“But if we could escape,” Cnut asked, “why not enter by this way?”

“The stone is of immense weight and strength,” Cuthbert replied, “and could not be loosed from below save with great labor and noise.  There are, moreover, several massive doors in the passage, all of which are secured by heavy bolts within.  It is therefore out of the question that we could enter the castle by that way.  But were we once in, we could easily carry off the lady through this passage.”

The large force which Sir Rudolph had collected was not intended merely for the defense of the castle, for the knight considered that with his own garrison he could hold it against a force tenfold that which his rival could collect.  But he was determined if possible to crush out the outlaws of the forest, for he felt that so long as this formidable body remained under an enterprising leader like Sir Cuthbert, he would never be safe for a moment, and would be a prisoner in his own castle.

Cuthbert had foreseen that the attack was likely to be made, and had strengthened his band to the utmost.  He felt, however, that against so large a force of regularly armed men, although he might oppose a stout resistance and kill many, yet that in the end he must be conquered.  Cnut, however, suggested to him a happy idea, which he eagerly grasped.

“It would be a 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.”