noon
In a few minutes the Moro recovered fully and went back to secure Terry 's pony , which he had abandoned near the ford . While the Sergeant attended to the duties of identification and burial of the dead Terry led the girl into one of the huts and quietly comforted her . She told him of the ordeal of her forced journey through the greater part of a day and a night , of the captors who leered at her but remained aloof because of fear of Malabanan , of being waked from sleep at Malabanan 's arrival just before Matak appeared . Malabanan and Sakay , worn with the night 's ride , had stopped during the noon hours to rest in the woods . When it came time to go , Terry placed the girl on his pony , declining another mount , as his head now ached too fiercely to withstand jolting in the saddle . He set off in the lead , afoot , followed by the prisoners under escort , Mercado bringing up the rear with the girl . As they neared the ford Terry heard a sharp out-cry from one of the guards , followed by the sharp crack of a rifle .