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skins　of　the　oxen　killed　for　the　use　of　the　garrison　were
carefully　laid　aside；　the　inside　being　thickly　rubbed
with　grease。

The　Danish　preparations　were　at　length　completed；　the
war…engines　were　brought　up　and　began　to　hurl　great　stones
against　the　wall　at　three　points。　The　Saxons　kept　up　a　constant
fire　of　arrows　at　those　employed　at　working　them；　but
the　Danes；　though　losing　many　men；　threw　up　breastworks
to　protect　them。

The　Saxons　manufactured　many　broad　ladders；　and　in
the　middle　of　the　night；　lowering　these　over　the　walls；　they
descended　noiselessly；　and　three　strong　bodies　fell　upon　the
Danes　guarding　the　engines。　These　fought　stoutly；　but　were
driven　back；　the　engines　were　destroyed；　and　the　Saxons　retired
to　their　walls　again　and　drew　up　their　ladders　before
the　main　body　of　Danes　could　arrive　from　the　camp。　This
caused　a　delay　of　some　days　in　the　siege；　but　fresh　engines
having　been　constructed；　the　assault　on　the　walls　was
recommenced；　this　time　the　whole　Danish　army　moving　out　and
sleeping　at　night　close　to　them。

After　three　days'　battering；　breaches　of　from　thirty　to
fifty　feet　wide　were　effected　in　the　walls。　The　Saxons　had
not　been　idle。　Behind　each　of　the　threatened　points　they
raised　banks　of　earth　ten　feet　high；　and　cut　away　the　bank
perpendicularly　behind　the　shattered　wall；　so　that　the
assailants　as　they　poured　in　at　the　gaps　would　have　to
leap　ten　feet　down。

Each　night　the　masses　of　wall　which　fell　inside　were
cleared　away；　and　when　the　breach　was　complete；　and　it　was
evident　that　the　assault　would　take　place　the　next　morning；
the　hides　which　had　been　prepared　were　laid　with　the　hairy
side　down；　on　the　ground　below。　Through　them　they　drove
firmly　into　the　ground　numbers　of　pikes　with　the　heads　sticking
up　one　or　two　feet；　and　pointed　stakes　hardened　in　the
fire。　Then　satisfied　that　all　had　been　done　the　Saxons　lay
down　to　rest。

In　the　morning　the　Danes　advanced　to　the　assault。　This
time　they　were　but　little　annoyed　in　their　advance　by　the
archers。　These　were　posted　on　the　walls　at　each　side　of　the
gaps　to　shoot　down　at　the　backs　of　the　Danes　after　they　had
entered。　On　the　inner　semicircular　mounds　the　Saxon　force
gathered　four　deep。

With　loud　shouts　the　Danes　rushed　forward；　climbed
the　outer　mounds；　and　reached　the　breaches。　Here　the　leaders
paused　on　seeing　the　gulf　below　them；　but　pressed　by
those　behind　they　could　not　hesitate　long；　but　leapt　down
from　the　breach　on　to　the　slippery　hides　below。

Not　one　who　did　so　lived。　It　was　impossible　to　keep
their　feet　as　they　alighted；　and　as　they　fell　they　were　impaled
by　the　pikes　and　stakes。　Pressed　by　those　behind；　however；
fresh　men　leapt　down；　falling　in　their　turn；　until　at　length
the　hides　and　stakes　were　covered；　and　those　leaping　down
found　a　foothold　on　the　bodies　of　the　fallen。　Then　they
crowded　on　and　strove　to　climb　the　inner　bank　and　attack
the　Saxons。　Now　the　archers　on　the　walls　opened　fire　upon
them；　and；　pierced　through　and　through　with　the　arrows
which　struck　them　on　the　back；　the　Danes　fell　in　great
numbers。　Edmund　commanded　at　one　of　the　breaches；　Egbert　at
another；　and　Oswald；　an　old　and　experienced　warrior；　at　the
third。

At　each　point　the　scene　was　similar。　The　Danes　struggled
up　the　mounds　only　to　fail　to　break　through　the　hedge　of
spears　which　crowned　them；　fast　numbers　dying　in　the　attempt；
while　as　many　more　fell　pierced　with　arrows。　For　an
hour　the　Danes　continued　their　desperate　efforts；　and　not
until　fifteen　hundred　had　been　slain　did　they　draw　off　to
their　camp；　finding　it　impossible　to　break　through　the　Saxon
defences。

