Всадник без головы

Chapter 37

           BythistimetheimpressionconveyedbyPluto’sspeech—muchmorebyhismanner—notwithstandingitsambiguity,hadbecomesufficientlyalarming;andnotonlytheplanterhimself,buthisdaughterandnephew,hastilyforsakingtheirseats,andprecededbythesablecoachman,madetheirwaytotheoutsidegateofthehacienda.

           Asightwasthereawaitingthem,calculatedtoinspireallthreewiththemostterribleapprehensions.

           Anegroman—oneofthefieldslavesoftheplantation—stoodholdingahorse,thatwassaddledandbridled.Theanimalwetwiththedewsofthenight,andhavingbeenevidentlyuncaredforinanystable,wassnortingandstampingtheground,asifbutlatelyescapedfromsomesceneofexcitement,inwhichhehadbeencompelledtotakepart.

           Hewasspeckledwithacolourdarkerthanthatofthedewdrops—darkerthanhisowncoatofbay-brown.Thespotsscatteredoverhisshoulders—thestreaksthatranparallelwiththedownwarddirectionofhislimbs,theblotchesshowingconspicuouslyonthesaddle-flaps,wereallofthecolourofcoagulatedblood.Bloodhadcausedthem—spots,streaks,andblotches!

           Whencecamethathorse?

           Fromtheprairies.Thenegrohadcaughthim,ontheoutsideplain,as,withthebridletrailingamonghisfeet,hewasinstinctivelystrayingtowardsthehacienda.

           Towhomdidhebelong?

           Thequestionwasnotasked.AllpresentknewhimtobethehorseofHenryPoindexter.

           Nordidanyoneaskwhosebloodbedaubedthesaddle-flaps

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