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Page 233
they were ill made but because they were overweighted at the tip with little bags full of soft pitch that now burned merrily. When they struck the wooden palisade, the pitch, which had been further softened by the heat, ran down in long streaks. Soon, here and there, the rough-barked logs began to burn merrily too.
''Hold," Simon ordered suddenly, "move forward. See if you can hit the shelters."
A faint groan went up from the men. In the shelters was the food and drink they craved. They were so hungry now that they were willing to face greater danger for a better assurance of full bellies. Nonetheless, they ran forward and fired higher. Quicker, brighter blazes announced that thatched roofs were alight. Then, at last, the assurance that Simon desired was given. Against the growing light of the fires, dark forms scurried.
"Back out of range," Simon ordered. "Fire again at the walls."
At first there was an attempt to continue the pretense that the encampment was empty. For a short time, no one seemed to try to quench the flames. This was not as foolhardy as it seemed. After the rains that had fallen so constantly, everything was sodden. There was a good chance that, when the pitch burned out, the fires would cease to spread. Soon, however, it became evident that even this device would not draw Simon to believe the encampment was empty. An angry buzzing began to come across the field to Simon's ears. He glanced eastward and his teeth showed in a grim smile. He had judged the time very close. There was just a little pink.
Now the camp was openly active. There were shouts and cries and the hiss of water as it was cast into the fires. Men ran about, more concerned with dousing the fires than with protecting themselves.
"Half archers with true arrows forward."
Leaving their pots and sacks behind, half the archers

 
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