Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/156

130 He feared the tower more than every other device of the besiegers, since they were so superior in numbers. If once the tower could be rolled across the moat and brought close to the walls, an immense drawbridge would be lowered from it, making a gangway over which the besiegers could march directly upon the top of the walls.

When Edgar came to report the ravages of the ram, he found Hugh gazing earnestly toward the advancing tower, and, without taking his eyes from it, giving rapid orders for the placing of the mangonels and balistæ. For the first time since the siege began, Hugh seemed to have lost his confidence in the defense. He spoke sharply to the soldiers, occasionally lending a hand to put a bit of framework in place, and then returning to gaze with a deep frown at the tower. He even seemed to consider the battering-ram as not worth his attention, and cut short Edgar's report with the remark:

"We have no time to give to saving the front wall. Unless we can prevent that villain Luke from bringing the tower against us, we shall soon be driven into the keep; for they will pour their whole force upon us over the walls. I wish the Friar were here!"

"He will be back at nightfall," Edgar replied.

"That may be too late," Hugh answered.