The Mark of Zorro (14 page)

“They are,” the captain replied shortly, for he did not like to have it said that he had been defeated in combat. “And they will continue to be after him until he is captured. I have a big sergeant, Gonzales—I think he is a friend of yours, Don Diego—who is eager to make the arrest and earn the governor's reward. I shall instruct him, when he returns, to take his squad and pursue this highwayman until he has been dealt with properly.”

“Let me express the hope that the soldiers will be successful,
señor.
The rogue has annoyed Don Carlos and the ladies—and Don Carlos is my friend. I would have all men know it!”

Don Carlos beamed, and Doña Catalina smiled bewitchingly, but the Señorita Lolita fought to keep her pretty upper lip from curling with scorn.

“A mug of your refreshing wine, Don Carlos,” Don Diego Vega continued. “I am fatigued. Twice to-day have I ridden here from Reina de Los Angeles, and it is about all a man can endure.”

“'Tis not much of a journey—four miles,” said the captain.

“Possibly not for a rough soldier,” Don Diego replied, “but it is for a
caballero.”

“May not a soldier be a
caballero?”
Ramón asked, nettled somewhat at the other's words.

“It has happened before now, but we come across it rarely,” Don Diego said. He glanced at Lolita as he spoke, intending that she should take notice of his words, for he had seen the manner in which the captain glanced at her, and jealousy was beginning to burn in his heart.

“Do you mean to insinuate,
señor,
that I am not of good blood?” Captain Ramón asked.

“I cannot reply as to that,
señor,
having seen none of it. No doubt this Señor Zorro could tell me. He saw the color of it, I understand.”

“By the saints!” Captain Ramón cried. “You would taunt me?”

“Never be taunted by the truth,” Don Diego observed. “He ran you through the shoulder, eh? 'Tis a mere scratch, I doubt not. Should you not be at the
presidio
instructing your soldiers?”

“I await their return here,” the captain replied. “Also, it is a fatiguing journey from here to the
presidio,
according to your own ideas,
señor.”

“But a soldier is inured to hardship,
señor.”

“True, there are many pests he must encounter,” the captain said, glancing at Don Diego with meaning.

“You term me a pest,
señor?”

“Did I say as much?”

This was perilous ground, and Don Carlos had no mind to let an officer of the army and Don Diego Vega have trouble in his
hacienda,
for fear he would get into greater difficulties.

“More wine,
señores!”
he exclaimed in a loud voice, and stepping between their chairs in utter disregard of proper breeding. “Drink, my captain, for your wound has made you weak. And you, Don Diego, after your wild ride—”

“I doubt its wildness,” Captain Ramón observed.

Don Diego accepted the proffered wine mug and turned his back upon the captain. He glanced across at Señorita Lolita and smiled. He got up deliberately and picked up his chair, and carried it across the room to set it down beside her.

“And did the rogue frighten you,
señorita?”
he asked.

“Suppose he did,
señor?
Would you avenge the matter? Would you put a blade at your side and ride abroad until you found him, and then punish him as he deserves?”

“By the saints, were it necessary, I might do as much. But I am able to employ a raft of strong fellows who would like nothing better than to run down the rogue. Why should I risk my own neck?”

“Oh!” she exclaimed, exasperated.

“Let us not talk further of this bloodthirsty Señor Zorro,” he begged. “There are other things fit for conversation. Have you been thinking,
señorita,
on the object of my visit earlier in the day?”

Señorita Lolita thought of it now. She remembered again what the marriage would mean to her parents and their fortunes, and she recalled the highwayman, too, and remembered his dash and spirit, and wished that Don Diego could be such a man. And she could not say the word that would make her the betrothed of Don Diego Vega.

“I—I have scarcely had time to think of it, caballero,” she replied.

“I trust you will make up your mind soon,” he said.

“You are so eager?”

“My father was at me again this afternoon. He insists that I should take a wife as soon as possible. It is rather a nuisance, of course, but a man must please his father.”

Lolita bit her lips because of her quick anger. Was ever girl so courted before? she wondered.

“I shall make up my mind as soon as possible,
señor,”
she said finally.

“Does this Captain Ramón remain long at the
hacienda?”
A little hope came into Lolita's breast. Could it be possible that Don Diego Vega was jealous? If that were true, possibly there might be stuff in the man, after all. Perhaps he would awaken, and love and passion come to him, and he would be as other young men.

“My father has asked him to remain until he is able to travel to the
presidio,”
she replied.

“He is able to travel now. A mere scratch!”

“You will not return to-night?” she asked.

“It probably will make me ill, but I must return. There are certain things that must engage my interest early in the morning. Business is such a nuisance!”

“Perhaps my father will offer to send you in the carriage.”

“Ha! It were kindness if he does. A man may doze a bit in a carriage.”

“But, if this highwayman should stop you?”

“I need not fear,
señorita.
Have I not wealth? Could I not purchase my release?”

“You would pay ransom rather than fight him,
señor?”

“I have lots of money, but only one life,
señorita.
Would I be a wise man to risk having my blood let out?”

“It would be the manly part, would it not?” she asked.

“Any male can be manly at times, but it takes a clever man to be sagacious,” he said.

Don Diego laughed lightly, as if it cost him an effort, and bent forward to speak in lower tones.

On the other side of the room, Don Carlos was doing his best to make Captain Ramón comfortable, and was glad that he and Don Diego remained apart for the time being.

“Don Carlos,” the captain said, “I come from a good family, and the governor is friendly toward me, as no doubt you have heard. I am but twenty-three years of age, else I would hold a higher office. But my future is assured.”

“I am rejoiced to learn it,
señor.”

