about noon
Morning , however , came , and no sign of the foe being in sight . Though we had a flag with us , and a flagstaff stood in the fort , Juan would not have it hoisted ; while the men were directed to keep as much under cover as possible , so that the Spaniards might not discover we had possession of the fort . All the work outside had been finished , but we continued strengthening it , and making such , improvements as were necessary in the inside . It was about noon when one of the sentries gave notice that he saw some people on the opposite side of the river . We watched them . Evidently they were Spanish officers reconnoitring the fort , and from their movements they seemed to doubt whether it was already occupied . At last , apparently satisfied that they were in time to take possession , two of them began to ford the stream .