about nine o'clock
Then , with infinite labour , the wounded were once more sought out , and carried into one of the storehouses which had suffered least from the fire , where they were attended to , so far as they could be , by a band of their compatriots who had volunteered for the service , and who had given their parole that they would not again take up arms against the Cubans . And next came the terrible task of burying the dead , which was also done , under Jack 's supervision , by the prisoners , kept in a proper state of submission by a strong guard of armed negroes . It was by this time considerably past mid-day : at least half of the negroes , who had fought so stubbornly and well in defence of the estate , had had an opportunity to snatch a few hours ' sleep , and were consequently in a condition to again mount guard over the prisoners ; and then , and only then , did Jack and Carlos retire to their rooms , and flinging themselves , still dressed , upon their beds , sink at once into absolute oblivion . The two young men were aroused about nine o'clock that night to partake of food , when they learned that Don Hermoso had taken over the direction of affairs ; also , that the wounded were for the most part doing well , having been taken in hand by a Spanish surgeon who , himself one of the wounded , had been brought in from the field of battle , and , having been attended to by Mama Faquita , was now sufficiently recovered to be able to do duty . This was a quite unexpected bit of good news for the two young men ; but there was bad news also for them , in the fact that the unfortunate Senora Montijo was in a state of such high fever that the Spanish doctor was deeply concerned as to her condition , which became still more critical as the night wore on . Before again retiring to rest , Jack `` went the rounds '' , as he expressed it , and saw for himself that everything was satisfactory ; and he did the same the first thing upon rising the next morning . Then he , Don Hermoso , and Carlos held a consultation as to how the prisoners were to be disposed of , the difficulty of feeding and controlling so large a number being one that was likely to grow daily : and it was finally decided that , as the rest of the army had by this time passed on , and were scarcely likely to return over the same ground , the sound prisoners , together with those of the wounded who were so slightly hurt as to be able to travel , should be set at liberty and escorted for some few miles on the road to Pinar del Rio by a strong band of armed negroes , whose duty it would be to see that the released men did not attempt to rejoin the main army ; that as soon as those were disposed of , the estate -- which was practically destroyed , and therefore could not very well be further injured -- should be abandoned to the Spanish doctor and such assistants as he could persuade to remain with him to look after the wounded ; and that , as soon as the Senora 's health would permit , Don Hermoso , Carlos , and Jack should attach themselves to one of the guerrilla bands who were hanging upon the skirts of the main Spanish army and harassing it night and day .