Rosa explained further: "She used to steal about at night, hoping to surprise papa or Sebastian going or coming from the treasure. They were both killed, as you know, and the secret of the hiding-place was lost. Now Isabel declares that they come to her in her sleep and that she has to help them hunt for it, whether she wishes or not. It is retribution." The speaker drew up her shoulders and shivered, but Esteban smiled. "Bah!" he exclaimed. "I'll believe in ghosts when I see one." Then, with a shake of his head: "Isabel has never given up the hope of finding that treasure. She would like to see Rosa married, and me fighting with the Insurrectos, so that she might have a free hand in her search." O'Reilly scanned the speaker silently for a moment; then he said, with a gravity unusual in him, "I wonder if you know that you're suspected of--working for the Insurrecto cause." "Indeed? I didn't know." "Well, it's a fact." O'Reilly heard Rosa gasp faintly. "Is it true?" he asked. "I am a Cuban." Esteban's smile was a trifle grim. "Cuban? Your people were Spanish." "True. But no Spaniard ever raised a Spanish child in Cuba. We are Cubans, Rosa and I." At this statement the sister cried: "Hush! It is dangerous to speak in that way, with this new war growing every day." "But O'Reilly is our good friend," Esteban protested. "Of course I am," the American agreed, "and for that reason I spoke. I hope you're not too deeply involved with the rebels." "There, Esteban! Do you hear?" Turning to O'Reilly, Rosa said, imploringly: "Please reason with him. He's young and headstrong and he won't listen to me." Esteban frowned. "Young, eh? Well, sometimes the young are called upon to do work that older men wouldn't care to undertake." "What work?" O'Reilly's eyes were still upon him. "You can tell ME." "I think I can," the other agreed. "Well, then, I know everybody in Matanzas; I go everywhere, and the Spanish officers talk plainly before me. Somebody must be the eyes and the ears for Colonel Lopez." "Colonel Lopez!" exclaimed O'Reilly. Esteban nodded. Rosa's face, as she looked at the two men, was white and worried. For a time the three of them sat silent; then the American said, slowly, "You'll be shot if you're caught." Rosa whispered: "Yes! Think of it!" "Some one must run chances," Esteban averred. "We're fighting tyranny; all Cuba is ablaze. I must do my part." "But sooner or later you'll be discovered--then what?" persisted O'Reilly. Esteban shrugged. "Who knows? There'll be time enough when--" "What of Rosa?" At this question the brother stirred uneasily and dropped his eyes. O'Reilly laid a hand upon his arm. "You have no right to jeopardize her safety. Without you, to whom could she turn?" The girl flashed her admirer a grateful glance. "Senor, you for one would see that she--"