Chapter 8

In the meantime Don Alejandro was making his way to the pueblo. Not travelling as fast as he would have liked also having to lead a bull, when from the direction of Los Angeles lancers were approaching him.
Mendoza being among them Alejandro brings his horse to a halt.
"Whoa! Don Alejandro have you seen any men leading a wagon with citizens on it. Have you seen which way did they go?"

"Si we have seen them, Diego is following them, leaving a trail. You should be able to find it and catch up on those pirates."
Mendoza waving his arm forward
"Thank you don Alejandro. We will go after them. Lancers! Ho! He yeah!"

Seeing how the lancers galloping in the distance. Alejandro felt he has done what he could for now. He needed to get the bull to the rancho. And see what he could do next.
He only hoped Diego was still safe and was not being spot by the pirates. Those men were relentless. They had kidnapped people for a reason, so for now everyone was reasonable save. Only question was, for how long?
Alejandro hoped Mendoza was able to overpower those pirates. Perhaps it would have been better if de Soto had not been in Monterey. Mendoza was a good man but not the right man to lead the lancers to such a dangerous mission. The old don was concerned for all the people involved, most of all his son Victoria and Felipe.
Forming a plan in his head. After he had brought the bull to the rancho he would ride into the pueblo and gather as much as caballero's as possible to go after the pirates as well. To help the lancers if needed. Which probably was needed. Also hoping Zorro had already heard of what had happened.

"Venga, toro!" As Alejandro continues on his way as the bull bellows.

.

Diego tries to come as close to Victoria as this Sanchez guy allows him, kneeling next to Victoria. His hands are being tied behind his back by the pirate.

Apologizing to Victoria "I did my best."
Victoria gives him a smile. He tried.
Diego can not help he can't fight those pirates. They are with just too much, he is not a fighter like Zorro. And Diego never carried a sword or other weapon. He did his best she knew. She was grateful for he had come after her. Not have wanted to let her alone with those awful men.

"I know. Thank you, Don Diego.

But you know, situations like this are best left for Zorro. He will come." Victoria was not only trying to reassure Diego everything was going to be well but also herself.

Diego could not help to feel sorry to have to disappointed her in this. This time Zorro will not come soon. If any luck Felipe knew what to do and was able to return before tomorrow morning with Zorro's belongings and Toronado.
And how was he going to do it? Appearing as Zorro, at the same time being here as Diego? He was going to need to think about that.
Zorro's identity was at stake here. Feeling some frustration. Victoria was unable to believe Diego stood even a chance against those pirates. At the same time believing that as soon as Zorro would come, it will be solved in a matter of minutes.

After the horses had rested everyone was forced onto the wagon again and the pirates drove their wagon with prisoners further down the road.
Secretly Diego rips off a button from his jacket sleeve and tosses it out once every couple hundred of yards. He hopes he has enough buttons left on his jacket to leave a trail for Mendoza to follow. And hoped the pirates will stop soon for the night.

After one more hour of slow driving the pirates' wagon pulls up to a clearing. It is going to be dark soon.

"Whoa! This is the clearing on the map. Make camp! We'll start searching at dawn." Stark is looking on the map he has been carrying while leading the way.
Stark and the other pirates get down from the wagon and the horses some of them were riding.
Sanchez shouts at the prisoners at the back of the wagon
"Off!"
Stark walks to the back of the wagon just as Diego hops down off it.
"As for him... tie him good."

Sanchez and another pirate grab Diego and take him away and sees how another pirate pulls Victoria down off the wagon.
Victoria confronting Stark
"You will hang for this!"
Stark's only response by just laughing evilly in her face.

.

The moon is only half full. Because there are no clouds in the sky it gives some light. The pirates have made camp. And all prisoners had a small cup of water and no food.
One by one the pirates fallen to sleep. Having drunk rum it is not likely the pirates will wake soon.
And so Diego takes his chance. It has taken him a long time working on the knots before he gets loose. No matter or Felipe will be able to bring him Zorro's outfit tomorrow morning, he was going to attack the pirates.

To make sure Diego or Zorro stood a better chance Diego got up and starts to get the gunpowder out of the refills and guns the pirates are carrying.

It would be no trouble fighting the eight bandits if they could not shoot at him. Having done that Diego goes back to the place he was laying. Trying to get some rest. Tomorrow morning, as soon as the pirates will wake up he had a surprise in stored for them.

.

Suddenly Diego feels how a hand is covering his mouth. " Ssstt not make a sound." A female voice is whispering softly in his ear. "It is me, Augusta. I will untie you."
Having only turned the ropes twice around his wrists. Augusta does not have to do a thing to get him loose.
Rolling away from where the pirates are sleeping around a fire Diego and Augusta hide behind a bush.

