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in a Danish vessel when passing you a white cloth is waved
from one of the windows of the cabins in the poop； that will
be a signal to you that the vessel is Sweyn's； and that Freda is
a captive on board。 In that case you will of course at once
attack it。 Let us ask Siegbert。 He has sailed up both the
Rhine and the Elbe； and can tell us of some quiet port near
the mouth of each river where you may lay the Dragon somewhat
out of sight of passers…by； while you can yet note all
ships that go down the river。 My messengers will then know
where to find you。〃 Having settled this point they returned
to Siegbert； and Edmund told him what he thought of doing。
〃I can advise no better；〃 Siegbert said。 〃Assuredly you
cannot prevail by force。 At present I have only ten of my
followers with me； the rest； after I was wounded； and it was
plain that a long time must elapse before I could again lead
them in the field； asked me to let them follow some other
chief； and as they could not be idle here I consented。 I have
ten men with me； but these would be but a small reinforcement。
As you say； your Saxons would be instantly known；
and the Northmen have suffered so at their hands during
the siege that the first party you met would set upon you。〃
〃I will take two only of your men；〃 Edmund said。 〃Choose
me two who are not known by sight to Sweyn。 I wish one to
be a subtle fellow； who will act as a spy for me； the other I
should choose of commanding stature； and the air of a leader。
He will go with my party； and should we come upon Danes
he will assume the place of leader； and can answer any questions。
There is far too much difference between the Saxon
and Danish tongue for me and my men to pass as Danes if
we have many words to say。 I shall take four of my men； all
full grown； strong； and good fighters。 They have but little
hair upon their chins at present； and they can shave that off。
Now； jarl； I want five Danish dresses； for your costume differs
somewhat from ours。 Have you horses？ If not； I must send back
to Paris to buy some。〃
〃I have plenty to mount you and your party。〃
〃Good；〃 Edmund said； 〃I will go down to my ship and
pick my men。〃
In half an hour the party were ready to start。 Egbert
had received from Siegbert particulars of villages at the
mouths of the Rhine and Elbe； and he promised Edmund
that a watch should be kept night and day at the mouth of
the Rhine until a messenger arrived。 Edmund had already
ascertained that Sweyn had left a fortnight before with his
following； and had marched towards Champagne。 There
probably he had halted his main body； returning only with a
party of horsemen to carry off Freda。
〃I would I could go with you；〃 Siegbert groaned as
Edmund said adieu to him。 〃I would ride straight into his
camp and challenge him to mortal combat； but as it is I am
helpless。〃
〃Never fear； good Siegbert；〃 Edmund said cheerfully；
〃when your leg is cured travel straight homeward； and there；
I trust； before very long to place Freda safe and unharmed in
your arms。 If I come not you will know that I have perished。〃
A minute later； after a few parting words with Egbert；
Edmund mounted his horse； and followed by his six companions；
rode off at full speed。 He knew that it would be useless
making any inquiries about Sweyn and his party。 But few of
the inhabitants of the country were to be seen about； for the
Danes had burned every house within very many miles of
Paris； and the peasants would assuredly not have paid any
special attention to a party of Danes； for whenever they saw
the dreaded marauders even at a distance they forsook their
homes and fled to the forests。 The party therefore rode eastward
until nightfall； then picketed their horses； and having
lit a fire； made their supper from the store of provisions they
had brought with them； and then lay down to sleep for the
night。
At daybreak they again started and continued their journey
until it was necessary to halt to give their horses a rest。
They had passed several parties of Danes； for these in great
numbers； after the siege of Paris had been given up； were
journeying towards Burgundy。 There was but slight greeting
as they passed； but on one occasion a horseman rode out
from one of the bands and entered into conversation with
the two Danes who rode at the head of the party。 They told
them that they were followers of the Jarl Siegbert； and were
riding to join the rest of his band； who were with the company
of Jarl Eric； as Siegbert would be long before he would
be able to move； and had therefore kept only a few of his
followers with him。
〃Eric is a long way ahead；〃 the Dane said； 〃he must be
full as far as Nancy by this time。 Those who left first；〃 he
grumbled； 〃will have the pick of the country。 We were fools
to linger so long before Paris。〃 Then turning his horse； he
rode back to his comrades； and the party continued their
way。
They avoided all towns and large Danish encampments
on the way； but made inquiries from all small parties they
met after the party of Sweyn。 They learned without diffculty
the place where he had been encamped a few days before；
but on their arriving in the neighbourhood they found
that the place was deserted； nor could any tell them the
direction in which the Northmen had travelled。
CHAPTER XVI： FREDA
For some days Edmund and his party scoured the country
round； journeying now in one direction； now in another；
but without hearing ought of Sweyn's party。
Certainly they had not gone along the track which the main
body of the Danes had followed； but the question was whether
they had turned rather to the south in order to cross the
mountain ranges between them and the Rhine； or had turned
north and journeyed through the great forest of Ardennes；
and so to some of the other rivers which run down into the
North Sea。
The latter was in some respects the most likely course to
have been chosen。 By taking it Sweyn would avoid altogether
the track which the majority of his countrymen were taking；
and this would naturally be his object。 Siegbert had many
powerful friends； and the carrying off of the jarl's daughter
from the side of her wounded father would be regarded as a
grave offence； and Sweyn might well wish to keep clear of his
countrymen until he had forced Freda to become his wife。
Even then it would not be safe for him for a long time to
return to his country。 Striking through the Ardennes he would
come down upon the Scheldt； the Moselle； the Maas； or other
rivers flowing into the North Sea direct； or into the Rhine。
Edmund knew nothing of these streams； but the Danes
with him said there were several rivers so situated； for they
had sailed up them。 Where they took their rise they knew
not； but it would probably be in or beyond the forest of
Ardennes。
〃Then in that way we will search；〃 Edmund said。 〃If
they come upon a river they will doubtless set to work to
build galleys to carry them to the sea； for with only three
hundred men Sweyn will not venture to march by land through
a country which has but lately suffered heavily at the hands
of the Danes。 It will take him a month or six weeks to cut
do