Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/334

304 He thought there was no need for any especial strategy, as his men were a veteran body, and would, he believed, make short work of the Count's band of mercenaries. He proposed therefore that, if they were able to return at once, he would sound the signal for the march, and would set out for the castle, taking no other precaution than to dispatch a scouting-party in advance in order that they might have due warning of any attempt to intercept them.

Edgar was delighted with the decision, since the narrow escape of the night before had left him distrustful of everything so long as the Count's forces lay around the keep; and he assured the Earl that their horses, having been so long idle, were no more than breathed by the short ride of the morning.

"Very well," exclaimed the Earl, rising, and making a sign to his page to buckle on his sword. "Henry, my son, give the orders to march, and we will see whether we can drive these marauders from about the castle of our good friend Francis Mortimer!"

While the men were saddling their horses for the march, Edgar gave the Earl briefly the events of the siege, and also an account of the nature of the forces he would have to meet. He warned the Earl that even yet the forces commanded by the