alone；　seeing　that　she　has　grown　up　one　of　our　fairest　maidens；
  and　many　are　the　valorous　deeds　that　have　been　done　to
  win　a　smile　from　her；　but　she　has　refused　all　suitors；　Sweyn
  with　the　others。　He　took　his　refusal　in　bad　part；　and　even
  ventured　to　vow　she　should　be　his　whether　she　willed　it　or
  not。　Of　course　I　took　the　matter　up　and　forbade　all　further
  intimacy；　and　we　had　not　met　again　till　the　other　day　before
  Paris。　We　had　high　words　there；　but　I　thought　no　more　of　it。
  A　few　days　afterwards　I　was　struck　by　a　crossbow　bolt　in　the
  leg。　It　smashed　my　knee；　and　I　shall　never　be　able　to　use　my
  leg　again。　I　well…nigh　died　of　fever　and　vexation；　but　Freda
  nursed　me　through　it。　She　had　me　carried　on　a　litter　here　to
  be　away　from　the　noise　and　revelry　of　the　camp。　Last　night
  there　was　a　sudden　outcry。　Some　of　my　men　who　sprang　to
  arms　were　smitten　down；　and　the　assailants　burst　in　here　and
  tore　Freda；　shrieking；　away。　Their　leader　was　Sweyn　of　the
  left　hand。　As　I　lay　tossing　here；　mad　with　the　misfortune
  which　ties　me　to　my　couch；　I　thought　of　you。　I　said；　'If　any
  can　follow　and　recapture　Freda　it　is　Edmund。'　The　Danes
  had　for　the　most　part　moved　away；　and　there　were　few　would
  care　to　risk　a　quarrel　with　Sweyn　in　a　matter　which　concerned
  them　not　closely；　but　I　felt　that　I　could　rely　upon　you；　and
  that　you　would　spare　no　pains　to　rescue　my　child。〃
  〃That　will　I　not！〃　Edmund　exclaimed；　〃but　tell　me　first
  what　you　think　are　his　plans。　Which　way　has　he　gone；　and
  what　force　has　he　with　him？〃
  〃The　band　he　commands　are　six　shiploads；　each　numbering
  fifty　men。　What　his　plans　may　be　I　know　not；　but
  many　of　the　Danes；　I　know；　purposed；　when　the　war　was
  finished　here；　to　move　east　through　Burgundy。　Some　intended
  to　build　boats　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhine　and　sail
  down　on　that　river；　others　intended　to　journey　further　and　to
  descend　by　the　Elbe。　I　know　not　which　course　Sweyn　may
  adopt。　The　country　between　this　and　the　Rhine　swarms　with
  Danes。　I　do　not　suppose　that　Sweyn　will　join　any　other　party。
  Having　Freda　with　him；　he　will　prefer　keeping　apart；　but　in
  any　case　it　would　not　be　safe　for　you　to　journey　with　your
  band；　who　would　assuredly　become　embroiled　with　the　first
  party　of　Danes　they　met；　and　even　if　they　be　as　brave　as
  yourself　they　would　be　defeated　by　such　superior　numbers。〃
  〃You　do　not　think　that　Sweyn　will　venture　to　use　violence
  to　force　Freda　to　become　his　wife？〃
  〃I　think　he　will　hardly　venture　upon　that；〃　Siegbert　said；
  〃however　violent　and　headstrong　he　may　be。　To　carry　off　a
  maiden　for　a　wife　is　accounted　no　very　evil　deed；　for　the
  maiden　is　generally　not　unwilling；　but　to　force　her　by　violence
  to　become　his　wife　would　be　a　deed　so　contrary　to　our
  usages　that　it　would　bring　upon　him　the　anger　of　the　whole
  nation。　Knowing　Sweyn's　disposition；　I　believe　that　were　there
  no　other　way；　he　would　not　hesitate　even　at　this；　but　might
  take　ship　and　carry　her　to　some　distant　land；　but　he　would
  not　do　this　until　all　other　means　fail。　He　will　strive　to　tire　her
