"I should not tell, perhaps," she went on, hastily. "But it is your right to know this, and you would not understand if I didn't tell you. Clif, he asked me to marry him." Clif started and turned pale. "Bessie!" he exclaimed in horror. The thought of that girl's marrying the Spanish officer was terrible. It flashed over him that that was the reason why the rescue had been attempted. "Oh, Bessie!" he cried again. Clif had never breathed a word of love to her in his life. But all through their trying journey through Cuba he had protected her, fairly worshiped her. And he had thought she understood his feelings. And now he thought that he had lost her--she had promised to be that officer's wife! It was no wonder that he felt his hands grow icy. His heart fairly stood still as he waited for the girl to go on. "I will tell you," said Bessie. "You must know in the first place that this man is a gentleman, a hero in fact. You will understand it when I tell you what he has done." "Go on." "When he left the hospital, as I say, he begged me to marry him--declared he would resign from the army if I would." The girl was breathing hard as she continued; it was evident that the subject pained her. "I felt so sorry for him," she said, in a low, trembling voice. "For I think it has nearly broken his heart. I refused him. I told him that I liked him, but I did not, I could not marry him. I had been kind to him because he was ill. He swore that he would die for me--and, Clif, I think he has nearly carried out his promise." Bessie Stuart choked down a sob. "I refused him," she said again. "And then came the horrible Ignacio. He saw me on the street. That was three days ago; and that same day I was placed under arrest." "What for?" "Why, Ignacio knew that I had been fighting with Gomez; you know we had a fight with some Spaniards when he was along. And so there was no chance for me. The British consul did all he could for me, but there was no hope. I could not deny the charges. And, oh, Clif, I have had a frightful time. I was taken over to those horrible dungeons in Morro. And I was sentenced to death. I was to be taken out and shot to-morrow." The girl stopped for a few moments to recover her composure. "And how did you find out about me?" asked Clif. "I will tell you," said Bessie. "But first I must go on about this Lieutenant Hernandez. I did not know it, but he was stationed over here. And when he found out what had happened to me he managed to come in to see me." And then Clif felt able to complete that story. "I suppose," said he, "that he offered to free you if you would marry him." Bessie Stuart smiled sadly. "You do not know the man," said she. "I will tell you what he did say. I can almost hear him saying it." "What?"