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Chapter 31

           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;thesunisdescendingtothewestandIhavethatuponmyhandswhichwillnotpermitmetotarrywithyouanotherday.Besides,itwillbeamarvelifthehorsemencomenotuponusfromYork,unlesswespeedilyaccomplishourpurpose.

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