The Dragon and The Raven: Or The Days of King Alfred

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"Freda," he said, "do not start or betray surprise, for you
are watched."

At the sound of his voice the girl had paused in her
steps, and exclaimed in a low voice, "Edmund!" and then,
obeying his words, stood motionless.

"I am near you, dear, and will watch over you. I have not
strength to carry you away; but my ship will be at the mouth
of the river as you pass out. Hang a white cloth from the
window of your cabin in the poop as a signal. If we fail to
rescue you there we will follow you wheresoever you may go,
even to Italy, where I hear you are bound. So keep up a brave
heart. I have seen your father, and he has sent me to save
you. See, the guards are approaching, I must go."

Edmund then made for the forest. "Stop there!" the
guards cried. "Who are you, and whence do you come?"

Edmund made no answer, but, quickening his steps,
passed among the trees, and was soon beyond pursuit. This,
indeed, the Danes did not attempt. They had been surprised
at seeing, as they supposed, one of their party addressing
Freda, for Sweyn's orders that none should speak with her
were precise. He had given this command because he feared,
that by the promise of rich rewards she might tempt some of
his followers to aid her escape. They had, therefore, risen to
interrupt the conversation, but it was not until they
approached that it struck them that the Northman's face was
unfamiliar to them, and that he was not one of their party,
but Edmund had entered the wood before they recovered
from their surprise. Their shouts to him to stop brought
Sweyn to the spot.

"What is it?" he asked.

"A strange Northman has come out of the wood, and
spoken to the lady Freda."

Sweyn turned to his captive. She stood pale and trembling,
for the shock of the surprise had been a severe one.

"Who is this whom you have spoken to?" he asked. Freda
did not answer.

"I insist upon knowing," Sweyn exclaimed angrily.

Freda recovered herself with an effort, and, raising her
head, said, "Your insistence has small effect with me, as you
know, Jarl Sweyn; but as there is no reason for concealment
I will tell you. He is a messenger whom my dear father has
sent to me to tell me that some day he hopes to rescue me
from your hands."

Sweyn laughed loudly.

"He might have saved himself the trouble," he said. "Your
good father lies wounded near Paris, and by the time he is
able to set out to your rescue we shall be with Hasting on the
sunny waters of Italy, and long ere that you will, I hope, have
abandoned your obstinate disposition, and consented to be
my wife."

Freda did not answer at once. Now that there was a
hope of rescue, however distant, she thought it might be as
well to give Sweyn some faint hope that in time she might
yield to his wishes. Then she said:

"I have told you often, jarl, that I will never be your wife,
and I do not think that I shall ever change my mind. It may
be that the sunny skies you speak of may work a wonderful
change in me, but that remains to be seen." Sweyn retired
well satisfied. Her words were less defiant than any she had
hitherto addressed to him. As to the message of her father,
who could know nothing of his intention to sail to the
Mediterranean, he thought no further of it.

Three days later the galleys were launched, and after a
day spent in putting everything in its place they started on
their way down the river. They rowed many miles, and at
night moored by the bank. After darkness had fallen a small
boat rowed at full speed past them. It paid no attention to
the summons to stop, enforced though it was by several arrows,
but continued its way down the river, and was soon lost
in the darkness. Sweyn was much displeased. As they rowed
down they had carefully destroyed every boat they found on
the river, in order that the news of their coming might not
precede them.

"The boat must have been hauled up and hidden," he
said; "we might as well have stopped and landed at some of
the villages and replenished our larder. Now we shall find
the small places all deserted, and the cattle driven away from
the river. It is an unfortunate mischance."

As the Northmen anticipated they found the villages
they passed the next day entirely deserted by their inhabitants,
and not a head of cattle was to be seen grazing near the
banks. In the afternoon they came to Liege. The gates were
shut, and the walls bristled with spears. The galleys passed
without a stay. Sweyn had other objects in view. Any booty
that might be obtained without severe fighting he would have
been glad enough to gather in; but with a long sea-voyage
before him he cared not to burden his galleys, and his principal
desire was to obtain a sufficient supply of provisions for
the voyage. For several days the galleys proceeded down the
river. The villages were all deserted, and the towns prepared
for defence.

