Майн Рид
Headless Horseman
Chapter Fifteen. The Runaway Overtaken
For another mile the chase continued, without much change. The mares still swept on in full flight, though no longer screaming or in fear. The mustang still uttered an occasional neigh, which its old associates seemed not to notice; while its rider held her seat in the saddle unshaken, and without any apparent alarm.
The blood bay appeared more excited, though not so much as his master; who was beginning to show signs either of despondency or chagrin.
“Come, Castro!” he exclaimed, with a certain spitefulness of tone. “What the deuce is the matter with your heels — to-day of all others? Remember, you overtook her before — though not so easily, I admit. But now she’s weighted. Look yonder, you dull brute! Weighted with that which is worth more than gold — worth every drop of your blood, and mine too. The yegua pinta seems to have improved her paces. Is it from training; or does a horse run faster when ridden?
“What if I lose sight of her? In truth, it begins to look queer! It would be an awkward situation for the young lady. Worse than that — there’s danger in it — real danger. If I should lose sight of her, she’d be in trouble to a certainty!”
Thus muttering, Maurice rode on: his eyes now fixed upon the form still flitting away before him; at intervals interrogating, with uneasy glances, the space that separated him from it.
Up to this time he had not thought of hailing the rider of the runaway.
His shouts might have been heard; but no words of warning, or instruction. He had refrained: partly on this account; partly because he was in momentary expectation of overtaking her; and partly because he knew that acts, not words, were wanted to bring the mustang to a stand.
All along he had been flattering himself that he would soon be near enough to fling his lazo over the creature’s neck, and control it at discretion. He was gradually becoming relieved of this hallucination.
The chase now entered among copses that thickly studded the plain, fast closing into a continuous chapparal. This was a new source of uneasiness to the pursuer. The runaway might take to the thicket, or become lost to his view amid the windings of the wood.
The wild mares were already invisible — at intervals. They would soon be out of sight altogether. There seemed no chance of their old associate overtaking them.
“What mattered that? A lady lost on a prairie, or in a chapparal — alone, or in the midst of a manada — either contingency pointed to certain danger.”
A still more startling peril suggested itself to the mind of the mustanger — so startling as to find expression in excited speech.
“By heavens!” he ejaculated, his brow becoming more clouded than it had been from his first entering upon the chase. “If the stallions should chance this way! ’Tis their favourite stamping ground among these mottos. They were here but a week ago; and this — yes — ’tis the month of their madness!”
The spur of the mustanger again drew blood, till its rowels were red; and Castro, galloping at his utmost speed, glanced back upbraidingly over his shoulder.
At this crisis the manada disappeared from, the sight both of the blood-bay and his master; and most probably at the same time from that of the spotted mustang and its rider. There was nothing mysterious in it. The mares had entered between the closing of two copses, where the shrubbery hid them from view.
The effect produced upon the runaway appeared to proceed from some magical influence. As if their disappearance was a signal for discontinuing the chase, it suddenly slackened pace; and the instant after came to a standstill!
Maurice, continuing his gallop, came up with it in the middle of a meadow-like glade — standing motionless as marble — its rider, reins in hand, sitting silent in the saddle, in an attitude of easy elegance, as if waiting for him to ride up!
“Miss Poindexter!” he gasped out, as he spurred his steed within speaking distance: “I am glad that you have recovered command of that wild creature. I was beginning to be alarmed about — ”
“About what, sir?” was the question that startled the mustanger.
“Your safety — of course,” he replied, somewhat stammeringly. “Oh, thank you, Mr Gerald; but I was not aware of having been in any danger. Was I really so?”
“Any danger!” echoed the Irishman, with increased astonishment. “On the back of a runaway mustang — in the middle of a pathless prairie!”
“And what of that? The thing couldn’t throw me. I’m too clever in the saddle, sir.”
“I know it, madame; but that accomplishment would have availed you very little had you lost yourself, a thing you were like enough to have done among these chapparal copses, where the oldest Texan can scarce find his way.”
“Oh — lost myself! That was the danger to be dreaded?”
