Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/134

110 to repair the ram and bring it forward during the night, and then to make a vigorous attack the next day, when their own mangonels would be in working order.

The Count was angry at the many delays in the attack, but his men were for the most part hired soldiers who saw no glory in risking their lives when it could be avoided, and who always preferred to run when there was no plain advantage in standing their ground. So far every attack that had been made hastily had proved an utter failure, and the Count was convinced that his counselor Luke was wise in recommending a regular siege in the place of undisciplined attempts that cost them lives and advanced them no whit further toward the taking of the castle. He saw that the defense was being carried on with vigor and skill, and, what was more important, with the utmost caution. The garrison never failed to inflict a loss upon their enemies whenever an opening was given them, while they had so far made no mistakes, and had not lost a single one of their men.

The Count, therefore, was willing to listen to Luke's advice, and gave orders that no further attack was to be attempted until the tower was finished, the new mangonels in place, and the crane on the castle walls—the one that had