Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/223

Rh robber whose head you well-nigh crushed—would you had quite done so, my lord!"

"I will warn the Lady Amabel to be ready," said Edgar reluctantly. "And she will rejoice, though we may grieve." So saying, Edgar rose and left the hall.

When alone, Hugh and the Friar discussed the plan for the night's campaign, and had hardly finished when a sudden alarm sent them out upon the battlements again.

It was late dusk by this time, and dark enough to make it difficult to make out just what was going on forward; but when Hugh and the Friar had passed along the western wall and entered the southwest tower, they saw from its top that the Count had returned and was leading a body of his men against the entrance to the tower. He had caused a heavy beam, one of those which had formed part of the crane, and which had been left in the outer bailey near the breached wall, to be carried up to the rampart. With this, manned by a row of his soldiers, he was endeavoring to break down the door, while those who were stationed to guard the tower kept up a brisk shower of missiles upon the assailants. Protected by their shields, the Count's men pressed forward, and suffered little except when a heavy rock or a beam of wood could be dropped directly upon them from the roof