Posingasafoppishcoward,Diego,aSpanishnobleman,fightsinjusticeincolonialCalifornia.UponhisreturnfromSpain,DiegorealizesthatCaptainPasqualeisterrorizingthedistrictandlevyingunreasonabletaxes.DisguisedasZorro-amaskedRobinHood-likeswashbuckler-theyoungSpaniardmenacesthelocalauthoritiestothedelightofallthepeasants.Inthemeantime,posingastheineptfop,heisabletomovethroughsocietywithoutbeingsuspected.