When he arrived within a day's journey of the sea he
was forced to halt. Half the crews were left in charge of the
ships, and with the others he led a foray far inland, and after
some sharp fighting with the natives succeeded in driving
down a number of cattle to the ships and in bringing in a
store of flour.

Edmund had kept ahead of the galleys, stopping at every town
and village and warning the people of the approach of the
marauders. He reached the mouth of the river two
days before them, but to his deep disappointment saw that
the Dragon had not arrived at the rendezvous. On the following
afternoon, however, a distant sail was seen, and as it
approached Edmund and his followers gave a shout of joy as
they recognized the Dragon, which was using her oars as well
as sails and was approaching at full speed. Edmund leaped
into the boat and rowed to meet them, and a shout of welcome
arose from the Dragon as the crew recognized their
commander.

"Are we in time?" Egbert shouted.

"Just in time," Edmund replied. "They will be here to-morrow."
Edmund was soon on board, and was astonished at seeing Siegbert
standing by the side of his kinsman.

"What is the news of Freda?" the jarl asked eagerly.

"She is well and keeps up a brave heart," Edmund replied. "She
has sworn to kill herself if Sweyn attempts to make her his wife
by violence. I have spoken to her and told her that rescue
will come. But how is it that you are here?"

"After you had left us your good kinsman Egbert suggested
to me that I should take passage in the Dragon. In the
first place I should the sooner see my daughter; and in the
next, it would be perilous work, after the Danish army had
left, for a small party of us to traverse France."

"I would I had thought of it," Edmund said; "but my
mind was so disturbed with the thought of Freda's peril that
it had no room for other matters. And how fares it with
you?"

"Bravely," the Northman replied. "As soon as I sniffed
the salt air of the sea my strength seemed to return to me.
My wound is well-nigh healed; but the joint has stiffened,
and my leg will be stiff for the rest of my life. But that
matters little. And now tell me all your adventures. We have
heard from the messenger you sent how shrewdly you hunted
out Sweyn's hiding-place."

CHAPTER XVII: A LONG CHASE

The following morning the weather was still and dull.
Not a breath of wind ruffled the surface of the river.

"This is unfortunate," Edmund said to his companion.
"Sweyn's galleys will row faster than we can go with oars
alone, and though they may not know the Dragon they will be
sure that she is not one of their own ships. We must hope that
they may attack us."

The day passed on without a sight of the galleys, but
late in the afternoon they were seen in the distance. The
Dragon was moored near the middle of the rivet. Her oars
were stowed away, and the crews ordered to keep below the
bulwarks, in hopes that the Danes, seeing but few men about
and taking her for an easy prize, might attack her. When
they approached within half a mile the Danish galleys
suddenly ceased rowing.

"What is that strange-looking vessel?" Sweyn asked the
Northmen standing round him.

"I know her," one of them said, "for I have twice seen
her before to my cost. The first time she chased us hotly at
the mouth of the Thames, destroying several of the vessels
with which we were sailing in convoy. The next time was in
the battle where King Alfred defeated us last year, nearly in
the same water. She is a Saxon ship, wondrous fast and
well-handled. She did more damage in the battle than any
four of her consorts."

"Were it not that I have other game in view," Sweyn said,
"we would fight her, for we are two to one and strongly
manned, and the Saxon can scarce carry more men than one
of our galleys; but she is not likely to be worth the lives she
would cost us to capture her; therefore we will e'en let her
alone, which will be easy enough, for see that bank of sea-fog
rolling up the river; another ten minutes and we shall not see
across the deck. Give orders to the other galley to lay in oars
till the fog comes, then to make for the left bank of the river
and to drift with the tide close inshore. Let none speak a
word, and silence be kept until they hear my horn. I will
follow the right bank till we reach the mouth."

