The hero of the novel 'The Curse of Capistrano' is Zorro, a five-letter word. Zorro is a fictional character created by Johnston McCulley in 1919. He is a master swordsman and an expert horseman who defends the people of California against injustice. Zorro is known for wearing a black mask and cape and leaving a 'Z' mark wherever he goes. He is a symbol of justice and a champion of the oppressed.