Under King Henry's Banners: A story of the days of Agincourt

by Percy F. Westerman

When at length the eastern sky began to assume a vivid crimson hue the lads staggered to their feet, eager to take stock of their surroundings.

Almost at their feet the floor of the passage terminated abruptly, descending into what was undoubtedly a part of the fosse or dry moat. Its depth was not very considerable, being barely twenty feet from the coping to the bottom of the ditch, which was about ten paces broad, with its furthermost side sloping steeply to the normal level of the surrounding land.

But, to the lads' consternation, the whole of the floor of the moat was studded with sharp stakes, each about the height of a man. In serrated rows they stood, so close that it was impossible to essay a leap without being impaled upon one, at least, of the spikes.

Grasping Oswald's hand, Geoffrey leant cautiously forward and examined the wall on either side of the postern. As far as he could see the masonry was smooth and even, so that there was no means of finding a foothold. Above the archway the wall towered to a height of thirty feet, while, from the presence of two loopholes, through which the ends of rusty chains still hung, it was evident that at one time a light drawbridge crossed the moat at this point, forming a means of communication between the postern and the open ground. On a level with the loopholes a row of cross-shaped oyelets, or apertures, for discharging crossbows commanded the approach on this side of the Castle of Malevereux.

"We are fairly trapped," exclaimed Oswald as they completed their examination of the moat. "This passage is like to be our death-chamber."

"What lieth at the other end?" asked Geoffrey. "Methought there was a wide space betwixt the grille and the wall, though yesternight I caught but a brief glimpse in the torchlight."

"We can but see," replied Oswald. "But we must needs wait awhile, till the light is strong enough to overcome the gloom of the archway."

Upon investigation the archway was found to afford no possible means of escape, though, owing to a slight deviation in its general direction, an intervening curve in the masonry hid the outer portion from the observation of a person standing without the gate.

As for the latter, it was composed of wrought iron with massive hinges. The upper part from a distance of three feet from the ground was open, but secured by the bars of the grille, the space betwixt each bar being sufficient to enable a man to insert his head without allowing his body to follow.

Without the door all was quiet. The stone passage, wrapped in sombre gloom, was deserted. Deeming his prisoners perfectly secure, the Lord of Malevereux had purposely neglected to post a sentry at this gate.