A LEAGUE IS FORMED
The song ceased; the laughter was stilled. They blinked their eyes and
looked across the room. Señor Zorro stood just inside the door, having
entered from the veranda without them knowing it. He wore his long
cloak and his mask, and in one hand he held his accursed pistol, and
its muzzle was pointed at the table.
"So these are the manner of men who pursue Señor Zorro and hope to
take him!" he said. "Make not a move, else lead flies! Your weapons,
I perceive, are in the corner. I could kill some of you and be gone
before you could reach them!"
"'Tis he! 'Tis he!" a tipsy _caballero_ was crying.
"Your noise may be heard a mile away, _señores_! What a posse to go
pursuing a man! Is this the way you attend to duty? Why have you
stopped to make merry while Señor Zorro rides the highway?"
"Give me my blade and let me stand before him!" one cried.
"If I allowed you to have blade, you would be unable to stand!" the
highwayman answered. "Think you there is one in this company who could
fence with me now?"
"There is one!" cried Don Alejandro, in a loud voice, springing to his
feet. "I openly say that I have admired some of the things you have
done, _señor_; but now you have entered my house and are abusing my
guests, and I must call you to account!"
"I have no quarrel with you, Don Alejandro, and you have none with me!"
Señor Zorro said. "I refuse to cross blades with you. And I am but
telling these men some truths."
"By the saints, I shall make you!"
"A moment, Don Alejandro! _Señores_, this aged don would fight me, and
that would mean a wound or death for him. Will you allow it?"
"Don Alejandro must not fight our battles!" one of them cried.
"Then see that he sits in his place, and all honor to him!"
Don Alejandro started forward, but two of the _caballeros_ sprang
before him and urged him to go back, saying that his honor was safe,
since he offered combat. Raging, Don Alejandro complied.
"A worthy bunch of young blades!" Señor Zorro sneered. "You drink wine
and make merry while injustice is all about you. Take your swords in
hand and attack oppression! Live up to your noble names and your blue
blood, _señores_! Drive the thieving politicians from the land! Protect
the _frailes_ whose work gave us these broad acres! Be men, not drunken
fashion-plates!"
"By the saints!" one cried, and sprang to his feet.
"Back, or I fire! I have not come here to fight you in Don Alejandro's
house. I respect him too much for that. I have come to tell you these
truths concerning yourselves.
"Your families can make or break a governor! Band yourselves together
in a good cause, _caballeros_, and make some use of your lives! You
would do it, were you not afraid. You seek adventure? Here is adventure
a plenty, fighting injustice."
"By the saints, it would be a lark!" cried one in answer.
"Look upon it as a lark if it pleases you, yet you would be doing some
good. Would the politicians dare stand against you, scions of the most
powerful families? Band yourselves together and give yourselves a name.
Make yourselves feared the length and breadth of the land!"
"It would be treason--"
"It is not treason to down a tyrant, _caballeros_! Is it that you are
afraid?"
"By the saints--no!" they cried in chorus.
"Then make your stand!"
"You would lead us?"
"_Si, Señores!_"
"But stay! Are you of good blood?"
"I am a _caballero_, of blood as good as any here!" Señor Zorro told
them.
"Your name? Where resides your family?"
"Those things must remain secrets for the present. I have given you my
word!"
"Your face--"
"Must remain masked for the time being, _señores_!"
They had lurched to their feet now, and were acclaiming him wildly.
"Stay!" one cried. "This is an imposition upon Don Alejandro. He may
not be in sympathy, and we are planning and plotting in his house--"
"I am in sympathy, _caballeros_, and give you my support!" Don
Alejandro said.
Their cheers filled the great room. None could stand against them if
Don Alejandro Vega was with them. Not even the governor himself would
dare oppose them.
"It is a bargain!" they cried. "We shall call ourselves the avengers!
We shall ride El Camino Real and prove terrors to those who rob honest
men and mistreat natives! We shall drive the thieving politicians out!"
"And then you shall be _caballeros_ in truth, knights protecting
the weak," Señor Zorro said. "Never shall you repent this decision,
_señores_! I lead, and I give you loyalty and expect as much. Also, I
expect obedience to orders!"
"What shall we do?" they cried.
"Let this remain a secret. In the morning, return to Reina de Los
Angeles and say you did not find Señor Zorro--say rather that you did
not catch him, which will be the truth. Be ready to band yourselves
together and ride. I shall send word when the time arrives."
"In what manner?"
"I know you all. I shall get word to one, and he can inform the others.
It is agreed?"
"Agreed!" they shouted.
"Then I will leave you here and now. You are to remain in this room,
and none is to try to follow me. It is a command. _Buenas noches,
caballeros!_"
He bowed before them, swung the door open and darted through it, and
slammed it shut behind him.
They could hear the clatter of a horse's hoofs on the driveway.
And then they raised their wine mugs and drank to their new league
for the suppression of swindlers and thieves, and to Señor Zorro, the
Curse of Capistrano, and to Don Alejandro Vega, somewhat sobered by the
agreement they had made and what it meant. They sat down again, and
began speaking of wrongs that should be righted, each of them knowing
half a dozen.
And Don Alejandro Vega sat in one corner, by himself, a grief-stricken
man because his only son was asleep in the house and had not red blood
enough to take a part in such an undertaking, when by all rights he
should be one of the leaders.
As if to add to his misery, Don Diego at that moment came slowly into
the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning, and looking as if he had been
disturbed.
"It is impossible for a man to sleep in this house to-night," he said.
"Give me a mug of wine, and I shall take my place with you. Why was the
cheering?"
"Señor Zorro has been here--" his father began.
"The highwayman? Been here? By the saints! It is as much as a man can
endure!"
"Sit down, my son!" Don Alejandro urged. "Certain things have come to
pass. There will be a chance now for you to show what sort of blood
flows in your veins!"
Don Alejandro's manner was very determined.