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once made up her mind she is not given to change。〃
〃I doubt not her resolution；〃 Edmund said； 〃but none
can blame her if； after all these months； she has begun to
despair of rescue； nay； it is even probable that； having Sweyn；
who is assuredly a brave and enterprising Viking； always near
her； she may have come to love him。〃
〃No； Edmund；〃 Siegbert replied。 〃I am sure you need
have no fear that she has softened towards Sweyn。 But how
do you think of proceeding if you land？〃
〃I will take with me this Dane； and if one of the Genoese
nobles will go with me I will take him； and also the man we
brought from Marseilles； who acts as an interpreter between
us and the Italians。〃
〃But why hamper yourself with two men； who would be
even more likely to be detected by the Danes than would you
yourself？〃
〃I shall leave them in the outskirts of the place；〃 Edmund
replied。 〃I would fain see if I can enter into any negotiations
with the natives。 Perhaps we may arrange that they shall
attack the place on the land side； while the Dragon falls upon
the galleys； and in any case we may need an interpreter with
the people。〃
One of the young Genoese； upon being asked whether
he would take part in the adventure； at once consented； and
the four men； attiring themselves as Danes； speedily landed
in the Dragon's boat。 The bay in which the ship was lying was
some ten miles along the shore from the town。 The spies
had made their way along the sea…coast by night； but as it was
morning when Edmund landed； he thought that it would be
safer to make a detour so as to arrive near the landward side
of the town and so enter it after dark。
They had not proceeded far when they came upon the
ruins of a village。 It had been destroyed by fire； and the
freshness of the charred beams showed that it had been done
but a short time before； probably not many days。 Marks of
blood could be seen in the roadway； but no bodies were visible；
and Edmund supposed that； after the Danes had retired；
the survivors must have returned and buried their dead。 They
had not proceeded far when the Dane pointed out to Edmund
a half…naked lad who was running with the swiftness of a deer
over a slope of some little distance。
〃He is going too fast for us to catch him；〃 Edmund said
carelessly； 〃and as； even if we did so； he could give us no
information of any use； for you may be sure he has not ventured
near the town； we may well let him go on in his way。〃
For three or four miles further they pursued their course。
The country； which was exceedingly fertile； and covered with
corn…fields and vineyards； appeared entirely deserted。 Here
and there a wide blackened tract showed where； from
carelessness or malice； a brand had been thrown into the
standing corn。
〃The Danes are ever the same；〃 Edmund said。 〃Well
may they be called the sea…wolves。 It would be bad enough
did they only plunder and kill those who oppose them； but
they destroy from the pure love of destroying； and slay for
the pleasure of slaying。 Why are these robbers permitted to
be the scourge of Europe？〃
〃Why indeed？〃 the Genoese repeated when the interpreter
had translated Edmund's exclamation to him。 〃'Tis shame
and disgrace that Christendom does not unite against
them。 They are no more invincible now than they were when
Caesar overran their country and brought them into subjection。
What the Romans could do then would be easy for the
Christian powers to do now if they would but make common
cause against these maraudersnay； Italy alone should be
able at any rate to sweep the Mediterranean free of their
pirate galleys； but Venice and Genoa and Pisa are consumed
by their own petty jealousies and quarrels； while all our
seacoasts are ravaged by these wolves of the ocean。〃
〃Ah！ what is that？〃 he exclaimed； breaking off； as an
arrow struck smartly against his helmet。
They were at the moment passing through a small wood
which bordered the road on both sides。 The first arrow
seemed but a signal； for in an instant a score of others flew
among the party。 It was well that they carried with them the
long Danish shields； which nearly covered their whole body。
As it was； several slight wounds were inflicted； and the
interpreter fell dead with an arrow in his forehead。
Immediately following the flight of arrows a crowd of
peasants armed with staves； axes； and pikes dashed out from
the wood on both sides and fell upon them； uttering shouts
of 〃Death to the marauders！〃 〃Kill the sea…wolves！〃
So great was the din； that； although the Genoese shouted
loudly that they were not Danes but friends； his words were
unheard in the din； and attacked fiercely on all sides； the
three men were forced to defend themselves for their lives。
Standing back to back in the form of a triangle； they defended
themselves valiantly against the desperate attacks of their
assailants。
Several of these were cut down； but so furious was the
attack of the maddened peasants that the defenders were
borne down by the weight of numbers； and one by one beaten
to the ground。 Then the peasants rained blows upon them
as if they had been obnoxious wild beasts； and in spite of
their armour would speedily have slain them had not the
Genoese； with a great effort； pulled from his breast a cross；
which was suspended there by a silken cord； and held it up；
shouting； 〃We are Christians； we are Italians； and no Danes。〃
So surprised were the peasants at the sight that they
recoiled from their victims。 The Dane was already insensible。
Edmund had just strength to draw his dagger and hold
up the cross hilt and repeat the words； 〃We are Christians。〃
It was the sight of the cross rather than the words which had
arrested the attacks of the peasants。 Indeed； the words of
the Genoese were scarce understood by them； so widely did
their own patois differ from the language of polished Italy。
The fact； however； that these Danes were Christians
seemed so extraordinary to them that they desisted from their
attack。 The Danes； they knew； were pagans and bitterly hostile
to Christianity； the monasteries and priests being special
objects of their hostility。 The suggestion of one of the peasants；
that the cross had no doubt been taken from the body
of some man murdered by the Danes； revived the passion of
the rest and nearly cost the prisoners their lives； but an older
man who seemed to have a certain authority over the others
said that the matter must be inquired into； especially as the
man who had the cross； and who continued to address them
in Italian； clearly spoke some language approaching their own。
He would have questioned him further； but the Genoese was
now rapidly losing consciousness from the pain of his wounds
and the loss of blood。
The three prisoners were therefore bound； and being
placed on rough litters constructed of boughs； were carried
off by the peasants。 The strength and excellence of Edmund's
armour had enabled him to withstand the blows better than
his companions； and he retained his consciousness of what
was passing。 For three hours their journey continued。 At
the end of that time they entered a wood high up on the hillside。
There was a grea