CHAPTER XXIV.

THE LAST MOMENT--"TAKE AIM! FIRE!"

To make a resolve was an easy matter; to carry it out was extremely difficult.

Although the guards were fully occupied at the gates of the prison, they did not forget Howard, and as soon as they saw him walking toward the exercising prisoners they ordered him back to his place.

"You are not to speak to any one!" cried the captain of the guard. "Attempt to do so, and you may find yourself dead before the other man can answer!"

And then the Spaniard, thinking he had said a very smart thing, laughed coarsely, and his companions joined in his hilarity.

This, however, did not deter the young war correspondent. He was condemned to die, so if he failed in his effort, he could lose nothing. He stood in the place designated; then, at the first opportunity he slipped away, and into the open prison doorway.

When he had been confined at the end of one of the upper corridors, he had noticed how the numbering of the cells ran, and now he had no trouble in locating cell 47, in a wing of the building farthest from the street gate, and in a section devoted entirely to females.

He ran up to the cell door and peered inside. All was gloomy enough, but he recognized the beautiful form on the bench, as Estella sat there, her face buried in her hands.

"Estella!" he called, softly.

She started and raised her head. Then she gave a glad cry and rushed to the grating.

"Howard, is it really you?" she faltered.

"Yes, my darling!" He kissed her through the cold iron bars. "Oh, my love, why did you dare so much?"

"I did it for your sake, Howard!" she murmured, and blushed crimson as she spoke. "I could not bear to think of your being here."

"But now you are a prisoner, too!" he said, sadly. "Oh, what a terrible misfortune!"

"How did you know I was here? Have you seen Tomasso?"

"Yes, and he gave me the number of the cell. Oh, Estella, I would make any sacrifice to set you free!" he went on, passionately.

"And I would do the same for you, Howard. But I am afraid we cannot help each other. You--how is it you are here?"

"I slipped from the guard while I was in the yard."

"And what are they going to do with you? Are they going to give you a trial?" she questioned, hastily.

He could scarcely answer her. He lowered his eyes, but she compelled him to speak.

"I have had a trial--at least, what they call a trial," he said, in such a low voice she could scarcely hear him.

"And the verdict, Howard--what was it? Tell me--you don't answer. Did they--they find you guilty?"

"Yes."

She gave a pitiful sob, and clutched the iron bars tightly, to keep herself from falling to the floor.

"And what is to be the next step, Howard?--tell me the whole truth."

"I am to be shot within the hour!"

"Oh!"

That one little stifled exclamation, yet how much it meant! She tried to say more, but from her parched lips, pale with terror, there came only a heart-wrung moan.

"It was Captain Nocolo's work. He swore my life away!"

"And Lieutenant Mazenas tried to poison you!" she said, at last. "You are surrounded by enemies and cannot expect fair treatment. Oh, how my heart longs to aid you, Howard!" she went on, with another sob.

"You noble and sweet girl!" he burst out. "There is not such another loyal heart in the whole world!"

"You may hit upon some way to escape. Take the first chance, no matter how desperate. Try, try, Howard, for my sake!"

"And what of you, Estella?"

"Never mind me. Save yourself! I will----"

"Hold! What means this?" shouted a voice at the turn in the corridor, and a yellow-skinned creole jailer stalked up.

Not stopping to think twice, Howard pounced upon the fellow, and hurled him to the floor.

"A single word and your life will pay the forfeit!" said the young war correspondent.

And then, as the guard quickly arose to his feet and began a desperate struggle to overpower his antagonist, Howard hit him a heavy blow behind the ear. With a groan, the creole fell back unconscious.

It was but the work of a moment for Howard to find the jailer's keys. With them he unlocked the door of Estella's cell and also liberated his own wrists.

"Come, Estella," he said, in a low voice. "See! I have his pistol and his sword. Let us make a dash for liberty together!"

"I will go with you wherever you say!" murmured the beautiful girl. "Henceforth I am what my friends call me--Estella, the little Cuban rebel!"

"And, I too, shall fight in the cause of Cuban liberty!" returned Howard. "That is, if we are fortunate enough to escape."

Side by side they ran down the corridor and toward a door leading to a portion of the prison yard reserved for the few female prisoners, as well as for the family of the resident jailer. The door was bolted, but not locked, and they were quickly outside and in the pouring rain.

"Had we any sort of a ladder we might scale yonder wall!" said Howard. "But without a ladder we can do nothing."

Scarcely had he spoken when a rifle shot rang out, and a bullet plowed its way through his sleeve and scratched his arm. Estella gave a cry of terror.

"We are discovered!"

The shot from the rifle was followed by a shout from the guard, and in a few seconds half a dozen heavy feet were heard running in their direction.

"You had better go back, Estella!" whispered her lover. "Lock yourself in the cell, and you may escape punishment. I will stand here and fight it out."

Estella shook her head.

"I will remain by your side," she whispered.

There was no time to say more. The guards came running up and Howard was surrounded. He fired one shot, and then the pistol was taken from him, and he was thrown down and overpowered.

"Howard! Howard!" he heard Estella cry, and looking up, he saw her being carried off by a burly Spanish officer and Captain Nocolo!

The young war correspondent's hands were bound behind him, and with savage blows he was driven out again into the prison yard, from where the exercising prisoners had now retired.

"Come! say your prayers!" cried his guard, brutally. "There is no time to waste on you. We must get you off our hands and then go out and fight the accursed insurgents, who are prowling about in the rain and fog."

"Are they so near?" exclaimed Howard. "Oh, that they might save me!" he thought.

He was given no time to speculate, however. All about the prison was in a state of excitement, and this being so, the guards thought only of settling his case. Had they had their own way, they would have shot him down where he stood, and left him where he fell. But certain formalities had to be gone through with, and these occupied several minutes.

During the interval of time the booming of a cannon on the outskirts of the city caused a general alarm to be sounded. The rebels, under Captain Martinez, had commenced hostilities!

The boom of the cannon was followed by a roar of artillery from the Spanish guns in Marambo. Then the cannonading became general.

In nervous haste, the guards led Howard out into the centre of the prison yard. He was blindfolded and placed in position. A squad of eight soldiers, with rifles, stood in line but fifty feet away.

"Prisoner, if you would pray, do so at once," said the officer in charge. "You have but a single minute to live."

Howard could not reply; he was past that now. It looked indeed as if he must die. Silently he commended his soul to his Maker, and awaited the awful moment of doom.

The officer held a watch in his hand. The seconds ticked away rapidly--ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty! The minute was up! The watch was put away.

"Are you ready, men?"

There was no answer. Each of the eight soldiers stood with his rifle at a carry arms.

"Take aim!"

The rifles came up, each to its shoulder, and eight shining muzzles were pointed at Howard's heart.

"Fire!"