He evaded3 the wild rush of Don Carlos, springing across the room so lightly that his soft boots made not the slightest noise to give news of his whereabouts. For an instant the Señorita Lolita felt a man's arm around her waist, gently squeezing it, felt a man's breath on her cheek, and heard a man's whisper in her ear:
"Until later, señorita!"
Don Carlos was bellowing4 like a bull to direct the soldiers to the scene; and already some of them were pounding at the front door. Señor Zorro rushed from the room and into the one adjoining, which happened to be the kitchen. The native servants fled before him as if he had been a ghost, and he quickly extinguished all the candles that burned there.
Then he ran to the door that opened into the patio5, and raised his voice, and gave a call that was half moan and half shriek6, a peculiar7 call, the like of which none at the Pulido hacienda had heard before.
As the soldiers rushed in at the front door, and as Don Carlos called for a brand with which to light the candles again, the sound of galloping8 hoofs9 was heard from the rear of the patio. Some powerful horse was getting under way there, the soldiers guessed immediately.
The sound of hoofs died away in the distance, but the soldiers had noted10 the direction in which the horse was traveling.
"The fiend escapes!" Sergeant11 Gonzales shrieked12, he being in charge of the squad13. "To horse, and after him! I give the man who overtakes him one-third of all the reward!"
The big sergeant rushed from the house, the men at his heels, and they tumbled into their saddles and rode furiously through the darkness, following the sound of the beating hoofs.
A servant came with a brand, and the candles were lighted again. Don Carlos stood in the middle of the room, shaking his fists in impotent rage. Señorita Lolita crouched15 in a corner, her eyes wide with fear. Doña Catalina, fully16 recovered now from her fainting spell, came from her own room to ascertain17 the cause of the commotion18.
"At least, he is clever and brave," Señorita Lolita said.
"I grant him that, but he is a highwayman and a thief!" Don Carlos roared. "Why should he torment20 me by visiting my house?"
Señorita Lolita thought she knew, but she would be the last one to explain to her parents. There was a faint blush on her face yet because of the arm that had squeezed her and the words that had been whispered in her ear.
Don Carlos threw the front door open wide and stood in it, listening. To his ears came the sound of galloping hoofs once more.
"My sword!" he cried to a servant. "Some one comes—it may be the rascal returning! It is but one rider, by the saints!"
The galloping stopped; a man made his way across the veranda21 and hurried through the door into the room.
It was not the highwayman returned; it was Captain Ramón, comandante of the presidio at Reina de Los Angeles.
"Where are my men?" the captain cried.
"Gone, señor! Gone after that pig of a highwayman!" Don Carlos informed him.
"He escaped?"
"He did, with your men surrounding the house. He dashed the candles to the floor, ran through the kitchen—"
"The men took after him?"
"They are upon his heels, señor."
"Ha! It is to be hoped that they catch this pretty bird. He is a thorn in the side of the soldiery. We do not catch him, and because we do not the governor sends sarcastic23 letters by his courier. This Señor Zorro is a clever gentleman, but he will be captured yet!"
And then Captain Ramón walked further into the room, and perceived the ladies, and swept off his cap and bowed before them.
"You must pardon my bold entrance," he said. "When an officer is on duty—"
"The pardon is granted freely," said Doña Catalina. "You have met my daughter?"
"I have not had the honor."
The doña presented them, and Lolita retreated to her corner again and observed the soldier. He was not ill to look at—tall and straight and in a brilliant uniform, and with sword dangling24 at his side. As for the captain, he never had set eyes upon Señorita Lolita before, for he had been at the post at Reina de Los Angeles but a month, having been transferred there from Santa Barbara.
But now that he had looked at her once he looked a second time, and a third. There was a sudden light in his eyes that pleased Doña Catalina. If Lolita could not look with favor upon Don Diego Vega, perhaps she would look with favor upon this Captain Ramón, and to have her wedded25 to an officer would mean that the Pulido family would have some protection.
"I could not find my men now in the darkness," the captain said, "and so, if it is not presuming too much, I shall remain here and await their return."
"By all means," Don Carlos said. "Be seated, señor, and I'll have a servant fetch wine."
"This Señor Zorro has about had his run," the captain said, after the wine had been tasted and found excellent. "Now and then a man of his sort pops up and endures for a little day, but he never lasts long. In the end he meets the fate."
"That is true," said Don Carlos. "The fellow was boasting to us to-night of his accomplishments26."
"I was comandante at Santa Barbara when he made his famous visit there," the captain explained. "I was visiting at one of the houses at the time else there might have been a different story. And to-night, when the alarm came, I was not at the presidio, but at the residence of a friend. That is why I did not ride out with the soldiers. As soon as I was notified I came. It appears that this Señor Zorro has some knowledge of my whereabouts and is careful that I am not in a position to clash with him. I hope one day to do so."
