Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/266

238 From the lowest floor of the keep—the great hall—a winding stone stairway was the only way leading to the upper rooms. At each floor of this stair, Hugh had prepared stout gates secured by heavy bars and bolts, and with openings through which arrows or bolts could be shot, or spears could be thrust.

If, however, all these defenses should be carried, and the survivors of the garrison driven into the highest parts of the tower, there was yet provided for them a meant of escape. Within the thickness of the stone wall was a narrow stair descending spirally to the ground and communicating with the different floors and with the underground passage, through which Amabel had made her escape. At the head of this secret stair was a great stone door, a heavy slab that could be swung shut and fastened with steel bolts. This could not be quickly forced, and would by its resistance give the fleeing survivors time to be far beyond reach of pursuit.

Hugh did not mean to surrender the keep, however, and he provided in every way the means of prolonging the siege. Friar Bacon also exerted his utmost ingenuity to strengthen every point that seemed defensible. Among other devices one especially excited Edgar's admiration. At the head of each portion of the main stairway, the