"It was upon the De Bruno plantation. The owner refused to pay the war levy to the rebels, instead of the Spanish authorities, and the cane-fields were burned to the ground and the barns and store-houses blown up." "They may come here next," mused Howard. "I am afraid of that. If they do, and papa is not back, I shall take sides with the rebels, not because I fear them, but because I believe they are in the right," and Estella raised her head proudly. "Bravo! you ought to be a Yankee!" cried Howard, and then he prudently lowered his voice. "But let us hope that the insurgents will pass this plantation without doing any harm, I fancy they will, for, so far as I can judge, General Gomez and Maceo wish to push on to Havana as rapidly as possible. If they reach the capital with a sufficiently large force, the final victory will be with them." "True; but Havana is still a good way off," sighed Estella. "But now I must really go," she went on, and gathering up the tray of dishes, she kissed him and left the room. She passed down stairs by a back way, and had just set the dishes down in the dining-room when a servant called her. "Lieutenant Mazenas is here to see you," said the servant. "Lieutenant Mazenas!" exclaimed Estella, and all the color left her cheeks. "Tell him I cannot see him to-day--that I am not well," she faltered. "Excuse me, but it is highly important that I speak with you," said an unpleasant voice from the parlor doorway, and, turning, she found herself confronted by the lieutenant himself. A crafty smile shone upon his yellow, repulsive features. He motioned for the servant to depart and waited for Estella to enter the parlor. Full of vague fears, the beautiful girl followed him from the dining-room, and sank down on a couch to hear what he might have to say. CHAPTER XVII. "YOU LITTLE TARTAR, I WILL YET TAME YOU!" "Apparently you did not expect me back so soon," began Lieutenant Mazenas, as he dropped into a seat beside Estella. He would have sat quite close to her, but she arose and seated herself upon a chair. "No, I did not expect that pleasure," she coldly responded. "You had my answer; why bother me further?" "Because matters have taken a change," he said, the smile still visible upon his face. "Our prisoner, the worthy Howard Sherwood, has escaped." "I am glad to hear it," she replied. "No doubt, fair Estella, seeing that you assisted in that escape." She started; then, as she saw his eyes studying her keenly, she tried her best to compose herself. "You do not deny it?" he went on, seeing she did not reply. "I certainly do deny that I assisted him to escape from prison. If he got away, it must have been through his own cleverness." The face of the Spaniard clouded with a frown. He had hoped to corner her, but had failed. "You did not assist him at all?" he asked, sharply.