straw as they went.
119 Screaming and in a full panic, the Frn troops made a mad dash for the bridges, and fought each other to cross. Many made it, some didn't. Many were overcome by the smoke.
120 The Frns tried to keep to the inner wall, but the fires were worse on their side, and they had to abandon their positions. The Prince was even madder than ever. But Red Crow and his people were quite pleased. The fire would burn the whole rest of the day, and, into the night. There was no way the enemy could reach them. They had plenty of time to prepare their other little surprises.
121 Just before dawn they slipped down the wall, crossed the cleared area, and entered the still smoldering parts of the city. And in the pass the enemy would have to take to cross through the still smoldering ruins they left some surprises. In the ashes they buried some boxes with thin tops; a nasty gift for the enemy. If anyone stepped on the box, the top would give way and their foot would go inside. Inside were razor-sharp spikes, which the foot would push down. But as the victim would try to pull the box off, the spikes would pull up and drive into his flesh.
122 They also planted boards into the center of which had been placed a short pole. On the other end of the pole was three barbed blades. Anyone whoever stepped on a rake knew how this weapon worked...step on the board, and the pole, with its sharp blades flew up, and struck you in the leg. As you pulled the pole away, the barbed blades remained embedded in your flesh.
123 The defenders also filled the ground with simple, sharpened sticks. They were barely finished and had climbed back up their wall, when the first of the enemy scouts entered the burned out gate. They were followed by archers that quickly encircled the defenders, then the soldiers marched in and took up position. This time they would not be embarrassed. This time, they would not be tricked.
124 Through the smoldering rubble they poured, and then began to run into trouble. A man in the lead would step in one of the boxes, and go down screaming, and those behind him would fall over him. Or, a man would step on one of the boards, get the barbed blades in his leg, roll away, and the man behind him would step on the same weapon, getting what was left of its blades. And other men would fall over them, onto the sharpened sticks. But though all this was happening, they came on.
125 Now as they entered the area that had been cleared before the fire, they found some other surprises. Men gave a horrible cry, and disappeared into pits that had been dug earlier. The bottom of the pits were filled with sharpened sticks. But still The Frns came. They got their ladders to the wall and pushed them up.
126 Again, they were met with arrows, throwing spears, stones, and scalding water. But they went on. They topped the wall and this time the defenders met them. Many fell back down the wall cut by sword or lance. But still The Frns came.
127 More and more of them topped the wall. The defenders retreated, taking certain paths across the rooftoop. When the enemy tried to follow them, some of them disappeared, crashing through the roofs. "Walk only where they walk!" screamed The Frn leaders. "Don't go anywhere else!"
128 Their people did not hesitate to obey. Finally, The Children of Spirit again crossed over bridges from the top of the houses to The Temple, at the center of the city.
129 The Frn leader looked over the gap. Like before, the houses had been cleared away in a circle all around The Temple. He looked back behind him, and back up at the defenders. "Oh , no!" he thought. "They couldn't! Not again! Get out of here!" he screamed, "Get back across the roofs!"
130 His men quickly obeyed, and sure enough, the houses nearest The Temple burst into flames. Red Crow had wished he could have fired ALL the houses, but they simply had not had time to prepare a second trap as good as the first, or, the fuel. But this would do. The fire would burn for another day and destroy the rest of the buildings.
131 He had already delayed the enemy two days. If he could hold another or perhaps two, all the better for his people! It would be all the more time The Dove would have to gather his army, and let those Frns learn the price of fighting The Children of Spirit! They had lost many men. Before it was over they'd lose more.
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