Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/284

256 behind it. The Friar watched its flight, and by means of his far-seeing glass was able to assure Edgar that the arrow had been picked up by one of the horsemen who still remained on guard over the captive.

But this assurance was unnecessary, since the activity that followed the sending of the message to the camp of the besiegers was sufficient proof that an immediate attack was in preparation. Lights were seen flitting here and there, the shouts of the officers were heard, and in a few minutes more came a flight of stones from the mangonels.

Since all directions had been given in the castle for the placing of the garrison, they were at their posts promptly when the signals of the expected attack were given. Hugh, in order to put the men in better spirits, had told them of the failure of Luke's stratagem, and the garrison took their places upon the walls and at the loopholes, determined to show that the Count could not only be outwitted in the tricks of warfare, but could be met and overcome in the clash of arms.

Several war-engines still remained upon the ramparts, and these replied to those of the besiegers, but they were loaded with baskets of small stones for the purpose of doing all the damage possible to the Count's battle-line. The effect of this fire could not be made out since it was