noon
At night a strict watch was kept , and twice old Benson went out to reconnoiter . `` The Indians and desperadoes have surrounded us on all sides , '' he announced . `` But it do n't look as if they meant to attack us just yet . '' With the coming of morning it began to rain , but this cleared away by noon , and then the sun boiled down as fiercely as ever . The sunny spots within the stockade were suffocating , and the boys were glad enough to stay within the cool walls of the stone fort . As far as he was able Captain Moore had prepared the place to resist an attack . A weak spot in the stockade was strengthened and the cannon of the fort were put in the best possible condition .