Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/158

132 said: "Direct your engines against the right-hand corner of the tower,—nowhere else. If you can, smash it near the foundation. Next to that, it is most important to crush the drawbridge. Smash it at the corner, and it will wrench itself loose. Aim carefully at every shot. You shall be rewarded for every good hit."

Edgar took the hint, and promised ten pieces of gold to the marksman who did the most damage.

When the tower had come within range, the three mangonels let fly their missiles together, and two out of the three took effect. But the tower had been strongly framed, and the rocks only knocked a few big splinters from its logs. The good marksmanship encouraged the engineers, and their men sprang to the tackles with a will. Creak, creak!—the great levers were drawn back, the great stones were adjusted in the slings, the men stood back, the triggers were pulled, and the levers shot forward, describing a circle in the air and hurling the rocks against the tower. Nearly every shot took effect, but little damage was done, and the tower came ever nearer.

As the tower approached within arrow-range the bowstrings began to twang, and although the Count's soldiers were sheltered behind the base of the tower, the rearmost of them could be seen,