It seemed, indeed, that this was the plan. While some of the assailants
kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a party
prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge from the
tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the defenders when
it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this was too short, and
when lowered did not reach within six feet of the wall.

"All the better," the king said, while the prince gave an angry
exclamation. "Accidents of this kind will happen, and give an opportunity
to a leader to show his resources. Doubtless he will carry planks up to
the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall."

This, indeed, was what the assailants tried to do, while a party threw
planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall
and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were thrown
down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly clustered on
the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the tower.

"I do not see the leader of the assailants," the prince said.

"He has a white plume, but it may have been shorn off," the king said.
"Look, the young Pembroke is making a sortie!"

From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and
running down to the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These,
however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued the
attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and, headed by Ralph the smith,
drove them gradually back.

"They fight well and steadily," the king said. "One would have thought that