Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Away,then,theydashedthroughthickandthin;stonesflyingandsparksflashingateverybound.Ichabod’sflimsygarmentsflutteredintheair,ashestretchedhislonglankbodyawayoverhishorse’shead,intheeagernessofhisflight.
TheyhadnowreachedtheroadwhichturnsofftoSleepyHollow;butGunpowder,whoseemedpossessedwithademon,insteadofkeepingupit,madeanoppositeturn,andplungedheadlongdownhilltotheleft.Thisroadleadsthroughasandyhollowshadedbytreesforaboutaquarterofamile,whereitcrossesthebridgefamousingoblinstory;andjustbeyondswellsthegreenknollonwhichstandsthewhitewashedchurch.
Asyetthepanicofthesteedhadgivenhisunskilfulrideranapparentadvantageinthechase,butjustashehadgothalfwaythroughthehollow,thegirthsofthesaddlegaveway,andhefeltitslippingfromunderhim.Heseizeditbythepommel,andendeavoredtoholditfirm,butinvain;andhadjusttimetosavehimselfbyclaspingoldGunpowderroundtheneck,whenthesaddlefelltotheearth,andheheardittrampledunderfootbyhispursuer.ForamomenttheterrorofHansVanRipper’swrathpassedacrosshismind,—foritwashisSundaysaddle;butthiswasnotimeforpettyfears;thegoblinwashardonhishaunches;and(unskilfulriderthathewas!)hehadmuchadotomaintainhisseat;sometimesslippingononeside,sometimesonanother,andsometimesjoltedonthehighridgeofhishorse’sbackbone,withaviolencethatheverilyfearedwouldcleavehimasunder.
