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30 - Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley · Mark of Zorro

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Of the fox. An hour after dusk that night, a
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: native sought out one of the Caballeros with the intelligence
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: that a gentleman wished to speak to him immediately, and
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  Speaker 1: that this gentleman was evidently wealthy, since he had given
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  Speaker 1: the native a coin for carrying the message, when he
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  Speaker 1: might just as well have given nothing more than a
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  Speaker 1: cuff alongside the head. Also that the mysterious gentleman would
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  Speaker 1: be waiting along the path that led toward the San
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: Gabriel trail, and to be sure that the caballero would come,
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: he had bade the native say that there was a
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  Speaker 1: fox in the neighborhood, a fox Zorro. Fox, the caballero thought,
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: and then he ruined the native forever by giving him
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  Speaker 1: another coin. He went to the rendezvous immediately, and there
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  Speaker 1: he found Senor Zorro sitting his big horse, his face masked,
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  Speaker 1: the cloak wrapped around his body. You will pass the
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  Speaker 1: word caballar, Senior Zorro said, I would have all men
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: who are loyal and wish to do so, meet at
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  Speaker 1: midnight in the little valley beyond the hill. You know
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  Speaker 1: the place. See I shall be waiting. Then, Senor Czarro
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: wheeled his horse and dashed away in the darkness, and
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: the caballero went back to the pueblo and passed the
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  Speaker 1: word to those men he knew could be depended upon,
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  Speaker 1: and urged upon them that they passed to others of
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  Speaker 1: the league. One went to Don Diego's house, but was
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  Speaker 1: told by the despensero that Don Diego had complained of
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: a fever and had retired to his chamber, and had
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  Speaker 1: left word that he would flay alive any servant who
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: dared enter the room unless he called. Near the hour
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: of midnight, the caballeros began slipping from the pueblo one
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  Speaker 1: at a time, each upon the back of his best horse,
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  Speaker 1: and each armed with sword and pistol. Each man had
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  Speaker 1: a mask that could be put over his features instantly,
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: for that had been decided upon it Don Alejandro's hacienda.
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: Among other things. The pueblo was in darkness, save that
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: there were lights in the tavern, where some of his
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: Excellency's escort made merry with the local troopers. For Sergeant
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: Pedro Gonzalez had returned with his men just before nightfall,
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: glad to be back from a fruitless chase and hoping
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: that the next scent would be warmer. Those in the
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  Speaker 1: tavern had gone down the hill from the presidio, some
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  Speaker 1: leaving their horses there without saddles or bridles on, and
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  Speaker 1: they had no thought of an encounter with Senor Zorro.
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: This night, the fat landlord was kept busy, for the
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  Speaker 1: soldiers from the north had coins in their purses and
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: were willing to spend them. Sergeant Gonzales, holding the attention
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: of the company as usual, was detailing at length what
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: he would do to this Signor Zorro, if the saints
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: were kind enough to let them meet and grant him
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: his blade in his hand. There were lifeights in the
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  Speaker 1: big lounging room of the presidio, too, for few of
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  Speaker 1: the soldiers had retired, and there were lights in the
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  Speaker 1: house where His Excellency was a guest. But the remainder
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  Speaker 1: of the pueblo was in darkness, and the people slept
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: in the car cell there was no light at all
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  Speaker 1: except one cannel burning in the office, where a sleepy
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  Speaker 1: man was on guard. The jailer was in his bed.
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: Prisoners moaned on the hard benches in the prison room.
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: Don Carlos Pullito stood before a window, looking up at
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  Speaker 1: the stars, and his wife and daughter huddled on a
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  Speaker 1: bench beside him, unable to sleep in such surroundings. The
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  Speaker 1: Caballeros found Sigorzara waiting for them, as he had said
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  Speaker 1: he would be, but he remained aloof, scarcely speaking a
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  Speaker 1: word until all were present. A ral here, he asked,
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  Speaker 1: Then all except Don Diego Vega One replied he is
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  Speaker 1: ill with a fever, and all the Caballeros chuckled, for
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: they had an idea the fever was caused by cowardice.
