CHAPTER XXV.

"SAVE ME, HOWARD! PROTECT ME FROM THIS HUMAN BRUTE!"

Boom!

It was not the reports of the rifles which rang out when the officer in command ordered the death guard to fire upon Howard Sherwood. Just as the word was framed by his lips a large bomb whistled through the air overhead, landed at the very feet of the eight soldiers and exploded!

The havoc was terrific. Two of the men were instantly killed, and the others, as well as the commanding officer, were seriously wounded.

As for Howard, he dropped to the ground when he heard the bomb coming, and this saved him, although he was covered with the human wreckage. The bandage fell from his face, and by a mighty effort he freed his hands.

"The rebels! The rebels!" was the cry which resounded on all sides. "They have routed the outposts and are entering the city!"

The cries came from the street and they were quickly taken up by those about the prison. A moment later, several insurgents appeared on the high wall. They dropped into the yard and opened the gates; then a stream of men, old and young, and armed in every conceivable manner, rushed in.

"Cuba libre! Cuba libre!" was the well-known battle-cry, and a moment later it was taken up by many of the prisoners in the cells.

Realizing the fortunate turn of affairs which had spared to him his very life, the young war correspondent, as quickly as he could get his breath, looked around for means to arm himself. From the wounded officer he took a sword and a pistol, and in another moment was in the thickest of the fray, for insurgents and Spaniards were battling on every hand.

The first work of the attacking forces was to liberate the prisoners and tell them to arm themselves at the expense of the enemy. This done, they were left to do as they pleased with their former jailers, while the main body of the rebels rushed on to the city hall and other public buildings.

No sooner had he armed himself than Howard found himself confronted by Luigi, the jailer, who with drawn pistol ordered the young war correspondent to surrender. For reply Howard knocked the jailer's pistol from his hand, and then, with a blow on the face, dashed the fellow flat on his back. As Luigi was attempting to rise, a negro rebel ran up and pierced him to the heart with a bayonet, and the rascal expired on the spot.

As soon as the attack began, Howard's thoughts went back to Estella. He had seen her carried off by Captain Nocolo and a burly soldier, and he wondered where she had been taken. He ran into the prison and along one corridor after another, shouting her name.

"Help, Señor Sherwood!"

At this appeal Howard halted and looked around. He saw Tomasso the overseer, armed with only a club, battling manfully against two Spanish soldiers, one with a bayonet and the second with a sword. Tomasso was nearly exhausted, and would have been slain had not the young war correspondent rushed up and turned the tide of battle in his favor. A shot from his pistol wounded the fellow with the bayonet, and, seeing himself attacked from behind, the other Spanish soldier took to his heels and ran out of sight in the crowd.

"Thank you, señor, for your timely aid!" gasped Tomasso. "I owe you my life!"

"And I owe you mine, Tomasso!" replied Howard. "But, come! we must find your mistress."

"I thinks she is in cell forty-seven, señor."

"No, Captain Nocolo has carried her off. I saw him do it just before the commencement of the attack."

"Then he has taken her from the prison. Ha! I have it!" went on the overseer. "It had been decided that if Marambo were taken, he was to retreat to Holguin, and there meet the reinforcements from Puerto Padre. It is more than likely that the villain will force her to accompany him. He is playing a double game. If possible, he intends to cut out Lieutenant Mazenas and marry Estella for her fortune."

"But the lieutenant will have something to say about that," commented Howard.

Tomasso shrugged his shoulders.

"In war times a man is easily killed, and the enemy gets the blame, señor."

"I see. Well, come. It should be easy to trace the villainous captain," said Howard.

They left the vicinity of the prison, and fought their way through the crowd beyond. They were stopped a dozen times by the inquiry, "Who goes there?" and always replied promptly, "Cuba!"

"Stop!" called out Howard, suddenly, and then made a dive into a group of half a dozen men. He caught one big fellow by the shoulder and whispered in his ear:

"I have a message for Captain Nocolo---where has he gone?" were his words.

