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skins of the oxen killed for the use of the garrison were
carefully laid aside； the inside being thickly rubbed
with grease。
The Danish preparations were at length completed； the
war…engines were brought up and began to hurl great stones
against the wall at three points。 The Saxons kept up a constant
fire of arrows at those employed at working them； but
the Danes； though losing many men； threw up breastworks
to protect them。
The Saxons manufactured many broad ladders； and in
the middle of the night； lowering these over the walls； they
descended noiselessly； and three strong bodies fell upon the
Danes guarding the engines。 These fought stoutly； but were
driven back； the engines were destroyed； and the Saxons retired
to their walls again and drew up their ladders before
the main body of Danes could arrive from the camp。 This
caused a delay of some days in the siege； but fresh engines
having been constructed； the assault on the walls was
recommenced； this time the whole Danish army moving out and
sleeping at night close to them。
After three days' battering； breaches of from thirty to
fifty feet wide were effected in the walls。 The Saxons had
not been idle。 Behind each of the threatened points they
raised banks of earth ten feet high； and cut away the bank
perpendicularly behind the shattered wall； so that the
assailants as they poured in at the gaps would have to
leap ten feet down。
Each night the masses of wall which fell inside were
cleared away； and when the breach was complete； and it was
evident that the assault would take place the next morning；
the hides which had been prepared were laid with the hairy
side down； on the ground below。 Through them they drove
firmly into the ground numbers of pikes with the heads sticking
up one or two feet； and pointed stakes hardened in the
fire。 Then satisfied that all had been done the Saxons lay
down to rest。
In the morning the Danes advanced to the assault。 This
time they were but little annoyed in their advance by the
archers。 These were posted on the walls at each side of the
gaps to shoot down at the backs of the Danes after they had
entered。 On the inner semicircular mounds the Saxon force
gathered four deep。
With loud shouts the Danes rushed forward； climbed
the outer mounds； and reached the breaches。 Here the leaders
paused on seeing the gulf below them； but pressed by
those behind they could not hesitate long； but leapt down
from the breach on to the slippery hides below。
Not one who did so lived。 It was impossible to keep
their feet as they alighted； and as they fell they were impaled
by the pikes and stakes。 Pressed by those behind； however；
fresh men leapt down； falling in their turn； until at length
the hides and stakes were covered； and those leaping down
found a foothold on the bodies of the fallen。 Then they
crowded on and strove to climb the inner bank and attack
the Saxons。 Now the archers on the walls opened fire upon
them； and； pierced through and through with the arrows
which struck them on the back； the Danes fell in great
numbers。 Edmund commanded at one of the breaches； Egbert at
another； and Oswald； an old and experienced warrior； at the
third。
At each point the scene was similar。 The Danes struggled
up the mounds only to fail to break through the hedge of
spears which crowned them； fast numbers dying in the attempt；
while as many more fell pierced with arrows。 For an
hour the Danes continued their desperate efforts； and not
until fifteen hundred had been slain did they draw off to
their camp； finding it impossible to break through the Saxon
defences。
Loud rose the shouts of the triumphant Saxons as the
Danes retired； and it needed all the efforts of their leaders to
prevent them from pouring out in pursuit； but the events of
the preceding year had taught the Saxon leaders how often
their impetuosity after success had proved fatal to the Saxons；
and that once in the plain the Danes would turn upon
them and crush them by their still greatly superior numbers。
Therefore no one was allowed to sally out； and the discomfited
Danes retired unmolested。
The next morning to their joy the Saxons saw that the
invaders had broken up their camp； and had marched away
in the night。 Scouts were sent out in various directions； and
the Saxons employed themselves in stripping and burying
the Danes who had fallen within the fort； only a few of the
most distinguished having been carried off。 The scouts
returned with news that the Danes had made no halt； but had
departed entirely from that part of the country。 Finding that
for the present they were free of the invaders； the Saxons left
the fort and scattered again； to rebuild as best they might
their devastated homes。
But if in the neighbourhood of Sherborne the Danes
had been severely repulsed； in other parts of the kingdom
they continued to make great progress； and the feeling of
despair among the Saxons increased。 Great numbers left
their homes； and taking with them all their portable
possessions； made their way to the sea…coast； and there embarked
for France； where they hoped to be able to live peaceably and
quietly。
Edmund placed no hindrance in the way of such of his
people who chose this course； for the prospect appeared
well…nigh hopeless。 The majority of the Saxons were utterly
broken in spirit； and a complete conquest of the kingdom by the
Danes seemed inevitable。 In the spring； however； of 877 King
Alfred again issued an urgent summons。 A great horde of
Danes had landed at Exeter and taken possession of that town；
and he determined to endeavour to crush them。 He sent to
Edmund begging him to proceed at once to Poole； where the
king's fleet was ready for sea； and to embark in it with what
force he could raise； and to sail and blockade the entrance to
the river Exe； and so prevent the Danes from reinforcing their
countrymen； while he with his forces laid siege to Exeter。
Edmund would have taken his own vessel； but some time
would have been lost； and the king's ships were short of hands。
He was not sorry； indeed； that his men should have some
practise at sea； and taking his own band； in which the vacancies
which had been caused in the defence of the fort had
been filled up； he proceeded to Poole。 Here he embarked
his men in one of the ships； and the fleet； comprising twenty
vessels； put to sea。
The management of the vessels and their sails was in
the hands of experienced sailors； and Edmund's men had no
duties to perform except to fight the enemy when they met
them。
The news of the siege of Exeter reached the Danes at
Wareham； which was their head…quarters； and 120 vessels
filled with their troops sailed for the relief of Exeter。
The weather was unpropitious； heavy fogs lay on the
water； dissipated occasionally by fierce outbursts of wind。 The
Saxon fleet kept the sea。 It was well that for a time the Danish
fleet did not appear in sight； for the Saxons； save the
sailors； were unaccustomed to the water； and many suffered
greatly from the rough motion； and had the Danes appeared
for the first week after the fleet put to sea a combat must
have been avoided； as the troops wer