``Wellsaid，stoutyeoman，’’answeredtheBlackKnight；``andifIbethoughtworthytohaveachargeinthesematters，andcanfindamongthesebravemenasmanyasarewillingtofollowatrueEnglishknight，forsoImaysurelycallmyself，I
　　amready，withsuchskillasmyexperiencehastaughtme，toleadthemtotheattackofthesewalls。’’
　　Thepartsbeingthusdistributedtotheleaders，theycommencedthefirstassault，ofwhichthereaderhasalreadyheardtheissue。
　　Whenthebarbicanwascarried，theSableKnightsentnoticeofthehappyeventtoLocksley，requestinghimatthesametime，tokeepsuchastrictobservationonthecastleasmightpreventthedefendersfromcombiningtheirforceforasuddensally，andrecoveringtheoutworkwhichtheyhadlost。Thistheknightwaschieflydesirousofavoiding，consciousthatthemenwhomheled，beinghastyanduntrainedvolunteers，imperfectlyarmedandunaccustomedtodiscipline，must，uponanysuddenattack，fightatgreatdisadvantagewiththeveteransoldiersoftheNormanknights，whowerewellprovidedwitharmsbothdefensiveandoffensive；
　　andwho，tomatchthezealandhighspiritofthebesiegers，hadalltheconfidencewhicharisesfromperfectdisciplineandthehabitualuseofweapons。
　　Theknightemployedtheintervalincausingtobeconstructedasortoffloatingbridge，orlongraft，bymeansofwhichhehopedtocrossthemoatindespiteoftheresistanceoftheenemy。Thiswasaworkofsometime，whichtheleadersthelessregretted，asitgaveUlricaleisuretoexecuteherplanofdiversionintheirfavour，whateverthatmightbe。
　　Whentheraftwascompleted，theBlackKnightaddressedthebesiegers：——``Itavailsnotwaitingherelonger，myfriends；thesunisdescendingtothewest——andIhavethatuponmyhandswhichwillnotpermitmetotarrywithyouanotherday。
　　Besides，itwillbeamarvelifthehorsemencomenotuponusfromYork，unlesswespeedilyaccomplishourpurpose。Wherefore，oneofyegotoLocksley，andbidhimcommenceadischargeofarrowsontheoppositesideofthecastle，andmoveforwardasifabouttoassaultit；andyou，trueEnglishhearts，standbyme，andbereadytothrusttheraftendlongoverthemoatwhenevertheposternonoursideisthrownopen。Followmeboldlyacross，andaidmetoburstyonsallyportinthemainwallofthecastle。Asmanyofyouaslikenotthisservice，orarebutillarmedtomeetit，doyoumanthetopoftheoutwork，drawyourbow-stringstoyourears，andmindyouquellwithyourshotwhatevershallappeartomantherampart——
　　NobleCedric，wiltthoutakethedirectionofthosewhichremain?’’
　　``Notso，bythesoulofHereward！’’saidtheSaxon；``leadIcannot；butmayposteritycursemeinmygrave，ifIfollownotwiththeforemostwhereverthoushaltpointtheway——Thequarrelismine，andwellitbecomesmetobeinthevanofthebattle。’’
　　``Yet，bethinkthee，nobleSaxon，’’saidtheknight，``thouhastneitherhauberk，norcorslet，noraughtbutthatlighthelmet，target，andsword。’’
　　``Thebetter！’’answeredCedric；``Ishallbethelightertoclimbthesewalls。And，——forgivetheboast，SirKnight，——thoushaltthisdayseethenakedbreastofaSaxonasboldlypresentedtothebattleaseveryebeheldthesteelcorsletofaNorman。’’
　　``InthenameofGod，then，’’saidtheknight，``flingopenthedoor，andlaunchthefloatingbridge。’’