As Augusta gets a large bag from behind a tree. She is still whispering "I have brought you your Zorro outfit. When your father told me what happened I thought you might need it."
Diego was stunned. How on earth...?
"What...?"

"Sstt be quiet. I will tell you all later. For now, what is your plan?"

Somehow it did not surprise Diego Augusta found out he was Zorro. He had known it was a risk since the moment she looked Diego in his eyes, but how had she found Zorro's outfit? He saw it was the sword from his costume that was hidden in his office.
For now, it looked like she wanted to help. And she was right, first things first. Take care of the pirates. And then Zorro's secret will be out or so it seemed.

He started changing as Augusta turned herself around. Informing him about what she knew.
"Mendoza and the lancers have made camp about half a mile from here. They want to attack first thing in the morning."
Covering his face with the mask he looks at the woman who still stands with her back turned to him "You wait here." as he headed for prisoners.

Zorro grabs and pinches the necks of two of the male 'volunteers.' one at the time. HE still needs to protect his secret for as long as possible. Maybe it is only frailed hope. Maybe Augusta was going to be on Zorro's side and not tell de Soto she found out his identity.
Zorro was using an old trick of blocking the nerves so the people being kidnapped by the pirates all lost their conscious. It would last for about thirty minutes. After all prisoners are unconscious he goes over to Victoria.
Even now he had not the nerve of taking the risk to let her find out. Not knowing what Augusta was up to doing to Zorro.
There still was a slight chance she was going to keep his secret.
And so he sneaks up behind Victoria and also pinches her neck. He gently lays her down on the ground.
"Forgive me, Señorita. But Zorro's secret is still worth a small headache."

He then darts away. Making his way back to Augusta. The pirates are still fast a sleep. He sees how she also brought some ropes. That gave him an idea
"I will go and over and tie them up as they are a still sleep. You just wait here."
Cutting rope to the lengths he does not see Augusta's response to what he had just said. IT was going to be easier than anticipated. If he managed not to wake them up.
Augusta sighed and got a knife from a holster around her upper leg. Cutting one of her under skirts into pieces.
"If you want to do that to work, you will need gags as well"
Again the woman was right.

The first two pirates one of them being Stark, Zorro was able to gag and tie their hands behind their backs without making a sound.
One of the pirates was less drunk as when Zorro was working on the third he woke up. And started to shout.
"Zorro! Wake up we are under attack. " This woke up the five remaining pirates. Three of them grabbed for their guns. Sanchez being the only one to grab for his sword.
The pirates that were tied already had nothing more to do than to give a anger look.
The pirates holding a gun fired their pistols,

...nothing happened

They just clicked.

"A small precaution, Señores. Some time ago I took the powder from your weapons."
After having looked confused for some seconds. The men as one got their swords out. Six to one it was going to be.
Zorro started to fight Sanchez. Seeing from the corner of his eye Augusta had also had got her hand on a sword. She was fighting two pirates at once, leaving him to fight the other four.
One of the man screaming to the fighting men
"Take him, mate! Cut him! Run him through! He has 6000 pesos on his head."
Zorro parries Sanchez's wild swings then kicks him in the chest.
Sanchez as he tumbles away
"Eeyow!"

Seeing how Augusta has no trouble what so ever fighting two pirates at once already having disarmed one of them.
Zorro gets his attention to the four men remaining.
As they attack Zorro they give up one by one. Sanchez the most capable fighter being the one holding out the longest refusing to give up.
"Watch out! Aaah! Get behind him!"

Sanchez sensing he was also going to be defeated soon scouted
"Let's get out of here!"
The six men who are not being tied all run away.

"You want to go after them?" it is Augusta coming closer to him, she is a little out of breath.

Diego thinking about his options. Victoria and the others will wake up in a couple of minutes. And he has no Toronado to help him. Turning his back to the two pirates sitting a couple of feet from them whispering to Augusta.
"We have their leader, captain Stark. I do not think they will return for him. I will go after them once we have brought the people back to the pueblo."

Augusta saluted her sword at him, she whispers her answer softly,
"I see, Diego can't be missed I suppose." louder saying "Sergeant Mendoza and the lancers will be here soon, it is almost dawn."
Turning to the two tied up men. Zorro slashes a Z in their jackets. Believing that Augusta will see what he is up to stating "I will go after the pirates that got away. Trust you can wait here for the lancers?"
"Si señor Zorro, thank you for your help, I could not have done it without you." Augusta nodding understandably.

