were also stretched out above the man's head to such an extent
that they seemed to be literally parting from the poor body at the
shoulders. The muscles had started up, and seemed to be bursting
through the skin, and the flesh was stretched so tightly over the bones
that it seemed a skeleton rather than a human living body upon which
they gazed.

But it was not this sight of a living, breathing, sentient human body
strained and stretched to the point of being torn asunder that excited
the lads' commiseration and horror, and caused them inwardly to register
a solemn and awful vow of vengeance upon the human fiends around them
should the opportunity ever arise. No, terrible as was that sight,
there were others--horrors that only the most debased and cruel
imagination could possibly invent, and to which no pen could possibly do
justice, even were any good purpose to be achieved by the attempted
recital of them--that caused the lads' souls to revolt at once and for
ever against a people that could perpetrate such diabolical cruelties.

Another deep groan issued from the lips of the hapless sufferer, and he
opened his eyes, which had until now been closed, and then they saw that
a certain suspicion that for some moments had been growing in their
minds was but too well founded. Yes, yes! Oh, horror! it was de Soto,
that noble, brave, and chivalrous Spaniard whom they had last seen
retiring with the rest of their prisoners into the depths of the jungle
of Cuba!

Harry uttered a little cry, and, swaying for a moment, fell heavily into
the arms of Roger, who laid him gently on the stone floor.

At this, one of the cowled inquisitors stepped forward; but at that
moment a door opened and a man entered, clad in rich and costly
vestments, his identity unconcealed in any way by cowl or cloak.

Roger looked up, and could scarcely credit his senses.

Where--where had he seen that sinister and evil countenance before? As
he looked, so did the man who had just entered look at Roger, a new
light dawning in his evil eyes.

Then Roger recognised the man; he had seen him before. It was Alvarez!

The new-comer spoke in Spanish: "Has the man yet confessed?"

And one of the masked men replied: "No, your excellency; he has not as
yet. But we hope that during the next torture he will speak; he is but
now only just recovering from the last."

"Continue, then," commanded Alvarez. "But first remove those two boys
to their cell, an