Herrara raced down the trials, almost unable to believe his own audacity. He had gotten away with it! He had snatched the money right from under the snooty alcalde's nose! He kept thinking he could hear hoof beats of soldiers pursuing him, but when he glanced over his shoulder there was no one. Abdul was faster than most horses, probably even Toronado now. Toronado needed a chance to cool down, to rest before being ridden at any sort of speed again.

Abdul fussed a little under him, dancing a little. He was tired and he needed his rest. Herrrara would keep him at a steady pace for a while and then walk him once he was really free. His hair at the back of his neck rose a little, as if he could feel someone watching him. He glanced at the rise far above him, but no one was there. The trail followed the curve of the hill. A horse would find it very challenging taking a direct route down the steeper part of the rise.

Herrara tried to relax, shifting his body a little in the saddle. There was a shrill whistle that came from nowhere, and everywhere at the same time. Abdul stopped, trying to understand what it meant – some far away memory of his training seemed to haunt him. He tried to urge him forward again, but it was too late.

Zorro leapt from the tree, and landed behind him in the saddle. Herrara was stunned, but he knew it was over.

Zzz

"Mendoza!" The alcalde said, as soon as the wagons had been moved away.

"Sir?"

"I want Zorro. Obviously they're in league with each other, it was all a trick. Now you get your horse, and you get after him."

"But. Mi alcalde, you know how I feel about horses, ever since…" Mendoza saw the fury in the alcalde's face. "Si, mi alcalde – horse! Right away!"

"Just hold him steady," Mendoza said, as he approached his horse. The lancers obliged, but to no avail. The poor sergeant still stumbled with the mounting process, and his mare stood as placid and sweet as a lady's mount. Despite feeling sorry for the soldier, Alejandro joined in with the pueblo's laughter. It was just too hard not to. The man was unhurt, but his pride probably had been – if he had any left.

"Stupid horse – he did that on purpose!"

Alejandro saw movement at the gates, and pointed it out to Victoria. Maybe Diego had gotten over his cold, and had come to see what was going on in town.

His eyes widened with surprise and pleasure. Such a beautifully carved Z on the back of Herrara's fine jacket, he couldn't help but admire the cheekiness of their hero. Zorro had added to the embarrassment principle by tying the poor man backwards in the saddle, well aware that the people would find it amusing to see the braggart taking down a peg or two.

Mendoza found the money bag, tied securely to the saddle.

"Alcalde, the money, it's all here," Mendoza said, rifling through it quickly. "We did it!"

"Well, of course, I did it!" The alcalde said, taking it from the sergeant. "And look what I've won, heh?" Louis Ramone only had eyes for the race horse.

"Be careful, alcalde. This horse could be dangerous," Mendoza said with concern.

"Shh…Sergeant, please," Ramone said softly. "I am an expert horseman."

Two lancers held Abdul steady, as the alcalde attempted to mount him. The tired racehorse did not like the idea of anyone on his back after the day he'd already had, and it was obvious, especially to the horsemen among them. Alejandro was already hiding a smile, as he imagined the likely outcome of the alcalde's move.

When Abdul decided to bolt out of town with the complaining commandant, Alejandro simply folded his arms in slight disgust. He wondered what Diego would think of their boasting alcalde. Diego could ride a strange horse better than that fool. He'd seen him.