The Mark of Zorro

After Zorro left Lolita at Fray Felipe's farm, he rode back to the town. He wanted to surprise somebody!

He rode to the presidio. Then he got off his horse and walked quietly to the window of Captain Ramon's office. He could see the captain inside the room. Ramon was alone. All of his soldiers were chasing the caballeros.

Zorro went inside the building and he pushed open the door to the office. The captain looked up and he saw the masked man. Zorro was pointing a pistol at him.

" Don't move! Don't make a sound! " said Zorro. " Where's the governor? "

" He's at the house of a friend—Don Juan Estado, " Ramon replied.

" That's good! " said Zorro. " Come with me, Captain. We're going to visit the governor."

Zorro tied Captain Ramon's hands with rope. He pushed him out of the building.

" Get up onto my horse, " said Zorro. ''But don't try to trick me. If you do, I'll shoot you! "

The captain could feel Zorro's pistol against his back. He got up onto the horse and Zorro got up behind him. They rode to Don Juan's house.

Zorro knew the house well. He entered through a servant's room, pushing Captain Ramon in front of him. It was very late, but lamplight was coming from under one of the doors. Zorro opened this door. Inside the room, the governor was talking to Don Juan. The two men looked up and they stared at Zorro and Captain Ramon in astonishment.

" Señ or Zorro! " said the governor. " What are you doing here? "

" You did a very bad thing today, Your Excellency, " said Zorro. " You sent the Pulido family to jail. But they haven't done anything wrong."

" They're enemies of this country, " said the governor. " They help thieves and murderers. They help people like you."

" Who told you these things? " Zorro replied.

" Captain Ramon told me."

" Then Captain Ramon has told you lies, " said Zorro. " The Pulidos have never helped me. When I went to their hacienda, Don Carlos sent a servant for the soldiers. But when the Pulidos were staying in Don Diego's house, Captain Ramon went there and found Señ orita Lolita alone. He insulted that lovely young woman and he tried to attack her. I was passing the house and heard her scream. So I helped her. That's the truth."

" Well, Ramon, " said the governor. " What do you say? "

" Tell the truth, Captain, " said Zorro, pointing his pistol at Ramon's face.

" Yes, " said Captain Ramon quietly, after amoment. " Zorro is speaking the truth."

The governor was angry. " You are no longer an officer in my army! " he shouted.

" Then untie my hands! " Ramon said angrily. " Let me fight this thief! "

" For those words, you will die! " replied Zorro. He held the pistol in his left hand and pulled his sword from its scabbard. He cut the rope from the captain's hands. Ramon pulled his own sword from its scabbard and he rushed at Zorro. The governor and Don Juan watched from a corner of the room. Zorro was pointing his pistol at them. They could not help the captain.

" Kill him, Ramon! " shouted the governor. " If you do, I'll make you an officer again! "

Zorro and Captain Ramon fought fiercely. Each man wanted to kill the other. Suddenly, Zorro moved his sword quickly three times. He had cut a letter Z on Ramon's face—a red and bloody letter Z.

" The Mark of Zorro! " said the masked man. " You'll wear it forever, Captain! You'll wear it in your grave! "

Then he pushed his sword through Captain Ramon's body. The captain fell to the floor. He was dead.

" My work here is finished, " said Zorro. " Goodbye, Your Excellency! " Then he ran out of the building and jumped onto his horse.

Zorro rode towards the town. But he rode into danger. Night was almost gone. The sun was beginning to rise in the sky. There were many soldiers on the road. They were returning to the presidio. They could see Zorro clearly in the morning light.

Sergeant Gonzales was leading his soldiers. The big man gave a great shout.

" Zorro! There he is! Capture him, men! "

The soldiers rushed at Zorro from three sides. He turned his horse quickly, but then he had to stop. Another rider was coming towards him very fast. Zorro stared in astonishment. The rider was Lolita! Six or seven soldiers were chasing her.

" Señ or! " she shouted. " Help me! I can't ride much further. My horse is very tired."

Zorro turned his horse again. He and Lolita rode towards Los Angeles. The soldiers chased them. Zorro and Lolita galloped into the town and crossed the town square.

Suddenly Lolita's horse fell. Zorro caught her in his arms.

