This is hard to imagine. None of them would have said he would fail through cowardice. He is no sissy. None would say Peter would Chicken out. The Rooster tried to wake up Peter.
Roosters are good at that.
But Peter was in deep spiritual sleep. Jesus was on trial in the house and Peter was on trial in the courtyard. Yet Peter's whole trial was over before he even knew he was being tried. Again a third time Peter was standing by the fire. One of the relatives of Malchus whose ear was cut off spotted Peter.