five in the
afternoon
Earth was thrown up behind to the height of four foot for the defenders to stand upon . The space between the stockade and the wall was filled with sharp pointed bamboos and stakes stuck firmly in the ground with their points projecting outwards . All day the townspeople labored at these defenses , while the wall crumbled fast under the fire of the Dahomey artillery , every shot of which , at so short a distance , struck it heavily . By five in the afternoon a great gap , fifty feet wide , was made in the walls , and the army of Dahomey again gathered for the assault . Mr. Goodenough with two of the Houssas took his place on the wall on one side of the gap , Frank with the other two faced him across the chasm . A large number of the Abeokuta warriors also lined the walls , while the rest gathered on the stockade . With the usual tumult of drumming and yells the Dahomans rushed to the assault .