The Dragon and The Raven: Or The Days of King Alfred
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G. A. Henty >> The Dragon and The Raven: Or The Days of King Alfred
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"Shall I go with you, Edmund?"
"I think it will be better not, Egbert. Your beard would
mark you as a Saxon at once."
"But that I can cut off," Egbert said. "It would be a sacrifice
truly, but I would do it without hesitation."
"Thanks, dear kinsman, but I think it would be of more
purpose for you to remain in command of the Dragon. She
may meet many foes, and it were best that you were there to
fight and direct her. I pray you at once to descend the Seine
and sailing round the north coast of France, place the Dragon
at the mouth of the Rhine. Do not interfere with any Danish
ships that you may see pass out, but keep at a distance. Should
Sweyn descend the Rhine I will, if possible, send a messenger
down before him, so do you look out for small boats; and
if you see one in which the rower hoists a white flag at the
end of his oar, you will know he is my messenger. If I find
Sweyn goes on towards the Elbe I will also send you word,
and you will then move the Dragon to the mouth of that river.
"Lastly, if you receive no message, but if you mark that
in a Danish vessel when passing you a white cloth is waved
from one of the windows of the cabins in the poop, that will
be a signal to you that the vessel is Sweyn's, and that Freda is
a captive on board. In that case you will of course at once
attack it. Let us ask Siegbert. He has sailed up both the
Rhine and the Elbe, and can tell us of some quiet port near
the mouth of each river where you may lay the Dragon somewhat
out of sight of passers-by, while you can yet note all
ships that go down the river. My messengers will then know
where to find you." Having settled this point they returned
to Siegbert, and Edmund told him what he thought of doing.
"I can advise no better," Siegbert said. "Assuredly you
cannot prevail by force. At present I have only ten of my
followers with me; the rest, after I was wounded, and it was
plain that a long time must elapse before I could again lead
them in the field, asked me to let them follow some other
chief, and as they could not be idle here I consented. I have
ten men with me, but these would be but a small reinforcement.
As you say, your Saxons would be instantly known,
and the Northmen have suffered so at their hands during
the siege that the first party you met would set upon you."
"I will take two only of your men," Edmund said. "Choose
me two who are not known by sight to Sweyn. I wish one to
be a subtle fellow, who will act as a spy for me; the other I
should choose of commanding stature; and the air of a leader.
He will go with my party, and should we come upon Danes
he will assume the place of leader, and can answer any questions.
There is far too much difference between the Saxon
and Danish tongue for me and my men to pass as Danes if
we have many words to say. I shall take four of my men, all
full grown, strong, and good fighters. They have but little
hair upon their chins at present, and they can shave that off.
Now, jarl, I want five Danish dresses, for your costume differs
somewhat from ours. Have you horses? If not, I must send back
to Paris to buy some."
"I have plenty to mount you and your party."
"Good," Edmund said; "I will go down to my ship and
pick my men."
In half an hour the party were ready to start. Egbert
had received from Siegbert particulars of villages at the
mouths of the Rhine and Elbe, and he promised Edmund
that a watch should be kept night and day at the mouth of
the Rhine until a messenger arrived. Edmund had already
ascertained that Sweyn had left a fortnight before with his
following, and had marched towards Champagne. There
probably he had halted his main body, returning only with a
party of horsemen to carry off Freda.
"I would I could go with you," Siegbert groaned as
Edmund said adieu to him. "I would ride straight into his
camp and challenge him to mortal combat, but as it is I am
helpless."
"Never fear, good Siegbert," Edmund said cheerfully;
"when your leg is cured travel straight homeward, and there,
I trust, before very long to place Freda safe and unharmed in
your arms. If I come not you will know that I have perished."
A minute later, after a few parting words with Egbert,
Edmund mounted his horse, and followed by his six companions,
rode off at full speed. He knew that it would be useless
making any inquiries about Sweyn and his party. But few of
the inhabitants of the country were to be seen about, for the
Danes had burned every house within very many miles of
Paris, and the peasants would assuredly not have paid any
special attention to a party of Danes, for whenever they saw
the dreaded marauders even at a distance they forsook their
homes and fled to the forests. The party therefore rode eastward
until nightfall, then picketed their horses, and having
lit a fire, made their supper from the store of provisions they
had brought with them, and then lay down to sleep for the
night.
At daybreak they again started and continued their journey
until it was necessary to halt to give their horses a rest.
