“Ha! So that is the tale you have told?” Señor Zorro gasped. “Lieutenant, I am Don Diego Vega, of Reina de Los Angeles. Perhaps you have heard the name?”
“The lieutenant also has heard of Señor Zorro, and knows that he and Don Diego Vega are one and the same man,” Captain Ramón said before the other officer could reply. Captain Ramón felt some small degree of courage now, since Señor Zorro had no weapon except his short dagger.
“Ha! Who has not heard of Zorro?” came the reply. “And it is not to be expected that one of his excellency’s officers would go far out of his regular way to do Señor Zorro a service. Yet an officer will serve his duty, and there are certain things to be considered, lieutenant. In a pirate camp a few miles from this place is a señorita of proper blood and several caballeros who must be rescued before they are tortured. I have ridden here for help, having made an escape.”
“Made your escape?” Captain Ramón cried. “You came purposely with the story to lead the soldiers into a trap, you mean. Your story will avail you nothing, Señor Zorro. The lieutenant already is planning to ride to the rescue of his men. But you will remain here, a prisoner in the guardroom, in a maniac’s shirt—”
“Ha!” Señor Zorro shrieked. “Lieutenant, make no mistake about it. This Captain Ramón may outrank you, but he is a traitor, and I would have all honest men know it. He is in league with the pirates himself.”
“You scarcely can expect me to believe that,” the lieutenant replied, smiling.
“It is the truth, by the saints! He is planning to lead your men into an ambush, no doubt!”
“I think that we have had enough of this nonsense, Don Diego!” the lieutenant said, his official manner upon him.
“You believe Captain Ramón in preference to me?”
“I do! You are to consider yourself a prisoner, Don Diego. You’ll be held here safe until the rescue has been accomplished, and then there will be an investigation of this entire affair.”