Zorro Deals With Treason - Duel Sebastiano

"Are you all in league with this highwayman, this outlaw?" Lopez screeched. "You are lawbreakers yourselves if you do not aid me now in his capture."

"I am holding a pistol on them," Zorro observed. "And I have a task here. Don Miguel Sebastiano, we must have a settlement. A man cannot impersonate me and have me called renegade without being called on to account for it."

"You have pistol and blade, and I am unarmed," Don Miguel said.

"I give you fair fight, señor. I ask these señores to see that all is fair. Guard you the capitán, that he does not interfere. Unbind the man's wrists, and give him a blade. At the end of it, you may decide what is to be done with me."

The protests of Capitán Lopez were as nothing. Those of the committee liked the idea. There were some who had suspicion of Zorro's real identity. None liked Don Miguel and his tactics. Here was a chance, moreover, to see swordplay.

So Don Miguel was unbound and given a blade and the draft of wine for which he asked. Capitán Lopez was thrust into a corner and held there. More candles were lit, that the room would be bright with light.

Don Miguel s eyes gleamed strangely, and his tongue moistened his lips as though they suddenly had become parched. It was in his mind to slash at Zorro's mask and reveal the face of the man. It also was in his mind to run Zorro through, thus wiping out this stain and earning the reward of His Excellency.

Capitán Lopez could have told Don Miguel something of the way Zorro handled a blade, but he had no opportunity. Steel rang, and the fighting began.

They felt each other out cautiously. Don Miguel had considerable skill, and Señor Zorro was a man who never made the mistake of underestimating an antagonist. But caution soon gave way to speed, spirited attack and defense.

Don Miguel found himself out-generaled in an instant. Zorro's blade scratched his cheek. From the corner, Capitán Lopez gave a cry of warning:

"He's trying to carve his mark on you, Miguel!"

"The upper bar of the Z," Zorro said. "And here is the lower bar, señor!"

Don Miguel gave a great cry of rage, as he felt the tip of the blade bite again. Zorro was prolonging the agony, as he had in the case of the capitán. Usually, that jagged Z was made by one stroke, by the tip of the blade playing over the cheek in a series of quick twists.

"And now, señor – " Zorro said.

But Don Miguel seemed to go insane. He rushed out, cut and slashed and lunged, like a man who knew nothing of fence, trying to overpower his enemy and bear him down. For a moment, Zorro was compelled to fight fiercely to save himself. His footwork accomplished this. Then Don Miguel, winded, his burst of passion spent, was off-guard a moment, and again Zorro's blade bit.

"You wear the Z, señor!" he said; and disarmed his man.

The blade clattered to the floor. Panting, Don Miguel reeled against the wall, waiting for the end. A swift advance, a quick thrust, and it would be over.

But Zorro did not give the thrust. He stepped back, and motioned with the weapon he held.

"Pick up your blade, señor," he said.

Stepping away from the wall, Don Miguel Sebastiano went across the room and retrieved his sword. Again he faced Zorro, the point of his blade down.

"I have marked you, señor," Zorro said. "That is for daring to oppose me. Now, I shall deal with you for your treason, for having me thought renegade, for arousing the poor natives and almost getting them into serious trouble – and for some other things. You fight for life now, Don Miguel Sebastiano!"

Capitán Lopez made a last effort to stop this. He sprang of the bench and started forward.

"Enough!" he cried. "Señores, I call upon you to help me take this man!"

But they tossed him back upon the bench, and warned him to remain there, and turned to watch the fighting.

Perspiration stood out in great globules on the face of Don Miguel. He called upon all the science he knew. But there came to him the realization that he was no match for Zorro.

Every attempt he made was blocked. For every trick, Zorro had defense. Señor Zorro was but playing with him, wearing him down. Through the holes in his black mask, the eyes of Zorro glittered like those of a deadly serpent. Then came a furious onslaught, and Don Miguel gave ground. His lower jaw was sagging and a great fear was in his face. He brought up against the wall, called upon his remaining strength.

Another clash of steel, and Zorro's blade was thrust in the fatal stroke. Don Miguel dropped his sword and gave a sigh. He collapsed slowly to the floor.

Señor Zorro darted forward and bent over him.

"Needlework, señor!" he said, just loud enough for Don Miguel to hear.

"So!" Don Miguel was dying as he spoke. "Capitán!..Señores! This... this man… is – "

But Don Miguel did not speak the word.

Zorro faced the others. "Señores, my work here is done," he said. "Pardon me, if I now make my escape. Remember, señores, I still hold my pistol."

He backed to the door, watching them closely.

From somebody outside came a peculiar cry that made Zorro straighten slightly. And there was a sudden thunder of hoofbeats. Sergeant Gonzales and his troopers had returned from the canyon.

Capitán Marcos Lopez gave a glad cry and sprang off the bench again. He shouted orders for his orderly out in the corridor to hear.


- Zorro Deals With Treason, Chapter 5