Всадник без головы

Chapter 9

           TheypalaverwithIndiansonafriendlyvisittotheFort,fortradeortreaty;whosetentsstandatsomedistance,andfromwhoseshouldershangblanketsofred,andgreen,andblue—givingthemapicturesque,evenclassical,appearance,inspiteofthehideouspaintwithwhichtheyhavebedaubedtheirskins,andthedirtthatrendersstickytheirlongblackhair,lengthenedbytressestakenfromthetailsoftheirhorses.

           Picturetotheeyeofyourimaginationthisjumbleofmixednationalities—intheirvariedcostumesofrace,condition,andcalling;jotinhereandthereablack-skinnedscionofEthiopia,thebodyservantofsomeofficer,ortheemissaryofaplanterfromtheadjacentsettlements;imaginethemstandingingossipinggroups,orstalkingoverthelevelplain,amidstsomehalf-dozenhaltedwaggons;acoupleofsix-poundersupontheircarriages,withcaissonscloseby;asquaretentortwo,withitssurmountingfly—occupiedbysomeeccentricofficerwhopreferssleepingundercanvas;astackofbayonetedriflesbelongingtothesoldiersonguard,—imagineallthesecomponentparts,andyouwillhavebeforeyourmind’seyeatruthfulpictureofamilitaryfortuponthefrontierofTexas,andtheextremeselvedgeofcivilisation.

           ***

           AboutaweekafterthearrivaloftheLouisianaplanterathisnewhome,threeofficerswereseenstandingupontheparadegroundinfrontofFortInge,withtheireyesturnedtowardsthehaciendaofCasadelCorvo.

           Theywereallyoungmen:theoldestnotoverthirtyyearsofage.

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