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

G >> G. A. Henty >> The Dragon and The Raven: Or The Days of King Alfred

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

At the commencement of the invasion Edmund had
marched out with his band and had inflicted heavy blows
upon parties of plunderers; but he soon perceived that the
struggle was hopeless. He therefore returned to Sherborne,
and collecting such goods as he required and a good store of
provisions he marched to the place where the ship had been
hidden. No wandering band of Danes had passed that way,
and the bushes with which she had been covered were undisturbed.
These were soon removed and a passage three feet
deep, and wide enough for the ship to pass through, was dug
from the deep hole in which she was lying to the river.

When the last barrier was cut the water poured in, and
the Saxons had the satisfaction of seeing the vessel rise
gradually until the water in the dock was level with that in the
river. Then she was taken out into the stream, the stores and
fittings placed aboard, and she was poled down to the mouth
of the river. Egbert had gone before and had already engaged
fifteen sturdy sailors to go with them. The Danes had
not yet reached the sea-coast from the interior, and there was
therefore no difficulty in obtaining the various equipments
necessary. In a week her masts were up and her sails in position.

The Dragon, as she was called, excited great admiration
at the port, all saying that she was the finest and largest ship
that had ever been seen there. While her fitting out had
been going on she was hove up on shore and received several
coats of paint. Edmund was loath to start on his voyage without
again seeing the king, but no one knew where Alfred
now was, he, on finding the struggle hopeless, having retired
to the fastnesses of Somerset to await the time when the Saxons
should be driven by oppression again to take up arms.

At last all was ready, and the Dragon put out to sea. She
was provided with oars as well as sails, but these were only to
be used when in pursuit, or when flying from a superior enemy.
As soon as she had been long enough at sea to enable
the band again to recover from the effects of sickness the
oars were got out and the men practised in their use.

As in the models from which she had been built, she
rowed two banks of oars, the one worked by men upon deck,
the others through small port-holes. The latter could only
be used when the weather was fine; when the sea was high
they were closed up and fastened. The lower-deck oars were
each rowed by one man, while the upper bank, which were
longer and heavier, had each two men to work it.

Before starting Edmund had increased the strength of
his band to ninety men, that number being required for the
oars, of which the Dragon had fifteen on each bank on each
side. At first there was terrible splashing and confusion, but
in time the men learned to row in order, and in three weeks
after putting to sea the oars worked well in time together,
and the Dragon, with her ninety rowers, moved through the
water at a great rate of speed.

During this time she had never been far from land keeping
but a short distance from the port from which she had
sailed, as Edmund did not wish to fall in with the Danes until
his crew were able to maneuver her with the best effect.
When, at last, satisfied that all knew their duty he returned
to port, took in a fresh supply of provisions, and then sailed
away again in search of the enemy. He coasted along the
shore of Hampshire and Sussex without seeing a foe, and
then sailing round Kent entered the mouth of the Thames.
The Dragon kept on her way until she reached the point where
the river begins to narrow, and there the sails were furled
and the anchor thrown overboard to wait for Danish galleys
coming down the river.

On the third day after they had anchored they perceived
four black specks in the distance, and these the sailors soon
declared to be Danish craft. They were rowing rapidly, having
ten oars on either side, and at their mast-heads floated
the Danish Raven. The anchor was got up, and as the Danes
approached, the Golden Dragon, the standard of Wessex,
was run up to the mast-head, the sails were hoisted, the oars
got out, and the vessel advanced to meet the approaching
Danes.

These for a moment stopped rowing in astonishment at
seeing so large a ship bearing the Saxon flag. Then they at
once began to scatter in different directions; but the Dragon,
impelled both by the wind and her sixty oars, rapidly overtook
them. When close alongside the galley nearest to them
the men on the upper deck, at an order from Edmund, ran
in their oars, and seizing their bows poured a volley of arrows
into the galley, killing most of the rowers. Then the
Dragon was steered alongside, and the Saxons, sword in hand,
leaped down into the galley. Most of the Danes were cut
down at once; the rest plunged into the water and swam for
their lives. Leaving the deserted galley behind, the Dragon
continued the pursuit of the others, and overtook and captured
another as easily as she had done the first.

