第52章

``Tothebattlements！’’criedDeBracy，``andletusmarkwhattheseknavesdowithout；’’andsosaying，heopenedalatticedwindowwhichledtoasortofbartisanorprojectingbalcony，andimmediatelycalledfromthencetothoseintheapartment——

``SaintDennis，buttheoldmonkhathbroughttruetidings！——Theybringforwardmanteletsandpavisses，*andthearchersmusteronthe*Manteletsweretemporaryandmovabledefencesformed*ofplanks，undercoverofwhichtheassailantsadvancedtothe*attackoffortifiedplacesofold。Pavisseswereaspeciesoflarge*shieldscoveringthewholeperson，employedonthesameoccasions。

skirtsofthewoodlikeadarkcloudbeforeahailstorm。’’

ReginaldFront-de-Bufalsolookedoutuponthefield，andimmediatelysnatchedhisbugle；and，afterwindingalongandloudblast，commandedhismentotheirpostsonthewalls。

``DeBracy，looktotheeasternside，wherethewallsarelowest——NobleBois-Guilbert，thytradehathwelltaughttheehowtoattackanddefend，lookthoutothewesternside——Imyselfwilltakepostatthebarbican。Yet，donotconfineyourexertionstoanyonespot，noblefriends！——wemustthisdaybeeverywhere，andmultiplyourselves，wereitpossible，soastocarrybyourpresencesuccourandreliefwherevertheattackishottest。

Ournumbersarefew，butactivityandcouragemaysupplythatdefect，sincewehaveonlytodowithrascalclowns。’’

``But，nobleknights，’’exclaimedFatherAmbrose，amidstthebustleandconfusionoccasionedbythepreparationsfordefence，``willnoneofyehearthemessageofthereverendfatherinGodAymer，PriorofJorvaulx?——Ibeseechtheetohearme，nobleSirReginald！’’

``Gopatterthypetitionstoheaven，’’saidthefierceNorman，``forweonearthhavenotimetolistentothem——Ho！there，AnselmIseethatseethingpitchandoilarereadytopourontheheadsoftheseaudacioustraitors——Lookthatthecross-bowmenlacknotbolts。*——Flingabroadmybannerwith*Theboltwasthearrowpeculiarlyfittedtothecross-bow，*asthatofthelong-bowwascalledashaft。HencetheEnglish*proverb——``Iwilleithermakeashaftorboltofit，’’signifyinga*determinationtomakeoneuseorotherofthethingspokenof。

theoldbull’shead——theknavesshallsoonfindwithwhomtheyhavetodothisday！’’

``But，noblesir，’’continuedthemonk，perseveringinhisendeavourstodrawattention，``considermyvowofobedience，andletmedischargemyselfofmySuperior’serrand。’’

``Awaywiththispratingdotard，’’saidFront-deBuf，``lockhimupinthechapel，totellhisbeadstillthebroilbeover。ItwillbeanewthingtothesaintsinTorquilstonetohearavesandpaters；

theyhavenotbeensohonoured，Itrow，sincetheywerecutoutofstone。’’

``Blasphemenottheholysaints，SirReginald，’’

saidDeBracy，``weshallhaveneedoftheiraidto-daybeforeyonrascalroutdisband。’’

``Iexpectlittleaidfromtheirhand，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``unlessweweretohurlthemfromthebattlementsontheheadsofthevillains。ThereisahugelumberingSaintChristopheryonder，sufficienttobearawholecompanytotheearth。’’

TheTemplarhadinthemeantimebeenlookingoutontheproceedingsofthebesiegers，withrathermoreattentionthanthebrutalFront-de-Buforhisgiddycompanion。

``Bythefaithofmineorder，’’hesaid，``thesemenapproachwithmoretouchofdisciplinethancouldhavebeenjudged，howevertheycomebyit。

Seeyehowdexterouslytheyavailthemselvesofeverycoverwhichatreeorbushaffords，andshunexposingthemselvestotheshotofourcross-bows?