Part 4 (1/2)
The a.s.sailants tried several times to set fire to the f.a.ggots, but the wood was damp, and the defenders threw baskets of wet earth on the incipient flames.
The a.s.sault on the western side had continued for some time, when a vast number of the enemy threw themselves on the northern salient, whose towers were partly destroyed.
As on the previous day, they rushed in such a compact ma.s.s upon the salient, that they were not long in effecting a breach.
Sigild then sent out five hundred men by the western gate to take the a.s.saulting column in flank, whilst he proceeded with the five hundred of the reserve body straight to the salient. By the time he had reached this point the enemy was already within the rampart, and his forces were sheltered behind the intrenchment.
On seeing the heaps of the slain with which this quarter was strewed, the fury of the enemy appeared to be redoubled, and they swept along like a flood through a wide breach. Thinking themselves at last masters of the Oppidum, they fell in disorder upon the troops led by Sigild.
This body, disposed crescent-wise, formed as it were a second intrenchment, which the a.s.sailants vainly endeavoured to break through.
The five hundred men who had gone out by the eastern gate had reached the left flank of the throng of besiegers, when a tremendous shout arose from the enemy's camp.
Hors.e.m.e.n came galloping at the top of their speed towards the Oppidum.
The attacking host wavered. a.s.sailed on their flank they made scarcely any resistance, and a movement of disorderly retreat became more and more clearly manifest.
Those who had gained a footing within the rampart, seeing themselves no longer supported, or rather forced on by new-comers, turned and fled with all haste towards the wood.
Sigild perceived that Ditovix was making his attack; then, collecting his warriors and summoning all the men from the various parts of the defences, he formed a dense column, and overthrowing the a.s.sailants who were betwixt him and the rampart, pa.s.sed it and rejoined the warriors already outside: ”Now,” cried he, ”forward! the enemy is ours; let not one escape.”
The wretched besiegers, hemmed in between the warriors of Ditovix and those led by Sigild, although twice as numerous as the forces of their opponents united, became utterly disorganized, no longer thought of defending themselves, and rus.h.i.+ng now to one side, now to the other, met death everywhere.
Many attempted to fly towards the river or the rivulet; but at an intimation from Sigild, Tomar, who had remained in the Oppidum, sent the warriors posted on the ramparts in pursuit of them.
The a.s.sailants on the western front, seeing the disorder into which their party had been thrown on the plateau, had got down towards the banks. On that side the warriors poured forth by the western gate, broke the bridge of rafts, and fell upon the enemy hemmed in by the river.
Those of the besiegers who did not meet their death that day, perished of cold or hunger in the endeavour to escape pursuit. A thousand, however, were taken; among others those who guarded the palisade in the valley. They were slain in the Nemede in presence of the Druids and Druidesses. Most of the bodies were thrown into the river, and for several days the dwellers on the banks of the river found corpses entangled among the reeds.
CHAPTER IV.
_THE COST OF DEFENDERS._
Ditovix and his warriors had done their duty bravely; the tribes of the Val d'Avon regarded them as saviours, and when the unfortunate besieged went back to their devastated homes, they cheerfully divided the little that remained to them with the new-comers.
In the enemy's camp were found provisions, the fruits of pillage, and upon the bodies of the slain a little gold, and arms; and all this was equally distributed. But winter was approaching, the fodder that had been collected was dispersed, the animals lost or consumed, the stores of grain destroyed. The means of subsistence had to be procured from the merchants, and the allies to be fed. Scarcity prevailed in this valley, so prosperous a month before. Its saviours were exacting, and began to ask where was that wealth and plenty which had been promised them.
Quartered in the Oppidum with the warriors of Sigild, the followers of Ditovix a.s.sumed a domineering air on the strength of the service rendered to the inhabitants of the Val d'Avon, and whose importance they were incessantly magnifying. Quarrels arose continually, and it needed all the influence which Sigild had acquired among his people to moderate their angry feelings.
Ditovix abstained from interference in these disputes. When a.s.sistance had been asked--he would say to Sigild,--his men had been promised wealth of all kinds; how could he remonstrate with them if they were left to die of want?
Ditovix had brought a thousand warriors to aid the inhabitants of the Val d'Avon; and, in spite of the losses suffered during the action, a month after the dispersion of the enemy's army the number of these auxiliaries was found to have unaccountably increased.
The Druids then interfered; they represented to Ditovix that though he and his warriors had saved the families of the valley from total destruction, they were reduced to poverty; that if they died of hunger the same fate would befal his men, since there was nothing left to give them; and that in the common interest it was necessary to come to some understanding.
Then Ditovix adopted a different att.i.tude. ”I should be willing to take my warriors back,” said he, ”but I cannot. They would refuse to follow me, and would give themselves up to excesses of all kinds. I can scarcely prevent their proceeding from murmurs to violence. I had to promise much to induce them to come, and they must be satisfied.
Fighting has been their constant occupation--for the most part in the countries beyond the mountains. They are not fitted for tilling the soil or tending cattle. What do you propose?”--”What do you ask?” said the Druids. ”I will call together the leading men among them, and explain the state of things; and will let you know what they want.”