In the evening of this day, the 20th of June, the
wooden tower began to be moved, borne along on huge
rollers. As soon as it was about thirty yards from the
rampart, the baron had the catapult directed upon it, and
sent against it cases of Greek fire fixed near the iron
points of the darts. The fresh hides protected it well,
and the points did not stick in the wood ; so the fire
fell on the ground, and the Burgundians, under cover of
the base-work of the tower, flung off the flaming cases
by means of forks. This gave them plenty to do, and
the tower advanced but slowly, while the further it pro-
ceeded the greater was the chance of its taking fire. The
baron, who had but a small quantity of Greek fire remain-
ing, was afraid to waste it. Already five cases had been
thrown without effect ; so he resolved to wait till the
tower was close to the ramparts.
At this time of the year (June 21) the nights are not
completely dark, and day breaks early. At two o'clock
in the morning the wooden tower was on the counterscarp
of the ditch. The mound that filled it presented a slope
towards the ramparts, and was covered with planks. At
a signal, the tower, urged on from behind by means of



220 ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
