midnight
The Stockaders had no siege artillery with which to batter down the gates at long range ; they would have to march straight to the walls , and the darkness would be in the nature of a protection from the missiles of the enemy . The moon , a little past the full , rose about nine o'clock , but its light was liable to be obscured by clouds . One of the sudden changes characteristic of the month of May was in progress , and a cold wind was blowing from the northwest . It promised to be half a gale by midnight , and already the sky was partially overcast . The initiative lay , of course , with Piers Major , and Constans must use his own judgment in making the diversion in the rear . `` They are throwing up an inner barricade , '' said Piers Minor , at Constans 's elbow . He looked , and saw that the space immediately in front of the storehouses was being enclosed by a barrier of earth and paving-stones .