Chapter 13 - Love Comes Swiftly
The despensero
hurried to open it.
"I regret
that Don Diego is not at home, señor," he said. "He has gone to his
hacienda."
"I know as
much. Don Carlos and wife and daughter are here, are they not?"
"Don Carlos
and his wife are out on a visit this evening, señor."
"The
señorita-"
"Is here, of
course."
"In that
case, I shall pay my respects to the señorita," Captain Ramón said.
"Señor!
Pardon me, but the little lady is alone."
"Am I not a
proper man?" the captain demanded.
"It—it is
scarcely right for her to receive the visit of a gentleman when her duenna is
not present."
"Who are you
to speak to me of the proprieties?" Captain Ramón demanded. "Out of
my way, scum! Cross me and you shall be punished. I know things concerning
you."
The face of the
despensero went white at that, for the captain spoke the truth and, at a word,
could cause him considerable trouble and mayhap a term in cárcel. Yet he knew
what was right.
"But,
señor—" he protested.
Captain Ramon
thrust him aside with his left arm and stalked into the big living-room. Lolita
sprang up in alarm when she saw him standing before her.
"Ah,
señorita, I trust that I did not startle you," he said. "I regret
that your parents are absent, yet I must have a few words with you. This
servant would deny me entrance, but I imagine you have nought to fear from a
man with one wounded arm."
"It—it is
scarcely proper, is it, señor?" the girl asked, a bit frightened. '
"I feel sure
no harm can come of it," he said.
He went across
the room and sat down on one end of the couch and admired her beauty frankly.
The despensero hovered near.
"Go to your
kitchen, fellow!" Captain Ramon commanded.
"No; allow
him to remain," Lolita begged. "My father commanded it, and he courts
trouble if he leaves."
"And if he
remains. Go, fellow!"
The servant went.
Captain Ramón
turned toward the girl again, and smiled upon her. He flattered himself that he
knew women—they loved to see a man show mastery over other men.
"More
beautiful than ever, señorita," he said in a purring voice. "I really
am glad to find you thus alone, for there is something I would say to
you."
"What can
that be, señor?"
"Last night
at your father's hacienda I asked his permission to pay my addresses to you.
Your beauty has inflamed my heart, señorita, and I would have you for my wife.
Your father consented, except that he said Don Diego Vega also had received
permission. So it appears that it lies between Don Diego and myself."
"Should you
speak of it, señor?" she asked.
"Certainly
Don Diego Vega is not the man for you," he went on. "Has he courage,
spirit? Is he not a laughingstock because of his weakness?"
"You speak
ill of him in his own house?" the señorita asked, her eyes flashing.
"I speak the
truth, señorita. I would have your favor. Can you not look upon me with
kindness? Can you not give me hope that I may win your heart and hand?"
"Captain
Ramón, all this is unworthy," she said. "It is not the proper manner,
and you know it. I beg you to leave me now."
"I await
your answer, señorita."
Her outraged
pride rose up at that. Why could she not be wooed as other señoritas, in the
proper fashion? Why was this man so bold in his words? Why did he disregard the
conventions?
"You must
leave me," she said firmly. "This is all wrong, and you are aware of
it. Would you make my name a byword, Captain Ramon? Suppose somebody was to
come and find us like this-alone?"
"Nobody will
come, señorita. Can you not give me an answer?"
"No!"
she cried, starting to get to her feet. "It is not right that you should
ask it. My father, I assure you, shall hear of this visit!"
"Your father,"
he sneered. "A man who has the ill will of the governor. A man who is
being plucked because he possessed no political sense. I fear not your father.
He should be proud of the fact that Captain Ramón looks at his daughter."
"Señor!"
"Do not run away,"
he said, clutching her hand. "I have done you the honor to ask you to be
my wife—"
"Done me the
honor!" she cried angrily, and almost in tears. "It is the man who is
done the honor when a woman accepts him."
"I like you
when you rage," he observed. "Sit down again—beside me here. And now
give me your answer."
"Señor!"
