Don Audre Ruiz bowed before the lieutenant and spoke. “Señor,” he said, “I dislike exceedingly to interfere with a man in the proper performance of his duty. But I must ask you and your men to stand back for a time. There is a little matter between Señor Zorro and Captain Ramón that must be settled.”
“I am in command here, under Captain Ramón,” the lieutenant said. “This Señor Zorro is an escaped prisoner.”
“Nevertheless, you must remain quiet until the affair is at an end,” Don Audre said. “The caballeros are equal in number to your troopers now. If you care to fight it out—”
“Do you realize that you are taking up arms against the Governor?” the lieutenant demanded.
“As to that, we are not alarmed,” Don Audre replied. “This Ramón is a renegade and a traitor!”
“Ha! That he is!” cried Barbados. “He joined hands with us, planned for us to raid Reina de Los Angeles and steal the girl. Then he turns against us, plans to trap us! Traitor and dog, he is!”
“And I say so, too,” Don Audre declared. “Here are a number of gentlemen whose honors and names are unquestioned, señor. If there is a mistake made here this afternoon we will be responsible for it and take the consequences.”
The lieutenant looked puzzled. Certainly he did not want to arouse the hostility of those of gentle blood by setting his troopers on the caballeros; and he doubted the outcome of the fight if he did that.
“Arrest the fellow!” Ramón thundered. “Are you to be held back by these meddlers?”
An open palm cracked against his cheek as he finished speaking. Señor Zorro stood before him, blade held ready. Don Audre Ruiz took the señorita by her arm and led her away.