The Headless Horseman Part 128

"But I soon found this could not be so easily done. They had strayed forward, almost to the animal's ears; and I could not reach them, without laying myself flat along the neck.

"While endeavouring to secure the bridle, I took no heed of the direction in which the horse was taking me. It was only when I felt a sharp twitching against my cheeks, that I discovered he had forsaken the open tract, and was carrying me through the chapparal.

"After that I had no time to make observations--no chance even to look after the lost reins. I was enough occupied in dodging the branches of the mezquites, that stretched out their spinous arms as if desiring to drag me from the saddle.

"I managed to steer clear of them, though not without getting scratches.

"But there was one I could not avoid--the limb of a large tree that projected across the path. It was low down--on a level with my breast-- and the brute, shying from something that had given him a fresh start, shot right under it.

"Where he went afterwards I do not attempt to say. You all know that--I believe, better than I. I can only tell you, that, after unhorsing, he left me under the limb, with a lump upon my forehead and a painful swelling in the knee; neither of which I knew anything about till two hours afterwards.

"When my senses came back to me, I saw the sun high up in the heavens, and some scores of turkey buzzards wheeling in circles above me. I could tell by the craning of their necks what was the prey they were expecting.

"The sight of them, as well as my thirst--that was beginning to grow painful--prompted me to move away from the place.

"On rising to my feet, I discovered that I could not walk. Worse still, I was scarce able to stand.

"To stay on that spot was to perish--at least I so thought at the time.

"Urged by the thought, I exerted all the strength left me, in an effort to reach water.

"I knew there was a stream near by; and partly by crawling,--partly by the help of a rude crutch procured in the thicket--I succeeded in reaching it.

"Having satisfied my thirst, I felt refreshed; and soon after fell asleep.

"I awoke to find myself surrounded by coyotes.

"There were at least two score of them; and although at first I had no fear--knowing their cowardly nature--I was soon brought to a different way of thinking.

"They saw that I was disabled; and for this reason had determined upon attacking me.

"After a time they did so--cl.u.s.tering around and springing upon me in a simultaneous onslaught.

"I had no weapon but my knife; and it was fortunate I had that.

Altogether unarmed, I must have been torn to pieces, and devoured.

"With the knife I was able to keep them off, stabbing as many as I could get a fair stroke at. Half-a-dozen, I should think, were killed in this way.

"For all that it would have ended ill for me. I was becoming enfeebled by the blood fast pouring from my veins, and must soon have succ.u.mbed, but for an unexpected chance that turned up in my favour.

"I can scarce call it chance. I am more satisfied, to think it was the hand of G.o.d."

On p.r.o.nouncing this speech the young Irishman turns his eyes towards Heaven, and stands for a time as if reflecting reverentially.

Solemn silence around tells that the att.i.tude is respected. The hearts of all, even the rudest of his listeners, seem touched with the confidence so expressed.

"It showed itself," he continues, "in the shape of an old comrade--one ofttimes more faithful than man himself--my staghound, Tara.

"The dog had been straying--perhaps in search of me--though I've since heard a different explanation of it, with which I need not trouble you.

At all events, he found me; and just in time to be my rescuer.

"The coyotes scattered at his approach; and I was saved from a fearful fate--I may say, out of the jaws of death.

"I had another spell of sleep, or unconsciousness--whichever it may have been.

"On awaking I was able to reflect. I knew that the dog must have come from my jacale; which I also knew to be several miles distant. He had been taken thither, the day before, by my servant, Phelim.

"The man should still be there; and I bethought me of sending him a message--the staghound to be its bearer.

"I wrote some words on a card, which I chanced to have about me.

"I was aware that my servant could not read; but on seeing the card he would recognise it as mine, and seek some one who could decipher what I had written upon it.

"There would be the more likelihood of his doing so, seeing that the characters were traced in blood.

"Wrapping the card in a piece of buckskin, to secure it against being destroyed, I attached it to Tara's neck.

"With some difficulty I succeeded in getting the animal to leave me.

But he did so at length; and, as I had hoped, to go home to the hut.

"It appears that my message was duly carried; though it was only yesterday I was made acquainted with the result.

"Shortly after the dog took his departure, I once more fell asleep-- again awaking to find myself in the presence of an enemy--one more terrible than I had yet encountered.

"It was a jaguar.

"A conflict came off between us; but how it ended, or after what time, I am unable to tell. I leave that to my brave rescuer, Zeb Stump; who, I hope, will soon return to give an account of it--with much besides that is yet mysterious to me, as to yourselves.

"All I can remember since then is a series of incongruous dreams-- painful phantasmagoria--mingled with pleasant visions--ah! some that were celestial--until the day before yesterday, when I awoke to find myself the inmate of a prison--with a charge of murder hanging over my head!

"Gentlemen of the jury! I have done."

"_Si non vero e ben trovato_," is the reflection of judge, jury, and spectators, as the prisoner completes his recital.

They may not express it in such well-turned phrase; but they feel it-- one and all of them.

And not a few believe in the truth, and reject the thought of contrivance. The tale is too simple--too circ.u.mstantial--to have been contrived, and by a man whose brain is but just recovered from the confusion of fevered fancies.

It is altogether improbable he should have concocted such a story. So think the majority of those to whom it has been told.

His confession--irregular as it may have been--has done more for his defence than the most eloquent speech his counsel could have delivered.

Still it is but his own tale; and other testimony will be required to clear him.

Where is the witness upon whom so much is supposed to depend. Where is Zeb Stump?

Five hundred pairs of eyes turn towards the prairie, and scan the horizon with inquiring gaze. Five hundred hearts throb with a mad impatience for the return of the old hunter--with or without Ca.s.sius Calhoun--with or without the Headless Horse, man--now no longer either myth or mystery, but a natural phenomenon, explained and comprehended.