The words stung Estella to the quick. She could bear to hear herself reviled, but to listen to a denunciation of Howard was too much. She raised her head proudly--raised it as her father was wont to raise his own--and her eyes shone defiantly. "Father, you are mistaken. Howard Sherwood is no spy. He is merely a newspaper correspondent and the soul of honor. He is not working in either the interests of Spain or the insurgents, but in the interests of the great newspaper syndicate he represents. He----" "Silence, Estella! To think that I must stand here, in my own house, and listen to such words!" fumed the old general. "I know these Americans only too well. They would make Cuba the forty-sixth State in their Union, if they could. I hate them all!" "Father, such words are not--not just. The Americans----" "Don't speak of them, Estella!" The general was growing more angry every instant. An idea seemed to flash over his mind. "Where is this Sherwood now?" he asked, abruptly. Estella did not answer the question. General Corona looked inquiringly at the Spanish captain. "Howard Sherwood was confined in the prison at Marambo," said Captain Nocolo. "He escaped this morning, and"--he hesitated, with a cruel smile of triumph on his yellow face--"I have every reason to believe he came here to seek assistance from your daughter." Had the old general received a blow in the face he could not have looked more angry, more resentful. He hesitated for an instant, as if to digest the words he had just heard, then strode toward his daughter and caught her fiercely by the arm. "Estella, you hear what Captain Nocolo says. What have you to answer to this?" he demanded. An intense silence filled the room for fully a minute. At first several sentences arose to the beautiful girl's lips. But she checked them, and would not speak. "Estella, do you hear?" fairly thundered the general, and he shook her arm fiercely. "Speak, child, speak!" "Father, don't--don't!" was all that came from her bloodless lips. "You must speak! Did Sherwood come here? What did you do for him? Where is he now? I command you to answer my questions!" She shook her head. She could not trust herself to utter another word. "An obstinate girl, truly!" observed Captain Nocolo; but the look that General Corona gave him instantly silenced him. "Estella, this is a serious matter, and you must and shall speak!" proceeded her father, with increased sternness. "Answer all of my questions without delay, and tell me the truth. If you will not I--I will disown you, and cast you out!" "Father!" It was a wail straight from her heart, but he had steeled himself against it. "Answer me!" He shook her again. "Answer! This is the last time I will ask you to do so!" "I cannot! I--I cannot!" A strange fire leaped into his stern eyes--the fire of a spirit that knew not what it was to be crossed. He caught her and almost flung her toward the doorway.