Señor Zorro, however, was before them, and took the trail toward San Gabriel at a furious gallop5, while the troopers dashed along behind, calling to one another, and now and then discharging a pistol with a great waste of powder and ball and no result so far as capturing or wounding the highwayman was concerned.
Soon the moon came up. Señor Zorro had been anticipating that, and knew that it would make his escape more difficult. But his horse was fresh and strong, while those ridden by the troopers had covered many miles during the day, and so hope was not gone.
Now he could be seen plainly by those who pursued, and he could hear Sergeant Gonzales crying upon his men to urge their beasts to the utmost and effect a capture. He glanced behind him as he rode, and observed that the troopers were scattering9 out in a long line, the stronger and fresher horses gaining on the others.
So they rode for some five miles, the troopers holding the distance, but not making any gain, and Señor Zorro knew that soon their horses would weaken, and that the good steed he bestrode, which gave no signs of fatigue10 as yet, would outdistance them. Only one thing bothered him—he wanted to be traveling in the opposite direction.
Here the hills rose abruptly11 on either side of the highway, and it was not possible for him to turn aside and make a great circle, nor were there any trails he could follow; and if he attempted to have his horse climb, he would have to make slow progress, and the troopers would come near enough to fire their pistols, and mayhap wound him.
So he rode straight ahead, gaining a bit now, knowing that two miles further up the valley there was a trail that swung off to the right, and that by following it he would come to higher ground and so could double back on his tracks.
He had covered one of the two miles before he remembered that it had been noised abroad that a landslide12 had been caused by the recent torrential rain and had blocked this higher trail. So he could not use that even when he reached it; and now a bold thought came to his mind.
As he topped a slight rise in the terrain13, he glanced behind once more and saw that no two of the troopers were riding side by side. They were well scattered14, and there was some distance between each two of them. It would help his plan.
He dashed around a bend in the highway, and pulled up his horse. He turned the animal's head back toward whence he had come, and bent15 forward in the saddle to listen. When he could hear the hoof-beats of his nearest pursuer's horse, he drew his blade, took a turn of the reins16 around his left wrist, and suddenly struck his beast in the flanks cruelly with his sharp rowels.
The animal he rode was not used to such treatment, never having felt the spurs except when in a gallop and his master wished greater speed. Now he sprang forward like a thunderbolt, dashed around the curve like a wild stallion, and bore down upon the nearest of Señor Zorro's foes17.
"Make way!" Señor Zorro cried.
The first man gave ground readily, not sure that this was the highwayman coming back, and when he was sure of it he shrieked18 the intelligence to those behind, but they could not understand because of the clatter19 of hoofs20 on the hard road.
Señor Zorro bore down upon the second man, clashed swords with him and rode on. He dashed around another curve, and his horse struck another fairly, and hurled21 him from the roadway. Zorro swung at the fourth man, and missed him, and was glad that the fellow's counterstroke missed as well.
And now there was naught22 but the straight ribbon of road before him, and his galloping23 foes dotting it. Like a maniac24 he rode them through, cutting and slashing25 at them as he passed. Sergeant Gonzales, far in the rear because of his jaded26 mount, realized what was taking place and screeched27 at his men, and even as he screeched a thunderbolt seemed to strike his horse, unseating him.
And then Señor Zorro was through them and gone, and they were following him again, a cursing sergeant at their head, but at a distance slightly greater than before.
He allowed his horse to go somewhat slower now, since he could keep his distance, and rode to the first cross-trail, into which he turned. He took to higher ground, and looked back to see the pursuit streaming out over the hill, losing itself in the distance, but still determined28.
"It was an excellent trick!" Señor Zorro said to his horse. "But we cannot try it often!"
He passed the hacienda of a man friendly to the governor, and a thought came to him—Gonzales might stop there and obtain fresh horses for himself and his men.
Nor was he mistaken in that. The troopers dashed up the driveway, and dogs howled a welcome. The master of the hacienda came to the door, holding a candelero high above his head.
"We chase Señor Zorro!" Gonzales cried. "We require fresh steeds, in the name of the governor!"
The servants were called, and Gonzales and his men hurried to the corral. Magnificent horses were there, horses almost as good as the one the highwayman rode, and all were fresh. The troopers quickly stripped saddles and bridles29 from their jaded mounts and put them on the fresh steeds, and then dashed for the trail again and took up the pursuit. Señor Zorro had gained quite a lead, but there was only one trail he could follow, and they might overtake him.
Three miles away, on the crest30 of a small hill, there was a hacienda that had been presented to the mission of San Gabriel by a caballero who had died without leaving heirs. The governor had threatened to take it for the state, but so far had not done so, the Franciscans of San Gabriel having a name for protecting their property with determination.
In charge of this hacienda was one Fray31 Felipe, a member of the order who was along in years, and under his direction the neophytes made the estate a profitable one, raising much live stock, and sending to the storehouses great amounts of hides and tallow and honey and fruit, as well as wine.
Gonzales knew the trail they were following led to this hacienda, and that just beyond it there was another trail that split, one part going to San Gabriel and the other returning to Reina de Los Angeles by a longer route.
If Señor Zorro passed the hacienda, it stood to reason that he would take the trail that ran toward the pueblo32, since, had he wished to go to San Gabriel, he would have continued along the highway in the first place, instead of turning and riding back through the troopers at some risk to himself.
But he doubted whether Zorro would pass. For it was well known that the highwayman dealt harshly with those who prosecuted33 the frailes, and it was to be believed that every Franciscan held a friendly feeling for him and would give him aid.
The troopers came within sight of the hacienda, and could see no light. Gonzales stopped them where the driveway started, and listened in vain for sounds of the man they pursued. He dismounted and inspected the dusty road, but could not tell whether a horseman had ridden toward the house recently.
He issued quick orders, and the troop separated, half of the men remaining with their sergeant and the others scattering in such manner that they could surround the house, search the huts of the natives, and look at the great barns.
Then Sergeant Gonzales rode straight up the driveway with half his men at his back, forced his horse up the steps to the veranda34 as a sign that he held this place in little respect, and knocked on the door with the hilt of his sword.
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1
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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9
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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landslide
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| n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利 | |
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terrain
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| n.地面，地形，地图 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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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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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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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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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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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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slashing
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| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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26
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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27
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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30
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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31
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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32
pueblo
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| n.（美国西南部或墨西哥等）印第安人的村庄 | |
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prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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34
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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