"Now, come with me," went on Howard, and amid much growling on the part of the Spaniard, he forced Lieutenant Mazenas to go up stairs and enter a closet in the room he had lately occupied. The door was locked, and then Howard placed his lips close to the key-hole. "I will instruct Miss Corona to set you at liberty in exactly an hour," he said. "Then my advice to you is to leave the place, and not annoy her any more. If you come back you will be treated to such a warm reception that you will never forget it." A growl was the only reply, and the young war correspondent went below in company with his sweetheart. "Oh, Howard! are you going to leave me?" asked Estella, tearfully. "Leave you? Far from it!" he smiled. "I shall remain right here--the safest place in the world for me, now that the lieutenant thinks I have availed myself of the opportunity to escape. But you must find me another hiding-place." "I will do it gladly." She thought a moment, then blushed. "There is a small room opening off my boudoir. No one would suspect that you were secreted there. Come." Again they went up stairs, and she took him through her own dainty apartments. He could not resist the desire to gaze around at the tasteful furnishings, so typical of her own sweet self. "Here you will be safe," she said, as they reached the room she had spoken of. "All you will have to do is to keep quiet, and----" "Oh, Doña Estella!" It was the voice of Cara, coming from below. "Your father has come back, and is only slightly hurt. Captain Nocolo is with him, and they wish to see you at once." "Papa is alive!" murmured Estella, gladly, then her cheeks paled. "Captain Nocolo! Oh, what shall I do now?" CHAPTER XVIII. "LEAVE THIS HOUSE, AND NEVER LET ME SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO OBEY ME!" "Your father has come back!" said Howard. "Your fears for his safety were groundless." Estella did not answer. She was too busy thinking. The arrival of her stern parent had completely disarranged her calculations. "I must go below," she said, at last, after Cara had called her again. "Remain here, unless----" "My dear mistress, do you hear? Your father is back!" called the maid, as she entered the boudoir. "I am coming, Cara," she returned, and hurried out, making the maid go before her. In another minute she was in the parlor, and in her father's arms. The old general had his arm in a sling, and there were several ugly scratches upon one cheek, but he declared that his wounds were far from serious. "A fellow hit me with his sword and stunned me," he said. "It was a good thing in one way, for it saved me from being run through the heart." "I saw that soldier," said Estella, with a shudder, and told of the pathetic scene in the sugar-cane at the dying soldier's side. The general listened with great attention.