August 14—Noon
Monastario was in his office boasting to himself how he was able to get the younger de la Vega out of his office by threatening to throw him in jail, too. The time has now come for me to put my plan into action, he thought out loud. He sent the orderly standing outside his door to find Sergeant Garcia.
When the Sergeant arrived, the sinister Monastario barked his orders to the Sergeant, “Sergeant Garcia see that the Americano Señorita doesn’t get any food or water for the remainder of the day. Also no visits allowed especially from the de la Vegas.”
“Si, Commandante, but why be so harsh on the Señorita?”
“You heard my orders, Sergeant. Oh, one more thing, you will bring her to this office at four o’clock.… no make that two o’clock this afternoon. She will either sign a confession or be put on the whipping post.”
“But Commandante you can’t do that to a woman,” remarked Sergeant Garcia.
“Oh no. Watch me. You have your orders. Now get out. I don’t want to see you until two o’clock,” bellowed Montasario.
Sergeant Garcia gave the orders to the Lancers on duty and went to the tavern hoping to find someone with whom to share a drink.
After Diego and Bernardo had their private conversation in the alley, Diego told his Father, “I’m going to stay here and talk to the shopkeeper. You go on home, I’ll be there shortly.”
Diego went to the dress shop while Bernardo went back to the Tavern. “Buenas tardes,” said Diego to the shopkeeper. “Buenas tardes to you too, Don Diego. What can I do for you?”
Diego said, “Tell me about the jewel theft that you claim happened.”
“Oh, but it did happen, Don Diego.”
“Why did you accuse the Americano Señorita.”
“She was the last person to handle the necklace.”
“That doesn’t mean she took it and why would she wait for five days before stealing it.”
The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulders and replied, “I have no idea, Don Diego. It was gone when I came to take inventory this morning at six o’clock.”
“You are sure you couldn’t be mistaken.”
“Si, Don Diego,” the shopkeeper said nervously, “I am sure.”
Diego was about to ask another question when Bernardo rushed into the shop. He was very agitated and Diego said to the shopkeeper, “We’ll continue this conversation later.”
Then outside the dress shop Diego asked Bernardo, “What are you so agitated about?”
Bernardo started to sign, //He overheard the Sergeant in the Tavern talking to Corporal Reyes about how unfair the Commandante is treating the Americano Señorita.//
“Oh, maybe I should have a talk with the good Sergeant. Let’s go to the Tavern.”
“Buenas tardes, Sergeant Garcia,” said Diego. “Why such a troubled look on your face?”
“Si, Don Diego. I’m annoyed that the Commandante is mistreating Señorita Austin. Even if she is guilty, she is a woman and shouldn’t be treated in that fashion.”
“What has he done to her, Sergeant?”
“He doesn’t want her to have food or water and no visits from you either. He wants me to bring her to his office later this afternoon.”
“Why does he want you to do that?” inquired Diego.
“He said he wants her to confess or she will be put on the whipping post.”
“Oh, he does, does he!” Diego remarked furiously. “We’ll see about that!” He got up so quickly he almost overturned the chair.
“Don Diego, he won’t let you in so there’s no use going to the cuartel.
Outside the Tavern, Bernardo grabbed Diego’s arm to stop him from doing anything foolish. Diego looked at Bernardo as Bernardo shook his head ‘no’. Diego calmed down and Bernardo then made the “Z” sign in the air. Diego said, “Yes, you are right. This is a job for Zorro. We’ll have to return to the hacienda now in order to be back here before it gets dark.”
After they return to the hacienda, Diego confronted his Father. “That whole scheme was definitely a trap for Zorro. I’ve foiled traps before and with Bernardo’s help, I’ll foil this one too. I can’t leave Toni in the hands of Monastario. Do you realize he won’t let her have any food or water? He won’t let us visit either and he wants her to confess or be put on the whipping post. His obsession to catch Zorro is making him more dangerous every day.”
“Diego, did you talk to the shopkeeper?”
