The machine ahead was slowing, and O’Neil whispered to their chauffeur to go on by. They passed Mareno and Lazar as they were alighting from the automobile and entering a large house by the roadside. “Mareno’s country home,” whispered Captain Garcia as their machine whizzed past. “Then here we’ll find Craig,” replied O’Neil confidently, as he directed the chauffeur to stop their machine. Out of sight of the overtaken men they left their machine and went back on foot. Reaching the house they saw Mareno’s automobile had drawn up inside the yard and the chauffeur had already made himself comfortable for a nap. “They are inside,” O’Neil whispered, “and will be there some time, from the looks of that man yonder,” pointing to the reclining figure. “We’ve got to get inside.” Captain Garcia hesitated. “This man Mareno is powerful,” he objected. “I dare not force an entrance into his house.” They had approached the house from the rear. O’Neil pushed a door gently; it yielded and the next moment they found themselves in a small room. The room was unlighted, but the fire on the hearth illuminated obscurely their surroundings. A native jumped up from a couch, rubbing his eyes; seeing the officers he doffed his hat respectfully. “Whom do you wish to see, señors?” he asked. “We are friends of Señor Mareno, who is up-stairs, is he not? We shall go up,” O’Neil answered quickly in a low voice. The man seemed to hold no suspicions; he was glad to get back to his interrupted nap. “Very well, señors,” he answered. The two men cautiously walked up the narrow stairs. Reaching the next floor, they stopped, breathless, to listen. A sound of voices came from a room in the front of the house. Captain Garcia was worried. He did not relish his mission; there was too much at stake for him if Mareno discovered that they had forced an entrance into his house. In these countries it is but a step to a prison cell and another to the execution wall where many men are put to death daily during these revolutions. He was anxious to retrace his steps, but O’Neil held him firmly by the arm. The voices of Mareno and Lazar sounded distinctly; they were talking in loud natural tones, so sure were they that they were alone in this lonely house. “I have changed the letter, Señor Mareno,” Lazar was saying; “here it is: as it reads now your name does not appear and Midshipman Perry’s name has been substituted. But you must make sure that the minister and the president never meet, for they might discover the change in the letter.” “I have arranged that,” answered Mareno. “As soon as the fleet leaves, which will be to-morrow, the president will telegraph to Washington for the minister’s recall, giving the reason that he is unsatisfactory to the government.” “Good,” Lazar’s voice replied; “then you have nothing to fear, unless General Ruiz might tell of your share in the rebellion.”