Tudor Jenks

“ Within the castle also all seemed peaceful, except that the men were in their armor, and kept their arms near at hand. Edgar and Lady Mortimer were at breakfast in the hall, and Hugh was making his morning visit to all parts of the defenses, noting the number of men placed at each point, and giving the officers his instructions for the day. The Friar who gave every moment of leisure to his scientific experiments, was at the window of his own room, gazing through a long tube into which he had fixed lenses that he had ground for himself. ”

“ At the head of this secret stair was a great stone door, a heavy slab that could be swung shut and fastened with steel bolts. This could not be quickly forced, and would by its resistance give the fleeing survivors time to be far beyond reach of pursuit.
Hugh did not mean to surrender the keep, however, and he provided in every way the means of prolonging the siege. Friar Bacon also exerted his utmost ingenuity to strengthen every point that seemed defensible. Among other devices one especially excited Edgar's admiration. ”

“ He repeated what the man had told him, but the Count did not attach much importance to the matter.
"Let the light-heeled wench go," said he. "Before she can be back we shall be in possession, and anyone will think twice before attacking us."
"Very true, my lord," Luke replied. "Besides, you may well say, 'Let her go,' since she is already gone, and beyond our stopping. But what is to prevent our sending a scroll to the young Lord Mortimer saying that we have taken this Lady Amabel, and that he can redeem her from our hands only by surrendering the castle? ”

“ He was waiting for Luke to carry out his plan of reporting to the garrison the capture of Lady Amabel; and it was necessary for Luke's plan to send out a party of men to some neighboring village to procure a country girl who would serve as a substitute for the captive. Until Luke's scheme should fail, the Count was willing to suspend the attack, especially as he felt sure of taking the castle within a few days more at most.
So, though the garrison was upon the alert all night, there was no alarm, and when morning dawned, no new enterprise on the part of the besiegers could be discovered. ”

“ But the Count has not meant these terms to apply to others than the combatants, or those actively aiding in the defense, such as that dastardly minstrel-friar, who shall be hanged the day the castle is taken— [the Friar raised his eyebrows with a smile of contempt] —and the artisans who have constructed enginery of war. Lady Mortimer shall be dismissed under escort wherever she may choose to go, and you, the son and heir of the baron, shall be held to ransom. ”

“ Let me find poor Amabel!"
She moved the glass to and fro, and at length saw one of the horsemen. In an instant more she brought the glass to bear upon the prisoner, and then an exclamation of surprise burst from her lips, "The false, lying, deceitful villains! It is a country wench they have tricked out to cheat us. Thank God, the child is yet safe!"
Edgar and Hugh, overjoyed, took their turn at the glass, and were amazed, as Lady Mortimer had been. Then Edgar, turning to the Friar, said: "The Black Art? ”

“ Then, with a final suspicious look at the contents of the room, the soldier who had never before been so near to the haunts of an astrologer, retired to report its wonderful mysteries to his comrades. ”

“ Thus they were in a three-sided fort, and entirely covered from the fire of the garrison, except from arrows or stones that might be shot upward, and these could do little execution, and few attempts to fire upon this attacking party were made.
Hugh now looked upon the keep as the only portion of the castle that was capable of standing long against a determined attack, and he had set all the men to work at strengthening its defenses in every part. ”