Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/126

102 see the lever pulled downward. Now, I would advise you to set two mangonels side by side, load both together, and then discharge one. If the enemy avoids the first, you can discharge the second as soon as he returns to his work, or by firing the two at once, you make it impossible, or more difficult to watch the flight of both stones. All this may not add to the execution they do, but it will cause the men to be more afraid of the weapons, and will delay their work upon their own devices."

Hugh commended this suggestion, and Edgar gave orders to place two of the largest mangonels upon the ramparts at the point nearest to the enemy's workmen. There was plenty of ammunition in the castle, and a volley of stones began about noon, and was continued until nightfall, the men relieving one another at the levers and tackles. Hour after hour was heard the winding of the cords, the creaking of pulleys, and then the groan of the great lever as it flung its rock outward.

No great damage was done either to the men or their work, but the fall of the missiles was so rapid, and so well aimed that the workers were kept upon the watch, and every now and then would run to shelter as a great rock came too near for comfort. So the fire of the mangonels