Freda was standing near and heard these orders with a
sinking heart. She had no doubt that Edmund was on board
the Saxon ship, and she had looked forward with confidence
to be delivered from her captor; but now it seemed that owing
to the evil change of the weather the hope was to be
frustrated.

Edmund and the Saxons had viewed with consternation
the approach of the sea-fog. The instant it enveloped the
ship the oars were got out and they rowed in the direction of
the Danish vessels, which they hoped would drop anchor when
the fog reached them. Not a word was spoken on board the
Dragon. Edmund, Egbert, and Siegbert stood on the forecastle
intently listening for any sound which would betray the
position of the Danes, but not a sound was to be heard. They
had, they calculated, already reached the spot where the Dane
should have been anchored when from the left, but far away
astern, a loud call in a woman's voice was heard.

"That must be Freda!" Edmund exclaimed. "Turn the
ship; they have passed us in the fog."

The Dragon's head was turned and she was rowed rapidly
in the direction of the voice. No further sound was heard.
Presently there was a sudden shock which threw everyone
on to the deck. The Dragon had run high on the low muddy
bank of the river. The tide was falling; and although for a
few minutes the crew tried desperately to push her off they
soon found that their efforts were in vain, and it was not
until the tide again rose high nine hours later that the Dragon
floated. Until morning broke nothing could be done, and
even when it did so matters were not mended, for the fog
was still dense.

The disappointment of Edmund and Siegbert at the escape
of the Danes was extreme. Their plans had been so well
laid that when it was found that the Dragon had arrived in
time no doubts were entertained of the success of the enterprise,
and to be foiled just when Freda seemed within reach
was a terrible disappointment.

"My only consolation is," Edmund said as he paced the
deck impatiently side by side with Egbert, "that this fog which
delays us will also hinder the Danes."

"That may be so or it may not," Egbert answered. "It is
evident that some on board the Danish ships must have recognized
us, and that they were anxious to escape rather than fight.
They draw so little water that they would not be afraid
of the sandbanks off the mouth of the river, seeing that even
if they strike them they can jump out, lighten the boats, and
push them off; and once well out at sea it is probable that
they may get clearer weather, for Siegbert tells me that the
fog often lies thick at the mouths of these rivers when it is
clear enough in the open sea."

When the tide again began to run out Edmund determined
at all risks to proceed to sea. The moorings were cast
off from the shore and the Dragon suffered to drift down.
Men with poles took their stations in her bows and sounded
continually, while at her stern two anchors were prepared in
readiness to drop at a moment's notice. Several times the
water shoaled so much that Edmund was on the point of
giving orders to drop the anchors, but each time it deepened
again.

So they continued drifting until they calculated that the
tide must be nearly on the turn, and they then dropped anchor.
It was much lighter now than it had been in the river,
but was still so misty that they could not see more than a
hundred yards or so round the vessel. No change took place
until night, and then Edmund, who had been too excited
and anxious to sleep on the previous night, lay down to rest,
ordering that he should be woke if any change took place in
the weather. As the sun rose next morning the fog gradually
lifted, and they were able to see where they were. Their head
pointed west; far away on their left could be seen a low line of
coast. Not a sail was in sight, and indeed sails would have
been useless, for the water was still unruffled by a breath of
wind. The anchors were at once got up and the oars manned,
and the ship's head turned towards shore.

Two hours' rowing took them within a short distance of
land, and keeping about a mile out they rowed to the west.
The men, knowing how anxious was their leader to overtake
the Danish galleys, rowed their hardest, relieving each other
by turns, so that half the oars were constantly going. Without
intermission they rowed until night set in, and then cast anchor.
When the wind came--it was not until the third day--it was ahead,
and instead of helping the Dragon it greatly impeded its progress.

So far they had seen nothing of the galleys, and had the
mortification of knowing that in spite of all their efforts these
were probably gaining ground upon them every day. Even
without wind the galleys would row faster than the Dragon,
and being so fully manned would be able to keep all their
oars going; but against the wind their advantage would be
increased greatly, for lying low in the water they would offer
but little resistance to it, and would be able to make way at a
brisk pace, while the Dragon could scarce move against it.

