A word spoken in the friar's ear made him run towards
the neighbouring tower belonging to the gate. A moment
afterwards and a strong crossbow mounted on the upper
story of the work, behind the hoarding, shot quarrels, to
which cases of Greek fire were fastened, against the sides
of the wooden tower, which was not so well protected by
skins as its front. The friar took a cool aim at the exposed
part of the timbers, chiefly about seven or eight feet above
the base of the tower. He had ten of these cases left, and
all were aimed with a sure hand, being attached to strong
quarrels, whose points were well sharpened. Four of the
quarrels failed to stick, but the six others were fixed
firmly in the timber, and the cases they bore spread a
tenacious and burning lava ever the wood.
At the first moment the Burgundians, absorbed in the



223 ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
attack, did not perceive the danger. Those who had
reached the top of the to\yer could not be aware of it.