The other two boats reached the shore before they were
overtaken, and those on board leaping out fled. The Saxons
took possession of the deserted galleys. They found them,
as they expected, stored full of plunder of all kinds--rich
wearing apparel, drinking goblets, massive vessels of gold and
silver which had been torn from some desecrated altar, rich
ornaments and jewels and other articles. These were at once
removed to the Dragon. Fire was applied to the boats, and
they were soon a mass of flames. Then the Dragon directed
her course to the two galleys she had first captured. These
were also rifled of their contents and burned. The Saxons
were delighted at the success which had attended their first
adventure.

"We shall have rougher work next time," Egbert said.
"The Danes who escaped will carry news to London, and we
shall be having a whole fleet down to attack us in a few days."

"If they are in anything like reasonable numbers we will
fight them; if not, we can run. We have seen to-day how
much faster we are than the Danish boats; and though I shall
be in favour of fighting if we have a fair chance of success,
it would be folly to risk the success of our enterprise by
contending against overwhelming numbers at the outset, seeing
that we shall be able to pick up so many prizes round the
coast."

"We can beat a score of them," Egbert grumbled. "I am
in favour of fighting the Danes whenever we see them."

"When there is a hope of success, Egbert, yes; but you
know even the finest bull can be pulled down by a pack of
dogs. The Dragon is a splendid ship, and does credit alike to
King Alfred's first advice, to the plans of the Italian
shipbuilders, and to the workmanship and design of the
shipwright of Exeter, and I hope she will long remain to be a
scourge to the Danes at sea as they have been a scourge to
the Saxons on shore; and it is because I hope she is going to
do such good service to England that I would be careful of
her. You must remember, too, that many of the Danish galleys
are far larger than those we had to do with to-day. We
are not going to gobble them all up as a pike swallows
minnows."

The Dragon had now anchored again, and four days
elapsed before any Danish galleys were seen. At the end of
that time six large Danish war-ships were perceived in the
distance. Edmund and Egbert from the top of the lofty poop
watched them coming.

"They row thirty oars each side," Egbert said, "and are
crowded with men. What say you, Edmund, shall we stop
and fight them, or shall the Dragon spread her wings?"

"We have the advantage of height," Edmund said, "and
from our bow and stern castles can shoot down into them;
but if they lie alongside and board us their numbers will give
them an immense advantage. I should think that we might
run down one or two of them. The Dragon is much more
strongly built than these galleys of the Danes, and if when
they close round us we have the oars lashed on both sides as
when we are rowing, it will be next to impossible for them to
get alongside except at the stern and bow, which are far too
high for them to climb."

"Very well," Egbert said, "if you are ready to fight, you
may be sure I am."

The anchor was got up and the oars manned, and the
Dragon quietly advanced towards the Danish boats. The men
were instructed to row slowly, and it was not until within a
hundred yards of the leading galley that the order was given
to row hard.

The men strained at the tough oars, and the Dragon leapt
ahead to meet the foe. Her bow was pointed as if she would
have passed close by the side of the Danish galley, which was
crowded with men. When close to her, however, the helmsman
pushed the tiller across and the Dragon swept straight
down upon her. A shout of dismay rose from the Danes, a
hasty volley of arrows and darts was hurled at the Dragon,
and the helmsman strove to avoid the collision, but in vain.
The Dragon struck her on the beam, the frail craft broke up
like an egg-shell under the blow, and sank almost instantly
under the bows of the Dragon.

Without heeding the men struggling thickly in the water,
the Dragon continued her course. Warned by the fate of
the first boat, the next endeavoured to avoid her path. Her
commander shouted orders. The rowers on one side backed
while those on the other pulled, but she was not quite quick
enough. The Dragon struck her a few feet from the stern,
cutting her in two.

The other galleys now closed in alongside. The Saxons
hastily fastened their oars as they had been rowing and then
betook themselves to their posts, those with spears and swords
to the sides to prevent the enemy from climbing up, the archers
to the lofty castles at either end. The Danes had the
greatest difficulty in getting alongside, the oars keeping the
galleys at a distance. For some time the combat was conducted
entirely by the archers on both sides, the Danes suffering
much the most heavily, as the Saxons were protected
by the bulwarks, while from their lofty positions they were
enabled to fire down into the galleys.

At last one of the Danish vessels rowed straight at the
broadside of the Dragon, and breaking her way through the
oars her bow reached the side. Then the Danes strove to
leap on board, but the Saxons pursued the tactics which had
succeeded so well on land, and forming in a close mass where
the Danish vessel touched the Dragon, opposed a thick hedge
of spears to those who strove to board her.

