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！
which could be plainly heard； although they were now near a
mile away。
Paris was wild with joy at the destruction of the towers
which had menaced it； and the conflagration of nigh half
the Danish fleet； laden with the spoil of northern France。
Edmund and his Saxons were conducted in triumph by a
shouting crowd to the palace of the archbishop； where Goslin；
in the name of the city； returned them the heartiest thanks
for the services which they had rendered。 The wealthy citizens
vied with each other in bestowing costly presents upon
them； bonfires were lighted in the streets； and till morning
the town gave itself up to revelry and rejoicing。
A month elapsed before the Danes recovered from the
blow which had been dealt them and resumed the assault。
Part of this time had been spent in manufacturing great
shields of bull's hide。 These were strongly constructed； and
were each capable of covering six men。 On the 29th of January
their preparations were complete； and at daybreak the
warders on the wall saw them pouring down into their ships
and galleys。 As the fleet crossed the river its aspect was
singular。 The decks were covered by the black shields； above
which appeared a forest of spears； sparkling in the morning
sunlight。 As they reached the shore the Northmen sprang to
land； while from the decks of the vessels a storm of missiles
flew towards the walls。 Vast numbers of catapults； which
they had manufactured since their last attack； hurled masses
of stone； heavy javelins； and leaden bullets； while thousands
of arrows darkened the air。
The bells of the church sounded the alarm； which called
every citizen capable of bearing arms to the walls。 The
archbishop took his place at the spot most threatened by the
enemy； with his nephew； the valiant abbe； by his side。 The
Counts Eudes； Robert； Ragenaire； Utton； and Herilang stood
foremost among the defenders。
The Saxons； as before； were held in reserve； but to
Edmund and Egbert had been assigned； at their urgent request；
the command of the defence of the tower。 It was against
this point that the Danes again made their most desperate
effort。 Their main body advanced against it； and smaller
parties attacked the city at other points； while the rowing
galleys； divided into two bodies； strove to destroy the bridge；
and so isolate the defenders of the post。
Around the tower the combat was desperate。 The assailants
were well…nigh hidden under their great bucklers。
Their shouts； and the constant clashing of arms which they
maintained； made a terrific uproar； a storm of missiles from
the fleet poured upon the tower； while from the crevices
between the shields the bowmen shot incessantly at the defenders。
The very number of the Danes hindered their attack； for the
tower was so small that comparatively few could approach at once。
It had been greatly strengthened since the last assault；
and through the loopholes in the walls the archers did their
best to answer the storm of missiles poured into the fort。
Edmund and Egbert went among them； begging them not to
fire at random； but to choose moments when the movements
of the assailants opened a space in the roof of shields which
covered them。
Whenever this took place a dozen arrows fell true to the
mark。 Some of those bearing the shield would be struck；
and these falling； a gap would be caused through which the
arrows of the defenders flew thickly； causing death and confusion
until the shield could be raised in its place again。
Boiling liquids were poured over those who approached the
walls； and huge stones crushed the shields and their bearers。
Eudes and his men valiantly defended the wall； and the
Danes in vain strove to scale it。 All day long the battle
continued； but at nightfall the tower still remained in the hands
of the defenders； the deep ditch which they had dug round it
having prevented the Danes from working at the wall； as they
had done in the previous assault。
When darkness came on the Danes did not retire； but
lay down in the positions they occupied； under their shields。
In the morning many ships were seen crossing the river again；
and the defenders saw to their surprise numbers of captives
who had been collected from the surrounding country； troops
of oxen； ship…loads of branches of trees； trusses of hay and
corn； and faggots of vines landed。 Their surprise became
horror when they saw the captives and the cattle alike
slaughtered as they landed。 Their bodies were brought forward
under cover of the shields and thrown into the moat； in which；
too； were cast the hay； straw； faggots； and trees。
At the sight of the massacre the archbishop prayed to
the Virgin to give him strength； and drawing a bow to its full
strength； let fly an arrow； which； great as was the distance；
flew true to its mark and struck the executioner full in the
face。 This apparent miracle of the Virgin in their favour
re…animated the spirit of the defenders； and a solemn service
was instantly held in the church in her honour； and prayers
were offered to her to save Lutece； which was the original
name of Paris； and was still cherished by its inhabitants。
The Danes were occupied all day at their work of filling
up the moat。 The besieged were not idle； but laboured at the
construction of several mangonels capable of casting huge
blocks of stone。 In the morning the Danes planted their
battering…rams； one on each side of the tower； and recommenced
the assault。 The new machines of the defenders did great
havoc in their ranks； their heavy stones crashing through the
roof of bucklers and crushing those who held them； and for
a time the Norsemen desisted from the attack。
They now filled three of their largest vessels with
combustibles； and placing them on the windward side of the
bridge； set them alight。 The people of Paris beheld with
afright these fire…ships bearing down upon the bridge； and
old and young burst into tears and cries at the view of the
approaching destruction； and； led by the archbishop； all
joined in a prayer to St。 Germain； the patron saint of Paris；
to protect the city。 The exulting Danes replied to the cries of
those on the walls with triumphant shouts。 Thanks； as the
Franks believed； to the interposition of St。 Germain； the
fireships struck against the pile of stones from which the beams
supporting the bridge in the centre were raised。 Eudes and
his companions leaped down from the bridge and with hatchets
hewed holes in the sides of the ships at the water…line；
and they sank without having effected any damage to the
bridge。
It was now the turn of the Franks to raise triumphant
shouts； while the Danes； disheartened； fell back from the attack；
and at night recrossed the river； leaving two of their
battering…rams as tokens of the triumph of the besieged。 Paris
had now a respite while the Danes again spread over the
surrounding country； many of them ascending the river in their
ships and wasting the country as far as Burgundy。
The monastery of St。 Germain and the church in which
the body of the saint was buried still remained untouched。
The bands of Northmen who had invaded England had never
hesitated to plunder and dest