“Yes, but he would not change his story. I think Monastario has a hold over him also. Zorro will have to get the truth from him. Father it is getting late. Bernardo and I better get prepared.”
“Be careful, my Son,” warned Don Alejandro.
“Yes Father, we will.”
Diego and Bernardo left the sala through the secret entrance in the wall cabinet and when they were in the secret room adjacent to Diego’s bedroom, they made their plans for Toni’s rescue.
The time was approaching two o’clock. The sun was ablaze in the sky and the temperature was sizzling. Sergeant Garcia reluctantly brings Toni to the Commandante‘s office as ordered with her hands bound behind her back.
Monastario ordered Sergeant Garcia to wait outside. He then offered Toni a seat but she was stubborn and refused to sit.
“No thank you, Commandante, I prefer to stand.”
“Señorita, you are in no position to disobey me,” ordered Monastario belligerently.
Fear has now overcome Toni and she obeyed. She sat in the chair in front of the Capitan’s desk with her eyes cast down toward the desktop. Monastario forced her to look at him and lowering his voice said “Señorita, I suggest you sign this confession stating that you stole the necklace or I will put you on the whipping post.
“Commandante, I will not sign any such statement. I didn’t steal any necklace.”
“You didn’t steal any necklace… then what do you call this?” He held the necklace in front of her. “It was in your saddlebags, Señorita, and you say you didn’t steal it. Now how can that be!”
“I don’t know how that got into my saddlebags. Do what you wish, I am not signing any confession.”
“Have it your way Señorita. After several hours in the hot sun without water you will change your mind.” Toni remained silent.
Monastario called Sergeant Garcia back into his office. “Sergeant take the Señorita to the whipping post and secure her firmly. Be sure you position her so she is facing directly into the sun and no water is allowed. Then report back to me.”
Sergeant Garcia carried out his orders and returned to the Commandante’s office. He knocked on the door.
“Enter,” said Monastario. “Sergeant Garcia, I trust everything is in order.”
“Si, Commandante.”
“Good, we will see how long it takes her to change her mind. Meet me at five-thirty in front of the whipping post and bring a guard with you. If she hasn’t changed her mind by then, more drastic measures will need to be taken. You are dismissed, Sergeant.”
Sergeant Garcia turned and left the office.
Back at the cave, Diego and Bernardo ready themselves for their trek back to the pueblo. They plan to take Amigo with them for Toni’s rescue. It is almost five-thirty when they ride to the outskirts of town and hide the horses in a grove of trees. Bernardo, who is also dressed as Zorro, waited with the horses while Diego went to the dress shop.
Zorro approached the shop from the rear and found the back door unlocked. He slipped in unnoticed. The shopkeeper was also in the back of the shop putting away merchandise. Zorro silently came up behind him and placed the tip of his blade against the shopkeeper’s back. “Señor, this is Zorro, if you value your life you will answer my question truthfully.”
“Si, Señor Zorro! What do you wish to know?”
“Why did you accuse Señorita Austin of stealing the necklace?”
The shopkeeper is slow to answer and Zorro prods him with his sword. The shopkeeper then said, “Monastario made me do it. He said he would put me in jail if I didn’t. That’s the truth so help me God!”
“Gracias, Señor. You have been most helpful. Adios!” Zorro left the shop, went back to the trees, and informed Bernardo what he learned. “Bernardo, I thought Monastario had a hold on the shopkeeper. Now, I know for sure.” Bernardo nodded in agreement.
“We had better get Toni out of the cuartel quickly.” Then Zorro and Bernardo quietly approached the wall of the cuartel.
While Zorro was questioning the shopkeeper, Monastario came out of his office to again confront Toni who was bound to the whipping post with her hands above her head so that her toes were barely touching the ground. She had been in that position for over three hours with the sun directly on her face and without water. Her mouth and throat were so dry she could hardly speak.
Monastario approached her and lifted her head so he could see her face. He forced her to open her eyes and the sunlight nearly blinded her. He said with an evil tone in his voice, “Now are you ready to sign that confession.”
Toni had trouble speaking and in a whisper the words come out, “No,” she said as she slowly shook her head in the same response.