  out；　and　so　bring　her　in　her　despair　to　consent　to　wed　him。〃
  Edmund　was　silent　for　three　or　four　minutes；　then　he
  said：　〃I　must　consult　my　kinsman　Egbert。　I　will　return　and
  tell　you　what　I　purpose　doing。〃
  On　leaving　the　cottage　Edmund　found　Egbert　walking
  up　and　down　outside　awaiting　the　result　of　the　interview。　He
  had　been　present　when　the　Dane　had　told　of　Freda's　abduction；
  and　knew　how　sore　a　blow　it　was　to　the　young　ealdorman；
  for　Edmund　had　made　no　secret　to　him　of　his　intention　some
  day　to　wed　the　Danish　jarl's　daughter。　Edmund　in　a　few　words
  related　to　him　the　substance　of　Siegbert's　narrative；　and　ended
  by　saying：　〃Now；　Egbert；　what　is　best　to　be　done？〃
  〃　'Tis　of　no　use　asking　me；　Edmund；　you　know　well　enough
  that　it　is　you　that　always　decide　and　I　agree。　I　have　a
  hand　to　strike；　but　no　head　to　plan。　Tell　me　only　what　you
  wish；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　I　will　do　my　best　to　execute
  it。〃
  〃Of　course　we　must　follow；〃　Edmund　said；　〃of　that　there
  is　no　question。　The　only　doubt　is　as　to　the　force　we　must
  take。　What　Siegbert　said　is　true。　The　Danish　bands　are　so
  numerous　to　the　east　that　we　should　be　sure　to　fall　in　with
  some　of　them；　and　fight　as　we　might；　should　be　destroyed；
  and　yet　with　a　smaller　number　how　could　we　hope　to　rescue
  Freda　from　Sweyn's　hands？〃
  Edmund　walked　up　and　down　for　some　time。
  〃I　think；〃　he　went　on　at　last；　〃the　best　plan　will　be　to　take
  a　party　of　but　four　at　most。　I　must　choose　those　who　will　be
  able　to　pass　best　as　Danes。　With　so　small　a　number　I　may
  traverse　the　country　unobserved。　I　will　take　with　me　two　of
  Siegbert's　men；　who；　when　we　get　nigh　to　Sweyn's　band；　may
  join　with　him　and　tell　me　how　things　are　going；　and　how
  Sweyn　treats　his　captive。　If　I　find　he　is　pushing　matters　to　an
  extreme　I　must　make　some　desperate　effort　to　carry　her　off；
  but　if；　as　is　more　probable；　he　trusts　to　time　to　break　her
  resolution；　I　shall　follow　at　a　short　distance。〃
  〃Shall　I　go　with　you；　Edmund？〃
  〃I　think　it　will　be　better　not；　Egbert。　Your　beard　would
  mark　you　as　a　Saxon　at　once。〃
  〃But　that　I　can　cut　off；〃　Egbert　said。　〃It　would　be　a　sacrifice
  truly；　but　I　would　do　it　without　hesitation。〃
  〃Thanks；　dear　kinsman；　but　I　think　it　would　be　of　more
  purpose　for　you　to　remain　in　command　of　the　Dragon。　She
  may　meet　many　foes；　and　it　were　best　that　you　were　there　to
  fight　and　direct　her。　I　pray　you　at　once　to　descend　the　Seine
  and　sailing　round　the　north　coast　of　France；　place　the　Dragon
  at　the　mouth　of　the　Rhine。　Do　not　interfere　with　any　Danish
  ships　that　you　may　see　pass　out；　but　keep　at　a　distance。　Should
  Sweyn　descend　the　Rhine　I　will；　if　possible；　send　a　messenger
  down　before　him；　so　do　you　look　out　for　small　boats；　and
  if　you　see　one　in　which　the　rower　hoists　a　white　flag　at　the
  end　of　his　oar；　you　will　know　he　is　my　messenger。　If　I　find
  Sweyn　goes　on　towards　the　Elbe　I　will　also　send　you　word；
  and　you　will　then　move　the　Dragon　to　the　mouth　of　that　river。
  〃Lastly；　if　you　receive　no　message；　but　if　you　mark　that
  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