arbalest

He has made a living robbing luxurious apartments of their masterpieces, sometimes using an arbalest, ropes, snap hooks and a harness to scale facades and gain entry.

Oh, the title: “arbalest” means “crossbow,” and evokes violence—in particular, the primal violence on which the story, Foster Kalt’s fate, and, for that matter, all culture rests.

"On thy back," said he sharply, and seizing the arbalest and taking a stroke forward he aided the desired movement.

His Queries of course have reference to the long bow, and not to the arbalest, or cross-bow.

A man of Damme, not being able to pay Claes for his coal, gave him his most valuable possession, which was an arbalest with twelve quarrels well pointed to serve as missiles.