She dashed on, her wet skirts impeding her progress, and Cara came after. A shot was fired to warn them, but it did no harm, nor did it make them come to a halt. The second meadow reached, they climbed the rough stone fence and continued to run. But soon Cara uttered a shout of dismay and turned off to one side. "The bulls! the bulls!" Estella looked ahead and saw a sight that caused her very heart to stand still. The meadow contained half a dozen powerful bulls, all savage-looking creatures. One of the beasts was advancing straight for her, his head bent low, and his small eyes rolling angrily! She tried to cry out, but the words stuck in her throat. Then she started to run, but stumbled, and gave herself up for lost. Bang! The shot came from the woods on the opposite side of the meadow. The aim of the marksman was true, for, struck directly in the neck, the bull turned from his course and staggered away to the edge of the field, there to die. Alarmed by the shot, the other bulls also fled. Wondering who her preserver could be, Estella hurried to the spot whence the thin wreath of smoke was curling from the discharged gun. Soon the woods were reached, and a man rushed out to meet her. "Estella, my darling!" She paused in wonder and delight. Was she dreaming or was this really her noble lover who stood before her? She gave a little cry of intense joy and threw herself into his arms. "Howard! And they told me you were dead!" "They? Who?" he asked, as he rained lingering kisses upon her lips and stroked her silken hair, which had fallen down over her graceful shoulders. "Lieutenant Mazenas and my father. They declared that you had been cut down by the discharge of a Spanish cannon, several days ago." "Ah! I remember that. I was trying to get at the rascally lieutenant when the cannon ball came so close to me that it took the breath right out of me, and I fell to the ground unconscious. I was picked up by some rebel friends and taken to the rear, and in an hour I was as well as ever." "Thank Heaven you are alive!" she murmured. "Oh, Howard, you cannot imagine how I felt when they told me you were dead." Once more he pressed her to his bosom, and showered kiss after kiss upon her ruby lips ere he went on. "I was just coming from Captain Martinez's headquarters. He told me Cara had been there, and he had sent six soldiers to your assistance. I came out to be on the watch. I had determined, if it was necessary, to make my way directly to your father's mansion." "They were going to force me into a marriage with Lieutenant Mazenas," shuddered Estella. "The ceremony was to take place this evening." "Force you into such an odious contract!" cried Howard, with flashing eyes. "And you----" Estella showed the dagger she possessed. "I would have killed myself with this ere I would have submitted."