"THE PLOT WILL MISCARRY! THE CUBAN SOLDIERS
WILL BE BUTCHERED LIKE CATTLE!"
It would be hard to analyze Estella's feelings as she left the
rebel camp in the midnight darkness and in the face of the coming
thunderstorm, to ride to Marambo and deliver to Captain Umberto, the
keeper of the city barracks, the packet intrusted to her by Captain
Martinez.
She fully realized her great danger, but what was that to her in the
face of the fact that Howard languished in prison, and would most
likely be sentenced to an immediate death in the morning? All her
thoughts were concentrated upon her lover, and she urged her faithful
steed onward at an increased speed as she realized the value of every
moment.
Already the lightning flashed across the western sky at frequent
intervals, and this was followed by the long, low muttering of thunder.
Hardly was she out of hearing of the rebel camp than it began to rain,
first in a few scattered drops, and then in a steady downpour, which
wet her to the skin, for the officers, kind as they were, had been
unable to supply her with a cape or cloak.
Thanks to many years spent in the district, Estella knew almost every
foot of the way, and did not hesitate when it came to a choice of
roads. She wished she had Cara or one of the men servants with her, but
realized that, under existing circumstances, this was impossible--a
companion of any sort might have spoiled all.
"Halt!" cried a stern voice, and Estella found herself confronted by
a young negro who presented to her breast the barrel of an old United
States Army musket.
"Who goes there?" went on the sentry.
"Cuba."
"The password, señorita."
"Machete!"
The negro looked surprised.
"From what company?" he asked, slowly.
"Captain Martinez."
Instantly the manner of the sentry changed. He dropped the musket to
his side.
"Pass on!" he cried, and he disappeared from view as suddenly as he had
come.
Estella lost no time in continuing upon her way.
"The captain was right," she murmured. "The insurgents have the city
completely hemmed in. No outside help can come to the Spanish troops
garrisoned there. Pray Heaven they subdue the place quickly, and Howard
regains his liberty!"
A quarter of an hour more of riding and Estella reached the outskirts
of Marambo just as the storm burst in all its fury. She was on a
highway lined with railroad tracks, and had not advanced far when she
was stopped by a guard belonging to Lieutenant Mazenas' command. She
had not the Spanish password, and in consequence was detained until her
identity was established. She was about to leave the vicinity when the
lieutenant, having heard her name mentioned, came to her in wonder.
"And what brings you out in this terrible storm, fair Estella?" he
asked.
"Has my father come to Marambo?" she asked, ignoring his question.
"I have not seen him. I thought he was at home with you?"
"He left shortly after you did," replied the beautiful girl, and was
about to ride on when he caught her by the arm.
"It is not safe for you to be riding alone at this time of night," he
said. "It is better for you to have an attendant."
"Thanks, but I prefer to be alone," she responded, coldly.
By an attendant she knew he meant himself.
"You are very daring," he went on. "Is there anything of importance on
foot?"
"These are troublous times," was her evasive answer. "One cannot tell
what is going to happen from one day to the next."
"That is true," he said, and a grim smile played over his features as
he thought of the wicked plot set afloat against Howard Sherwood.
He wondered if she had entered the city on the young war
correspondent's account.
"At least let me provide you with a cloak," he went on, and before she
could refuse, he had thrown his heavy army cloak over her shoulders.
He would have gone with her, but at that moment an orderly came up and
summoned him away.
Estella was sorry she had encountered him, and was half inclined to
throw the cloak away, so much did she despise its owner. But as it was
raining harder than ever, she kept it on.
In a few minutes the fair Cuban rebel found herself in the heart of
the city. She knew where the barracks were located, and at once sought
them, and had a soldier arouse Captain Umberto.
"A lady to see me! Admit her," were the old war veteran's quick words.
When they were alone, he took the packet eagerly and read the
communication.
"Too late! Dios! why did not Martinez let me know of this before! The
plot will miscarry! The Cuban soldiers will be butchered like cattle!"
