ng with its walls an extensive space, formed a fortress quite
strong enough to resist desultory attacks, and protect the long bridge,
which was itself strongly walled on either side, and with a barbican at
the further end. In former assaults the attacks had always been on the
north, the Catholic side, as it might be called; but now the enemy had
crossed the river above the fort, and were investing the place on both
sides. Long foreseeing this, the old commandant had guarded the bank of
the river with the earthwork, a long mound sloped irregularly on either
hand, over which numerous little paths had since been worn by the women
within, when on their way to the river with their washing; but he had
been setting every one to work to destroy and fill up these, so that
the rampart was smooth and slopping, perfectly easy indeed to cross, but
high and broad enough to serve as an effectual protection against such
artillery as the detached troops of the Guise party were likely to
possess; and the river was far too wide, deep, and strong in its main
current to be forded in the face of a hostile garrison. The captain had
about fifty _gen d'armes_ in his garrison, besides the twenty new-comers
whom he persisted in regarding as Berenger's charge; and there were,
besides, some seventy peasants and silk spinners, who had come into the
place as a refuge from the enemy--and with these he hoped to hold put
till succour should come from the Duke. He himself took the command
of the north gate, where the former assaults had been made, and he
instructed to his new ally the tower protecting the bridge, advising him
to put on armour; but Berenger, trying on a steel cap, found that his
head could not bear the weight and heat, and was forced to return to his
broad-brimmed Spanish hat, while Philip in high glee armed himself as
best he could with what Captain Falconnet could lend him. he was too
much excited to eat of the scanty meal that was set before them: a real
flight seemed like a fair-day to him, and he was greatly exalted by
his brother's post of command--a post that Berenger felt a heavy
responsibility only thrust upon him by the commandant's incapacity of
hearing how utterly inexperienced he was.

The formal summons to surrender to the King, and the refusal, had duly
passed, and it became evident that the first attack was to be on the
bridge-gate. Captain Falconnet hurried to the place, and the fighting
was hot and desperate. Every assail