“There are others, besides. Suppose you had fallen in with — ”
“Indians!” interrupted the lady, without waiting for the mustanger to finish his hypothetical speech. “And if I had, what would it have mattered? Are not the Comanches en paz at present? Surely they wouldn’t have molested me, gallant fellows as they are? So the major told us, as we came along. ’Pon my word, sir, I should seek, rather than shun, such an encounter. I wish to see the noble savage on his native prairie, and on horseback; not, as I’ve hitherto beheld him, reeling around the settlements in a state of debasement from too freely partaking of our fire-water.”
“I admire your courage, miss; but if I had the honour of being one of your friends, I should take the liberty of counselling a little caution. The ‘noble savage’ you speak of, is not always sober upon the prairies; and perhaps not so very gallant as you’ve been led to believe. If you had met him — ”
“If I had met him, and he had attempted to misbehave himself, I would have given him the go-by, and ridden, straight back to my friends. On such a swift creature as this, he must have been well mounted to have overtaken me. You found some difficulty — did you not?”
The eyes of the young Irishman, already showing astonishment, became expanded to increased dimensions — surprise and incredulity being equally blended in their glance.
“But,” said he, after a speechless pause, “you don’t mean to say that you could have controlled — that the mustang was not running away with you? Am I to understand — ”
“No — no — no!” hastily rejoined the fair equestrian, showing some slight embarrassment. “The mare certainly made off with me — that is, at the first — but I — I found, that is — at the last — I found I could easily pull her up. In fact I did so: you saw it?”
“And could you have done it sooner?”
A strange thought had suggested the interrogatory; and with more than ordinary interest the questioner awaited the reply.
“Perhaps — perhaps — I might; no doubt, if I had dragged a little harder upon the rein. But you see, sir, I like a good gallop — especially upon a prairie, where there’s no fear of running over pigs, poultry, or people.”
Maurice looked amaze. In all his experience — even in his own native land, famed for feminine braverie — above all in the way of bold riding — he had met no match for the clever equestrian before him.
His astonishment, mixed with admiration, hindered him from making a ready rejoinder.
“To speak truth,” continued the young lady, with an air of charming simplicity, “I was not sorry at being run off with. One sometimes gets tired of too much talk — of the kind called complimentary. I wanted fresh air, and to be alone. So you see, Mr Gerald, it was rather a bit of good fortune: since it saved explanations and adieus.”
“You wanted to be alone?” responded the mustanger, with a disappointed look. “I am sorry I should have made the mistake to have intruded upon you. I assure you, Miss Poindexter, I followed, because I believed you to be in danger.”
“Most gallant of you, sir; and now that I know there was danger, I am truly grateful. I presume I have guessed aright: you meant the Indians?”
“No; not Indians exactly — at least, it was not of them I was thinking.”
“Some other danger? What is it, sir? You will tell me, so that I may be more cautious for the future?”
Maurice did not make immediate answer. A sound striking upon his ear had caused him to turn away — as if inattentive to the interrogatory.
The Creole, perceiving there was some cause for his abstraction, likewise assumed a listening attitude. She heard a shrill scream, succeeded by another and another, close followed by a loud hammering of hoofs — the conjunction of sounds causing the still atmosphere to vibrate around her.
It was no mystery to the hunter of horses. The words that came quick from his lips — though not designed — were a direct answer to the question she had put.
“The wild stallions!” he exclaimed, in a tone that betokened alarm. “I knew they must be among those mottes; and they are!”
“Is that the danger of which you have been speaking?”
“It is.”
“What fear of them? They are only mustangs!”
“True, and at other times there is no cause to fear them. But just now, at this season of the year, they become as savage as tigers, and equally as vindictive. Ah! the wild steed in his rage is an enemy more to be dreaded than wolf, panther, or bear.”
“What are we to do?” inquired the young lady, now, for the first time, giving proof that she felt fear — by riding close up to the man who had once before rescued her from a situation of peril, and gazing anxiously in his face, as she awaited the answer.
“If they should charge upon us,” answered Maurice, “there are but two ways of escape. One, by ascending a tree, and abandoning our horses to their fury.”
“The other?” asked the Creole, with a sang froid that showed a presence of mind likely to stand the test of the most exciting crisis. “Anything but abandon our animals! ’Twould be but a shabby way of making our escape!”
