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

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Pursuit. That the determined pursuit of Signor Zorro and his
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: band of caballeros from the Carcel had been taken up
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: so quickly was due to Sergeant Pedro Gonzales. Sergeant Gonzalez
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: had heard the shots and had rushed from the tavern
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: with the other troopers at his heels, glad of an
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: excuse to escape without paying for the wine he had ordered.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: He had heard the shout of the jailer and had
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: understood it and immediately had grasped the situation. Senor Zorro
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: is rescuing the prisoners. He screeched, the highwayman is in
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: our midst again, two horse troopers and after him. There
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: is a reward. They all knew about the reward, especially
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: the members of the Governor's bodyguard, who had heard his
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: Excellency rave at mention of the Highwayman's name and declare
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: he would make a captain of the trooper who captured
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: him or brought in his carcass They rushed for their horses,
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: swung themselves into their saddles, and dashed across the plaza
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: toward the Carcel, with Sergeant Gonzales at their head. They
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: saw the mass cabaleros galloping across the plaza, and Sergeant
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: Gonzales rubbed his eyes with the back of one hand
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: and swore softly that he had been taking so much wine.
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: He had lied so often about Signor Zaro having a
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: band of men at his back, that here was the
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: band materialized out of his falsehoods. When the caballero split
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: into three detachments, Sergeant Gonzales and his troopers were so
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: near them that they observed the maneuver. Gonzales quickly made
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: three troops of the men who followed him, and sent
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: a troop after each band. He saw the leader of
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: the Caballeros turned towards San Gabriel, he recognized the leap
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: of the great horse the highwaymen rode, and he took
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: after Signor Zarro with an exultant heart, being of a
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: mind to capture or slay the highwaymen rather than to
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: retake any of the rescued prisoners. For Sergeant Pedro Gonzalez
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: had not forgotten the time Signor Zarro had played with
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: him in the tavernet Reina de Los Angeles, nor had
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: he given up the idea of taking his vengeance for it.
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: He had seen Senor Zorro's horse run before, and he
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: wondered a bit now because the highwayman was not putting
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: greater distance between himself and his pursuers. And Sergeant Gonzales
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: guessed the reason that Senor Zorro had Senorito Lolita Polito
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: on the saddle before him and was carrying her away.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: Gonzalez was in the lead and now and then he
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: turned his head and shouted orders and encouragement to his troopers.
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: The miles flew beneath them, and Gonzalez was glad because
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: he was keeping Signor Zorro in sight. To Fray Felipes,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: that is where he is riding. Gonzalez told himself, I
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: knew that old Frey was in league with a bandit
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: in some manner. He tricked me when I thought the
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: Signor Zorro at his hussienda before. Perhaps this highwayman has
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: a clever hiding place there. Ha, By the Saints, I
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: shall not be tricked again. On they rode now and then,
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: catching glimpses of the man they pursued, and always in
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: the mind of Gonzales and his troopers were thoughts of
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: the reward and promotion a capture would mean their horses
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: were beginning to show some fatigue already, but they did
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: not spare the animals. They saw Senor Zuro turn into
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: the driveway that led to Frey Felipe's house, and Sergeant
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: Gonzales chuckled low down in his throat because he felt
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: that he had guessed correctly. He had the highwaymen. Now
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: if Signor Zorro continued to ride, he would be seen
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: and followed because of the bright moonlight. If he stopped,
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: Senior Zorro could not hope to cope successfully with half
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: a score of troopers with Gonzales at their head. They
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: dashed up to the front of the house and started
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: to surround it. They saw Senor Zuro's horse, and then
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: they saw the highwaymen himself, and Gonzales cursed because half
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: a dozen troopers were between him and his prey and
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: were at him with their swords, threatening to end the business.
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: Before Gonzales could reach the scene, he tried to force
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: his horse into the fight. He saw Senor Zuro spring
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: into a saddle and dash away, and the troopers after him. Gonzales,
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: not being close, gave his attention to the other half
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: of his duty. He bade some of his soldiers surround
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: the house so that none could leave it. Then he
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: saw Senorzeou take the stone fence and started in pursuit,
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  Speaker 1: all except the guards around the house joining him, but
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: Sergeant Gonzales went only as far as the crest of
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: the first hill. He noticed how the highwayman's horse was
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: running and realized that he could not be overtaken. Perhaps
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  Speaker 1: the sergeant could gain some glory if he returned to
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  Speaker 1: Fray Felipe's house and recaptured the Senorita. The house was
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: still being guarded when he dismounted before it, and his
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: men reported that none had attempted to leave the building.
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: He called two of his men to his side and
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: knocked on the door. Almost instantly, it was opened by
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  Speaker 1: Fray Filippe. Are you just from bed? Fray Gonzales asked,
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  Speaker 1: Is it not a time of night for honest men
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  Speaker 1: to be abed? Fray Filippe asked in turn, it is, Frey,
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  Speaker 1: Yet we find you out of it. How does it
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  Speaker 1: happen that you have not come from the house before?
