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and carried a shield of the toughest bull's…hide studded with
gold nails。
He was unarmed； save a long dagger which he wore in
his belt。 He and his followers； who were all men of immense
stature； walked with a proud and assured air between the
lines of citizens who clustered thickly on each side of the
street； and who gazed in silence at these dreaded figures。
They were escorted by the chamberlain of the archbishop；
and on arriving at his palace were conducted into the chamber
where Goslin； Count Eudes； and several of the leading
persons of Paris awaited them。
Siegfroi bent his head before the prelate。
〃Goslin；〃 he said； 〃I beg you to have compassion upon
yourself and your flock if you do not wish to perish。 We
beseech you to turn a favourable ear to our words。 Grant
only that we shall march through the city。 We will touch
nothing in the town； and we undertake to preserve all your
property； both yours and that of Eudes。〃
The archbishop replied at once：
〃This city has been confided to us by the Emperor
Charles； who is； after God； the king and master of the powers
of the earth。 Holding under his rule almost all the world；
he confided it to us； with the assurance that we should suffer
no harm to come to the kingdom； but should keep it for him
safe and sure。 If it had happened that the defence of these
walls had been committed to your hands； as it has been
committed to mine； what would you have done had such a
demand been made upon you？ Would you have granted the
demand？〃
〃If I had granted it；〃 Siegfroi replied； 〃may my head fall
under the axe and serve as food for dogs。 Nevertheless； if
you do not grant our demands； by day we will overwhelm
your city with our darts； and with poisoned arrows by night。
You shall suffer all the horrors of hunger； and year after year
we will return and make a ruin of your city。〃
Without another word he turned； and followed by his
companions； strode through the streets of Paris； and taking
his place in the boat returned to his camp。
At daybreak the next morning the Norsemen were seen
crowding into their ships。 The trumpets sounded loudly； and
the citizens seized their arms and hastened to the walls。 The
Norsemen crossed the river； and directed their attack against
a tower which stood at the head of the bridge connecting the
city and island with the farther bank。 Those who landed
were provided with picks； crowbars； and other implements
for effecting a breach； and their approach was protected by a
cloud of arrows and javelins from the fleet which covered
the surface of the river。
The French leaders soon assembled at the threatened
point。 Chief among these were Eudes； his brother Robert；
the Count Ragenaire； and the Abbe Ebble； a nephew of the
archbishop。 The Franks bore themselves bravely； and in spite
of the rain of arrows defended the walls against the desperate
attacks of the Northmen。
The fortifications in those days were very far from having
attained the strength and solidity which a few generations
later were bestowed upon them。 The stones of which
they were constructed were comparatively small； and fastened
together by mortar； consequently they could ill resist even an
assault by manual weapons。 Covered by their shields the
Northmen worked untiringly at the foundations； and piece
by piece the walls crumbled to the ground。 Every effort；
however； to enter at the breaches so made was repulsed； and
Siegfroi kept back his warriors； determined to delay the grand
assault until the next day。 By nightfall the tower was in ruins；
scarce a portion of the walls remaining erect。 Many of the
besieged had been killed。 The archbishop was wounded with
an arrow。 Frederic； a young soldier who led the troops of the
church was killed。
The besiegers had suffered much more severely； great
numbers having been killed by the stones and missiles hurled
down by the defenders while engaged in the demolition of
the walls。 At nightfall the Danes carried off their wounded
and recrossed the river； confident that next day they would
succeed in their assault。 As soon as darkness had set in Count
Eudes collected the citizens； and these； bearing beams and
planks； crossed the bridge to the tower； and set to work。
Outside the circle of ruins holes were dug and the beams
securely fixed。 Planks were nailed to these； and earth heaped
up behind them。
All night the work continued； and by morning a fortification
much higher than the original tower had been erected
all round the ruin。 The Danes again crossed the river in
their ships； and the assault was renewed。 Javelins and great
stones were hurled at the fortification； and clouds of arrows
from the shipping fell within them。 Covered with portable
roofs constructed of planks the Danes strove to destroy the
wall。 The besieged poured upon them a blazing mixture of
oil； wax； and pitch。 Numbers of the Danes were burned to
death； while others； maddened by the pain； threw themselves
into the river。
Over and over again Siegfroi led his warriors to the attack；
but the defenders； headed by Eudes and the brave Abbe Ebble；
each time repelled them。 The abbe particularly distinguished
himself； and he is reported to have slain seven
Danes at once with one javelin； a blow which may be considered
as bordering on the miraculous。 But the number of the
defenders of the tower was small indeed to that of the enemy；
and the loss which they inflicted upon the Danes； great
as it was； was as nothing in so vast a host。
The flames of the machines； lighted by the pitch and
oil； communicated to the planks of the fortification； and soon
these too were on fire。 As they burned； the earth behind
them gave way； and a breach was formed。 Encouraged by
this result the Danes brought up faggots； and in several places
lighted great fires against the fortifications。 The defenders
began to lose all hope； when a tremendous storm of rain
suddenly burst over Paris quenching the fire。
The besieged gained heart； reinforcements crossed from
the town； and the Danes again withdrew to their ships； having
lost in the day's fighting three hundred men。 After this
repulse the Northmen desisted for a time from their attack。
They formed a strong fortified camp near the church of St。
Germain； and then spread over the country slaying and burning；
sparing none； man； woman； or child。 From the walls of
Paris the smoke could be seen rising over the whole country；
and every heart was moved with rage and sorrow。
Edmund and his party had taken no part in the defence
of the tower。 Its loss would not have involved that of the
town； and Eudes requested him to keep his band in reserve
in order that they might remain intact until the Danes should
make a breach in the walls of the city itself； when the sudden
reinforcement of a party of such well…trained warriors might
decide the result。
While a portion of the Danish host were engaged upon
the work of devastation； a large number were employed upon
the construction of three great towers。 These were built on
wheels； and were each large enough to hold sixty men。 They
far overtopped the walls； and the citizens viewed with alarm
the time when an assault should