"'Tis possible," replied Oswald, as he broke the captured bread and divided it between his comrade and himself. "But why shouldst thou take the honour and the risk of this enterprise? Rather let me essay the leap."
Finding that Geoffrey remained obdurate, the young squire continued—
"'Tis untoward to stand here debating this matter, since every moment is precious. Let us draw lots."
So saying, Oswald pulled two threads of unequal length from his frayed doublet, and, holding them in his hand, allowed one end of each only to be visible.
"To me!" he exclaimed, as Geoffrey drew the shorter thread. "Certes. If I fail I trust my failure will be the means of thy safety."
Grasping the breastplate in front of him so that the hollow side would be uppermost, Oswald boldly leapt into the moat. The steel plate turned aside two of the spear-heads, and in the space thus cleared the squire alighted, though the fleshy part of his right leg was badly lacerated by one of the still standing spikes.
Regardless of the pain, the lad staggered to his feet, and, grasping the shafts of the spears nearest to him, wrenched them from their supports. This done, Geoffrey took a careful leap and alighted close to his companion's side, safe and unhurt.
In fear and anxiety the two lads began to force their way through the maze of up-pointed weapons, expecting every moment to hear a challenge from the towering walls behind them, or the sharp hiss of a shaft from a vigilant bowman; but, thanks to the blinding rain, and the storm being at its height, the sentinels had relaxed their customary watchfulness.
On gaining the edge of the furthermost side of the moat the lads broke into a run, in spite of Oswald's painful wound, for it was expedient that the belt of level ground should be traversed with the utmost despatch.
Without detection they reached the banks of the little stream that they had observed from the postern, now swollen into a foaming torrent. Here, taking advantage of a slight dip in the ground, they followed the course of the stream, since Geoffrey felt certain that 'twas the same that crossed the road 'twixt Malevereux and Taillemartel.