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wish for nothing better than to aid in the efforts of the Franks
against our common enemy。〃
〃You are welcome； sir earl；〃 the Count Eudes said；
〃though the news you bring us is bad indeed。 We have heard
how valiantly the thanes of King Alfred have fought against
the invaders； and shall be glad indeed of your assistance
should the Northmen； as I fear； come hither。〃
So saying the count ordered the gates to be opened；
and the Dragon having been moored alongside； Edmund and
Egbert with their crew entered the town； where the leaders
were received with great honour by the count。 He begged
them to become guests at the castle； where quarters were
also assigned to the crew。 A banquet was at once prepared；
at which many of the principal citizens were present。
As soon as the demands of hunger were satisfied the
count made further inquiries as to the size of the fleet which
had entered the Seine； and as to the army reported to be
marching against Rouen。
〃I doubt not；〃 he said； when the Saxons had given him
all the particulars in their power； 〃that it is the armament of
Siegfroi who has already wrought such destruction。 More
than once he has appeared before our walls； and has pillaged
and ravaged the whole of the north of France。 The last time
he was here he threatened to return with a force which would
suffice to raze Paris to the ground； and doubtless he is coming
to endeavour to carry out his threat； but he will not find
the task an easy one； we shall resist him to the last； and right
glad am I that I shall have the assistance of two of the Saxon
thanes who have so often inflicted heavy defeats upon these
wolves of the sea。 Your vessel is a strange one； and differs
from those that I have hitherto seen； either Dane or Saxon。
She is a sailing ship； and yet appears to row very fast。〃
〃She is built；〃 Edmund said； 〃partly upon the design of
King Alfred himself； which were made from paintings he
possessed of the war galleys of Italy； which country he visited
in his youth。 They were carried out by a clever shipwright of
Exeter； and； indeed； the ship sails as well as she rows； and； as
the Danes have discovered to their cost； is able to fight as
well as she can sail and row。 Had we been fairly out to sea
before the Danish fleet made its appearance we could have
given a good account of ourselves； but we were caught in a
trap。〃
〃I fear that if the Northmen surround the city your ship
will be destroyed。〃
〃I was thinking of that；〃 Edmund said； 〃and I pray you
to let me have some men who know the river higher up。 There
must assuredly be low shores often overflowed where there
are wide swamps covered with wood and thickets； which the
enemy would not enter； seeing that no booty could be obtained
there。 The ship was built in such a spot； and we could
cut a narrow gap from the river and float her well in among
the trees so as to be hidden from the sight of any passing up
the river in galleys； closing up the cut again so that none
might suspect its existence。〃
〃That could be done easily enough；〃 the count said；
〃there are plenty of spots which would be suitable； for the
banks are for the most part low and the ground around
swampy and wooded。 To…morrow I will tell off a strong body
of men to accompany you in your ship； and aid your crew in
their work。〃
Twenty miles up the Seine a suitable spot was found；
and the crew of the Dragon； with the hundred men whom the
Count Eudes had lent for the purpose； at once set about their
work。 They had but little trouble； for a spot was chosen where
a sluggish stream； some fifteen feet wide； drained the water
from a wide…spreading swamp into the river。 The channel
needed widening but a little to allow of the Dragon entering；
and the water was quite deep enough to permit her being
taken some three hundred yards back from the river。
The trees and underwood were thick； and Edmund was
assured that even when winter； which was now approaching；
stripped the last leaf from the trees； the Dragon could not be
seen from the river。 Her masts were lowered； and bundles of
brushwood were hung along her side so as to prevent the
gleam of black paint being discerned through the trees。
The entrance to the stream was filled up to a width of
three or four feet； and the new work turfed with coarse grass
similar to that which grew beside it。 Bushes were planted
close to the water's edge； and stakes were driven down in the
narrow channel to within a few inches of the surface of the
water。
Certain now that no Danish boats would be likely to
turn aside from the river to enter this channel into the swamp；
the party embarked in some boats which had been towed up
by the Dragon and returned down the river to Paris。
The afternoon before starting all the valuable booty
which had been captured from the Danes was landed and
placed in security in the castle； and upon his return to Paris
Edmund disposed of this at good prices to the traders of the
city。
A fortnight after they had returned to Paris the news
was brought in that a vast fleet of Northmen was ascending
the river。 The next morning it was close at hand； and the
citizens mounting the walls beheld with consternation the
approaching armament。 So numerous were the ships that
they completely covered the river。 The fleet consisted of
seven hundred sailing ships； and a vastly greater number of
rowing galleys and boats。 These vessels were crowded with
men； and their fierce aspect； their glittering arms； and their
lofty stature； spread terror in the hearts of the citizens。
〃This is truly a tremendous host！〃 the Count Eudes said
to Edmund； who stood beside him on the walls。
〃It is indeed；〃 Edmund replied。 〃Numerous as are the
fleets which have poured down upon the shores of England；
methinks that none approached this in strength。 It is clear
that the Northmen have united their forces for a great effort
against this city； but having at home successfully defended
fortifications； which were not to be named in comparison
with those of Paris； against them； I see no reason to doubt
that we shall be able to beat them off here。〃
The Danes landed on the opposite bank and formed a
vast camp there； and the following morning three of their
number in a small boat rowed across the river and said that
their king Siegfroi desired to speak with Goslin； archbishop
of Paris； who stood in the position of civil governor。 They
were told that the archbishop would receive the king in his
palace。
An hour later a stately figure in glittering armour was
seen to take his place in a long galley； which； rowed by twenty
men； quickly shot across the stream。 Siegfroi landed； and；
accompanied by four of his leading warriors； entered the
gates； which were opened at his approach。 The chief of the
Northmen was a warrior of lofty stature。 On his head he
wore a helmet of gold； on whose crest was a raven with extended
wings wrought in the same metal。 His hair fell loosely
on his neck； his face was clean shaved in Danish fashion； save
for a long moustache。 He wore a breastplate of golden scales；
and carried a shield of the toughest bull's…hide studded with
gold nails。
He was unarmed； sav