This was not an easy point to decide. He wished to shield Estella as much as possible, even at a risk to himself. "My noble girl must not suffer," he decided. "She has already suffered too much in my behalf!" The hours went slowly by until morning dawned without; a dull morning indeed, with the warm rain coming down unceasingly. Estella's prayer in this particular had been answered. There had been no cessation in the downpour, and everywhere, within and without the city, the poorly constructed roads were heavy with mud. Despite the onerous taxes imposed, Spain had never given Cuba good highways, and now, in moving her army from place to place, she was made to suffer roundly for her neglect. On more than one occasion, during the rainy season, not a cannon, not even a mule team, could be moved from one town to the next. Little did the young war correspondent dream that, less than a hundred feet away, Estella sat in a dismal cell, her face buried in her hands, and her dark hair falling in a disheveled mass over her shoulders, the picture of despair. From words dropped by her jailer, she had surmised that Captain Martinez's proposed attack upon Marambo was known, and steps were being taken to meet it. "The insurgents within the city will have no time in which to arm themselves. More than likely, every suspected person here will be immediately placed under arrest." A trumpet call sounded through the damp air, coming from without the prison. A minute later, and Luigi appeared at the door of Howard's cell, accompanied by two guardsmen detailed to escort the young war correspondent before the special court-martial. "Caramba!" muttered the jailer, and fell back with a white face. He had fully expected to find Howard a corpse upon the stone floor. To see the young man with a half-smile upon his handsome face nearly took away his breath. But he dared not ask questions, and immediately proceeded to release Howard from his chains. This done, the two soldiers told him to march, and, one on either side of him, escorted him out of the prison and to the Council Hall, where the hearing was to be held. It was evident to Howard's trained eye that the officers in charge were much worried, for no time was lost in opening court. Then a call was made for Lieutenant Mazenas, but he was not present. "He cannot leave the railroad property," was the explanation given to account for his absence, and then Captain Nocolo was called. The captain briefly related his story, telling how Howard had escaped from Santiago by boat, of the capture and then of his second escape. Much more was said, the captain doing his best to convict Howard. He imagined that Luigi had lacked the courage to administer the poison. "And what have you to say in your defense, Señor Sherwood?" demanded the presiding officer, his lowered brows bent full upon Howard's manly face.