"We must get away from here, my darling," he said, as he gave her another rapturous embrace. "The Spanish soldiers tried to detain me when I recovered, and Tomasso and I had a fierce fight with them. By some means we were separated, and I don't know what became of the plucky fellow, but I do know that the soldiery will be here before long." "I am ready to depart instantly, Howard, but where shall we go?" "Would you not feel as safe at home as anywhere? There your servants will at least protect you from insult, no matter what the outcome of this fearful war." "But to get home--it will not be safe for you to be seen by the Spanish authorities. They will have no mercy for a condemned criminal!" "I will risk that. Come! the storm has cleared off, and if I am not mistaken we can get a couple of horses from the stable below." "Those horses belong----" began Antonio, but a look from Howard silenced him. The young man picked up his sword and followed Estella to the lower floor. They took their pick of the animals, and were soon well out of sight of the old house in which the thrilling duel had occurred. Estella said she knew the face of the country fairly well, and this enabled them to take many a short cut across the fields and through the woods. On the way she told the particulars of how Captain Nocolo had carried her off, and of his intentions regarding her. In return he told of his escape from the prison, and of all that had occurred since then. In this manner an hour quickly passed. "If your father joins the Spanish Army it will be more difficult than ever to persuade him that the insurgents are in the right," observed Howard. "What a pity he cannot throw off this yoke of tyranny!" "It is indeed a pity!" sighed Estella. "But papa belongs to another generation, you know. He cannot imagine Cuba free and enjoying the blessings of self-government." "I fervently hope that this conflict will establish the island's freedom, for freedom is bound to come if it takes a hundred years to get here." Estella uttered a little laugh at this speech. "I love your Yankee enthusiasm," she remarked. "It stirs all the patriotism in my heart." On and on they went, along a road little traveled, and now deserted save by a few poor families who, scared by the proximity of the cannonading, were removing to what they fancied would be safer quarters. These people, mostly old men, women and children, stared at them as they rode past, but asked no questions, being thankful that they themselves were not molested. "Here are the outskirts of my father's property," said Estella at last, as they came to a turn where the road narrowed down to little more than a foot-path. "Marambo lies off in that direction and over to the left is where you had that awful encounter with the bloodhounds." "Then we cannot be far from the house," returned Howard. "Let us be careful how we approach. There is no telling what has happened since you were here last."