第60章

``Wellsaid，stoutyeoman，’’answeredtheBlackKnight；``andifIbethoughtworthytohaveachargeinthesematters，andcanfindamongthesebravemenasmanyasarewillingtofollowatrueEnglishknight，forsoImaysurelycallmyself，I

amready，withsuchskillasmyexperiencehastaughtme，toleadthemtotheattackofthesewalls。’’

Thepartsbeingthusdistributedtotheleaders，theycommencedthefirstassault，ofwhichthereaderhasalreadyheardtheissue。

Whenthebarbicanwascarried，theSableKnightsentnoticeofthehappyeventtoLocksley，requestinghimatthesametime，tokeepsuchastrictobservationonthecastleasmightpreventthedefendersfromcombiningtheirforceforasuddensally，andrecoveringtheoutworkwhichtheyhadlost。Thistheknightwaschieflydesirousofavoiding，consciousthatthemenwhomheled，beinghastyanduntrainedvolunteers，imperfectlyarmedandunaccustomedtodiscipline，must，uponanysuddenattack，fightatgreatdisadvantagewiththeveteransoldiersoftheNormanknights，whowerewellprovidedwitharmsbothdefensiveandoffensive；

andwho，tomatchthezealandhighspiritofthebesiegers，hadalltheconfidencewhicharisesfromperfectdisciplineandthehabitualuseofweapons。

Theknightemployedtheintervalincausingtobeconstructedasortoffloatingbridge，orlongraft，bymeansofwhichhehopedtocrossthemoatindespiteoftheresistanceoftheenemy。Thiswasaworkofsometime，whichtheleadersthelessregretted，asitgaveUlricaleisuretoexecuteherplanofdiversionintheirfavour，whateverthatmightbe。

Whentheraftwascompleted，theBlackKnightaddressedthebesiegers：——``Itavailsnotwaitingherelonger，myfriends；thesunisdescendingtothewest——andIhavethatuponmyhandswhichwillnotpermitmetotarrywithyouanotherday。

Besides，itwillbeamarvelifthehorsemencomenotuponusfromYork，unlesswespeedilyaccomplishourpurpose。Wherefore，oneofyegotoLocksley，andbidhimcommenceadischargeofarrowsontheoppositesideofthecastle，andmoveforwardasifabouttoassaultit；andyou，trueEnglishhearts，standbyme，andbereadytothrusttheraftendlongoverthemoatwhenevertheposternonoursideisthrownopen。Followmeboldlyacross，andaidmetoburstyonsallyportinthemainwallofthecastle。Asmanyofyouaslikenotthisservice，orarebutillarmedtomeetit，doyoumanthetopoftheoutwork，drawyourbow-stringstoyourears，andmindyouquellwithyourshotwhatevershallappeartomantherampart——

NobleCedric，wiltthoutakethedirectionofthosewhichremain?’’

``Notso，bythesoulofHereward！’’saidtheSaxon；``leadIcannot；butmayposteritycursemeinmygrave，ifIfollownotwiththeforemostwhereverthoushaltpointtheway——Thequarrelismine，andwellitbecomesmetobeinthevanofthebattle。’’

``Yet，bethinkthee，nobleSaxon，’’saidtheknight，``thouhastneitherhauberk，norcorslet，noraughtbutthatlighthelmet，target，andsword。’’

``Thebetter！’’answeredCedric；``Ishallbethelightertoclimbthesewalls。And，——forgivetheboast，SirKnight，——thoushaltthisdayseethenakedbreastofaSaxonasboldlypresentedtothebattleaseveryebeheldthesteelcorsletofaNorman。’’

``InthenameofGod，then，’’saidtheknight，``flingopenthedoor，andlaunchthefloatingbridge。’’

Theportal，whichledfromtheinner-wallofthebarbicantothemoat，andwhichcorrespondedwithasallyportinthemainwallofthecastle，wasnowsuddenlyopened；thetemporarybridgewasthenthrustforward，andsoonflashedinthewaters，extendingitslengthbetweenthecastleandoutwork，andformingaslipperyandprecariouspassagefortwomenabreasttocrossthemoat。Wellawareoftheimportanceoftakingthefoebysurpris