“It is well,” said the warder, “for he is in arrear now, and should have sent in the firewood two months since.  Take it to the wood-house at the other end of the court.”

The heavy-waggon crossed the drawbridge, but as it was entering the gate it came suddenly to a stop.  With a blow of his ox goad Cnut levelled the warder to the ground, and cutting the cords of the bullocks, drove them into the yard ahead.  As he did so the pile of faggots fell asunder, and twelve men armed with bow and pike leaped out.  The men-at-arms standing near, lounging in the courtyard, gave a shout of alarm, and the garrison, surprised at this sudden cry, ran to their arms.  At first they were completely panic-stricken.  But seeing after a time how small was the number of their assailants, they took heart and advanced against them.  The passage was narrow, and the twelve men formed a wall across it.  Six of them with their pikes advanced, the other six with bent bows standing behind them and delivering their arrows between their heads.  The garrison fought stoutly, and although losing many, were pressing the little band backwards.  In vain the assistant-warder tried to lower the portcullis, or to close the gates.  The former fell on to the top of the waggon, and was there retained.  The gates also were barred by the obstacle.  The chains of the drawbridge had at once been cut.  Cnut encouraged his followers by his shouts, and armed with a heavy axe, did good service upon the assailants.  But four of his party had fallen, and the rest were giving way, when a shout was heard, and over the drawbridge poured Cuthbert and 150 of the outlaws of the forest.  Struck with terror at this attack, the garrison drew back, and the foresters poured into the yard.  For a few minutes there was a fierce fight; but the defenders of the castle, disheartened and taken by surprise, were either cut down or, throwing down their arms, cried for quarter.

Ten minutes after the waggon had crossed the drawbridge, the castle was safely in possession of Sir Cuthbert.  The bridge was raised, the waggon removed, the portcullis lowered, and to the external eye all remained as before.

Cuthbert at once made his way to the chamber where the Lady Margaret was confined, and her joy at her deliverance was great indeed.  So unlimited was her faith in Sir Cuthbert that she had never lost confidence; and although it did not seem possible that in the face of such disparity of numbers he could rescue her from the power of Sir Rudolph, yet she had not given up hope.  The joy of the farmers’ daughters who had been carried off to act as her attendants was little inferior to her own; for once in the power of this reckless baron, the girls had small hopes of ever being allowed to return again to their parents.

The flag of Sir Rudolph was thrown down from the keep, and that of the late earl hoisted in its stead; for Cuthbert himself, although he had assumed the cognizance which King Richard had granted him, had not yet any flag or pennon emblazoned with it.