the dragon and the raven-第18部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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；　intactand　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。

Several　ships　were　captured　as　they　sailed　out　from　the
river。　After　the　spoil　on　board　was　taken　out；　these；　instead
of　being　burnt；　as　had　always　been　the　case　before；　were
allowed　to　proceed　on　their　way；　since　had　they　been　destroyed
the　crews　must　either　have　been　slain　or　landed。　The　first
course　was