Всадник без головы

Chapter 40

           Thejaguardroppeddeadinitstracks:abullethavingentereditsbody,andtraversedthespineinalongitudinaldirection.

           Whichofthetwowasentitledtothecreditofthesuccessfulshot?Calhounclaimedit,andsodidtheyoungplanter.

           Theshotshadbeenfiredsimultaneously,andonlyoneofthemhadhit.

           "Ishallshowyou,"confidentlyassertedtheex-officer,dismountingbesidethedeadjaguar,andunsheathinghisknife."Yousee,gentlemen,theballisstillintheanimal’sbody?Ifit’smine,you’llfindmyinitialsonitC.C.withacrescent.ImouldmybulletssothatIcanalwaystellwhenI’vekilledmygame."

           Theswaggeringairwithwhichhehelduptheleadenmissileafterextractingittoldthathehadspokenthetruth.Afewofthemorecuriousdrewnearandexaminedthebullet.SureenoughitwasmouldedasCalhounhaddeclared,andthedisputeendedinthediscomfitureoftheyoungplanter.

           Thepartysoonaftercameupwiththetracker,waitingtoconductthemalongafreshtrail.

           Itwasnolongeratrackmadebytwohorses,withshodhooves.Theturfshowedonlythehoof-marksofone;andsoindistinctly,thatattimestheywereundiscernibletoalleyessavethoseofthetrackerhimself.

           Thetracecarriedthemthroughthethicket,fromgladetogladeafteracircuitousmarchbringingthembackintothelane-likeopening,atapointstillfurthertothewest.

           Spanglerthoughfarfrombeingthemostaccomplishedofhiscallingtookit;upasfastasthepeoplecouldrideafterhim.

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