They had passed several parties of Danes, for these in great
numbers, after the siege of Paris had been given up, were
journeying towards Burgundy. There was but slight greeting
as they passed; but on one occasion a horseman rode out
from one of the bands and entered into conversation with
the two Danes who rode at the head of the party. They told
them that they were followers of the Jarl Siegbert, and were
riding to join the rest of his band, who were with the company
of Jarl Eric, as Siegbert would be long before he would
be able to move, and had therefore kept only a few of his
followers with him.
"Eric is a long way ahead," the Dane said; "he must be
full as far as Nancy by this time. Those who left first," he
grumbled, "will have the pick of the country. We were fools
to linger so long before Paris." Then turning his horse, he
rode back to his comrades, and the party continued their
way.
They avoided all towns and large Danish encampments
on the way, but made inquiries from all small parties they
met after the party of Sweyn. They learned without difficulty
the place where he had been encamped a few days before,
but on their arriving in the neighbourhood they found
that the place was deserted, nor could any tell them the
direction in which the Northmen had travelled.
CHAPTER XVI: FREDA
For some days Edmund and his party scoured the country
round, journeying now in one direction, now in another,
but without hearing ought of Sweyn's party.
Certainly they had not gone along the track which the main
body of the Danes had followed; but the question was whether
they had turned rather to the south in order to cross the
mountain ranges between them and the Rhine, or had turned
north and journeyed through the great forest of Ardennes,
and so to some of the other rivers which run down into the
North Sea.
The latter was in some respects the most likely course to
have been chosen. By taking it Sweyn would avoid altogether
the track which the majority of his countrymen were taking,
and this would naturally be his object. Siegbert had many
powerful friends, and the carrying off of the jarl's daughter
from the side of her wounded father would be regarded as a
grave offence; and Sweyn might well wish to keep clear of his
countrymen until he had forced Freda to become his wife.
Even then it would not be safe for him for a long time to
return to his country. Striking through the Ardennes he would
come down upon the Scheldt, the Moselle, the Maas, or other
rivers flowing into the North Sea direct, or into the Rhine.
Edmund knew nothing of these streams; but the Danes
with him said there were several rivers so situated, for they
had sailed up them. Where they took their rise they knew
not, but it would probably be in or beyond the forest of
Ardennes.
"Then in that way we will search," Edmund said. "If
they come upon a river they will doubtless set to work to
build galleys to carry them to the sea, for with only three
hundred men Sweyn will not venture to march by land through
a country which has but lately suffered heavily at the hands
of the Danes. It will take him a month or six weeks to cut
down trees and build his ships; therefore we may hope to
find him before he is ready to embark. First we will push
through the forest to the other side; there we will question
the inhabitants concerning the position of the nearest rivers;
then we will divide into parties and go on the search, appointing
a place of rendezvous where we may rejoin each other.
It can hardly be that we shall fail to find them if they
have taken that way."
Before entering the forest they obtained a considerable
store of provisions; for they had no idea of its extent, and
had no time to spend in hunting game. The forest of
Ardennes was at that time of immense size, extending from
Verdun and Metz on the south, to Liege and Aix on the north.
Men of the present day would have found it impossible
to find their way through, but would speedily have been lost
in its trackless recesses; but the Saxons and Danes were
accustomed to travel in forests, and knew the signs as well as
did the Red-skins and hunters of the American forests.
Therefore they felt no hesitation in entering the forest
without a guide.
The danger which might beset them was of a different
kind. Immense numbers of the inhabitants of France, Champagne,
and Burgundy had taken refuge in the forests, driving their
flocks and herds before them. Here they lived a wild life,
hoping that the emperor would ere long clear the
country of the invaders. No mercy could be expected if
Edmund and his party fell in with a number of these fugitives.
They would have no time to tell their story, but would
be attacked at once as a party of plundering Danes.
Knowing that the horses would be an encumbrance to
them in the forest, they were sold to the last party of
Northmen they encountered before entering it, and they
pursued their way on foot. The greatest caution was observed;
every sound was marked, and at the call of a human voice,
the low of cattle, or the bleating of sheep, they turned their
course so as to avoid encounter with the inhabitants of the
forest. They lit no fires at night, and scarce a word was spoken
on the march. Several times they had to take refuge in
thickets when they heard the sound of approaching voices,
and it needed all their knowledge of woodcraft to maintain
their direction steadily towards the north. At last, after six
days' journey, they issued out into the open country beyond
the forest and soon arrived at a cottage.
