Siegfroi now wished to abandon the siege which had already cost him so dear, but the Northmen, furious at their losses, determined upon another assault.
"Very well," the king said; "have your way then.

Attack Paris on all sides, hew down its towers, and make breaches in its walls; for once I will remain a spectator." The Danes crossed the river and landed on the island, but owing to the absence of large numbers on other expeditions, and the heavy losses which they had suffered, their numbers were no longer so overwhelming, and Count Eudes led out his forces to oppose them outside the walls.
This time Edmund headed his band of Saxons, who until now had only taken part as archers in the defence.
The combat was a furious one.

In spite of the valour of Eudes and Ebble the Danes pressed hard upon the Franks, and were driving them back towards the gates when Edmund led his Saxons, in the close phalanx in which they had so often met the Danes in the field, to the front.

With irresistible force the wedge burst its way through the ranks of the Danes, bearing all before it with its wedge of spears.

Into the gap thus formed Eudes and Ebble with their bravest men threw themselves, and the Danes, severed in two, were driven back towards their ships.
But for some hours the rain had been falling heavily and the river was rapidly rising and had already overflowed a portion of the island.