"Monster! unhand me!" she exclaimed in horror and tried to free herself. "Ha! ha! you cannot get away, my beauty!" he cried, exultantly. "I am master, as you see. Come! give me a warm kiss from your sweet ruby lips." "No! no! Help! help!" she panted. "It is useless to cry for help," he laughed. "There is no one within hearing but old Antonio, and he knows better than to lift a hand," and he drew her still closer to him. She struggled desperately, and partly freed herself, but again he caught her, and this time his arm held her slender waist as in a vise. "You are mine, my beautiful Estella," he cried, passionately. "Mine, and I shall do with you as I will! I swore the other day that you should be mine in spite of all, and that vow shall be kept. No one in this world shall come between us!" "Monster! Help! help!" shrieked Estella, panting from her exertions to free herself from his embrace. He tried his hardest to kiss her, but she turned her head away. In her struggle she dragged him half across the room. "Ha! ha! see, you can do nothing!" he laughed, rudely. "You are mine, Estella, all mine! I will make you obey me in everything, and will----" A crash upon the door from the outside made him cease speaking. Another crash and the door fell down, and Howard Sherwood leaped into the room. "Unhand her, you base villain!" cried the young war correspondent in a ringing voice. "Unhand her and defend yourself, or I will strike you dead where you stand!" "Howard!" cried Estella, in joyful accents. "Oh, thank Heaven for this deliverance!" Captain Nocolo muttered a savage oath and released his hold. Whirling about, he saw himself confronted by Howard with a drawn sword. "Defend yourself, if you will," went on the young war correspondent, steadily. "I will give you one second in which to prepare." "As you will, you American cur!" howled the Spanish captain, and whipping out his shining blade, he made a furious onslaught upon the young man. "Oh, Howard, he will kill you!" moaned Estella, as the two swords came together with a ringing clash. "He is an experienced swordsman--I know it!" "I do not fear his skill!" responded Howard, as he compressed his teeth, and at the same instant parried a swift thrust from the captain's sword. In an agony of terror Estella stood by, anxious to help Howard, yet warned by him to keep in the rear. In the meanwhile Captain Nocolo wondered why the old man, Antonio, did not appear, unaware that Howard had struck him down and left him senseless in the kitchen below. CHAPTER XXVII. THE DUEL--HEMMED IN BY FLAMES. "I see that I failed to wound you very seriously on the road," sneered the captain, as he leaped back, preparatory to making a fresh onslaught.