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One
turret
was
now
in
bright
flames
,
which
flashed
out
furiously
from
window
and
shot-hole
.
But
in
other
parts
,
the
great
thickness
of
the
walls
and
the
vaulted
roofs
of
the
apartments
,
resisted
the
progress
of
the
flames
,
and
there
the
rage
of
man
still
triumphed
,
as
the
scarce
more
dreadful
element
held
mastery
elsewhere
;
for
the
besiegers
pursued
the
defenders
of
the
castle
from
chamber
to
chamber
,
and
satiated
in
their
blood
the
vengeance
which
had
long
animated
them
against
the
soldiers
of
the
tyrant
Front-de-Boeuf
.
Most
of
the
garrison
resisted
to
the
uttermost
--
few
of
them
asked
quarter
--
none
received
it
.
The
air
was
filled
with
groans
and
clashing
of
arms
--
the
floors
were
slippery
with
the
blood
of
despairing
and
expiring
wretches
.
Through
this
scene
of
confusion
,
Cedric
rushed
in
quest
of
Rowena
,
while
the
faithful
Gurth
,
following
him
closely
through
the
"
melee
"
,
neglected
his
own
safety
while
he
strove
to
avert
the
blows
that
were
aimed
at
his
master
.
The
noble
Saxon
was
so
fortunate
as
to
reach
his
ward
's
apartment
just
as
she
had
abandoned
all
hope
of
safety
,
and
,
with
a
crucifix
clasped
in
agony
to
her
bosom
,
sat
in
expectation
of
instant
death
.
He
committed
her
to
the
charge
of
Gurth
,
to
be
conducted
in
safety
to
the
barbican
,
the
road
to
which
was
now
cleared
of
the
enemy
,
and
not
yet
interrupted
by
the
flames
.
This
accomplished
,
the
loyal
Cedric
hastened
in
quest
of
his
friend
Athelstane
,
determined
,
at
every
risk
to
himself
,
to
save
that
last
scion
of
Saxon
royalty
.
But
ere
Cedric
penetrated
as
far
as
the
old
hall
in
which
he
had
himself
been
a
prisoner
,
the
inventive
genius
of
Wamba
had
procured
liberation
for
himself
and
his
companion
in
adversity
.
When
the
noise
of
the
conflict
announced
that
it
was
at
the
hottest
,
the
Jester
began
to
shout
,
with
the
utmost
power
of
his
lungs
,
"
Saint
George
and
the
dragon
!
--
Bonny
Saint
George
for
merry
England
!
--
The
castle
is
won
!
"
And
these
sounds
he
rendered
yet
more
fearful
,
by
banging
against
each
other
two
or
three
pieces
of
rusty
armour
which
lay
scattered
around
the
hall
.
Отключить рекламу
A
guard
,
which
had
been
stationed
in
the
outer
,
or
anteroom
,
and
whose
spirits
were
already
in
a
state
of
alarm
,
took
fright
at
Wamba
's
clamour
,
and
,
leaving
the
door
open
behind
them
,
ran
to
tell
the
Templar
that
foemen
had
entered
the
old
hall
.
Meantime
the
prisoners
found
no
difficulty
in
making
their
escape
into
the
anteroom
,
and
from
thence
into
the
court
of
the
castle
,
which
was
now
the
last
scene
of
contest
.
Here
sat
the
fierce
Templar
,
mounted
on
horseback
,
surrounded
by
several
of
the
garrison
both
on
horse
and
foot
,
who
had
united
their
strength
to
that
of
this
renowned
leader
,
in
order
to
secure
the
last
chance
of
safety
and
retreat
which
remained
to
them
.
The
drawbridge
had
been
lowered
by
his
orders
,
but
the
passage
was
beset
;
for
the
archers
,
who
had
hitherto
only
annoyed
the
castle
on
that
side
by
their
missiles
,
no
sooner
saw
the
flames
breaking
out
,
and
the
bridge
lowered
,
than
they
thronged
to
the
entrance
,
as
well
to
prevent
the
escape
of
the
garrison
,
as
to
secure
their
own
share
of
booty
ere
the
castle
should
be
burnt
down
.
On
the
other
hand
,
a
party
of
the
besiegers
who
had
entered
by
the
postern
were
now
issuing
out
into
the
court-yard
,
and
attacking
with
fury
the
remnant
of
the
defenders
who
were
thus
assaulted
on
both
sides
at
once
.
Animated
,
however
,
by
despair
,
and
supported
by
the
example
of
their
indomitable
leader
,
the
remaining
soldiers
of
the
castle
fought
with
the
utmost
valour
;
and
,
being
well-armed
,
succeeded
more
than
once
in
driving
back
the
assailants
,
though
much
inferior
in
numbers
.
Rebecca
,
placed
on
horseback
before
one
of
the
Templar
's
Saracen
slaves
,
was
in
the
midst
of
the
little
party
;
and
Bois-Guilbert
,
notwithstanding
the
confusion
of
the
bloody
fray
,
showed
every
attention
to
her
safety
.
Repeatedly
he
was
by
her
side
,
and
,
neglecting
his
own
defence
,
held
before
her
the
fence
of
his
triangular
steel-plated
shield
;
and
anon
starting
from
his
position
by
her
,
he
cried
his
war-cry
,
dashed
forward
,
struck
to
earth
the
most
forward
of
the
assailants
,
and
was
on
the
same
instant
once
more
at
her
bridle
rein
.
Отключить рекламу
Athelstane
,
who
,
as
the
reader
knows
,
was
slothful
,
but
not
cowardly
,
beheld
the
female
form
whom
the
Templar
protected
thus
sedulously
,
and
doubted
not
that
it
was
Rowena
whom
the
knight
was
carrying
off
,
in
despite
of
all
resistance
which
could
be
offered
.
"
By
the
soul
of
Saint
Edward
,
"
he
said
,
"
I
will
rescue
her
from
yonder
over-proud
knight
,
and
he
shall
die
by
my
hand
!
"
"
Think
what
you
do
!
"
cried
Wamba
;
"
hasty
hand
catches
frog
for
fish
--
by
my
bauble
,
yonder
is
none
of
my
Lady
Rowena
--
see
but
her
long
dark
locks
!
--
Nay
,
an
ye
will
not
know
black
from
white
,
ye
may
be
leader
,
but
I
will
be
no
follower
--
no
bones
of
mine
shall
be
broken
unless
I
know
for
whom
.
--
And
you
without
armour
too
!
--
Bethink
you
,
silk
bonnet
never
kept
out
steel
blade
.
--
Nay
,
then
,
if
wilful
will
to
water
,
wilful
must
drench
.
--
Deus
vobiscum
,
most
doughty
Athelstane
!
"
--
he
concluded
,
loosening
the
hold
which
he
had
hitherto
kept
upon
the
Saxon
's
tunic
.