〃So　much　the　better；〃　Siegbert　exclaimed。　〃I　should　consider
  our　task　was　half　accomplished　if　we　rescued　Freda　without
  punishing　Sweyn。　Let　them　come；〃　he　said；　shaking　his
  battle…axe　at　the　galleys。　〃Though　my　leg　is　stiff　my　arms　are
  not；　as　Sweyn　shall　learn　if　I　meet　him。〃
  The　Dragon's　oars　were　now　put　out　and　the　galley…slaves
  began　to　row；　the　Saxons　concealing　themselves　behind　the
  bulwarks。　In　a　few　minutes　the　whole　of　the　Danish　galleys
  were　unmoored　and　started　in　the　pursuit　of　the　supposed
  Italian　vessel。　The　breeze　was　light；　but　somewhat　helped
  the　Dragon。　Four　of　the　Northmen　vessels　were　large　ships
  with　sails；　and　these　speedily　fell　behind；　but　the　others　with
  their　oars　gained　slowly　on　the　Dragon。
  Edmund　saw　with　satisfaction　that　the　two　galleys　of
  Sweyn；　which　he　at　once　recognized；　were　somewhat　faster
  than　their　consorts；　and　the　slaves　were　made　to　row　as　hard
  as　they　could　in　order　to　prolong　the　chase　as　much　as　possible；
  by　which　means　Sweyn's　galleys　would　be　the　further
  separated　from　the　others。
  After　the　pursuit　had　been　continued　for　some　miles
  Sweyn's　galleys　were　but　a　few　hundred　yards　in　the　rear；　and
  were　nearly　a　quarter　of　a　mile　ahead　of　those　of　their
  comrades；　which　had　gained　but　little　upon　the　Dragon　since　the
  chase　began。　Edmund　ordered　the　men　to　cease　rowing；　as
  if　despairing　of　escape。　The　Genoese　took　their　station　on
  the　poop；　and　as　Sweyn's　galley　came　rushing　up　they　shouted
  to　it　that　they　would　surrender　if　promised　their　lives。　The
  Northmen　answered　with　a　shout　of　triumph　and　derision；
  and　dashed　alongside。
  Sweyn's　own　galley　was　slightly　in　advance　of　the　others。
  Edmund　ordered　the　oars　to　be　pulled　in　as　the
  Northmen　came　up；　so　as　to　allow　them　to　come　alongside。
  Not　a　word　was　spoken　on　board　the　Dragon　till　the　Danes；
  leaving　their　oars；　swarmed　up　the　side　headed　by　Sweyn
  himself。　Then　Edmund　gave　a　shout；　the　Saxons　leaped　to
  their　feet；　and　raising　their　battle…cry　fell　upon　the
  astonished　Danes。
  Those　who　had　climbed　up　were　instantly　cut　down　or
  hurled　back　into　their　own　galley；　and　the　Saxons　leaping
  down；　a　tremendous　fight　ensued。　Edmund　with　Siegbert
  and　half　his　crew　boarded　the　Dane　close　to　the　poop；　and　so
  cut　the　Northmen　off　from　that　part　of　the　vessel；　while　Egbert
  with　the　rest　boarded　farther　forward。　The　Danes　would
  have　been　speedily　overpowered　had　not　the　second　galley
  arrived　upon　the　spot；　and　these；　seeing　the　combat　which
  was　raging；　at　once　leaped　upon　Sweyn's　galley。　With　this
  accession　of　force；　although　numbers　of　the　Danes　had　fallen
  in　the　first　attack；　they　still　outnumbered　the　Saxons。
  Sweyn；　heading　his　men；　made　a　desperate　effort　to　drive
  back　Edmund's　party。　His　men；　however；　fought　less　bravely
  than　usual。　Their　astonishment　at　finding　the　ship　which
  they　had　regarded　as　an　easy　prize　manned　by　Saxons　was
  overwhelming；　and　the　sight　of　Siegbert；　whom　many　of　them
  knew；　in　the　front　rank　of　their　enemies　added　to　their
  confusion。
  Sweyn　himself；　as　he　recognized　Edmund；　at　once　made
