Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/199

Rh archer lingered long enough to discharge the bolt or shaft that was in place when the recall was heard.

As the great platform came slowly down with creaking of tackle blocks and groaning of timbers. Hugh's men ran along the rampart, right and left, to take refuge within the towers. Once securely sheltered by these massive walls, the garrison took stations at every loophole that looked out upon the wall they had just abandoned, and also ascended to the upper battlements of the towers whence they could direct a downward fire upon the heads of the invaders.

The great bridge was lowered until it rested upon the top of the castle wall, forming a road from the upper story of the tower. Hardly had it reached the level when the Count's men, armed with axes, bows, and pikes, marched out and spread out upon the deserted walk behind the battlements. Of course they directed their attack upon the two towers that flanked the wall, and also kept up a brisk rain of arrows upon the loopholes and embrasures. But the defenders of the castle had now the advantage of position, and the invaders, entirely unprotected from the missiles showered upon them, seemed to think they had been caught in a trap. They began to shout for beams with which to batter down the doors of