He gave a signal, and the pirates forced Zorro to his feet. He tried to fight, but they overpowered him. They braced him against the mast, while the señorita crept aside and watched.
“Hold the wench!” Barbados commanded two of the men. “We don’t want her throwing herself overboard. And I wish her to witness what is to come.”
The two men held her. Señor Zorro, half throttled, was kept against the mast. Barbados made another sign, and some of the men carried forward a heavy bar of iron and lashed it to Señor Zorro’s wrists.
“To the rail with him!” Barbados commanded.
They forced him to the rail, and the two men urged the señorita along beside him. Over the rail a long, wide plank had been extended.
Señor Zorro knew what they meant to do to him. And now Señorita Lolita realized it, too.
“No, no!” she shrieked. “You must not do this thing!”
“Ha! Revenge is sweet!” Barbados cried. “Señor Zorro, you are about to descend to a watery hell! We’ll let you take your sword with you, since you may need it fighting demons. You take the plunge, and then, when yon ship comes up, we attend to your friends! As for the señorita, know that she will be delivered safely to one who has bargained for her.”
“Why not give me a chance in a fair fight?” Zorro asked. “Any two of you—any three—”
“Your friends are coming up, and we must prepare for them,” Barbados replied, laughing. “You have fought your last fight on earth, señor. See if you can mark the brow of the devil with your cursed Z.”