Now they lowered it from the top of the precipice so that its end rested upon the ledge, and down it came several men, who swung upon its giddy length like spiders on a web.

Reaching this great shelf in safety and advancing to the edge of it, these men started a boulder, which, although as it chanced it hurt no one, fell in the midst of a group of the defenders and bounded away through them.
"Now we must be going," said Hokosa, looking up, "for no man can fight against rocks, and our spears cannot reach those birds.

Had the army been taught the use of the bow, as I counselled in the past days, we might still have held the archway; but they called it a woman's weapon, and would have none of it." As he spoke another stone fell, crushing the life out of a man who stood next to him.

Then they retreated to the first wall, which had been piled up during the night, where it was not possible to roll rocks upon them from the cliffs above.

This wall, and others reared at intervals behind it, they set to work to strengthen as much as they could, making the most of the time that was left to them before the enemy could clear the way and march on to attack.
Presently Hafela's men were through and sweeping down upon them with a roar, thinking to carry the wall at a single rush.