Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-11
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for MARCH ii, 1906
S / r II / G E L
Confined from page IL
Continued from page IL

the man behind. A howl OF delight burst
from the spectators as he dropped first upon
his knees and then upon his face. A life for
life was no bad bargain.
But it was only a short respite which the
skill of his comrades had given to the young
archer. Over the parapet there appeared
ball of brass, then pair of great brazen Shout
ders and lastly the full figure of an armored
man. He walked to the edge, and they heard
his hoarse guffaw of laughter the arrows
changed and clattered against his impenetra-
Bile mail. He slapped his breastPlate as he
ieered at them Well he knew that at the
distance no dart ever sped by mortal hands
could cleave through his plates OF metal. So
he stood, the great burly Butcher of La
Brohiniere, with head up-tossed, laughing IN
solently at his foes. Then with slow and pom
derous tread he walked toward his boy victim,
seized him by the ear ar dragged him across
so that the rope might be straight, Seeing that
the moose had slipped across the face, he tried
to push it down, but the mail glove hampering
him he pulled it off and grasped the rope
above the lads head with his naked hand
Quick as a fash old Watts arrow had sped,
and the Butcher sprang back with howl of
pain, his hand skewered by clOth-yard shaft
As he shook it furiously at his enemies second
grazed his knuc<les. With a brutal kick of his
metal-shod feet he hurled young Alspaye over
the edge. looking down for a few moments at
his death agonies, and then walked slowly
from the parapet, nursing his dripping hand,
the arrows still ringing loudly upon his back
piece as he went.
The archers below enraged at the death Of
their comrades 1eaped and howled like pack
of ravening wolves.
by Saint Dunstanl" said Percy looking
round at their flushed faces, if ever we are to
carry it now is the moment for these men will
not be stopped if hate can take them forward. w.
You are right, Thomas cried knoles.
| Gather together twenty men-at-arms each
with his shield to cover him. Ashley, do you
place the bowmen so that no head may show
at window or parapet. Nigel, | pray you to
order the country folk forward with their far
dels of faggots. Let the others bring up the
Topped pine-tree which lies yonder behind the
horse lines. Ten men-at-arns can bear it on
the right, and ten on the left, having shields
over their heads. The gate once down, let
every man rush in. And God help the better
cause'"
Swiftly and vet quietly the dispositions were
made for these were old soldiers whose daily
trade was war. Inlittle groups the archers
formed in front of each slit or crevice in the
walls, whilst others scanned the battlements
with wary eyes, and sped arrow at every
face which cleaned for an instant above them,
The garrison shot forth a shower Of Crossbow
bolts and an occasional stone from their en-
zine but so deadly was the hail which rained
upon them that they had no time to dwell upon
their aim, and their discharges were wild and
harmless. Under cover Of the shafts of the
bowmen a line of peasants ran unscathed to the
edge of the ditch, each hurting in the bundle
back for another one. In twenty minutes
broad pa hway of faggots lay level with the
ground upon one side and the gate upon the
other With the loss of two peasants slain by
bolts and one archer crushed by a stone, the
ditch had been filled up. All was ready for
the battering-ram.
With shout, twenty picked men rushed
forward with the pine-tree under their arms,
the heavy end turned toward the gate. The
arbalisters on the tower leaned over and shot
into the midst of them, but could not stop
their advance Two dropped, but the Others
raising their shields ran onward still shouting,
crossed the bridge OF faggots and came with a
laundering crash against the door. 1t splint
cred from base to arch, but kept its place.
Swinging their mighty weapon, the storm
ing party thudded and crashed upon the gate,
every blow loosening and widening the cracks
which rent it from end to end. The three
knights, with Nigel the Frenchman Raoul and
the other squires, stood beside the ram, cheer
ing on the men, and chanting to the rhythm of
the swing with a loud " Hal" at every blow
A great stone loosened from the parapet roared
through the air and struck Sir James Ashley
and another of the attackers, but Nigel and the
Frenchman had taken their places in an in
slant, and the ram thudded and smashed with
greater energy than ever. Another blow and
another! the lower part was staving inward,
but the great Genital bar still held firm. Surely