Томас Майн Рид: Всадник без головы / The Headless Horseman

“Yes. I intended to kill him. I had my reasons. I’m not going to say what they were. It’s no use now.

“I thought I had killed him; but, as hell’s luck would have it, the Irish hound had changed cloaks with my cousin.

“You know the rest. By mistake I fired the shot – meant for an enemy, and fatal to a friend. It was sure enough; and poor Henry dropped from his horse. But to make more sure, I drew out my knife; and the cursed serape still deceiving me, I hacked off his head.”

There is no more mystery, either about the murder or its motive; and the prisoner is spared further description of that cruel deed, that left the dead body of Henry Poindexter without a head.

“Now!” cries he, “you know all that’s passed; but not what’s to come. There’s another scene yet. You see me standing on my grave; but I don’t go into it, till I’ve sent him to his. I don’t, by God!”

While speaking he has kept his right hand under the left breast of his coat. Along with the oath it comes forth, holding a revolver.

The spectators have just time to see the pistol when two shots are heard in quick succession.

With a like interval between, two men fall forward upon their faces; and lie with their heads closely contiguous!

One is Maurice Gerald, the mustanger, – the other Cassius Calhoun, ex-captain of volunteer cavalry.

Joy!

There was this under the evergreen oak, when it was discovered that only the suicide was a success, and the attempt at assassination a failure. There was this in the heart of Louise Poindexter, on learning that her lover still lived.

Her happiness was heightened, on learning how her lover’s life had been preserved – as it might seem miraculously.

The aim of the assassin had been true enough. Right over the heart he had hit his intended victim, and through the heart would the leaden missile have made its way, but that a token of love – the gift of her who alone could have secured it such a place – turned aside the shot, causing it to ricochet!

Not quite harmless, however, was it to him for whom it had been intended.

But no longer lay his body in danger – in the chapparal, surrounded by wolves, and shadowed by vultures, – in a hut, where he was but ill attended – in a jail, where he was scarce cared for at all.

There was now no one to object to Louise Poindexter nursing him; not even her own father, who, instead of a “nobody,” got a nobleman for his son. Such, in reality, was Sir Maurice Gerald – before known as Maurice the mustanger!

1) What did Calhoun feel while trying to escape?

2) Who caught him? How?

3) Did Calhoun deny that he had killed his cousin? Who did he intend to kill?

4) What did he do after admitting his guilt?

5) What saved Maurice from death?

In the physical world Time is accounted the destroyer; though in the moral, it is often the restorer. Nowhere has it effected greater changes than in Texas – during the last decade – and especially in the settlements of the Nueces and Leona.

There are new names for men, places, and things.

For all this, there are those who could conduct you to an ancient hacienda – still known as Casa del Corvo.

You would have for your host one of the handsomest men in Texas; for your hostess one of its most beautiful women – both still this side of middle life.

Living under their roof you would find an old gentleman, of aristocratic air and venerable aspect – chatty and cheerful – who would conduct you around the corrals, show you the stock, and never tire of talking about the hundreds – thousands – of horses and horned cattle, [65]seen roaming over the pastures of the plantation.

You would find this old gentleman very proud upon many points: but more especially of his beautiful daughter – the mistress of the mansion – and the half-dozen pretty children who call him their “dear grandpa.”

Leaving him for a time, you would come in contact with two other individuals attached to the establishment. One is the groom – by name Phelim O’Neal – who has full charge of the horses. The other is a coachman of sable skin, called Pluto.

There is one other name known at Casa del Corvo, with which you cannot fail to become acquainted. You will hear it mentioned, almost every time you sit down to dinner: for you will be told that the turkey at the head of the table, or the venison at its opposite end, is the produce of a rifle that rarely misses its aim.

During the course of the meal – but much more over the wine – you will hear talk of “Zeb Stump the hunter.” You may not often see him. He will be gone from the hacienda, before you are out of your bed; and back only after you have retired.

While sojourning at Casa del Corvo, you may get hints of a strange story connected with the place – now almost reduced to a legend.

The domestics will tell it to you, but only in whispers: since they know that it is a theme tabooed by the master and mistress of the mansion, in whom it excites sad souvenirs.

It is the story of the Headless Horseman.

1. True or false?

1) Woodley Poindexter comes from Minnesota

2) Cassius Calhoun is Woodley Poindexter’s nephew.

3) The name of the planter’s son is Harry.

4) The emigrating party found the way to Fort Inge due to Calhoun.

5) Maurice Gerald is from Ireland.

6) Maurice saved the planter’s family from the norther.

7) Maurice lived alone in his hut.

8) Zeb Stump is an Irishman.

9) Woodley Poindexter knew Zeb Stump before coming to Texas.

10) Maurice caught the spotted mustang because he knew that Louise liked it.

11) Louise was a good equestrian.

12) It was Calhoun who started the quarrel in the bar-room.

13) Maurice was seriously injured while fighting a duel with Calhoun.

14) Maurice visited Isidora after recovery.

15) Maurice once saved Isidora from Indians.

16) El Coyote wanted to kill Maurice only to get money from Calhoun.

17) Calhoun witnessed the first date of Louise and Maurice in the garden grove.

18) Calhoun had known about their appointment in advance.

19) After Henry had left, Calhoun went to the hut of El Coyote.

20) Maurice didn’t think that Henry would come to apologize.

21) At first everybody thought that Henry had been killed by Indians.

22) Woodley Poindexter was the first one who saw a pool of blood.

23) Phelim took the Headless Horseman for his master.

24) Phelim read the card brought by Tara.

25) Isidora was in love with Maurice.

26) Isidora heard Maurice talking about Louise in a delirium.

27) Louise saved Maurice from being hanged.

28) Calhoun didn’t know that the bullet was still inside Henry’s body.

29) Louise used to be in love with Cassius Calhoun before she met Maurice.

30) Calhoun was Woodley Poindexter’s creditor.

31) The planter wanted his daughter to marry Calhoun.

32) Zeb was the only one who suspected Calhoun of killing Henry.

33) There were few people at the trial who believed Maurice’s story.

34) Calhoun didn’t try to escape.

35) Calhoun wanted to kill Maurice when the latter was trying to overtake him.

36) Calhoun didn’t say why he intended to kill Maurice Gerald.

37) Maurice survived because Calhoun’s bullet missed the aim.

38) Maurice Gerald turned out to be a nobleman.

2. Who said the following words? Under what circumstances?

1) “You have no claim to be my counsellor. I shall remain mistress of my own thoughts – and actions, too – till I have found a master who can control them.”