"Too late," gasped Estella. "Surely, señor, that cannot be. Captain
Martinez was so certain----"
"So was I, yesterday. But a detachment of Spanish soldiers is marching
from Puerto Padre to Marambo, and they may arrive at any hour--if the
storm does not render the vile road impassable," added Captain
Umberto, suddenly. "It is raining rather hard, is it not?"
"It is raining furiously."
"Good! They may not be able to arrive in time. Pray Heaven we may
have a deluge," he went on, and Estella muttered a half-audible amen.
"Captain Martinez writes that you wish to save a certain young man
at present confined in the city prison," continued Captain Umberto.
"It shall be done, if the thing is possible. Your service justifies a
reward. But I have now no time to spare. There is much to be done, and
I must work with extreme caution, for the Spanish spies are everywhere.
My own valet has taken their gold, although he thinks I know it not."
And the captain hurried away to fulfill the orders which had been sent
to him.
Estella, impatient to know what would be the outcome of the night's
work, was undecided as to what course to pursue. She could have gone to
the house of some friend, but she felt she could not even rest, much
less sleep. She felt that that night was destined to mark a turning
point in her life.
Chance made her ride off in the direction of the prison, a grim, stony
pile, looking more forbidding than ever in the darkness and the storm.
As she rode slowly past, she wondered in what part Howard was confined.
Was he inside that wall, or was he under her very feet?
Presently a figure darted out from the shelter of a pitch-black angle
and ran toward her.
"I thought it was you, fair mistress," cried the voice of Tomasso, the
overseer. "Have you, too, learned of this wicked plot against Señor
Sherwood?"
"Tomasso," she returned. "And what brought you to the prison? Did you
think to serve me by communicating with Señor Sherwood?"
"I wanted to be near--they might try again to take his life. Oh, sweet
mistress, you know not what vile men they are."
"But I do," said Estella, bitterly. "They would take his life."
"Yes, and by poison."
"Poison"--she started back. "Tomasso, you are certain?"
"Ay, sweet mistress. Do you not know of that? I fancied it was that
which brought you to the place. You know I followed Captain Nocolo and
Lieutenant Mazenas after they left the plantation. They went to the
house of an American lawyer named Barker, and there the three planned
to poison Señor Sherwood."
"Merciful heaven!" burst from Estella's almost bloodless lips. "And
what further?--tell me quickly, Tomasso. They did not carry their
dastardly plan into execution?"
"The lieutenant meant to do so at once, but I thwarted his evil
designs. The poison was a whitish powder in a vial, and the lieutenant
had it in his pocket when he left Lawyer Barker's home. I followed him
to his headquarters near the depot, and when he changed his coat, to
direct some dirty work on the embankments, I slipped in, poured the
poison out of the vial, and substituted some baking powder which stood
handy."
"Thanks, a thousand times for that, Tomasso," murmured Estella. She was
so wrought up she could scarcely speak. "And what was done with the
powder?"
"Lieutenant Mazenas was to hire one of the jailers to give it to Señor
Sherwood. Soon after I changed the contents of the vial he put on his
good coat again, and rode down to this prison and went inside. I have
no doubt that the scheme has all been arranged, and already the dose
has been given to Señor Sherwood, or he will receive it ere morning."
The tears started to Estella's eyes. What a narrow escape Howard had
sustained without even knowing it. She grasped Tomasso's hand fervidly.
"I shall never forget you for this, Tomasso," she said. "Your work this
night has gained my eternal friendship. Oh, that we were inside the
prison, to watch over Howard until deliverance comes."
"You'll be inside of the prison quick enough," sang out a rough voice
behind them, and in an instant four guardsmen sprang out of the
darkness and pounced upon Tomasso and Estella.
They struggled to escape, but it was useless, and five minutes later
they were both prisoners within the Marambo stronghold.
Estella kept up her courage as long as possible, and then utter despair
overmastered her, and she sobbed like a child. Instead of assisting her
lover, she had only compromised herself.