"I'll force you to give me half," returned Samuel Barker, stubbornly. A cry of rage followed. Then Estella heard the overturning of a bench, and the fall of a heavy body to the floor. "Let--let me up!" she heard Barker gasp. "Don't--don't! Would you murder me, Mazenas?" "You have brought it on yourself!" hissed the lieutenant. "I've gotten rid of the others; now I intend to get rid of you!" Again came the sounds of a struggle, then a cry for help. Estella essayed to scream out, but her voice failed her. In another moment she knew it was all over. There was a gasp, and a gurgle, and Lieutenant Mazenas leaped to his feet. "He's out of the way," he muttered. "I wonder where I can place the body? But, pshaw! no one here knows him! I'll let him lie where he is, and throw a mass of straw over him." He paused for a moment. "I wonder if she heard anything? I had better go in and see." He threw a quantity of straw over the dead body, and then walked out into the gloomy corridor. He was just about to enter Estella's room when a soldier came for him. "You are wanted below, lieutenant," he said, saluting--"wanted without delay by Captain Guito." "Very well," he replied; and for the time being his second visit to Estella was deferred. The horrible deed in the adjoining apartment had been too much for Estella's nerves, and when satisfied that Lieutenant Mazenas had really murdered his companion in cold blood, her senses forsook her, and she did not recover consciousness until several hours later. In the meantime all was bustle and activity below. Over two hundred Spanish soldiers were on hand, and they speedily put the old stone structure in condition for use should an attack by the rebels occur. The defeat of the day before had frightened them, and they had become extremely cautious. Among the number was a man who, in years gone by had been a clergyman in Madrid but had been suspended from the church for gambling. With this fellow Lieutenant Mazenas had struck up a close friendship and the religious outcast readily agreed to perform any ceremony the Spanish villain might desire. He would ask no foolish questions he said and assured Mazenas that all would go well. The military operations about the old house having been completed Lieutenant Mazenas again sought Estella's room. He found her lying upon a bench her cheeks wet with tears. "Tears are useless," he grumbled. "Do be a reasonable girl, Estella." "Back! back!" she cried. "Don't touch me--murderer! I heard all that occurred in the next room! And so you also instigated the death of my poor father! Oh, you treacherous wretch! How I wish I had you in my power for but one minute. I would show you how a Cuban girl can avenge her wrongs!" He laughed sardonically. "Since you have heard what occurred in the next room you must realize that I am not a man to be trifled with. Oh, you need not look out of the window for help--there is none at hand."