the dragon and the raven-第20章

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voyage；　and　the　numbers　which　each　leader　would　place　in　the
field。　The　feasts　were　kept　up　to　a　late　hour；　and；　as　was　the
invariable　custom　of　the　Northmen；　the　arrangements　decided
upon　overnight　were　rediscussed　at　a　morning　meeting；
for　they　held　that　while　over　the　wine…cup　each　man　would
speak　the　truth　frankly　and　honestly；　the　colder　counsels　and
greater　prudence　which　the　morning　brought　were　needed
before　any　matter　could　be　finally　settled。

A　month　thus　passed；　and　Bijorn；　his　family　and　followers
then　moved　south；　as　there　was　to　be　a　great　conference
near　the　southern　point　of　the　country；　at　which　a　large
number　of　the　chiefs　from　Denmark　were　to　be　present。

Edmund　observed　that　for　some　reason　Sweyn　was　looking
forward　anxiously　to　this　meeting；　and　his　sisters　more
than　once　joked　him　about　his　anxiety。

〃Pooh！　pooh！〃　the　jarl　said　one　day　in　answer　to　such
an　observation。　〃Sweyn　is　but　a　lad　yet。　I　know　what　you　are
driving　at；　and　that　Sweyn　is　smitten　with　the　charms　of　my
old　companion's　daughter；　the　pretty　Freda；　I　noted　it　when
we　were　in　camp　together；　but　it　will　be　fully　another　ten
years　yet　before　Sweyn　can　think　of　marrying。　He　has　got　to
win　for　himself　the　name　of　a　great　warrior　before　a　jarl's
daughter　of　proper　spirit　would　so　much　as　think　of　him。
When　he　has　the　spoils　of　France　to　lay　at　her　feet　it　will　be
time　enough。〃

Sweyn　made　no　reply；　but　Edmund　saw　that　he　was　far
from　pleased　at　his　father's　words；　and　a　look　of　surly
determination　on　his　face　showed　the　young　Saxon　that　he　would
go　his　own　way　in　the　matter　if　it　lay　in　his　power。

After　ten　days'　travelling　the　party　arrived　at　the
rendezvous。　Here　drawn　up　on　the　shore　were　a　vast　number　of
galleys　of　all　sizes；　for　the　greater　part　of　those　who　had
assembled　had　journeyed　by　sea。　Great　numbers　of　huts　of
boughs　and　many　tents　constructed　of　sails　had　been　erected。
Edmund　and　the　other　slaves；　these　being　either　Saxon　or
Franks　captured　in　war；　soon　erected　bowers　for　the　jarl　and
his　family。

Edmund　had　been　looking　forward　to　the　meeting　with
much　anxiety；　for　he　had　judged　that　some　mode　of　escape
might　there　open　to　him。　Among　the　Saxon　slaves　were　several
young　men　of　strength　and　vigour；　and　Edmund　had
confided　to　them　his　project　of　stealing　a　boat　and　sailing
away　in　it；　and　they；　knowing　that　he　had　experience　in
navigation；　had　readily　consented　to　join　him　in　making　an
effort　for　freedom。

The　jarl　and　his　family　were　warmly　welcomed　by　many
of　their　companions　in　arms；　and　the　day　after　their　arrival
Bijorn　told　Edmund　to　accompany　him　to　a　banquet　at　which
he　and　his　family　were　to　be　present。　At　four　in　the　afternoon
they　set　out　and　presently　arrived　at　a　large　tent。
Edmund　waited　without　until　the　attendants　carried　in　the
dishes；　when　he　entered　with　them　and　prepared　to　take　his
place　behind　his　master's　seat。　From　a　few　words　which　had
passed　between　Sweyn　and　his　sisters　Edmund　doubted　not
that　the　companion　with　whom　Bijorn　was　going　to　dine　was
the　father　of　the　maiden　about　whom　they　had　joked　him。
He　was　not　surprised　when　on　entering　he　saw　Sweyn　talking
earnestly　with　a　damsel　somewhat　apart　from　the　rest。

The　entrance　of　the　viands　was　the　signal　for　all　to　take
their　places　at　the　table。　There　were　in　all　sixteen　in　number；
and　as　nearly　half　were　women　the　meeting　was　evidently　of
a　family　character；　as　upon　occasions　of　importance　or　when
serious　discussions　were　to　take　place　men　alone　sat　down。
As　Edmund　advanced　to　take　his　place；　his　eye　fell　upon　the
jarl　who　seated　himself　at　the　head　of　the　table；　and　as　he　did
so　he　gave　a　slight　start　of　surprise；　for　he　at　once　recognized
in　him　the　Northman　Siegbert；　whose　ship　he　had　stopped
at　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。　From　him　his　eye　glanced　at
the　girl　by　whose　side　Sweyn　was　on　the　point　of　seating
himself；　and　recognized　in　her　the　maiden　who　had　besought
her　father's　life。　The　dinner　commenced　and　proceeded　for
some　little　time；　when　Edmund　saw　the　girl　looking　fixedly
at　him。

