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back…piece as he went。
The archers below； enraged at the death of their comrades； leaped
and howled like a pack of ravening wolves。
〃By Saint Dunstan；〃 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。〃
〃You are right； Thomas！〃 cried Knolles。 〃Gather together twenty
men…at…arms each with his shield to cover him。 Astley； do you
place the bowmen so that no head may show at window or parapet。
Nigel； I pray you to order the countryfolk forward with their
fardels of fagots。 Let the others bring up the lopped pine…tree
which lies yonder behind the horse lines。 Ten men…at…arms 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 yet quietly the dispositions were made； for these were
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 gleamed for an instant above them。 The
garrison shot forth a shower of crossbow bolts and an occasional
stone from their engine； 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 hurling in the bundle which he bore in his arms； and
then hurrying back for another one。 In twenty minutes a broad
pathway of fagots 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 a shout； twenty picked men rushed forward with the pine…tree
under their arms； the heavy end turned toward the gate。 The
arbalesters 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 fagots； and came with a thundering crash against the
door。 It splintered from base to arch； but kept its place。
Swinging their mighty weapon； the storming 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； cheering on the men； and chanting to the rhythm of the swing
with a loud 〃Ha！〃 at every blow。 A great stone loosened from the
parapet roared through the air and struck Sir James Astley and
another of the attackers； but Nigel and the Frenchman had taken
their places in an instant； and the ram thudded and smashed with
greater energy than ever。 Another blow and another！ the lower
part was staving 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 deluge of liquid。 A
hogshead of it had been tilted from the battlement until soldiers；
bridge； and ram were equally drenched in yellow slime。 Knolles
rubbed his gauntlet in it； held it to his visor； and smelled it。
〃Back； back！〃 he cried。 〃 Back before it is too late！〃
There was a small barred window above their heads at the side of
the gate。 A ruddy glare shone through it； and then a blazing
torch was tossed down upon them。 In a moment the oil had caught
and the whole place was a sheet of flame。 The fir…tree that they
carried； the fagots beneath them； their very weapons； were all in
a blaze。
To right and left the men sprang down into the dry ditch； rolling
with screams upon the ground in their endeavor to extinguish the
flames。 The knights and squires protected by their armor strove
hard； stamping and slapping； to help those who had but leather
jacks to shield their bodies。 From above a ceaseless shower of
darts and of stones were poured down upon them； while on the other
hand the archers； seeing the greatness of the danger； ran up to
the edge of the ditch； and shot fast and true at every face which
showed above the wall。
Scorched； wearied and bedraggled； the remains of the storming
party clambered out of the ditch as best they could； clutching at
the friendly hands held down to them； and so limped their way back
amid the taunts and howls of their enemies。 A long pile of
smoldering cinders was all that remained of their bridge； and on
it lay Astley and six other red…hot men glowing in their armor。
Knolles clinched his hands as he looked back at the ruin that was
wrought； and then surveyed the group of men who stood or lay
around him nursing their burned limbs and scowling up at the
exultant figures who waved on the castle wall。 Badly scorched
himself； the young leader had no thought for his own injuries in
the rage and grief which racked his soul。 〃We will build another
bridge；〃 he cried。 〃Set the peasants binding fagots once more。〃
But a thought had flashed through Nigel's mind。 〃See； fair sir；〃
said he。 〃The nails of yonder door are red…hot and the wood as
white as ashes。 Surely we can break our way through it。〃
〃By the Virgin； you speak truly！〃 cried the French Squire。 〃If we
can cross the ditch the gate will not stop us。 Come； Nigel； for
our fair ladies' sakes； I will race you who will reach it first；
England or France。〃
Alas for all the wise words of the good Chandos！ Alas for all the
lessons in order and discipline learned from the wary Knolles。 In
an instant； forgetful of all things but this noble challenge；
Nigel was running at the top of his speed for the burning gate。
Close at his heels was the Frenchman； blowing and gasping； as he
rushed along in his brazen armor。 Behind came a stream of howling
archers and men…at…arms； like a flood which has broken its dam。
Down they slipped into the ditch； rushed across it； and clambered
on each other's backs up the opposite side。 Nigel； Raoul and two
archers gained a foothold in front of the burning gate at the same
moment。 With blows and kicks they burst it to pieces； and dashed
with a yell of triumph through the dark archway beyond。 For a
moment they thought with mad rapture that the castle was carried。
A dark tunnel lay before them； down which they rushed。 But alas！
at the farther end it was blocked by a second gateway as strong as
that which had been burned。 In vain they beat upon it with their
swords and axes。 On each side the tunnel was pierced with slits；
and the crossbow bolts discharged at only a few yards' distance
crashed through armor as if it were cloth and laid man after man
upon the stones。 They raged and leaped before the great
iron…clamped barrier； but the ；wall itself was as easy to tear
down。
It was bitter to draw back； but it was madness to remain。 Nigel
looked round and saw that half his men were down。 At the same
moment Raoul sank with a gasp at his feet； a bolt driven to its
socket through the links of the camail which guarded his neck。