midnight
They brought spades and shovels from the wagons , and began to throw up an earthwork , toiling in the almost pitchy darkness . They reinforced it with the bodies of the slain oxen , and , while they toiled , they saw the fires where the Mexican officers rested , sure that their prey could not break from the trap . The Texans worked on . At midnight they were still working , and when they rested a while there was neither food nor drink for them . Every drop of water was gone long since , and they had eaten their last food at supper . They could have neither food nor drink nor sleep . Ned had escaped from many dangers , but it is truth that this time he felt despair .