Mark of Zorro by Johnston Mcculley

To free his people, a masked rider goes to war against an empire in this swashbuckling adventure story In the untamed wilds of California, evil reigns at the mission of Los Angeles. A sinister governor grinds his subjects beneath his boot, bleeding them dry for the sake of the Spanish crown. Only one man dares challenge him. By day, Don Diego Vega is a debonair playboy known for his devil-may-care attitude. But by night, he dons a black mask and a black cape, and fights in the name of justice. When he bests his enemies, he carves a Z in their cheek: the mark of Zorro. The inspiration for countless films, comic books, and stories, The Mark of Zorro is one of the great action novels of all time.