three hours after midnight
Another monarch would have doubled his guards on the evening after such a scene , and kept at least a part of his troops under arms . But Coeur de Lion dismissed , upon the occasion , even his ordinary watch , and assigned to his soldiers a donative of wine to celebrate his recovery , and to drink to the Banner of Saint George ; and his quarter of the camp would have assumed a character totally devoid of vigilance and military preparation , but that Sir Thomas de Vaux , the Earl of Salisbury , and other nobles , took precautions to preserve order and discipline among the revellers . The physician attended the King from his retiring to bed till midnight was past , and twice administered medicine to him during that period , always previously observing the quarter of heaven occupied by the full moon , whose influences he declared to be most sovereign , or most baleful , to the effect of his drugs . It was three hours after midnight ere El Hakim withdrew from the royal tent , to one which had been pitched for himself and his retinue . In his way thither he visited the tent of Sir Kenneth of the Leopard , in order to see the condition of his first patient in the Christian camp , old Strauchan , as the knight 's esquire was named . Inquiring there for Sir Kenneth himself , El Hakim learned on what duty he was employed , and probably this information led him to Saint George 's Mount , where he found him whom he sought in the disastrous circumstances alluded to in the last chapter . It was about the hour of sunrise , when a slow , armed tread was heard approaching the King 's pavilion ; and ere De Vaux , who slumbered beside his master 's bed as lightly as ever sleep sat upon the eyes of a watch-dog , had time to do more than arise and say , `` Who comes ? ''