It must not be supposed that the young captain neglected his duties as a Cuban officer, or as a press representative. He brought his men together and gave them instructions for the future, and also sent a long letter to New York, by the way of Key West, the only port to be reached at the time. His work about the city at an end, Howard rode off alone for the spot where Lieutenant Mazenas had taken charge of Estella, his object being to look over the battlefield, now deserted and silent, in hope of finding some trace of the movements of the pair. He was satisfied that Mazenas had not been captured by the rebels, nor was he near Puerto Principe with his fair charge. "I will find him," murmured the young man, "even if I have to follow him into the Spanish stronghold." And he set his teeth sharp and examined his pistols and his sword. The battleground reached, Howard presently fell in with an old negro whose cabin was but a short distance away. The old fellow was bemoaning the loss of several pigs and some tobacco, but Howard soon cheered him by throwing him a piece of silver, and this induced the negro to talk readily. "You is a gen'man, sah," he said, as he took the money. "Moah of a gen'man dan dat Spanish officer wot brung the lady to mah cabin las' night." At these words Howard pricked up his ears. He began to question the negro closely, and soon reached the conclusion that it was Mazenas who had taken shelter at the cabin with Estella. "And where did the pair go?" he eagerly asked. "You must have heard them talking." "'Deed I did hear 'em talk, sah. De lady was mighty tearful like, an' de man--he was a brute, if eber dere was one." "What did he do--did he strike her?" demanded Howard. "Did he dare to do that?" "Well, he most a-struck her, sah. But she pulled a dagger, an' she said she would stab him if he put his hand on her. He wanted her to go to a place he called the Red Valley House. She wouldn't, nohow." "And how did the scene end?" "He called in help, an' de las' I see, two soldiers was a-carryin' her off, an' de brute stalkin' along behind. Dey carried her to a wagon over in de field, an' drove off like de debbil was after 'em!" "The Red Valley House!" mused the young war correspondent. "Where is that?" "De Red Valley, sah, is about fifteen miles west ob de ribber. I calkerlate the house am a werry old place dat was built by de Indians years an' years ago. I sp'ect de Spanish soldiers am goin' ter use 't fer a fort if de rebels push 'em too hard." "Ah!" Howard drew a long breath. He had heard of this old Indian structure before. Captain Martinez had said the Spaniards might utilize it. "It would be a daring thing to make an attack," he mused. "I wonder if I can induce Martinez to join me in the movement?" In hot haste he rode back to the city, and searched out the captain. Martinez listened with interest to his story, but at the conclusion shook his head.