The Dragon and the Raven; Or, The Days of King Alfred

by G. A. Henty

  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 ventureupon an attack. They had indeed no reason for haste. The Saxon vesselwas in their waters, and could not return so long as the stormcontinued to blow from the east. The next day parties of Danes wereseen making their way across the swampy country from the direction ofYarmouth.

  As soon, however, as these approached near enough to see the Saxons inreadiness on the walls of the castle they retired at once, knowing thatthe place could be captured by nothing short of a prolonged anddesperate siege. On the fourth day the storm abated, and the Saxonsprepared to make their way seaward again. The wind still blew, butlightly, from the same quarter, and the sails would therefore be of nouse. With their great oar-power they were confident that, once throughthe Danish flotilla, they could defy pursuit.

  Accordingly they again embarked, and loosing their moorings rowed downtowards Yarmouth. They had chosen a time when the tide was running in;for although this would hinder their progress it would equally impedetheir pursuers, while it would enable them to check their vessel intime did they find any unforeseen obstacle in their way. They enteredthe river and rowed along quietly until they neared the walls of thetown. Here the river was at its narrowest, and they saw the Danishgalleys gathered thickly in the stream.

  Edmund and Egbert were on the forecastle, and presently gave the signalfor the men to cease rowing.

  "It is just as I expected," Egbert said; "they have formed a boomacross the river of trunks of trees and beams lashed together. Wecannot make our way down until that obstacle is removed. What say youEdmund?"

  "I agree with you," Edmund replied.

  "We had best keep along close to the right bank until within a shortdistance 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 keepthe boat moving close alongside, and from the forecastle they will beable to fire down upon the Danes and aid those on shore to drive themback and make their way to the end of the boom. They have but to cutthe lashings there and the whole will swing round. But now we see thenature of the obstacle, and what is to be done, it were best to waituntil the tide turns. In the first place, fewer men will be needed onboard the ship, as she will advance by herself abreast of the men onshore. In the second place, when the lashing is cut the boom will thenswing 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 quietlyin the stream. Great animation was evident among the Danes, largenumbers crossed the river, and a strong force gathered at either end ofthe boom and in boats close behind it, to prevent the Saxons fromattempting to cut the lashings. There was little uneasiness on boardthe Dragon, the Saxons were confident now of the power of their closeformation to force its way through any number of the enemy, and theywould gain such assistance from the fire from the lofty forecastle thatthey doubted not that they should be able to drive back the Danes anddestroy the boom. In an hour the tide no longer rose. They waited tillit ran down with full force, then the anchor was hauled up, and theDragon rowed to the bank.

  Sixty of the fighting men headed by Egbert leapt on shore. Edmund withthe remainder took his place on the forecastle. The oars next to thebank were drawn in, and some of those on the outward side manned by thesailors. Then in its usual order the phalanx moved slowly forward whilethe ship floated along beside them close to the bank. The Danes withloud shouts advanced to meet them, and the arrows soon began to flythickly. Covered by the long shields of the front rank the Saxons movedforward steadily, while, as the Danes approached, the archers on theforecastle opened a destructive fire upon them.

  The confidence of the Saxons was justified, for the combat was never indoubt. Although the Northmen fought bravely they were unable towithstand the steady advance of the wedge of spears, and very many fellbeneath the rain of arrows from above. Steadily the wedge made its wayuntil it reached the end of the boom. A few blows with their axessufficed to cut the cables which fastened it in its place. As soon asthis was done Edmund gave a shout, and the Saxons at once sprang onboard the ship, which before the Danes could follow them was steeredout into the stream.

  As Egbert had foreseen, the boom as it swung round swept before it anumber of the Danish boats, and imprisoned them between it and theshore. The oars were soon run out, and while the men on the forecastlecontinued their fire at the Danish boats, the others seizing the oarsswept the Dragon along the stream. The Danes strove desperately toarrest her progress. Some tried to run alongside and board, othersdashed in among the oars and impeded the work of the rowers, while fromthe 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, madeher way down the river. Every effort of the Danes to board wasdefeated, and many of their boats sunk, and at last she made her wayinto the open sea. There her sails were hoisted, and she soon left herpursuers behind. Once at sea her course was again turned north, andpicking up some prizes on the way she took up her station off the mouthof the Humber.

