saint george for england-第34章

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ith　blood。　Still　the　French　poured　upwards　in　a　wave；　and　the　sheer　weight　of　their　numbers　and　the　fatigue　caused　by　the　tremendous　exertions　the　defenders　were　making　began　to　tell。　Step　by　step　the　English　were　driven　back；　and　Walter　saw　that　the　defence　could　not　much　longer　be　continued。　He　bade　one　of　his　men…at…arms　at　once　order　the　archers　to　cease　firing；　and；　leaving　the　walls；　to　take　refuge　in　the　keep；　and　thence　to　open　fire　upon　the　French　as　they　poured　through　the　breach。

When　he　found　that　this　movement　had　been　accomplished　Walter　bade　the　men…at…　arms　fall　back　gradually。　A　gap　had　been　left　in　the　wooden　fence　sufficient　for　one　at　a　time　to　pass；　and　through　this　the　men…at…arms　retired　one　by　one　to　the　keep　until　only　Walter　and　five　others　were　left。　　With　these　Walter　flung　himself　suddenly　upon　the　assailants　and　forced　them　a　few　feet　down　the　slope。　　Then　he　gave　the　word；　and　all　sprang　back；　and　leaping　down　from　the　wall　into　the　courtyard　ran　through　the　barrier；　Walter　and　Ralph　being　the　last　to　pass　as　the　French　with　exulting　shouts　leapt　down　from　the　breach。　There　was　another　fierce　fight　at　the　barrier。　Walter　left　Ralph　to　defend　this　with　a　few　men…at…　arms　while　he　saw　that　all　was　in　readiness　for　closing　the　door　rapidly　in　the　keep。　Then　he　ran　back　again。　He　was　but　just　in　time。　Ralph　indeed　could　for　a　long　time　have　held　the　narrow　passage；　but　the　barriers　themselves　were　yielding。　The　French　were　pouring　in　through　the　breach；　and　as　those　behind　could　not　see　the　nature　of　the　obstacle　which　arrested　the　advance　of　their　companions　they　continued　to　push　forward；　and　by　their　weight　pressed　those　in　front　against　the　spikes　in　the　barrier。　　Many　perished　miserably　on　these。　　Others；　whose　armour　protected　them　from　this　fate；　were　crushed　to　death　by　the　pressure；　but　this　was　now　so　great　that　the　timbers　were　yielding。　Walter；　seeing　that　in　another　moment　they　would　be　levelled；　gave　the　word；　sprang　back　with　Ralph　and　his　party；　and　entered　the　keep　just　as　with　a　crash　the　barrier　fell　and　the　French　poured　in　a　crowd　into　the　courtyard。　　Bolting　the　door　the　defenders　of　the　keep　piled　against　it　the　stones　which　had　been　laid　in　readiness。

The　door　was　on　the　first　floor；　and　was　approached　by　a　narrow　flight　of　stone　steps；　up　which　but　two　abreast　could　advance。　In　their　first　fury　the　French　poured　up　these　steps；　but　from　the　loopholes　which　commanded　it　the　English　bowmen　shot　so　hard　that　their　arrows　pierced　the　strongest　armour。　Smitten　through　vizor　and　armour；　numbers　of　the　bravest　of　the　assailants　fell　dead。　　Those　who　gained　the　top　of　the　steps　were　assailed　by　showers　of　boiling　oil　from　an　upper　chamber　which　projected　over　the　door；　and　whose　floor　was　pierced　for　this　purpose；　while　from　the　top　of　the　keep　showers　of　stones　were　poured　down。　After　losing　great　numbers　in　this　desperate　effort　at　assault　the　French　drew　off　for　a　while；　while　their　leaders　held　council　as　to　the　best　measures　to　be　taken　for　the　capture　of　the　keep。

After　a　time　Walter　from　the　summit　saw　several　bodies　of　men　detach　themselves　from　the　crowd　still　without　the　castle　and　proceed　into　the　country。　Two　hours　later　they　were　seen　returning　laden　with　trunks　of　trees。　These　were　dragged　through　the　breach；　and　were；　in　spite　of　the　efforts　of　the　archers　and　of　the　men…at…arms　with　their　stones；　placed　so　as　to　form　a　sort　of　penthouse　against　one　side　of　the　keep。　Numbers　of　the　soldiers　now　poured　up　with　sacks　and　all　kinds　of　vessels　which　they　had　gathered　from　the　surrounding　villages；　filled　with　earth。　This　was　thrown　over　the　beams　until　it　filled　all　the　crevices　between　them　and　formed　a　covering　a　foot　thick；　so　that　neither　boiling　oil　nor　water　poured　from　above　could　penetrate　to　injure　those　working　beneath　its　shelter。　When　all　was　ready　a　strong　body　armed　with　picks　and　crowbars　entered　the　penthouse　and　began　to　labour　to　cut　away　the　wall　of　the　keep　itself。

