Whereupon the people of Orleans constructed within the city eleven mills worked by horses,[514] in order that there might be no lack of flour.

There were a few skirmishes at the bridge.

Then on Thursday, the 21st of October, the English attempted to storm the outworks of Les Tourelles.

The little band of adventurers in the service of the town and the city troops made a gallant defence.

The women helped; throughout the four hours that the assault lasted long lines of gossips might be seen hurrying to the bridge, bearing their pots and pans filled with burning coals and boiling oil and fat, frantic with joy at the idea of scalding the _Godons_.[515] The attack was repulsed; but two days later the French perceived that the outworks were undermined; the English had dug subterranean passages, to the props of which they had afterwards set fire.