Captain Ramón stopped his horse in a cloud of dust before the presidio entrance and was out of the saddle before the nearest trooper could seize the bridle. The men saluted, but Captain Ramón spent no time in answering their salutes. Drawing off his gloves, he strode through the entrance and straight toward the office of the commandante.
He had lied nobly to Barbados. Instead of their being a smaller force of soldiers than usual at San Diego de Alcála, there was an extra detachment, come to relieve others who were to go toward the north. But only a lieutenant was there by way of officer, the real commandante being on a journey to San Francisco de Asis to explain certain things to the Governor.
Captain Ramón opened the office door and strode inside, gasping his breath, slapping the dust from his uniform. The lieutenant sprang to his feet.
“Ramón!” he cried. “So far from home—”
Captain Ramón stopped him with a gesture.
“Have your trumpeter sound the assembly, and gather your men while we talk!” he commanded. “This is serious—and urgent!”
The lieutenant was a good soldier, and did not question. He sprang to the door and called an order, and almost immediately the commanding notes of a trumpet rang through the place. Then the lieutenant closed the door and hurried back to the long table in the middle of the room, before which Ramón was sitting.
“Pirates within eight miles of you!” Ramón declared. “They have a large camp. Three nights ago they raided Reina de Los Angeles.”
“The news has reached us.”
“Ha! I followed by land and approached their rendezvous at an early hour this morning. They abducted Señorita Lolita Pulido. Some caballeros pursued them by sea, fought, and were overcome. Many are being held prisoners, for ransom and torture. The señorita is a prisoner also.”