〃Their　commander　knows　his　business；〃　Walter　said；　〃and　the　device　is　an　excellent　one。　We　can　do　nothing；　and　it　only　depends　upon　the　strength　of　the　wall　how　long　we　can　hold　out。　The　masonry　is　by　no　means　good；　and　before　nightfall；　unless　aid　comes；　there　will　be　nought　for　us　but　death　or　surrender。〃



CHAPTER　XVI：　A　PRISONER


As　long　as　it　was　light　an　anxious　look…out　was　kept　from　the　top　of　the　keep　towards　Calais。　There　was　nothing　to　be　done。　The　besiegers　who　had　entered　the　walls　were　ensconced　in　the　various　buildings　in　the　courtyard　or　placed　behind　walls　so　as　to　be　out　of　arrow…shot　from　above；　and　were　in　readiness　to　repel　any　sortie　which　might　be　made　to　interfere　with　the　work　going　on　under　the　penthouse。　But　no　sortie　was　possible；　for　to　effect　this　it　would　be　necessary　to　remove　the　stones　from　the　door；　and　before　this　could　be　accomplished　the　besiegers　would　have　rallied　in　overwhelming　force；　nor　could　a　sortie　have　effected　anything　beyond　the　slaying　of　the　men　actually　engaged　in　the　work。　　The　beams　of　the　penthouse　were　too　strong　and　too　heavily　weighted　with　earth　to　be　removed；　and　the　attempt　would　only　have　entailed　useless　slaughter。　　The　penthouse　was　about　forty　feet　in　length；　and　the　assailants　were　piercing　three　openings；　each　of　some　six　feet　in　width；　leaving　two　strong　supporting　pillars　between　them。　　Anxiously　the　garrison　within　listened　to　the　sounds　of　work；　which　became　louder　and　louder　as　the　walls　crumbled　before　the　stroke　of　pickaxe　and　crowbar。

〃I　shall　hold　out　until　the　last　moment；〃　Walter　said　to　Ralph；　〃in　hopes　of　relief；　but　before　they　burst　in　I　shall　sound　a　parley。　To　resist　further　would　be　a　vain　sacrifice　of　life。〃

Presently　a　movement　could　be　seen　among　the　stones；　and　then　almost　simultaneously　two　apertures　appeared。　The　chamber　into　which　the　openings　were　made　was　a　large　one；　being　used　as　the　common　room　of　the　garrison。　Here　twenty　archers；　and　the　remaining　men…at…arms　…　of　whom　nearly　one…half　had　fallen　in　the　defence　of　the　breach　…　were　gathered；　and　the　instant　the　orifices　appeared　the　archers　began　to　send　their　arrows　through　them。　Then　Walter　ascended　to　another　chamber；　and　ordered　the　trumpeter　to　sound　a　parley。

The　sound　was　repeated　by　the　assailants'　trumpeter。

〃Who　commands　the　force？〃　Walter　asked。

〃I；　Guy；　Count　of　Evreux。〃

〃I　am　Sir　Walter　Somers；〃　the　young　knight　continued。　　〃I　wish　to　ask　terms　for　the　garrison。

〃You　must　surrender　unconditionally；〃　the　count　replied　from　the　courtyard。　　〃In　ten　minutes　we　shall　have　completely　pierced　your　walls；　and　you　will　be　at　our　mercy。〃

〃You　may　pierce　our　walls；〃　Walter　replied；　〃but　it　will　cost　you　many　lives　before　you　force　your　way　in；　we　will　defend　the　hold　from　floor　to　floor；　and　you　know　how　desperate　men　can　fight。　It　will　cost　you　scores　of　lives　before　you　win　your　way　to　the　summit　of　this　keep；　but　if　I　have　your　knightly　word　that　the　lives　of　all　within　these　walls　shall　be　spared；　then　will　I　open　the　door　and　lay　down　our　arms。

A　consultation　took　place　between　the　leaders　below。　　There　was　truth　in　Walter's　words　that　very　many　lives　would　be　sacrificed　before　the　resistance　of　so　gallant　a　garrison　could　be　overcome。　Every　minute　was　of　importance；　for　it　was　possible　that　at　any　moment　aid　might　arrive　from　Calais；　and　that　the　table　would　be　turned　upon　the　besiegers。