  Several ships were captured as they sailed out from the river. Afterthe spoil on board was taken out, these, instead of being burnt, as hadalways been the case before, were allowed to proceed on their way,since had they been destroyed the crews must either have been slain orlanded. The first course was repugnant to Edmund, the second could notbe adopted, because they would have carried the news to the Danes, thatthe Dragon was off the river and no more ships would have put to sea;and indeed, so large was the number of Danish vessels always up theHumber that a fleet could easily have been equipped and sent out,before which the Dragon must have taken flight.

  One day a large sailing ship was seen coming out. The Dragon remainedwith lowered sail until she had passed; then started in pursuit, andspeedily came up with the Danish vessel. Edmund summoned her tosurrender, and was answered by a Norseman of great stature and nobleappearance, who from the poop hurled a javelin, which would havepierced Edmund had he not leapt quickly aside. A few other darts werethrown and then the Dragon ran alongside the enemy and boarded her.

  The opposition of the Northmen was speedily beaten down, but theirleader desperately defended the ladder leading to the poop. He wasstruck by two arrows, and fell on one knee, and Edmund was about toclimb the ladder when the door of the cabin in the poop opened, and aNorse maiden some sixteen years old sprang out. Seeing her fatherwounded at the top of the ladder and the Saxons preparing to ascend it,while others turned their bows against the wounded Northman, she sprangforward and throwing herself upon her knees before Edmund besought himto spare her father's life. Edmund raised his hand and the bows werelowered.

  "I have no wish to slay your father, maiden," he said gently; "we slayonly those who resist, and resistance on the part of a single man, andhe wounded, against a whole ship's crew is madness. We are nosea-wolves who slay for the pleasure of slaying, but are Saxons, whofight for our country against the oppressions and rapine of yourpeople. Little right have they to mercy seeing they show none; but ourreligion enjoins us to have pity even upon our enemies. You had bestascend to your father and see to his wounds, none will harm you or him."

  The girl with an exclamation of thanks sprang up the ladder. Edmundsuperintended the searching of the ship. She contained a great store ofvaluables, which were speedily transferred to the Dragon. When this hadbeen done Edmund ascended to the poop. The jarl was sitting in a greatchair placed there. Edmund had already learnt from the crew that he wasJarl Siegbert, a noted leader of the Northmen. His daughter had drawnout the arrows and bandaged the wounds.

  "Jarl Siegbert," Edmund said as he approached him, "you have been abitter enemy of the Saxons, and small mercy have you shown to those whohave fallen into your hands, but learn now that w
e Christian Saxonstake no vengeance on a defenceless foe. You are free to pursue yourvoyage with your daughter and your ship to Norway. Your stores we havemade free with, seeing that they are all plunder taken from the Saxons,and we do but reclaim our own."

  "And who are you, young sir?" the jarl asked.

  "I am one of King Alfred's ealdormen of Wessex, Edmund by name."

  "I have heard of you," the Dane said, "as one who has taught the Saxonsnew tactics, fighting in a close body which has more than once piercedour lines and caused our overthrow; but you are a mere lad."

  "I am young," Edmund replied, "and had it not been for the invasionsand oppressions of your countrymen, might have still accounted myselfas scarce a man; but you have made warriors of every West Saxon capableof bearing a sword. Remember, jarl, that your life has been in Saxonhands, and that they have spared it, so come not hither to our shoresagain."

  "I purpose not doing so," the Northman replied. "I have seen enough ofstricken fields, and was returning to my own country to hang up mysword, content with the fame I have gained, until Woden called me tojoin his warriors and feast in his halls. Since we may not meet there,young Saxon--for they say that you Christians look to a place wherearms will be laid aside and the sound of feasting be unheard--I willsay farewell. For myself, I thank you not for my life, for I wouldrather have died as I have lived with my sword in my hand; but for mydaughter's sake I thank you, for she is but young to be leftunprotected in the world."

