"You are safe!" murmured the father. "And the accursed rebels have fired everything--the house, the barns, the store-houses, all the fields. Ha! who is that? The American spy!" He made a wild dash toward Howard, who was taken somewhat aback by surprise. In another moment the general would have struck down his daughter's lover with his sword, but Estella interfered. "Father, father, don't! You do not know! He saved my life!" "And this is his work!" shouted General Corona, savagely. "He hired the rebels to attack the place that I might be humbled! Lieutenant Mazenas exposed the plot to me. Back! that I may strike him dead where he stands!" In a frenzy of passion the general urged his horse forward, and, being at a disadvantage, Howard was forced to retreat. Then came a rush from the rebel forces, and in a few moments Estella, her father, and the young war correspondent were separated. Surrounded by Spanish soldiers, the rebels fought desperately, and Howard was compelled to fight with them, for it was taken for granted that all Americans in battle were foes of the Spanish Government. He had no time to look for his sweetheart; it was cut and thrust upon every side. Soon he and the rebels around him were driven a good half mile back from the spot. Then the tide of battle turned once more; the Cubans were reinforced, and the Spanish troops were put in full retreat in the direction of Bayamo. The fighting at an end, Howard began a search for Estella that lasted until dark. It was utterly useless; she could not be found. Hungry, tired and footsore, he limped to the insurgents' camp, to take some much-needed rest. CHAPTER XXIX. "IF EVER I MARRY, MY HUSBAND WILL BE A MAN OF HONOR; NOT A LOW TRICKSTER." Several days had passed, days fraught with excitement, battles and death. With a daring scarcely conceivable, the Cuban insurgents had driven back the Spanish troops from Bayamo to Jababo. Slowly but surely they were forcing the enemies of liberty to the western end of the island; but the trail was red with blood and hot with the ashes of burning homes, plantations and sugar houses. The Corona plantations had been laid in utter ruin, and all of the many workmen had left General Corona and joined the rebel army. The women had scattered, too, and only Cara remained by Estella's side. By little short of a miracle General Corona had saved his daughter from harm, and managed, although not without a great deal of trouble, to assist her to the home of a friend, twenty miles distant from the plantation. Here Estella had been joined by Cara, and mistress and maid had been sent, under escort of a guard of four men, to another residence owned by her father at Puerto Principe.