CHAPTER XVII.

"YOU LITTLE TARTAR, I WILL YET TAME YOU!"

"Apparently you did not expect me back so soon," began Lieutenant Mazenas, as he dropped into a seat beside Estella. He would have sat quite close to her, but she arose and seated herself upon a chair.

"No, I did not expect that pleasure," she coldly responded. "You had my answer; why bother me further?"

"Because matters have taken a change," he said, the smile still visible upon his face. "Our prisoner, the worthy Howard Sherwood, has escaped."

"I am glad to hear it," she replied.

"No doubt, fair Estella, seeing that you assisted in that escape."

She started; then, as she saw his eyes studying her keenly, she tried her best to compose herself.

"You do not deny it?" he went on, seeing she did not reply.

"I certainly do deny that I assisted him to escape from prison. If he got away, it must have been through his own cleverness."

The face of the Spaniard clouded with a frown. He had hoped to corner her, but had failed.

"You did not assist him at all?" he asked, sharply.

"You heard what I said, Lieutenant Mazenas. If you wish to insult me by doubting my statement----"

"Far from it, beautiful Estella, far from it. But--but----"

"I am heartily glad to hear the news you bring. I trust that, as Mr. Sherwood has escaped, he will now manage to keep out of your clutches. Is there anything else you wish to see me about?"

He could not misunderstand her now, and the smile faded, and a look of fury blazed forth in his eyes.

"You think you have won!" he hissed, "but you will soon discover your mistake. As to the news you say I bring, I have reason to believe that you knew of it, as I had questioned one of your servants before I came in."

"Well?"

"Howard Sherwood has escaped, but the officers are on his track, and I have every reason to believe that he will be recaptured before sundown, in which case he will be shot within the hour."

"You had better go, and at once," she managed to say, but it cost her a great effort.

"I am not done yet. I wish to know if you are still disposed to be obdurate regarding the marriage proposal I made to you."

"I shall never change; I cannot consider you in the light of a suitor. I told you that before."

"Then you wish sentence to be carried out upon Howard Sherwood as soon as he is caught? Remember, when the prisoner is retaken, his fate rests with me."

"You had better catch him first," returned Estella. "I fancy, now that he is free, Mr. Sherwood will know how to take care of himself."

The ring in her voice made him suspicious. He strode up to her and caught her by the arm.

"You know where he is!" he declared, "even though you may not have assisted him to escape. Ha! you turn your face away! I am right! Where is he? I command you to tell me!"

"You can command what you choose, Lieutenant Mazenas, and I will answer as I choose."

"You cannot defy me in this way. Don't you know that it is a crime to assist an escaped prisoner, especially a war spy?" he cried. "Were I to give an order, you would be thrown into a dungeon!"

"Then give the order--if you dare!" she panted.

"You know I will not--that is, if we can come to terms," he added, hastily.

"The same terms that you mentioned before, I presume," she sneered.

"Yes. Listen, Estella; you must become my wife, sooner or later. Then why not at once, and thus save yourself further trouble."

"The greatest trouble that could come to me would be to become your wife," she replied. "I would much prefer a dungeon, with a diet of bread and water."

Again his anger began to arise. He strode to her side and caught her by the arm.

"You little Tartar, I will yet tame you!" he cried, in a passion. "I will teach you to kneel at my feet, even if I cannot make you love me. You shall be mine--I have sworn it! You have gone too far--I will teach you a lesson!"

He caught her in his arms, and, despite her resistance, would have pressed a burning kiss upon her bloodless lips. But at that instant a side-door to the parlor burst open and a manly form sprang in between the pair.

"Coward!" cried Howard Sherwood, and slapped Lieutenant Mazenas so soundly in the face that the Spaniard tottered back, and stumbling over a foot-stool went down in a heap on the floor.

"You!" yelled the Spaniard, as he scrambled to his feet. "You!"

"Oh, Howard, what have you done?" wailed Estella.

"I have protected a lady from the gross insults of a miserable cur!" replied Howard, as he eyed the lieutenant steadily. "Are you not proud of your conduct--you, a Spanish officer?"

"I will have your life for that blow!" yelled the lieutenant, and drawing his sword he rushed upon Howard, only however, to find himself looking into the glistening muzzle of a revolver with which his sweetheart had provided him.

"Diablo!" muttered the lieutenant, falling back several paces. "Put down that weapon."

"Sheath your sword, and I will do so," replied Howard. "This is no place to fight, and in the presence of a lady. If ever you wish to meet me hand to hand, and alone, you will find me ready."

"You Americans can all brag well," sneered the lieutenant, yet he thrust his sword aside. "I thought you must be somewhere about here. Your liberty will not last long now."

"Oh, Howard! what will you do?" cried Estella, in terror, as she turned to her lover. "The lieutenant is not alone. See! four soldiers await him in the garden!"

Howard turned to look out the window. He saw that Estella was right. At that moment the lieutenant gave a loud cry to his men.

"The escaped man is here!" he shouted. "Surround the house, and watch for him!"

"That command will cost you dearly, Lieutenant Mazenas!" exclaimed Howard, hotly. "Had you permitted it, I would have gone peaceably. As it is, I must use force. Good-by, Estella!"

He kissed her, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Lieutenant Mazenas was startled, and, ere he could recover, Howard had his pistol at the officer's ear.

"Clasp your hands behind you," he said sternly. "Refuse, and I swear I will fire at you! There, that's it. Now walk to the window and order your men to withdraw to the gate at the entrance from the main road."

"But----" hesitated the lieutenant.

"Do as I tell you, and do nothing more, or your life will pay the forfeit. I am a desperate man, and will take no chances with you."

Whether Howard meant all he said or not, the words had full effect upon Lieutenant Mazenas. The heavy heads of perspiration stood out upon his forehead, and he trembled in every limb. Standing by the window, he gave the order as Howard had directed.

The soldiers in the garden were puzzled, but obedience is the first duty of a soldier, and they withdrew without asking any questions. Howard, from behind a curtain, saw them depart, and a smile of relief came to his face and to Estella's.

"Now, come with me," went on Howard, and amid much growling on the part of the Spaniard, he forced Lieutenant Mazenas to go up stairs and enter a closet in the room he had lately occupied. The door was locked, and then Howard placed his lips close to the key-hole.

"I will instruct Miss Corona to set you at liberty in exactly an hour," he said. "Then my advice to you is to leave the place, and not annoy her any more. If you come back you will be treated to such a warm reception that you will never forget it."

A growl was the only reply, and the young war correspondent went below in company with his sweetheart.

"Oh, Howard! are you going to leave me?" asked Estella, tearfully.

"Leave you? Far from it!" he smiled. "I shall remain right here--the safest place in the world for me, now that the lieutenant thinks I have availed myself of the opportunity to escape. But you must find me another hiding-place."

"I will do it gladly." She thought a moment, then blushed. "There is a small room opening off my boudoir. No one would suspect that you were secreted there. Come."

Again they went up stairs, and she took him through her own dainty apartments. He could not resist the desire to gaze around at the tasteful furnishings, so typical of her own sweet self.

"Here you will be safe," she said, as they reached the room she had spoken of. "All you will have to do is to keep quiet, and----"

"Oh, Doña Estella!" It was the voice of Cara, coming from below. "Your father has come back, and is only slightly hurt. Captain Nocolo is with him, and they wish to see you at once."

"Papa is alive!" murmured Estella, gladly, then her cheeks paled. "Captain Nocolo! Oh, what shall I do now?"