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THE DEFENSE OF THE CASTLE

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"Above the moated entrance slung,
The balanced drawbridge trembling hung,
⁠As jealous of a foe;
Wicket of oak, as iron hard,
With iron studded, clench'd and barr'd.
And prong'd portcullis, join'd to guard
⁠The gloomy pass below."

—Scott.

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Frontis--The defense of the castle.jpg

Edgar and the Count in single combat

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The Defense
of the Castle

A Story of the Siege of an English Castle
in the Thirteenth Century

BY

TUDOR JENKS

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THE MERSHON COMPANY

RAHWAY, N. J. ⁠ NEW YORK

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Copyright, 1903, by
THE MERSHON COMPANY

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Dedicated
TO MY WIFE

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PREFATORY NOTE

The author of this little romance of ancient warfare desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to the works of the great French architect and engineer, Viollet-le-Duc, and especially to his "History of a Fortress," which is cordially recommended to all young readers who are interested in the story of battles and sieges, as carried on from the days of ancient Gaul to our own times. For it should be remembered in reading history that war has both its science and its art, and that great warriors have been adepts in both, and by both have preserved civilization against the external and internal enemies who would have destroyed it.

Tudor Jenks.

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CONTENTS

page. CHAPTER I

A Departing Crusader—A Threatened Attack—Hugh of Cambray—The Archery Contest—The Best Bettered—Preparing for the Siege—Arms and Provisions—Luke the Lurdane—The Enemies Consult—A Hawking-Party—Luke Lays an Ambuscade,

3

CHAPTER II

Hawking—A Little Spy—Map Making—A Message by Arrow-Flight—An Attack from the Rear—The Pursuers Divided—Hugh at Bay—A Dash for Liberty—Luke Is Wounded—The Escape of the Hawkers—On the Alert,

25

CHAPTER III

A Palisade Is Built—The Franciscan Friar—Union against Disunion—A Message from the Count—The Answer—The Besiegers Arrive—The Palisade Garrisoned—An Attack by Storm—The Advance of the Besiegers—Luke's Narrow Escape—The Attack Repulsed,

45

CHAPTER IV

The Besiegers' Quarrel—The Mangonel Erected—A Consultation—Amabel's Advice—Edgar Loses His Hat—The Artillery of the Castle—Hugh's Foresight Rewarded—Artillery Practice—The ​Friar's Shooting—The Count's Impatience—The Palisade Is Taken—A Covered Way Is Dug—The Danger of a Rear Attack—A Lull in the Fight,

65

CHAPTER V

Luke Advises the Count—The "Cat" Attacks the Wall—The Crane Prepared—The Intrenchment in the Courtyard—The Friar Talks of the "Black Art"—The Wonderul Powder—An Experiment by the Friar—Hugh Is Affrighted—Activity of the Besiegers—A Siege-Tower Begun—The Friar's Device—The "Cat" Is Almost Destroyed,

85

CHAPTER VI

The Making of the Battering-Ram—The Count Has a Narrow Escape—The Secret Mines—The Question of Sorcery—Amabel's Project—A Brave Young Girl—The Friar as a Spy—His Masquerade in Minstrel Garb—The "Ballad of King Estmere"—Luke Decides to Undermine a Tower—The Ram Ready for Its Work

107

CHAPTER VII

The Crane under Fire—It Is Disabled—The Ram in Action—The Advance of the Great Tower on Rollers—A Question of Marksmanship—Ten Pieces of Gold for a Lucky Shot—The Prize Is Won—The Front Wall Is Breached—The Captured Spy—The Count's Threats—The Return of the Friar—He Tells His Adventures—Who Was the Fool?—Friar or Count?

