Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/100

76 another stone to the sling, and let it fly. A shout from in front of them showed that the stone had taken effect, and a soldier came running to say that part of the palisade was down.

"Wait but a few minutes." the Count said, with a laugh, "and we shall have another soldier to say that it is up again!"

Then Luke, losing his temper, turned on the sneering nobleman.

"If you and your men-at-arms had but the courage to enter the breach when it is made, you might destroy the whole palisade, my lord."

"Will you lead an attack upon it?" the Count asked.

"Yes, gladly," Luke replied, "and we shall take it before nightfall."

The Count rode away, and forming his men just within the shelter of the woods, suddenly charged out upon the plateau. The garrison made no attempt to meet this attack in the open field, believing that to retain the palisade would not be worth the lives it would cost them ; but they placed a strong body of archers along the walls, wherever they could get within range of the point attacked, and rained bolts and arrows upon the Count's men as they advanced. These, hidden by great bucklers, were not often hit, but a few men fell as they reached the palisade. Then