You, dressed as a serf, shall drive the oxen, and when you reach the castle shall say, in answer to the hail of the sentry, that you are bringing in the tribute of wood of your master the franklin of Hopeburn.

They will then lower the drawbridge and open the gates; and when you have crossed the bridge and are under the portcullis, spring out suddenly, cut loose the oxen so that they will not draw the cart further in, cut the chains of the drawbridge so that it cannot be drawn off, and hold the gate for a minute or two until we arrive." "The plan is capital," Cnut exclaimed.

"We will do the proud Norman yet.
How he will storm when he finds us masters of his castle.

What then will you do, Sir Cuthbert ?" "We can hold the castle for weeks," Cuthbert said, "and every day is in our favour.

If we find ourselves forced to yield to superior numbers, we can at last retire through the passage I have spoken of, and must then scatter and each shift for himself until these bad days be past.".