Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/220

192 we can hold that tower, now that the enemy is in possession of the outer bailey and of the southern walls? If we cannot hold it—the sooner it goes down the better."

"It cannot be held," Hugh assured him, shaking his head to emphasize the words. "If they are willing to lose a few of their men, they can force their way into it from the ramparts; or, they can bring up their ram and batter it to pieces. Besides, I believe that it is undermined. You remember how far the Count's miners had advanced the tunnel when we smoked them out last night? No doubt they will expect us to hold that tower, and while it is attacked from without, the miners below will set fire to the wooden props, and will let the whole structure fall to the ground. Let us, therefore, make only a show of defending it, and, then, firing the faggots below, our men can retreat to the neighboring tower, leaving it ablaze. No doubt, seeing us in retreat, the Count's soldiers will hasten to enter the tower, and may even pursue our men along the ramparts. In which case they are likely to come to a sudden stoppage, if the Friar can be believed."

"I wall answer for it that when the signal is given, the Count's soldiers will go back faster than they came," Friar Bacon said.

Edgar, who did not consider that he could lend