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  Speaker 1: I take it that you know something of what is
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: in my mind, Senior Czarro said. We know what has
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  Speaker 1: happened to Don Carlos Pullito and the ladies of his family.
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  Speaker 1: We know they are innocent of any treason, and were
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  Speaker 1: they not, they should not have been taken to Carcel
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  Speaker 1: and incarcerated with common felons and drunkards. Think of those
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  Speaker 1: gentle ladies and such surroundings. Think of it because Don
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  Speaker 1: Carlos has the ill will of the governor. It is
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  Speaker 1: the sense of the league that something be done in
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  Speaker 1: this matter. If it is not, then will I do
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  Speaker 1: something by myself rescue them. A Caballero said, and the
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  Speaker 1: others growled their approval. Here was a chance for risk
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  Speaker 1: and adventure, and an opportunity to do a good deed.
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  Speaker 1: We must enter the pueblo quietly. Senior Zaro said, there
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  Speaker 1: is no moon, and we will not be observed if
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  Speaker 1: we use caution. We shall approach the carsel from the south.
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  Speaker 1: Each man will have his task to do. Some will
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  Speaker 1: surround the building to give notice if any approach it.
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  Speaker 1: Others must be ready to beat off the soldiers if
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  Speaker 1: they respond to an alarm. Others will effect an entrance
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  Speaker 1: to the carsel with me and rescue the prisoners. It
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  Speaker 1: is an excellent plan, one said, that is but a
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  Speaker 1: small part of it. Don Carlos is a proud man,
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  Speaker 1: and if given time for reflection, may refuse to be rescued.
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  Speaker 1: We cannot allow that certain ones will seize him and
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  Speaker 1: take him from the place. Others will attend to the
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  Speaker 1: Dona Catalina. I will undertake to care for the senorita.
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  Speaker 1: Now we have them free. And then what he heard murmurs,
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  Speaker 1: but no distinct reply, And so he continued to outline
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  Speaker 1: the plan. All will ride to the highway just below
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: this place. He said, At that point we shall scatter.
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  Speaker 1: Those who have the Dona Catalina in charge will hasten
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  Speaker 1: with her to the hussienda of Don Alejandro Vega, where
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  Speaker 1: she can be hidden if necessary, and where the governor's
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  Speaker 1: soldiers will hesitate before entering and seizing her. Those who
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  Speaker 1: have Don Carlos in charge will take the road to Palla,
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  Speaker 1: and at a certain point, some ten miles from the pueblo,
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  Speaker 1: they will be met by two natives of understanding, who
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  Speaker 1: will give the sign of the fox. The natives will
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  Speaker 1: take Don Carlos in charge and care for him. When
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  Speaker 1: these things are done, each Caballero will ride to his home,
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  Speaker 1: quietly and alone, telling what story pleases him, and using
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  Speaker 1: great caution, I shall have conducted the Senorita to a
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  Speaker 1: safe place. By that time she shall be given into
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  Speaker 1: the keeping of old Frey Felipe, a man we can trust,
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: and he will hide her if he must. Then we
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  Speaker 1: will watch to see what the governor does. What can
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  Speaker 1: he do? A caballero asked, have them search for? Of course,
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: we must await developments. Senior Tzorro said, are all now ready?
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  Speaker 1: They assured him that they were, and so he named
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  Speaker 1: the men for each task. And then they left the
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  Speaker 1: little valley and rode slowly and cautiously around the little
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  Speaker 1: town and approached it from the south. They heard the
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  Speaker 1: soldiers shouting and singing in the tavern, saw the lights
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  Speaker 1: in the presidio, and crept toward the carsel, quietly, riding
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  Speaker 1: two by two. In a short time it had been
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  Speaker 1: surrounded by quiet, determined men, And then Senior Tzorro and
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  Speaker 1: four others dismounted and went to the door of the building.
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  Speaker 1: End of chapter