Free The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli

his men, it would be safe,” declared Robin. “He is the strongest knight in the King’s bodyguard, and Elfred the Dane is his finest bowman. Elfred can shoot out the eyes of an owl at two hundred paces.” While he boasted Robin’s eyes shone. “But,” he ended sadly, “neither Elfred nor my father is here.”
    When supper was served in the Great Hall that evening there were few gathered to eat it, because every man was on guard, and only the womenfolk and the children kept Sir Peter company. The two pages, Denis and Lionel, attended them, and Robin, as usual, sat between Lady Constance and the two little boys.
    D’Ath and the other hounds seemed ill at ease. They paced up and down the hall, settled themselves in the rushes on the floor, only to rise and begin walking about again.
    “Down, D’Ath!” commanded Robin.
    “Quiet, Roy! Be still, Nance!” Denis ordered.
    They dropped to the floor for a moment, but were soon moving about again. Not even the bones kept them quiet for more than a short time.
    Lady Constance talked pleasantly with her ladies, butSir Peter seemed to be always listening. While they were still at table there was a sudden commotion. Shouts and cries from the inner ward came up through the windows and a sound of running feet pounding along the passage. Sir Peter started from his chair.
    Adam the Yeoman came bursting into the Hall, so hurried with ill news that he scarcely stopped to bob his head before speaking.
    “Your Lordship,” he began, out of breath, “we are attacked. The Welsh are hammering at the town gate. They have slain the watch by creeping close to the wall in the fog. They waited for him to turn, then put an arrow in his back.”
    “ ’Tis come, then,” said Sir Peter, reaching for the great sword which hung on the wall. “What strength are they? Is it known?”
    “It is hard to say,” said Adam. “They make a great noise about the walls, but nought can be seen for the fog. They have built fires under the south gate and flambeaux glow on all sides, so I fear we are surrounded.”
    “Gather every man not armed into the inner bailey, where they will be provided with longbows and arrows,” directed Sir Peter. To Lady Constance he said, “You, my dear wife, gather all the women and children into the keep. Have them bring clothing and pallets. There, at least, we have water in the well and ’tis a strong fortress.”
    “Yes, my husband,” Lady Constance said obediently, rising and gathering the children to her, while her ladies hastily collected embroidery frames, cloaks, and fripperies. The two pages, Denis and Lionel, carried the food from the table, then took the table boards from the trestles and transferred everything to the hall of the keep. The keep was close to the gatehouse between the inner and outer ward, so there was great excitement in the courtyard.

    “What can I do?” asked Robin.
    “Will you care for the little boys?” asked Lady Constance. “Little Alison shall come with us.”
    “Yes,” promised Robin. “Each can hold to my jerkin, so we shall keep together among the yeomen.”
    When the boys had been safely delivered to the keep, Robin remembered the little harp which lay unfinished in the workshop under the south wall. He must get it and keep it safe, too.
    Before morning the walls of the town had been breached, and before the day was out the town was taken. When the portcullis of the outer bailey of the castle was raised to admit the yeomen, the townspeople swarmed in. Alan-at-Gate directed the dropping of the heavy iron gate, and it came down so quickly that the last man to enter narrowly missed having his head chopped off.

T HE FOG held for days. The Welsh could not get beyond the outer wall of the castle, and the English inside could not tell what strength the enemy possessed. They might be encamped on the surrounding hills, or they might be only a small company. Several of the guards on the wall had been injured, and sometimes the