Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/259

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

CHAPTER XII

The commanders of the castle, Edgar, Hugh, and their aid and counselor the Friar, had believed that the departure of the Lady Amabel was known only to themselves; but in this they were mistaken. There is no eye so keen as that of a malicious enemy, and in the garrison was one man whom Amabel had offended. It was not that she had willingly done him wrong, but she had caused him to be detected in an act of carelessness, and thus earned for him a severe reprimand and a punishment. At the time Amabel had detected the attempt to scale the precipice on the river-side of the castle, it will be remembered that the sentry who should have been on the watch against such a surprise had deserted his post, and gone to the roof of the keep in order to watch the repulse of the siege-tower. Though Edgar wished to be lenient and kindly toward every member of the garrison, this man's fault could not be entirely overlooked. Consequently, after the repulse of the attack, owing to Amabel's alertness,

231