He walked to the window and she turned away. Oh, if she had but known that Howard had in that moment espied her, and was now on his way to rescue her! "I have a clergyman here," he went on. "He says he will marry us at once. Now you can take the choice I gave you. Which shall it be--marriage or dishonor?" A cry straight from her soul burst from her bloodless lips. Leaping forward she caught his pistol from his belt. "I prefer--death!" she cried, and placed the weapon to her forehead. But at that critical moment loud exclamations came to her ears--exclamations that thrilled her to the heart and made her lower the weapon, while the man before her turned pale with fear. "Cuba libre! Cuba libre!" And then came the voice of Howard at the very gate to the old stone house, urging the men on. With a crash the gates went down, and there followed revolver shots and sword strokes, groans, appeals for mercy, and shouts of triumph. "The rebels!" uttered Lieutenant Mazenas, and hurried to the door. "Stop!" The command came from Estella. "Stand where you are, Lieutenant Mazenas. You shall not go below to lead your men." The pistol was pointed at his heart. He looked into her face, and saw there no mercy--only stern, unrelenting justice. He fairly cowered before her. "Unlock the door," she went on. "But do not dare to take one step beyond it." With a muttered oath, he did as bidden. Then, of a sudden, he caught up the bench, and, using it as a shield, rushed at her. "I will yet tame you!" he hissed. "You shall see----" "What will she see?" demanded a cold voice from the doorway. Hastily turning, Lieutenant Mazenas found himself confronted by Howard, with drawn sword. "Howard!" "Estella, my darling! Thank God, I have found you at last!" "Caramba," muttered the lieutenant. Then he drew his own weapon and made a lunge at the young war correspondent. The sparks flew thick and fast from the two blades as the two deadly enemies circled around the apartment. It was a duel to the death, it was easy to see that. Twice did Howard have his opponent at a disadvantage, and each time was the lieutenant badly wounded. But, like a dying bull in the ring, he still kept on, cursing to himself and growing more wild and bloodthirsty each instant. Then, like a flash, Howard accidentally slipped, and fell upon one knee. In an instant the lieutenant's sword was at the young war correspondent's throat. "I have you! Die, you American dog!" The thrust was made, but it never reached its mark. Estella aimed the pistol and fired a fatal shot, and with a groan, Mazenas rolled over, and just as a body of the victorious rebels surged into the room, he breathed his last. * * * * * A few words more and we will bring our story to a close.