Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/79

Rh be aware what they should do first. Many of them lay down on the ground under the trees, wherever they could find a dry spot; many more went toward the village and began to plunder the houses. There was no one in the village, since the peasants had all gone away the night before, as soon as they had reason to be sure of an attack.

When it became lighter, it could be seen that these first-comers were archers, crossbowmen, and an irregular rabble armed with pikes, axes, and even with clubs. Then the tramp of horses was heard coming nearer and nearer, and soon there came out of the woods a number of horsemen,—the regular retainers of the Count de Ferrers,—and following these a troop of soldiers, men in mail and well-armed, though their equipments were dingy, showing long service. These were the men the Count had hired, promising them, besides their pay, a share of the plunder when the Red Lion Castle should surrender. After these came a wagon-train and packhorses, bearing stores and materials for the siege. The Count did not expect that he would have to withstand many attacks from the forces in the castle, and certainly expected no interference from without, and consequently had brought few provisions of any kind, since he was so near his own castle that he could