Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/291

263 might bring him trouble in the future. It would be to the Count's interest, if anyone questioned his right to Mortimer Castle, to show that he had acted as a knight reclaiming his own—rather than as a robber and an outlaw, putting to death soldiers who had only done their duty in fighting for their lord. The Count might not have thought of these arguments himself, but he could see that there was reason in them, and so he contented himself with disarming the soldiers and dismissing them, upon their taking an oath to take no further part in the defense of Mortimer Castle—unless they should care to enlist in his service after he had captured it!

Luke, this matter being disposed of to his satisfaction, urged upon the Count an immediate attack upon the last of the smaller towers, that which stood on the northwestern angle. So long as this was untaken, it would threaten the besiegers with a rear or flank attack while they made their advance upon the keep. Encouraged by the success of Luke's latest piece of strategy the Count once more was willing to be guided by his advice, and demanded that he should plan the attack at once.

Torches being brought, the Count and Luke sat down to devise means of taking the next stronghold. Luke did not believe that a very vigorous resistance could be offered, since the