Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Stillhemusthavehadfireandmettleinhisday,ifwemayjudgefromthenameheboreofGunpowder.Hehad,infact,beenafavoritesteedofhismaster’s,thecholericVanRipper,whowasafuriousrider,andhadinfused,veryprobably,someofhisownspiritintotheanimal;for,oldandbroken-downashelooked,therewasmoreofthelurkingdevilinhimthaninanyyoungfillyinthecountry.
Ichabodwasasuitablefigureforsuchasteed.Herodewithshortstirrups,whichbroughthiskneesnearlyuptothepommelofthesaddle;hissharpelbowsstuckoutlikegrasshoppers’;hecarriedhiswhipperpendicularlyinhishand,likeasceptre,andashishorsejoggedon,themotionofhisarmswasnotunliketheflappingofapairofwings.Asmallwoolhatrestedonthetopofhisnose,forsohisscantystripofforeheadmightbecalled,andtheskirtsofhisblackcoatflutteredoutalmosttothehorsestail.SuchwastheappearanceofIchabodandhissteedastheyshambledoutofthegateofHansVanRipper,anditwasaltogethersuchanapparitionasisseldomtobemetwithinbroaddaylight.
Itwas,asIhavesaid,afineautumnalday;theskywasclearandserene,andnatureworethatrichandgoldenliverywhichwealwaysassociatewiththeideaofabundance.Theforestshadputontheirsoberbrownandyellow,whilesometreesofthetendererkindhadbeennippedbythefrostsintobrilliantdyesoforange,purple,andscarlet.
