CHAPTER XXV.AT THE PRESIDIO.
In that instant, as he watched the singing Zorro racing up the slope toward the crest, Captain Ramón realized that his future was hanging by a very thin thread. Were he to protect his own interests he must move swiftly.
He sensed that Señor Zorro would make a mad ride for San Diego de Alcála and pour a story into the ear of thecommandanteof thepresidiothere. And it was highly imperative that Captain Ramón tell a far better story—and tell it first.
Ramón managed to return his sword to its scabbard, and then he raced with what speed he could toward Barbados and the others, who were following lurchingly in Señor Zorro’s wake. He grasped Barbados by an arm and hurried him aside.
“What happened?” thecommandantedemanded.
“The fellow tricked us in some fashion!” Barbados declared with an oath. “His hands were untied, and he had a dagger. If that pretty wench we let speak with him—”
“Attend me!” Ramón cried. “The wench is under guard in one of the huts, and is not to be touched. Get me a horse. Be quick about it! The fool is riding to San Diego for troopers!”
“Ha! Let them come!”
“I must get to thepresidiobefore he arrives,” Captain Ramón explained. “The lieutenant there will take orders from me. Then I’ll lead the troopers into your ambush, as we had planned. And this Zorro—”
“Ha! This Zorro!” Barbados cried.“When I have my hands upon him again there’ll be no delay.”
“I’ll have him imprisoned in thepresidio,” the captain promised. “Then, after you defeat the soldiers, and when you go to loot the town, he will be at your mercy.”
“You think of everything!” Barbados declared. “I say it yet once again—you should be a pirate!”
One of the men, understanding more than his fellows, had fetched the captain’s own horse, with saddle and bridle on. The captain sprang into the saddle.
“Arrange the ambush at the head of the cañon, as we planned,” he told Barbados. “Do it without delay. I’ll lead the troopers straight into the trap.”
Then he touched spurs to the animal he bestrode and dashed up the slope in the wake of Señor Zorro.
Captain Ramón was an excellent horseman, and he rode an excellent mount. Moreover, he had been through every mile of that country with his troopers some time before. He knew the shortest route to thepresidioat San Diego de Alcála, and he felt quite sure that Señor Zorro did not.
Reaching the crest of the slope, Captain Ramón stopped his horse beneath the trees and watched and listened for a time. From the distance there came to his ears the drumming of a horse’s hoofs. As he had expected, Señor Zorro had ridden along the bottom of the cañon, and Captain Ramón knew that such a course would take him at least two miles out of his way. Once in that cañon, a horseman was forced to follow it until he came to the other end.
Captain Ramón turned his horse’s head in another direction and drove home the spurs. He rode around a hill and emerged upon a flat space, across which he raced toward a row of foothills in the distance. Señor Zorro had the start, but he was taking the long way. Aside from an accident, Captain Ramón could reach San Diego de Alcála and have his story told before Señor Zorro arrived.
The thing had to be done, he told himself. He would use his authority and have Zorro thrown into the guardroom at thepresidio. He would go back to the pirate camp at the head of the troopers, see that the pirates were wiped out to a man, release thecaballerosand theseñorita.
And then there would be other things to do. He would convince the authorities that Señor Zorro had been allied with the pirates and that thecaballeroshad not known of it, and have Zorro hanged. He would ask his friend, the Governor, to order theseñoritato wed with him because he had saved her and wiped out the pirate brood, and theseñoritawould be forced to obey his excellency’s command. And he would see to it that all men believed he had been true and loyal continually.
If theseñoritaspoke out the truth Captain Ramón could smile and say she uttered a falsehood because she did not wish to wed with him. He was guarded against every emergency, he felt.
There was a mere possibility, of course, that the pirates might be victorious, and in such case Captain Ramón would pretend that he had been with the rogues always, turn pirate himself, and have theseñorita. But he preferred the other way.