127

CHAPTER VIII

The Friar's Report of His Observations—The Mine Discovered—Edgar Suggests a Plan—The Miners ​Driven Out—Meeting the Siege-Tower—An Error of Judgment—A Triple Attack against the Castle—A General Advance—David against Goliath—A Secret Attack—The Careless Sentinel—The Lady Amabel on the Alert—Flight of the Daring Climbers,

147

CHAPTER IX

The Two Attacks Described—A Bridge of Logs—The Combat of the Archers—Serious Loss of Defenders—The Resistless Tower—The Count's Men Gain the Rampart—A Fight on the Wall—The Friar's Fire-Darts—The Tower Burns—Edgar Sore Pressed at the Breached Wall—Hand-to-Hand Fighting—A Swinging Ram—Grappling Hooks—The Portcullis Falls—The Combat Between Edgar and the Count—The Struggle Renewed—Retreat of the Garrison—The Victory of the Besiegers—A Pause,

167

CHAPTER X

Luke's Strategy—The Garrison Outwitted—The Friar's Opinion—Another Tower to be Sacrificed—The Friar's Confidence—Amabel's Mission—The Count Takes the Southwest Tower—The Tower Burned—A Surprise—The Explosion of the Mine—The Besiegers Are Panic-Stricken—Their Retreat—Fall of the Southwest Tower—Terror of the Besiegers—The Siege Suspended—Fears of a Sortie—Departure of the Lady Amabel—Will the Castle Hold Out?

189

CHAPTER XI

Amabel's Adventures in Disguise—The Friendly Farmer—The Second Stage of Her Journey— ​Alone Again—The Friar's Proverb—The Attack Renewed—Effective Archery—Preparing the Attack on the Intrenchment—Volleys at Close Range—A Blunder in Strategy—The Retreat—The Count Tries His Hand at the Crossbow—Reproaching Repulsed Soldiers—A Veteran Replies—The Attack Renewed—The "Cat" Once More—The Intrenchment Is Taken by the Besiegers,

209

CHAPTER XII

A Traitor in the Castle—He Deserts to the Enemy—How the Count Received Him—His Interview with Luke—Amabel's Enterprise Betrayed—Luke Suggests a Trick—The Keep the Last Hope of the Garrison—How Its Defenses Were Prepared—The Attack Slackens—The Friar's Wonderful "Seeing Tube"—An Inventor in His Laboratory—A Message from Edgar—The Count's Letter—Lady Mortimer's Anxiety—The Friar Detects the Fraud—A Devotee of the "White Art,"

231

CHAPTER XIII

A Truce Asked For—The Friar's Reply Sent by Arrow-Mail—A Second Attempt to Storm the Castle—The Swinging Box—The Axmen Attack the Tower Door—Part of the Garrison Captured—The Warning Cheer—The Keep and a Single Tower Still Hold Out—The Count Releases the Prisoners on Parole—The Last Tower Is Attacked by Storm—A Second Mine Exploded—The Friar Escapes to the Keep—The Count's Courage—The Last Tower Is Taken—The Keep Remains—The Friar's Exhortation

253

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CHAPTER XIV

In the Last Stronghold—The Work of the Women—An Arrow from an Unexpected Quarter—Amabel's Message—The Friar's Queer Art-Work—Edgar Amazed—The Count and Luke at Variance—The Count Marches Against the Keep—The Fight at the Doorway—Edgar Captures Luke—The Attack Repulsed—Amabel's Return—Henry of Huntingdon—Amabel Tells Her Further Adventures—She Becomes an Actor—Saves a Life—Wins Friends—Aids Two Lovers—And Returns with the Best o f News,

273

CHAPTER XV

A Sudden Alarm—Lady Mortimer's Quick Wit—The Besiegers within the Keep—Their Repulse at the Stairway—A Fight in the Hallway—Luke's Escape and Treachery—The Castle's Greatest Peril—Out with the Lights—An Awful Vision—The Castle Saved—A Sortie—Hugh's Marksmanship—The Earl's Camp—The Song of the Earl's Company—The Riding to Raise the Siege—A Fight at the Bridge—The Earl Leads the Attack—The Bridge Taken—The Battlefield Is Reached—The Wave of Horsemen—The Rout of the Besiegers—The Fate of the Count and of Luke the Lurdane—Thanksgiving of the Garrison,

293

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1927.

The author died in 1922, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 99 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

 
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