"You will
wed me, of course. I shall intercede with the governor for your father and get
a part of his estate restored. I shall take you to San Francisco de Asis, to
the governor's house, where you will be admired by persons of rank."
"Señor! Let
me go!"
"My answer,
señorita! You have held me off enough."
She wrenched away
from him, confronted him with blazing eyes, her tiny hands clenched at her
sides.
"Wed with
you?" she cried. "Rather would I remain a maid all my life, rather
would I wed with a native, rather would I die than wed with you! I wed a
caballero, a gentleman, or no man! And I cannot say that you are such!"
"Pretty
words from the daughter of a man who is about ruined."
"Ruin would
not change the blood of the Pulidos, señor. I doubt whether you understand
that, evidently having ill blood yourself. Don Diego shall hear of this. He is
my father's friend—"
"And you
would wed the rich Don Diego, eh, and straighten out your father's affairs? You
would not wed an honorable soldier, but would sell yourself—"
"Señor!"
she shrieked.
This was beyond
endurance. She was alone, there was nobody near to resent the insult So her
blood called upon her to avenge it herself.
Like a flash of
lightning her hand went forward, and came against Captain Ramón's cheek with a
crack. Then she sprang backward, but he grasped her by an arm and drew her
toward him.
"I shall
take a kiss to pay for that," he said. "Such a tiny bit of womanhood
can be handled with one arm, thank the saints."
She fought him,
striking and scratching at his breast, for she could not reach his face. But he
only laughed at her, and held her tighter until she was almost spent and
breathless, and finally he threw back her head and looked down into her eyes.
"A kiss in
payment, señorita," he said. "It will be a pleasure to tame such a
wild one."
She tried to
fight again, but could not. She called upon the saints to aid her. And Captain
Ramón laughed more and bent his head, and his lips came close to hers.
But he never
claimed the kiss. She started to wrench away from him again, and he was forced
to strengthen his arm and pull her forward. And from a corner of the room there
came a voice that was at once deep and stern.
"One moment,
señor!" it said.
Captain Ramón
released the girl and whirled on one heel. He blinked his eyes to pierce the
gloom of the corner; he heard Señorita Lolita give a glad cry.
Then Captain
Ramón, disregarding the presence of the lady, cursed, once and loudly, for
Señor Zorro stood before him.
He did not
pretend to know how the highwayman had entered the house; he did not stop to
think of it. He realized that he was without a blade at his side, and that he
could not use it had he one, because of his wounded shoulder. And Señor Zorro
was walking toward him from the corner.
"Outlaw I
may be, but I respect women," the Curse of Capistrano said. "And you,
an officer of the army, do not, it appears. What are you doing here, Captain
Ramón?"
"And what do
you here?"
"I heard a
lady's scream, which is warrant enough for caballero to enter any place, señor.
It appears to me that you have broken all the conventions."
"Perhaps the
lady has broken them also."
"Señor!"
roared the highwayman. "Another thought like that and I cut you down where
you stand, though you are a wounded man! How shall I punish you?"
"Despensero!
Natives!" the captain shouted suddenly. "Here is Señor Zorro! A
reward if you take him!"
The masked man
laughed. "'Twill do you small good to call for help," he said.
"Spend your breath in saying your prayers, rather."
"You do well
to threaten a wounded man."
"You deserve
death, señor, but I suppose I must allow you to escape that. But you will go
down upon your knees and apologize to this señorita. And then you will go from
this house, slink from it like the cur you are, and keep your mouth closed
regarding what has transpired here. If you do not, I promise to soil my blade
with your life's blood."
"Ha!"
"On your
knees, señor, and instantly!" Señor Zorro commanded. "I have no time
to waste in waiting."
"I am an
officer—"
"On your
knees!" commanded Señor Zorro again, in a terrible voice. He sprang
forward and grasped Captain Ramon by his well shoulder, and threw him to the
floor.
"Quickly,
poltroon! Tell the señorita that you humbly beg her pardon—which she will not
grant, of course, since you are beneath speaking to—and that you will not annoy
her again. Say it, or, by the saints, you have made your last speech!"
