the dragon and the raven-第27部分

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working　vigorously　at　forges　in　the　open　air；　roofs　thatched
with　rushes　and　supported　by　poles　being　erected　over　them
to　keep　the　rain　and　snow　from　the　fires。　A　score　of　boats
were　threading　the　mazes　of　the　marshes　bringing　men　and
cattle　to　the　island。　All　was　bustle　and　activity；　every　face
shone　with　renewed　hope。　King　Alfred　himself　and　his　thanes
moved　to　and　fro　among　the　workers　encouraging　them　at
their　labours。

Messengers　came　and　went　in　numbers；　and　from　all
parts　of　Wessex　King　Alfred　received　news　of　the　joy　which
his　people　felt　at　the　tidings　that　he　was　again　about　to　raise
his　standard；　and　of　the　readiness　of　all　to　obey　his　summons。
So　well　was　the　secret　kept　that　no　rumour　of　the
storm　about　to　burst　upon　them　reached　the　Danes。　The
people；　rejoicing　and　eager　as　they　were；　suffered　no　evidence
of　their　feelings　to　be　apparent　to　their　cruel　masters；
who；　believing　the　Saxons　to　be　finally　crushed；　were　lulled
into　a　false　security。　The　king's　treasure　had　been　brought
from　its　hiding…place　to　Athelney；　and　Edmund　and　Egbert
had　also　handed　over　their　own　share　of　the　booty　to　the
king。　The　golden　cups　and　goblets　he　had　refused　to　take；
but　had　gladly　accepted　the　silver。

Edmund　and　Egbert　had　left　Athelney　for　a　few　days　on
a　mission。　The　king　had　described　to　them　minutely　where
he　had　hidden　the　sacred　standard　with　the　Golden　Dragon。
It　was　in　the　hut　of　a　charcoal…burner　in　the　heart　of　the
forests　of　Wiltshire。　Upon　reaching　the　hut；　and　showing　to
the　man　the　king's　signet…ring；　which　when　leaving　the
standard　he　had　told　him　would　be　the　signal　that　any　who　might
come　for　it　were　sent　by　him；　the　man　produced　the　standard
from　the　thatch　of　his　cottage；　in　which　it　was　deeply
buried；　and　hearing　that　it　was　again　to　be　unfurled　called
his　two　stalwart　sons　from　their　work　and　at　once　set　out
with　Edmund　and　Egbert　to　join　the　army。

Easter　came　and　went；　but　the　preparations　were　not
yet　completed。　A　vast　supply　of　arms　was　needed；　and　while
the　smiths　laboured　at　their　work　Edmund　and　Egbert　drilled
the　fighting　men　who　had　assembled；　in　the　tactics　which
had　on　a　small　scale　proved　so　effective。　The　wedge　shape
was　retained；　and　Edmund's　own　band　claimed　the　honour
of　forming　the　apex；　but　it　had　now　swollen　until　it　contained
a　thousand　men；　and　as　it　moved　in　a　solid　body；　with　its
thick　edge　of　spears　outward；　the　king　felt　confident　that　it
would　be　able　to　break　through　the　strongest　line　of　the　Danes。

》From　morning　till　night　Edmund　and　Egbert；　assisted
by　the　thanes　of　Somerset　who　had　gathered　there；　drilled
the　men　and　taught　them　to　rally　rapidly　from　scattered　order
into　solid　formation。　Unaccustomed　to　regular　tactics
the　ease　and　rapidity　with　which　these　movements　came　to
be　carried　out　at　the　notes　of　Edmund's　bugle　seemed　to　all
to　be　little　less　than　miraculous；　and　they　awaited　with
confidence　and　eagerness　their　meeting　with　the　Danes　on　the
field。

At　the　end　of　April　messengers　were　sent　out　bidding
the　Saxons　hold　themselves　in　readiness；　and　on　the　6th　of
May　Alfred　moved　with　his　force　from　Athelney　to　Egbertesstan
（now　called　Brixton）；　lying　to　the　east　of　the　forest　of
Selwood；　which　lay　between　Devonshire　and　Somerset。　The
Golden　Dragon　had　been　unfurled　On　the　fort　in　Athelney；
and　after　crossing　the　marshes　to　the　mainland　it　was　carried
in　the　centre　of　the　phalanx。

