Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/251

Rh are no cowards. I have no wish to face such a flight of arrows again, and I can see no good in it."

The old man crouched down again, and the Count, advancing toward him for a moment, was tempted to strike the soldier who had thus rebuked him; but upon seeing the rest grasping their swords and axes, the Count thought it wiser to say nothing, but gave the order to retreat.

There was then a short breathing space for the defenders, but when the attack was renewed, it was made both with more caution and with more skill. This time the Count posted his archers upon the ruined wall, where they could shelter themselves behind the blocks of stone, and he also detailed a portion of them to return the shots directed at them from the tower. Upon the top of the middle wall they also erected one of their mangonels, and with this were able to fling stones to the top of the tower, clearing it of the marksmen. The mangonel soon destroyed a portion of the battlement, leaving little shelter on top of the tower, and preventing the flank attack. Although some arrows were still shot from the loopholes, these were comparatively few, and did little harm. The Count's archers were a little higher than those upon the intrenchment, and by keeping up a brisk discharge were able to keep in check the fire of