midday
`` Rice , rice ! '' was the cry , but everywhere the crop had failed , and the natives were desperate . Piang had been more successful in foraging than the other lads had , and his mother was safe for a time , but there seemed to be no hope , and he sorrowed as he pictured her dying for want of the food that it was his business to provide for her . In the stifling heat of midday , the village was startled by the appearance of several white men on the biggest animals they had ever seen . Tiny ponies , straying about the village , fled to cover at sight of the strange creatures , and most of the women hid themselves in fright . The Moro men sullenly watched the strangers advance , making no attempt to stop them , but there was no mistaking their hostile attitude . `` Where is the dato ? ''