Zorro Deals With Treason - Thrown Stool

As he finished his speech, Capitán Lopez charged wildly, his blade a flashing and erratic thing. He confused Zorro for an instant because of his utter disregard of proper method. As Zorro retreated, the trooper sprang.

The pistol Zorro held barked and flamed. A cloud of smoke swirled in the room. The trooper gave a cry and reeled back to the bench, to drop upon it weakly, clutching at a left shoulder that spouted blood.

Then Zorro pressed the fighting angrily.

"Craven!" he cried. "For that –"

"At him, man!" Lopez roared at the wounded trooper. "He has discharged his pistol. That stool – hurl it at him! Bring him down!"

The trooper lurched to his feet as Zorro compelled the capitan to retreat again. He picked up the heavy stool and hurled it, but Zorro sidestepped swiftly, jerked his head aside, and let the stool fly past him.

"The door!" Lopez cried. "Get help!"

Weakened by the effort in throwing the stool, the wounded trooper staggered toward the door. But Zorro was before him. His blade bit lightly into the trooper's other shoulder, and the man reeled back.

"Now, señor el capitán!" Zorro cried.

He pressed forward again, a trace of anger in his manner. His blade was like a live thing, a flashing menace. Lopez could not stand against it. Again the point darted forward, and again the capitán felt a burn on his cheek. And his own blade was torn from his grasp once more, and clattered to the floor.


- Zorro Deals With Treason, Chapter 4