"You think you could conquer him, señor?" Doña Catalina asked.
"Undoubtedly27! I understand he really is an ordinary hand with a blade. He made a fool of my sergeant, but that is a different proposition—and I believe he held a pistol in one hand while he fenced, too. I should make short work of the fellow."
There was a closet in one corner of the room, and now its door was opened a crack.
"The fellow should die the death!" Captain Ramón went on to say. "He is brutal28 in his dealings with men. He kills wantonly, I have heard. They say he caused a reign29 of terror in the north, in the vicinity of San Francisco de Asis. He slew30 men regardless, insulted women—"
"I shall take you to task for that statement, señor, since it is a falsehood!" the highwayman cried.
Don Carlos whirled around and gasped his surprise. Doña Catalina felt suddenly weak in the knees and collapsed32 on a chair. Señorita Lolita felt some pride in the man's statement, and a great deal of fear for him.
"I—I thought you had escaped," Don Carlos gasped.
"Ha! It was but a trick! My horse escaped—but I did not!"
"Then there shall be no escape for you now!" Captain Ramón cried, drawing his blade.
"Back, señor!" Zorro cried, exhibiting a pistol suddenly. "I shall fight you gladly, but the fight must be fair. Don Carlos, gather your wife and daughter beneath your arms and retire to the corner while I cross blades with this teller33 of falsehoods. I do not intend to have a warning given out that I still am here!"
"I thought—you escaped!" Don Carlos gasped again, seemingly unable to think of anything else, and doing as Señor Zorro commanded.
"A trick!" the highwayman repeated, laughing. "It is a noble horse I have. Perhaps you heard a peculiar cry from my lips? My beast is trained to act at that cry. He gallops34 away wildly, making considerable noise, and the soldiers follow him. And when he has gone some distance he turns aside and stops, and after the pursuit has passed he returns to await my bidding. No doubt he is behind the patio now. I shall punish this captain, and then mount and ride away!"
"With a pistol in your hand!" Ramón cried.
"I put the pistol upon the table—so! There it remains35 if Don Carlos stays in the corner with the ladies. Now, captain!"
Señor Zorro extended his blade, and with a glad cry Captain Ramón crossed it with his own. Captain Ramón had some reputation as a master of fence, and Señor Zorro evidently knew it, for he was cautious at first, leaving no opening, on defense36 rather than attack.
The captain pressed him back, his blade flashing like streaks37 of lightning in a troubled sky. Now Señor Zorro was almost against the wall near the kitchen door, and in the captain's eyes the light of triumph already was beginning to burn. He fenced rapidly, giving the highwayman no rest, standing38 his ground and keeping his antagonist39 against the wall.
And then Señor Zorro chuckled40! For now he had solved the other's manner of combat, and knew that all would be well. The captain gave ground a little as the defense turned into an attack that puzzled him. Señor Zorro began laughing lightly.
"'Twere a shame to kill you," he said. "You are an excellent officer, I have heard, and the army needs a few such. But you have spoken falsehood regarding me, and so must pay a price. Presently I shall run you through, but in such manner that your life will not emerge when I withdraw my blade."
"As to that we shall see presently. Ha! I almost had you there, my captain. You are more clever than your big sergeant, but not half clever enough. Where do you prefer to be touched—the left side or the right?"
"If you are so certain run me through the right shoulder," the captain said.
"Guard it well, my captain, for I shall do as you say! Ha!"
The captain circled, trying to get the light of the candles in the highwayman's eyes, but Señor Zorro was too clever for that. He caused the captain to circle back, forced him to retreat, fought him to a corner.
"Now, my captain!" he cried.
And so he ran him through the right shoulder, as the captain had said, and twisted the blade a bit as he brought it out. He had struck a little low, and[Pg 71] Captain Ramón dropped to the floor, a sudden weakness upon him.
"I ask the pardon of the ladies for this scene," he said. "And I assure you that this time I am, indeed, going away. You will find that the captain is not badly injured, Don Carlos. He may return to his presidio within the day."
He removed his sombrero and bowed low before them, while Don Carlos sputtered43 and failed to think of anything to say that would be mean and cutting enough. His eyes, for a moment, met those of the Señorita Lolita, and he was glad to find that in hers there was no repugnance44.
"Buenas noches!" he said and laughed again.
And then he dashed through the kitchen and into the patio, and found the horse awaiting him there, as he had said it would be, and was quick to mount and ride away.
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收听单词发音
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1
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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2
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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3
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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4
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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5
patio
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| n.庭院，平台 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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7
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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8
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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9
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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12
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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14
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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15
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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17
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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18
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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19
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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20
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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21
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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22
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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23
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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24
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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25
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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27
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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28
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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29
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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30
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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31
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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32
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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33
teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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34
gallops
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| （马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 ) | |
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35
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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36
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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37
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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38
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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39
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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40
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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42
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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43
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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44
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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