y set out, having already procured from the nearest
town a strong bow, some arrows, a very light rope, and a stronger one
from a portion of which they manufactured a rope ladder capable of
reaching from the top of the wall to the rock below. The journey this
time occupied two days, as the men on foot were unable to march at the
pace at which the mounted party had traversed the ground. The evening
of the second day, however, saw them in sight of the castle. By
Cuthbert's advice, Sir Adelbert determined to give them twenty-four
hours of rest, in order that they might have their full strength for
undertaking the task before them. During the day, Cuthbert, guided by
the knight, made his way through the woods to the foot of the rocks on
which the castle stood. They were extremely steep, but could be mounted
by active men if unopposed from above. Cuthbert measured the height
with his eye from the top of the castle wall to the place which he
selected as most fitting from which to shoot the arrow, and announced
to the knight that he thought there would be no difficulty in
discharging an arrow over the angle.

At nightfall the whole party made their way silently through the woods.
Three men were sent round to the side of the castle opposite that from
which Cuthbert was to shoot. The length of light string was carefully
coiled on the ground, so as to unwind with the greatest facility, and so
offer as little resistance to the flight of the arrow as might be. Then,
all being in readiness, Cuthbert attached the end to an arrow, and
drawing the bow to its full compass, let fly the arrow. All held their
breath; but no sound followed the discharge. They were sure, therefore,
that the arrow had not struck the wall, but that it must have passed
clear over it. Half-an-hour elapsed before they felt that the cord was
pulled, and knew that the men upon the other side had succeeded in
finding the arrow and string attached. The stronger cord was now fastened
to that which the arrow had carried, and this gradually disappeared in
the darkness. A party now stole up the rock, and posted themselves at the
foot of the castle wall. They took with them the coil of rope-ladder and
the end of the rope. At length the rope tightened, and to the end they
attached the ladder. This again ascended until the end only remained upon
the ground, and they knew that it must have reached the top of the wall.
They now held fast, and knew that those on the other side,