four o'clock in the morning
Max and Dale followed one of these parties at a respectful distance , and climbed with them from the cup-like hollow in which Liége is situated to the hills beyond . The soldiers were bound for one of the forts on the eastward side , and , as they reached the higher ground , the two lads caught their first glimpse of the fighting . Darkness was coming on , and away in the distance they could see the intensely bright flashes of high-explosive shells bursting on or around the forts , as well as the flame of the fortress guns belching forth their replies . As it grew darker the duel grew more intense , and lasted without intermission throughout the night till three or four o'clock in the morning . By that time the forts were apparently thought to have been sufficiently damaged to permit of an assault , and the German infantry were flung against them in massed formation . Unfortunately for them , however , the guns had not been heavy enough to make any impression on the steel cupolas which sheltered the big guns of the forts , and , as the infantry pressed forward to the attack , they were literally swept away by a devastating shell-fire from the forts attacked and those flanking them . Again and again fresh masses were sent forward to the assault , only to meet with a similar fate .