〃Who　is　that　who　is　standing　behind　your　father's　chair？〃
she　asked　Sweyn。

〃A　Saxon　slave；〃　he　answered。　〃His　vessel　was　well…nigh
wrecked　on　our　coast。　Our　people　captured　him　and　slew
some　of　his　followers；　and　the　ship　speedily　took　to　flight。〃

〃Father；〃　the　girl　said　in　a　clear　voice；　which　at　once
attracted　the　attention　of　all；　〃unless　my　eyes　deceive　me　the
young　Saxon　standing　behind　Jarl　Bijorn　is　he　whose　ship
captured　us　as　we　left　England；　and　who　suffered　no　harm　to
be　done　to　us。〃

The　Northman　turned　in　his　chair。

〃It　is　he；　Freda；　surely　enough；　though　how　he　comes　to
be　a　slave　here　to　my　comrade　Bijorn　I　know　not。　Bijorn；　my
friend；　I　owe　this　youth　a　deep　debt　of　gratitude；　he　had　my
life　and　the　life　and　honour　of　Freda　in　his　hands；　and　he
spared　both；　and；　slave　though　he　may　be　of　yours　at　present；
yet　I　hail　him　as　my　friend。　Tell　me　how　came　he　in　your
hands？　He　is　Edmund；　the　valiant　young　Saxon　who　smote
us　more　than　once　so　heavily　down　in　Wessex。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　Bijorn　replied；　〃and　will　tell　you　how　he　came
into　my　hands；　and　in　truth　he　was　captured　by　accident　and
not　by　any　valour　of　my　arm。〃　The　jarl　then　related　the
circumstances　under　which　Edmund　had　been　captured；　and
the　narrow　escape　he　had　had　of　being　offered　as　a　sacrifice
to　Odin。　And　Siegbert　then　told　his　guests　at　length　the
incidents　of　his　capture　by　the　Dragon。

〃He　let　me　go　free　and　without　a　ransom；〃　he　concluded；
〃and　that　part　of　my　obligation　I　should　be　glad　to　repay；
though　for　his　gentleness　to　Freda　I　must　still　remain　his
debtor。　What　say　you；　Bijorn；　will　you　sell　him　to　me？　Name
your　price　in　horses；　arms；　and　armour；　and　whatever　it　be　I
will　pay　it　to　you。〃

〃In　truth；　Siegbert；〃　Bijorn　said；　〃I　like　not　to　part　with
the　lad；　but　since　you　are　so　urgent；　and　seeing　that　you
cannot　otherwise　discharge　the　obligation　under　which；　as　you
say；　he　has　laid　you；　I　cannot　refuse　your　prayer。　As　to　the
price；　we　will　arrange　that　anon。〃

〃Then　it　is　settled；〃　Siegbert　said。　〃You　are　a　free　man；
Ealdorman　Edmund；〃　and　he　held　out　his　hand　to　the　youth。
〃Now　seat　yourself　at　the　table　with　my　guests；　there　are　none
here　but　may　feel　honoured　at　dining　with　one　of　King
Alfred's　bravest　thanes。〃

The　transformation　in　Edmund's　position　was　sudden
indeed；　a　moment　since　he　was　a　slave；　and　although　he　had
determined　upon　making　an　effort　for　freedom；　he　had
known　that　the　chances　of　escape　were　small；　as　swift　galleys
would　have　been　sent　off　in　pursuit；　and　it　was　probable　that
he　would　have　been　speedily　overtaken　and　brought　back。
Now　he　was　free；　and　would　doubtless　be　allowed　to　return
home　with　the　first　party　who　sailed　thither。

Siegbert　at　once　tried　to　make　Edmund　feel　at　home；
addressing　much　of　his　conversation　to　him。　Bijorn；　too；
spoke　in　a　friendly　manner　with　him；　but　Sweyn　was　silent
and　sullen；　he　was　clearly　ill…pleased　at　this　change　of　fortune
which　had　turned　his　father's　slave　into　a　fellow…guest　and
equal。　His　annoyance　was　greatly　heightened　by　the　fact　that
it　was　Freda　who　had　recognized　the　young　Saxon；　and　the
pleasure　which　her　face　evinced　when　her　father　proposed
to　purchase　him　from　Bijorn　angered　him　still　more。　In　his
heart　he　cursed　the　horse　whose　welcoming　neigh　had　in　the
first　instance　saved　Edmund's　life；　and　the　trial　by　augury
which　had　confirmed　the　first　omen。　After　the　banquet　was
over　Siegbert　requested　Edmund　to　relate　his　various
adventures。

