Всадник без головы

Chapter 9

           TheypalaverwithIndiansonafriendlyvisittotheFort,fortradeortreaty;whosetentsstandatsomedistance,andfromwhoseshouldershangblanketsofred,andgreen,andbluegivingthemapicturesque,evenclassical,appearance,inspiteofthehideouspaintwithwhichtheyhavebedaubedtheirskins,andthedirtthatrendersstickytheirlongblackhair,lengthenedbytressestakenfromthetailsoftheirhorses.

           Picturetotheeyeofyourimaginationthisjumbleofmixednationalitiesintheirvariedcostumesofrace,condition,andcalling;jotinhereandthereablack-skinnedscionofEthiopia,thebodyservantofsomeofficer,ortheemissaryofaplanterfromtheadjacentsettlements;imaginethemstandingingossipinggroups,orstalkingoverthelevelplain,amidstsomehalf-dozenhaltedwaggons;acoupleofsix-poundersupontheircarriages,withcaissonscloseby;asquaretentortwo,withitssurmountingflyoccupiedbysomeeccentricofficerwhopreferssleepingundercanvas;astackofbayonetedriflesbelongingtothesoldiersonguard,imagineallthesecomponentparts,andyouwillhavebeforeyourmind’seyeatruthfulpictureofamilitaryfortuponthefrontierofTexas,andtheextremeselvedgeofcivilisation.

           ***

           AboutaweekafterthearrivaloftheLouisianaplanterathisnewhome,threeofficerswereseenstandingupontheparadegroundinfrontofFortInge,withtheireyesturnedtowardsthehaciendaofCasadelCorvo.

           Theywereallyoungmen:theoldestnotoverthirtyyearsofage.

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