Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/160

134 the lower corner of the drawbridge that was shut up against the upper story of the tower, and had smashed its timbers so that the corner broke away and swung outward.

"Now," said Hugh, triumphantly, "we may take a breathing space, for they will not advance until they have mended that break. Who made that shot?"

One of the engineers stepped forward, and Hugh sent him to Edgar to claim the reward. Grinning with delight, when he had received the golden bezants, the man departed, while his comrades rejoiced to see that the tower, after having ceased to come forward, was now being slowly moved back out of range. Hugh, having seen that this most pressing danger was averted, now descended from the walls, and went in search of Edgar, intending to make preparations for receiving the enemy if they succeeded in breaching the front wall. He had left orders that strict watch should be kept upon the tower, and that word should be brought to him if it should again be put in motion toward the castle.

The ram had never ceased its assault. As fast as one gang of soldiers were exhausted, their places were taken by others, and much damage had been done. The wall was cracked in several places, the breaks extending in star-like form from