the dragon and the raven-第33章

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which　ties　me　to　my　couch；　I　thought　of　you。　I　said；　'If　any
can　follow　and　recapture　Freda　it　is　Edmund。'　The　Danes
had　for　the　most　part　moved　away；　and　there　were　few　would
care　to　risk　a　quarrel　with　Sweyn　in　a　matter　which　concerned
them　not　closely；　but　I　felt　that　I　could　rely　upon　you；　and
that　you　would　spare　no　pains　to　rescue　my　child。〃

〃That　will　I　not！〃　Edmund　exclaimed；　〃but　tell　me　first
what　you　think　are　his　plans。　Which　way　has　he　gone；　and
what　force　has　he　with　him？〃

〃The　band　he　commands　are　six　shiploads；　each　numbering
fifty　men。　What　his　plans　may　be　I　know　not；　but
many　of　the　Danes；　I　know；　purposed；　when　the　war　was
finished　here；　to　move　east　through　Burgundy。　Some　intended
to　build　boats　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhine　and　sail
down　on　that　river；　others　intended　to　journey　further　and　to
descend　by　the　Elbe。　I　know　not　which　course　Sweyn　may
adopt。　The　country　between　this　and　the　Rhine　swarms　with
Danes。　I　do　not　suppose　that　Sweyn　will　join　any　other　party。
Having　Freda　with　him；　he　will　prefer　keeping　apart；　but　in
any　case　it　would　not　be　safe　for　you　to　journey　with　your
band；　who　would　assuredly　become　embroiled　with　the　first
party　of　Danes　they　met；　and　even　if　they　be　as　brave　as
yourself　they　would　be　defeated　by　such　superior　numbers。〃

〃You　do　not　think　that　Sweyn　will　venture　to　use　violence
to　force　Freda　to　become　his　wife？〃

〃I　think　he　will　hardly　venture　upon　that；〃　Siegbert　said；
〃however　violent　and　headstrong　he　may　be。　To　carry　off　a
maiden　for　a　wife　is　accounted　no　very　evil　deed；　for　the
maiden　is　generally　not　unwilling；　but　to　force　her　by　violence
to　become　his　wife　would　be　a　deed　so　contrary　to　our
usages　that　it　would　bring　upon　him　the　anger　of　the　whole
nation。　Knowing　Sweyn's　disposition；　I　believe　that　were　there
no　other　way；　he　would　not　hesitate　even　at　this；　but　might
take　ship　and　carry　her　to　some　distant　land；　but　he　would
not　do　this　until　all　other　means　fail。　He　will　strive　to　tire　her
out；　and　so　bring　her　in　her　despair　to　consent　to　wed　him。〃

Edmund　was　silent　for　three　or　four　minutes；　then　he
said：　〃I　must　consult　my　kinsman　Egbert。　I　will　return　and
tell　you　what　I　purpose　doing。〃

On　leaving　the　cottage　Edmund　found　Egbert　walking
up　and　down　outside　awaiting　the　result　of　the　interview。　He
had　been　present　when　the　Dane　had　told　of　Freda's　abduction；
and　knew　how　sore　a　blow　it　was　to　the　young　ealdorman；
for　Edmund　had　made　no　secret　to　him　of　his　intention　some
day　to　wed　the　Danish　jarl's　daughter。　Edmund　in　a　few　words
related　to　him　the　substance　of　Siegbert's　narrative；　and　ended
by　saying：　〃Now；　Egbert；　what　is　best　to　be　done？〃

〃　'Tis　of　no　use　asking　me；　Edmund；　you　know　well　enough
that　it　is　you　that　always　decide　and　I　agree。　I　have　a
hand　to　strike；　but　no　head　to　plan。　Tell　me　only　what　you
wish；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　I　will　do　my　best　to　execute
it。〃

〃Of　course　we　must　follow；〃　Edmund　said；　〃of　that　there
is　no　question。　The　only　doubt　is　as　to　the　force　we　must
take。　What　Siegbert　said　is　true。　The　Danish　bands　are　so
numerous　to　the　east　that　we　should　be　sure　to　fall　in　with
some　of　them；　and　fight　as　we　might；　should　be　destroyed；
and　yet　with　a　smaller　number　how　could　we　hope　to　rescue
Freda　from　Sweyn's　hands？〃

Edmund　walked　up　and　down　for　some　time。

〃I　think；〃　he　went　on　at　last；　〃the　best　plan　will　be　to　take
a　party　of　but　four　at　most。　I　must　choose　those　who　will　be
able　to　pass　best　as　Danes。　With　so　small　a　number　I　may
traverse　the　country　unobserved。　I　will　take　with　me　two　of
Siegbert's　men；　who；　when　we　get　nigh　to　Sweyn's　band；　may
join　with　him　and　tell　me　how　things　are　going；　and　how
Sweyn　treats　his　captive。　If　I　find　he　is　pushing　matters　to　an
extreme　I　must　make　some　desperate　effort　to　carry　her　off；
but　if；　as　is　more　probable；　he　trusts　to　time　to　break　her
resolution；　I　shall　follow　at　a　short　distance。〃

