“The fellow tricked us in some fashion!” Barbados declared with an oath. “His hands were untied, and he had a dagger. If that pretty wench we let speak with him—”
“Attend me!” Ramón cried. “The wench is under guard in one of the huts, and is not to be touched. Get me a horse. Be quick about it! The fool is riding to San Diego for troopers!”
“Ha! Let them come!”
“I must get to the presidio before he arrives,” Captain Ramón explained. “The lieutenant there will take orders from me. Then I’ll lead the troopers into your ambush, as we had planned. And this Zorro—”
“Ha! This Zorro!” Barbados cried. “When I have my hands upon him again there’ll be no delay.”
“I’ll have him imprisoned in the presidio,” the captain promised. “Then, after you defeat the soldiers, and when you go to loot the town, he will be at your mercy.”
“You think of everything!” Barbados declared. “I say it yet once again—you should be a pirate!”
One of the men, understanding more than his fellows, had fetched the captain’s own horse, with saddle and bridle on. The captain sprang into the saddle.
“Arrange the ambush at the head of the cañon, as we planned,” he told Barbados. “Do it without delay. I’ll lead the troopers straight into the trap.”
Then he touched spurs to the animal he bestrode and dashed up the slope in the wake of Señor Zorro.