moment。

Suddenly　he　saw　lights　appear　at　five　or　six　points　in　the
distance；　and；　putting　his　head　out；　he　thought　he　could　hear
distant　cries　and　shouts。　The　lights　grew　brighter；　and　soon
broad　tongues　of　flame　shot　up。　Shouts　at　once　arose　from
the　guards　without。　Some　of　the　revellers　hearing　these　went
to　the　windows　to　see　what　was　happening；　and　gave　a　cry　of
alarm。　〃Sweyn；　we　must　be　attacked；　fires　are　rising　in　the
outskirts　of　the　town。〃

〃These　cowards　would　never　venture　to　disturb　us；〃
Sweyn　said　scornfully；　〃of　all　the　foes　we　have　ever　met　none
were　so　feeble　and　timid　as　these　Italians。〃

〃But　see；　Sweyn；　the　flames　are　rising　from　eight　points；
this　cannot　be　accident。〃

Sweyn　rose　from　his　seat　and　went　to　the　window。

〃No；　by　Wodin；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　mischief　here；
let　us　arm　ourselves；　and　do　you；〃　he　said；　turning　to　a　young
man；　〃run　swiftly　to　the　outposts；　and　learn　what　is　the
meaning　of　this。〃

Scarcely；　however；　had　he　spoken　when　a　man　ran　breathlessly
into　the　hall。

〃Haste　to　the　front；　jarl；〃　he　said　to　Sweyn；　〃we　are　attacked。
Some　of　the　enemy　creeping　in　between　our　fires　set
fire　to　the　houses　in　the　outskirts；　and　as　we　leapt　to　our　feet
in　astonishment　at　the　sudden　outbreak；　they　fell　upon　us。
Many　of　my　comrades　were　killed　with　the　first　discharge　of
arrows；　then　they　rushed　on　in　such　numbers　that　many　more
were　slain；　and　the　rest　driven　in。　How　it　fares　with　the　other
posts　I　know　not；　but　methinks　they　were　all　attacked　at　the
same　moment。　I　waited　not　to　see；　for　my　captain　bade　me
speed　here　with　the　news。〃

〃Sound　the　horn　of　assembly；〃　Sweyn　said。　〃Do　you；
Oderic；　take　twenty　of　the　guard　without；　and　at　once　conduct
the　ladies　here　to　the　boats　and　get　them　on　board　the
galleys。　Let　all　others　hasten　to　the　scene　of　attack。　But　I
can　hardly　even　now　believe　that　this　coward　herd　intend　to
attack　us　in　earnest。〃

In　the　confusion　which　reigned　as　the　warriors　were
seizing　their　shields　and　arms；　Edmund　approached　Freda；
who　had　with　the　rest　risen　from　her　seat。

〃The　Dragon　is　at　hand；〃　he　whispered；　〃in　a　few　hours
we　will　attack　Sweyn's　galley；　barricade　yourself　in　your　cabin
until　the　fight　is　over。〃

Freda　gave　a　little　start　as　Edmund's　first　words　reached
her　ear。　Then　she　stood　still　and　silent。　She　felt　her　hand
taken　and　pressed；　and　glancing　round；　met　Edmund's　eye
for　a　moment　just　as　he　turned　and　joined　the　Danes　who
were　leaving　the　hall。　A　minute　later　Oderic　entered　with
the　guard；　and　at　once　escorted　the　women　down　to　the　boats；
and　rowed　them　off　to　the　galleys。

Sweyn　and　the　main　body　of　the　Danes　rushed　impetuously
to　the　outskirts　of　the　town。　The　fighting　was　already
at　an　end；　the　peasants　having　withdrawn　after　their　first
success。　Two　or　three　of　the　parties　round　the　watch…fires
had　been　annihilated　before　they　could　offer　any　effectual
resistance；　others　had　beaten　off　the　attack；　and　had　fallen
back　in　good　order　to　the　houses；　losing；　however；　many　men
on　the　way　from　the　arrows　which　their　assailants　shot　among
them。