“Señorita, don’t be stubborn. The longer you refuse the longer you will remain here.”
Monastario stepped away from the post. Keeping his voice low, he spoke to the Corporal standing guard.
“Corporal, after I return to my office you have permission to use your whip as you see fit. Don’t kill her just dampen her spirit. Understand.”
“Si, Commandante.”
“Sergeant Garcia you are relieved of duty for the rest of the night. Go back to your quarters.”
“Si, Commandante,” said Sergeant Garcia.
As Monastario returned to his office, the Corporal was about to lash the whip at Toni when Zorro raced into the cuartel on Amigo, Toni’s horse. He reined up in front of the Corporal, quickly dismounted, and with his sword drawn engaged the Corporal in battle. Zorro overcomes the Corporal long enough to free Toni from the post. As he cut the rope binding her to the post, she collapsed to the ground. Zorro didn’t take time to speak; he quickly helps her on the horse and then said to her, “Ride low and fast. Go back to the hacienda.” He hit the horse on the rump to set Amigo in motion.
Monastario heard the commotion outside his office and realized it is Zorro. “Damn, he got here sooner than I expected him too,” he said to himself. He then picked up his pistol, rushes out of the office and yelled to the Lancers, “Zorro is here. Don’t let him get away.” He also noticed that Toni was about to escape on horseback and ordered several Lancers to shoot at her. Gunshots were fired and Toni was hit three times. At the same time, Zorro was climbing back to the roof. He heard the shots, looked toward the gate, saw Toni riding out the gate low and fast toward the rear of the cuartel. But from where he was standing he could not see that she was hit. He stepped into the shadows as Bernardo appeared at the gate as Zorro to lead the Lancers on another merry chase.
When Toni was hit, one bullet grazed her left leg, one struck her in the side, and the last one hit her on the upper left shoulder. Miraculously, she managed to stay on the horse and pulled him to a stop in the same grove of trees where Diego and Bernardo had previously hidden. She hid from the Lancers who were now chasing Zorro. She was in excruciating pain and was fighting unconsciousness. She managed to tie the reins around her waist to help keep her from falling off Amigo. She gave Amigo his head—“Home, Amigo, home,” she mumbled to the horse. Amigo nodded his head and does just that—he heads for home.
After Bernardo led the Lancers away from the cuartel, Zorro appears in Monastario’s office. He again quietly approached behind Monastario with his sword extended and jabbed the blade into Monastario’s back.
“Buenas noches, Capitan.”
“Zorro,” exclaimed Monastario.
“Yes, it is I,” Zorro said with anger. “Now Commandante, you will tear up the arrest warrant for Señorita Austin and the statement from the shopkeeper.”
“Oh, what makes you think I will do that,” remarked Monastario.
“If you don’t, you will answer to me now. If you wish to remain alive, you will do as I ask.”
Having no other choice, the Commandante obliged and tore up the documents. Zorro picked up the pieces and put them in his sash. Then he bided the Commandante “Adios.”
Monastario was fuming. He called out to Sergeant Garcia, but the Sergeant was dutifully chasing who he thought was Zorro.
Bernardo finally loses the Lancers and headed back to the cave to await Diego and hopefully Toni.
Zorro escaped over the wall of the cuartel, jumped onto Tornado and rode to the cave. Bernardo heard him come up the steps to the secret room and turned to face him. Diego said, “Well, we did it. Good job Bernardo. I also got the arrest warrant and the shopkeepers statement from Monastario. He pulled the pieces from his sash and threw them into the fireplace in his room. Bernardo looked at Diego with puzzlement. He signed, //Where is Toni?// Diego said as he changed his clothes, “I thought she would be home by now.” Bernardo shook his head ‘no.’ Diego is then very concerned. “Maybe she is with Father in the sala. Come Bernardo let’s find out.”
On their way to the sala, Don Alejandro appears on the patio. “Ah, Diego, you are back. Where is Toni.”
“She is not with you?”
“No, Son, she is not. Let’s check the stable.” They went to the stable and found Benito attending to other horses.