　　Theportal，whichledfromtheinner-wallofthebarbicantothemoat，andwhichcorrespondedwithasallyportinthemainwallofthecastle，wasnowsuddenlyopened；thetemporarybridgewasthenthrustforward，andsoonflashedinthewaters，extendingitslengthbetweenthecastleandoutwork，andformingaslipperyandprecariouspassagefortwomenabreasttocrossthemoat。Wellawareoftheimportanceoftakingthefoebysurprise，theBlackKnight，closelyfollowedbyCedric，threwhimselfuponthebridge，andreachedtheoppositeside。Herehebegantothunderwithhisaxeuponthegateofthecastle，protectedinpartfromtheshotandstonescastbythedefendersbytheruinsoftheformerdrawbridge，whichtheTemplarhaddemolishedinhisretreatfromthebarbican，leavingthecounterpoisestillattachedtotheupperpartoftheportal。Thefollowersoftheknighthadnosuchshelter；twowereinstantlyshotwithcross-bowbolts，andtwomorefellintothemoat；theothersretreatedbackintothebarbican。
　　ThesituationofCedricandoftheBlackKnightwasnowtrulydangerous，andwouldhavebeenstillmoreso，butfortheconstancyofthearchersinthebarbican，whoceasednottoshowertheirarrowsuponthebattlements，distractingtheattentionofthosebywhomtheyweremanned，andthusaffordingarespitetotheirtwochiefsfromthestormofmissileswhichmustotherwisehaveoverwhelmedthem。Buttheirsituationwaseminentlyperilous，andwasbecomingmoresowitheverymoment。
　　``Shameonyeall！’’criedDeBracytothesoldiersaroundhim；``doyecallyourselvescross-bowmen，andletthesetwodogskeeptheirstationunderthewallsofthecastle?——Heaveoverthecopingstonesfromthebattlements，anbettermaynotbe——Getpick-axeandlevers，anddownwiththathugepinnacle！’’pointingtoaheavypieceofstonecarved-workthatprojectedfromtheparapet。
　　AtthismomentthebesiegerscaughtsightoftheredflagupontheangleofthetowerwhichUlricahaddescribedtoCedric。ThestoutyeomanLocksleywasthefirstwhowasawareofit，ashewashastingtotheoutwork，impatienttoseetheprogressoftheassault。
　　``SaintGeorge！’’hecried，``MerrySaintGeorgeforEngland！——Tothecharge，boldyeomen！——whyleaveyethegoodknightandnobleCedrictostormthepassalone?——makein，madpriest，showthoucanstfightforthyrosary，——makein，braveyeomen！——
　　thecastleisours，wehavefriendswithin——Seeyonderflag，itistheappointedsignal——Torquilstoneisours！——Thinkofhonour，thinkofspoil——Oneeffort，andtheplaceisours！’’
　　Withthathebenthisgoodbow，andsentashaftrightthroughthebreastofoneofthemen-at-arms，who，underDeBracy’sdirection，waslooseningafragmentfromoneofthebattlementstoprecipitateontheheadsofCedricandtheBlackKnight。A
　　secondsoldiercaughtfromthehandsofthedyingmantheironcrow，withwhichheheavedatandhadloosenedthestonepinnacle，when，receivinganarrowthroughhishead-piece，hedroppedfromthebattlementsintothemoatadeadman。Themen-at-armsweredaunted，fornoarmourseemedproofagainsttheshotofthistremendousarcher。
　　``Doyougiveground，baseknaves！’’saidDeBracy；``_MountjoyeSaintDennis！_——Givemethelever！’’
　　And，snatchingitup，heagainassailedtheloosenedpinnacle，whichwasofweightenough，ifthrowndown，notonlytohavedestroyedtheremnantofthedrawbridge，whichshelteredthetwoforemostassailants，butalsotohavesunktherudefloatofplanksoverwhichtheyhadcrossed。Allsawthedanger，andtheboldest，eventhestoutFriarhimself，avoidedsettingfootontheraft。
　　ThricedidLocksleybendhisshaftagainstDeBracy，andthricedidhisarrowboundbackfromtheknight’sarmourofproof。
　　``CurseonthySpanishsteel-coat！’’saidLocksley，``hadEnglishsmithforgedit，thesearrowshadgonethrough，anasifithadbeensilkorsendal。’’
　　Hethenbegantocallout，``Comrades！
　　friends！nobleCedric！bearback，andlettheruinfall。’’
　　Hiswarningvoicewasunheard，forthedinwhichtheknighthimselfoccasionedbyhisstrokesupontheposternwouldhavedrownedtwentywar-trumpets。
