CHAPTER XXVI.

"DEFEND YOURSELF OR I WILL STRIKE YOU DEAD WHERE YOU STAND."

With her gentle heart all but paralyzed with fear, beautiful Estella lay unconscious in the coach, only an occasional gasp proclaiming the fact that life had not entirely left her.

"Turn off to the Bayamo road, Romano," were Captain Nocolo's directions to the driver, and the man answered, "Si, capitan," and went on at full speed.

"A narrow escape, truly," mused the rascally Spanish officer, as with gloating eyes he drank in the beauty of Estella's well-moulded form. "But she is still mine, and in the future I'll take good care to avoid such surprises. The result of this war will be of little consequence to me if I can make her my own, and remove her father, Mazenas and that accursed American! Not only she, but her fortune must be mine!"

And he rubbed his fat hands together, as if Estella and her prospective wealth were already within his grasp.

It was well that the coach turned off on a side road, for soon the main body of the soldiery came along. From the coach window Captain Nocolo gave directions to a lieutenant, and then the coach disappeared from view.

When Estella recovered consciousness she found herself in an upper room of a two-story stone house, such as are frequently seen in the interior of Cuba, a rambling affair, whitewashed and partly covered with moss. The room was small and plainly furnished.

She lay upon a rude bed, and as soon as she realized her situation and remembered what had happened she leaped to her feet. She tried the door, but found it locked. Then she ran to the single window of the apartment and discovered that an iron grating had been securely nailed over it from the outside.

"Heaven help me!" she moaned. "He has made me his prisoner! For what purpose I dread to conjecture!"

The thought of what had occurred to Howard drove away, for the time being, all thoughts concerning her own welfare. How seriously had her lover been hurt? Were his injuries fatal?

"No, no! not that!" she moaned. "Oh, Heaven above, not that!"

In an agony of mind she began to pace the bare floor, and the sound of her footsteps soon brought an old man to her door, a dried-up creature with a crafty and cruel face. He carried in his hand a tray containing a bottle of native wine and some flour cakes.

"Better have a bite, señorita," he mumbled. "Captain said you were to have it."

"I want nothing," returned Estella, pushing the food aside. "Where is Captain Nocolo?"

"Gone to report to the general. He will be back shortly."

"I will go below."

"Excuse me, but the captain's orders are that you remain in this room."

"You intend to keep me a prisoner?"

The old man nodded.

"I will not remain! Let me pass!"

She essayed to move toward the door. He blocked the way, and showed a wonderful strength for so old a creature as he forced her back.

"Not so fast, my fair lady. I must obey orders," he chuckled, in his Cuban patois. And leaped back to the doorway. "Attempt to escape, and you will pay dearly for it," he added, threateningly.

"What does Captain Nocolo intend to do with me?"

"He said you and he were to be married."

"Married!" gasped Estella. "Never! I would rather die!"

"'Tis easily said. Yet it would be much better to be the gallant captain's wife, to my way of thinking. However, we all have different tastes. Some want garlic in their soup, some detest garlic, and some do not want the soup at all!" and he laughed at his old Spanish saying.

To this Estella did not reply, and the old man left her.

The hours dragged by slowly until, toward noon, she heard somebody approaching. From the window she saw that it was Captain Nocolo. In a moment he presented himself at the door and smiled hypocritically.

"I am exceedingly glad to see that you have recovered," he remarked as he locked the door, put the key in his pocket and seated himself on a chair. "I was afraid you were seriously indisposed. I would not have left you, but duty to our country demanded it."

"It's a great pity you did not remain away," she returned, coldly. "I could have gotten along very well without you."

"You are very unkind, my fair Estella," he went on, suavely. "I did no more than the force of circumstances demanded."

"Your attack upon Señor Sherwood was cowardly!"

"I differ with you. He attacked my coach first. Besides, he is nothing but a rebel."

"If he is, then so am I, Captain Nocolo."

"You a rebel!" he laughed. "But, perhaps; anything to be with that spy, I presume!"

"When are you going to set me free?" she demanded, changing the subject.

"As soon as you become my wife."

"That will never be!"

"We will see. I do not intend to stand aside for Lieutenant Mazenas any longer."

"As I never intended to marry him, you will not have to stand aside," cried Estella. "But I will never marry you, so you might as well give me my liberty."

He advanced and caught her suddenly by both wrists.

"I say you shall marry me!" he hissed. "I will force you to do it! You cannot possibly escape me."

"Monster! unhand me!" she exclaimed in horror and tried to free herself.

"Ha! ha! you cannot get away, my beauty!" he cried, exultantly. "I am master, as you see. Come! give me a warm kiss from your sweet ruby lips."

"No! no! Help! help!" she panted.

"It is useless to cry for help," he laughed. "There is no one within hearing but old Antonio, and he knows better than to lift a hand," and he drew her still closer to him.

She struggled desperately, and partly freed herself, but again he caught her, and this time his arm held her slender waist as in a vise.

"You are mine, my beautiful Estella," he cried, passionately. "Mine, and I shall do with you as I will! I swore the other day that you should be mine in spite of all, and that vow shall be kept. No one in this world shall come between us!"

"Monster! Help! help!" shrieked Estella, panting from her exertions to free herself from his embrace. He tried his hardest to kiss her, but she turned her head away. In her struggle she dragged him half across the room.

"Ha! ha! see, you can do nothing!" he laughed, rudely. "You are mine, Estella, all mine! I will make you obey me in everything, and will----"

A crash upon the door from the outside made him cease speaking. Another crash and the door fell down, and Howard Sherwood leaped into the room.

"Unhand her, you base villain!" cried the young war correspondent in a ringing voice. "Unhand her and defend yourself, or I will strike you dead where you stand!"

"Howard!" cried Estella, in joyful accents. "Oh, thank Heaven for this deliverance!"

Captain Nocolo muttered a savage oath and released his hold. Whirling about, he saw himself confronted by Howard with a drawn sword.

"Defend yourself, if you will," went on the young war correspondent, steadily. "I will give you one second in which to prepare."

"As you will, you American cur!" howled the Spanish captain, and whipping out his shining blade, he made a furious onslaught upon the young man.

"Oh, Howard, he will kill you!" moaned Estella, as the two swords came together with a ringing clash. "He is an experienced swordsman--I know it!"

"I do not fear his skill!" responded Howard, as he compressed his teeth, and at the same instant parried a swift thrust from the captain's sword.

In an agony of terror Estella stood by, anxious to help Howard, yet warned by him to keep in the rear. In the meanwhile Captain Nocolo wondered why the old man, Antonio, did not appear, unaware that Howard had struck him down and left him senseless in the kitchen below.