midday
The night passed quietly , but evidence of their new spirit was shown next day . Ahmed , looking from his window , saw signs of great activity below , though for a time neither he nor Ahsan nor any other of his comrades understood what was afoot . By and by , however , it became clear that the enemy were busily constructing shields of wood and goat-skins with which to defend themselves against musket-shots from beyond the barricade . The work was apparently finished by midday , for the men squatted in groups on the ground , taking their dinner , and talking with great cheerfulness . But when the hours of the afternoon went by without the expected attack , Ahmed concluded that it was put off till night , and felt that this time it would be pushed home . Defended by their shields , the men could easily bring powder to the base of the barricade , and if that was blown away it was only a question of minutes . It was useless to attempt to disguise from his comrades the great danger in which they stood , especially as they were now reduced to their last pitchers of water .