Behind some bushes Diego changes into his regular clothes. He spots Felipe.
"It is all taken care off for now. Stay out of side but remain close. I hope Zorro will be able to go after the escaped pirates. Make sure no one sees you, specially the lancers and Señora Quinones."
"What?" Felipe could not believe his ears. Augusta was here?
"Not now. Augusta found out. We need to be careful. She can not see you. She knows who I am but she doesn't know you have been helping me. Or so we must hope"

Making his way back to the woman, she is holding a rope in her hand.
"I suppose it will be best as I tie you up and then wake everyone up. Looking hopeless saying Zorro has gone after the escaped pirates and untie everyone. Then wait for the lancers to come?"
"I indeed think that is best. Augusta I..."
"Not to worry Diego, we will talk later. I will not say a thing for now and untie you as last one."

After Augusta has him tied up, she stands up and walks up the hill. Waiting for some minutes until she sees men in uniform approaching.
"There they come."

One by one she starts waking up the 'prisoners'. She has just woken up and untied Victoria when the lancers see her. Sergeant Mendoza looking surprised at the camp sight.
"Señora Quinones what happen? How did you get here?"

"Sergeant Mendoza. Come and help. I have found the kidnapped people. The pirates seem all to have got away except for those two."
Ponting at captain Stark and the other pirate. "It was Zorro. He was fighting them, and went after the other pirates when they ran away."

"Zorro! " Mendoza is looking very happy hearing the outlaws name. "Then he will seize them and bring them to the pueblo I suppose. But what are you doing here señora. You were not under the captives, were you?"
"NO I wasn't, I went after them trying to help. I came just in time." making her way to Diego she starts to untie him as well.
"I was able to fight a pirate. Zorro overpowering the others. When they realized they were going to lose they ran. As said, Zorro went after them and I started to wake up and untie the people."

Mendoza looking at the señora in disbelief. She had been fighting a pirate? She was a woman!
"Madre de Dios! Señora Quinones those pirates are dangerous men. They could have killed you, you were very lucky Zorro was here as well."
"Si I was and I am very grateful Zorro did turn up and took care of everything." as she gives Diego a small wink.

"Zorro! Zorro was here." it is Victoria finally being awake enough to understand what is being said. "And I was just sleeping?

Aww, I have the worst headache."

After everyone had enough to drink and shared the food that they could find the people take place on the wagon and accompanied by the lancers make their way back to the pueblo. Augusta insisting on riding on the wagon offering her horse to Diego.
"You go and tell your father everything is fine. He was very concerned for you, Felipe and Victoria. Where is Felipe by the way? He was captured too was he not?"

Victoria frustrated how, again Augusta was celebrated as some kind of heroin. "Felipe managed to escape Señora. That also being how Diego was caught. Probably Felipe is on his way back to the hacienda."

Augusta ignored Victoria saying to Diego.
"Diego than I really insist on you taking my horse and find the poor boy. It is a long walk to the hacienda. YOu must try and find him" Augusta shaking her head as she sadly looked to the ground.

"Diego? Victoria chuckling "Going to search for Felipe? I think you better can lean your horse to one of the lancers señora Augusta if you worried about Felipe. Diego is even able to get lost on his way from the hacienda to the pueblo."

Why? Why was it, Victoria always thought so ill of him.
Augusta only glaring at Diego then turning her attention to Victoria.
"If Felipe is smart, he has stayed on the main road. I am sure don Diego is perfectly able of following that."
looking at Diego who mounted the mare Augusta had been riding on.
"That is an excellent idea Señora. I will just do that."
ignoring Victoria he just made his way out. PLanning to go to Felipe and change into Zorro as soon as possible.

Making his way in a U turn to where Felipe was waiting for him. Changing into Zorro once more. Mounted Toronado.
"You take Augusta's horse and I will see you back at the cave."
"She is quite a woman."Felipe said and sighed.
"Si, and she and Victoria have very different opinions about things. Now you go, and I will go after those pirates."
Having not even half an hour head start on Zorro and Toronado being on a faster horse he caught up with the six pirates. Having taken them one at the time.
Zorro let three horses run free to be found by a lucky farmer, he took the three remaining horses and leads them each carryng two pirates neatly tied behind him.

In the distance a wagon was coming in sight.
Slashing a Z in all the trousers of the pirates Zorro left the horses tied to a tree close to the pluebol to be found by the lancers.
After that Zorro made his way back to the cave. Changed into Diego's outfit.
And together riding on one horse Felipe and Diego made their way to the pueblo. Arriving only ten minutes after the wagon and lancers.

Sergeant Mendoza was very pleased with having no less than eight dangerous wanted pirates in his prison. Having plenty to gossip about that evening in the tavern.

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So that is why I used this episode. The idea of Augusta surprising Diego at night. Letting him know she knows who he is, also having found his Zorro's costume somehow and fighting besides him.

I know I changed the episode a lot. I just used it as inspiration.

I just loved the idea of Diego finding out she knowns, the way she does.