"I have the inclination to kill him where he lies!" hissed Captain Nocolo, as he stood by Howard's side, a grim smile of satisfaction on his bony face. "But for him, the fair Estella----" "What is it you say of Estella?" demanded Lieutenant Mazenas, glaring savagely into his companion's face. "Remember, by the terms of our contract, you relinquished her to me, heart and hand!" With a muttered curse Captain Nocolo turned away to his men, while Mazenas gave orders that Howard be removed to an old stone building some distance from the cane-house. This was done, and when he came to his senses, Howard found himself inside of four stone walls, and heavily chained. "I am in a worse pickle than before," he thought, dismally. "A prisoner of Captain Nocolo, and Lieutenant Mazenas, and they both wish me out of the way. It will be a miracle if I escape with my life!" Hour after hour went by until dawn came on. Then, all chained as he was, Howard was taken outside and strapped once more to the back of a mule. A journey lasting the best part of the day followed. It was over roads deep with mud, made worse by the feet of hundreds of horses, and in a blazing hot sun, which struck down on his uncovered head and made him dizzy and faint. At noon he was released and given a portion of meat cooked in a pot with garlic, but he could not eat the nauseating mess. Water was all he desired, and this was given him, scooped out of the muddy hollows by the wayside. Dear reader, do not fancy that this is an over-drawn picture, painted merely for the purpose of working upon your feelings. The picture is painted from life; and what Howard Sherwood suffered, hundreds of Cubans, fighting for that one priceless boon, Liberty, have suffered. In many cases, to be made a prisoner was worse than to be killed, for it meant galling chains, hunger, thirst, beating, and possibly starvation. Is it a wonder that these hardy rebels, when engaged in conflict, fought like demons, and came out victorious even when the opposing forces were two and threefold larger than their own? It was the dread of what might happen should defeat overtake them, that steeled their hearts and hands, and made them know no such word as surrender. The end of the day found the party in sight of Marambo, and half an hour later, Howard and his companions in chains, were driven like cattle into the large stone building. Once inside, Howard was conducted by special order to a narrow cell at the farther end of a long corridor. Here he was chained fast to an iron ring in the wall. "Now you can remain there to rot, unless you are destined to be shot," said his jailer, and left him to his bitter reflections. CHAPTER XII. "WILL YOU WED ME, OR SHALL HOWARD SHERWOOD GO TO HIS DEATH?" In vain Cara tried to comfort poor Estella; the beautiful girl's grief was so great no words reached her heart to soothe her.