Because of the dramatic unity of this plot, the well-outlined characters, and the author's style—simple, straightforward, vigorous— this romance should attract the reading of young and old alike. The picture of thirteenth-century times in England has its own charm, and here and there in the description of the siege of a castle we find something of the atmosphere which distinguished Violletle-Duc's "Histoire d'une forteresse." As a romance of ancient warfare, "The Defense of the Castle" deserves a place on the shelf which already contains those historical romances and romances not so historical which have always appealed to a boy's fancy—and to a man's. —"Books of the Week" in the Outlook January 1904
2954688The Defense of the Castle1903Tudor Jenks
THE DEFENSE OF THE CASTLE
"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.
Edgar and the Count in single combat
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
Copyright, 1903, by
THE MERSHON COMPANY
Dedicated
TO MY WIFE
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.
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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
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?
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,
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,
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?
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,
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,"
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
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,
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,
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This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
