The Headless Horseman Part 54

The cup was again called into requisition; and once more a portion of the contents of the demijohn were transferred to it--to be poured immediately after down the insatiable throat of the unsatisfied connoisseur.

Whether he eventually decided in favour of the cup, or whether he retained his preference for the jar, is not known. After the fourth potation, which was also the final one, he appeared to think he had tasted sufficiently for the time, and laid both vessels aside.

Instead of returning to his stool, however, a new idea came across his mind; which was to go forth from the hut, and see whether there was any sign to indicate the advent of his master.

"Come, Tara!" cried he, striding towards the door. "Let us stip up to the bluff beyant, and take a look over the big plain. If masther's comin' at all, he shud be in sight by this. Come along, ye owld dog!

Masther Maurice 'll think all the betther av us, for bein' a little unazy about his gettin' back."

Taking the path through the wooded bottom--with the staghound close at his heels--the Galwegian ascended the bluff, by one of its sloping ravines, and stood upon the edge of the upper plateau.

From this point he commanded a view of a somewhat sterile plain; that stretched away eastward, more than a mile, from the spot where he was standing.

The sun was on his back, low down on the horizon, but shining from a cloudless sky. There was nothing to interrupt his view. Here and there, a stray cactus plant, or a solitary stem of the arborescent yucca, raised its hirsute form above the level of the plain. Otherwise the surface was smooth; and a coyote could not have crossed it without being seen.

Beyond, in the far distance, could be traced the darker outline of trees--where a tract of chapparal, or the wooded selvedge of a stream stretched transversely across the _llano_.

The Galwegian bent his gaze over the ground, in the direction in which he expected his master should appear; and stood silently watching for him.

Ere long his vigil was rewarded. A horseman was seen coming out from among the trees upon the other side, and heading towards the Alamo.

He was still more than a mile distant; but, even at that distance, the faithful servant could identify his master. The striped serape of brilliant hues--a true Navajo blanket, which Maurice was accustomed to take with him when travelling--was not to be mistaken. It gleamed gaudily under the glare of the setting sun--its bands of red, white, and blue, contrasting with the sombre tints of the sterile plain.

Phelim only wondered, that his master should have it spread over his shoulders on such a sultry evening instead of folded up, and strapped to the cantle of his saddle!

"Trath, Tara! it looks quare, doesn't it? It's hot enough to roast a stake upon these stones; an yit the masther don't seem to think so. I hope he hasn't caught a cowld from stayin' in that close crib at owld Duffer's tavern. It wasn't fit for a pig to dwill in. Our own shanty's a splindid parlour to it."

The speaker was for a time silent, watching the movements of the approaching horseman--by this time about half a mile distant, and still drawing nearer.

When his voice was put forth again it was in a tone altogether changed.

It was still that of surprise, with an approach towards merriment. But it was mirth that doubted of the ludicrous; and seemed to struggle under restraint.

"Mother av Moses!" cried he. "What can the masther mane? Not contint with havin' the blankyet upon his showldhers, be j.a.pers, he's got it over his head!

"He's playin' us a thrick, Tara. He wants to give you an me a surproise. He wants to have a joke agaynst us!

"Sowl! but it's quare anyhow. It looks as if he _had_ no head. In faix does it! Ach! what cyan it mane? Be the Howly Virgin! it's enough to frighten wan, av they didn't know it was the masther!

"_Is_ it the masther? Be the powers, it's too short for him! The head?

Saint Patrick presarve us, whare is it? It cyan't be smothered up in the blankyet? Thare's no shape thare! Be Jaysus, thare's somethin'

wrong! What does it mane, Tara?"

The tone of the speaker had again undergone a change. It was now close bordering upon terror--as was also the expression of his countenance.

The look and att.i.tude of the staghound were not very different. He stood a little in advance--half cowering, half inclined to spring forward--with eyes glaring wildly, while fixed upon the approaching horseman--now scarce two hundred yards from the spot!

As Phelim put the question that terminated his last soliloquy, the hound gave out a lugubrious howl, that seemed intended for an answer.

Then, as if urged by some canine instinct, he bounded off towards the strange object, which puzzled his human companion, and was equally puzzling him.

Rushing straight on, he gave utterance to a series of shrill yelps; far different from the soft sonorous baying, with which he was accustomed to welcome the coming home of the mustanger.

If Phelim was surprised at what he had already seen, he was still further astonished by what now appeared to him.

As the dog drew near, still yelping as he ran, the blood-bay--which the ex-groom had long before identified as his master's horse--turned sharply round, and commenced galloping back across the plain!

While performing the wheel, Phelim saw--or fancied he saw--that, which not only astounded him, but caused the blood to run chill through his veins, and his frame to tremble to the very tips of his toes.

It was a head--that of the man on horseback; but, instead of being in its proper place, upon his shoulders, it was held in the rider's hand, just behind the pommel of the saddle!

As the horse turned side towards him, Phelim saw, or fancied he saw, the face--ghastly and covered with gore--half hidden behind the s.h.a.ggy hair of the holster!

He saw no more. In another instant his back was turned towards the plain; and, in another, he was rushing down the ravine, as fast as his enfeebled limbs would carry him!

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

A QUARTETTE OF COMANCHES.

With his flame-coloured curls bristling upward--almost raising the hat from his head--the Galwegian continued his retreat--pausing not--scarce looking back, till he had re-entered the jacale, closed the skin door behind him, and barricaded it with several large packages that lay near.

Even then he did not feel secure. What protection could there be in a shut door, barred and bolted besides, against that which was not earthly?

And surely what he had seen was not of the earth--not of this world!

Who on earth had ever witnessed such a spectacle--a man mounted upon horseback, and carrying his head in his hand? Who had ever heard of a phenomenon so unnatural? Certainly not "Phaylim Onale."

His horror still continuing, he rushed to and fro across the floor of the hut; now dropping down upon the stool, anon rising up, and gliding to the door; but without daring either to open it, or look out through the c.h.i.n.ks.

At intervals he tore the hair out of his head, striking his clenched hand against his temples, and roughly rubbing his eyes--as if to make sure that he was not asleep, but had really seen the shape that was horrifying him.

One thing alone gave him a moiety of comfort; though it was of the slightest. While retreating down the ravine, before his head had sunk below the level of the plain, he had given a glance backward. He had derived some gratification from that glance; as it showed the headless rider afar off on the prairie, and with back turned toward the Alamo, going on at a gallop.

But for the remembrance of this, the Galwegian might have been still more terrified--if that were possible--while striding back and forth upon the floor of the jacale.

For a long time he was speechless--not knowing what to say--and only giving utterance to such exclamations as came mechanically to his lips.

As the time pa.s.sed, and he began to feel, not so much a return of confidence, as of the power of ratiocination, his tongue became restored to him; and a continuous fire of questions and exclamations succeeded.

They were all addressed to himself. Tara was no longer there, to take part in the conversation.

They were put, moreover, in a low whispered tone, as if in fear that his voice might be heard outside the jacale.

"Ochone! Ochone! it cyan't av been him! Sant Pathrick protict me, but fwhat was it thin?

"Thare was iverything av his--the horse--the sthriped blankyet--them spotted wather guards upon his legs--an the head itself--all except the faytures. Thim I saw too, but wasn't shure about eyedintifycashin; for who kud till a face all covered over wid rid blood?

"Ach! it cudn't be Masther Maurice at all, at all!

"It's all a dhrame. I must have been aslape, an dhramin? Or, was it the whisky that did it?