The Saxon ship was off Calais when the breeze sprang
up, and as it increased and their progress became slower and
slower Edmund held a consultation with his companions and
it was determined to run across the channel and lie in the
mouth of the Thames till the wind turned. So long as it
continued to blow they would lag farther and farther behind
the chase, who might, moreover enter any of the rivers in
search of shelter or provisions, and so escape their pursuers
altogether. Siegbert had never been up the Mediterranean,
but he had talked with many Danes who had been. These
had told him that the best course was to sail west to the
extremity of England, then to steer due south until they came
upon the north coast of Spain. They would follow this to its
western extremity; and then run south, following the land
till they came to a channel some ten miles wide, which formed
the entrance to the Mediterranean.

They decided, therefore, to follow this course in hopes
of interrupting the galleys there; they would thus avoid the
dangerous navigation of the west coast of France, where there
were known to be many islands and rocks, around which the
tides ran with great fury. For a fortnight the Dragon lay
windbound; then came two days of calm; and then, to their
delight, the pennon on the top of the mast blew out
from the east.

They were lying in the mouth of the Colne, and would
therefore have no difficulty in making the Foreland; and with
her sail set and her oars out the Dragon dashed away from
her moorings. Swiftly they ran round the south-easterly point
of England and then flew before the breeze along the southern
coast. On the third day they were off Land's End and
hauled her head to the south. The east wind held, the Bay of
Biscay was calm, and after a rapid voyage they sighted the
high lands of Spain ahead. Then they sheered to the west till
they rounded its extremity and then sailed down the coast of
Spain. They put into a river for provisions, and the natives
assembled in great numbers on the banks with the evident
intention of opposing a landing; but upon Egbert shouting
that they were not Danes but Saxons, and were ready to barter
for the provisions they required, the natives allowed them
to approach. There was no wrangling for terms. Cattle were
purchased, and the water-tanks filled up, and a few hours
after entering the river the Dragon was again under way.
Rounding the southern point they followed the land. After a
day's sailing they perceived land on their right, and gave a
shout of joy at the thought that they had arrived at the
entrance of the straits. At nightfall they dropped anchor.

"What are you looking at, Siegbert?" Edmund asked,
seeing the jarl looking thoughtfully at the anchor-chain
as the ship swung round.

"I am thinking," the jarl said, "that we must have made
some error. Do you not see that she rides, just as we were
sailing, with her head to the north-east? That shows that the
current is against us."

"Assuredly it does," Edmund said; "but the current is a
very slack one, for the ropes are not tight."

"But that agrees not," Siegbert said, "with what I have
been told. In the first place, this channel points to the
northeast, whereas, as I have heard, the straits into the
Mediterranean run due east. In the next place, those who have
been through have told me that there are no tides as in the
northern seas, but that the current runs ever like a river to
the east."

"If that be so," Edmund said, "we must have mistaken
our way, for here what current there is runs to the west.
To-morrow morning, instead of proceeding farther, we will cross
to the opposite side, and will follow that down until we strike
upon the right channel."

In the morning sail was again made, and crossing what
was really the Bay of Cadiz they sailed on till they arrived at
the mouth of the straits. There was no doubt now that they
were right. The width of the channel, its direction, and the
steady current through it, all corresponded with what Siegbert
had heard, and proceeding a mile along it they cast anchor.

They soon opened communications with the natives,
who, although speaking a tongue unknown to them, soon
comprehended by their gestures and the holding up of articles
of barter that their intentions were friendly. Trade was
established, and there was now nothing to do but to await
the coming of the galleys.

