CHAPTER XVIII.

"LEAVE THIS HOUSE, AND NEVER LET ME SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO OBEY ME!"

"Your father has come back!" said Howard. "Your fears for his safety were groundless."

Estella did not answer. She was too busy thinking. The arrival of her stern parent had completely disarranged her calculations.

"I must go below," she said, at last, after Cara had called her again. "Remain here, unless----"

"My dear mistress, do you hear? Your father is back!" called the maid, as she entered the boudoir.

"I am coming, Cara," she returned, and hurried out, making the maid go before her.

In another minute she was in the parlor, and in her father's arms. The old general had his arm in a sling, and there were several ugly scratches upon one cheek, but he declared that his wounds were far from serious.

"A fellow hit me with his sword and stunned me," he said. "It was a good thing in one way, for it saved me from being run through the heart."

"I saw that soldier," said Estella, with a shudder, and told of the pathetic scene in the sugar-cane at the dying soldier's side. The general listened with great attention.

"He thought he was killing a real general, eh?" He smiled for a moment then grew grave. "Well, poor fellow, he's dead now, and I have no doubt he thought he was in the right."

"They know they are in the wrong, General Corona," broke in Captain Nocolo, who stood in the doorway. "The rebels are out for plunder, and that is all. They know full well they cannot win in this struggle."

Estella, who had disdained to notice the captain before, now turned upon him.

"Captain Nocolo, you will oblige me by withdrawing," she said, coldly.

"Estella!" burst from her father's lips, in surprise.

"I mean it, papa. He is not wanted here, and he knows why. I will explain to you when we are alone."

The general looked perplexed, and frowned.

"You speak strangely, my child. Captain Nocolo is an old soldier, and----"

"And no gentleman, papa."

"Ha! that is saying a good deal!" burst from the general's lips.

"You speak too harshly, girl!" burst out Captain Nocolo, savagely. "But, however," he went on hurriedly, "I am here strictly on business. I want to know what has become of Lieutenant Mazenas."

"Yes, that's it," said General Corona. "The captain says he is in this house."

Estella turned pale, and could scarcely suppress her agitation.

"If Captain Nocolo desires to find the lieutenant, he had better hunt for him. I have nothing more to say to him."

"Ah! as I thought!" ejaculated the Spanish officer, turning red. "She knows something more than I know! The lieutenant gave his men a peculiar order from the window of this parlor some little while ago, and has not come from the house since. He may be held a prisoner here."

"Captain Nocolo, do you know what you are saying?" demanded Estella's father, wrathfully. "A prisoner! Surely you are losing your head!"

"Perhaps not, General Corona. You do not know your daughter as well as I do. On the very night that the train you were on was wrecked by the rebels, I found your daughter in the company of that American spy, Howard Sherwood."

"Impossible!" thundered General Corona. "She was with me, and----"

"You went off to the battle in the sugar-cane. I was coming up from the bay, with Lieutenant Mazenas and several others, in pursuit of Sherwood. I came upon them arm-in-arm."

At these words the face of the old general became as dark as night. He turned and looked at Estella sternly.

"Estella, is this true? Answer at once!"

The face of the beautiful girl became first white, and then a livid red. She tried to speak, but the words would not pass her lips. She wrung her hands in silent despair.

"Enough; you need not say a word!" the words cut like the edge of a sharp knife. "I know Captain Nocolo speaks the truth! And this, Estella, after all I have told you! How dared you disobey me?"

"Father!"

"Explanations are needless!" he ejaculated, harshly. "My daughter the friend and companion--nay, mayhap, the sweetheart--of an American spy--a treacherous foe to Spain!"

The words stung Estella to the quick. She could bear to hear herself reviled, but to listen to a denunciation of Howard was too much. She raised her head proudly--raised it as her father was wont to raise his own--and her eyes shone defiantly.

"Father, you are mistaken. Howard Sherwood is no spy. He is merely a newspaper correspondent and the soul of honor. He is not working in either the interests of Spain or the insurgents, but in the interests of the great newspaper syndicate he represents. He----"

"Silence, Estella! To think that I must stand here, in my own house, and listen to such words!" fumed the old general. "I know these Americans only too well. They would make Cuba the forty-sixth State in their Union, if they could. I hate them all!"

"Father, such words are not--not just. The Americans----"

"Don't speak of them, Estella!" The general was growing more angry every instant. An idea seemed to flash over his mind. "Where is this Sherwood now?" he asked, abruptly.

Estella did not answer the question. General Corona looked inquiringly at the Spanish captain.

"Howard Sherwood was confined in the prison at Marambo," said Captain Nocolo. "He escaped this morning, and"--he hesitated, with a cruel smile of triumph on his yellow face--"I have every reason to believe he came here to seek assistance from your daughter."

Had the old general received a blow in the face he could not have looked more angry, more resentful. He hesitated for an instant, as if to digest the words he had just heard, then strode toward his daughter and caught her fiercely by the arm.

"Estella, you hear what Captain Nocolo says. What have you to answer to this?" he demanded.

An intense silence filled the room for fully a minute. At first several sentences arose to the beautiful girl's lips. But she checked them, and would not speak.

"Estella, do you hear?" fairly thundered the general, and he shook her arm fiercely. "Speak, child, speak!"

"Father, don't--don't!" was all that came from her bloodless lips.

"You must speak! Did Sherwood come here? What did you do for him? Where is he now? I command you to answer my questions!"

She shook her head. She could not trust herself to utter another word.

"An obstinate girl, truly!" observed Captain Nocolo; but the look that General Corona gave him instantly silenced him.

"Estella, this is a serious matter, and you must and shall speak!" proceeded her father, with increased sternness. "Answer all of my questions without delay, and tell me the truth. If you will not I--I will disown you, and cast you out!"

"Father!"

It was a wail straight from her heart, but he had steeled himself against it.

"Answer me!" He shook her again. "Answer! This is the last time I will ask you to do so!"

"I cannot! I--I cannot!"

A strange fire leaped into his stern eyes--the fire of a spirit that knew not what it was to be crossed. He caught her and almost flung her toward the doorway.

"Then go!" he cried. "Go--leave this house, and never let me see you again until you are ready to obey me!"

Scarcely had the words crossed his quivering lips than the side door to the parlor was flung open, and Howard Sherwood leaped into the room.

"General Corona, have pity on your daughter, and do not treat her so unkindly," said Howard. "I am here to answer all questions concerning myself!"