A PERILOUS ESCAPE--A GOOD SHOT.
The morning dawned bright and warm. Outside of the mansion the numerous
tropical birds sang loudly and merrily, utterly regardless of the
horrible war which was bringing destruction upon every hand.
An hour before Estella had dropped into a troubled doze, but now she
roused up with a start. Day had come and she was just so many hours
nearer her awful fate.
As she lay upon the bed, still dressed, she brought from her bosom the
little dagger, and toyed with it suggestively. In that sad hour it
seemed to be her only friend.
"Howard is dead," she mused, "and papa will not listen to my pleadings.
Why should I not end it all?"
The knock of a servant made her put the cruel bit of steel away. She
bade the woman enter.
"Breakfast is served, Doña Estella. Shall I bring it up to you?"
"I want nothing, Luola," replied the beautiful girl, wearily. "I wish
only to be alone. Say! Has my father left the mansion?"
"Yes, he went at five o'clock."
The servant departed, and Estella was left once more to herself. She
walked to the window and looked out.
With the coming of day the distant firing had ceased, and now no
unusual sounds broke the stillness. The town, but a short distance
away, seemed asleep, as was its usual wont in days of peace.
"If papa is away, he may not receive the letter I sent, and if he comes
back, and Cara should succeed----"
She suddenly paused as she heard a hand upon her door. The next instant
Cara glided in as silently as a shadow.
"Hush!" said the maid, warningly, ere her mistress could speak. "I
found Captain Martinez, and he says he cannot attack this place
to-night. But he has sent help--six soldiers--who wait below at the
entrance to the secret passage. Come at once, if you want to escape."
"But the guards below----" began Estella.
"They have just had their morning drink, and I drugged it well. They
will be more than half asleep. We can get away from here easily, but it
will be difficult to leave the city, dear mistress."
"I am prepared to dare anything," said Estella, and catching up a few
things, she followed Cara out of the bedroom, taking the precaution to
lock the door after her, that the servants might suppose she was still
inside.
The lower floor of the mansion was easily gained. From this they passed
into the buttery, and here entered an arched place, which covered the
stream of spring water which flowed through the buttery to the river
beyond. It was a low opening, scarcely four feet high, and in places
they were compelled to wade through the water. Estella shivered with
the cold, but no thought of turning back entered her head.
"Here we are," said Cara, and stopped at a spot where there was an
opening overhead.
She thrust up a hand, and two rebel soldiers drew her up. Estella
immediately followed, and the little party ran for the shelter of some
bushes which lined the river bank. They were soon joined by the four
remaining rebels, who had been on guard about the mansion.
"The coast is clear," said the leader. "I trust we shall have as easy a
time at the city line."
No more was said. They walked to a bit of woods skirting the river, and
then entered a bypath leading to the rebel camp. In a quarter of an
hour the leader called a halt.
"We will go ahead and reconnoitre," he said. "You two women remain
where you are. This is where we came in. I want to see if our men are
still doing duty as Spanish pickets."
Estella and her maid were left behind in the shelter of a cattle
herder's lodge, and the soldiers went on silently, and with guns ready
for use. With wildly beating hearts, the pair waited for them to
return. Five--ten--fifteen minutes passed. Then suddenly they heard
half a dozen shots and loud shouting. Soon one of the soldiers came
running toward them.
"We are discovered! Run for it!" he cried, and hurried on.
Estella started and grasped Cara's hand. What course was now best to
pursue?
A bold light sprang into the beautiful girl's eyes.
"Cara, I am going to brave the pickets," she said. "I would rather die
than remain in the city."
"I will accompany you, no matter what the consequences," responded the
maid.
"But it may mean death, Cara."
"Let us hope for the best," was the cheery reply.
They left the lodge and struck out into the woods. The firing still
continued, but grew fainter and fainter to their ears. Soon they
reached the edge of the woods. Beyond was a large meadow filled with
grazing cattle.
"If we can but cross yonder meadow, I think we shall be safe," said
Estella. "Come! every moment is precious."
She went on, Cara closely following. The cattle looked up in wonder as
they flew along, but offered them no harm.
Presently a shout rang out from behind.
"Halt!"
"We are discovered, dear mistress!" cried Cara.
"Come, come! do not waste a second," ejaculated Estella. "Turn to the
left. Beyond that strip of brush is another meadow, and that must reach
beyond the picket lines."
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."
Her dark eyes flashed, showing that she meant what she said. He drew
her still closer, while a joyful mist dimmed her eyes, and she began to
sob in his arms.
"Oh, Howard, my king, you will protect me now?"
"I will do all that mortal man can do. I will save you from the
lieutenant forevermore, if you will do as I desire."
"And that is----"
She hesitated, while a sudden warm flush came to her dark cheeks.
"Will you become my wife now, Estella?" he asked, tenderly. "You know
how much I love you--more than words can tell. Say you will be mine
this very day and thus make me the happiest man on earth."
He looked down into those dark eyes so wistfully, his own so full of
tender passion, that she could not turn away. She threw her arms about
his neck and kissed him lightly, yet with an intensity of emotion that
thrilled him to the soul.
"As you will, Howard," she whispered, "I am yours, all yours,
forevermore!"