Всадник без головы

Chapter 50

           Stillabovehimwheeledtheblackbirds;buthehadbecomeaccustomedtotheirpresence,andnolongerregardedit—notevenwhen,atintervals,someofthemswoopedsonear,thathecouldhearthe"wheep"oftheirwingsclosetohisears.

           Ha!whatwasthat—thatsoundofdifferentimport?

           Itresembledthepatteringoflittlefeetuponthesandychannelofthestream,accompaniedbyquickbreathings,asofanimalinastateofexcitement.

           Helookedaroundforanexplanation.

           "Onlythecoyotés!"washisreflection,onseeingascoreoftheseanimalsflittingtoandfro,skulkingalongbothbanksofthestream,and"squatting"uponthegrass.

           Hithertohehadfeltnofear—onlycontempt—forthesecowardlycreatures.

           Buthissentimentsunderwentachange,onhisnoticingtheirlooksandattitudes.Theformerwerefierce;thelatterearnestandthreatening.Clearlydidthecoyotésmeanmischief.

           Henowrememberedhavingheard,thattheseanimals—ordinarilyinnocuous,fromsheercowardice—willattackmanwhendisabledbeyondthecapabilityofdefendinghimself.Especiallywilltheydosowhenstimulatedbythesmellofblood.

           Hishadflowedfreely,andfrommanyveins—puncturedbythespinesofthecactus.Hisgarmentsweresaturatedwithit,stillbuthalfdry.

           Onthesultryatmosphereitwassendingforthitspeculiarodour.Thecoyotéscouldnothelpscentingit.

           Wasitthisthatwasstirringthemtosuchexcitedaction—apparentlymakingthemmad?

           Whetherornot,henolongerdoubtedthatitwastheirintentiontoattackhim.

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