Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/249

Rh enemy. The men who were carrying beams to bridge the ditch, and those who had ladders to scale the earthwork, dropped them and took refuge behind the ruin of the south wall. The men were brave enough, but even the steadiest soldiers might well have retreated before those two deadly volleys fired with such good aim, and with all the archers shooting so precisely at command. The Count's men, although coming at a run, were not yet close to the ditch when Luke's party had been repulsed; and before they could cross the ditch and fix their hooked ladders to the walls, the whole force of the archers was directed against them. Like the soldiers Luke had led, these also stood two volleys; but as they saw how many had been hit, some turned to run, others followed, and in a few moments they were in full retreat. The Count stood his ground, trying to rally his men; but they would not listen to his reproaches, and he was left almost alone. Seeing this, Edgar, who stood upon the earthwork not far away, called out to him: "Shall we renew our combat, Count? Wait but a moment and I will be with you!" There was a shout of laughter from the garrison, and the Count, snatching a crossbow from one of the few soldiers who remained with him, took a hasty aim and sent the bolt whisking close to Edgar's ear. The young lord jumped behind the