Anxiously the garrison within listened to the sounds of work, which became louder and louder as the walls crumbled before the stroke of pickaxe and crowbar.
"I shall hold out until the last moment," Walter said to Ralph, "in hopes of relief, but before they burst in I shall sound a parley.

To resist further would be a vain sacrifice of life." Presently a movement could be seen among the stones, and then almost simultaneously two apertures appeared.

The chamber into which the openings were made was a large one, being used as the common room of the garrison.

Here twenty archers, and the remaining men-at-arms--of whom nearly one-half had fallen in the defence of the breach--were gathered, and the instant the orifices appeared the archers began to send their arrows through them.

Then Walter ascended to another chamber, and ordered the trumpeter to sound a parley.
The sound was repeated by the assailants' trumpeter.
"Who commands the force ?" Walter asked.
"I, Guy, Count of Evreux." "I am Sir Walter Somers," the young knight continued.