Even now the combatants on the outer wall were in ignorance of what had happened in the keep; so great was the din that the struggle which had there taken place had passed unnoticed; and it was not until the fugitives, rushing out into the courtyard, shouted that the keep had been captured, that the besieged became aware of the imminence of the danger.

[Illustration:  Cuthbert fastened A small white flag to his quarter-staff and waived it above the battlements.]

Hitherto the battle had been going well for the defenders of the castle.  The Baron of Wortham was indeed surprised at the feebleness of the assault.  The arrows which had fallen in clouds upon the first day’s attack upon the castle among his soldiers were now comparatively few and ineffective.  The besiegers scarcely appeared to push forward their bridges with any vigor, and it seemed to him that a coldness had fallen upon them, and that some disagreement must have arisen between the foresters and the earl, completely crippling the energy of the attack.

When he heard the words shouted from the courtyard below he could not believe his ears.  That the keep behind should have been carried by the enemy appeared to him impossible.  With a roar he called upon the bravest of his men to follow, and rushing across the courtyard, rapidly ascended the staircase.  The movement was observed from the keep, and Cnut and a few of his men stationed themselves with their battle-axes at the top of various stairs leading below.

The signal shown by Cuthbert had not passed unobserved.  The earl, who had given instructions to his followers to make a mere feint of attacking, now blew the signal for the real onslaught.  The bridges were rapidly run across the moat, ladders were planted, and the garrison being paralyzed and confused by the attack in their rear, as well as hindered by the arrows which now flew down upon them from the keep above, offered but a feeble resistance, and the assailants, led by Sir Walter himself, poured over the walls.

Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.  The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.  With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.

It was, however, all too late; his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.  They made their last stand in corners and passages.  They knew there was but little hope of mercy from the Saxon foresters, and against these they fought to the last.  To the Norman retainers, however, of the earl they offered a less determined resistance, throwing down their arms and surrendering at discretion.