"Perhaps you do not know that man as well as I," returned the Spanish captain, with a frown. "I have his history, girl, and a bad one it is." At this announcement Estella turned sick at heart. Was it possible that Howard was not all he pretended to be? Was he really a spy, or worse? She dismissed the idea almost immediately. The man who loved her, and had won her heart, could not be anything but upright and honest in intent and action. "I know enough to tell you that you are making a mistake," she said, boldly. "He is an American citizen, and has done no wrong, and you are only making trouble for your government." "My government? And why not your government--our government, Miss Corona?" said the Spaniard, quickly. "Is it possible you have turned rebel, too? But, bah! why ask, when we caught you in his company." "I am a Cuban, and I live and will die for Cuba!" exclaimed Estella, proudly. "Where are you going to take him?" "To the guard-house at Jiguani, to keep company with a half-hundred rebels already captured. Come!" As the captain concluded, he took Estella by the arm and tried to lead her in a direction opposite to that taken by Howard and the guards. She attempted to resist, but found herself no match for this thin, dyspeptic-looking, but wiry fellow. The more she resisted, the tighter he held her. "Let me go, Captain Nocolo," she finally cried, as she found herself bound, she knew not whither. "Ah, my darling Estella!" he murmured in her ear, at the same time assuring himself that no one else was within sight, "it was indeed good fortune that threw you in my way. When last we parted at Havana, two years ago, I was unutterably sad; but now----" "Let me go, I say!" she interrupted. "You have no right to detain me, to lead me off----" "I will not harm you, beautiful Estella," he went on, gazing insolently into her face with his cold, penetrating glances. "But when a soldier runs across so fair a being as you, she must perforce pay toll ere she proceeds on her way." As he finished he caught her around the waist. His action was suggestive. He meant to steal a kiss from her ripe lips. "Dare to touch me, and you shall suffer for it!" she panted. "Your insult shall not pass lightly!" "Ah, Estella, you speak heedlessly. Remember what I know against you. What if I should report that I found you in the company of that American spy? What would the authorities say? What would your own father say?" She staggered back as though struck a blow, but as quickly recovered. "It would be far more to my credit to be found in the company of such an honorable man than in the company of such as you, Captain Nocolo." At these words his dark eyes blazed forth with sudden anger, and he caught her by both wrists. "You shall pay dearly for that insult!" he hissed. "I will not rest with one kiss--I will take a dozen, and more!"