The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley

Description

Originally serialized under this title in 1919, this is the novel that introduced Señor Zorro — later reprinted as "The Mark of Zorro" after the 1920 Douglas Fairbanks film made the character a household name. A masked avenger defends the oppressed of Spanish California against a corrupt governor.

Excerpt

Again the sheet of rain beat against the roof of red Spanish tile, and the wind shrieked like a soul in torment, and smoke puffed from the big fireplace as the sparks were showered over the hard dirt floor.

"'Tis a night for evil deeds!" declared Sergeant Pedro Gonzales, stretching his great feet in their loose boots toward the roaring fire and grasping the hilt of his sword in one hand and a mug filled with thin wine in the other. "Devils howl in the wind and demons are in the raindrops! 'Tis an evil night, indeed—eh, señor?"

"It is!" the fat landlord agreed hastily; and he made haste, also, to fill the wine mug again, for Sergeant Pedro Gonzales had a temper that was terrible when aroused, as it always was when wine was not forthcoming.