Loud　rose　the　shouts　of　the　triumphant　Saxons　as　the
Danes　retired；　and　it　needed　all　the　efforts　of　their　leaders　to
prevent　them　from　pouring　out　in　pursuit；　but　the　events　of
the　preceding　year　had　taught　the　Saxon　leaders　how　often
their　impetuosity　after　success　had　proved　fatal　to　the　Saxons；
and　that　once　in　the　plain　the　Danes　would　turn　upon
them　and　crush　them　by　their　still　greatly　superior　numbers。
Therefore　no　one　was　allowed　to　sally　out；　and　the　discomfited
Danes　retired　unmolested。

The　next　morning　to　their　joy　the　Saxons　saw　that　the
invaders　had　broken　up　their　camp；　and　had　marched　away
in　the　night。　Scouts　were　sent　out　in　various　directions；　and
the　Saxons　employed　themselves　in　stripping　and　burying
the　Danes　who　had　fallen　within　the　fort；　only　a　few　of　the
most　distinguished　having　been　carried　off。　The　scouts
returned　with　news　that　the　Danes　had　made　no　halt；　but　had
departed　entirely　from　that　part　of　the　country。　Finding　that
for　the　present　they　were　free　of　the　invaders；　the　Saxons　left
the　fort　and　scattered　again；　to　rebuild　as　best　they　might
their　devastated　homes。

But　if　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Sherborne　the　Danes
had　been　severely　repulsed；　in　other　parts　of　the　kingdom
they　continued　to　make　great　progress；　and　the　feeling　of
despair　among　the　Saxons　increased。　Great　numbers　left
their　homes；　and　taking　with　them　all　their　portable
possessions；　made　their　way　to　the　sea…coast；　and　there　embarked
for　France；　where　they　hoped　to　be　able　to　live　peaceably　and
quietly。

Edmund　placed　no　hindrance　in　the　way　of　such　of　his
people　who　chose　this　course；　for　the　prospect　appeared
well…nigh　hopeless。　The　majority　of　the　Saxons　were　utterly
broken　in　spirit；　and　a　complete　conquest　of　the　kingdom　by　the
Danes　seemed　inevitable。　In　the　spring；　however；　of　877　King
Alfred　again　issued　an　urgent　summons。　A　great　horde　of
Danes　had　landed　at　Exeter　and　taken　possession　of　that　town；
and　he　determined　to　endeavour　to　crush　them。　He　sent　to
Edmund　begging　him　to　proceed　at　once　to　Poole；　where　the
king's　fleet　was　ready　for　sea；　and　to　embark　in　it　with　what
force　he　could　raise；　and　to　sail　and　blockade　the　entrance　to
the　river　Exe；　and　so　prevent　the　Danes　from　reinforcing　their
countrymen；　while　he　with　his　forces　laid　siege　to　Exeter。

Edmund　would　have　taken　his　own　vessel；　but　some　time
would　have　been　lost；　and　the　king's　ships　were　short　of　hands。
He　was　not　sorry；　indeed；　that　his　men　should　have　some
practise　at　sea；　and　taking　his　own　band；　in　which　the　vacancies
which　had　been　caused　in　the　defence　of　the　fort　had
been　filled　up；　he　proceeded　to　Poole。　Here　he　embarked
his　men　in　one　of　the　ships；　and　the　fleet；　comprising　twenty
vessels；　put　to　sea。

The　management　of　the　vessels　and　their　sails　was　in
the　hands　of　experienced　sailors；　and　Edmund's　men　had　no
duties　to　perform　except　to　fight　the　enemy　when　they　met
them。

The　news　of　the　siege　of　Exeter　reached　the　Danes　at
Wareham；　which　was　their　head…quarters；　and　120　vessels
filled　with　their　troops　sailed　for　the　relief　of　Exeter。

