"ARREST THAT MAN; HE IS AN AMERICAN SPY! AND HOLD THE WOMAN."
On the following morning Howard appeared on deck at an early hour, in
the hope that Estella would be there. But she was not in sight, nor did
she appear at the breakfast-table, although Captain Barbados was there,
in company with Philippe, a fellow worker in the cause of Spanish rule
in Cuba.
The two Spaniards kept their distance, Barbados merely recognizing
Howard by a stiff nod, which was returned with equal severity. Howard
had not yet forgotten the insult offered to him, nor was he likely to
forget it for a long time to come.
All that day Estella kept to her state-room, and when Howard sent her
some fruit, with a kind message, she returned a verbal answer to the
effect that she was not feeling well, and never did on the water. As
many of the passengers showed signs of seasickness, Howard accepted
the plea without question, and merely mourned the loss of her sweet
companionship.
But down in her narrow berth the beautiful Spanish girl was suffering
far more mentally than physically. Her hot and flushed face was wet
with bitter tears, and as she read and re-read a number of letters in
her possession, her tears did not cease.
"Oh, papa, if you only knew how much I despise the lieutenant, you
would not ask me to marry him!" she moaned, in her native tongue. "I do
not love him--I never can love him!" She read a portion of one of the
letters again. "And you say it was mother's dying wish, also, that I
should be married into the Mazenas family! Oh, mother, mother, little
did you know what you were asking at the hands of your only child!
Little did you know! My heart will break! My heart will break!"
And dashing the letters to the floor she burst forth once more into a
torrent of passionate weeping.
It was not until the following day, when they were off Cape Hatteras,
that Howard saw her again. Her face was then so pale and her eyes so
sunken that he could not repress an exclamation of alarm.
"You have indeed suffered!" he cried. "You should have gone as far as
possible by land. This voyage round the cape will be something terrible
for you!"
"I am feeling better now, and I doubt if I have another attack," she
replied, with a faint smile. She was glad he attributed the change in
her to seasickness. "What a beautiful autumn day it is!"
"Are you anxious to get home?" he asked, as he conducted her to her
chair and drew up his own.
"No--yes--that is, I shall be glad to see papa again--and Cara, my
faithful maid. But otherwise----"
"You would rather remain in the United States?"
"Much rather. I like the people and their ways. You see," she added, by
way of explanation, "I have American blood in me on my mother's side.
And papa used to like Americans--before this war broke out, and they
began to side with the rebels--and that's how I came to be sent to
Vassar to be educated."
"I trust we shall see much of each other while in Cuba, Estella," he
whispered. "I cannot bear to think of losing you now that we have once
met."
She smiled, and then the lines of deep thought marked her brow.
"Perhaps you won't say that when you see the surroundings, and our
people."
"A pearl is a pearl still, no matter where it falls," he rejoined,
trying his best to look into her deep eyes, and not failing altogether.
He would have said much more, but Captain Barbados, who had been
watching them, strolled up with his friend Philippe, and spoiled the
tete-a-tete.
The days passed all too quickly for Howard Sherwood after this. Time
and again he strove to lead Estella to a retired spot, where he might
talk to her in private, might tell her something of the passion which
had been born in his heart, but the watchful eyes of Captain Barbados
or Philippe were always on them, and he found it impossible.
"They think me a spy, and are determined to watch me as a cat watches a
mouse," thought Howard, bitterly. "Hang the luck, any way! I would like
to pitch them both overboard!"
It was not many days before the Columbian came in sight of the Pointe
de Maysi. The run thence down the Windward Passage was quickly made,
and a couple of hours later the steamer dropped anchor in the harbor of
Santiago.
Howard had looked around in vain for Estella, to have a little
conversation with her before going ashore, and was now leaning over the
rail, taking in as much of the city as was in sight from the deck.
The custom-house officers and inspectors had already come aboard, with
a view to searching the passengers. One of them, an over-important
appearing individual, was called aside by Captain Barbados. Estella,
coming on deck at that instant, saw the movement and instinctively
feeling that something was wrong, came up behind the pair, screened
from view by a corner of the cabin.
"What is it, captain?" growled the government inspector. "I haven't any
time to spare--there are so many passengers to be examined."
"Do you see that man?" replied Barbados, pointing to Howard. "He is a
spy!"
"Ah!" The inspector's eyes began to glisten. "You are sure?" he
questioned, eagerly.
"He claims to be a newspaper correspondent, but you know what that
means. Search him well."
"I will."
