noon
Deeply disappointed , with a number of the men grumbling savagely , they were compelled to withdraw empty handed , warned by approaching shouts that the garrison was returning , so the men crawled away as they had come , and made for the river , where on this occasion the boat already awaited them . The lord of Falkenberg proved as moderate in his exactions as the men of Rheinstein . Many bales had been cut open , and the thieves , with the knowledge of cloth-weavers , selected in every case only the best goods , but of these had taken merely enough for one costume each . Although the company had made so early a beginning , it was past noon by the time they reached the barge on the second occasion . A substantial meal was served , for every man was ravenously hungry , besides being disgusted to learn that there were ups and downs even in the trade of thievery . Early in the afternoon they made for the delicate Castle of Sonneck , whose slender turrets stood out beautifully against the blue sky . Here excellent cover was found within sight of the doorway , for Sonneck stood alone on its rock without the protection of a wall .