〃there　are　plenty　of　spots　which　would　be　suitable；　for　the
  banks　are　for　the　most　part　low　and　the　ground　around
  swampy　and　wooded。　To…morrow　I　will　tell　off　a　strong　body
  of　men　to　accompany　you　in　your　ship；　and　aid　your　crew　in
  their　work。〃
  Twenty　miles　up　the　Seine　a　suitable　spot　was　found；
  and　the　crew　of　the　Dragon；　with　the　hundred　men　whom　the
  Count　Eudes　had　lent　for　the　purpose；　at　once　set　about　their
  work。　They　had　but　little　trouble；　for　a　spot　was　chosen　where
  a　sluggish　stream；　some　fifteen　feet　wide；　drained　the　water
  from　a　wide…spreading　swamp　into　the　river。　The　channel
  needed　widening　but　a　little　to　allow　of　the　Dragon　entering；
  and　the　water　was　quite　deep　enough　to　permit　her　being
  taken　some　three　hundred　yards　back　from　the　river。
  The　trees　and　underwood　were　thick；　and　Edmund　was
  assured　that　even　when　winter；　which　was　now　approaching；
  stripped　the　last　leaf　from　the　trees；　the　Dragon　could　not　be
  seen　from　the　river。　Her　masts　were　lowered；　and　bundles　of
  brushwood　were　hung　along　her　side　so　as　to　prevent　the
  gleam　of　black　paint　being　discerned　through　the　trees。
  The　entrance　to　the　stream　was　filled　up　to　a　width　of
  three　or　four　feet；　and　the　new　work　turfed　with　coarse　grass
  similar　to　that　which　grew　beside　it。　Bushes　were　planted
  close　to　the　water's　edge；　and　stakes　were　driven　down　in　the
  narrow　channel　to　within　a　few　inches　of　the　surface　of　the
  water。
  Certain　now　that　no　Danish　boats　would　be　likely　to
  turn　aside　from　the　river　to　enter　this　channel　into　the　swamp；
  the　party　embarked　in　some　boats　which　had　been　towed　up
  by　the　Dragon　and　returned　down　the　river　to　Paris。
  The　afternoon　before　starting　all　the　valuable　booty
  which　had　been　captured　from　the　Danes　was　landed　and
  placed　in　security　in　the　castle；　and　upon　his　return　to　Paris
  Edmund　disposed　of　this　at　good　prices　to　the　traders　of　the
  city。
  A　fortnight　after　they　had　returned　to　Paris　the　news
  was　brought　in　that　a　vast　fleet　of　Northmen　was　ascending
  the　river。　The　next　morning　it　was　close　at　hand；　and　the
  citizens　mounting　the　walls　beheld　with　consternation　the
  approaching　armament。　So　numerous　were　the　ships　that
  they　completely　covered　the　river。　The　fleet　consisted　of
  seven　hundred　sailing　ships；　and　a　vastly　greater　number　of
  rowing　galleys　and　boats。　These　vessels　were　crowded　with
  men；　and　their　fierce　aspect；　their　glittering　arms；　and　their
  lofty　stature；　spread　terror　in　the　hearts　of　the　citizens。
  〃This　is　truly　a　tremendous　host！〃　the　Count　Eudes　said
  to　Edmund；　who　stood　beside　him　on　the　walls。
  〃It　is　indeed；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃Numerous　as　are　the
  fleets　which　have　poured　down　upon　the　shores　of　England；
  methinks　that　none　approached　this　in　strength。　It　is　clear
  that　the　Northmen　have　united　their　forces　for　a　great　effort
  against　this　city；　but　having　at　home　successfully　defended
  fortifications；　which　were　not　to　be　named　in　comparison
  with　those　of　Paris；　against　them；　I　see　no　reason　to　doubt
  that　we　shall　be　able　to　beat　them　off　here。〃
  The　Danes　landed　on　the　opposite　bank　and　formed　a
  vast　camp　there；　and　the　following　morning　three　of　their
  number　in　a　small　boat　rowed　across　the　river　and　said　that
  their　king　Siegfroi　desired　to　speak　with　Goslin；　archbishop
  of　Paris；　who　stood　in　the　position　of　civil　governor。　They
  were　told　that　the　archbishop　would　receive　the　king　in　his
  palace。
  An　hour　later　a　stately　figure　in　glittering　armour　was
  seen　to　take　his　place　in　a　long　galley；　which；　rowed　by　twenty
  men；　quickly　shot　across　the　stream。　Siegfroi　landed；　and；
  accompanied　by　four　of　his　leading　warriors；　entered　the
  gates；　which　were　opened　at　his　approach。　The　chief　of　the
  Northmen　was　a　warrior　of　lofty　stature。　On　his　head　he
  wore　a　helmet　of　gold；　on　whose　crest　was　a　raven　with　extended
  wings　wrought　in　the　same　metal。　His　hair　fell　loosely
  on　his　neck；　his　face　was　clean　shaved　in　Danish　fashion；　save
  for　a　long　moustache。　He　wore　a　breastplate　of　golden　scales；
  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