The plague continued its ravages, and the city became straitened for provisions.

Count Eudes therefore determined to go to King Charles to urge him to hurry to the succour of the town.

Almost all the chiefs of the defence had fallen victims to the pest, or had been killed in battle with the Danes, and the count at his departure committed the defence of the city to the Abbe Ebble and Edmund.

He then crossed the stream at night, and made his way successfully through the Danes.
The abbe and Edmund vied with each other in keeping up the spirits of the garrison with successful little forays with the Danes, frequently crossing the river to the one bank or the other, sometimes with parties of only five or six men, and falling upon similar bodies of the enemy.
Several times they pounced upon small herds of the enemy's cattle, and driving them into the river, directed them in their boats across the stream.
In the commencement of July Eudes appeared on the slopes on Mont Martre with three battalions of soldiers.

The enemy, who were for the most part on the other side of the Seine, crossed the river.