The Lady Margaret's cheek was now deeply flushed, and the haughty spirit of her race flashed within her eyes and curled her lip in scorn.
"They are not a hundred," she said to the palmer, who stood at her side.
In reply, the palmer pointed to a body of men-at-arms, then emerging from a clump of trees in which they had been hitherto concealed.

Her color fell at the sight of this new force--yet only for a moment: the next instant her cheek resumed its glow.

This column, about a hundred strong, approached slowly and cautiously, as if expecting a sally, until they too had reached the moat.
"We call upon you to open your gates!" exclaimed a knight, who rode a little in advance.
"To whom ?" replied the Lady Margaret, in a loud voice.
"To your rightful king and master, Henry of Austria!" "We do not own a monarch," she returned, "who has forfeited the crown, and our gates shall be closed against all who come in his name." "You refuse to surrender ?" "Yes!" "Prepare then, for we will force a passage!" "We are ready, and invite you to begin!" The animation which had hitherto supported the maiden gave way, and, all trembling, she descended the rough steps and returned to the castle.
The attack was at once begun.

The assailants were not supplied with cross-bows or instruments for casting stones, and the palmer with the soldiers, who readily submitted to his command, could safely watch their operations from the battlements.

Some with their battle-axes dashed into the moat and swam across to cut the chain which raised the bridge; but hardly had they reached the shore before they were struck down with stones hurled from the walls.