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  Speaker 1: Did we not make enough noise to awaken you? I
• 5:30
  Speaker 1: heard sounds of combat, and you may hear more. Frey
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: else feel the sting of a whip again unless you
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: answer questions swiftly and to the point. Do you deny
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: that Senor Zorro has been here? I do not. Hah,
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: Now we have it. You admit then, that you are
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: in league with this pretty highwayman, that you shield him
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: upon occasion. You admit that, Fray, I admit nothing of
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: the sort, Fray Filipe replied, I never set my eyes
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: on this signor's Orro to my knowledge, until a very
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: few minutes ago. That is a likely story. Tell it
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  Speaker 1: to the stupid natives, but do not try to tell
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: it to a wise trooper. Fray. What did the Senor
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: Zorro wish? You were so close upon the man's heel
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: signor that he scarce had time to wish for anything,
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: Fray Felipe said, Yet you had some speech with him.
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: I opened the door it his knocked signor, the same
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: as I opened it at yours. What said he? That
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: soldiers were pursuing him, and he asked that you hide
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: him so he could escape capture at her hands. He
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: did not wanted a fresh horse, did he? He did
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: not say as much, Signor if he is such a
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: thief as he is painted. Undoubtedly he would merely have
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: taken a horse without asking had he wanted it? Hah?
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: What business had he with you? Then it would be
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: well for you to answer openly, Fray? Did I say
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: that he had business with me? Ha? By the Saints?
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: The Saints are better off your lips, Signor boaster and drunkard.
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: Do you wish to receive another beating? Fray? I am
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: riding on his Excellency's business. Do not you delay me further?
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: What said this pretty highwayman? Nothing that I am at
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: liberty to repeat to you, Signor Fray Felipe said. Sergeant
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: Gonzales pushed him aside roughly and entered the living room,
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: and as two troopers followed at his heels light the candellero,
• 7:39
  Speaker 1: Gonzales commanded his men take candles. If you can find any,
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: we search the house. You search my poor house, Fray,
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: Filippe cried. And what do you expect to find, Fray,
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: Felipe asked, I expect to find a piece of merchandise.
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: This pretty signor Zorro left here, Fray. What do you
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: imagine he left? Hah? A package of clothing. I suppose
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: a bundle of loot? A bottle of wine, a saddle
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: to be mended. What would the fellow leave, Fray. One
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: thing impresses me. Senor Zorro's horse carried double when he
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: arrived at your house, and was carrying none but Senor
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  Speaker 1: Zorrow when he departed, and you expect to find the
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: other half of the horses load, replied Gonzalez. Failing to
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: find it, we may try a twist or two of
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: your arm to see whether you can be made to speak.
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  Speaker 1: You would dare, you would sow affront afray, You would
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: descend to torture, meal, mush and goat's milk, quoth Sergeant Gonzalez.
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  Speaker 1: You fooled me once in some manner, but you will
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  Speaker 1: not so fool me again. Search the house, troopers, and
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  Speaker 1: be sure that you search it well. I shall remain
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: in this room and keep this entertaining frey company. I
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: shall endeavor to discover what his sensations were when he
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: was being whipped for swindling, coward and brute Fray. Felipe thundered.
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  Speaker 1: There may come a time when persecution shall cease meil
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: mashing goat's milk, When this disorder shall end, and honest
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: men be given their just dues. Fray Felipe cried, when
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: those who have founded a rich empire here shall receive
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: the true fruits of their labor and daring, instead of
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: having them stolen by dishonest politicians and men who stand
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: in their favor goats, milk and meal mush frey. When
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  Speaker 1: there shall be a thousand signor zorros, and more, if necessary,
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: to ride up and down El Camino Real and punish
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: those who do wrong. Sometimes I would that I were
• 9:54
  Speaker 1: not afraid that I might play such a game myself.
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: We'd run you down and show and stretch a rope
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: with your weight. Sergeant Gonzalez told him, did you help
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: his excellency soldiers more? Perhaps his excellency would treat you
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: with more consideration. I kiffe to no spawn of the devil.
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: Fray Felipe said, Ha, Now you grow angry, and that
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  Speaker 1: is against your principles. Is it not the part of
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  Speaker 1: a robed fray to receive what comes his way and
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: give thanks for it, no matter how much it chokes him?
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: Answer me, that angry one, you have about as much
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: knowledge of a Franciscan's principles and duties as has the
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: horse you ride. I ride a wise horse, A noble animal.
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: He comes when I call and gallops when I command.
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: Do not deride him until you ride him. Ha an
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: excellent jest imbursue miel mash and goat's milk, said Sergeant Con'szales,
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: end of chapter