“I never set eyes upon your daughter until this evening, but she has captivated me,
señor.
Never have I seen such grace and beauty, such flashing eyes! I ask your permission,
señor,
to pay my addresses to the
señorita.”

Here was a fix! Don Carlos had no wish to anger Don Diego Vega or a man who stood high in the governor's regard. And how was he to evade it? If Lolita could not force her heart to accept Don Diego, perhaps she could learn to love Captain Ramón. After Don Diego, he was the best potential son-in-law in the vicinity.

“Your answer,
señor?”
the captain was asking.

“I trust you will not misunderstand me,
señor,”
Don Carlos said, in lower tones. “I must make a simple explanation.”

“Proceed,
señor.”
“But this morning Don Diego Vega asked me the same question.”

“Ha!”

“You know his blood and his family,
señor.
Could I refuse him? Of rights, I could not. But I may tell you this—the
señorita
weds no man unless it is her wish. So Don Diego has my permission to pay his addresses, but if he fails to touch her heart—”

“Then I may try?” the captain asked.

“You have my permission,
señor.
Of course, Don Diego has great wealth, but you have a dashing way with you, and Don Diego—that is—he is rather—”

“I understand perfectly,
señor,”
the captain said, laughing. “He is not exactly a brave and dashing
caballero.
Unless your daughter prefers wealth to a genuine man—”

“My daughter will follow the dictates of her heart,
señor!”
Don Carlos said proudly.

“Then the affair is between Don Diego Vega and myself?”

“So long as you use discretion,
señor.
I would have nothing happen that would cause enmity between the Vega family and mine.”

“Your interests shall be protected, Don Carlos,” Captain Ramón declared.

As Don Diego talked, the Señorita Lolita observed her father and Captain Ramón, and guessed what was being said. It pleased her, of course, that a dashing officer should enter the lists for her hand, and yet she had felt no thrill when first she looked into his eyes.

Señor Zorro, now, had thrilled her to the tips of her tiny toes, and merely because he had talked to her, and touched the palm of her hand with his lips. If Don Diego Vega were only more like the highwayman! If some man appeared who combined Vega's wealth with the rogue's spirit and dash and courage!

There was a sudden tumult outside, and into the room strode the soldiers, Sergeant Gonzales at their head. They saluted their captain, and the big sergeant looked with wonder at his wounded shoulder.

“The rogue escaped us,” Gonzales reported. “We followed him for a distance of three miles or so, as he made his way into the hills, where we came upon him.”

“Well?” Ramón questioned.

“He has allies.”

“What is this?”

“Fully ten men were waiting for him there, my captain. They set upon us before we were aware of their presence. We fought them well, and three of them we wounded, but they made their escape and took their comrades with them. We had not been expecting a band, of course, and so rode into their ambush.”

“Then we have to contend with a band of them!” Captain Ramón said. “Sergeant, you will select a score of men in the morning, and have command over them. You will take the trail of this Señor Zorro, and you will not stop until he is either captured or slain. I will add a quarter's wages to the reward of his excellency, the governor, if you are successful.”

“Ha! It is what I have wished!” Sergeant Gonzales cried. “Now we shall run this coyote to earth in short order! I shall show you the color of his blood—”

“‘Twould be no more than right, since he has seen the color of the captain's,” Don Diego put in.

“What is this, Don Diego, my friend? Captain, you have crossed blades with the rogue?”

“I have,” the captain assented. “You but followed a tricky horse, my sergeant. The fellow was here, in a closet, and came out after I had entered. So it must have been some other man you met with his companions up in the hills. This Señor Zorro treated me much as he treated you in the tavern—had a pistol handy in case I should prove too expert with the blade.”

Captain and sergeant looked at each other squarely, each wondering how much the other had been lying, while Don Diego chuckled faintly and tried to press the Señorita Lolita's hand, and failed.

“This thing can be settled only in blood!” Gonzales declared. “I shall pursue the rascal until he is run to earth. I have permission to select my men?”

“You may take any at the
presidio,”
the captain said.

“Sergeant Gonzales, I should like to go with you,” Don Diego said suddenly.

“By the saints! It would kill you,
caballero!
Day and night in the saddle, up hill and down hill, through dust and heat, and with a chance at fighting!”

“Well, perhaps it were best for me to remain in the
pueblo,”
Don Diego admitted. “But he has annoyed this family, of which I am a true friend. At least, you will keep me informed? You will tell me how he escapes if he dodges you? I at least may know that you are on his trail, and where you are riding, so I may be with you in spirit?”

“Certainly,
caballero
—certainly!” Sergeant Gonzales replied. “I shall give you the chance of looking upon the rogue's dead face. I swear it!”

“'Tis a terrible oath, my sergeant. Suppose it should come to pass—”

“I mean, if I slay the rascal, caballero. My captain, do you return this night to the
presidio?”

“Yes,” Ramón replied. “Despite my wound, I can ride a horse.”

He glanced toward Don Diego as he spoke, and there was almost a sneer upon his lips.

“What magnificent grit!” Don Diego said. “I, too, shall return to Reina de Los Angeles, if Don Carlos will be as good as to have his carriage brought around. I can tie my horse to the rear of it. To ride horseback the distance again this day would be the death of me!”

Gonzales laughed and led the way from the house. Captain Ramón paid his respects to the ladies, glowered at Don Diego, and followed. The
caballero
faced Señorita Lolita again as her parents escorted the captain to the door.

“You will think of the matter?” he asked. “My father will be at me again within a few days, and I shall escape censure if I am able to tell him that it is all settled. If you decide to wed me, have your father send me word by a servant. Then I shall put my house in order against the wedding day.”

“I shall think of it,” the girl said.