noon before
With the first faint glow of the approaching day the little band of British were awake . At Hal 's suggestion they cut down trees , and dragged them to the end of the bridge , forming a barricade . Behind this they lay down . It was almost noon before the man stationed to watch the approach to the bridge dropped quickly over the barricade and reported : `` They are coming ! '' `` All right , '' replied Hal . `` We 're ready for 'em ! '' Under Hal 's direction , a single line of rifles , twenty-five in all , appeared through the cracks of the barricade .