hath
fallen forward into the fire. But I pray you, John, to loose gently, and
not to pluck with the drawing-hand, for it is a trick that hath marred
many a fine bowman."

Whilst the two archers were keeping up a brisk fire upon the mob beneath
them, Du Guesclin and his lady were consulting with Sir Nigel upon their
desperate situation.

"'Tis a strange end for one who has seen so many stricken fields," said
the French chieftain. "For me one death is as another, but it is the
thought of my sweet lady which goes to my heart."

"Nay, Bertrand, I fear it as little as you," said she. "Had I my dearest
wish, it would be that we should go together."

"Well answered, fair lady!" cried Sir Nigel. "And very sure I am that my
own sweet wife would have said the same. If the end be now come, I have
had great good fortune in having lived in times when so much glory was
to be won, and in knowing so many valiant gentlemen and knights. But why
do you pluck my sleeve, Alleyne?"

"If it please you, my fair lord, there are in this corner two great
tubes of iron, with many heavy balls, which may perchance be those
bombards and shot of which I have heard."

"By Saint Ives! it is true," cried Sir Bertrand, striding across to
the recess where the ungainly, funnel-shaped, thick-ribbed engines were
standing. "Bombards they are, and of good size. We may shoot down upon
them."

"Shoot with them, quotha?" cried Aylward in high disdain, for pressing
danger is the great leveller of classes. "How is a man to take aim with
these fool's toys, and how can he hope to do scath with them?"

"I will show you," answered Sir Nigel; "for here is the great box of
powder, and if you will raise it for me, John, I will show you how it
may be used. Come hither, where the folk are thickest round the fire.
Now, Aylward, crane thy neck and see what would have been deemed an old
wife's tale when we first turned our faces to the wars. Throw back the
lid, John, and drop the box into the fire!"

A deafening roar, a fluff of bluish light, and the great square tower
rocked and trembled from its very foundations, swaying this way and that
like a reed in the wind. Amazed and dizzy, the defenders, clutching at
the cracking parapets for support, saw great stones, burning beams of
wood, and mangled bodies hurtling past them through the air. When they
staggered to their feet once more, the whole keep had settled down upon
one side, so that they could scarce keep their f