〃Shall　I　go　with　you；　Edmund？〃

〃I　think　it　will　be　better　not；　Egbert。　Your　beard　would
mark　you　as　a　Saxon　at　once。〃

〃But　that　I　can　cut　off；〃　Egbert　said。　〃It　would　be　a　sacrifice
truly；　but　I　would　do　it　without　hesitation。〃

〃Thanks；　dear　kinsman；　but　I　think　it　would　be　of　more
purpose　for　you　to　remain　in　command　of　the　Dragon。　She
may　meet　many　foes；　and　it　were　best　that　you　were　there　to
fight　and　direct　her。　I　pray　you　at　once　to　descend　the　Seine
and　sailing　round　the　north　coast　of　France；　place　the　Dragon
at　the　mouth　of　the　Rhine。　Do　not　interfere　with　any　Danish
ships　that　you　may　see　pass　out；　but　keep　at　a　distance。　Should
Sweyn　descend　the　Rhine　I　will；　if　possible；　send　a　messenger
down　before　him；　so　do　you　look　out　for　small　boats；　and
if　you　see　one　in　which　the　rower　hoists　a　white　flag　at　the
end　of　his　oar；　you　will　know　he　is　my　messenger。　If　I　find
Sweyn　goes　on　towards　the　Elbe　I　will　also　send　you　word；
and　you　will　then　move　the　Dragon　to　the　mouth　of　that　river。

〃Lastly；　if　you　receive　no　message；　but　if　you　mark　that
in　a　Danish　vessel　when　passing　you　a　white　cloth　is　waved
from　one　of　the　windows　of　the　cabins　in　the　poop；　that　will
be　a　signal　to　you　that　the　vessel　is　Sweyn's；　and　that　Freda　is
a　captive　on　board。　In　that　case　you　will　of　course　at　once
attack　it。　Let　us　ask　Siegbert。　He　has　sailed　up　both　the
Rhine　and　the　Elbe；　and　can　tell　us　of　some　quiet　port　near
the　mouth　of　each　river　where　you　may　lay　the　Dragon　somewhat
out　of　sight　of　passers…by；　while　you　can　yet　note　all
ships　that　go　down　the　river。　My　messengers　will　then　know
where　to　find　you。〃　Having　settled　this　point　they　returned
to　Siegbert；　and　Edmund　told　him　what　he　thought　of　doing。

〃I　can　advise　no　better；〃　Siegbert　said。　〃Assuredly　you
cannot　prevail　by　force。　At　present　I　have　only　ten　of　my
followers　with　me；　the　rest；　after　I　was　wounded；　and　it　was
plain　that　a　long　time　must　elapse　before　I　could　again　lead
them　in　the　field；　asked　me　to　let　them　follow　some　other
chief；　and　as　they　could　not　be　idle　here　I　consented。　I　have
ten　men　with　me；　but　these　would　be　but　a　small　reinforcement。
As　you　say；　your　Saxons　would　be　instantly　known；
and　the　Northmen　have　suffered　so　at　their　hands　during
the　siege　that　the　first　party　you　met　would　set　upon　you。〃

〃I　will　take　two　only　of　your　men；〃　Edmund　said。　〃Choose
me　two　who　are　not　known　by　sight　to　Sweyn。　I　wish　one　to
be　a　subtle　fellow；　who　will　act　as　a　spy　for　me；　the　other　I
should　choose　of　commanding　stature；　and　the　air　of　a　leader。
He　will　go　with　my　party；　and　should　we　come　upon　Danes
he　will　assume　the　place　of　leader；　and　can　answer　any　questions。
There　is　far　too　much　difference　between　the　Saxon
and　Danish　tongue　for　me　and　my　men　to　pass　as　Danes　if
we　have　many　words　to　say。　I　shall　take　four　of　my　men；　all
full　grown；　strong；　and　good　fighters。　They　have　but　little
hair　upon　their　chins　at　present；　and　they　can　shave　that　off。
Now；　jarl；　I　want　five　Danish　dresses；　for　your　costume　differs
somewhat　from　ours。　Have　you　horses？　If　not；　I　must　send　back
to　Paris　to　buy　some。〃

