TO THE RESCUE.
Upon the frantic departure of Don Diego Vega from Reina de Los Angeles,
Don Audre Ruiz took command of the situation and the _caballeros_
simultaneously. There was none willing to dispute his leadership. Don
Audre always had been a leader when there was an enterprise that called
for hard riding and hard fighting in the bright face of danger.
Captain Ramón was not to be found, and Sergeant Gonzales had ridden
away with the soldiers. So Don Audre noised it abroad that he and his
friends intended pursuing the pirates as speedily as possible, and made
a quick search for mounts.
They acquired enough, presently, but the horses were a sorry lot when
compared to the _caballeros’s_ own, which the pirates had stolen. And
without changing their attire, retaining the splendid costumes they
had been wearing at Don Diego’s bachelor feast and with their jeweled
swords at their sides, they rode up the slope and took the trail that
would carry them to the sea.
Don Audre decided against following the pirates’ tracks. He knew that
they would reach the coast long before the _caballeros_, and would
embark. Don Diego would do what he could, which would be little. And
Don Audre realized that their only hope was to get to the trading
schooner, put out in it, and make an attempt to overtake Barbados and
his evil crew.
They rode with what speed they could, shouting at their poor mounts
and at one another, along the slopes, down the dusty trails and so
toward the distant sea. They crossed the trail of the pirates who had
looted the Pulido _hacienda_, but ignored it. Don Audre Ruiz knew where
the trading schooner would be anchored, some miles to the south of
where the pirate ship undoubtedly had touched, and that place was his
objective.
Hour after hour they rode, urging their jaded horses to their utmost,
glad that the moon was bright and that they could make as good progress
as in the day. And, when they finally were within a couple of miles
of the sea, and also an hour of the dawn, Don Audre suddenly raised
his hand and reined in his horse, and those behind stopped with him. A
native was standing in the middle of the trail.
Don Audre approached him slowly, hand on the hilt of his dagger. There
were some natives who were not to be trusted. But when he drew near he
recognized the fellow as one who had worked at his father’s _hacienda_.
“What do you here?” Don Audre demanded.
“I saw the _señor_ coming from the distance with his friends,” the native
answered. “I have news.”
“Speak!”
“I was coming across the hills, _señor_, and saw the pirates.”
“Ha! Talk quickly!” Audre Ruiz commanded.
“I went into hiding, lest they slay me. They had good horses and much
loot, also a girl――”
“Tell us of that!”
“It was the _señorita_ Don Diego Vega expects to wed,” the native said.
“They took her with them to the shore, and presently more pirates came
from Reina de Los Angeles. They went aboard their ship, taking the
_señorita_ and the loot with them.”
“What else?”
“There was a man appeared, _señor_, and killed one of the pirates. I
got a glimpse of him, Don Audre, and it was Señor Zorro, the one that――”
“Ha! Zorro!” Audre shrieked. “Speak quickly!”
“He ran from them, and they gave up the pursuit. But when the boats
started from the land, he dived into the sea and swam after them. And
he did not return!”
“Then is he aboard the pirate craft!” Don Audre declared.
“The pirate ship sailed to the south, _señor_.”
“Good!” Audre cried. “Know you anything of the trading schooner?”
“_Sí, señor!_ She is anchored straight ahead, and the men expect to
start for Reina de Los Angeles in the morning to trade.”
“They will not, though they do not know it.” Don Audre said. “Here is
gold for you, fellow. Ha! So the pirate ship sailed to the south. That
means that the rogues are going to their hidden rendezvous somewhere
down the coast. We’ll get the trading schooner and pursue! Forward!”
But, as they would have started, Don Audre Ruiz raised a hand and
stopped them again. From the rear had come the beating of a horse’s
hoofs. Don Audre motioned to the _caballeros_, and they scattered to
either side of the road and prepared to receive the newcomer.
Nearer grew the beating of hoofs, and a horseman appeared, riding
frantically through the moonlight down the slope and toward them. When
he saw them, he reined up, and stopped in their midst in a shower of
gravel and sand and dust. The reckless rider was Sergeant Gonzales.
“Ha, _señores_!” he called. “I have overtaken you finally, it appears.”
“And to what end?” Don Audre Ruiz asked, urging his horse forward and
glaring at the soldier. “You have news?”
