Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Ononesideofthechurchextendsawidewoodydell,alongwhichravesalargebrookamongbrokenrocksandtrunksoffallentrees.Overadeepblackpartofthestream,notfarfromthechurch,wasformerlythrownawoodenbridge;theroadthatledtoit,andthebridgeitself,werethicklyshadedbyoverhangingtrees,whichcastagloomaboutit,eveninthedaytime;butoccasionedafearfuldarknessatnight.SuchwasoneofthefavoritehauntsoftheHeadlessHorseman,andtheplacewherehewasmostfrequentlyencountered.ThetalewastoldofoldBrouwer,amosthereticaldisbelieveringhosts,howhemettheHorsemanreturningfromhisforayintoSleepyHollow,andwasobligedtogetupbehindhim;howtheygallopedoverbushandbrake,overhillandswamp,untiltheyreachedthebridge;whentheHorsemansuddenlyturnedintoaskeleton,threwoldBrouwerintothebrook,andsprangawayoverthetree-topswithaclapofthunder.
ThisstorywasimmediatelymatchedbyathricemarvellousadventureofBromBones,whomadelightoftheGallopingHessianasanarrantjockey.HeaffirmedthatonreturningonenightfromtheneighboringvillageofSingSing,hehadbeenovertakenbythismidnighttrooper;thathehadofferedtoracewithhimforabowlofpunch,andshouldhavewonittoo,forDaredevilbeatthegoblinhorseallhollow,butjustastheycametothechurchbridge,theHessianbolted,andvanishedinaflashoffire.
