gates. They opened and closed them quickly. Each held a stave that
seemed not unlike a young tree, of which a number were inside the
gates.

"Let them place the bridge first," said Sir Launcelot.

Upon them a hail of arrows fell but none were hurt. Gouvernail and
Walker were protected for the time in both coats and helmets of steel
which Sir Tristram had made them wear.

Now the men of King Mark had thrown the bridge over the embankment.
But as the first of them rushed upon it the thick staves of the four
men did their work well. Mighty work it was but it was question
whether there were four men in all of England who had greater strength
than these. And so as the men came rushing over, the bridge seemed
moving with them.

A great outcry came from them. The new made bridge, moving slowly at
first, now cleared its support, and fell into the depths below
carrying twenty men with it. Some managed to get back to safety, some,
almost as unfortunate as those who had fallen with the bridge, made
their way to the castleside. These Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot and
the two yeomen easily overcame.

From the walls a hail of arrows, stones and javelins were sent on the
attackers. The four outside the walls, their work accomplished,
returned within. But King Mark and his two lieutenants, of whom one
had been on the bridge, were now not the less determined to carry the
walls.