“We shall not have an opportunity of trying it, I perceive it is impracticable. There’s not a tree within sight large enough to afford us security. If attacked, we have no alternative but to trust to the fleetness of our horses. Unfortunately,” continued he, with a glance of inspection towards the spotted mare, and then at his own horse, “they’ve had too much work this morning. Both are badly blown. That will be our greatest source of danger. The wild steeds are sure to be fresh.”
“Do you intend us to start now?”
“Not yet. The longer we can breathe our animals the better. The stallions may not come this way; or if so, may not molest us. It will depend on their mood at the moment. If battling among themselves, we may look out for their attack. Then they have lost their reason — if I may so speak — and will recklessly rush upon one of their own kind — even with a man upon his back. Ha! ’tis as I expected: they are in conflict. I can tell by their cries! And driving this way, too!”
“But, Mr Gerald; why should we not ride off at once, in the opposite direction?”
“’Twould be of no use. There’s no cover to conceal us, on that side — nothing but open plain. They’ll be out upon it before we could get a sufficient start, and would soon overtake us. The place we must make for — the only safe one I can think of — lies the other way. They are now upon the direct path to it, if I can judge by what I hear; and, if we start too soon, we may ride into their teeth. We must wait, and try to steal away behind them. If we succeed in getting past, and can keep our distance for a two-mile gallop, I know a spot, where we shall be as safe as if inside the corrals of Casa del Corvo. You are sure you can control the mustang?”
“Quite sure,” was the prompt reply: all idea of deception being abandoned in presence of the threatening peril.
Chapter Sixteen. Chased by Wild Stallions
The two sat expectant in their saddles — she, apparently, with more confidence than he: for she confided in him. Still but imperfectly comprehending it, she knew there must be some great danger. When such a man showed sign of fear, it could not be otherwise. She had a secret happiness in thinking: that a portion of this fear was for her own safety.
“I think we may venture now;” said her companion, after a short period spent in listening; “they appear to have passed the opening by which we must make our retreat. Look well to your riding, I entreat you! Keep a firm seat in the saddle, and a sure hold of the rein. Gallop by my side, where the ground will admit of it; but in no case let more than the length of my horse’s tail be between us. I must perforce go ahead to guide the way. Ha! they are coming direct for the glade. They’re already close to its edge. Our time is up!”
The profound stillness that but a short while before pervaded the prairie, no longer reigned over it. In its stead had arisen a fracas that resembled the outpouring of some overcrowded asylum; for in the shrill neighing of the steeds might have been fancied the screams of maniacs — only ten times more vociferous. They were mingled with a thunder-like hammering of hoofs — a swishing and crashing of branches — savage snorts, accompanied by the sharp snapping of teeth — the dull “thud” of heels coming in contact with ribs and rounded hips — squealing that betokened spite or pain — all forming a combination of sounds that jarred harshly upon the ear, and caused the earth to quake, as if oscillating upon its orbit!
It told of a terrible conflict carried on by the wild stallions; who, still unseen, were fighting indiscriminately among themselves, as they held their way among the mottes.
Not much longer unseen. As Maurice gave the signal to start, the speckled crowd showed itself in an opening between two copses. In a moment more it filled the gangway-like gap, and commenced disgorging into the glade, with the impetus of an avalanche!
It was composed of living forms — the most beautiful known in nature: for in this man must give way to the horse. Not the unsexed horse of civilisation, with hunched shoulders, bandied limbs, and bowed frontlet — scarce one in a thousand of true equine shape — and this, still further, mutilated by the shears of the coper and gentleman jockey — but the wild steed of the savannas, foaled upon the green grass, his form left free to develop as the flowers that shed their fragrance around him.
Eye never beheld a more splendid sight than a cavallada of wild stallions, prancing upon a prairie; especially at that season when, stirred by strong passions, they seek to destroy one another. The spectacle is more than splendid — it is fearful — too fearful to be enjoyed by man, much less by timid woman. Still more when the spectator views it from an exposed position, liable to become the object of their attack.
In such situation were the riders of the blood bay and spotted mustang. The former knew it by past experience — the latter could not fail to perceive it by the evidence before her.
“This way!” cried Maurice, lancing his horse’s flanks with the spur, and bending so as to oblique to the rear of the cavallada.
“By heaven — they’ve discovered us! On — on! Miss Poindexter! Remember you are riding for your life!”