"I would," Edmund said, as, when evening was closing,
he looked across the straits at the low hills on the opposite
side, "that this passage was narrower. Sweyn will, doubtless,
have men on board his ship who have sailed in these seas
before, and will not need to grope his way along as we have
done. If he enters the straits at night we shall see nothing of
him, and the current runs so fast that he would sweep speedily
by. It is possible, indeed, that he has already passed. If he
continued to row down the shores of France all the time we
were lying wind-bound he would have had so long a start when
the east wind began to blow, that, although the galleys carry
but little sail, they might well have been here some days
before us. Sweyn would be anxious to join Hasting as soon as
he could. The men would be thirsting for booty, and would
make but short halt anywhere. I will stay but a week. If in
that time they come not we will enter this southern sea and
seek the fleet of Hasting. When we find that we shall find
Sweyn; but I fear that the search will be a long one, for these
people speak not our tongue, and we shall have hard work in
gaining tidings of the whereabouts of the Northmen's fleet."

Day and night a vigilant watch was kept up from the
mast-head of the Dragon, but without success. Each day they
became more and more convinced that Sweyn must be ahead
of them, and on the morning of the seventh they lifted their
anchor and proceeded through the straits. Many had been
the consultations between Edmund and his friends, and it
had been determined at last to sail direct for Rome. Siegbert
knew that by sailing somewhat to the north of east, after
issuing from the passage, they would in time arrive at Italy.

At Rome there was a monastery of Saxon monks, and
through them they would be able to obtain full information
as to the doings and whereabouts of the squadron of Hasting.
Scarcely were they through the straits than the wind,
veering to the south-east, prevented them from making the
course they had fixed upon, but they were able to coast along
by the shore of Spain. They put into several small ports as
they cruised up, but could obtain no intelligence of the Danes,
being unable to converse except by signs.

When they reached Marseilles they were pleased to meet
with Franks, with whom they could converse, and hired a
pilot acquainted with the coasts of the Mediterranean. They
learned that Hasting and his fleet had harried the coasts of
Provence and Italy; that the Genoese galleys had had several
engagements with them, but had been worsted.

The Danish fleet was now off the coast of Sicily, and
the Northmen were ravaging that rich and fertile island.
They were reported to have even threatened to ascend the Tiber
and to burn Rome. Having obtained the services of a man
who spoke both the Italian and Frankish tongues, Edmund
started again. He first went to Genoa, as he thought that the
people there might be despatching another fleet against the
Northmen in which case he would have joined himself to
them. On his arrival there he was well entertained by the
Genoese when they learned, through the interpreter, who
they were, and that they had come from England as enemies
of the Danes.

Edmund and his Saxons were much surprised at the
splendour of Genoa, which immensely surpassed anything
they had hitherto seen in the magnificence of its buildings,
the dress and appearance of its inhabitants, the variety of
the goods displayed by the traders, and the wealth and luxury
which distinguished it. It was indeed their first sight of
civilization, and Edmund felt how vastly behind was Northern
Europe, and understood for the first time Alfred's extreme
eagerness to raise the condition of his people. On the other
hand, the Genoese were surprised at the dress and appearance
of the Saxons.

The crew of the Dragon were picked men, and their
strength and stature, the width of their shoulders, and the
muscles of their arms, and, above all, their fair hair and blue
eyes, greatly astonished the Genoese. Edmund and his companions
might have remained in Genoa and received entertainment
and hospitality from its people for a long time; but
after a stay of a day or two, and having obtained the various
stores necessary for their voyage, Edmund determined to
proceed. Three of the young Genoese nobles, fired by the
story which they heard of the adventures which the Dragon
had gone through, and desirous of taking part in any action
which she might fight against the Danes, begged leave to
accompany them.

Edmund gladly acceded to the request, as their presence
would be of great utility in other ports at which the
Dragon might touch. At Genoa Edmund procured garments
for his men similar to those worn by the Italian soldiers and
sailors, and here he sold to the gold and silversmiths a large
number of articles of value which they had captured from
the Danes, or with which the Count Eudes and the people of
Paris had presented them.

The Dragon differed but little in appearance from the
galleys of the Genoese, and Edmund determined when he
approached the shores where the Northmen were plundering
to pass as a Genoese ship, for should the news come to
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.

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