"You must needs have wings, fair sirs, to gain entrance here;" and with a scornful gesture he disappeared below the parapet, and the blast of a trumpet signified that the truce was ended. De Lacy closed his visor, and for a time surveyed the fortress with careful eye. Before him lay a moat full sixty feet across and two thirds full of water, with no means of passage save the drawbridge, that hung so high on its chains as to seem almost against the outer portcullis. From the farther edge the wall rose solid and grim, and, as he knew from Sir John, with no opening in all its circuit save the gate directly opposite. "It is evident the garrison is very small," De Bury observed, "else they would not have abandoned the barbican without a blow." "Undoubtedly; and if we can reach the gate or scale the wall the rest is easy." "I would we had a bombard or two that are lying idle in the armory at Pontefract." "They will not be needed," De Lacy answered. "We shall sleep in the castle to-night." Sir John smiled. "Have you found the wings the warder recommended?" "We shall not require them; the gate is easier entrance than over the walls--besides being the way naturally intended. This is not the first time I have forced such a castle and won it by sundown. . . Giles, we will try the flagons; let the ropes be made ready, and bid the archers stand to their bows." Sir John was regarding De Lacy with vexed surprise. "Flagons!" he broke out. "Do you think to win the castle by pouring wine on the waters of the moat?" Aymer laughed. "It is a trick I learned among the Italians, though they use hollow iron balls. There were none such at Pontefract, so I substituted flagons; they are filled with powder, the mouth plugged shut save for the fuse, and the whole is wrapped in a bag, also filled with powder." "How in the name of St. Luke do you expect to use them?" "Come," said De Lacy, and led the way to the edge of the moat. The squire was there uncoiling a long, stout rope with a broad iron ball at one end. Fastening the other end to a projection in the barbican, he whirled the weighted one around his head, then suddenly let it fly. Like a bird it soared over the moat, and crossing back of the right lift-chain swung far down near the water. With a wide grappling hook he caught it above the ball, and drawing it in tied the two ends together, forming a great loop around the chain where it was fastened to the bridge. Hitherto there had been no opposition from the castle; but now there was a change. As Dauvrey whirled another weighted rope behind the left draw-chain, an arrow whistled from the wall and rapped him hard upon the hauberk near the gorget, piercing the outer mail, but being stayed by the inner shirt of Italian steel. The next instant the shafts came thick and furious, marking De Bury and De Lacy and the squire at every joint and seam of their harness, but without effect.