“Benito, have you seen Toni?” asked Diego.
“No, I thought she was…” He stopped his sentence—he felt there was trouble afoot.
Diego was now extremely worried about her and suggested a search be made. “It will be dark in another hour, we better get started,” Don Alejandro stated.
They were in the process of saddling their horses when Benito heard hoof beats at the rear gate. He turned to find Amigo coming through the gate with Toni hanging over his side.
“Don Diego come quickly,” he yelled in alarm.
Diego looked at his Father and then rushed out of the stable. When he was outside he saw Benito holding Amigo’s bridle and Toni barely hanging on.
“Oh my God,” Diego cried out as he and his Father rushed to her aide. They untied the reins and gently lowered her to the ground. Toni was barely conscious, but was aware that she was being helped. As she was lowered to the ground she opened her eyes and saw Diego above her. In a whispery voice she said, “Diego!”
“Yes, sweetheart, I am here.” Bernardo appeared with water. Diego offered her the water. She tried to drink but her throat was so dry she could hardly swallow. She looked into Diego’s eyes once again and then went limp. Diego felt for a pulse—there was one, but not strong.
“Benito, go for the doctor. I don’t care what time it is, you get him here on the double.”
“I’m on my way,” said Benito.
Diego looked at his Father. Diego’s eyes were teary, but he had to keep his control if he was going to save her life. Diego examined the wounds and realized she lost a lot of blood.
He said to his Father, “The leg wound is not serious, but the other two are. The bullets are still in them. I must get them out.”
“Bernardo get me a knife, a candle, and a some brandy. Quickly.” Diego used the water Bernardo had brought for drinking to wash the blood off the wounds. Bernardo was back with the requested items.
“Father, please light the candle and heat the knife blade.” Diego then poured the bandy on the wounds to disinfect them. He then took the knife and removed the bullets. Bernardo also brought some towels from the house to use as compresses.
Don Alejandro said, “Nice job Diego. We must get her to her room.”
“Bernardo, please make sure Cresencia is there to help. We will need all the help we can get.”
Diego gently picked up Toni and even though his Father was present, he leaned over her and kissed her. Silently he was praying “Please God don’t let her die.” An hour has gone by since Toni was found. Her breathing was very shallow and she was still unconscious. The doctor arrived shortly after Toni was taken to her room. Alejandro greeted him as he entered the front gate.
“Don Alejandro what happened? Benito said it was a matter of life or death.”
“That is true, doctor. Please come quickly. Toni has been shot.”
“Oh no, how did that happen.”
“It is a long story. I will tell you later. Right now Toni needs you.”
“Lead the way Don Alejandro.” After entering Toni’s room, the doctor asked everyone to remain outside. He then examined Toni and found two of the wounds had already been attended to and quite well at that. The doctor finished his work and left the room to find Diego and Alejandro.
“Well, I’ve done all I can. Who cleaned the larger wounds? It looks like bullets were removed.”
“I did,” said Diego.
“That was a job well done. If you hadn’t removed the bullets when you did, she might not be here at all. She also lost a great deal of blood. It will take time for her body to replenish the supply. All we can do is keep the wounds clean. If an infection sets in she could be in trouble in her weakened condition. She was lucky—no vital organs were damaged. However, she is in a coma. How long that will last I don’t know. I know she is a fighter from the last time, but this is more serious. Stay with her Diego. Cresencia is getting her into clean clothes. I’ll be back everyday to check on her until she regains consciousness if she regains consciousness he thought. Keep her mouth as moist as possible. She is quite dehydrated. I best be going. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” said Diego and Alejandro.
“No problem, Buenas noches.”
“Father,” Diego said. “Some rescue this was. I should have taken more precautions. Zorro was a bit careless.”
“Diego,” his Father explained, “You can’t blame yourself for this. If you had ridden out of the cuartel with her you both might have been injured or killed.”
“Thank you Father for your confidence. But it doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“I know, my Son, but all we can do now is pray to God!
Table of Contents
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Eight
