Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/106

82 Or three good crossbowmen would be able to hold the place, and defeat any body of men that could be brought against them. What say you, Hugh of Cambray?"

"I say that you are teaching us our business," Hugh answered. "It is lucky for us that we have not had to regret our thoughtlessness."

"I will post the guard at once," Edgar replied, leaving the room as he spoke. He lighted his way by means of a torch of twisted rope dipped in pitch, and so proceeded through the dark corridors until he came to the guard-room. Giving his orders to the captain of the guard, he saw them carried out before he returned.

After a few more words, the three separated, and as there was no alarm during the night, they slept soundly until morning. The Count's men also, having worked very industriously all day in building their intrenchment and the covered way leading to it, felt that they were entitled to their rest, and flinging themselves down wrapped in their cloaks, slept as soundly as if they were in their own castle. But though both the castle and the works of the besiegers were silent, sentinels on both sides kept a keen lookout, and the first alarm would have been answered by hundreds of armed men.