Sweyn　and　the　Norsemen　were　furious　at　the　loss　they
had　suffered；　but　as　pursuit　would　have　been　useless；　there
was　nothing　to　be　done　for　the　present；　and　after　posting
strong　guards　in　case　the　attack　should　be　renewed；　the　Danish
leaders　returned　to　the　banqueting　hall；　where；　over　renewed
draughts　of　wine；　a　council　was　held。

Most　of　those　present　were　in　favour　of　sending　out　a
strong　expedition　on　the　following　day　to　avenge　the　attack；
but　Sweyn　argued　that　it　might　be　that　the　natives　had
assembled　from　all　parts　of　the　island；　and　that　this　sudden
attack；　the　like　of　which　had　not　been　attempted　before；　was
perhaps　made　only　to　draw　them　out　into　an　ambush　or　to
attack　the　town　in　their　absence。　Therefore　he　urged　it　was
better　to　delay　making　an　expedition　for　a　short　time；　when
they　would　find　the　enemy　unprepared。

After　some　discussion　Sweyn's　arguments　prevailed；　and　it
was　determined　to　postpone　the　expedition　for　a　few　days。




CHAPTER　XIX：　UNITED



No　sooner　did　Edmund　find　himself　outside　the　mansion
than　he　separated　himself　from　the　Danes；　and
following　the　sea…shore；　set　out　on　his　return　to　the
Dragon。　The　tide　was　out；　and　although　the　night　was　dark
he　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　his　way　along　the　shore；
keeping　close　to　the　margin　of　the　waves。　When　he　approached
the　headland　he　was　forced　to　take　to　the　land；　as　the　waves
beat　against　the　foot　of　the　rock。　Guided　by　the　stars　he
made　his　way　across　the　cape　and　came　down　on　to　the　shore
of　the　bay。

A　light　was　burning　on　the　poop　of　the　Dragon；　and　his
hail　was　at　once　answered。　A　few　minutes　later　a　boat　touched
the　shore　beside　him；　and　he　was　soon　on　board　the　ship；
and　at　once　held　council　with　Egbert　and　Siegbert；　to　whom
he　related　all　that　had　happened。　He　learned　from　them
that　his　two　wounded　comrades　had　been　brought　down　to
the　beach　that　evening　by　the　country　people；　and　had　told
them　how　narrow　an　escape　they　had　had　of　death　at　the
hands　of　the　enraged　peasants。

After　a　discussion　of　all　the　different　plans　upon　which
they　might　act；　it　was　determined　that　the　attempt　to　rescue
Freda　should　be　made　at　once；　as　they　considered　it　certain
that　Sweyn　with　a　large　portion　of　his　band　would　set　out　at
daybreak　to　take　vengeance　upon　the　natives。

The　plan　decided　upon　was　that　they　should　proceed
along　the　shore；　and　that　if　the　Danish　galleys；　being
undermanned；　did　not　put　out　in　pursuit；　they　should　sail　in
and　attack　them。　The　Danes　were　indeed　greatly　superior　in
force；　for　they　had　counted　the　ships；　the　smallest　of　which
would　carry　a　hundred　men。　Still　in　the　absence　of　a　portion
of　their　crews；　and　from　the　effects　of　surprise；　they　thought
that　success　was　possible。

The　next　morning　sail　was　hoisted；　and　the　Dragon　made
her　way　along　the　coast。　The　hour　was　later　than　that　at
which　she　had　shown　herself　on　the　previous　day。　She　sailed
on　until　within　two　miles　of　the　town；　and　then　suddenly
turned　her　head　seaward；　as　if　she　had　only　then　perceived
the　Danish　vessels。　The　instant　she　did　so　a　great　bustle　was
observed　among　them。　Many　boats　were　seen　pushing　off
from　shore　crowded　with　men；　oars　were　got　out；　and　sails
loosed。

〃From　the　number　of　men　who　are　crowding　on　board；〃　Egbert　said；
〃I　believe　that　Sweyn　cannot　have　started　in　pursuit　of
the　natives；　in　that　case　we　shall　have　a　hard　fight　of　it。〃

〃So　much　the　better；〃　Siegbert　exclaimed。　〃I　should