standing
below him sounded the arrest of arms, which was echoed by two others who
accompanied Earl Talbot, who had taken his place on horseback close to
the walls. At the sound swords dropt and the din abruptly ceased, but
the combatants stood glaring at each other, their blood too heated to
relinquish the fray readily.

Already much damage had been done. In spite of armour and mail many
serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had
already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants
had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into
the moat, one or two were hurt to death; but as few tourneys took place
without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small
amount of damage for so stoutly fought a melee, and the knowledge
that many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the
enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at
the triumph which the city had obtained. In the galleries occupied by
the ladies and nobles of the court there was a comparative silence.
But brave deeds were appreciated in those days, and although the ladies
would far rather have seen the victory incline the other way, yet they
waved their handkerchiefs and clapped their hands in token of their
admiration at the success of an assault which, at the commencement,
appeared well-nigh hopeless.

Lord Talbot rode up to the front of the royal pavilion.

"I was about to stop the fight, sire, when you gave the signal. Their
blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued.
But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag
pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall,
and the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further
resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as
fairly and honourably captured."

A renewed shout greeted the judge's decision. The king now ordered the
rival hosts to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when
this was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front
of the king's pavilion. Geoffrey Ward, who had, after fastening on
Walter's armour in the tent, before the sports began, taken his place
among the guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stept forward and
removed Walter's helmet at the foot of the steps.

"Young sir," the king said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly
today, and have s