Further Adventures - Knife Toss

Barbados had hurried to the rail and was watching the oncoming ship. Lolita saw it also, but did not seem to realize that it meant hope.

Perhaps she feared that the ship was but coming into grave danger, running into conflict that would mean capture and death for her crew.

Zorro glanced at the deck, and then back at the approaching vessel again. He saw that another sail was being sent aloft. It was broken out, snapped into place, the lines tautened. Zorro with difficulty restrained his cheer. On the white expanse of the sail, painted there in haphazard fashion, but easily made out, was a monster Z.

So his friends were on that ship! Zorro felt better now. He glanced once more toward the deck, and realized that Barbados had seen what was on the sail also. For the pirate chief left the rail and stamped back to the señorita's side, determination in his manner and rage in his countenance.

"Now you'll speak the truth, w-nch!" he shouted. "Is Zorro aboard this ship? If those are his friends coming up, then will we attend to him before we attend to them."

"I do not care to hold conversation with you," she said.

"No? By my naked blade, I am in command here!" he roared. "An answer I intend to have."

He lurched forward and grasped her by the shoulders, shook her as a terrier shakes a rat, held her at arm's length and shook her again. She fought against crying out, but could not win the battle against such cruel odds.

One plaintive little cry drifted across the deck and straight into the heart of Zorro.

He transferred his sword from his right hand to his left. He whipped the dagger from his belt and hurled it. His aim was poor, yet he had come close enough. The dagger was driven, quivering, into the mast between Barbados and the señorita.

Barbados, with a cry, sprang backward, and the señorita slumped to the deck at the foot of the mast. And Zorro realized in that instant that he had stepped forward too far and had been seen. Sanchez gave a cry and started toward him. The pirates whirled from the rail to look. Barbados saw him.

"'Tis Zorro!" Barbados shrieked. "After him! Fetch him to me alive! An extra share of loot to the man who gets him!"

It was the promise of loot that drove them on. They shrieked and rushed forward. Zorro put the blade of his sword between his teeth and darted up into the rigging. And then began a fight the like of which the pirates never had seen before. Zorro seemed scarcely human. Up the rigging he went like a monkey. He sprang from spar to spar.


- The Further Adventures of Zorro, Chapter 11