Cut down all with arms in their
hands, but do not hurt women or children. Tell off six men, Osgod, to carry
the ladder and place it against the wall, and to be the first to follow us.
Let the others follow in the order in which they stand in rank"
They made their way down through the trees. As soon as they reached the cut
one short ladder was lowered, and the other was handed down and placed
against the opposite side of the cut. The end of the long ladder was then
lowered, and it was swung over and the upper end placed against the wall.
Six men then ascended the short ladder, and raised the long one until it
stood on the rock at the foot of the castle-wall.
"Now, Beorn, do you mount first and I will follow you."
"You should go first," Beorn said, "but I will do as you tell me."
As soon as Beorn was half-way up Wulf began to follow him, saying to Osgod
and the men, "Keep the same distance apart. Do not let more than two be on
the ladder at once whatever happens inside, if it were to break it would be
fatal to us all." As soon as he gained the top Wulf threw himself down by
the side of Beorn, and lay there watching the men on the other walls and on
the summit of the castle. Osgod and four men had joined them when Wulf
noticed a sudden stir and heard a shout. He leapt to his feet.
"Follow quickly, but be careful of the ladder," he called to those below;
then he dashed along the wall to the top of the staircase, and closely
followed by the others ran down and on through the gate in the next wall.
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