Captain Ramón
said it. And then Señor Zorro grasped him by the neck and lifted him, and
propelled him to the door and hurled him into the darkness. And had his boots
not been soft, Captain Ramón would have been injured more deeply, both in
feelings and anatomy.
Señor Zorro closed
the door as the despensero came running into the room, to stare in fright at
the masked man.
"Señorita, I
trust that I have been of service," the highwayman said. "That
scoundrel will not bother you further, else he feels the sting of my blade
again."
"Oh, thank
you, señor—thank you!" she cried. "I shall tell my father this good
deed you have done. Despensero, get him wine!"
There was nought
for the butler to do except obey, since she had voiced the order, and he
hurried from the room, pondering on the times and the manners.
Señorita Lolita
stepped to the man's side.
"Señor,"
she breathed, "you saved me from insult. You saved me from the pollution
of that man's lips. señor, though you deem me unmaidenly, I offer you freely
the kiss he would have taken."
She put up her
face and closed her eyes.
"And I shall
not look when you raise your mask," she said.
"It were too
much, señorita," he said. "Your hand—but not your lips."
"You shame
me, señor. I was bold to offer it, and you have refused."
"You shall
feel no shame," he said.
He bent swiftly,
raised the bottom of his mask, and touched lightly her lips with his.
"Ah,
señorita," he said. "I would I were an honest man and could claim you
openly. My heart is filled with love of you."
"And mine
with love of you."
"This is
madness. None must know."
"I would not
fear to tell the world, señor."
"Your father
and his fortunes! Don Diego!"
"I love you,
señor."
"Your chance
to be a great lady! Do you think I did not know Don Diego was the man you meant
when we spoke in your father's patio? This is a whim, señorita."
"It is love,
señor, whether anything comes of it or not. And a Pulido does not love
twice."
"What
possibly could come of it but distress?"
"We shall
see. God is good."
"It is
madness—"
"Sweet
madness, señor."
He clasped her to
him and bent his head again, and again she closed her eyes and took his kiss,
only this time the kiss was longer. She made no effort to see his face.
"I may be
ugly," he said.
"But I love
you."
"Disfigured,
señorita—"
"Still I
love you."
"What hope
can we have?"
"Go, señor,
before my parents return. I shall say nothing except that you saved me from
insult and then went your way again. They will think that you came to rob Don
Diego. And turn honest, señor, for my sake. Turn honest, I say, and claim me.
No man knows your face, and if you take off your mask forever, none ever will
know your guilt. It is not as if you were an ordinary thief. I know why you
have stolen—to avenge the helpless, to punish cruel politicians, to aid the
oppressed. I know that you have given what you have stolen to the poor. Oh,
señor!"
"But my task
is not yet done, señorita, and I feel called upon to finish it."
"Then fi nish it, and may the saints
guard you, as I feel sure they will. And when it is finished, come back to me.
I shall know you in whatever garb you come."
"Nor shall I
wait that long, señorita. I shall see you often. I could not exist else."
"Guard
yourself."
"I shall in
truth, now, since I have double reason. Life never was so sweet as now."
He backed away
from her slowly. He turned and glanced toward a window near at hand.
"I must
go," he said. "I cannot wait for the wine."
"That was
but a subterfuge so that we could be alone," she confessed.
"Until the
next time, señorita, and may it not be long."
"On guard,
señor!"
"Always,
loved one. señorita, adios!"
Again their eyes
met, and then he waved his hand at her, gathered his cloak close about his
body, darted to the window, and went through it. The darkness outside swallowed
him.
Chapter 14 - Captain Ramón
Writes a Letter
Picking himself
up out of the dust before Don Diego Vega's door, Captain Ramón darted through
the darkness to the footpath that ran up the slope toward the presidio.
His blood was
aflame with rage, his face was purple with wrath. There remained at the
presidio no more than half a dozen soldiers, for the greater part of the
garrison had gone with Sergeant Gonzales, and of these half-dozen four were on
the sick list and two were necessary as guards.