The　weather　was　unpropitious；　heavy　fogs　lay　on　the
water；　dissipated　occasionally　by　fierce　outbursts　of　wind。　The
Saxon　fleet　kept　the　sea。　It　was　well　that　for　a　time　the　Danish
fleet　did　not　appear　in　sight；　for　the　Saxons；　save　the
sailors；　were　unaccustomed　to　the　water；　and　many　suffered
greatly　from　the　rough　motion；　and　had　the　Danes　appeared
for　the　first　week　after　the　fleet　put　to　sea　a　combat　must
have　been　avoided；　as　the　troops　were　in　no　condition　to
fight。

Presently；　however；　they　recovered　from　their　malady
and　became　eager　to　meet　the　enemy；　Edmund　bade　his　men
take　part　in　the　working　of　the　ship　in　order　to　accustom
themselves　to　the　duties　of　seamen。　The　fleet　did　not　keep
the　sea　all　the　time；　returning　often　to　the　straits　between
the　Isle　of　Wight　and　the　mainland；　where　they　lay　in　shelter；
a　look…out　being　kept　from　the　top　of　the　hills；　whence　a　wide
sweep　of　sea　could　be　seen；　and　where　piles　of　wood　were
collected　by　which　a　signal　fire　could　warn　the　fleet　to　put　to
sea　should　the　enemy's　vessels　come　in　sight。

A　full　month　passed　and　the　Saxons　began　to　fear　that
the　Danes　might　have　eluded　them；　having　perhaps　been
blown　out　to　sea　and　having　made　the　land　again　far　to　the
west。　One　morning；　however；　smoke　was　seen　to　rise　from
the　beacon　fire。　The　crews　who　were　on　shore　instantly　hurried
on　board。　From　the　hills　the　Danish　fleet　was　made　out
far　to　the　west　and　was　seen　to　be　approaching　the　land　from
seaward；　having　been　driven　far　out　of　its　course　by　the　winds。

The　weather　was　wild　and　threatening　and　the　sailors
predicted　a　great　storm。　Nevertheless　the　fleet　put　to　sea
and　with　reefed　sails　ran　to　the　west。　Their　vessels　were　larger
than　the　Danish　galleys　and　could　better　keep　the　sea　in　a
storm。　Many　miles　were　passed　before；　from　the　decks；　the
Danish　flotilla　could　be　seen。　Presently；　however；　a　great
number　of　their　galleys　were　discerned　rowing　in　towards
Swanage　Bay。

In　spite　of　the　increasing　fury　of　the　wind　the　Saxons
spread　more　sail　and　succeeded　in　intercepting　the　Danes。　A
desperate　fight　began；　but　the　Danes　in　their　low；　long
vessels　had　all　they　could　do　to　keep　afloat　on　the　waves。
Many　were　run　down　by　the　Saxons。　The　showers　of　arrows　from
their　lofty　poops　confused　the　rowers　and　slew　many。　Sweeping
along　close　to　them　they　often　broke　off　the　oars　and
disabled　them。　Sometimes　two　or　three　of　the　Danish　galleys
would　try　to　close　with　a　Saxon　ship；　but　the　sea　was　too
rough　for　the　boats　to　remain　alongside　while　the　men　tried
to　climb　up　the　high　sides；　and　the　Saxons　with　their　spears
thrust　down　those　who　strove　to　do　so。　Confusion　and　terror
soon　reigned　among　the　Danes；　and　fearing　to　try　to　escape
by　sea　in　such　a　storm　made　for　the　shore；　hotly　pursued
by　the　Saxons。

But　the　shore　was　even　more　inhospitable　than　their
foes。　Great　rocks　bordered　the　coast；　and　upon　these　the
galleys　were　dashed　into　fragments。　The　people　on　shore；
who　had　gathered　at　the　sight　of　the　approaching　fleets；　fell
upon　such　of　the　Danes　as　succeeded　in　gaining　the　coast；
and　everyone　who　landed　was　instantly　slain。　Thus；　partly
from　the　effects　of　the　Saxon　fleet　but　still　more　from　that　of
the　storm；　the　whole　of　the　Danish　fleet　of　one　hundred　and
twenty　vessels　was　destroyed；　not　a　single　ship　escaping　the
general　destruction。





CHAPTER　VII：　THE　DRAGON



The　Danes　at　Exeter；　being　now　cut　off　from　all　hope
of　relief；　asked　for　terms；　an