Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/81

Rh am ready to be guided by you in the whole matter. In the arts of war, I am little more than a boy. What is my experience to yours?"

"Nothing—very likely," the veteran replied; "and yet the men of the castle will fight far better under your command than under mine. I am but one of themselves—though possibly a little wiser than some of them. For you and your lady mother they will fight to the end. So order the archers into the palisade, place the rest of the forces along the battlements, and let us give the worthy Count a welcome that will make him loth to come again!"

Edgar gave the orders Hugh advised, and they were at once carried out. Hugh crossed the drawbridge at the head of about forty of the best bowmen in their force, and these ranged themselves around the inside of the palisade—ready to shoot through the spaces between the tree-trunks. The palisades themselves made an excellent defense against the arrows and bolts of the enemy, and yet offered little obstruction to their own. Besides their bows, Hugh's men carried swords with which they could protect themselves at close quarters. The drawbridge was left down in case they should be forced or ordered to retreat.

Luke the Lurdane reported to the Count the fact that the archers had advanced into the pal-