noon
One of these fearful missiles tears its way through Costigan 's sleeve and , striking poor old Moreno in the groin , stretches him groaning upon the floor . A glance shows that the wound is mortal , and , despite his crimes , the men who bear him , moaning , in to the farther cave are moved to sudden sympathy as his hapless wife and child prostrate themselves beside his rocky bier . Drummond can afford to lose no more , and orders the lower half of each hole to be stopped with blankets , blouses , shirts , anything that will block a shot , and then for an hour the fire of the besiegers is harmless , and no longer can the besieged catch even an occasional glimpse of them . At noon their fire has ceased entirely and , even when breathing a sigh of relief , the men look into one another 's faces questioningly . How long can this last ? How hot , how close the air in the cave is growing ! Drummond has gone for a moment into the inner chamber , where Moreno is now breathing his last , to inquire for Wing and to speak a word of cheer to his fair and devoted nurses .