登陆注册
5268700000076

第76章 CHAPTER XVII: A LONG CHASE(4)

The pope, upon hearing that the strange galley which had anchored in the river was a Saxon, sent an invitation to its commander to visit him, and Edmund and his kinsman were taken by their Italian friends to his presence. The pope received them most graciously, and after inquiring after King Alfred and the state of things in England, asked how it was that a Saxon ship had made so long a voyage.

Edmund explained that he was in search of a Danish damsel who had once shown him great kindness, and who had been carried off from her father by one of the vikings of Hasting's fleet. When he said that they had taken part in the defence of Paris the holy father told him that he now recognized his name, for that a full account of the siege had been sent to him by one of the monks there, and that he had spoken much of the valour of a Saxon captain and the crew of his galley, to whom indeed their successful resistance to the Northmen was in no slight degree due.

"Would I could aid you, my son, in your enterprise against these northern pirates. The depredations which they are committing on the shores of Italy are terrible indeed, and we are powerless to resist them; they have even threatened to ascend the Tiber and attack Rome, and though I trust that we might resist their attacks, yet rather than such misfortune as a siege should fall upon my people I have paid a large sum of money to the leader of the Northmen to abstain from coming hither; but I know that the greed of these pirates does but increase with their gains, and that ere long we may see their pagan banner floated before our walls. A few galleys I could man and place under your orders, but in truth the people of this town are not skilled in naval fighting. I have already endeavoured to unite the states of Genoa, Pisa, and Venice against them, for it is only by common effort that we can hope to overwhelm these wolves of the sea."

Edmund expressed his thanks to the pope for his offer, but said that he would rather proceed with the Dragon alone.

"She is to the full as swift as the Northmen's vessels," he said; "and although I would right gladly join any great fleet which might be assembled for an attack upon them, I would rather proceed alone than with a few other ships. Not being strong enough to attack their whole armament I must depend upon stratagem to capture the galley of which I am specially in pursuit, and will with your permission set out as soon as I have transformed my ship so that she will pass muster as a galley of Genoa or Venice."

The holy father gave orders that every assistance should be afforded to Edmund to carry out his designs, and the next morning a large number of artisans and workmen took possession of the Dragon. She was painted from stem to stern with bright colours. Carved wood-work was added to her forecastle and poop, and a great deal of gilding overlaid upon her. The shape of her bow was altered, and so transformed was she that none would have known her for the vessel which had entered the Tiber, and she would have passed without observation as a galley of Genoa.

A number of prisoners accustomed to row in the state galleys were placed on board to work the oars, thus leaving the whole of the crew available for fighting purposes, and a state officer was put in command of these galley-slaves. The ship was well stored with provisions, and after a farewell interview with the pope, Edmund and his companions returned on board ship, and the Dragon took her way down the river.

The fleet of the Northmen was at Palermo, and keeping under the land, the Saxon ship sailed down the coast of Calabria, and at night crossed near the mouth of the straits to the shore of Sicily. They entered a quiet bay, and Edmund dressed as a Dane, with the two Northmen who had accompanied him from Paris, landed and journeyed on foot to Palermo.

Everywhere they came upon scenes similar to those with which they were familiar in France. Villages burned and destroyed, houses deserted, orchards and crops wasted, and a country destitute of inhabitants, all having fled to the mountains to escape the invader. They did not meet with a single person upon their journey. When they approached Palermo they waited until nightfall, and then boldly entered the town.

Here the most intense state of misery prevailed. Many of the inhabitants had fled before the arrival of the Danes, but those who remained were kept in a state of cruel subjection by their conquerors, who brutally oppressed and ill-used them, making free with all their possessions and treating them as slaves.

The Danes entered into conversation with some of their countrymen, and professing to have that evening but newly arrived from home, learned much of the disposition of the fleet of the Northmen. They pretended that they were desirous of joining the galleys under the command of Sweyn, and were told that these had arrived three weeks before, and were now absent with some others on the southern side of the island.

Having obtained this information, Edmund and his companions started without delay to rejoin the Dragon. Upon reaching her she at once put to sea. Palermo was passed in the night, and the vessel held her way down the western coast of Sicily. She was now under sail alone, and each night lay up at anchor in order that she might not pass the Danish galleys unobserved. On the third day after passing Palermo, several galleys were seen riding off a small port. The wind was very light, and after a consultation with his friends Edmund determined to simulate flight so as to tempt the Danes to pursue, for with so light a breeze their smaller galleys would row faster than the Dragon; besides, it was possible that Sweyn might be on shore.

It was early morning when the Danish galleys were seen, and apparently the crews were still asleep, for no movement on board was visible, and the Dragon sailed back round a projecting point of land and then cast anchor. It was so important to learn whether Sweyn was with Freda on board his ship, or whether, as was likely, he had established himself on shore, that it was decided it would be better to send the two Danes to reconnoitre before determining what plan should be adopted.

