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to have such a refuge。〃
Edmund talked the matter over with Egbert； who warmly
entered into the plan。 〃So long as I have life I will fight against
the Danes； and in a ship at least we can fight manfully till the
end。 We must not build her on the sea…coast； or before the
time when we need her she may be destroyed by the Danes。
We will build her on the Parrot。 The water is deep enough
far up from the sea to float her when empty； and if we choose
some spot where the river runs among woods we might hide
her so that she may to the last escape the attention of the
Danes。
〃We must get some men crafty in ship…building from
one of the ports； sending down a body of our own serfs to do
the rough work。 We will go to Exeter first and there choose
us the craftsman most skilled in building ships； and will take
council with him as to the best form and size。 She must be
good to sail and yet able to row fast with a strong crew； and
she must have room to house a goodly number of rowing and
fighting men。 You； Edmund； might； before we start； consult
King Alfred。 He must have seen at Rome and other ports on
the Mediterranean the ships in use there； which are doubtless
far in advance of our own。 For we know from the Holy Bible
that a thousand years ago St。 Paul made long voyages in
ships； and doubtless they have learned much since those days。〃
Edmund thought the idea a good one； and asked the
king to make him a drawing of the vessels in use in the
Mediterranean。 This King Alfred readily did； and Egbert and
Edmund then journeyed to Exeter； where finding out the man
most noted for his skill in building ships； they told him the
object they had in view； and showed him the drawings the
king had made。 There were two of them； the one a long
galley rowed with double banks of oars； the other a heavy
trading ship。
〃This would be useless to you；〃 the shipwright said； laying
the second drawing aside。 〃It would not be fast enough
either to overtake or to fly。 The other galley would； methinks；
suit you well。 I have seen a drawing of such a ship before。 It
is a war galley such as is used by the Genoese in their fights
against the African pirates。 They are fast and roomy； and
have plenty of accommodation for the crews。 One of them
well manned and handled should be a match for six at least
of the Danish galleys； which are much lower in the water and
smaller in all ways。 But it will cost a good deal of money to
build such a ship。〃
〃I will devote all the revenues of my land to it until it is
finished；〃 Edmund said。 〃I will place a hundred serfs at your
service； and will leave it to you to hire as many craftsmen as
may be needed。 I intend to build her in a quiet place in a
deep wood on the river Parrot； so that she may escape the
eyes of the Danes。〃
〃I shall require seasoned timber；〃 the shipwright urged。
〃That will I buy；〃 Edmund replied； as you shall direct；
and can have it brought up the river to the spot。〃
〃Being so large and heavy；〃 the shipwright said； 〃she will
be difficult to launch。 Methinks it were best to dig a hole or
dock at some little distance from the river； then when she is
finished a way can be cut to the river wide enough for her to
pass out。 When the water is turned in it will float her up
level to the surface； and as she will not draw more than two
feet of water the cut need not be more than three feet deep。〃
〃That will be the best plan by far；〃 Edmund agreed； 〃for
you can make the hole so deep that you can build her entirely
below the level of the ground。 Then we can； if needs be； fill
up the hole altogether with bushes； and cover her up； so that
she would not be seen by a Danish galley rowing up the river；
or even by any of the enemy who might enter the wood； unless
they made special search for her； and there she could lie
until I chose to embark。〃
The shipwright at once set to work to draw out his plans；
and a week later sent to Edmund a messenger with an account
of the quantity and size of wood he should require。
This was purchased at once。 Edmund and Egbert with their
serfs journeyed to the spot they had chosen； and were met
there by the shipwright； who brought with him twenty craftsmen
from Exeter。 The wood was brought up the river； and
while the craftsmen began to cut it up into fitting sizes； the
serfs applied themselves to dig the deep dock in which the
vessel was to be built。
CHAPTER V： A DISCIPLINED BAND
The construction of the ship went on steadily。 King
Alfred； who was himself building several war vessels
of ordinary size； took great interest in Edmund's craft
and paid several visits to it while it was in progress。
〃It will be a fine ship；〃 he said one day as the vessel was
approaching completion； 〃and much larger than any in these
seas。 It reminds me； Edmund； not indeed in size or shape；
but in its purpose； of the ark which Noah built before the
deluge which covered the whole earth。 He built it； as you
know； to escape with his family from destruction。 You； too；
are building against the time when the deluge of Danish
invasion will sweep over this land； and I trust that your
success will equal that of the patriarch。〃
〃I shall be better off than Noah was；〃 Edmund said； 〃for
he had nothing to do； save to shut up his windows and wait
till the floods abated； while I shall go out and seek my
enemies on the sea。〃
The respite purchased by the king from the Danes was
but a short one。 In the autumn of 875 their bands were
again swarming around the borders of Wessex； and constant
irruptions took place。 Edmund received a summons to gather
his tenants； but he found that these no longer replied
willingly to the call。 Several of his chief men met him and
represented to him the general feeling which prevailed。
〃The men say；〃 their spokesman explained； 〃that it is
useless to fight against the Danes。 In 872 there were ten
pitched battles； and vast numbers of the Danes were slain；
and vast numbers also of Saxons。 The Danes are already far
more numerous than before； for fresh hordes continue to
arrive on the shores； and more than fill up the places of those
who are killed； but the places of the Saxons are empty； and
our fighting force is far smaller than it was last year。 If we
again go out and again fight many battles； even if we are
victorious； which we can hardly hope to be； the same thing
will happen。 Many thousands will be slain； and the following
year we shall in vain try to put an army in the field which can
match that of the Danes； who will again have filled up their
ranks； and be as numerous as ever。 So long as we continue to
fight； so long the Danes will slay； burn； and destroy
wheresoever they march； until there will remain of us but a
few fugitives hidden in the woods。 We should be far better
off did we cease to resist； and the Danes become our masters；
as they have become the masters of Northumbria； Mercia；
and Anglia。
〃There； it is true； they have plundered the churches and
thanes' houses and have stolen all that is worth carrying away；
but when they have taken all that there is to take they leave
the people alone； and unmolested； to till the ground and to
gain their livelihoo