for the assault.

"Sir John Powis," the countess said, "I pray you to grant me one of your
esquires, who may attend me while I ride about, and may bear my messages
for me. He will not be idle, nor will he escape his share of the
dangers; for, believe me, I do not intend to hide myself while you and
your brave soldiers are fighting for me.

"Willingly, lady," Sir John answered. "Here is Walter Somers, the son of
a good knight, and himself brave and prudent beyond his years; he will,
I am sure, gladly devote himself to your service."

The French, encouraged by their successes, thought that it would be a
comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Hennebon, and as
soon as their camp was pitched they moved forward to the attack.

"Come with me, Master Somers," the countess said. "I will mount to one
of the watch-towers, where we may see all that passes."

Walter followed her, and marvelled to see the lightness and agility with
which the heroic countess, although clad in armour, mounted the rickety
ladders to the summit of the watch-tower. The French bowmen opened
a heavy fire upon the walls, which was answered by the shafts of the
little party of English bowmen. These did much execution, for the
English archers shot far harder and straighter than those of France,
and it was only the best armour which could keep out their cloth-yard
shafts. So small a body, however, could not check the advance of so
large a force, and the French swarmed up to the very foot of the walls.

"Well done, my men!" the countess exclaimed, clapping her hands, as a
shower of heavy rocks fell among the mass of the assailants, who were
striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you
are not looking, Master Somers. What is it that you see in yonder camp
to withdraw your attention from such a fight?"

"I am thinking, Countess, that the French have left their camp
altogether unguarded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit
and fall upon it, the camp, with all its stores, might be destroyed
before they could get back to save it."

"You are right, young sir," the countess exclaimed, "and it shall be
done forthwith."

So saying, she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse,
which stood at the foot of the tower; then riding through the town, she
collected a party of about three hundred men, bidding all she met mount
their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on
which the