同类推荐
  • 千岩和尚语录

    千岩和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清元始高上玉皇九天谱箓

    上清元始高上玉皇九天谱箓

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞玄灵宝自然九天生神章经

    洞玄灵宝自然九天生神章经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • adventures of col. daniel boone

    adventures of col. daniel boone

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古今事通

    古今事通

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 废材狂妄之逆天大小姐

    废材狂妄之逆天大小姐

    王牌杀手时落遭爱人背叛而死,穿越成了凤鸣大陆的君家大小姐君时落……她发誓这一生绝对不会再上男人的当,她拜良师,提修为,建医宗,成为大陆上仅次于暗夜帝君的存在。只是没想到竟然有个连她也摆脱不掉的男人缠上了她!“季卿苍,老娘与你不共戴天……”当她是神医莲的时候,她被他“调戏”了。当她是毒圣姬夏的时候,她又被他鄙视了。当她是君时落的时候,呵呵,夫君大大,再见,老娘不奉陪了。君时落决定携财跑路,结果逃离魔爪的第一天晚上,又在她的房间里看到了那个妖孽男。季卿苍对着暗自生闷气的君时落笑道:“娘子,你舍得丢下为夫?”好吧,她承认,她又输了,这个磨人的小妖精!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 厉害了,平头哥

    厉害了,平头哥

    野生动物园有这么一只蜜獾,每天只是睡睡觉,望望天,偶尔对着失望的游客感叹一下人生......简直就是平头哥中的一股清流。直到有一天,一颗流星划过,一切都不一样了。———————————————————“各位,我只想整死你们,或者被你们整死。”方修看着面前的狮群,如是说道。Ps:立个flag,这次成绩再差也不太监,太监直播切丁丁!!!!!
  • 梨花深处(中国好小说)

    梨花深处(中国好小说)

    天生丽质的蓝砚因为从小受到的家庭影响对爱情产生了扭曲的看法,认为世界上最重要的东西非钱莫属。她拼命追求金钱,直到众叛亲离,才知道世界上最重要的东西并不是金钱。
  • 山西民间故事

    山西民间故事

    这是一套面向农村,供广大农民朋友阅读的文化丛书。它涉及戏曲、曲艺、民间歌舞、民间工艺、民间故事、民间笑话等多个门类,涵括了编织刺绣、建筑装饰、酿酒制醋、剪纸吹塑、冶铁铸造、陶瓷漆艺等林林总总的艺术形式,是老百姓熟悉的艺术,是我们身边的艺术,和我们的日常生活密切相关。
  • 马瑞芳趣话王熙凤

    马瑞芳趣话王熙凤

    本书是《马瑞芳趣话红楼梦》的延续,在这部作品中马教授以诙谐而幽默、生动而有趣味的讲述,解析了《红楼梦》中宝黛以外的至关重要的人物——王熙凤身上所潜隐的方方面面,充分显示了马教授深厚的古典文学根底和精湛的红学研究造诣。作品通过对王熙凤的全新解读,一方面是从围绕凤姐的故事及人物活动之蛛丝马迹中,探察、体会人物的性格特点和真实想法;还有另一方面是探询、揣摩文本内外曹雪芹的艺术构思和创作意图。本书既是一部对王熙凤全面解密、解读、解析的美文,又是一部带有探索、悬疑意味的开放式文本;既是严谨的红学研究学术著作,同时也是一部通俗易懂的轻松风趣的学术随笔;既有学术价值,又具有可读性。
  • 小妖如画

    小妖如画

    这是一只小狐狸一个抖机灵成了小神仙的故事。大山深处有只小狐狸,为了修炼成仙。发生的一系列喜剧故事。
  • 佛说能净一切眼疾病陀罗尼经

    佛说能净一切眼疾病陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 坂本龙马(全集)

    坂本龙马(全集)

    19世纪中叶,中国和日本都被列强打破国门,中国从此开始衰落。日本却由此走向强盛,有一个人在其中起到关键作用。他就是坂本龙马。他草根出身,但对世界充满好奇。最终,他带领一群怀抱梦想的人,推开了明治维新的大门。他被称为“日本走向现代的总设计师”!《坂本龙马》与《德川家康》并称“日本两大历史小说”,日本读者票选喜爱的历史小说NO.1,深刻影响孙正义一生的书,“明治维新总设计师”坂本龙马的传奇人生。日本作家司马辽太郎的长篇历史小说,描写了改变日本命运的明治维新总设计师——坂本龙马的一生。
  • 小农女的锦绣人生

    小农女的锦绣人生

    琴棋书画不会,洗衣做饭嫌累。政史地物化生,那是什么?就这样还穿成了农家小媳妇,身边还有个拖油瓶?家里各个奇葩,公婆皆为极品!嘿,斗极品什么的,她会。总之,这是个现代战斗机带着大力无穷的汉子,发家致富,顺便斗斗极品亲戚,走上巅峰人生的故事。
  • 无言童子经

    无言童子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。