midnight
Perhaps to both parties this resolution was alike a disappointment and restraint . The English felt there was no glory in their prize , they had not obtained possession through their own prowess and skill ; and now that the siege had become so much closer , and this point of communication was entirely stopped , the hand-to-hand combat , the glorious _ mélée _ , the press of war , which to both parties had been an excitement , and little more than warlike recreation , had of course entirely ceased , but Hereford heeded not the disappointment of his men ; his plans were progressing as he had desired , even though his workmen were greatly harassed by the continued discharge of arrows and immense stones from the walls . The desertion of the barbacan was an all-convincing proof of the very small number of the garrison ; and though the immense thickness and solidity of the walls bespoke time , patience , and control , the English earl never wavered from his purpose , and by his firmness , his personal gallantry , his readily-bestowed approbation on all who demanded it , he contrived to keep his more impatient followers steadily to their task ; while Nigel , to prevent the spirits of his men from sinking , would frequently lead them forth at night , and by a sudden attack annoy and often cut off many of the men stationed within the barbacan . The drawbridge was the precarious ground of many a midnight strife , till the daring gallantry of Nigel Bruce became the theme of every tongue ; a gallantry equalled only by the consummate skill which he displayed , in retreating within his entrenchments frequently without the loss of a single man either as killed or wounded . Often would Sir Christopher Seaton , whose wounds still bound him a most unwilling prisoner to his couch , entreat him to avoid such rash exposures of his life , but Nigel only answered him with a smile and an assurance he bore a charmed life , which the sword of the foe could not touch . The siege had now lasted six weeks , and the position of both parties continued much as we have seen , save that the bed of the river had now begun to appear , promising a free passage to the English on the eastern side , and on the south a broad causeway had stretched itself over the moat , on which the towers for defending the ascent of the walls , mangonels and other engines , were already safely bestowed , and all promised fair to the besiegers , whose numerous forces scarcely appeared to have suffered any diminution , although in reality some hundreds had fallen ; while on the side of the besieged , although the walls were still most gallantly manned , and the first efforts of the English to scale the walls had been rendered ineffectual by huge stones hurled down upon them , still a look of greater care was observable on the brows of both officers and men ; and provisions had now begun to be doled out by weight and measure , for though the granaries still possessed stores sufficient for some weeks longer , the apparent determination of the English to permit no relaxation in their close attack , demanded increase of caution on the part of the besieged . About this time an event occurred , which , though comparatively trifling in itself , when the lives of so many were concerned , was fraught in effect with fatal consequences to all the inmates of Kildrummie .