She did not answer, save by a low moan, and again buried her face in her hands. He saw how much she was affected, but his stern heart did not relent. He paced the floor for a moment or two longer, and then abruptly left the room. CHAPTER XX. THE THREE SCHEMERS. The reader can easily imagine that Howard was not treated with any gentleness by the four soldiers who conducted him back to the prison at Marambo. A few words from Lieutenant Mazenas had sufficed to acquaint them with the true situation, and they drove the young war correspondent before them very much as a savage-minded man drives some dumb beast that cannot defend itself. Howard's arms were handcuffed behind him and shackles were placed upon his ankles, that he might walk but not run. The prison reached, Howard was brought face to face with the jailer he had fought, and this individual subjected him to every indignity it was in his power to inflict. The young war correspondent was cast into a dungeon far beneath the street, and here he was chained to the wall and left in the darkness to his bitter reflections. Many another man would have bemoaned his own conduct that had brought about the present result, but such was not the case with Howard Sherwood. He had exposed himself to his enemies to save Estella from being cast out, and this being so, he was somewhat reconciled to his fate, whatever it might be. In the meantime, Captain Nocolo and Lieutenant Mazenas, having assured themselves that he was confined where it would be utterly impossible to escape, left some strict orders with the head jailer, and then departed from the prison. It was not until they were well out of the hearing of those about the prison that they exchanged expressive glances, which meant a great deal. "We must take good care how we move in the future, Mazenas," said the captain, as they rode out to a plantation on the other side of the city. "You are right," growled the lieutenant. "Diablo! how I would like to wring his neck for him!" "It may come to that yet," was the captain's suggestive remark. "He may be released after a proper hearing." "Then he shall not have a proper hearing! Dios! it would mean ruin to both of us!" "From that I would infer that you imagine he knows us?" "Of course he does! To my mind, this newspaper business is all an ingenious pretext. He came to find us and uncover the peculiar transactions concerning his uncle's estate." "Perhaps you are right! Well, we have him in our power for the present." A ride of twenty minutes brought them in sight of a long, low house, painted white. They rode up to the horse block and dismounted. "Is Señor Barker in?" asked Mazenas of the servant who appeared. "Si, señor," returned the woman, with a bow, and they entered the dwelling.