  A few minutes later, the Danish vessel continued on her way, and theDragon again took her station on the look-out. She was now deep in thewater, and after picking up one or two more small prizes, Edmund andEgbert determined to return home.

  It was probable that the Danes would soon take the alarm and despatch afleet to attack them. Laden down as the Dragon was, her speed underoars was materially affected, and it was advisable to stow away theirbooty before proceeding with further adventures. Her head was turnedsouth, and she coasted down the eastern shores of England withoutadventure. Several Danish vessels were seen arriving at or quitting thecoast, but the Dragon continued her course without heeding them, androunding the Forelands, sailed along the south coast and made her wayup the Parrot.

  Upon inquiry they learnt that no event of any importance had takenplace during their absence. The Danes were complete masters of thecountry. King Alfred was in hiding, none knew where. The greaterportion of the Danes were at their camp at Chippenham, but partiesroamed here and there through the land.

  Dressed as countrymen, Edmund and Egbert made their way to Exeter, andthere arranged with some traders for the purchase of the less valuableportion of the Dragons cargo. This consisted of rich clothing, silksand other stuffs, wine, vestments, and altar hangings from churches,arms and armour, hides and skins. The prices obtained were far belowthe real value of the articles, for money was scarce, and none couldsay when the Danes might again swoop down and clear out the contents ofthe warehouses. Nevertheless the sum obtained was a large one for thosedays, and this did not include the value of the gold and silvergoblets, salvers, vases, and utensils used in the celebration ofreligious services.

  Of these, spoiled from the houses of the wealthy, and the churches andmonasteries, they had obtained a considerable number. These were buriedin the wood near the lonely spot at which the Dragon was moored, therest of the cargo was sent in wagons--the more valuable portions hiddenunder the hides and skins--to Exeter. The amount which had beenobtained from the cargo was divided as agreed before starting:twenty-five shares were set apart for the king, twenty-five shares weredivided between the two leaders, and each soldier and sailor had oneshare. All were well satisfied with the success of the adventure, andwith the damage which they had inflicted upon the Danes.

  A fortnight's leave was given, for the men to visit their homes, andthe money which they had gained in their trip was of great use to theirfriends in enabling them to repair the damages effected by the Danes.Not a man was absent at the appointed time, and the Dragon again madeher way down to the sea.

  It was midwinter now, and they cruised along the southern coast ofEngland without perceiving a single hostile sail. They lay for a weekoff the mouth of the Thames, and then saw four large Danish vesselsmaking their way down the river. They were all vessels of the largestsize, strongly built, and full of men, and the Saxons judged them to betoo strong to be attacked in company. The Northmen, on seeing thegolden dragon flying at the mast-head of the Saxon ship, at once madetowards her, keeping in a close body; but the Dragon with sails andoars easily left them behind, and the Danes giving up the pursuitcontinued on their way.

  The Dragon fell into their wake and followed at a distance, hoping thatone might prove slower than the others, or that they might in the nightget separated. At nightfall, however, the Danes lit cressets of tar andhemp, which enabled them not only to keep close together, but sent outa wide circle of light, so that they could perceive the Dragon shouldshe venture to approach.

  For two days and nights the Dragon followed patiently.

  "The weather is about to change," Egbert said on the third morning."Methinks that there is a storm brewing, and if this be so the Northmenmay well get separated, and we may pick up one away from her fellows."

  Darker and darker grew the sky, and the wind soon blew in furiousgusts, raising a sea so heavy that the Saxons were obliged to lay intheir oars. By nightfall it was blowing a furious gale. In thegathering darkness and the flying scud the ships of the Danes were lostsight of; but this was of little consequence now, for the attention ofthe Saxons was directed to their own safety.

  For the next three days their position was one of the greatest danger.With only a rag of sail set they ran before the gale from thesouth-west. Every wave as it overtook them threatened the destructionof the ship; but the Dragon, light and buoyant, and ably handled, rodesafely over the waves. On the fourth morning the wind was still blowingfiercely, although its force had in some degree moderated. As thedaylight dawned Edmund and Egbert, who had hardly left the poop sincethe storm began, looked anxiously ahead.

