Howard told his story as plainly as possible, leaving out only those portions which related more particularly to Estella. He accused Captain Nocolo of a personal interest in having him shot or imprisoned, but to this assertion the court would not listen. "Captain Nocolo is an honorable Spanish officer; we know him well," said one of the court judges. "You had better confine your remarks to yourself. You are accused of being a spy, and as yet have brought forth no evidence to clear yourself." "I can say no more, gentlemen," returned Howard, angrily, for he considered this treatment almost brutal. "I have told the truth. I am an innocent man, and if I am punished, the consequences will be upon your heads." "Take him away!" roared the presiding officer, an intimate friend of the Nocolo family. And Howard was immediately handcuffed again, and led back to the prison. The court went into secret session for only five minutes, and then it was announced that he had been found guilty of being a spy in the interests of the rebels, and he was sentenced to be shot immediately. The reader may imagine this statement to be over-drawn, but let us add that since the beginning of the present insurrection such hasty trials have been frequent and many patriots have been tried and shot within the hour of their capture. Hardly had Howard reached the interior of the prison grounds than a special messenger rode up announcing the decision of the court-martial. A guard was at once detailed to carry out the order. The young war correspondent heard the news with a sinking heart. "They would murder me," he thought. "This is the work of Lieutenant Mazenas and Captain Nocolo quite as much as of the Spanish authorities." There was so much excitement at the entrance to the prison that, once within the yard, the guards paid scant attention to Howard, saving to see that he did not attempt to escape. Within the prison yard a hundred or more prisoners were tramping about in the rain, taking their daily exercise. Howard watched them curiously, yet not without a certain feeling of envy. To be merely a prisoner was one thing--to be condemned to be shot quite another. How he wished for a single chance to obtain his freedom! But no such chance offered itself. Among the prisoners there was a man who attracted Howard's attention by his queer movements each time that he came close to the young war correspondent. Howard mused on the matter for several minutes, and came to the conclusion that the fellow wished to speak to him. Then he recognized Tomasso, although the overseer's face was partially concealed in bandages placed on the sword cuts he had received in his efforts to save himself and his young mistress from arrest.