“It would be rare sport,” Cnut said, “when this armed force comes out to attack us, if we could turn the tables by slipping in, and taking their castle.”

“The very thing,” Cuthbert exclaimed.  “It is likely that he will use the greater portion of his forces, and that he will not keep above fifty or sixty men, at the outside, in the castle.  When they sally out we will at first oppose a stout resistance to them in the wood, gradually falling back.  Then, at a given signal, all save twenty men shall retire hastily, and sweeping round, make for the castle.  Their absence will not be noticed, for in this thick wood it is difficult to tell whether twenty men or two hundred are opposing you among the bushes; and the twenty who remain must shoot thick and fast to make believe that their numbers are great, retiring sometimes, and leading the enemy on into the heart of the wood.”

“But supposing, Sir Cuthbert, that they should have closed the gates and lifted the drawbridge?  We could not gain entrance by storming, even if only twenty men held the walls, until long after the main body would have returned.”

Cuthbert thought for some time, and then said, “Cnut, you shall undertake this enterprise.  You shall fill a cart high with faggots, and in it shall conceal a dozen of your best men.  You, dressed as a serf, shall drive the oxen, and when you reach the castle shall say, in answer to the hail of the sentry, that you are bringing in the tribute of wood of your master the franklin of Hopeburn.  They will then lower the drawbridge and open the gates; and when you have crossed the bridge and are under the portcullis, spring out suddenly, cut loose the oxen so that they will not draw the cart further in, cut the chains of the drawbridge so that it cannot be drawn off, and hold the gate for a minute or two until we arrive.”

“The plan is capital,” Cnut exclaimed.  “We will do the proud Norman yet.  How he will storm when he finds us masters of his castle.  What then will you do, Sir Cuthbert?”

“We can hold the castle for weeks,” Cuthbert said, “and every day is in our favour.  If we find ourselves forced to yield to superior numbers, we can at last retire through the passage I have spoken of, and must then scatter and each shift for himself until these bad days be past.”

CHAPTER XXIV

The siege of Evesham castle.

Upon the day before starting out to head the expedition against the outlaws, Sir Rudolph sent word to the Lady Margaret that she must prepare to become his wife at the end of the week.  He had provided two tiring maids for her by ordering two of the franklins to send in their daughters for that purpose, and these mingled their tears with Margaret’s at the situation in which they were placed.  She replied firmly to the messenger of the knight that no power on earth could oblige her to marry him.  He might drive her to the altar; but though he killed her there, her lips should refuse to say the words which would unite them.