So easily had they reached it that Felix almost thought the city already won.

Now he saw blocks of stone, darts, and beams of wood cast at them from the parapet, which was not more than twelve feet above the ground.
Quite undismayed, the knights set up their ladders, of which they had but four, one each.

The men-at-arms held these by main force against the wall, the besiegers trying to throw them away, and chopping at the rungs with their axes.

But the ladders were well shod with iron to resist such blows, and in a moment Felix saw, with intense delight and admiration, the four knights slowly mount to the parapet and cut at the defenders with their swords.

The gleam of steel was distinctly visible as the blades rose and fell.