Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/163

Rh trumpet blown without. Edgar was called to the battlements, and saw that the Count de Ferrers had advanced to within a few hundred yards of the walls, and that one of his horsemen, bearing a white flag, had come still nearer.

Edgar beckoned to the man and received his message:

"The Count de Ferrers desires leave to return to the castle a spy who came within his lines this morning. The Count would have hung the wretch, save that he preferred that Lord Edgar Mortimer should receive the spy's account of affairs in the camp of the besiegers, so that he may understand that resistance is hopeless. The Count desires to give warning, also, that unless the Castle of the Red Dragon is surrendered forthwith to him—its rightful owner—he will refuse to grant quarter to the garrison. Wherefore for the last time the Count de Ferrers calls upon Lord Mortimer's son to surrender, promising to permit the garrison to march out unmolested."

Without waiting for an answer the herald rode back to his master; and then came forward two men-at-arms, on horseback, leading between them Friar Bacon in his minstrel's dress. It was too far off for Edgar to distinguish the Friar's face, but his whole attitude expressed deep dejection. Bringing him close to the edge of the moat, the