  "Surely, Edmund, I see a dark mass ahead?" Egbert exclaimed.

  For a minute or two Edmund gazed silently ahead.

  "It is so, Egbert," he said; "it is a rocky coast. Do you not see awhite fringe below where the waves strike against it?"

  As the light became clearer the imminence of their peril grew moredistinct. A lofty iron-bound coast rose in front of them, and extendedas far as the eye could reach on either hand. The seas broke withterrible force against its base, sending its spray far up on the cliffs.

  "Could we bring her about?" Edmund asked the chief of the sailors.

  "It would be useless," the man said. "She could not make her way in theteeth of this gale."

  "That I see," Edmund said; "but at present we are rushing on todestruction. If we bring her to the wind we may run some distance alongthe coast before we are driven ashore, and may perceive some spottowards which we may direct her with a chance of making land ere shegoes to pieces."

  The sail was still further lessened and the ship's head brought roundparallel with the coast.

  The Dragon laboured tremendously as the sea struck her full on thebeam, and every wave flooded her low waist. Each sea which struck herlifted her bodily to leeward, and for every foot she sailed forward shewas driven one towards the coast. This was now but three miles distant,and another hour would ensure her destruction; for none there hopedthat the anchors, even should they find bottom, could hold her for aninstant in the teeth of the gale. Every eye was directed towards theshore, but no break could be seen in the wall of rock which rose almostperpendicularly from the water.

  "I fear it is hopeless," Edmund said to Egbert; "the strongest swimmerwould be dashed to pieces in an instant against those rocks."

  "He would indeed," Egbert replied. "I wish now that we had boldlyengaged the four Danish ships. Far better would it have been for us tohave died fighting for England on her decks than to have perished here.
"

  The time passed slowly. Every minute the Dragon was swept nearer andnearer towards the rocks.

  "She will just make that headland," the master sailor said, "and thatis all. Once round it we had best turn her head to the rocks. If thecliffs rise as here sheer from the water, the moment she strikes willbe the last for all of us; but if the rocks are, as in some places,piled high at the foot of the cliffs, a few may possibly manage to leapfrom her forecastle as she strikes and to clamber up."

  Scarce a word was spoken on board the Dragon as she came abreast of theheadland. It was but a few hundred yards away. The roar of the seas asthey struck its base sounded high above the din of the storm. Greatsheets of foam were thrown up to a vast height, and the turmoil of thewater from the reflux of the waves was so great that the Dragon wastossed upon it like a cock-boat, and each man had to grasp at shroud orbulwark to retain his footing.

  Suddenly a cheer burst from end to end of the ship. Beyond the headlanda great gap was visible a quarter of a mile wide, as if the cliffs hadbeen rent in sunder by some tremendous convulsion, and a fiord was seenstretching away in the bosom of the hills as far as the eye couldreach. The Dragon's head was turned, and soon she was flying before thewind up the inlet. A mile farther and the fiord widened to a lake sometwo miles across between steep hills clothed from foot to summit withtrees.

  Its course was winding and they were soon sheltered from the gale andwere gliding quietly over comparatively tranquil water. Ten miles upthe anchor was let go in a sheltered inlet, and Edmund summoned thewhole crew to return thanks to God for their marvellous escape.

  The Dragon had suffered severely in her conflict with the elements, herlarge sails had been split or blown away, the bulwarks at her waist hadbeen shattered, and considerable damage done to her gear and fittings.Four-and-twenty hours were allowed to the men for rest after theirlabours, and then all hands were set to work to refit.

  The next morning Edmund said to his kinsman:

  "I will take two of the men and go ashore to hunt; there should be wildboar and deer in these forests, and all would be glad of some freshmeat."

  "Be careful, Edmund; remember you are in the country of our enemies,for without doubt this land to which we have been blown is Norway; andalthough we can see no signs of habitations there may well be villagessomewhere among these hills."

  "I will be careful," Edmund said, laughing; "and if I do not return intwo days do you set sail without me. I should like to discover theabode of some Northern jarl; it would indeed be a grand retaliation togive them a taste of the sufferings they have inflicted upon us."

