"Who is that man?" demanded the Cuban who had spoken to her, and his hand sought the handle of his big knife. "Cuba!" murmured Howard, and the rebel at once smiled. "And the lady?" "I am Estella Corona," replied the beautiful girl, proudly. "This field belongs to my father." "Ha! General Corona's daughter! Then he tells a lie!" The rebel pointed to Howard. "He is for Spain!" He drew his machete and rushed at the young war correspondent as if to stab him to the heart, but Estella leaped between. "He tells the truth, señor!" she cried. "He has just escaped from the prison at Marambo." "And you?" "I was also in the prison." "You--a Corona! Do not deceive me, señora." "It is true. I am a Corona, but I believe in the liberty of Cuba." "Good! But your father, the old general? I knew him years ago." "I cannot speak for him," replied Estella, evasively. "He defied us!" burst out another of the rebels. "He said he would pay tax only to Spain. Had it been otherwise we should not have touched his plantation." "What of the house?" demanded Howard, struggling to his feet. "Look for yourself, señor." At that moment a bugle call sounded, and without waiting for more words, the detachment of rebels hurried away. A moment after came the rattle of musketry and the shouts of the wounded and dying. "The Spanish troops have arrived!" exclaimed Estella. "See! they are coming along the main road, several hundred strong." "They are too late to do much good here," was Howard's comment. "See! the fire is everywhere! No doubt the house and stables are already a mass of ruins. The loss will fall heavily on your father." "And make him more bitter than ever toward the rebels," said the fair girl, dismally. Then of a sudden she started back. "Look! look! Howard." She pointed through an opening back of them, where the Spanish soldiers could be seen, some on foot and others on horseback. "What do you see?" "My father! He is leading the attack upon the rebels!" Estella was right; there, at the head of the Spanish column, rode General Corona, waving his sword and shouting out orders as in his younger military days. "He will be killed!" gasped Estella, as she saw her father surrounded. But in another moment the old general had shaken off the rebels who clustered around him. Then the tide of battle appeared to change, and in another instant Howard and Estella found themselves in the very midst of the fray. Luckily, Howard still had his sword with him, and he struck out right and left, thus clearing a circle about them. Estella was in great danger of being trampled under foot, but he saved her, in spite of the fury and tumult of the conflict. "Estella!" It was a cry from General Corona. He dashed up to his daughter's side just as Howard had thrown back a Spanish cavalryman who was about to overrun her. "Father!"