The peasant was struck with terror and astonishment at
the appearance of seven Danes; and he could with difficulty
be made to understand that their object was neither plunder
nor murder, but that they wished only information from him
of the situation and direction of the various rivers of the
country. After learning from him all that he knew Edmund
arrived at the conclusion that Sweyn would probably attempt
to descend either by a branch of the Moselle, and so to the
Rhine on the right, or by one of the Maas on the left of the
place at which they had emerged from the forest.
Edmund decided to strike the Maas, and to follow its
course up into the forest, taking with him one of the Danes
and two of his Saxons, and to send the others to search the
banks of the tributary of the Moselle. Before starting he sent
the peasant to the nearest village to purchase garments of
the country for the whole party. He had already told the
man that they were not Danes but Saxons, the bitter enemies
of the Northmen, and that he had been aiding in the defence
of Paris against them.
The peasant did not doubt what Edmund told him, for
the conduct of his visitors was so opposed to all that he had
heard of the doings of the Danes that he well believed they
could not belong to that nation. He was away some hours,
and returned with the required dresses. Having put these
on, and laying aside their helmets and shields, the two parties
started, the Danes alone carrying with them their former
garments. The next day Edmund arrived at the river, and at
once followed its course upwards, for Sweyn and his party
would be building their ships in the forest.
They had not proceeded many miles before they heard
the sound of axes. Edmund gave an exclamation of delight.
It was almost certain that he had hit upon Sweyn's track, for
it was unlikely that any of the inhabitants of the country would
have gone so far into the forest for timber. They now moved
with the greatest caution, and as they approached the place
whence the sound proceeded Edmund halted the two Saxons
and bade them conceal themselves. The Dane resumed
his own garments and put on his helmet and shield; and then,
taking advantage of every clump of undergrowth, and moving
with the greatest caution, he and Edmund made their way forward.
Presently they came within sight of an animated scene.
A large number of trees had been felled by the banks of
the river and three hundred Northmen were busily at work.
The frames of two great galleys had already been set up, and
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 now--their 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' march--the 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 sixty would row at
once.
"They are fine galleys," the Dane whispered. "Sweyn
has a good eye for a boat."
"Yes," Edmund said, "they look as if they will be very
fast. With oars alone they would leave the Dragon behind,
but with sails and oars we should overhaul them in a wind. I
wish it had been otherwise, for if, when they reach the mouth
of the river, there is no wind, they may give the Dragon the
slip. Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is Freda."
As he spoke a tall maiden came out from the small hut.
The distance was too great for Edmund to distinguish her
features, but he doubted not from the style of her garments
that it was Siegbert's daughter. There were other women
moving about the camp, for the Danes were generally accompanied
by their wives on their expeditions; but there was
something in the carriage and mien of the figure at the door
of the hut which distinguished it from the rest. She did not
move far away, but stood watching the men at work on the
ships and the scene around. Presently a tall figure strode
down from the vessels towards her.
"There is Sweyn!" Edmund exclaimed, seeing that the
warrior possessed but one arm.
"Ah! you know him by sight then?" The Dane said.
"I should do so," Edmund answered grimly, "seeing that
it was I who smote off that right arm of his. I regret now
that I did not strike at his head instead."
The Dane looked with admiration and surprise at his
leader. He had heard of the fight between the Saxon champion
and Sweyn, which had cost the latter his right arm, but
until now he had been ignorant of Edmund's identity with
Sweyn's conqueror.
Freda did not seek to avoid her captor, but remained
standing quietly until he approached. For some time they
conversed; then she turned and left him and re-entered her
hut. Sweyn stood looking after her, and then with an angry
stamp of the foot returned to the galleys.
"I would give much to be able to warn her that I am
present and will follow her until I rescue her from Sweyn,"
Edmund said. "Once at sea and on her way south she may
well despair of escape, and may consent, from sheer
hopelessness, to become his wife. Were it not that her hut is
so strongly guarded at night I would try to approach it, but as
this cannot be done I must take my chance in the day. To-morrow
I will dress myself in your garments and will hide in
the wood as near as I can to the hut; then if she come out to
take the air I will walk boldly out and speak with her. I see no
other way of doing it."
On the following morning, attired in the Dane's clothes
and helmet, Edmund took his place near the edge of the
wood. It was not until late in the afternoon that Freda made
her appearance. The moment was propitious; almost all the
men were at work on the ships and their oars. The women
were cooking the evening meal, and there was no one near
Freda, with the exception of the two armed Danes who sat
on the trunk of a fallen tree on guard, a short distance away.
Edmund issued boldly from the wood, and, waiting till Freda's
steps, as she passed backwards and forwards, took her to the
farthest point from the guards, he approached her.
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