The stimulus of speech was not needed. The behaviour of the stallions was of itself sufficient to show, that speed alone could save the spotted mustang and its rider.
On coming out into the open ground, and getting sight of the ridden horses, they had suddenly desisted from their internecine strife; and, as if acting under the orders of some skilled leader, come to a halt. In line, too, like cavalry checked up in the middle of a charge!
For a time their mutual hostility seemed to be laid aside — as if they felt called upon to attack a common enemy, or resist some common danger!
The pause may have proceeded from surprise; but, whether or no, it was favourable to the fugitives. During the twenty seconds it continued, the latter had made good use of their time, and accomplished the circuit required to put them on the path of safety.
Only on the path, however. Their escape was still problematical: for the steeds, perceiving their intention, wheeled suddenly into the line of pursuit, and went galloping after, with snorts and screams that betrayed a spiteful determination to overtake them.
From that moment it became a straight unchanging chase across country — a trial of speed between the horses without riders, and the horses that were ridden.
At intervals did Maurice carry his chin to his shoulder; and though still preserving the distance gained at the start, his look was not the less one of apprehension.
Alone he would have laughed to scorn his pursuers. He knew that the blood-bay — himself a prairie steed — could surpass any competitor of his race. But the mare was delaying him. She was galloping slower than he had ever seen her — as if unwilling, or not coveting escape — like a horse with his head turned away from home!
“What can it mean?” muttered the mustanger, as he checked his pace, to accommodate it to that of his companion. “If there should be any baulk at the crossing, we’re lost! A score of seconds will make the difference.”
“We keep our distance, don’t we?” inquired his fellow-fugitive, noticing his troubled look.
“So far, yes. Unfortunately there’s an obstruction ahead. It remains to be seen how we shall get over it. I know you are a clever rider, and can take a long leap. But your mount? I’m not so sure of the mare. You know her better than I. Do you think she can carry you over — ”
“Over what, sir?”
“You’ll see in a second. We should be near the place now.”
The conversation thus carried on was between two individuals riding side by side, and going at a gallop of nearly a mile to the minute!
As the guide had predicted, they soon came within sight of the obstruction; which proved to be an arroyo — a yawning fissure in the plain full fifteen feet in width, as many in depth, and trending on each side to the verge of vision.
To turn aside, either to the right or left, would be to give the pursuers the advantage of the diagonal; which the fugitives could no longer afford.
The chasm must be crossed, or the stallions would overtake them.
It could only be crossed by a leap — fifteen feet at the least. Maurice knew that his own horse could go over it — he had done it before. But the mare?
“Do you think she can do it?” he eagerly asked, as, in slackened pace, they approached the edge of the barranca.
“I am sure she can,” was the confident reply.
“But are you sure you can sit her over it?”
“Ha! ha! ha!” scornfully laughed the Creole. “What a question for an Irishman to ask! I’m sure, sir, one of your own countrywomen would be offended at your speech. Even I, a native of swampy Louisiana, don’t regard it as at all gallant. Sit her over it! Sit her anywhere she can carry me.”
“But, Miss Poindexter,” stammered the guide, still doubting the powers of the spotted mustang, “suppose she cannot? If you have any doubts, had you not better abandon her? I know that my horse can bear us both to the other side, and with safety. If the mustang be left behind, in all likelihood we shall escape further pursuit. The wild steeds — ”
“Leave Luna behind! Leave her to be trampled to death, or torn to pieces — as you say she would! No — no, Mr Gerald. I prize the spotted mare too much for that. She goes with me: over the chasm, if we can. If not, we both break our necks at the bottom. Come, my pretty pet! This is he who chased, captured, and conquered you. Show him you’re not yet so subdued, but that you can escape, when close pressed, from the toils of either friend or enemy. Show him one of those leaps, of which you’ve done a dozen within the week. Now for a flight in the air!”
Without even waiting for the stimulus of example, the courageous Creole rode recklessly at the arroyo; and cleared it by one of those leaps of which she had “done a dozen within the week.”
There were three thoughts in the mind of the mustanger — rather might they be called emotions — as he sate watching that leap. The first was simple astonishment; the second, intense admiration. The third was not so easily defined. It had its origin in the words — “I prize the spotted mare too much for that.”
