Juarez had cautiously stepped aside at the approach of the horseman; he now advanced boldly, wearing the air of one who has news of the utmost importance to divulge. “Your Excellency,” for the officer was none other than General Ruiz himself, “these men are Americans and spies. I am lucky to have recognized them before they were able to reënter the city and report our strength to the enemy.” The general looked incredulous. He was about to speak, when Juarez dropped a veritable bombshell at his feet by hastily adding: “These two young men are the American midshipmen who captured your machine guns at Mariel, so you see I have reason to know them.” The general turned fiercely on the bewildered Americans, a dark scowl on his sallow face. “So these are the men who captured my guns under my very eyes,” he cried in rage. His face was livid with passion. His hand sought his saber as if he would cut them down on the spot. “Arrest them immediately,” he ordered in a choking voice; “I shall make an example of these meddling Americans. Colonel Juarez, I appoint you their jailer. I know it is unnecessary to caution you to guard them well.” “Will they shoot us, sir?” whispered O’Neil anxiously to Phil, his hand resting grimly on his revolver handle, “for if they will, I have six bullets here I’d like to get rid of first.” The boatswain’s mate was so much in earnest that in spite of the gravity of the situation, Phil could not repress a smile. He suddenly paled, as the thought came to him of what the effects of O’Neil’s rough and ready diplomacy might be. He knew him for an unerring shot, and the leader of the insurrection would be the first to fall. Then their chance for life would indeed vanish. He grasped the sailor’s hand and breathed: “For your life take your hand from your revolver. They would shoot us down like dogs if we should give them half a chance.” Securely bound the three captives were led back the way they had come, through inquisitive crowds of jeering soldiers. The news of the capture and the reasons for it spread rapidly before them. The guards commanded by the vice-consul had great difficulty in bringing them alive to their prison in Mariel. The infuriated soldiers would have torn them limb from limb. The squalid prison was a relief after this nerve-racking ordeal. The guards, although saving them from fatal bodily injury, could not shield them from the vicious blows, taunts and insults showered on them from all sides. If it had not been for the fear Juarez had for General Ruiz, he would gladly have given them up to these wild beasts. They were indeed in a sorry plight as they were roughly pushed into a cell of the prison and the heavy oaken door closed loudly behind them.