  at　him；　and；　wielding　a　heavy　axe　in　his　left　hand；　strove　to
  cut　him　down；　and　Edmund；　strong　and　skilful　as　he　was；
  had　great　difficulty　in　parrying　the　blows　which　the　Northman
  rained　upon　him。　The　combat；　however；　was　decided　by　Siegbert；
  who　hurled　his　javelin　at　Sweyn；　the　weapon　passing
  completely　through　his　body。
  Sweyn　fell　on　the　deck　with　a　crash。
  The　Northmen；　dispirited　at　the　fall　of　their　leader；
  hesitated；　and　as　the　Saxons　sprang　upon　them　turned　and　fled
  into　the　other　galley。　The　door　of　the　poop　opened　and　Freda
  flew　into　her　father's　arms。
  〃Quick；　Siegbert；　to　the　Dragon！　〃Edmund　cried；
  and　shouted　orders　to　his　men。　〃There　is　not　a　moment　to　be　lost。
  The　other　galleys　are　just　upon　us！〃
  The　Saxons　rushed　back　to　the　Dragon；　the　oars　were
  thrust　out　again；　and　the　vessel　got　under　weigh　just　as　the
  other　Danish　galleys　arrived　on　the　spot。　While　some　of　the
  Saxons　poured　volleys　of　arrows　and　javelins　into　the
  Northmen；　the　others　at　Edmund's　order　leaped　down　and
  double…banked　the　oars。　The　increase　of　power　was　soon
  manifest；　and　the　Dragon　began　to　draw　away　from　the　Danes。
  Gradually　their　galleys　fell　back　out　of　bow…shot；　and　after
  continuing　the　chase　for　some　little　time　longer　they　abandoned
  it　as　hopeless　and　lay　upon　their　oars　to　rest。
  A　shout　of　triumph　rose　from　the　Saxons；　and　then
  Edmund；　who　had　hitherto　been　fully　occupied　with　the　command
  of　the　vessel；　turned　to　Freda；　who　was　still　standing
  by　her　father。
  〃I　have　been　a　long　time　in　fulfilling　my　promise；　Freda；〃
  he　said；　〃but　as　your　father　will　tell　you　I　have　done　my　best。
  Thank　God；　who　has　given　me　success　at　last！〃
  〃I　never　doubted　that　you　would　come；　Edmund；〃　she
  said；　〃and　the　knowledge　has　enabled　me　to　stand　firm　against
  both　the　entreaties　and　threats　of　Sweyn。　How　can　I　thank
  you　for　all　you　have　done　for　me？〃
  〃I　have　spoken　to　your　father；　Freda；　and　he　has　promised　me
  your　hand　if　you；　indeed；　are　willing　to　bestow　it。　I　promised
  to　come　for　you　if　you　would　wait；　nearly　five　years　ago；
  and　I　have　never　thought　of　any　other　woman。〃
  〃I　have　waited　for　you；　Edmund；〃　she　said　simply；　〃and
  would　never　have　wed　another　had　you　not　come。　You　are
  my　hero；　and　methinks　I　have　loved　you　ever　since　the　day
  when　you　boarded　our　ship　off　the　mouth　of　the　Humber。〃
  〃Take　her；　Edmund；〃　Siegbert　said；　〃you　have　nobly　won
  her；　and　there　is　no　one　to　whom　I　could　be　so　well　content
  to　intrust　her。　I　now　join　your　hands　in　token　of　betrothal。〃
  The　crew　of　the　Dragon；　who　had　been　watching　the　scene；
  raised　a　shout　of　gladness　as　they　saw　Siegbert　place
  Freda's　hand　in　that　of　Edmund。　They　had　guessed　that　their
  lord　must　have　an　affection　for　this　Danish　maiden　in　whose
  pursuit　they　had　come　so　far；　and　were　delighted　at　the　happy
  issue　of　the　expedition。
  〃I　trust；　Freda；〃　Edmund　said　to　her　after　a　while；　〃that
  you　have　thought　of　the　talk　we　had　about　religion；　and　that
  you　will　forsake　the　barbarous　gods　of　your　people　and　become
  a　Christian；　as　so　many　of　your　people　have　done　in
