The Whipping Post

Some soldiers took Fray Felipe from the courtroom into the town square. There was a large post in the middle of the square—the whipping post. The soldiers took off Fray Felipe's shirt and tied him to the post.

The square was full of people. They wanted to watch the whipping. Don Diego's face became pale with anger. But he could do nothing to help his friend.

One of the soldiers was holding a whip. He began to whip Fray Felipe. He hit the old brother fifteen times. Blood ran from the wounds in the priest's back, but he did not cry out. When the soldier had finished, the people laughed at the old brother. The judge laughed too.

" Give the money back to the dealer before two days have passed, " the judge said to Fray Felipe. " If you don't, we'll whip you again! "

The soldiers untied Fray Felipe. He could not stand up. He was weak and he fell to the ground. Two of his friends came forward and helped him to get up. They put him in a small cart and they all began the journey back to his farm.

Don Diego went to his town house. He felt very sad and angry.

" That judge is a very bad man, " he thought. " Fray Felipe did not cheat the dealer. The dealer cheated Fray Felipe. The judge was wrong to punish him. The judge and the dealer want to share Fray Felipe's money." Don Diego called a servant.

" I don't want to stay in the town tonight, " he said. " I'm going to visit my father at his hacienda." The servant brought food and drink for the journey. Then Don Diego started to ride towards the home of his father, Don Alejandro Vega.

The hide dealer was in the inn, drinking wine with the judge. They laughed loudly when they talked about Fray Felipe. The dealer was happy. Everybody wanted to be his friend. Everybody wanted to buy him wine.

At last, he left the inn and started to walk home. He walked a long way out of the town. Suddenly, he stopped in surprise.

A horseman was standing in front of him. The man wore a sombrero and a long black cloak. He wore a black mask over his face. And in his hand there was a pistol.

" It's Señ or Zorro! " thought the dealer. He was very afraid.

" Please don't hurt me, señ or, " he said. " I'm a poor man and I have no money."

" I don't want your money, " replied Zorro in a terrible voice. " I'm going to punish you. Today you told lies about a poor old brother. The brother didn't do anything wrong, but he was whipped fifteen times. Now I'm going to whip you."

Zorro took a whip from under his cloak. The dealer cried out in fear. He tried to run, but he could not. Zorro began to hit the dealer with his whip. Soon the ugly little man's clothes were wet with blood.

When Zorro had finished, he left the dealer on the ground. Then he rode straight to the town. It was getting dark. Zorro rode his horse up to the inn. He did not go into it.

" Landlord! " he shouted loudly. " Bring me some wine! " " Hero's a good customer, " thought the fat landlord. He came out of the inn and went up to Zorro's horse. He could not see Zorro's face in the darkness. But then he saw his pistol.

Zorro kicked the bottle of wine from the landlord's hand. " Is the judge inside? " he asked.

" Yes, señ or! " replied the landlord. He was afraid. " Bring him out here! " Zorro said. The landlord went into the inn. Soon he came out with the judge. The judge saw Zorro's pistol pointing at him. He tried to run away, hut it was too late.

" I'm going to punish you, " said Zorro. " You did a very bad thing today. That poor old brother had done nothing wrong. But you punished him cruelly. Now it's your turn."

Five men had come out of the inn. Zorro called to them.

" Tie this man to the whipping post! " he said. " If you don't, I'll shoot you! "

The men tied the judge to the post. Then Zorro gave one of the men his whip.

" Take this whip, " he said. " Each of you must whip the judge five times."

The men were afraid of Zorro. They began to whip the judge. The whip hit his back twenty-five times. Then Zorro told the men to untie him.

" Carry him to his house, " he said. " Let all the people see him. Let them see how Zorro punishes had judges." Then Zorro turned towards the fat landlord. " Go and bring me some more wine! " he said. The landlord hurried hack inside the inn. He saw a group of young caballeros at one of the tables.

" Señ or Zorro is outside, " the landlord said, " If you capture him, you will get a good reward."

The caballeros were very excited. They pulled their swords from their scabbards and they rushed outside. They saw Zorro and they ran to attack him. One caballero had a gun and he fired it at Zorro.

Zorro's horse moved suddenly. It stood up on its two back legs. Then Zorro rode into the group of caballeros.

The young men ran away from the horse. There was a lot of noise. People came running from their houses.

Zorro turned his horse and he rode quickly out of the square. " Goodbye, my friends! " he shouted.

At that moment, Captain Ramon arrived from the presidio. But there were no soldiers with him. All his soldiers had gone with Sergeant Gonzales.

The young caballeros wanted to ride after Zorro and capture him. Captain Ramon told them to go.

Thirty young caballeros chased after Zorro. Outside the town, the road divided into three roads. So the caballeros divided into three groups of ten men. The first group followed the road to San Gabriel. The second group followed the road to Fray Felipe's farm. And the third group followed the road to the hacienda of Don Alejandro Vega.