The Curse of Capistrano | Page 5

a few feet of him and the door the
stranger whirled around. The landlord gave a little cry of fear and
retreated with speed. The corporal gurgled deep down in his throat; the
soldiers gasped; Sergeant Pedro Gonzales allowed his lower jaw to
drop and let his eyes bulge.
For the man who stood straight before them had a black mask over his
face that effectually concealed his features, and through the two slits in
it his eyes glittered ominously.

"Ha! What have we here?" Gonzales gasped finally, some presence of
mind returning to him.
The man before them bowed.
"Senor Zorro, at your service," he said.
"By the saints I Senor Zorro, eh?" Gonzales cried.
"Do you doubt it, senor?"
"If you are indeed Senor Zorro, then have you lost your wits!" the
sergeant declared.
"What is the meaning of that speech?"
"You are here, are you not? You have entered the inn, have you not?
By all the saints, you have walked into a trap, my pretty highwayman!"
"Will the senor please explain?" Senor Zorro asked. His voice was deep
and held a peculiar ring.
"Are you blind? Are you without sense?" Gonzales demanded. "Am I
not here?"
"And what has that to do with it?"
"Am I not a soldier?"
"At least you wear a soldier's garb, senor."
"By the saints, and cannot you see the good corporal and three of our
comrades? Have you come to surrender your wicked sword, senor? Are
you finished playing at rogue?"
Senor Zorro laughed, not unpleasantly, but he did not take his
eyes-from Gonzales.
"Most certainly I have not come to surrender," he said. "I am on

business, senor."
"Business?" Gonzales queried.
"Four days ago, Senor, you brutally beat a native who had won your
dislike. The affair happened on the road between here and the mission
at San Gabriel."
"He was a surly dog and got in my way! And how does it concern you,
my pretty highwayman?"
"I am the friend of the oppressed, Senor, and I have come to punish
you."
"Come to--to punish me, fool? You punish me? I shall die . of laughter
before I can run you through! You are as good as dead, Senor Zorro!
His excellency has offered a pretty price for your carcass! If you are a
religious man, say your prayers! I would not have it said that I slew a
man without giving him time to repent his crimes. I give you the space
of a hundred heartbeats."
"You are generous, Senor, but there is no need for me to say my
prayers."
"Then must I do my duty," said Gonzales, and lifted the point of his
blade. "Corporal, you will remain by the table, and the men also. This
fellow and the reward he means are mine!"
He blew out the ends of his mustache and advanced carefully, not
making the mistake of underestimating his antagonist, for there had
been certain tales of the man's skill with a blade. And when he was
within the proper distance he recoiled suddenly, as if a snake had
warned of a strike.
For Senor Zorro had allowed one hand to come from beneath his cloak,
and the hand held a pistol, most damnable of weapons to Sergeant
Gonzales.

"Back, Senor!" Senor Zorro warned.
"Ha! So that is the way of it!" Gonzales cried. "You carry that devil's
weapon and threaten men with it! Such things are for use only at a long
distance and against inferior foes. Gentlemen prefer the trusty blade."
"Back, Senor! There is death in this you call the devil's weapon. I shall
not warn again."
"Somebody told me you were a brave man," Gonzales taunted,
retreating a few feet. "It has been whispered that you would meet any
man foot to foot and cross blades with him. I have believed it of you.
And now I find you resorting to a weapon fit for nothing except to use
against red natives. Can it be, senor, that you lack the courage I have
heard you possess?"
Senor Zorro laughed again.
"As to that you shall see presently," he said. "The use of this pistol is
necessary at the present time. I find myself pitted against large odds in
this tavern, senor. I shall cross blades with you gladly when I have
made such a proceeding safe."
"I wait anxiously," Conzales sneered.
"The corporal and soldiers will retreat to that far corner," Senor Zorro
directed. "Landlord, you will accompany them. The native will go there
also. Quickly, senores. Thank you. I. do not wish to have any of you
disturbing me while I am punishing this sergeant here."
"Ha!" Gonzales screeched in fury. "We shall soon see as to the
punishing, my pretty fox!"
"I shall hold the pistol in my left