On　the　12th　they　reached　the　appointed　place；　where
they　found　a　great　multitude　of　Saxons　already　gathered。
They　had　poured　in　from　Devonshire；　Somerset；　and
Wiltshire；　from　Dorset　and　Hants。　In　spite　of　the　vigorous
edicts　of　the　Danes　against　arms　a　great　proportion　of　them
bore　weapons；　which　had　been　buried　in　the　earth；　or　concealed
in　hollow　trees　or　other　hiding…places　until　the　time
for　action　should　again　arrive。

As　they　saw　the　king　approaching　at　the　head　of　his
band；　with　the　Golden　Dragon　fluttering　in　the　breeze；　a
great　shout　of　joy　arose　from　the　multitude；　and　they　crowded
round　the　monarch　with　shouts　of　welcome　at　his　reappearance
among　them；　and　with　vows　to　die　rather　than　again　to
yield　to　the　tyranny　of　the　Northmen。　The　rest　of　the　day
was　spent　in　distributing　the　newly　fashioned　arms　to　those
who　needed　them；　and　in　arranging　the　men　in　bands　under
their　own　thanes；　or；　in　their　absence；　such　leaders　as　the
king　appointed。

Upon　the　following　morning　the　army　started；　marching
in　a　north…easterly　direction　against　the　great　camp　of
the　Danes　at　Chippenham。　That　night　they　rested　at　Okeley；
and　then　marched　on　until　in　the　afternoon　they　came　within
sight　of　the　Danes　gathered　at　Ethandune；　a　place　supposed
to　be　identical　with　Edington　near　Westbury。

As　the　time　for　Alfred's　reappearance　approached　the
agitation　and　movement　on　the　part　of　the　people　had
attracted　the　attention　of　the　Danes；　and　the　news　of　his
summons　to　the　Saxons　to　meet　him　at　Egbertesstan　having　come
to　their　ears；　they　gathered　hastily　from　all　parts　under
Guthorn　their　king；　who　was　by　far　the　most　powerful　viking
who　had　yet　appeared　in　England；　and　who　ruled　East　Anglia
as　well　as　Wessex。　Confident　of　victory　the　great　Danish
army　beheld　the　approach　of　the　Saxons。　Long　accustomed
to　success；　and　superior　in　numbers；　they　regarded　with
something　like　contempt　the　approach　of　their　foes。

In　the　centre　Alfred　placed　the　trained　phalanx　which
had　accompanied　him　from　Athelney；　in　the　centre　of　which
waved　the　Golden　Dragon；　by　whose　side　he　placed　himself。
Its　command　he　left　in　the　hands　of　Edmund；　he　himself
directing　the　general　movements　of　the　force。　On　his　right
were　the　men　of　Somerset　and　Hants；　on　the　left　those　of
Wilts；　Dorset；　and　Devon。

His　orders　were　that　the　advance　was　to　be　made　with
regularity；　that　the　whole　line　were　to　fight　for　a　while　on
the　defensive；　resisting　the　onslaught　of　the　Danes　until　he
gave　the　word　for　the　central　phalanx　to　advance　and　burst
through　the　lines　of　the　enemy；　and　that　when　these　had　been
thrown　into　confusion　by　this　attack　the　flanks　were　to　charge
foward　and　complete　the　rout。　This　plan　was　carried　out。　The
Danes　advanced　with　their　usual　impetuosity；　and　for　hours
tried　to　break　through　the　lines　of　the　Saxon　spears。　Both
sides　fought　valiantly；　the　Danes　inspired　by　their　pride　in
their　personal　prowess　and　their　contempt　for　the　Saxons；
the　Saxons　by　their　hatred　for　their　oppressors；　and　their
determination　to　die　rather　than　again　submit　to　their　bondage。
At　length；　after　the　battle　had　raged　some　hours；　and
both　parties　were　becoming　wearied　from　their　exertions；
the　king　gave　Edmund　the　order。

