Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/206

178 in the outer bailey exposed to so galling an attack. He therefore sent back for the reserve force he had left near the wood, and ordered that scaling-ladders and light rams should be brought so that they might deliver an assault upon the wall that sheltered Edgar's men. This re-enforcement arrived soon, though not soon enough for the Count's impatience, and nearly doubled the number of the besiegers' force. While some of the newcomers raised their ladders against the wall, others set up a ram against the portcullis. This ram, instead of being mounted upon rollers was slung at the end of a chain from two beams joined at the top, like the letter V upside-down. The ram was worked by men who swung it forward and back while the chain supported the weight. This machine delivered heavy blows, but the men who operated it were protected only by their shields; and several of them were slain, their places being at once taken by others, for when men become warmed by the excitement of battle, there are plenty who will attempt any achievement or risk any danger.

Seeing the terrific blows delivered by the swinging ram, some of the garrison upon the wall above brought from a tower, grappling-irons or hooks which they lowered until they were able to catch the head of the ram, thus pulling it aside,