The Danes fought desperately. Several notable leaders,
hearing that a great Saxon ship had appeared on the Thames,
had come down to capture her, and leading their followers,
strove desperately to cut their way to the deck of the Dragon.
Taking advantage of the strife, the other galleys repeated the
maneuver which had succeeded, and each in turn ran their
stem through the Saxon oars, and reached the side of the
Dragon. In this position, however, they had the immense
disadvantage that only a few men at once could strive to board,
while the Saxons were able to oppose all their strength at
these four points.

For a time the Saxons repulsed every effort, but as the
lashings of the oars gave way under the pressure of the Danish
ships, these drifted alongside, and they were thus able to
attack along the whole length of the bulwarks between the
castles. The Saxons were now hard put to it, but their superior
height still enabled them to keep the Danes in check.

All this time the five vessels had been drifting down the
river together. Presently, when the conflict was hottest, the
chief of the sailors made his way to Edmund.

"If we get up the sails we may be able to draw out from
the galleys."

"Do so," Edmund said, "and at once, for we are hardly
pressed; they are four to one against us."

The sailors at once sprang to the halliards, and soon
the great sail rose on the mast. Almost instantly the Dragon
began to glide away from the galleys. The Danes with ropes
endeavoured to lash themselves to her sides, but these were
severed as fast as thrown, and in two or three minutes the
Dragon had drawn herself clear of them. The Danes betook
themselves to their oars, but many of these had been broken
between the vessels, and rowing their utmost they could only
just keep up with the Dragon, for the wind was blowing freely.
Fully half the oars of the Dragon were broken, but the rest
were soon manned, and she then rapidly drew away from
her pursuers.

"I am not going to run further," Edmund said. "Now
that we have once shaken them off, let us turn and meet
them again."

As the vessel's head was brought up into the wind the
Danes ceased rowing. The fate which had befallen their two
galleys at the commencement of the fight was still before
them. They had lost great numbers of men in the attempt to
board from the Saxon pikes and arrows, and their desire to
renew the fight vanished when they saw that the Saxons were
equally ready. Therefore, as the Dragon approached them,
they sheered off on either side of her and rowed for the mouth
of the Medway.

The Saxons did not pursue. They had lost eight men
killed, and seventeen wounded by the Danish arrows, and
were well content to be quit of their opponents, upon whom
they had inflicted a severe blow, as each of the galleys sunk
had contained fully a hundred and fifty men, and great numbers
of the Danes on board the other ships had fallen.

They now left the Thames and sailed to Sandwich. The
town had been shortly before burned by the Danes, but these
had left, and some of the inhabitants had returned. Here
the Dragon waited for a week, by the end of which time the
traces of the conflict had been obliterated, and new oars
made. Edmund found no difficulty in filling up the vacancies
caused in the fight, as many of the young Saxons were
burning to avenge the sufferings which the Danes had inflicted,
and could have obtained several times the number
he required had there been room for them. He was therefore
enabled to pick out sturdy fellows accustomed to the
sea. When the Dragon again set sail her head was laid to the
northward, as Edmund intended to cruise off East Anglia,
from whose shores fleets were constantly crossing and
recrossing to Denmark.

They picked up several prizes at the mouths of the eastern
rivers, scarcely having to strike a blow, so surprised were
the Danes at the appearances of the great Saxon galley.
Whenever the Danes surrendered without resistance Edmund
gave them quarter and landed them in small boats on the
shore; their ships, after being emptied of the booty they
contained, were burned. When off Yarmouth, where they had
captured four Danish vessels sailing out unsuspicious of danger,
the wind veered round to the north-east and began to blow
very strongly.

The long line of sandbanks off the coast broke somewhat
the violence of the sea, and the Dragon rode all night to
her anchors; but in the morning the wind continued to rise.
The sea became more and more violent, and the anchors
began to drag. Edmund and Egbert, after a consultation,
agreed that their only chance of saving the vessel was to enter
the river. The tide was running in, but the sea was so
heavy on the bar of the river that the efforts of the crew at
the oars barely sufficed to keep her on her course. At length,
however, she made her way safely between the posts which
marked the entrance, and rowing up until they passed a turn,
and were sheltered from the force of the gale, they again
anchored.