　　ThefaithfulGurthindeedsprungforwardontheplankedbridge，towarnCedricofhisimpendingfate，ortoshareitwithhim。Buthiswarningwouldhavecometoolate；themassivepinnaclealreadytottered，andDeBracy，whostillheavedathistask，wouldhaveaccomplishedit，hadnotthevoiceoftheTemplarsoundedcloseinhisears：——
　　``Allislost，DeBracy，thecastleburns。’’
　　``Thouartmadtosayso！’’repliedtheknight。
　　``Itisallinalightflameonthewesternside。
　　Ihavestriveninvaintoextinguishit。’’
　　Withthesterncoolnesswhichformedthebasisofhischaracter，BriandeBois-Guilbertcommunicatedthishideousintelligence，whichwasnotsocalmlyreceivedbyhisastonishedcomrade。
　　``SaintsofParadise！’’saidDeBracy；``whatistobedone?IvowtoSaintNicholasofLimogesacandlestickofpuregold——’’
　　``Sparethyvow，’’saidtheTemplar，``andmarkme。Leadthymendown，asiftoasally；throwthepostern-gateopen——Therearebuttwomenwhooccupythefloat，flingthemintothemoat，andpushacrossforthebarbican。Iwillchargefromthemaingate，andattackthebarbicanontheoutside；andifwecanregainthatpost，beassuredweshalldefendourselvesuntilwearerelieved，oratleasttilltheygrantusfairquarter。’’
　　``Itiswellthoughtupon，’’saidDeBracy；``I
　　willplaymypart——Templar，thouwiltnotfailme?’’
　　``Handandglove，Iwillnot！’’saidBois-Guilbert。
　　``Buthastethee，inthenameofGod！’’
　　DeBracyhastilydrewhismentogether，andrusheddowntothepostern-gate，whichhecausedinstantlytobethrownopen。ButscarcewasthisdoneeretheportentousstrengthoftheBlackKnightforcedhiswayinwardindespiteofDeBracyandhisfollowers。Twooftheforemostinstantlyfell，andtherestgavewaynotwithstandingalltheirleader’seffortstostopthem。
　　``Dogs！’’saidDeBracy，``willyelet_two_menwinouronlypassforsafety?’’
　　``Heisthedevil！’’saidaveteranman-at-arms，bearingbackfromtheblowsoftheirsableantagonist。
　　``Andifhebethedevil，’’repliedDeBracy，``wouldyouflyfromhimintothemouthofhell?——
　　thecastleburnsbehindus，villains！——letdespairgiveyoucourage，orletmeforward！Iwillcopewiththischampionmyself’’
　　AndwellandchivalrousdidDeBracythatdaymaintainthefamehehadacquiredinthecivilwarsofthatdreadfulperiod。Thevaultedpassagetowhichtheposterngaveentrance，andinwhichthesetworedoubtedchampionswerenowfightinghandtohand，rungwiththefuriousblowswhichtheydealteachother，DeBracywithhissword，theBlackKnightwithhisponderousaxe。AtlengththeNormanreceivedablow，which，thoughitsforcewaspartlyparriedbyhisshield，forotherwisenevermorewouldDeBracyhaveagainmovedlimb，descendedyetwithsuchviolenceonhiscrest，thathemeasuredhislengthonthepavedfloor。
　　``Yieldthee，DeBracy，’’saidtheBlackChampion，stoopingoverhim，andholdingagainstthebarsofhishelmetthefatalponiardwithwhichtheknightsdispatchedtheirenemies，andwhichwascalledthedaggerofmercy，——``yieldthee，MauricedeBracy，rescueornorescue，orthouartbutadeadman。’’
　　``Iwillnotyield，’’repliedDeBracyfaintly，``toanunknownconqueror。Tellmethyname，orworkthypleasureonme——itshallneverbesaidthatMauricedeBracywasprisonertoanamelesschurl。’’
　　TheBlackKnightwhisperedsomethingintotheearofthevanquished。
　　``Iyieldmetobetrueprisoner，rescueornorescue，’’answeredtheNorman，exchanginghistoneofsternanddeterminedobstinacyforoneofdeepthoughsullensubmission。
　　``Gotothebarbican，’’saidthevictor，inatoneofauthority，``andtherewaitmyfurtherorders。’’
　　``Yetfirst，letmesay，’’saidDeBracy，``whatitimportstheetoknow。WilfredofIvanhoeiswoundedandaprisoner，andwillperishintheburningcastlewithoutpresenthelp。’’