So Captain Ramón
could not send men down to the Vega house in an effort to effect a capture of
the highwayman; moreover, he decided that Señor Zorro would not remain there
more than a few minutes, but would mount his horse and ride away, for the
highwayman had a name for not resting long in one place.
Besides, Captain
Ramón had no wish to let it become known that this Señor Zorro had met him a
second time, and had treated him much like a peon. Could he give out the
information that he had insulted a señorita, and that Señor Zorro had punished
him because of it, that Señor Zorro had caused him to get down upon his knees
and apologize and then had kicked him through the front door like a dog?
The captain
decided it were better to say nothing of the occurrence. He supposed that
Señorita Lolita would tell her parents, and that the despensero would give
testimony, but he doubted whether Don Carlos would do anything about it. Don
Carlos would think twice before affronting an officer of the army, being the
recipient already of the governor's frowns. Ramón only hoped that Don Diego
would not learn much of the happening, for if a Vega raised hand against him,
the captain would have difficulty maintaining his position.
Pacing the floor
of his office, Captain Ramon allowed his wrath to grow, and thought on these
things and many others. He had kept abreast of the times, and he knew that the
governor arid the men about him were sorely in need of more funds to waste in
riotous living. They had plucked those men of wealth against whom there was-
the faintest breath of suspicion, and they would welcome a new victim.
Might not the
captain suggest one, and at the same time strengthen his own position with the
governor? Would the captain dare hint that perhaps the Vega family was wavering
in its loyalty to the governor?
At least he could
do one thing, he decided. He could have his revenge for the flouting the
daughter of Don Carlos Pulido had given him.
Captain Ramón
grinned despite his wrath as the thought came to him. He called for
writing-materials, and informed one of his well men that he should prepare for
a journey, being about to be named for a courier's job.
Ramón paced the
floor for some minutes more, thinking on the matter and trying to decide just
how to word the epistle he intended writing. And finally he sat down before the
long table and addressed his message to his excellency the governor, at his
mansion in San Francisco de Asis.
This is what he wrote:
Your
intelligences regarding this highwayman, Señor Zorro, as he is known, have come
to hand. I regret that I am unable at this writing to report the rogue's
capture, but I trust that you will be lenient with me in the matter, since
circumstances are somewhat unusual.
I have the
greater part of my force in pursuit of the fellow, with orders to get him in
person or to fetch me his corpse. But this Señor Zorro does not fight alone. He
is being given succor at certain places in the neighborhood, allowed to remain
in hiding when necessary, given food and drink and, no doubt, fresh horses.
Within the
past day he visited the hacienda of Don Carlos Pulido, a caballero known to be
hostile to your excellency. I sent men there and went myself. While my soldiers
took up his trail the man came from a closet in the living-room at Don Carlos's
house and attacked me treacherously. He wounded me in the right shoulder, but I
fought him off until he became frightened and dashed away, making his escape. I
may mention that I was hindered somewhat by this Don Carlos in pursuing the
man. Also, when I arrived at the hacienda, indications were that the man had
been eating his evening meal there.
The Pulido
hacienda is an excellent place for such a man to hide, being somewhat off the
main highway. I fear that Señor Zorro makes it his headquarters when he is in
this vicinity; and I await your instructions in the matter. I may add that Don
Carlos scarcely treated me with respect while I was in his presence, and that
his daughter, the Señorita Lolita, scarcely could keep from showing her
admiration of this highwayman and from sneering at the efforts of the soldiery
to capture him.
There are
also indications of a famous and wealthy family of this neighborhood wavering
in loyalty to your excellency, but you will appreciate the fact that I cannot
write of such a thing in a missive sent-you by courier.
With deep
respect,
Ramón, Comandante and Captain,
Presidio, Reina de Los Angeles.
Ramón grinned again as he finished the letter.