The oars were all lashed out firmly to keep any boats
from approaching her sides. Bales of goods with which her
hold was filled were brought on deck, and piled high along
the bulwarks so as to afford a shelter from missiles. Even as
they entered the harbour numbers of Danes had assembled
at the point; for the capture and destruction of their ships
had of course been seen, and the crews set ashore had spread
the news that the strange vessel was a Saxon. The Norfolk
bank being somewhat higher than the Suffolk, the boat was
anchored rather nearer to the latter, as it was from the town
of Yarmouth that an attack was anticipated.

As soon as the anchors were let go the Danes began to
fire their arrows; but so powerful was the gale that the greater
part of them were swept far away. As the day went on the
numbers of Danes on the bank increased largely, and vast
numbers of arrows were discharged at the Dragon. The crew
kept under shelter, and although she was often struck no
damage was done.

In the afternoon a fleet of galleys was seen coming down
the river. The Danes possessed a large number of these boats
at Yarmouth, and in these they navigated the inland waters
far into the interior. The wind had shifted until it was blowing
nearly due east, and Edmund and Egbert had agreed upon
the best course to be pursued. In case of attack they could
hardly hope finally to beat off the assault of a large fleet of
galleys, and would besides be exposed to attack by boats laden
with combustibles. Therefore as soon as the galleys were
seen approaching the oars were unlashed, the great sail
hoisted, and at her best speed the Dragon advanced up the
river to meet her foes. The Danes gave a shout of alarm as
the vessel advanced to meet them with the water surging in a
white wave from her bows, and the greater part of them hurried
towards one bank or the other to escape the shock. Some,
slower in movement or stouter in heart, awaited the attack,
while from all a storm of missiles was poured upon the
advancing boat.

Heedless of these she continued her way. Her sharp
bow crashed right through the side of the Danish boats, and
having destroyed seven of them on her way she passed through
the flotilla and continued her course. The dragon waved
triumphantly from her mast as she passed under the walls of
Yarmouth. These were crowded with Danes, who vainly showered
arrows and javelins as she flew past, with the fleets of
galleys rowing in her wake. A few minutes and she was out
on the broad sheet of water beyond. The Danish galleys
paused at the entrance. In so wild a storm they would have
had difficulty in keeping their boats straight, while the great
galley with her sails and oars would be able to maneuver freely,
and could strike and run them down one by one.

"What is that pile of buildings on the rising knoll of
ground some three miles away?" Edmund asked.

"It is Bamborough Castle," Egbert replied, "a Roman
stronghold of immense strength."

"Let us run up thither," Edmund said. "If, as is likely
enough, it is unoccupied, we will land there and take
possession. Are the walls complete?"

"Assuredly they are," Egbert said. "They are of marvellous
strength, such as we cannot build in our days. They run
in a great semicircle from the edge of the water round the
crest of the knoll and down again to the water. There is but
one gateway in the wall on the land side, and this we can
block up. We need not fear an attack from the land, for
between the river and the castle there are wide swamps; so
that unless they row up and attack us from the water we are
safe."

"I think that they will not do that," Edmund said, "after
the taste which the Dragon has given them of her quality. At
any rate I think we are safe till the storm abates."

By this time, running rapidly before the wind, the Dragon
was approaching the great Roman fort, whose massive walls
struck Edmund with astonishment. No one was to be seen
moving about in the space inclosed by them. The sail was
lowered and the vessel brought to the bank. The anchors
were taken ashore and she was soon solidly moored. Then
the crew leapt on to the land and ascended the bank to the
great level inclosure.

The walls were, as Egbert had said, intact--and indeed,
except on the side facing the river, remained almost unbroken
to the present day. An hour's labour sufficed to block
the gateway, where a pair of massive doors were in position,
for the place had been defended by the Saxons against the
Danes at their first landing on the coast. A few men were
placed as sentries on the walls, and, feeling now perfectly
safe from any attack on the land side, Edmund and his
followers returned on board the Dragon for the night.

CHAPTER VIII: THE CRUISE OF THE DRAGON

The night passed without alarm. The gale continued
to blow with fury, and until it abated Edmund had
little fear that the Danes would venture upon an attack.
They had indeed no reason for haste. The Saxon vessel
was in their waters, and could not return so long as the
storm continued to blow from the east. The next day parties
of Danes were seen making their way across the swampy
country from the direction of Yarmouth.

