I appear to have misplaced my notebook, so I will do this recap from memory. Fortunately, this chapter is kind of short for reasons that will soon become obvious.
Chapter Nine: The Golden Arrow
Quick recap, no new info.
Flashback to Zorro mugging the sentry and on from there. Unlike some of the other cliffhangers, the onrushing wall of water actually hits Ramon and Zorro.
Outside, the sentry comes to just in time to see the Fighting Legion riding toward the cave. He goes inside and warns Don del Oro and crew, who take a back exit out of the place.
Meanwhile, Zorro (who has misplaced his mask) and Ramon turn out to both be strong swimmers, and an air pocket at the top of the rock chamber keeps the water from rising any further. They decide to swim underwater back to the main cave. (It's about a twenty-count, quite doable.) They come out of the water after the baddies have left, good thing given Diego's face is visible.
He's got him mask back on by the time they get outside and rendezvous with the Legion, who report they didn't see Don del Oro's group leaving. However, Commandante Manuel can be seen in the distance, trying to reach the treeline.
Next scene, Manuel's captured, and Zorro reminds the prisoner that Don del Oro isn't his friend anymore. We see a Yaqui sniper on a cliff nearby. Manuel finally agrees to talk. "Don del Oro is—" *TWANG* The Legion goes after the sniper, but he's got too much of a lead. They arrange for Manuel's body to be found.
The remaining conspirators get their stories straight for the council meeting.
At the council meeting, Governor Felipe now claims that he was always suspicious of Manuel, and the Commandante's earlier flight confirms it. Perhaps he was Don del Oro himself!
Gonzales agrees, and suddenly this is a Clip Show Episode. We have extended flashbacks to Manuel's "ineptitude" at protecting the gold trains.
Diego argues that this is circumstantial evidence—Gonzales himself could be implicated by the fact that the baddies were using a secret chamber in his mine. (Another flashback.) Gonzales doesn't appreciate the comparison.
A soldier arrives with word that Manuel has been found, murdered with a golden arrow. Therefore, he was not the true Don del Oro. Gonzales finds suspicion falling back on him.
Thinking quickly, he admits to the circumstances, but one could also...accuse Diego Vega of being Zorro! Think about it, has anyone ever seen both Zorro and Diego at the same time? And Zorro's activities began about the same time as Diego arrived in San Mendolito. Oh, and wasn't it an amazing coincidence that Zorro came the mine right after Diego learned of the secret chamber?
Outside, the mariachi leads Tarmac to an open window.
Faced with the close suspicions of the council, Diego hems and haws, then finally admits that he—has met and talked to Zorro several times. He claims not to have seen under the outlaw's mask, but Zorro did pass on some interesting information...
Just as Diego crosses the field of view of the window, Tarmac releases a golden arrow, dooming our hero!
Be here next week for Chapter Ten: Mystery Wagon!
