“I know the man. Proceed!”
“So he rides straightway to the hacienda of Don Carlos and asks permission to pay his addresses to Don Carlos’s only daughter. Señor Zorro was abroad, and Don Diego, going to his own hacienda on business, asked Don Carlos to come to the pueblo with his family, where it would be safer, and occupy his house until he returned. The Pulidos could not refuse, of course. And Señor Zorro, it appears, followed them.”
“Ha! Go on!”
“It is laughable that Don Diego fetched them here to escape Señor Zorro’s wrath, when, in reality, they are hand in glove with the highwayman. Remember, this Señor Zorro had been at the Pulido hacienda. We got word from a native, and almost caught him there. He had been eating a meal. He was hiding in a closet, and while I was alone there and my men searching the trails, he came from the closet, ran me through the shoulder from behind, and escaped.”
“The low scoundrel!” the governor exclaimed. “But do you think there will be a marriage between Don Diego and the Señorita Pulido?”
“I imagine there need be no worry in that regard, excellency. I am of the opinion that Don Diego’s father put a flea in his ear. He probably called Don Diego’s attention to the fact that Don Carlos does not stand very high with your excellency, and that there are daughters of other men who do.
“At any rate, the Pulidos returned to their hacienda after Don Diego’s return. Don Diego called upon me here at the presidio, and appeared to be anxious that I would not think him a man of treason.”
“I am glad to hear it. The Vegas are powerful. They never have been my warm friends, yet never have they raised hands against me, so I cannot complain. It is good sense to keep them friendly, if that be possible. But these Pulidos—”
“Even the señorita appears to be giving aid to this highwayman,” Captain Ramón said. “She boasted to me of what she called his courage. She sneered at the soldiers.
“Don Carlos Pulido and some of the frailes are protecting the man, giving him food and drink, hiding him, sending him news of the troopers’ whereabouts. The Pulidos are hindering our efforts to capture the rogue. I would have taken steps, but I thought it best to inform you and await your decision.”
“There can be but one decision in such a case,” said the governor loftily. “No matter how good a man’s blood may be, or what his rank, he cannot be allowed to commit treason without suffering the consequences. I had thought that Don Carlos had learned his lesson, but it appears that he has not. Are any of your men in the presidio?”
“Some who are ill, excellency.”
“That courier of yours returned with my escort. Does he know the country well hereabouts?”
“Certainly, excellency. He has been stationed here for some little time.”
“Then he can act as guide. Send half my escort at once to the hacienda of Don Carlos Pulido. Have them arrest the don and fetch him to carcel, and incarcerate him there. That will be a blow to his high blood! I have had quite enough of these Pulidos.”
“And the haughty doña, who sneered at me, and the proud señorita who scorned the troopers?”
“Ha! It is a good thought! It will teach a lesson to all in this locality. Have them fetched to carcel and incarcerated also!” the governor said.
XXVIII
The Outrage
Don Diego’s carriage had just pulled up before his house when a squad of troopers went by it in a cloud of dust. He did not recognize any of them for men he had seen about the tavern.
“Ha! There are new soldiers on the trail of Señor Zorro?” he asked a man standing near.
“They are a part of the escort of the governor, caballero.”
“The governor is here?”
“He arrived but a short time ago, caballero, and has gone to the presidio.”
“I suppose they must have fresh news of this highwayman to send them riding furiously through dust and sun like that. He appears to be an elusive rascal. By the saints! Had I been here when the governor arrived, no doubt he would have put up at my house. Now some other caballero will have the honor of entertaining him. It is much to be regretted.”
And then Don Diego went into the house, and the man who had heard him speak did not know whether to doubt the sincerity of that last remark.
Led by the courier, who knew the way, the squad of troopers galloped swiftly along the high road, and presently turned up the trail toward Don Carlos’s house. They went at this business as they would have gone about capturing a desperado. As they struck the driveway, they scattered to left and right, tearing up Doña Catalina’s flowerbeds and sending chickens squawking out of the way, and so surrounded the house in almost an instant of time.
Don Carlos had been sitting on the veranda in his accustomed place, half in a doze, and he did not notice the advance of the troopers until he heard the beating of their horses’ hoofs. He got to his feet in alarm, wondering whether Señor Zorro was in the vicinity again and the soldiers after him.
Three dismounted in a cloud of dust before the steps, and the sergeant who commanded them made his way forward, slapping the dust from his uniform.
“You are Don Carlos Pulido?” he asked in a loud voice.
“I have that honor, señor.”
“I have order to place you under military arrest.”
“Arrest!” Don Carlos cried. “Who gave you such orders?”
“His excellency, the governor. He now is in Reina de Los Angeles, señor.”
“And the charge?”
“Treason, and aiding the enemies of the state!”
“Preposterous!” Don Carlos cried. “I am