  England；　and　that　you　will　be　wedded　to　me　not　in　the　rude
  way　of　the　Danes；　but　in　a　Christian　church。〃
  〃I　have　thought　much　of　it；〃　she　said；　〃and　have　come　to
  think　that　your　God　of　peace　must　be　better　than　the　gods　of
  war；　but　I　would　fain　know　more　of　Him　before　I　desert　the
  religion　of　my　fathers。〃
  〃That　shall　you；〃　Edmund　said。　〃With　your　father's　permission
  I　will　place　you　for　a　short　time　in　a　convent　in　Rome；
  and　one　of　the　Saxon　monks　shall　teach　you　the　tenets　of　our
  faith。　It　will　be　but　for　a　short　time；　dear；　and　while　you　are
  there　we　will　try　and　capture　some　of　Hasting's　galleys；　filled
  with　plunder；　for　my　men　have　come　far；　and　I　would　fain
  that　they　returned　with　an　ample　booty。〃
  Freda　and　Siegbert　agreed　to　the　plan；　and　the　latter
  said；　〃I　too　will　tarry　in　Rome　while　you　are　away；　Edmund。　I
  could　fight　against　Sweyn；　for　it　was　in　a　private　quarrel；　but
  I　cannot　war　against　my　countrymen。　I　too　will　talk　with
  your　Saxon　monks；　and　hear　about　this　new　religion　of　yours；
  for　I　think　that　as　I　have　no　others　to　love　or　care　for　I　shall
  return　to　England　with　you；　and；　if　you　will　have　me；　take　up
  my　abode　in　your　English　home　so　as　to　be　near　you　and　my
  daughter。〃
  The　Dragon　returned　to　Rome。　There　Edmund　procured
  lodgings　for　Siegbert　and　Freda；　and　the　Saxon　monks　gladly
  arranged　to　visit　them　and　instruct　them　in　the　doctrines　of
  Christianity。　The　Dragon　sailed　again　for　the　coast　of　Sicily
  and　was　absent　a　month；　during　which　time　she　captured　a
  number　of　Danish　galleys；　most　of　which　were　laden　with
  rich　booty。　Then　she　returned　to　Rome。　A　few　days　later　a
  solemn　service　was　held；　at　which　Freda　and　Siegbert　were
  baptized　as　Christians；　and　after　this　was　done　a　marriage
  service　was　held；　and　Edmund　and　Freda　married　with　the
  rites　of　the　Christian　Church。　The　pope　himself　was　present
  at　the　services　and　bestowed　his　blessing　upon　the　newly
  married　couple；　the　novelty　of　the　occasion　drawing　a　vast
  crowd　of　spectators。
  A　few　days　later　the　Dragon　again　put　to　sea；　and　after　a
  speedy　voyage　with　favourable　weather　arrived　in　England
  without　further　adventure。　Edmund's　arrival　at　home　was
  the　occasion　of　great　rejoicings。　The　news　of　the　share　which
  the　Dragon　and　her　crew　had　taken　in　the　defence　of　Paris
  had　reached　England；　but　none　knew　what　had　become　of
  her　from　that　time；　and　when　months　had　passed　without
  tidings　of　her　being　received　it　was　generally　supposed　that
  she　must　have　been　lost。
  Her　return　laden　with　rich　booty　excited　the　greatest
  enthusiasm；　and　the　king　himself　journeyed　to　Sherborne　to
  welcome　Edmund　on　his　arrival　there。
  〃So　this　is　the　reason；〃　he　said　smiling；　when　Edmund
  presented　Freda　to　him；　〃why　you　were　ever　so　insensible　to
  the　attractions　to　our　Saxon　maidens！　Truly　the　reason　is　a
  fair　one　and　fully　excuses　you；　and　right　glad　am　I　to　welcome
  your　bonnie　bride　to　our　shores。〃
  Alfred　remained　three　days　at　Sherborne　and　then　left
  Edmund　to　administer　the　affairs　of　his　earldom；　for　which　a
  substitute　had　been　prov