“Why?” reflected he, as he drove his spur-rowels into the flanks of the blood bay; and the reflection lasted as long as Castro was suspended in mid-air over the yawning abysm.
Cleverly as the chasm was crossed, it did not ensure the safety of the fugitives. It would be no obstruction to the steeds. Maurice knew it, and looked back with undiminished apprehension.
Rather was it increased. The delay, short as it was, had given the pursuers an advantage. They were nearer than ever! They would not be likely to make a moment’s pause, but clear the crevasse at a single bound of their sure-footed gallop.
And then — what then?
The mustanger put the question to himself. He grew paler, as the reply puzzled him.
On alighting from the leap, he had not paused for a second, but gone galloping on — as before, close followed by his fugitive companion. His pace, however, was less impetuous. He seemed to ride with irresolution, or as if some half-formed resolve was restraining him.
When about a score lengths from the edge of the arroyo, he reined up and wheeled round — as if he had suddenly formed the determination to ride back!
“Miss Poindexter!” he called out to the young lady, at that moment just up with him. “You must ride on alone.”
“But why, sir?” asked she, as she jerked the muzzle of the mustang close up to its counter, bringing it almost instantaneously to a stand.
“If we keep together we shall be overtaken. I must do something to stay those savage brutes. Here there is a chance — nowhere else. For heaven’s sake don’t question me! Ten seconds of lost time, and ’twill be too late. Look ahead yonder. You perceive the sheen of water. ’Tis a prairie pond. Ride straight towards it. You will find yourself between two high fences. They come together at the pond. You’ll see a gap, with bars. If I’m not up in time, gallop through, dismount, and put the bars up behind you.”
“And you, sir? You are going to undergo some great danger?”
“Have no fear for me! Alone, I shall run but little risk. ’Tis the mustang. — For mercy’s sake, gallop forward! Keep the water under your eyes. Let it guide you like a beacon fire. Remember to close the gap behind you. Away — away!”
For a second or two the young lady appeared irresolute — as if reluctant to part company with the man who was making such efforts to ensure her safety — perhaps at the peril of his own.
By good fortune she was not one of those timid maidens who turn frantic at a crisis, and drag to the bottom the swimmer who would save them. She had faith in the capability of her counsellor — believed that he knew what he was about — and, once more spurring the mare into a gallop, she rode off in a direct line for the prairie pond.
At the same instant, Maurice had given the rein to his horse, and was riding in the opposite direction — back to the place where they had leaped the arroyo!
On parting from his companion, he had drawn from his saddle holster the finest weapon ever wielded upon the prairies — either for attack or defence, against Indian, buffalo, or bear. It was the six-chambered revolver of Colonel Colt — not the spurious improvement of Deane, Adams, and a host of retrograde imitators — but the genuine article from the “land of wooden nutmegs,” with the Hartford brand upon its breech.
“They must get over the narrow place where we crossed,” muttered he, as he faced towards the stallions, still advancing on the other side of the arroyo.
“If I can but fling one of them in his tracks, it may hinder the others from attempting the leap; or delay them — long enough for the mustang to make its escape. The big sorrel is leading. He will make the spring first. The pistol’s good for a hundred paces. He’s within range now!”
Simultaneous with the last words came the crack of the six-shooter. The largest of the stallions — a sorrel in colour — rolled headlong upon the sward; his carcass falling transversely across the line that led to the leap.
Half-a-dozen others, close following, were instantly brought to a stand; and then the whole cavallada!
The mustanger stayed not to note their movements. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the fall of their leader, he reserved the fire of the other five chambers; and, wheeling to the west, spurred on after the spotted mustang, now far on its way towards the glistening pond.
Whether dismayed by the fall of their chief — or whether it was that his dead body had hindered them from approaching the only place where the chasm could have been cleared at a leap — the stallions abandoned the pursuit; and Maurice had the prairie to himself as he swept on after his fellow fugitive.
He overtook her beyond the convergence of the fences on the shore of the pond. She had obeyed him in everything — except as to the closing of the gap. He found it open — the bars lying scattered over the ground. He found her still seated in the saddle, relieved from all apprehension for his safety, and only trembling with a gratitude that longed to find expression in speech.
The peril was passed.
