"Thou villain, thou hast slain the knight!" cried Richard. "He might have surrendered."
But Giles Monson had fallen beneath the sword of his victim, and would never speak more.
"Stay not here!" Richard commanded. "Follow me! The keep is not half taken."
It was but the truth, and yet the remaining fight was only to make all sure. One strong party of French soldiers was beaten because they rallied in the great hall and were helplessly penned in as soon as the massive doors were shut and braced on the outside.
"Rats in a trap!" said Ben o' Coventry, as he forced down a thick plank to hold a door. "We need not slay one of them."
"I would I knew how it fareth with the prince," said Richard. "Light every lamp and beacon. I will go to the portal."
Prince Edward and they who were with him were men certain to give a good account of themselves, but they had been none too many. The warders at the town-wall gate had been small hindrance. The moment the huge oaken wings swung back upon their hinges, up went the portcullis, out shot the bridge across the deep, black moat, and the blast of Sir Henry's horn was answered by the rapid thud of hoofs as the prince led on his men-at-arms.
"Straight for the middle square!" he shouted. "Onward to the keep!"
"It is ours if Richard Neville be still living," calmly returned the knight. "Hark! the shouts—the uproar!"