Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/180

154 fall on its roof. No doubt the besiegers would be ready to extinguish the flames, but Hugh could think of no better plan, and toward morning fell asleep, with the resolve to consult the ingenious Franciscan upon waking; and this resolve he carried out.

The first gleams of daylight found him at the Friar's door. He had to pound vigorously before he could arouse that tired man, and even after he was admitted, it took a long time before the Friar could collect his senses enough to clearly understand what was required of him. But, once awake, the Friar entered heartily into his plans, and discussed them with all the zeal of an inventive spirit. The arguments Hugh had prepared overnight were admitted to be sound, and the importance of destroying the tower needed no discussion. The Friar's objections were made to the plan of attacking the tower at a distance. He urged that it was likely most of the burning missiles would go wide, and the few that struck would be quickly extinguished. But by waiting until the tower had approached within thirty or forty feet of the walls, they would be able to make every shot tell, provided they wasted no shots upon the side of the structure, which was sure to be guarded by fresh hides.

Hugh did not like the idea of letting the tower