have thought
that they had reckoned on the sortie, so steadily did they receive it."

As only a portion of the garrison had issued out they were unable to
resist long the pressure of the apprentices, who drove them back step
by step to the sally-port, and pressing them hard endeavoured to force
their way in at their heels.

CHAPTER VII: THE YOUNG ESQUIRE

While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was
fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party
of twenty 'prentices suddenly leapt to their feet from among the
broken palisades of the outwork. Lying prone there they had escaped the
attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason
why the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was
now apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the
right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them
planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran towards the left angle
of the castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few
defenders who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so
absorbed were they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that
they saw the new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of
the combat, the shouts of the leaders and men were so loud, that their
cries were unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give
the alarm, while the others strove to repel the assault. Their efforts
were in vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed
in position, and led by Walter the assailants sprang up and gained a
footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering
cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants.
Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to
oppose them, gained the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the
top, pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city
in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the
ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall
and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by
the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also
they gained footing on the wall. The young nobles of the court, furious
at being outwitted, fought desperately to regain their lost laurels. But
the king rose from his seat and held up his hand. The trumpeter