Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/86

62 and arms of the most audacious workers, and a few wounds received in this way soon put an end to any relish the besiegers had for the task of uprooting the heavy palisades. They were glad to retreat and go around the palisade as the rest had done.

Luke had a narrow escape from capture, for having thrust his sword arm through an opening in the palisade, trying to reach an archer, Hugh caught the arm and by a vigorous pull brought it as far as the shoulder within the inclosure. But the opening was not wide enough to admit Luke's body, and in dodging back to escape a spear-thrust from without, Hugh was forced to release his hold, and Luke escaped, leaving a sleeve in Hugh's hand as a trophy.

After this, there was no serious attempt to take the palisade; and the archers twanged their bows without interference, sending arrows along the enemy's lines, with hardly one wasted. Nearly every arrow brought down one of the Count's men, and this side attack was not to be borne. Though the foremost men reached the moat and flung their fascines and clods into it. they were not followed with any spirit. Only a single ladder was raised against the wall, and this was unhooked and flung to the ground before any of the besiegers had mounted more than half-way upon it.