At last five or ten feet of the earthwork caved in, and then, while the cat was slowly retired, the Count advanced to carry this breach by assault. He had been waiting with a picked body of men behind the remainder of the southern wall, and by charging at a run, he was able to reach the spot before the garrison could close the opening. The ditch was neither deep nor wide, and as it was dry it offered little obstacle to the assaulting party. By means of their long-handled axes, hooked at the end, they crossed the ditch, and then climbed upon the top of the earthwork, finding themselves then close to the palisades. Every moment the assaulting party was re-enforced by new arrivals, and it was not long before they far outnumbered the defenders.
Palisades were pushed over or pulled up by main force, and the Count's men having broken through found themselves engaged in a fierce fight at close quarters, for the soldiers of the garrison made a brave stand against their foes.
Among the foremost to break through the palisade were the Count and Luke—the former wielding his great sword, the latter carrying a long poleax. Each fought according to his character—the Count advancing boldly, clearing the way before him with broad sweeps of his long sword, wielded with strength and quickness; Luke win-