〃I　have　plenty　to　mount　you　and　your　party。〃

〃Good；〃　Edmund　said；　〃I　will　go　down　to　my　ship　and
pick　my　men。〃

In　half　an　hour　the　party　were　ready　to　start。　Egbert
had　received　from　Siegbert　particulars　of　villages　at　the
mouths　of　the　Rhine　and　Elbe；　and　he　promised　Edmund
that　a　watch　should　be　kept　night　and　day　at　the　mouth　of
the　Rhine　until　a　messenger　arrived。　Edmund　had　already
ascertained　that　Sweyn　had　left　a　fortnight　before　with　his
following；　and　had　marched　towards　Champagne。　There
probably　he　had　halted　his　main　body；　returning　only　with　a
party　of　horsemen　to　carry　off　Freda。

〃I　would　I　could　go　with　you；〃　Siegbert　groaned　as
Edmund　said　adieu　to　him。　〃I　would　ride　straight　into　his
camp　and　challenge　him　to　mortal　combat；　but　as　it　is　I　am
helpless。〃

〃Never　fear；　good　Siegbert；〃　Edmund　said　cheerfully；
〃when　your　leg　is　cured　travel　straight　homeward；　and　there；
I　trust；　before　very　long　to　place　Freda　safe　and　unharmed　in
your　arms。　If　I　come　not　you　will　know　that　I　have　perished。〃

A　minute　later；　after　a　few　parting　words　with　Egbert；
Edmund　mounted　his　horse；　and　followed　by　his　six　companions；
rode　off　at　full　speed。　He　knew　that　it　would　be　useless
making　any　inquiries　about　Sweyn　and　his　party。　But　few　of
the　inhabitants　of　the　country　were　to　be　seen　about；　for　the
Danes　had　burned　every　house　within　very　many　miles　of
Paris；　and　the　peasants　would　assuredly　not　have　paid　any
special　attention　to　a　party　of　Danes；　for　whenever　they　saw
the　dreaded　marauders　even　at　a　distance　they　forsook　their
homes　and　fled　to　the　forests。　The　party　therefore　rode　eastward
until　nightfall；　then　picketed　their　horses；　and　having
lit　a　fire；　made　their　supper　from　the　store　of　provisions　they
had　brought　with　them；　and　then　lay　down　to　sleep　for　the
night。

At　daybreak　they　again　started　and　continued　their　journey
until　it　was　necessary　to　halt　to　give　their　horses　a　rest。
They　had　passed　several　parties　of　Danes；　for　these　in　great
numbers；　after　the　siege　of　Paris　had　been　given　up；　were
journeying　towards　Burgundy。　There　was　but　slight　greeting
as　they　passed；　but　on　one　occasion　a　horseman　rode　out
from　one　of　the　bands　and　entered　into　conversation　with
the　two　Danes　who　rode　at　the　head　of　the　party。　They　told
them　that　they　were　followers　of　the　Jarl　Siegbert；　and　were
riding　to　join　the　rest　of　his　band；　who　were　with　the　company
of　Jarl　Eric；　as　Siegbert　would　be　long　before　he　would
be　able　to　move；　and　had　therefore　kept　only　a　few　of　his
followers　with　him。

〃Eric　is　a　long　way　ahead；〃　the　Dane　said；　〃he　must　be
full　as　far　as　Nancy　by　this　time。　Those　who　left　first；〃　he
grumbled；　〃will　have　the　pick　of　the　country。　We　were　fools
to　linger　so　long　before　Paris。〃　Then　turning　his　horse；　he
rode　back　to　his　comrades；　and　the　party　continued　their
way。

They　avoided　all　towns　and　large　Danish　encampments
on　the　way；　but　made　inquiries　from　all　small　parties　they
met　after　the　party　of　Sweyn。　They　learned　without　diffculty
the　place　where　he　had　been　encamped　a　few　days　before；
but　on　their　arriving　in　the　neighbourhood　they　found
that　the　place　was　deserted；　nor　could　any　tell　them　the
direction　in　which　the　Northmen　had　travelled。





CHAPTER　XVI：　FREDA



For　some　days　Edmund　and　his　party　scoured　the　country
round；　journeying　now　in　one　direction；　now　in　another；
but　without　hearing　ought　of　Sweyn's　party。
Certainly　they　had　not　gone　along　the　track　which　the　main
body　of　the　Danes　had　followed；　but　the　question　was　whether
they　had　turned　rather　to　the　south　in　order　to　cross　the
mountain　ranges　between　them　and　the　Rhine；　or　had　turned
north　and　journeyed　through　the　great　forest　of　Ardennes；
and　so　to　some　of　the　other　rivers　which　run　down　into　the
North　Sea。

The　latter　was　in　some　respects　the　most　likely　course　to
have　been　chosen。　By　taking　it　Sweyn　would　avoid　altogether
the　track　which　the　majority　of　his　countrymen　were　taking；
and　this　would　naturally　be　his　object。　Siegbert　had　many
powerful　friends；　and　the　carrying　off　of　the　jarl's　daughter
from　the　side　of　her　wounded　father　would　be　re