Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/155

Rh such shocks, and he went in search of Hugh, in order to learn what it was best to do when the outer wall should give way.

As soon as the ram and mangonels were in action, Luke had set his miners to work again, and knowing that they could not be heard above the din, these men plied their picks and shovels freely, making rapid progress underground toward the southwest tower, which they intended to undermine. Nor was this all. The great tower of the besiegers had been finished, and placed upon rollers; it now advanced, trembling and swaying as it passed over the inequalities of the ground, while the garrison of the castle watched its course with intense curiosity, since they did not yet know where it would be placed. The older men had assured their younger comrade that the tower would be brought as near as possible to the great keep—the northeast corner tower; and this proved a wise prediction. The tower advanced very slowly, since so great a weight could be moved only a few feet at a time, rounded logs being placed in front, and the tower being shoved upon them, while the logs behind were in turn brought forward. Moving so sluggishly, it was impossible to conceal the intended course, and Hugh ordered the whole artillery of the castle to be directed against this most dangerous adversary.