As one of the men bent to secure the knight's ankles, Sir Denis leapt backwards, sprang on to the parapet, and with a hoarse roar of defiance, dropped to his death upon the rocks fifty feet below.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE GOLDEN SPURS
That night the victorious troops spent in possession of the captured castle. Sir Oliver and Sir Thomas Carberry were brought within the fortress, and every possible care was bestowed upon the disabled leaders.
Sir Oliver's wound, though not dangerous, would prevent his taking the field for many weeks to come, while the Constable of Portchester's condition gave cause for great anxiety. It was, therefore, decided to remove the two knights and the two score and nine wounded soldiers to the Castle of Taillemartel, that had long since been occupied by the English invaders.
Accordingly this was done, and the helpless men were sent thither in wains under a suitable guard; the Castle of Malevereux was thoroughly plundered, and afterwards given to the flames; and the Irish kernes, each man with a goodly bundle of loot thrown across his wiry steed, rode off to find fresh openings for their activity.
Mustering his scanty force, Geoffrey gave the word to march, and with eight wagons, piled high with booty, the column set off towards the King's camp before Rouen, leaving a tall pillar of smoke in their rear as a token that their mission was accomplished, and that the accursed pile of Malevereux would no more be a terror to the countryside.
Without interruption the two companies arrived at Pont de l'Arche, where Geoffrey handed over the spoil to the custody of the keeper of warlike stores. This done, the march was resumed towards their quarters on the left bank of the Seine.
At a bend in the road Geoffrey perceived a large body of horsemen riding towards him. Knowing not whether they were friend or foe, since straggling parties of Frenchmen frequently assailed the English outposts, the squire ordered his men-at-arms to dismount and the archers to make ready.
"Canst discern their banners?" he asked of Oswald, who was riding at his left.