“Not so, _señor_! I come in search of it. I returned to Reina de Los
Angeles with my troopers to learn of the pirates and what they had
done. I learned, also, of your departure, so left my men and rode after
you. Captain Ramón was not at the _presidio_. As the next soldier of
rank――”
“It is in our minds to get the trading schooner and give pursuit,” Ruiz
told him.
“That is a worthy idea!” Sergeant Gonzales declared. “Too long have
these bloody pirates infested our shores. Meal mush and goat’s milk!
Let us go forward!”
“Are you seeking to take command of this expedition?” Don Audre Ruiz
demanded, hotly. “This is a private rescue party of _caballeros_, I
would have you know, and not a detachment of the Governor’s men! We
have small love for the Governor!”
“Though I wear his uniform, I say the same thing,” Sergeant Gonzales
declared. “But I am after pirates! I care not who commands, so that I
get a chance at a pirate with my trusty blade! Ha! When I meet a pirate
face to face――”
“Spare us your boasting!” Don Audre said.
“Boasting?” shrieked the sergeant. “Boasting? Perchance you would like
to cross blades with me in answer to that insult?”
“You are safe in making the challenge, knowing that I would not stoop
to do so,” Don Audre said.
“And you are safe in refusing, having the ability to hide behind your
gentle blood!” the sergeant returned.
“_Señor_――”
Sergeant Gonzales urged his mount closer to that of Don Audre, but
the expression in the sergeant’s face had changed peculiarly, and his
countenance did not show rage.
“_Señor_, it is true,” Sergeant Gonzales observed, “that I am but a
poor soldier without blue blood in my veins. My father was a butcher
and my mother’s father raised swine. But Don Diego Vega has been good
enough to term himself my friend. And now that he is in peril, I ride
with his other friends to his rescue, and the rescue of his lady! I
trust the señor will not misunderstand! I do not seek to equal my
betters. If I am not good enough to ride with you, _caballero_, then I
ride by myself! But I ride!”
Don Audre Ruiz bent forward and searched the sergeant’s face by the
light of the one torch the company had burning. Then he extended his
hand.
“Sergeant Gonzales, it is for me to ask your pardon,” Don Audre said,
grandly. “I would not be worthy the blood in my veins did I do less.
Any friend of Don Diego Vega is welcome on this expedition. But, have
you leave of absence?”
“Ha! I took it!” Sergeant Gonzales roared, grinning broadly. “Captain
Ramón was not at the _presidio_. Being the next in rank, I ordered
myself to set out on the trail and get a full report of the occurrence.
When I am able to make that report I return.”
“Ride you with us!” Don Audre said. “Thus we have the sanction of the
soldiery and official approval of our deeds.”
“I shall approve anything that has to do with causing the death of
pirates!” Sergeant Gonzales declared.
The moon disappeared entirely, and the night was dark. They rode
forward slowly now, careful not to get off the trail, but they did not
have much farther to go. Soon they came to the crest of a hill, and
below them they heard the hissing sea, and saw the lights of a ship
riding at anchor a short distance from the shore.
Down to the surf they urged their mounts. And there they met with
another surprise. For a horseman was awaiting them there in the
darkness. Don Audre Ruiz gasped in astonishment when he recognized old
Fray Felipe.
“We left you in the town, _fray_!” he said. “And how is it that we now
find you here? Is this some sort of a miracle?”
“I departed the town while you were yet searching for horses,” Fray
Felipe explained. “I got a mount for myself and came ahead, because I
cannot ride like the wind, as do you young _caballeros_. It was in my
mind that you would make for the trading schooner. I heard you say as
much.”
“But why have you come?” Don Audre wanted to know.
“I have known Don Diego Vega and the little _señorita_ since they were
babes in arms, and I was to have married them to-day,” the old _fray_
replied.
“But fighting is not your forte!” Don Audre declared. “You are old, and
you wear a gown. Do you remain behind and pray for our success, and let
us wield the blades! That were better, _fray_.”
“I am willing to make my prayers. But I have taken a vow,” Fray Felipe
replied. “I must return the golden goblet the pirates stole from the
church.”
“Then you would go with us?” Don Audre asked.
“_Sí!_ I already have communicated with the captain of the trading
schooner, _señor_. He is coming ashore now in one of his boats. Thus
time will be saved.”