Howard could not reply; he was past that now. It looked indeed as if he must die. Silently he commended his soul to his Maker, and awaited the awful moment of doom. The officer held a watch in his hand. The seconds ticked away rapidly--ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty! The minute was up! The watch was put away. "Are you ready, men?" There was no answer. Each of the eight soldiers stood with his rifle at a carry arms. "Take aim!" The rifles came up, each to its shoulder, and eight shining muzzles were pointed at Howard's heart. "Fire!" CHAPTER XXV. "SAVE ME, HOWARD! PROTECT ME FROM THIS HUMAN BRUTE!" Boom! It was not the reports of the rifles which rang out when the officer in command ordered the death guard to fire upon Howard Sherwood. Just as the word was framed by his lips a large bomb whistled through the air overhead, landed at the very feet of the eight soldiers and exploded! The havoc was terrific. Two of the men were instantly killed, and the others, as well as the commanding officer, were seriously wounded. As for Howard, he dropped to the ground when he heard the bomb coming, and this saved him, although he was covered with the human wreckage. The bandage fell from his face, and by a mighty effort he freed his hands. "The rebels! The rebels!" was the cry which resounded on all sides. "They have routed the outposts and are entering the city!" The cries came from the street and they were quickly taken up by those about the prison. A moment later, several insurgents appeared on the high wall. They dropped into the yard and opened the gates; then a stream of men, old and young, and armed in every conceivable manner, rushed in. "Cuba libre! Cuba libre!" was the well-known battle-cry, and a moment later it was taken up by many of the prisoners in the cells. Realizing the fortunate turn of affairs which had spared to him his very life, the young war correspondent, as quickly as he could get his breath, looked around for means to arm himself. From the wounded officer he took a sword and a pistol, and in another moment was in the thickest of the fray, for insurgents and Spaniards were battling on every hand. The first work of the attacking forces was to liberate the prisoners and tell them to arm themselves at the expense of the enemy. This done, they were left to do as they pleased with their former jailers, while the main body of the rebels rushed on to the city hall and other public buildings. No sooner had he armed himself than Howard found himself confronted by Luigi, the jailer, who with drawn pistol ordered the young war correspondent to surrender. For reply Howard knocked the jailer's pistol from his hand, and then, with a blow on the face, dashed the fellow flat on his back. As Luigi was attempting to rise, a negro rebel ran up and pierced him to the heart with a bayonet, and the rascal expired on the spot.