按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
excited the most extreme joy among his people； who had
long given him up for lost。 He found to his delight that the
Dragon had returned safely； and that she was laid up in her
old hiding…place。 The great amount of spoil with which she
was loaded had enabled her crew largely to assist their friends；
and it was this which had already raised the condition of the
people above that of their neighbours。 Houses were being
gradually rebuilt； animals had been brought from districts
which had been less ravaged by the Danes； and something
approaching comfort was being rapidly restored。
Upon the day after Edmund's return Egbert arrived。
Feeling sure of Edmund's death he had taken no steps towards
rebuilding the house； but was living a wild life in the
woods； when the news reached him that Edmund had reappeared。
His own large share of the booty with that of Edmund
he had buried； with the portion set aside for the king； in the
wood near the spot where the Dragon was laid up。
They had passed up the Parrot at night unobserved by
the Danes； and after taking the masts out of the Dragon； and
dismantling her； they had laid her up in the hole near the
river where she was built。 There was little fear of her discovery
there； for the Danes were for the most part gathered in winter
quarters at the great camp near Chippenham。
Egbert's delight at the reappearance of Edmund was unbounded；
for he loved him as a son； and it was a long time before
their joy at the meeting was sufficiently calmed down to
enable them to tell each other the events which had happened
since they parted three months before。 Egbert's narrative
was indeed brief。 He had remained two or three days
off the coast of Norway in the lingering hope that Edmund
might in some way have escaped death； and might yet come
off and join him。 At the end of a week this hope had faded；
and he sailed for England。 Being winter； but few Danish galleys
were at sea； and he had encountered none from the time
he set sail until he arrived off the coast at the mouth of the
Parrot。
He had entered the river at night so as to be unseen by
any in the village at its mouth； and had； after the Dragon was
laid up； passed his time in the forest。 Edmund's narration
was much more lengthy； and Egbert was surprised indeed to
find that his kinsman owed his freedom to the jarl whose
vessel they had captured at the mouth of the Humber。
CHAPTER XI： THE ISLE OF ATHELNEY
Edmund spent a month on his lands； moving about among
his vassals and dwelling in their abodes。 He inspired them
by his words with fresh spirit and confidence；
telling them that this state of things could not last；
and that he was going to join the king； who doubtless would
soon call them to take part in a fresh effort to drive out their
cruel oppressors。 Edmund found that although none knew
with certainty the hiding…place of King Alfred； it was generally
reported that he had taken refuge in the low lands of
Somersetshire； and Athelney was specially named as the place
which he had made his abode。
〃It is a good omen；〃 Edmund said； 〃for Athelney lies
close to the Parrot； where my good ship the Dragon is laid
away。〃
After visiting all the villages in his earldom Edmund
started with Egbert and four young men； whom he might use
as messengers； for the reported hiding…place of the king。 First
they visited the Dragon； and found her lying undisturbed；
then they followed the river down till they reached the great
swamps which extended for a considerable distance near its
mouth。 After much wandering they came upon the hut of a
fisherman。 The man on hearing the footsteps came to his
door with a bent bow。 When he saw that the new…comers
were Saxons he lowered the arrow which was already fitted
to the string。
〃Can you tell us；〃 Edmund said； 〃which is the way to
Athelney？ We know that it is an island amidst these morasses；
but we are strangers to the locality and cannot find it。〃
〃And you might search for weeks；〃 the man said； 〃without
finding it； so thickly is it surrounded by deep swamps
and woods。 But what want ye there？〃
〃Men say；〃 Edmund replied； 〃that King Alfred is hidden
there。 We are faithful followers of his。 I am Ealdorman
Edmund of Sherborne； and have good news for the king。〃
〃If ye are indeed the Ealdorman of Sherborne； of whose
bravery I have heard much； I will right willingly lead you to
Athelney if you will； but no king will you find there。 There
are a few fugitives from the Danes scattered here and there
in these marshes； but none； so far as I know； of any rank or
station。 However； I will lead you thither should you still wish
to go。〃
Edmund expressed his desire to visit the island even if
the king were not there。 The man at once drew out a small
boat from a hiding…place near his hut。 It would hold four at
most。 Edmund and Egbert stepped in with one of their followers；
charging the others to remain at the hut until they
received further instructions。 The fisherman with a long pole
took his place in the bow of the boat and pushed off。 For
some hours they made their way through the labyrinth of
sluggish and narrow channels of the morass。 It was a gloomy
journey。 The leafless trees frequently met overhead； the long
rushes in the wetter parts of the swamp rustled as the cold
breezes swept across them； and a slight coating of snow which
had fallen the previous night added to the dreary aspect of
the scene。 At last they came upon sharply rising ground。
〃This is Athelney；〃 the fisherman said； 〃a good hiding…place
truly； for； as you see； it rises high over the surrounding
country； which is always swampy from the waters of the Parrot
and Theme； and at high tides the salt water of the sea fills
all these waterways； and the trees rise from a broad sheet of
sea。 No Dane has ever yet set foot among these marshes； and
were there but provisions to keep them alive； a safe refuge
might be found on this island for hundreds of fugitives。 Will
you be returning to…night？〃
〃That I cannot tell you；〃 Edmund replied； 〃but at any
rate I will hire you and your boat to remain at my service for
a week； and will pay you a far higher price than you can obtain
by your fishing。〃
The fisherman readily agreed； and Edmund and his
companions made their way into the heart of the island。 It
was of some extent； and rose above the tree…tops of the
surrounding country。 Presently they came to a cottage。
A man came out。
〃What do you seek？〃 he asked。
〃You have fugitives in refuge here；〃 Edmund said。 〃Know
you if among them is our good King Alfred？〃 The man looked
astonished。
〃A pretty place to seek for a king！〃 he replied。 〃There
are a few Saxons in hiding here。 Some live by fishing； some
chop wood； but for the most part they are an idle and
thriftless lot； and me thinks have fled hither rather to escape
from honest work or to avoid the penalties of crimes than for any
other reason。〃
〃How may we find them？〃 Edmund asked。
〃They are scattered over the island。 There are eight or
ten dwellers here like myself； and several of them have one
or more of these fellows with them； others have built huts for
themselves and shift as they c