"Never mind, break it down," Henrique said, roughly.

In obedience a few heavy blows fell on the woodwork, which soon gave
way beneath their force.

Stepping over the scattered splinters, Henrique saw a sight which
filled him with horror.

Crouching on the bare floor, her hands twined convulsively in her long
hair, was a woman, with three sleeping children leaning against her.

On a hard straw mattress, almost in shadow, lay Jarima, his face
covered with blood, which oozed in streams from his mouth.

Henrique gazed for an instant on the awful sight, then turned towards
his men.

"We have arrived a little too late; blind men cannot see, or dumb ones
tell tales. Some horrible wretch has done this deed, fearful of his
betraying them. I wonder who?"

The woman, when questioned, could tell them nothing. She only knew her
husband had been brought home in his present condition at daybreak,
and remained unconscious since.

"I regret to say it is our painful duty to take him; every care will
be given him. He is suspected of having murdered Luiz Falcam."

"No, no; you are mistaken! It is some one else, not he. Jarima was