Saint George for England

h ardour to the assault, and officers and men vied with each other in the valour which they displayed. In vain did the garrison shower arrows and cross-bow bolts among them, and

e assault was made at a score of different points, and the garrison was too weak to defend all with success. Sir John Powis and his party repulsed over and over again the efforts of th

med; "let us fall back to the

closed and barred, and from the upper windows the burghers hurled down stones and bricks upon the fugitives, while parties

ered, and their leader slain by a heavy stone from a housetop. Walter fought his way blindly forward towards the castle although he well knew that no refuge would be found there. Ralph Smith kept close beside him, levelling many of his assailants with the tremendous blows of a huge mace. Somehow, Walter hardly

htful velocity. Faster and faster it went and yet it seemed a long time before they plunged into the water, which was nigh a hundred feet below the surface. Fortunately the rope

minutes," Ralph exclaimed, "m

get rid of tha

th one hand and help you to unbuckle your br

the bucket to the surface and tied a knot in the slack of the rope, so that the bucket hung four feet below the level o

ust as well to have been killed at once. They are sure to find us he

e well, but it will be no particular business of anyone to look for us, and they will all be too anxious to get at the wine butts to trouble their heads about the

e not hauled out. I suppose you don't intend to try and climb that rope. I might do twen

rhead; if we see anyone looking down we must leave the bucket and swim to the side without making the least noise. They may give a few turns of the windlas

, which was but four feet distant, being careful as they did that no motion was imparted to the rope. Then though it was too dark

. They are satisfied that if we did jump down here we

re a good deal of thi

e strands of that. There are five or six large strands as far as I can feel; we will cut them up into lengths of about a couple of feet and we ought to be able to tie

cheerfully, "I should think

made many fruitless attempts; each time that a strand was fastened with a loop large enough for them to pass a leg through, it slid down the rope when their weight was applied to it. At last they succeeded in finding out a knot which

ce?" Ralph said, when

tion of the rope when our weight once gets on it m

e sufficient bits of

undred feet deep, for the other day I heard some of the soldiers who were drawing water grumbling over the labour required. So if we put them thre

ead told them that twilight had commenced, and shortly afterwards they

ind it a good deal easier to stand with your foot in the loop. If I get tired I will fasten another loop by the side of that on which I am resting, so you can come up and pass me. There is no hurry. It

ree times they changed places, resting in turn from the work; but in less than two hours from the time they made the first loop Walter's head and shoulders appeared above the le

astle unnoticed. All will be feasting and riot in the town, and so long as we do not brush against any one so that they may feel our wet garments we are li

lied, "for I ache from head to foot with holding

ng. Going along the passage they issued into the main yard. Here great fires were blazing

o passes will think that you are in a drunken sleep. I will creep forward and possess myself of t

nd then he joined his companion, and the two putting on the steel caps and cloaks walked quietly to the gate. There were none on guard, and they issued unmolested into the town. Here all was revelry. Bonfires blazed in the streets. Hogsh

ll have a drink of wine, fo

climbing that rope, but now the cold has got hold o

is was closed. The French commanders knew that Sir Walter Manny or Salisbury might ere this be pressing forward to relieve the town, and that, finding that it had fallen, they might attempt to recapture it by a sudden attack. While permitt

ple presently arrived, and the officer on guard said, coming out, "You must wait a while; the last batch

sixty people, anxious to return to th

ight of that lamp none will notice that we have head-gear, but if it were to glint upon

he little crowd, and Walter and Ralph closed in to their midst. The gates were opened, and

ed on briskly. When morning broke they entered a wood, and lay there till evening, as they feared to continue their journey lest they might fall into the hands of some roving band of

as the French were moving to the attack. Hard blows I don't mind-I have been used to it; but what with fighting, and being in the wa

we are within the walls of Hennebon, and that will be by daylight tomorrow if all

ennebon in the distance. It was well that it was no further, for both were so e

to the quarters of the leader. Sir Walter had just

exclaimed. "By what miracle coul

ake order that some food be placed before us, or we shall have escaped from the French only to die

a postern-gate, bringing with them Robert of Artois, who is grievously wou

while Ralph's wants were attended to below. When he had satisfied his hunger the young esquire related hi

hould assuredly have perished, for I would a thousand times rather meet death sword in hand, than drop down into the

ions of praise at the lad's c

on each occasion on which we have been engaged. I shall be proud when the time comes to best

died of his wounds and disappoin

town. As his force was far more than sufficient for the siege, the Earls of Norfolk and Warwick were despatched in the direction of Nantes to reconnoitre the country and clear it of any small bodies of the enemy they might encounter. In the meantime Edward opened neg

000 strong, the Earl of Norfolk had fallen back and rejoined the king, but even after this junction the French forces exceeded those of Edward fourfold. They advanced towards Vannes and formed a large entrenched camp near that of the English, who thus, while still besieging Vannes, were themselves enclo

rovinces, and the effusion of innocent blood. Going from camp to camp they exhorted, prayed, and reproached the rival sovereigns, urging that while Christians were shedding each other's blood in vain, the infidels were daily waxing bolder and more insolent. Their arguments would have been but of little use had either of the monarchs felt sure of victory. King Edward, however, felt that his position was growing desperate, for starvation was staring him in the face, and only by a victory over an immensely superior force in a strongly entrenched position could he extricate himself

ral truce was to be made from the date of the treaty to the following Michaelmas, and to be prolonged from that day for the full term of three years. It was agreed that the truce should embrace not only the sovereigns, but all the adherents of each of them. The truce was to hold good in Brittany between all parties, and the city of Vannes was to

for England with the greater part of his troops. The Countess of Montford and her son accompanied him, and the possessions

uimper-Corentin, Quimperle, Redon, and Guerande; Vannes was handed over to t

ard and Giles Fletcher, who were never tired of listening to his tales of the wars. Dame Vernon also received him with great kin

improve himself with his weapons. The court was a gay one, and Walter, as a favoured esquire of one of the foremost knights there, was admitted to all that took place. His courtly education, of course, included dancing, and when he went down, as he often did, for a long chat with his old friends,