"We shall wear out these impudent knaves," King Mark had said after
the first great surprise. "Surely they cannot expect to hold out for
any great length of time."

"Aye," had agreed the ever present Pendore and Bertram. "And when
they are overcome," Sir Pendore had added darkly, "then shall we find
our day has come. For Launcelot shall surely suffer."

But the days went and the besiegers found a far greater and more
stubborn resistance than they had expected. Their losses were many,
due to the skillful archery of the few within. King Mark's castle was
of the kind that could only be assailed at two points which was in
itself great help to the besieged.

If, perchance, the men of King Mark had had greater stomach for the
attack, things might have gone ill with those within. But there were
many of the men of this king who favored but little the quarrel with
the besieged, counting it, in their own hearts, a scurvy action on the
part of Cornwall's king. And men fight poorly who have such thoughts.

Not that all was well with those within. On this, the eighth day of
their occupancy of the castle, the men were a haggard lot. Little
sleep had they. Some of them had been wounded, wonder it was that
these were so few and that none were dead. Sir Neil was lost to them
for the time, Wonkin, too had fought heroically but had fallen, sorely
wounded in an attack. Three others had been hurt, and for every man
who fell, there grew the greater burden on those who were left.
Constant watch, constant need for being present to repel the attackers
had left the mark of weariness on Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram and Sir