Prologue

           ThestagofTexas,reclininginmidnightlair,isstartledfromhisslumbersbythehoofstrokeofahorse.

           Hedoesnotforsakehiscovert,noryetrisetohisfeet.Hisdomainissharedbythewildsteedsofthesavannah,giventonocturnalstraying.Heonlyuprearshishead;and,withantlerso’ertoppingthetallgrass,listensforarepetitionofthesound.

           Againisthehoofstrokeheard,butwithalteredintonation.Thereisaringofmetal—theclinkingofsteelagainststone.

           Thesound,significanttotheearofthestag,causesaquickchangeinhisairandattitude.Springingclearofhiscouch,andboundingascoreofyardsacrosstheprairie,hepausestolookbackuponthedisturberofhisdreams.

           Intheclearmoonlightofasouthernsky,herecognisesthemostruthlessofhisenemies—man.Oneisapproachinguponhorseback.

           Yieldingtoinstinctivedread,heisabouttoresumehisflight:whensomethingintheappearanceofthehorseman—someunnaturalseeming—holdshimtransfixedtothespot.

           Withhaunchesinquiveringcontactwiththesward,andfrontletfacedtotherear,hecontinuestogaze—hislargebrowneyesstrainingupontheintruderinamingledexpressionoffearandbewilderment.

           Whathaschallengedthestagtosuchprotractedscrutiny?

           Thehorseisperfectinallitsparts—asplendidsteed,saddled,bridled,andotherwisecompletelycaparisoned.Initthereappearsnothingamiss—nothingtoproduceeitherwonderoralarm.Buttheman—therider?