第27章 THE MELEE(2)

"In faith," Geoffrey said, "the idea is a good one, and promises rare sport, but it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve feet high, and there will be the depth of the moat besides.""That will only be two feet," Walter said, "for so it is marked on the plan.""And which do you mean to take, Walter, the attack or the defence? Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal, for assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to one to give them a fair chance of success.""I shall take the assault," Walter answered; "there is more to be done that way than in the defence.When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault."Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet back so as to give a postern gate behind each of the corner towers through which a sortie might be made.Geoffrey and Walter talked the matter over, and together contrived a plan of operation for the following day.

"You will have one great advantage," Geoffrey said."The apprentices are all accustomed to the use of the bow, while the young nobles will know but little of that weapon; therefore your shooting will be far straighter and truer, and even a blunt-headed arrow drawn from the shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have difficulty in withstanding them."After the talk was ended Walter again crossed London Bridge, and made his way to Ludgate, where he found his late antagonist, whose head had been plastered up, and was little the worse for the conflict.

"There is no ill-will between us, I hope," Walter said, holding out his hand.

"None in the world," the young smith said frankly.He was a good-tempered-looking young giant, with closely-cropped hair, light-blue eyes, and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face.

"My faith but what a blow was that you gave me; why, one would think that your muscles were made of steel.I thought that I could hit a good downright blow, seeing that I have been hammering at the anvil for the last seven years; but strike as I would I could not beat down your guard, while mine went down, as if it had been a feather, before yours.I knew, directly that I had struck the first blow, and felt how firm was your defence, that it was all up with me, knowing that in point of skill I had no chance whatever with you.

"I am glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph," Walter said, "and hope that we shall be great friends henceforth, that is, if you will take me as such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, while I am not yet half through mine.But I have come to talk to you about tomorrow.Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege?""I have heard about it," Ralph said."The city is talking of nothing else.

The news was published at the end of the sports.It will be rare fun, surely.""It will be pretty rough fun," Walter replied; "and I should not be much surprised if some lives are lost; but this is always so in a tournament;and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need not fear to hazard our lives.But now as to tomorrow.I, as the winner today, am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of course be captain under me.Now I want to explain to you exactly what I propose to do, and to arrange with you as to your share in the business."The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when he had done, exclaimed admiringly: "Why, Walter, you seem to be made for a general.How did it all come to you, lad? I should never have thought of such a scheme.""I talked it over with my master," Walter said, "and the idea is his as much as mine.I wonder if it will do.""It is sure to do," the smith said enthusiastically."The castle is as good as taken."The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had risen, as if by magic, in the night.It was built at one end of the lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from the surrounding slopes.The castle was substantially built of heavy timber painted gray, and looked at a little distance as if constructed of stone.Aflag floated from the central tower, and the building looked so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the task of the assailants, whoever they might be - for at present this was unknown - was quite impossible.At ten o'clock the king and his court arrived.After they had taken their places the two bands, headed by their leaders, advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in front of the royal pavilion.The leaders took their places in front.Behind them stood ten chosen followers, all of whom, as well as their chiefs, were encased in full armour.Behind, on one side, were 100 apprentices, on the other 100esquires, all attired as men-at-arms.The court party were led by Clarence Aylmer, son of the Earl of Pembroke.His companions were all young men of noble family, aspirants for the order of knighthood.They were, for the most part, somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted chiefly of young men nearly out of their term the difference was not great.

Walter's armour was a suit which the armourer had constructed a year previously for a young knight who had died before the armour could be delivered.Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not endeavour to sell it elsewhere, for, although not so decorated and inlaid as many of the suits of Milan armour, it was constructed of the finest steel, and the armourer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, as the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers.Early that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room and had told him to wear it instead of that lent by the city.