Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/101

Rh great shields of wicker-work and wood were pushed forward by the Count's men, and protected behind these, they pulled up the logs that formed the palisades, and built a breastwork across it that sheltered them somewhat from the fire of the garrison.

The drawbridge had been raised, of course, and though the Count's men now held the interior of the palisade, they were divided from the gateway by a wide moat. Satisfied with their success, no attempt was made to carry the attack further that night, but the besiegers brought spades and pick-axes and threw up an intrenchment facing the castle gate, covering the piled-up palisades with earth, and placing their wicker-shields along the top as a further protection.

The intrenchment was about a hundred feet from the castle walls, and was commanded by two of the towers at the ends of the front, though it was too close to use the mangonels from the castle.

There were windows in these towers that looked directly into the intrenchment, and at these Hugh placed catapults—machines from which a large bow worked by wheels and levers could discharge enormous darts. There were four of these catapults, and they were capable of doing much execution, since the darts were projected with terrific force.