noon
But the hatred and fear which its master had raised over the whole country-side could now be plainly seen , for during the night the brushwood men and the villagers came in from all parts with offers of such help as they could give for the intaking of the castle . Knolles set them cutting bushes and tying them into fagots . When morning came he rode out before the wall and he held counsel with his knights and squires as to how he should enter in . `` By noon , '' said he , `` we shall have so many fagots that we may make our way over the ditch . Then we will beat in the gates and so win a footing . '' The young Frenchman had come with Nigel to the conference , and now , amid the silence which followed the leader 's proposal , he asked if he might be heard . He was clad in the brazen armor which Nigel had taken from the Red Ferret .