This was thrown over the beams until it filled all the crevices between them and formed a covering a foot thick, so that neither boiling oil nor water poured from above could penetrate to injure those working beneath its shelter.

When all was ready a strong body armed with picks and crowbars entered the penthouse and began to labour to cut away the wall of the keep itself.
"Their commander knows his business," Walter said, "and the device is an excellent one.

We can do nothing, and it only depends upon the strength of the wall how long we can hold out.

The masonry is by no means good, and before nightfall, unless aid comes, there will be nought for us but death or surrender.".