Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/207

Rh and causing its blows to be less effective. But the assailants by this time had succeeded in climbing their ladders to the top of the wall, and in order to resist these new enemies the soldiers of the garrison were obliged to abandon the grappling-iron, and engage in a hand-to-hand struggle, the result of which was long doubtful, for both sides fought obstinately, and several lost their lives on the edge of the wall. At length the defenders, fighting at so great an advantage, were able to throw down the ladders, and thus ended the attack. But meanwhile the portcullis had been broken down, and the two parties were at last face to face—one under the leadership of the Count in person, the other commanded by Edgar Mortimer.

Each of these knights was defended by a full suit of the armor worn at the time—a heavy cylindrical helmet covering the head and supported partly by the shoulders; a long of chain mail, and leg-coverings of the same. Each carried a heavy shield, and while the count was armed with a long sword, Edgar carried a battle-ax.

As the portcullis fell, the Count sprang forward to strike Edgar down; and the younger man, no less eager, stood with battle-ax uplifted to receive the attack. But by the rush of his own men toward the narrow gateway, the Count was pushed