Hitherto　his　men　had　fought　in　line　with　the　rest；　but　at
the　sound　of　his　bugle　they　quitted　their　places；　and；　ere　the
Danes　could　understand　the　meaning　of　this　sudden　movement；
had　formed　themselves　into　their　wedge；　raised　a　mighty
shout；　and　advanced　against　the　enemy。　The　onslaught　was
irresistible。　The　great　wedge；　with　its　thick　fringe　of　spears；
burst　its　way　straight　through　the　Danish　centre　carrying　all
before　it。　Then　at　another　note　of　Edmund's　bugle　it　broke
up　into　two　bodies；　which　moved　solidly　to　the　right　and　left；
crumpling　up　the　Danish　lines。

Alfred　now　gave　the　order　for　a　general　advance；　and
the　Saxon　ranks；　with　a　shout　of　triumph；　flung　themselves
upon　the　disordered　Danes。　Their　success　was　instant　and
complete。　Confounded　at　the　sudden　break　up　of　their　line；
bewildered　by　these　new　and　formidable　tactics；　attacked　in
front　and　in　flank；　the　Danes　broke　and　fled。　The　Saxons
pursued　them　hotly；　Edmund　keeping　his　men　well　together
in　case　the　Danes　should　rally。　Their　rout；　however；　was　too
complete；　vast　numbers　were　slain；　and　the　remnant　of　their
army　did　not　pause　until　they　found　themselves　within　the
shelter　of　their　camp　at　Chippenham。

No　quarter　was　given　by　the　Saxons　to　those　who　fell
into　their　hands；　and　pressing　upon　the　heels　of　the　flying
Danes　the　victorious　army　of　King　Alfred　sat　down　before
Chippenham。　Every　hour　brought　fresh　reinforcements　to
the　king's　standard。　Many　were　already　on　their　way　when
the　battle　was　fought；　and　as　the　news　of　the　victory　spread
rapidly　every　man　of　the　West　Saxons　capable　of　bearing　arms
made　for　Chippenham；　feeling　that　now　or　never　must　a　complete
victory　over　the　Danes　be　obtained。

No　assault　was　made　upon　the　Danish　camp。　Confident　in　his
now　vastly　superior　numbers；　and　in　the　enthusiasm　which
reigned　in　his　army；　Alfred　was　unwilling　to　waste
a　single　life　in　an　attack　upon　the　entrenchments；　which　must
ere　long　surrender　from　famine。　There　was　no　risk　of
reinforcements　arriving　to　relieve　the　Danes。　Guthorn　had　led
to　the　battle　the　whole　fighting　force　of　the　Danes　in　Wessex
and　East　Anglia。　This　was　far　smaller　than　it　would　have
been　a　year　earlier；　but　the　Northmen；　having　once　completed
their　work　of　pillage；　soon　turned　to　fresh　fields　of
adventure。　Those　whose　disposition　led　them　to　prefer　a
quiet　life　had　settled　upon　the　land　from　which　they　had
dispossessed　the　Saxons；　but　the　principal　bands　of　rovers；
finding　that　England　was　exhausted　and　that　no　more　plunder
could　be　had；　had　either　gone　back　to　enjoy　at　home　the
booty　they　had　gained；　or　had　sailed　to　harry　the　shores　of
France；　Spain；　and　Italy。

Thus　the　position　of　the　Danes　in　Chippenham　was
desperate；　and　at　the　end　of　fourteen　days；　by　which　time
they　were　reduced　to　an　extremity　by　hunger；　they　sent
messengers　into　the　royal　camp　offering　their　submission。　They
promised　if　spared　to　quit　the　kingdom　with　all　speed；　and
to　observe　this　contract　more　faithfully　than　those　which　they
had　hitherto　made　and　broken。　They　offered　the　king　as
many　hostages　as　he　might　wish　to　take　for　the　fulfilment　of
their　promises。　The　haggard　and　emaciated　condition　of
those　who　came　out　to　treat　moved　Alfred　to　pity。

So　weakened　were　they　by　famine　that　they　could　scarce
drag　themselves　along。　It　would　have　been　easy　for　the　Saxons
to　have　slain　them　to　the　last　man；　and　the　majority　of
the　Saxons；　smarting　under　the　memory　of　the　cruel　oppression
which　they　had　suffered；　the　destruction　of　home　and
property；　and　the　sla