" Quickly! " said Zorro. " We must go to the inn! "

He jumped from his horse and he pulled Lolita with him. They ran to the inn and Zorro pushed the door open. The fat landlord was very frightened. He ran out onto the square. Zorro shut the door and all the windows.

" There are enemies all around us, " he said to Lolita. " Perhaps this is the end for us."

" I've given you my love, " replied Lolita. " I won't leave you now. We will live together—or we will die together! "

13 " Take Off Your Mask, Señ or! "

Zorro looked out of a window. The square was full of soldiers. He saw Don Juan Estado, Don Alejandro Vega and the governor too.

" Señ or, " said Lolita. " Please make me a promise. If we are going to die, please take off your mask. Please show me who you are."

" Yes, my love, " replied Zorro. " If we can't escape, I will show you my face. I make you that promise! "

They heard a loud noise from outside. The soldiers were starting to attack the door of the inn. Zorro pointed his pistol at the door and fired the gun. Immediately, the soldiers started to shoot at the door from the other side. But the door was strong and it did not break.

Then, everything was quiet for a moment. Zorro and Lolita heard the voice of Sergeant Gonzales.

" Open the door, Señ or Zorro! " he shouted. " If you open it now, we won't kill you! "

" I don't believe you, Sergeant! " shouted Zorro. He laughed.

The soldiers began to attack the door again. This time, the door began to break.

Zorro and Lolita stood in the middle of the room. Zorro held his sword in his hand, ready to fight.

" It's nearly the end, my love, " he said to Lolita.

" Hold me in your arms and kiss me, " said Lolita. " Then show me your dear face."

Zorro kissed her and began to untie his mask.

But suddenly, they heard a new noise from the square—a different noise. The soldiers stopped attacking the door.

Zorro rushed to the window. He saw twenty-six fine young horsemen riding into the square, with their swords in their hands.

" My brave caballeros! " he said. " They will help us now."

The caballeros stopped their horses in front of the governor.

" We want to speak with you, " their leader said. " Many bad things are happening in this country. These things are wrong and we want to change them. You cheat the broth­ers in the missions. And often, poor and helpless men are beaten. Then yesterday, the noble Pulido family were sent to jail. We have rescued them. But these things must stop! "

" Well, what do you want me to do? " asked the gover­nor nervously.

" First—the Pulido family must never be sent to jail again, " said the leader. " Second—you must let Señ or Zorro go free. He hasn't done anything wrong. He has only stolen from thieves. He has only whipped people who hurt the poor and the weak."

" No! " cried the governor. " I won't let Zorro go free." " Señ or, we are the sons of the best families in this country, " the young caballero replied. " We're very strong. If your soldiers attack us, we'll fight against you. If you hurt Señ or Zorro, you'll lose the job of governor." The governor looked at Don Alejandro Vega. " Don Alejandro, " he said, " you know these young men. Please help me."

" No, " replied Don Alejandro. " These young caballeros are right. I agree with them and I agree with Señ or Zorro."

" But Zorro is a murderer, " said the governor. " He murdered Captain Ramon."

" No, " said Don Juan Estado. " The captain died in a fight between gentlemen. It was a fair tight."

" Very well, " said the governor quietly. " I'll go back to San Francisco now. Zorro can go free. But Don Alejandro must promise to take care of this town." " I promise you that, " said Don Alejandro. " That is good, " said the leader of the caballeros. " Don Alejandro is a fine man." He turned towards the inn.

" Señ or Zorro! " he shouted. " You are safe. Come out now! "

The door of the inn opened and Zorro came out. Lolita was holding his arm. He took off his sombrero.

" Good morning, everybody, " he said.

" Take off your mask, señ or! " said the governor. " I want to see your face."

Zorro laughed and took off his mask. Everybody stared in astonishment. Lolita looked up at him, happy and surprised.

" Don Diego! " she said.

Don Alejandro walked forward.

" Don Diego—my son, my son! " he said proudly.

" Yes, Father, " said Don Diego. " I'm Señ or Zorro."

" And which man am I going to marry? " asked Lolita. Her dark eyes looked up at him proudly. " Am I goingto marry Señ or Zorro or Don Diego Vega? "

" Well, which man do you love? " asked Don Diego.

" Both of them! " she said, laughing.

The End.