That last paragraph, he knew, would get the governor guessing. The Vega family
was about the only famous and wealthy one that would fit the description. As
for the Pulidos, Captain Ramon imagined what would happen to them. The governor
would not hesitate to deal out punishment, and perhaps the Señorita Lolita
would find herself without protection, and in no position to reject the
advances of a captain of the army.
Now Ramón
addressed himself to the task of making a second copy of the letter, intending
to send one by his courier and preserve the other for his files, in case
something came up and he wished to refer to it.
Having finished
the copy, he folded the original and sealed it, carried it to the soldiers'
lounging-room, and gave it to the man he had selected as courier. The soldier
saluted, hurried out to his horse, and rode furiously toward the north, toward
San Fernando and Santa Barbara, and on to San Francisco de Asis, with the
orders ringing in his ears that he should make all haste and get a change of
horses at every mission and pueblo in the name of his excellency.
Ramón returned to
his office and poured out a measure of wine, and began reading over the copy of
the letter. He half wished that he had made it stronger, yet he knew that it were
better to make it mild, for then the governor would not think he was
exaggerating.
He stopped
reading now and then to curse the name of Señor Zorro, and frequently he
reflected on the beauty and grace of the Señorita Lolita and told himself she
should be punished for the manner in which she had treated him.
He supposed that
Señor Zorro was miles away by this time, and putting more miles between himself
and Reina de Los Angeles; but he was mistaken in that. For the Curse of
Capistrano, as the soldiers called him, had not hurried away after leaving the
house of Don Diego Vega.
Chapter 15 - At the Presidio
Señor Zorro had gone a short distance through the
darkness to where he had left his horse in the rear of a native's hut, and
there he had stood, thinking of the love that had come to him.
Presently he
chuckled as if well pleased, then mounted and rode slowly toward the path that
led to the presidio. He heard a horseman galloping away from the place and
thought Captain Ramón had sent a man to call back Sergeant Gonzales and the
troopers and put them on the fresher trail.
Señor Zorro knew
how affairs stood at the presidio, knew to a man how many of the soldiery were
there, and that four were ill with a fever, and that there was but one well man
now besides the captain since one had ridden away.
He laughed again
and made his horse climb the slope slowly so as to make little noise. In the
rear of the presidio building he dismounted and allowed the reins to drag on
the ground, knowing that the animal would not move from the spot.
Now he crept
through the darkness to the wall of the building and made his way around it
carefully until he came to a window. He raised himself on a pile of adobe
bricks and peered inside.
It was Captain
Ramón's office into which he looked. He saw the comandante sitting before a
table reading a letter which, it appeared, he had just finished writing.
Captain Ramón was talking to himself, as does many an evil man.
"That will
cause consternation for the pretty señorita," he was saying. "That
will teach her not to flaunt an officer of his excellency's forces. When her
father is in the carcel charged with high treason, and his estates have been
taken away, then perhaps she will listen to what I have to say."
Señor Zorro had
no difficulty in distinguishing the words. He guessed instantly that Captain
Ramón had planned a revenge, that he contemplated mischief toward the Pulidos.
Beneath his mask the face of Señor Zorro grew black with rage.
He got down from
the pile of adobe bricks and slipped on along the wall until he came to the
corner of the building. In a socket at the side of the front door a torch was
burning, and the only able-bodied man left in the garrison was pacing back and
forth before the doorway, a pistol in his belt and a blade at his side.
Señor Zorro noted
the length of the man's pacing. He judged the distance accurately, and just as
the man turned his back to resume his march the highwayman sprang.
His hands closed
around the soldier's throat as his knees struck the man in the back. Instantly
they were upon the ground, the surprised trooper now doing his best to put up a
fight. But Señor Zorro, knowing that a bit of noise might mean disaster for
him, silenced the man by striking him on the temple with the heavy butt of his
pistol.
He pulled the
unconscious soldier back into the shadows, gagged him with a strip torn from
the end of his serape, and bound his hands and feet with other strips. Then he
drew his cloak about him, looked to his pistol, listened a moment to be sure
the short fight with the soldier had not attracted the attention of any inside
the building, and slipped once more toward the door.
