rt, others more like devil-cats took their place; but we thought,
for our part, the attack was slacker, when sudden, from the northern
rampart, that was steeper than the rest, and therefore less defended,
rang deadly, heartrending shrieks and clamour for aid, and we knew that
at that post the Moors had gained a footing, and "Haste ye, left rank
with me," said Brother Hugo; "you, Bertram, and you, Alain, keep up the
defence here."

So by Brother Hugo's side I rushed to the northern rampart, and saw him,
with his bright blade sweeping like lightning through the air, deal
death amid that Sarrasin crowd, that in face of pitch and stones had
worked their way up the well-nigh upright wall.

There were with us at that moment some twenty on the rampart, and this
was well-nigh enough, had there been no surprise in the attack. For the
Sarrasins could but come up slowly, and one, discomfited at the summit,
would roll back and carry with him many that were clambering up below
him. But already some thirty were on the rampart, or in preparation to
spring. And our men had been affrighted and fled, had not Hugo, with his
"Rou! Rou!" loud upraised, relighted their failing courage. And, indeed,
who would not follow bravely such a one, in such peril fearless, and
himself tackling already a knot of five or six of the foe with his
invincible sword that was named "Roland"? The white blade swept down
sharp and swift, and in a moment two Sarrasins lay helpless, for they
were surprised by the swift onset. Up the blade rose again, and met
ready parry and defence from a tall, sinewy fellow, that bore in his
address the signs of nobility. And then began a sharp tussle 'twixt the
twain, sword against sword with ready guard of shield, that I saw not,
for a passion that I knew not possessed me--the fever of war, a sad
thing, but a glad thing yet when it doth sweep into a youth's heart in
his first assay of arms. This new thing in me, raging like a fire, bore
me to bar the way of two that rushed to clear the path that ran down
beside me to the open lawn within, and so to shun the onset of our men
who were driving back with good success already those that were in act
to spring over the wall. 'Gainst one I struck, and he, despising my
stroke, or but half seeing 'neath the stairway, parried but carelessly,
and my blade slipped through, and wounded his sword-arm at the wrist,
that it fell slack, and the blade dropped clattering on the
paving-stones. Then