Felix afterwards understood that the ease with which the four won the wall at first was owing to there being no men of knightly rank among the defenders at that early hour.

Those who had collected to repulse the assault were citizens, retainers, slaves, any, in fact who had been near.

But now the news had reached the enemy's leaders, and some of them hastened to the wall.

As these were seen approaching, the camp was hushed, and every eye strained on the combatants.
The noble four could not all meet their assailants, the wall was but wide enough for two to fight; but the other two had work enough the next minute, as eight or ten more men in mail advanced the other way.

So they fought back to back, two facing one way, and two the other.