He was inside in
an instant. Before him was the big lounging-room with its hard dirt floor. Here
were some long tables and bunks and wine mugs and harness and saddles and
bridles. Señor Zorro gave it but a glance to assure himself that no man was
there, and walked swiftly and almost silently across to the door that opened
into the office of the commandante.
He made sure that
his pistol was ready for instant use, and then threw the door open boldly.
Captain Ramón was seated with his back toward it, and now he whirled around in
his chair with a snarl on his lips, thinking one of his men had entered without
the preliminary of knocking, and ready to rebuke the man.
"Not a
sound, señor," the highwayman warned. "You die if as much as a gasp
escapes your lips."
He kept his eyes
on those of the comandante, closed the door behind him, and advanced into the
room. He walked forward slowly, without speaking, the pistol held ready in
front of him. Captain Ramon had his hands on the table before him, and his face
had gone white.
"This visit
is necessary, señor, I believe," Señor Zorro said. "I have not made
it because I admire the beauty of your face."
"What do you
here?" the captain asked, disregarding the order to make no sound, yet
speaking in a tone scarcely above a whisper.
"I happened
to look in at the window, señor. I saw an epistle before you on the table, and
I heard you speak. 'Tis a bad thing for a man to talk to himself. Had you
remained silent I might have gone on about my business. As it is—"
"Well,
señor?" the captain asked, with a bit of his old arrogance returning to
him.
"I have a
mind to read that letter before you."
"Does my
military business interest you that much?"
"As to that,
we shall say nothing, señor. Kindly remove your hands from the table, but do
not reach toward the pistol at your side unless you wish to die the death
instantly. It would not grieve me to have to send your soul into the
hereafter."
The comandante
did as he had been directed, and Señor Zorro went forward cautiously and
snatched up the letter. Then he retreated a few paces again, still watching the
man before him.
"I am going
to read this," he said, "but I warn you that I shall watch you
closely, also. Do not make a move, señor, unless it is your wish to visit your
ancestors."
He read swiftly,
and when he had finished he looked the comandante straight in the eyes for some
time without speaking, and his own eyes were glittering malevolently through
his mask. Captain Ramon began to feel more uncomfortable.
Señor Zorro
stepped across to the table, still watching the other, and held the letter to
the flame of a candle. It caught fire, blazed, presently dropped to the floor,
a bit of ash. Señor Zorro put one foot upon it
"The letter
will not be delivered," he said. "So you fight women, do you, señor?
A brave officer and an ornament to his excellency's forces! I doubt not he
would grant you promotion if he knew of this. You insult a señorita because her
father, for the time being, is not friendly with those in power, and because
she repulses you as you deserve, you set about to cause trouble for the members
of her family. Truly, it is a worthy deed."
He took a step
closer and bent forward, still holding the pistol ready before him.
"Let me not
hear of you sending any letter similar to the one I have just destroyed,"
he said. "I regret at the present time that you are unable to stand before
me and cross blades. It would be an insult to my sword to run you through, yet
would I do it to rid the world of such a fellow."
"You speak
bold words to a wounded man."
"No doubt
the wound will heal, señor. And I shall keep myself informed regarding it. And
when it has healed and you have back your strength, I shall take the trouble to
hunt you up, and call you to account for what you have attempted doing this
night. Let that be understood between us."
Again their eyes
blazed, each man's into those of the other, and Señor Zorro stepped backward
and drew his cloak closer about him. To their ears there came suddenly a
jangling of harness, the tramp of horses' feet, the raucous voice of Sergeant
Pedro Gonzales.
"Do not
dismount!" the sergeant was crying to his men at the door. "I but
make report, and then we go on after the rogue! There shall be no rest until we
take him!"
Señor Zorro
glanced quickly around the room, for he knew escape by the entrance was cut off
now. Captain Ramón's eyes flashed with keen anticipation.
"Ho,
Gonzales!" he shrieked before Zorro could warn him against it. "To
the rescue, Gonzales! Señor Zorro is here!"
