Noon
About midnight , judging by the sounds , the sentinels fancied the enemy approached nearer the walls ; and they were not mistaken . With the advent of the second morning , here and there at intervals , ill-defined mounds of earth were seen so much in advance of the intrenched line that , by a general order , a fire of stones and darts was opened upon them ; and straightway bodies of bowmen and slingers rushed forward , and returned the fire , seeking to cover the mound builders . This was battle . Noon again -- and battle . In the evening -- battle . The advantage of course was with the besieged . The work on the mounds meanwhile continued , while the campania behind the intrenchment was alive with a creaking of wheels burdened by machinery , and a shouting of ox-drivers ; and the veterans on the walls said the enemy was bringing up his balistas and mangonels .