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St. George for England by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
page 88 of 311 (28%)
thundering cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants.
Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to
oppose them, gained the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the top,
pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city in its
place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the ruse which
had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall and strove to
regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by the flying tower
of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also they gained footing
on the wall. The young nobles of the court, furious at being outwitted,
fought desperately to regain their lost laurels. But the king rose from his
seat and held up his hand. The trumpeter 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
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