The Curse of Capistrano | Page 3

of this pretty highwayman's whereabouts, else I am a lazy
civilian!"
"I have no doubt that you speak the truth," the landlord replied. "I put it
not past the frailes to do such a thing. But may this Senor Zorro never
visit us here!"
"And why not, fat one?" Sergeant Gonzales cried in a voice of thunder.
"Am I not here? Have I not a blade at my side? Are you an owl, and is
this daylight that you cannot see as far as the end of your puny, crooked
nose? By the saints--"

"I mean," said the landlord quickly and with some alarm, "that I have
no wish to be robbed."
"To be--robbed of what, fat one? Of a jug of weak wine and a meal?
Have you riches, fool? Ha! Let the fellow come! Let this bold and
cunning Senor Zorro but enter that door and step before us! Let him
make a bow, as they say he does, and let his eyes twinkle through his
mask! Let me but face the fellow for an instant--and I claim the
generous reward offered by his excellency!"
"He perhaps is afraid to venture so near the presidio," the landlord said.
"More wine!" Gonzales howled. "More wine, fat one, and place it to
my account! When I have earned the reward, you shall be paid in full. I
promise it on my word as a soldier! Ha! Were this brave and cunning
Senor Zorro, this Curse of Capistrano, but to make entrance at that door
now--"
The door suddenly was opened.
Chapter 2
On the Heels of the Storm
"I have been speaking of this notorious Senor Zorro," he said. "We
have been regarding in conversation this fine Curse of Capistrano, as
some nimble-witted fool has seen, fit to term the pest of the highway."
"What about him?" Don Diego asked, putting down his wine mug and
hiding a yawn behind his hand. Those who knew Don Diego best
declared he yawned ten score times a day.
"I have been remarking, caballero," said the sergeant, "that this fine
Senor Zorro never appears in my vicinity, and that I am hoping the
good saints will grant me the chance of facing him some fine day, that I
may claim the reward offered by the governor. Senor Zorro, eh? Ha!"
"Let us not speak of him," Don Diego begged, turning from the

fireplace and throwing out one hand as if in protest. "Shall it be that I
never hear of anything except deeds of bloodshed and violence? Would
it be possible in these turbulent times for a man to listen to words of
wisdom regarding music or the poets?"
"Meal mush and goat's milk!" snorted Sergeant Gonzales in huge
disgust. "If this Senor Zorro wishes to risk his neck, let him. It is his
own neck, by the saints! A cutthroat! A thief! Ha!"
"I have been hearing considerable concerning his work," Don Diego
went on to say. "The fellow, no doubt, is sincere in his purpose. He has
robbed none except officials who have stolen from the missions and the
poor, and punished none except brutes who mistreat natives. He has
slain no man, I understand. Let him have his little day in the public eye,
my sergeant."
"I would rather have the reward!"
"Earn it," Don Diego said. "Capture the man!"
"Ha! Dead or alive, the governor's proclamation says. I myself have
read it."
"Then stand you up to him and run him through, if such a thing pleases
you," Don Diego retorted. "And tell me all about it afterward--but spare
me now."
"It will be a pretty story!" Gonzales cried. "And you shall have it entire,
caballero, word by word! How I played with him, how I laughed at him
as we fought, how I pressed him back after a time and ran him
through--"
"Afterward--but not now!" Don Diego cried, exasperated. "Landlord,
more wine! The only manner in which to stop this raucous boaster is to
make his wide throat so slick with wine that the words cannot climb out
of it!"
The landlord quickly filled the mugs. Don Diego sipped at his wine

slowly, as a gentleman should, while Sergeant Gonzales took his in two
great gulps. And then the scion of the house of Vega stepped across to
the bench and reached for his sombrero and his serape.
"What?" the sergeant cried. "You are going to leave us at such an early
hour, caballero? You are going to face the fury of that beating storm?"
"At least I am brave enough for that," Don Diego replied, smiling. "I
but ran over from my house for a pot of honey. The fools feared the
rain too much to fetch me some this day from the hacienda. Get me one,
landlord."
"I