As soon, however, as these approached near enough to
see the Saxons in readiness on the walls of the castle they
retired at once, knowing that the place could be captured by
nothing short of a prolonged and desperate siege. On the
fourth day the storm abated, and the Saxons prepared to make
their way seaward again. The wind still blew, but lightly, from
the same quarter, and the sails would therefore be of no use.
With their great oar-power they were confident that, once
through the Danish flotilla, they could defy pursuit.

Accordingly they again embarked, and loosing their
moorings rowed down towards Yarmouth. They had chosen
a time when the tide was running in; for although this would
hinder their progress it would equally impede their pursuers,
while it would enable them to check their vessel in time
did they find any unforeseen obstacle in their way. They
entered the river and rowed along quietly until they neared
the walls of the town. Here the river was at its narrowest,
and they saw the Danish galleys gathered thickly in the stream.

Edmund and Egbert were on the forecastle, and presently
gave the signal for the men to cease rowing.

"It is just as I expected," Egbert said; "they have formed
a boom across the river of trunks of trees and beams lashed
together. We cannot make our way down until that obstacle
is removed. What say you Edmund?"

"I agree with you," Edmund replied.

"We had best keep along close to the right bank until
within a short distance of the boom; then we must land the
greater part of our men. These must march along the bank
in their phalanx; the others must keep the boat moving close
alongside, and from the forecastle they will be able to fire
down upon the Danes and aid those on shore to drive them
back and make their way to the end of the boom. They have
but to cut the lashings there and the whole will swing round.
But now we see the nature of the obstacle, and what is to be
done, it were best to wait until the tide turns. In the first
place, fewer men will be needed on board the ship, as she
will advance by herself abreast of the men on shore. In the
second place, when the lashing is cut the boom will then
swing down the stream, will cause confusion among the boats
behind it, and will open a clear space for us to make our way
down."

Edmund agreed, a light anchor was dropped, and the
Dragon rode quietly in the stream. Great animation was evident
among the Danes, large numbers crossed the river, and
a strong force gathered at either end of the boom and in
boats close behind it, to prevent the Saxons from attempting
to cut the lashings. There was little uneasiness on board the
Dragon, the Saxons were confident now of the power of their
close formation to force its way through any number of the
enemy, and they would gain such assistance from the fire
from the lofty forecastle that they doubted not that they
should be able to drive back the Danes and destroy the boom.
In an hour the tide no longer rose. They waited till it ran
down with full force, then the anchor was hauled up, and the
Dragon rowed to the bank.

Sixty of the fighting men headed by Egbert leapt on
shore. Edmund with the remainder took his place on the
forecastle. The oars next to the bank were drawn in, and
some of those on the outward side manned by the sailors.
Then in its usual order the phalanx moved slowly forward
while the ship floated along beside them close to the bank.
The Danes with loud shouts advanced to meet them, and the
arrows soon began to fly thickly. Covered by the long shields
of the front rank the Saxons moved forward steadily, while,
as the Danes approached, the archers on the forecastle
opened a destructive fire upon them.

The confidence of the Saxons was justified, for the combat
was never in doubt. Although the Northmen fought
bravely they were unable to withstand the steady advance of
the wedge of spears, and very many fell beneath the rain of
arrows from above. Steadily the wedge made its way until it
reached the end of the boom. A few blows with their axes
sufficed to cut the cables which fastened it in its place. As
soon as this was done Edmund gave a shout, and the Saxons
at once sprang on board the ship, which before the Danes
could follow them was steered out into the stream.

As Egbert had foreseen, the boom as it swung round
swept before it a number of the Danish boats, and imprisoned
them between it and the shore. The oars were soon
run out, and while the men on the forecastle continued their
fire at the Danish boats, the others seizing the oars swept the
Dragon along the stream. The Danes strove desperately to
arrest her progress. Some tried to run alongside and board,
others dashed in among the oars and impeded the work of
the rowers, while from the walls of the town showers of missiles
were poured down upon her. But the tide was gaining
every moment in strength, and partly drifting, partly rowing,
the Dragon, like a bull attacked by a pack of dogs, made her
way down the river. Every effort of the Danes to board was
defeated, and many of their boats sunk, and at last she made
her way into the open sea. There her sails were hoisted, and
she soon left her pursuers behind. Once at sea her course
was again turned north, and picking up some prizes on the
way she took up her station off the mouth of the Humber.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18