And then he
looked at the highwayman defiantly, as if telling him to do his worst
But Señor Zorro
had no desire to fire his pistol and let out the captain's lifeblood, it
appeared, preferring to save him for the blade when his shoulder should have
healed.
"Remain
where you are!" he commanded, and darted toward the nearest window.
The big sergeant
had heard, however. He called upon his men to follow, and rushed across the
large room to the door of the office and threw it open. A bellow of rage
escaped him as he saw the masked man standing beside the table, and saw the
comandante sitting before it with his hands spread out before him.
"By the
saints, we have him!" Gonzales cried. "In with you, troopers! Guard
the doors! Some look to the windows!"
Señor Zorro had
transferred his pistol to his left hand, and had whipped out his blade. Now he
swept it forward and sidewise, and the candles were struck from the table.
Zorro put his foot upon the only one that remained lighted and extinguished it
in that manner—and the room was in darkness.
"Lights!
Bring a torch!" Gonzales shrieked..
Señor Zorro
sprang aside, against the wall, and made his way around it rapidly while
Gonzales and two other men sprang into the room, and one remained guarding the
door; while in the other room several ran to get a torch, and managed to get in
one another's way.
The man with the
torch came rushing through the door finally, and he shrieked and went down with
a sword blade through his breast, and the torch fell to the floor and was
extinguished. And then, before the sergeant could reach the spot, Señor Zorro
was back in the darkness again and could not be found.
Gonzales was
roaring his curses now and searching for the man he wished to slay, and the
captain was crying to him to be careful and not put his blade through a trooper
by mistake. The other men were storming around; in the other room one came with
a second torch.
Zorro's pistol
spoke, and the torch was shot from the man's hand. The highwayman sprang
forward and stamped upon it, putting it out, and again retreated to the
darkness, changing his position rapidly, listening for the deep breathing that
would tell him the exact location of his various foes.
"Catch the
rogue!" the comandante was shrieking. "Can one man thus make fools of
the lot of you?"
Then he ceased to
speak, for Señor Zorro had grasped him from behind and shut off his wind, and
now the highwayman's voice rang out above the din.
"Soldiers, I
have your captain! I am going to carry him before me and back out the door. I
am going to cross the other room and so reach the outside of the building. I
have discharged one pistol, but I am holding its mate at the base of the
captain's brain. And when one of you attacks me, I fire, and you are without a
captain."
The captain could
feel cold steel at the back of his head, and he shrieked for the men to use
caution. And Señor Zorro carried him to the doorway and backed out with the
captain held in front of him, while Gonzales and the troopers followed as
closely as they dared, watching every move, hoping for a chance to catch him
unaware.
He crossed the
big lounging-room of the presidio and so came to the outside door. He was
somewhat afraid of the men outside, for he knew that some of them had run
around the building to guard the windows. The torch was still burning just
outside the door, and Señor Zorro put up his hand and tore it down and extinguished
it. But still there would be grave danger the moment he stepped out.
Gonzales and the
troopers were before him, spread out fan-fashion across the room, bending
forward, waiting for a chance to get in a blow. Gonzales held a pistol in his
hand—though he made out to despise the weapon—and was watching for an
opportunity to shoot without endangering the life of his captain.
"Back,
señores!" the highwayman commanded now. "I would have more room in
which to make my start. That is it—I thank you. Sergeant Gonzales, were not the
odds so heavy, I might be tempted to play at fence with you and disarm you
again."
"By the
saints—"
"Some other
time, my sergeant. And now, señores, attention! It desolates me to say it, but
I had only the one pistol. What the captain has been feeling all this time at
the base of his brain is nought except a bridle buckle I picked up from the
floor. Is it not a pretty jest? Señores, adios!"
Suddenly he
whirled the captain forward, darted into the darkness, and started toward his
horse with the whole pack at his heels and pistol flashes splitting the
blackness of the night and bullets whistling by his head. His laughter came
back to them on the stiffening breeze that blew in from the distant sea.
