Всадник без головы

Chapter 40

           Itwasthenthestrangeapparitionwasmostcloselyscrutinisedbythosewhohadthecourage:forthemajorityofthemensateshiveringintheirstirrups—throughsheerterror,incapableevenofthought!

           Thefewwhodaredfacethemystery,withanythoughtofaccountingforit,werebaffledintheirinvestigationbytheglareofthesettingsun.Theycouldonlyseethattherewasahorseoflargesizeandnobleshape,withamanuponhisback.Thefigureofthemanwaslesseasilydetermined,onaccountofthelimbsbeinginsertedintooveralls,whilehisshoulderswereenvelopedinanamplecloak-likecovering.

           Whatsignifiedhisshape,solongasitwantedthatportionmostessentialtoexistence?Amanwithoutahead—onhorseback,sittingerectinthesaddle,inanattitudeofeaseandgrace—withspurssparklinguponhisheels—thebridle-reinheldinonehand—theotherwhereitshouldbe,restinglightlyuponhisthigh!

           GreatGod!whatcoulditmean?

           Wasitaphantom?Surelyitcouldnotbehuman?

           Theywhovieweditwerenotthementohavefaitheitherinphantoms,orphantasmagoria.ManyofthemhadmetNatureinherremotestsolitudes,andwrestledwithherinherroughestmoods.Theywerenotgiventoabeliefinghosts.

           Buttheconfidenceofthemostincredulouswasshakenbyasightsostrange—soabsolutelyunnatural—andtosuchanextent,thatthestoutestheartedofthepartywasforcedmentallytorepeatthewords:—

           "Isitaphantom?Surelyitcannotbehuman?"

           Itssizefavouredtheideaofthesupernatural.

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