第74章 A PRISONER(1)

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.