“She managed to get off the gag and scream,” Phil whispered with admiration, “before she fainted. Bring that light, Syd, she may be hurt.” The light was soon brought, and the lads were relieved to find that she was unharmed. Lopez meanwhile had stayed at the bedside of his dead master, moaning piteously. The noise caught the girl’s ear as she awaked from her stupor under the administration of the midshipmen. “It was Espinosa himself,” she exclaimed in an anguish of sorrow. “They forced the door and killed the brave sailors. My father defended himself but he is no match for five men. Espinosa struck him down from behind. I ran to guard little Juan, but they caught me and bound me.” “The money is gone too,” groaned Lopez. This to him seemed as great a sorrow as the death of his master. “They lowered it out the window,” Maria said. She entered her father’s room, walking unsteadily between the two midshipmen, and knelt in prayer before her father’s couch. Phil’s eyes fell before those of the girl as she arose dry-eyed and calm. He saw the anguish in her face, however, and vowed that he would lighten her task wherever it lay in his power. “Is Juan safe?” Lopez asked suddenly, his mind at last grasping the horrible calamity which had fallen on his master’s house and realizing that his first duty was with the living. The girl nodded. “Inez brought the alarm that the house was surrounded. She hid the boy and herself. Espinosa searched for him and his intention was to carry us both away as his prisoners.” Then a sudden fear came into her voice and her eyes flashed with excited terror. “He said that Colonel Martinez had been killed. Is it so?” The lads shook their heads. “We have no news, Maria,” Phil said kindly. “No, it cannot be so. It was but prompted by this cruel man to taunt you.” She sighed hopefully. “If he had known of this attack and was alive he would have prevented it,” she exclaimed suddenly, her hope turning to dejection. While they were talking the fusillade slowly diminished and soon ceased altogether and in a short time Captain Blynn’s voice was heard in the hall below. In the large living-room the army and navy men sat, until the daylight sifted in through the shell windows, talking of the perplexing situation, while Maria was made to go to bed and sleep. The doctor who accompanied the captain regarded her with eyes of grave concern. “She must not be overexcited. She is outwardly calm but her heart acts queerly. It may snap at any moment,” he had told the lads.