  "That would be good work," Egbert said; "nevertheless I own that atpresent I am anxious to be at sea again."

  "Two days will be sufficient to refit," Edmund said, "and then we willspread our wings. Good-bye, Egbert, I will be back by sunset, and Ihope with a deer or two."

  Selecting a couple of followers, both skilled with the bow, and allbeing armed with spears, Edmund leapt ashore, for the water was deep upto the rocks, and the Dragon had been moored alongside for theconvenience of taking on board the wood for the repairs.

  Although those on board the Dragon guessed it not, many eyes werewatching them. A small fishing village lay at the edge of the fiord amile or two beyond the inlet in which the ship was moored. Hidden asthey were among the trees the huts had not been noticed by the Saxons,but the strange ship had been seen by some of those in the village, andthe fishermen at once pronounced that whencesoever she might have comeshe was assuredly no Northman's ship. Messengers had immediately beensent to the villages among the hills. These were widely scattered, andit was not until the day after the ship's arrival that a force wascollected which was deemed sufficient to attack it. Already, as Edmundleapt ashore, the Norsemen were making their way quietly through theforest towards the Dragon.

  Edmund had advanced but a few hundred yards up the hillside when alarge party of Norsemen suddenly sprang upon him. Two Saxon arrows flewtrue to their marks, then the Danes rushed upon them. So far no wordshad been spoken, but Edmund placed to his lips the whistle with whichhe gave orders on board the ship and blew a long shrill note, and thenshouted at the top of his voice:

  "The Danes! the Danes! push off!"

  The instant afterwards he was attacked. He and his men fought bravely,but in a few seconds the latter were cut down and Edmund was levelledto the ground by a tremendous blow from a club.

  A minute later the din of battle rose by the water's side; Edmund'swhistle and shout had been heard, and the Saxons on shore sprang onboard and seized their spears and bows just as the Danes poured downthrough the trees. For a time the Saxons defended the ship against thedesperate attempts of the Danes to gain footing on her; but seeing thenumber of its assailants, and being certain that Edmund was killed orcaptured, Egbert ordered the ropes to be cut, and the Dragon was thrustaway from the rocks. The oars were then got out and she rowed out ofbow-shot from the shore. Then Egbert held a consultation with theleading men among the Saxons.

  All on board were filled with grief at the loss of their young leader,but they felt that nothing could be done for him, and it would be butcourting danger to remain longer in the fiord. Since so large a forcehad been collected in the forest news might have been sent to theports, and at any moment they might see a fleet of the Northmen'sgalleys barring their retreat; therefore with bitter grief andlamentation the Dragon's sails were hoisted and she made her way to sea.

  "My only consolation is," Egbert said, "that if the brave lad is notkilled at once he may yet find his way back to England. He is ready ofwit and full of invention that, if any can possibly extricatethemselves from such a strait, it is assuredly he; but I fear that hefell in the first onslaught. Brave lad, even in the moment of his ownperil he thought first of us. Had it not been for his timely warning weshould have been taken unawares, and many must have been killed even ifthe Dragon herself escaped capture."

  The storm had entirely abated, and the waters sparkled brightly in thecold January sun as the Dragon sailed out between the two headlandsinto the sea. Very different were the feelings of the crew to thosewhich had animated them when, two days before, they had passed throughthe channel; then every heart beat with joy and thankfulness; now thedeepest depression and grief reigned on board.

  Edmund was adored by his followers. His kindness as their ealdorman,his skill and bravery as a leader, his cheerfulness and brightnessunder every danger and peril had immensely endeared him to theirhearts, and each man felt that he had sustained an irretrievable loss,and that with their chief the spirit which had animated the Dragon anddirected their enterprises was gone.

  Egbert was a valiant warrior, and was an admirable second to anenterprising leader; but he was altogether without initiative, and,except when excited by danger, was dull and silent. Although allesteemed him and honoured him for his strength and bravery, they feltthat he would be a poor substitute indeed for the leader they had lost.