Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/310

282 depressing them so they bore upon the middle of the rampart below. Hugh put the most skillful bowmen at the loopholes and upper windows, urging them to make every arrow tell, and to reserve their fire always until they saw a chance to reach some exposed enemy. Edgar, with the stoutest of the men-at-arms, was posted behind the door and at the loopholes on each side. Above were a few men ready to drop stones or to pour boiling oil upon the heads of the besiegers when they were actually in the doorway.

Since every man knew his station beforehand, it took but a few minutes to place every member of the garrison, including the women who now served as sentries on the other side of the keep, ready to bring instant word of a second attack.

When the assaulting column began its march along the rampart, the Friar began to discharge darts from his two catapults. These were carefully aimed, and none missed its mark. One of them struck the Count a glancing blow upon the helm, almost overturning him. Another struck down a soldier who was holding the end of a large beam, and a third carried two more men over into the courtyard. But they were under fire for so short a time that not much was done to check the column. The bowmen also shot slowly and deliberately, and while many of the shots were