Further Adventures - Horse Catch

Still side by side, Zorro and Don Audre Ruiz fought as well as they could. But here in the open they could not get their backs against a wall. However, they did the next best thing – they stood back to back and engaged a circle of foes.

The fight swirled around them. Zorro's face wore an expression of anxiety now. He knew, fully as well as did Don Audre Ruiz, that this wonderful show of courage and blade skill was availing the caballeros nothing. Slowly but surely, the pirates were traveling the road to triumph.

And now there came an added menace. Among the huts there was a ramshackle corral, in which the pirates had put a number of blooded horses stolen from hacienda owners. And now some of the fighting men crashed against the insecure fencing and demolished it, and the animals, frightened at the din of battle, rushed through the broken place and into the open.

The fighting men, the clashing of blades, the shouts and screams seemed to infuriate the beasts. The smell of blood was in their nostrils. The horses charged wildly through the throng, upsetting caballeros and pirates alike. One noble stallion brushed aside the foes of Zorro and Don Audre Ruiz, but separated them also. Their enemies rushed toward them again before they could get together – and they were no longer back to back.

Their case was desperate now. Each was surrounded and overwhelmed. Zorro fought with what skill he could, keeping a wide circle with his flashing blade. He heard the voice of Sergeant Gonzales roaring in the distance. He heard, also, the thunderous voice of Barbados.

[...]

"One of us must win free!" Zorro cried. "There is the señorita to be considered!"

"Get away, Don Diego, my friend!" Audre Ruiz shouted. "Save yourself, and the saints bless you."

"I will return!" Zorro shouted the promise. Let the beasts take you, Audre! Alive, you may be of some service! Dead – you are gone forever!"

Zorro did not listen for an answer. He hurled himself forward, stretched one man on the ground and put the other in momentary flight. And then he whirled again, darted swiftly away, fighting to clear a path.

Down toward him rushed the big stallion, still frightened because of the din of battle. Zorro swept another man from before him and sprang at the horse. He went upon the animal's back, lurched sickeningly for an instant, and righted himself. His balance regained, he kicked at the Tanks of his mount. It was all that he could do. The horse was without saddle or bridle, without even a halter.

The animal hesitated, and Zorro kicked again with what strength he could. And the horse, suddenly terrified, sprang forward like some supernatural beast. The pirates went down before him and before Zorro's blade.

Up the slope the big stallion started, almost running down Sergeant Gonzales and the pirates who had already taken him prisoner. Past Fray Felipe he sprang, and Zorro saw the aged fray's hand raised in blessing.


- The Further Adventures of Zorro, Chapter 17