The big man started; he was the same who had helped to carry Estella from the prison. Then he bent forward.

"You will find him in a yellow coach, on the road to Holguin."

This coincided so closely with what Tomasso had said, that Howard readily believed the soldier. He ran back to where the overseer was standing.

"Come on; you were right, Tomasso," he cried; and as they set off on a run, he related what the Spaniard had said.

It was still raining in torrents, and the roads were now filled with mud. In some spots the highways were so bad they had to make wide detours to keep from sinking up to their knees. But Tomasso knew the ground well, and in consequence comparatively quick progress was made.

"I am glad it is raining," said the overseer. "The rebels will not be able to burn the master's plantation."

"That is so," and then Howard asked: "But where has General Corona gone?"

"Very likely to Puerto Padre, to join the Spanish forces. Since the skirmish at the railroad, he has been wild to assume command again."

At this Howard relapsed into silence. The city was left behind, and they came out on a country road, lined with sugar-cane fields.

On more than one occasion they saw bodies of the Spanish forces in retreat to Holguin, but by concealing themselves in the cane-fields they managed to avoid trouble. Inside of half an hour the rain ceased and the sun came out.

"We must be getting near the head of the troops," remarked Howard, uneasily. "Yet I see no signs of a yellow coach."

"I discern the outlines of a large vehicle ahead, and that may be it," said Tomasso. "Ah, it is! it is!"

He started on a run with Howard beside him. In his eagerness the young war correspondent easily outstripped the faithful overseer, and soon reached the side of the coach, which was plunging along in the mud as rapidly as the four horses attached could drag it.

"Halt!" cried Howard to the driver.

"Stand back!" roared the man. "This is Captain Nocolo's coach."

"Howard! Howard! save me!" came in piteous tones from inside, and Estella's frightened face appeared at the window. She was almost instantly pulled out of sight by Captain Nocolo.

"Stop, or I'll shoot!" ordered Howard. "I demand the instant release of the young lady who is inside."

Just as the words were uttered, Tomasso came up and stationed himself at the front of the leading pair of horses. With a savage oath, the driver pulled up on his lines. At the same moment Captain Nocolo stuck his head out of the window.

"Go on! go on!" he cried to the driver. "Don't stop here!"

"A hold-up, capitan," was the grim reply, and as the words were spoken the captain caught sight of Howard.

"You!" he yelled. "I will fix you!"

He rapidly drew his pistol and took aim at the young war correspondent. But as the trigger fell Estella dashed up his arm and the bullet flew wide of its mark.

"Curse you!" hissed the captain, in a rage. "Don't dare to do that again."

Once more he aimed the weapon at Howard. But now Estella clung to his arm, and he found it impossible to shake her off. Her face appeared again at the narrow window.

"Save me, Howard," she shrieked. "Protect me from this human brute!"

"I will save you, Estella, darling!" he responded, and flew to the coach door and pulled it open.

This movement caused Captain Nocolo to pitch forward, and in order to save himself from falling he threw himself upon the young war correspondent, and both rolled into the road. The pistol dropped into the mud, and a fierce struggle ensued.

Estella wanted to assist her noble lover, but knew not what to do. Trembling with excitement, she leaped out and tried to pull the captain over backward.

In this she was successful. In the meantime Captain Nocolo had by an adroit movement managed to draw a keen dagger from an inner pocket in his coat.

"Take that!" he yelled, as he plunged the sharp-pointed weapon into Howard's breast. "I reckon that will settle you for all time to come."

Howard tried to dodge the thrust, but could not, and with a groan he sank back, gave a convulsive shudder and lay still.

"You have killed him!" shrieked Estella, and in despair she felt herself on the verge of mental eclipse. She reeled and would have fallen had not the captain caught her and thrown her into the coach again.

"Back, for your life!" yelled Captain Nocolo to Tomasso, as he picked up the fallen pistol, and as Tomasso retreated a few paces, he urged the horses on, the driver plied the whip, and once more they went forward, with poor Estella still their prisoner.