The knight was delighted with the project, which seemed perfectly feasible, and it was agreed that the attempt should be made.

“It will need,” Sir Adelbert said, “an archer with a strong arm indeed to shoot an arrow with a cord attached to it, however light, over the corner of the castle.”

“Methinks,” Cuthbert said, “that I can do that, for as a lad I was used to the strong bows of my country.  The first thing, however, will be to obtain such a bow; but doubtless one can be purchased in one of the towns, which, if not so strong as those to which I was accustomed, will at any rate suffice for us.”

The party bivouacked in the woods for the night, for the horses had already done a very long journey, and needed rest before starting back for the Black Forest.  At daybreak, however, they started, and at nightfall rejoined their band.  These were delighted when they heard the scheme that had been set on foot, and all avowed their eagerness to join in the attempt to restore their lord to his rights.

Two days later they set out, having already procured from the nearest town a strong bow, some arrows, a very light rope, and a stronger one from a portion of which they manufactured a rope ladder capable of reaching from the top of the wall to the rock below.  The journey this time occupied two days, as the men on foot were unable to march at the pace at which the mounted party had traversed the ground.  The evening of the second day, however, saw them in sight of the castle.  By Cuthbert’s advice, Sir Adelbert determined to give them twenty-four hours of rest, in order that they might have their full strength for undertaking the task before them.  During the day Cuthbert, guided by the knight, made his way through the woods to the foot of the rocks on which the castle stood.  They were extremely steep, but could be mounted by active men if unopposed from above.  Cuthbert measured the height with his eye from the top of the castle wall to the place which he selected as most fitting from which to shoot the arrow, and announced to the knight that he thought there would be no difficulty in discharging an arrow over the angle.

At nightfall the whole party made their way silently through the woods.  Three men were sent round to the side of the castle opposite that from which Cuthbert was to shoot.  The length of light string was carefully coiled on the ground, so as to unwind with the greatest facility, and so offer as little resistance to the flight of the arrow as might be.  Then, all being in readiness, Cuthbert attached the end to an arrow, and drawing the bow to its full compass, let fly the arrow.  All held their breath; but no sound followed the discharge.  They were sure, therefore, that the arrow had not struck the wall, but that it must have passed clear over it.  Half an hour elapsed before they felt that the cord was pulled, and knew that the men upon the other side had succeeded in finding the arrow and string attached.