"And remember, it was Captain Barbados who gave the information,"
concluded the Spanish officer, as he turned away.
Estella listened to the conversation with a wildly beating heart.
What if Howard Sherwood should have something contraband about his
person--pistols, knives, or perhaps dispatches for the insurgents? On
the word of Captain Barbados he would be immediately dragged off to a
dungeon in one of the forts.
She ran around the cabin, so as to avoid the captain and the inspector,
and came up to where Howard was standing. He smiled as he tipped his
hat, but ere he could speak she whispered into his ear:
"The inspectors think you are a spy! If you have any contraband
articles about you, hide them! hide them quickly!"
"Why--what--" he stammered; then, as a sharp-eyed stranger came close
to them, he suddenly changed the subject. "Yes, rather a pretty
harbor," he remarked aloud.
Her words had set him to thinking rapidly. In his pocket was a letter
of introduction to General Gomez, of the Cuban army, also a letter to
another commander of the insurgents. Over his arm he carried a light
overcoat with a rolling collar, and this held a deftly concealed
32-calibre pistol, with fifty rounds of ammunition. He had been advised
to take the pistol along, it being a well-known fact that to buy arms
of any kind in Cuba at the time was impossible.
"The inspector wishes to speak with you," said the stranger, as he
pointed out the man Captain Barbados had addressed.
"Very well," replied Howard, as carelessly as he could. Then, as the
man turned away, he whispered to Estella: "Can I trust you with this
packet, or will they examine you also?"
She did not reply, but her brown, shapely fingers closed over his
letters, and she slipped them into her dress. "Is that all?"
"All but a pistol in this overcoat--they can have that if they wish it
so much."
"The Plaza del Silveo, at eight to-night, if we do not meet again," she
whispered, and then, as another inspector came up, they parted.
When Howard reached the inspector's side, he was at once ordered into
one of the smaller cabins. Two men attended him, and searched his
clothing from head to foot, and even pulled off the heavy boots he
wore. In the meantime, the light overcoat had been thrown lightly on an
adjacent chair.
The inspector was much chagrined at finding nothing to confirm the
suspicions Barbados had cast on the young war correspondent, and sent
for the captain to explain matters. The pair talked outside of the
cabin door for several minutes, and finally Howard was sent to the
other end of the boat, among several others who were detained, while
the remainder of the passengers were allowed to go on shore with their
luggage.
It was nightfall before the young war correspondent was told he was
free to go where he pleased, so long as he remained within the city
limits. Should he venture outside without the password (and that was
not furnished to him) he would be shot. A hasty examination was made of
his overcoat, but, luckily, the weapon--the only one he possessed--was
not brought to light.
On reaching the landing, Howard at once made his way to the
Anglo-American Club, where he was kindly received by a dozen or more
men, all anxious to see an American face and hear the latest gossip
from New York.
But Howard was in no mood to spend time with them. He had come on two
important missions--one for himself, and one for the press association
he represented--and he realized that he must make the best possible
use of his time. Besides, there was sweet Estella! How he longed to be
again at her side! He was glad she had taken the letters, for now he
would have the chance to converse with her once more before she left
Santiago for her home in the interior.
It was an easy matter to ascertain where the Plaza del Silveo was
situated--up at the farther end of one of the main streets of the town.
Half-past seven found him on his way thither, his pistol in his pocket,
and on the lookout for any spy who might be dogging his footsteps.
The plaza reached, Howard gazed up and down the square, and into the
narrow and dirty streets beyond. Only a few persons were in sight, and
Estella was not among them.
"Help! Help!"
The cry, ringing out so unexpectedly upon the evening air, caused
his heart to give a great bound. It was Estella's voice, and she was
evidently in dire need of assistance.
The call came from a house up the narrow street. The young war
correspondent turned quickly in the direction whence the voice had
come, and in a few moments he saw Estella hastily approaching, closely
pursued by a Spanish officer.
"Let me go!" he heard her cry, as the burly officer caught her about
the waist. "Release me, I command you!"
"Not quite yet, my little Cuban rebel!" returned the officer. "You're a
perfect little Tartar, but you sha'n't escape me!"
"Villain, unhand her!" thundered Howard, as he leaped to Estella's
side. As he spoke, a well-aimed blow knocked the Spanish officer off
his feet, and sent him staggering up against the building.
"Help! Guard!" bawled the man who, Howard now saw, wore the uniform of
a captain in the royal army. "Arrest that man! He is an American spy!
And hold the woman! She has papers of great importance for General
Campos!"