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requires less knowledge of war； and many of the other party have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen real sieges carried out。〃
〃Can you show me a plan of the castle；〃 Walter said； 〃if it be not contrary to the rules； in order that I may think over tonight the plan of fighting tomorrow？〃
〃Here it is；〃 the marshal said。 〃You see that the walls are 200 feet long； they are 12 feet in height； with a tower at the end and one over the gateway in the centre six feet high。 There is a drawbridge defended by an outwork of palisades six feet high。 The moat will be a dry one； seeing that we have no means of filling it with water； but it will be supposed to be full； and must be crossed on planks or bridges。 Two small towers on wheels will be provided； which may be run up to the edge of the moat； and will be as high as the top of the towers。
〃Surely they cannot make all this before morning？〃 Walter said。
〃They will do so；〃 the marshal replied。 〃The castle has been put together in the king's courtyard； and the pieces are all numbered。 Two hundred carpenters will labour all night at it； besides a party of labourers for the digging of the moat。 It will be a rare show； and will delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court； for such a thing has never before been attempted。 But the king grudges not the expense which it will cost him； seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to arouse the warlike spirit of the people。 Here is a list of the various implements which will be provided； only it is understood that the mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles； seeing that many would assuredly be killed by them。 They will be employed； however； to show the nature of the work； and parties of men…at…arms will be told off to serve them。 Crossbows and arrows will be used； but the weapons will be blunted。 You will see that there are ladders； planks for making bridges； long hooks for hauling men down from the wall； beams for battering down the gate； axes for cutting down the palisades； and all other weapons。 The ten who will serve under you as knights have already been nominated； and the city will furnish them with full armour。 For the others； the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient representatives to make up the hundred； who will fight as men…at…arms； these will wear steel caps and breastpieces； with leather jerkins； and vizors to protect their faces； for even a blunted arrow or wooden quarrel might well kill if it struck true。〃
On leaving the marshal Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward； who warmly congratulated him upon his success。 He informed them of the spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens on the morrow。
〃In faith；〃 Geoffrey said； 〃the idea is a good one； and promises rare sport； but it will be rough； and we may expect many broken limbs； for it be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve feet high； and there will be the depth of the moat besides。〃
〃That will only be two feet；〃 Walter said； 〃for so it is marked on the plan。〃
〃And which do you mean to take； Walter； the attack or the defence？ Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal； for assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to one to give them a fair chance of success。〃
〃I shall take the assault；〃 Walter answered； 〃there is more to be done that way than in the defence。 When we get home； Geoffrey； we will look at the plans； and see what may be the best manner of assault。〃
Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet back so as to give a postern gate behind each of the corner towers through which a sortie might be made。 Geoffrey and Walter talked the matter over； and together contrived a plan of operation for the following day。
〃You will have one great advantage；〃 Geoffrey said。 〃The apprentices are all accustomed to the use of the bow； while the young nobles will know but little of that weapon； therefore your shooting will be far straighter and truer； and even a blunt…headed arrow drawn from the shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have difficulty in withstanding them。〃
After the talk was ended Walter again crossed London Bridge； and made his way to Ludgate； where he found his late antagonist； whose head had been plastered up； and was little the worse for the conflict。
〃There is no ill…will between us； I hope；〃 Walter said； holding out his hand。
〃None in the world；〃 the young smith said frankly。 He was a good…tempered… looking young giant； with closely…cropped hair； light…blue eyes； and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face。
〃My faith but what a blow was that you gave me； why； one would think that your muscles were made of steel。 I thought that I could hit a good downright blow； seeing that I have been hammering at the anvil for the last seven years； but strike as I would I could not beat down your guard； while mine went down； as if it had been a feather； before yours。 I knew； directly that I had struck the first blow； and felt how firm was your defence； that it was all up with me； knowing that in point of skill I had no chance whatever with you。
〃I am glad to see that you bear no malice； Ralph；〃 Walter said； 〃and hope that we shall be great friends henceforth； that is； if you will take me as such； seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship； while I am not yet half through mine。 But I have come to talk to you about tomorrow。 Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege？〃
〃I have heard about it；〃 Ralph said。 〃The city is talking of nothing else。 The news was published at the end of the sports。 It will be rare fun； surely。〃
〃It will be pretty rough fun；〃 Walter replied； 〃and I should not be much surprised if some lives are lost； but this is always so in a tournament； and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed； we apprentices need not fear to hazard our lives。 But now as to tomorrow。 I； as the winner today； am to be the leader of the party； and you； as second； will of course be captain under me。 Now I want to explain to you exactly what I propose to do； and to arrange with you as to your share in the business。〃
The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation； and； when he had done； exclaimed admiringly： 〃Why； Walter； you seem to be made for a general。 How did it all come to you； lad？ I should never have thought of such a scheme。〃
〃I talked it over with my master；〃 Walter said； 〃and the idea is his as much as mine。 I wonder if it will do。〃
〃It is sure to do；〃 the smith said enthusiastically。 〃The castle is as good as taken。〃
The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports； and the greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle； which had risen； as if by magic； in the night。 It was built at one end of the lists； which had been purposely placed in a hollow； so that a great number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from the surrounding slopes。 The castle was substantially built of heavy timber painted gray； and looked at a little distance as if constructed of stone