The　telling　of　tales　of　daring　was　one　of　the　favourite
amusements　of　the　Danes；　Siegbert　and　his　friends　quaffed
great　bumpers　of　mead；　and　the　ladies　sat　apart　listening
while　Edmund　told　his　story。

〃You　have　a　brave　record；　indeed；〃　Siegbert　said　when
he　had　finished；　〃for　one　so　young；　and　fond　as　are　our　youths
of　adventure　there　is　not　one　of　them　of　your　age　who　has
accomplished　a　tithe　of　what　you　have　done。　Why；　Freda；　if
this　youth　were　but　one　of　us　he　would　have　the　hearts　of　all
the　Norse　maidens　at　his　feet。　In　the　eyes　of　a　Danish　girl；　as
of　a　Dane；　valour　is　the　highest　of　recommendations。〃

〃I　don't　know；　father；〃　Freda　said；　colouring　at　being
thus　addressed；　〃that　we　should　be　as　bold　as　that；　although
assuredly　it　is　but　right　that　a　maiden　should　esteem　valour
highly。　It　is　to　her　husband　she　has　to　look　for　protection；
and　she　shares　in　the　honour　and　spoil　which　he　gains　by　his
valiant　deeds；　so　you　have　always　taught　me。〃

〃And　rightly　too；　girl。　Next　to　being　a　great　hero；　the
greatest　honour　is　to　be　the　wife　of　one。　I　pledge　you；
Ealdorman　Edmund；　and　should　be　right　proud　were　you　a
son　of　mine。　You　have　told　your　story　modestly；　for　many　of
the　battles　and　adventures　of　which　you　have　spoken　are
known　to　me　by　report；　and　fame　has　given　you　a　larger　share
in　the　successes　than　you　claim　for　yourself。　'Tis　a　pity　you
were　not　born　a　Northman；　for　there　is　little　for　you　to　do　in
Saxon　England　now。〃

〃I　do　not　despair　yet；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃Things　have
gone　badly　with　us；　but　the　last　blow　is　not　struck　yet。　You
will　hear　of　King　Alfred　in　the　spring；　unless　I　am　mistaken。〃

〃But　they　say　your　King　Alfred　is　half　a　monk；　and　that
he　loves　reading　books　more　than　handling　the　sword；　though；
to　do　him　justice；　he　has　shown　himself　a　brave　warrior；　and
has　given　us　far　more　trouble　than　all　the　other　Saxon　kings
together。〃

〃King　Alfred　fights　bravely；〃　Edmund　said；　〃because　he
is　fighting　for　his　country　and　people；　but　it　is　true　that　he
loves　not　war　nor　strife。　He　reads　much　and　thinks　more；
and　should　he　ever　come　to　his　kingdom　again　he　will　assuredly
be　one　of　the　wisest　and　best　monarchs　who　has　ever　sat
on　a　throne。　He　has　talked　to　me　much　of　the　things　which
he　has　at　heart；　and　I　know　he　intends　to　draw　up　wise　laws
for　the　ruling　of　his　people。〃

〃We　love　not　greatly　being　ruled；　we　Northmen；〃　Bijorn
said；　〃but　for　each　to　go　his　own　way　as　he　wills；　provided
only　he　inflicts　no　ill　upon　his　neighbour。　We　come　and　we
go　each　as　it　pleases　him。　Our　fleets　traverse　the　sea　and
bring　home　plunder　and　booty。　What　need　we　of　laws？〃

〃At　present　you　have　no　great　need　of　laws；〃　Edmund
replied；　〃seeing　that　you　lead　a　wandering　life；　but　when　the
time　shall　comeand　it　must　come　to　you　as　it　has　come　to
other　nationswhen　you　will　settle　down　as　a　rich　and
peaceful　community；　then　laws　will　become　necessary。〃

〃Well；〃　Bijorn　said；　〃right　glad　am　I　that　I　live　before
such　times　have　come。　So　far　as　I　can　see　the　settling　down
you　speak　of；　and　the　abandonment　of　the　ancient　gods　has
done　no　great　good　either　to　you　Saxons　or　to　the　Franks。
Both　of　you　were　in　the　old　time　valiant　people；　while　now
you　are　unable　to　withstand　our　arms。　You　gather　goods；
and　we　carry　them　off；　you　build　cities；　and　we　destroy　them；
you　cultivate　the　land；　and　we　sweep　off　the　crops。　It　seems
to　me　that　we　have　the　best　of　it。〃

〃It　seems　so　at　present；〃　Edmund　said；　〃but　it　will　not
last。　Already　in　Northumbria　and　in　East　Anglia　the　Danes；
seeing　that　there　is　no　more　plunder　to　be　had；　are　settling
down　and　adopting　the　customs　of　the　Saxons；　and　so　will　it
be