"Ha!" the Spanish captain started back on hearing Robert Sherwood's name mentioned, but he instantly recovered. "Well, take my advice and keep your hands out of the struggle, or you may get burnt." He turned again to Estella. "Come with me," he went on, in Spanish. "Remember, your father wrote to me to care for you should you return on this steamer." For a moment Estella stood irresolute, then, with a sweet good-night to Howard, she left his side and walked toward the cabin with the captain. "How long have you known that man?" demanded Captain Barbados, as soon as they were out of hearing. "Excuse me, but you have no right to question me, Captain Barbados," replied the girl, with spirit. "I will retire at once, and I trust that in the future you will offer no more insults to my friend." Without another word, she hurried away to her state-room, entered, and locked the door behind her. As the captain gazed after her, his brow grew even darker than before. "Can it be that she is in love with that American spy?" he muttered. "It certainly looks like it. If so, what will her father say, and Lieutenant Mazenas, to whom she is betrothed? I don't think the hot-blooded lieutenant will give her up so easily, especially as her father desires so greatly to see the two families united." He ran his hand through his coarse black hair. "I must tell Philippe about this American, and we must watch him. To capture a full-fledged spy, and hand him to the authorities, will be worth a promotion to both of us." CHAPTER III. "ARREST THAT MAN; HE IS AN AMERICAN SPY! AND HOLD THE WOMAN." On the following morning Howard appeared on deck at an early hour, in the hope that Estella would be there. But she was not in sight, nor did she appear at the breakfast-table, although Captain Barbados was there, in company with Philippe, a fellow worker in the cause of Spanish rule in Cuba. The two Spaniards kept their distance, Barbados merely recognizing Howard by a stiff nod, which was returned with equal severity. Howard had not yet forgotten the insult offered to him, nor was he likely to forget it for a long time to come. All that day Estella kept to her state-room, and when Howard sent her some fruit, with a kind message, she returned a verbal answer to the effect that she was not feeling well, and never did on the water. As many of the passengers showed signs of seasickness, Howard accepted the plea without question, and merely mourned the loss of her sweet companionship. But down in her narrow berth the beautiful Spanish girl was suffering far more mentally than physically. Her hot and flushed face was wet with bitter tears, and as she read and re-read a number of letters in her possession, her tears did not cease.