New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for MARCH IL. 1906
S 1 r. Il / @ E L
Continued from page ~
Continued from page II

the man behind 4 howl of delight burst
from the spectators as he dropped first upon
his knees and then upon Ms face. A life tor a
life was no bad bargain.
But 1t only a short respite which the
skill of his comrades had given to the young
archer. Over the parapet there appeared a
ball of brass then a 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 as the arrows
Changed and Gathered 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, 50
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 and 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 hamper1ng
him he pulled it off and grasped the rope
above the lads head with his naked hand
Quick as a flash old Watts arrow had sped,
and the Butcher Sprang back with howl OF
pain, his hand skewered by a Cloth-yard shaft
As he shook il furlOuSlv at his enemies a second
grazed his knuCkes. With a brutal kick of his
metal-shod feet he hurled young Aspaye 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. leupei and hOWled Ike a pack
OF raveniug wolves
BY Saint Dunstanl" said Percy, looking
round at their flushed faces If ever we are to
carry 1t now is the moment, for these men will
not be stopped If hate can take them forward
q" You are right ThOmaSi' cried knOlleS-
Gather together twenty men-at-aruS, each
with his shield 10 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
lOTped pIne-tree which lies wonder behind the
horse lines. Ten men-at-arms can bear 1t 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 old soldiers whose daily
trade was war In little groups the archers
formed in front OF each slit or CrevIce IN the
walls whilst Others scanned the battlementS
with wary eyes, and sped an arrow at every
face which cleaned for instant above them
The garrison shot forth a shower of Crossbow
bolts and an occasional stone from their en-
gIne, but SO deadly was the hail which rdIned
upon them that they had no time To dwell upon
their ann, and their discharges were wild and
harmless. Under cover OF the shafts OF the
bowmcn line of peasants ran unscathed to the
edge of the ditch, each hurting in the bundle
which he bore in his arms and then hurTVIng
back for another one. In twenty minutes
broad pathway of faggots lay level with the
ground upon one side and the gate upon the
other. With the loss of two peasants slam by
bolts and one archer crushed by a stone. the
ditch had been filled up. All was ready for
the battering-ram.
With a shout, twenty picked men rushed
forward with the pIne-tree under their arms.
the heavy end turned toward the gate. The
arbasttrS 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
laundering crash against the door. II Splint-
cred from base 10 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 1t 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
\ great stone looseued from the parapet roared
through the air and struck Sit lanes Ashley
and another of the attackers. but Nigel and the
Frenchman had taken their places in an in
slant, and the ram thudjed and smashed with
greater energy than ever Another blow and
another. the lower part was StaVIug inward.
but the great central bar still held firm Surely
another minute would beat IT from its sockets.
But suddenly from above there, came a GREAT