He thought of these things as he rode. Around another hill and down a slope he rushed, and when he came to a wide trail that ran toward the distant El Camino Real he knew that he had distanced Señor Zorro. Yet he rode furiously, for he wanted all the time he could have at thepresidiobefore Zorro arrived.
And finally he reached the highway, and tore along it like a mad horseman riding on the wind. The mount beneath him was showing signs of wearying, but the captain urged him on. Now he was flying past natives’ huts scattered along the broad highway. Children and chickens and swine hurried from his path. Women came to the doors of the huts to look after him through clouds of dust.
Then he could see, in the distance, thepresidioon its little hill, and the group of buildings around it. Captain Ramón urged his horse cruelly. As he approached men turned to watch him. Before thepresidioitself troopers sprang to their feet, as men will when there is a feeling of excitement in the air.
Captain Ramón stopped his horse in acloud of dust before thepresidioentrance and was out of the saddle before the nearest trooper could seize the bridle. The men saluted, but Captain Ramón spent no time in answering their salutes. Drawing off his gloves, he strode through the entrance and straight toward the office of thecommandante.
He had lied nobly to Barbados. Instead of their being a smaller force of soldiers than usual at San Diego de Alcála, there was an extra detachment, come to relieve others who were to go toward the north. But only a lieutenant was there by way of officer, the realcommandantebeing on a journey to San Francisco de Asis to explain certain things to the Governor.
Captain Ramón opened the office door and strode inside, gasping his breath, slapping the dust from his uniform. The lieutenant sprang to his feet.
“Ramón!” he cried. “So far from home—”
Captain Ramón stopped him with a gesture.
“Have your trumpeter sound the assembly, and gather your men while we talk!” he commanded. “This is serious—and urgent!”
The lieutenant was a good soldier, and did not question. He sprang to the door and called an order, and almost immediately the commanding notes of a trumpet rang through the place. Then the lieutenant closed the door and hurried back to the long table in the middle of the room, before which Ramón was sitting.
“Pirates within eight miles of you!” Ramón declared. “They have a large camp. Three nights ago they raided Reina de Los Angeles.”
“The news has reached us.”
“Ha! I followed by land and approached their rendezvous at an early hour this morning. They abducted Señorita Lolita Pulido. Somecaballerospursued them by sea, fought, and were overcome. Many are being held prisoners, for ransom and torture. Theseñoritais a prisoner also.”
“Where?” the lieutenant asked.
“On the coast, a bit north. I lurked about the camp and made some discoveries. Señor Zorro is mixed up with them.”
“Zorro?” the lieutenant gasped.
“The same. His wild blood has broken out again. Theseñoritais of the opinion that he followed to rescue her, when in reality he had her stolen. He was to have married her, but is eager for lawlessness, it appears. This will be the end of the fiend!”
“Ha!” the lieutenant gasped. “If—”
“Attend!” Ramón interrupted. “I overheard a plot. Zorro is to ride here wildly and tell of theseñoritaand thecaballerosbeing held by the pirates. It is his intention to lead back the troopers—and lead them into an ambush.”
“By the saints—”
“So the pirates will wipe out your men. And then San Diego de Alcála, unprotected, will be before him!”
“The fiend!” the lieutenant gasped.
“Call half a dozen of your trusted men and have them ready. When he enters and begins his story have him seized. Throw him into the guardroom and put him into the maniac’s shirt. Then I’ll help you lead the troopers. I know how the ambush is planned. We’ll attack in the rear, save thecaballeros, and rescue theseñorita—and gain considerable credit. Promotion will come to you!”
“It is agreed!” the lieutenant said, his face beaming.
“Be quick about it. I’ll disappear while Zorro tells his tale. Seize him, throw him into the guardroom, put him into the maniac’s shirt, leave two men to guard him. When we return we’ll see that he is punished for his perfidy.Caballeroor not, he’ll be hanged for this.”
The lieutenant sprang from his chair to issue the necessary orders. But the door was hurled open—and Señor Zorro rushed into the officer’s room!