Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/248

220 garrison was on the alert. But by keeping close to the wall and protecting themselves behind their shields, the Count's soldiers escaped serious injury. The Count himself was hit several times, but though the arrows stung him through his mail, they did not penetrate, having hit at an angle and glanced. These narrow escapes were a warning against unnecessary delay, and so, as soon as he was sure all was in readiness, and his commands were understood, the Count gave the order for the assault.

At once the men sprang to their feet, grasped their weapons, and dividing into two columns poured through the breaks of the wall upon the open courtyard. The Count had made a serious mistake. He had not reflected that while Luke's men would, on passing through the eastern breach, find themselves right against the intrenchment. his own column would have to charge across the whole length of the courtyard.

Hugh seeing the men under Luke emerge from shelter and run toward the earthwork, at once commanded his archers to send a volley against them. At such close range the arrows could not miss their mark, and more than ten or a dozen of Luke's soldiers were struck down. Again, adjusting a second arrow to the string, the archers fired at the word; and again with great loss to their