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Headless horseman
The
stag
of
Texas
,
reclining
in
midnight
lair
,
is
startled
from
his
slumbers
by
the
hoofstroke
of
a
horse
.
He
does
not
forsake
his
covert
,
nor
yet
rise
to
his
feet
.
His
domain
is
shared
by
the
wild
steeds
of
the
savannah
,
given
to
nocturnal
straying
.
He
only
uprears
his
head
;
and
,
with
antlers
o'ertopping
the
tall
grass
,
listens
for
a
repetition
of
the
sound
.
Again
is
the
hoofstroke
heard
,
but
with
altered
intonation
.
There
is
a
ring
of
metal
--
the
clinking
of
steel
against
stone
.
The
sound
,
significant
to
the
ear
of
the
stag
,
causes
a
quick
change
in
his
air
and
attitude
.
Springing
clear
of
his
couch
,
and
bounding
a
score
of
yards
across
the
prairie
,
he
pauses
to
look
back
upon
the
disturber
of
his
dreams
.
In
the
clear
moonlight
of
a
southern
sky
,
he
recognises
the
most
ruthless
of
his
enemies
--
man
.
One
is
approaching
upon
horseback
.
Yielding
to
instinctive
dread
,
he
is
about
to
resume
his
flight
:
when
something
in
the
appearance
of
the
horseman
--
some
unnatural
seeming
--
holds
him
transfixed
to
the
spot
.
With
haunches
in
quivering
contact
with
the
sward
,
and
frontlet
faced
to
the
rear
,
he
continues
to
gaze
--
his
large
brown
eyes
straining
upon
the
intruder
in
a
mingled
expression
of
fear
and
bewilderment
.
What
has
challenged
the
stag
to
such
protracted
scrutiny
?
The
horse
is
perfect
in
all
its
parts
--
a
splendid
steed
,
saddled
,
bridled
,
and
otherwise
completely
caparisoned
.
In
it
there
appears
nothing
amiss
--
nothing
to
produce
either
wonder
or
alarm
.
But
the
man
--
the
rider
?
Ah
!
About
him
there
is
something
to
cause
both
--
something
weird
--
something
wanting
!