Therefore；　after　a　short　parley　among　themselves；　the　count　replied：

〃You　have　fought　as　a　gallant　knight　and　gentleman；　Sir　Walter　Somers；　and　have　wrought　grievous　harm　upon　my　leading。　I　should　grieve　that　so　brave　a　knight　should　lose　his　life　in　a　useless　resistance。　Therefore　I　agree　to　your　terms；　and　swear　upon　my　knightly　honour　that　upon　your　surrendering　yourselves　prisoners　of　war；　the　lives　of　all　within　these　walls　shall　be　spared。〃

Walter　at　once　gave　the　order。　The　stones　were　removed　and　the　door　thrown　open；　and　leading　his　men　Walter　descended　the　steps　into　the　courtyard；　which　was　now　illuminated　with　torches；　and　handed　his　sword　to　the　Count　of　Evreux。

〃You　promised　me；　count；〃　a　tall　knight　standing　by　his　side　said；　〃that　if　he　were　taken　alive；　the　commander　of　this　castle　should　be　my　prisoner。〃

〃I　did　so；　Sir　Phillip　Holbeaut。　When　you　proposed　this　adventure　to　me；　and　offered　to　place　your　following　at　my　command；　I　agreed　to　the　request　you　made　me；　but　mind；〃　he　said　sternly；　〃my　knightly　word　has　been　given　for　his　safety。　　See　that　he　receives　fair　and　gentle　treatment　at　your　hand。　I　would　not　that　aught　should　befall　so　brave　a　knight。〃

〃I　seek　him　no　harm；〃　the　knight　said　angrily；　〃but　I　know　that　he　is　one　of　the　knights　of　the　Black　Prince's　own　suite；　and　that　his　ransom　will　be　freely　paid；　and　as　my　coffers　are　low　from　the　expenses　of　the　war；　I　would　fain　replenish　them　at　the　expense　of　the　English　prince。〃

〃I　said　not　that　I　doubted　you；　Sir　Phillip；〃　the　count　said　calmly；　〃but　as　the　knight　surrendered　on　my　word；　it　was　needful　that　I　should　warn　you　to　treat　him　as　I　myself　should　do　did　he　remain　in　my　hands；　and　to　give　him　fair　treatment　until　duly　ransomed。〃

〃I　should　be　glad；　count；〃　Walter　said；　〃if　you　will　suffer　me　to　take　with　me　as　companion　in　my　captivity　this　man…at…arms。　He　is　strongly　attached　to　me；　and　we　have　gone　through　many　perils　together；　it　will　lighten　my　captivity　to　have　him　by　my　side。〃

〃Surely　I　will　do　so；　Sir　Walter；　and　wish　that　your　boon　had　been　a　larger　one。　　The　rest　I　will　take　back　with　me　to　Amiens；　there　to　hold　until　exchanged　for　some　of　those　who　at　various　times　have　fallen　into　your　king's　hands。　And　now　to　work；　men；　lose　not　a　moment　in　stripping　the　castle　of　all　that　you　choose　to　carry　away；　then　apply　fire　to　the　storehouses；　granaries；　and　the　hold　itself。　I　would　not　that　it　remained　standing　to　serve　as　an　outpost　for　the　English。〃

The　horses　were　brought　from　the　stables。　Walter　and　Ralph　took　their　horses　by　the　bridle；　and　followed　Sir　Phillip　Holbeaut　through　the　now　open　gates　of　the　castle　to　the　spot　where　the　horses　of　the　besiegers　were　picketed。　The　knight；　and　his　own　men…at…arms；　who　had　at　the　beginning　of　the　day　numbered　a　hundred　and　fifty；　but　who　were　now　scarcely　two…thirds　of　that　strength；　at　once　mounted　with　their　prisoners；　and　rode　off　from　the　castle。　A　few　minutes　later　a　glare　of　light　burst　out　from　behind　them。　The　count's　orders　had　been　obeyed；　fire　had　been　applied　to　the　stores　of　forage；　and　soon　the　castle　of　Pres　was　wrapped　in　flames。

〃I　like　not　our　captor's　manner；〃　Ralph　said　to　Walter　as　they　rode　along　side　by　side。

〃I　agree　with　you；　Ralph。　I　believe　that　the　reason　which　he　gave　the　count　for　his　request　was　not　a　true　one；　though；　indeed；　I　can　see　no　other　motive　which　he　could　have　for　seeking　to　gain　possession　of　me。　Sir　Phillip；　although　a　valiant　knight；　bears　but　an　indifferent　reputation。　I　have　heard　that　he　is　a　cruel　master　to　his　serfs；　and　that　when　away　fighting　in　Germany　he　behaved　so　cruelly　to　the　peasantry　that　even　the　Germans；　who　are　not　nice　in　their　modes　of　warfare；　cried　out　against　him。　　It　is　an　evil　fortune　that　has　thrown　us　into　his　hands；　still；　although　grasping　and　avaricious；　he　can　hardly　demand　for　a　simp