Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/283

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In order to avoid any danger to any messenger, who might receive little mercy at the Count's hands, Hugh suggested that this reply could be sent by the same means he had adopted in warning Lord Edgar and Lady Amabel of the ambush against them before the siege began; and this suggestion being approved, the scroll bearing the letter was attached to an arrow which Hugh shot from the top of the tower nearest the enemy. In order that the arrow might not be unobserved, a bunch of tow dipped in oil was fastened to the head, and away it went leaving a long trail of fire