Chapter 76

           Stillcontinuinghisfleetcareer,theHeadlessHorsemangallopedonovertheprairie—ZebStumpfollowingonlywithhiseyes;andnotuntilhehadpassedoutofsight,behindsomestragglinggrovesofmezquite,didthebackwoodsmanabandonhiskneelingposition.

           Thenonlyforasecondortwodidhestanderect—takingcouncilwithhimselfastowhatcourseheshouldpursue.

           Theepisode—strangeasunexpected—hadcausedsomedisarrangementinhisideas,andseemedtocallforachangeinhisplans.Shouldhecontinuealongthetrailhewasalreadydeciphering;orforsakeitforthatofthesteedthathadjustsweptby?

           Bykeepingtotheformer,hemightfindoutmuch;butbychangingtothelatterhemightlearnmore?

           HemightcapturetheHeadlessHorseman,andascertainfromhimthewhyandwhereforeofhiswildwanderings?

           Whilethusabsorbed,inconsideringwhatcoursehehadbesttake,hehadforgottenthepuffofsmoke,andthereportheardfaroffovertheprairie.

           Onlyforamoment,however.Theywerethingstoberemembered;andhesoonrememberedthem.

           Turninghiseyestothequarterwherethesmokehadappeared,hesawthatwhichcausedhimtosquatdownagain;andplacehimself,withmoreimpressementthanever,undercoverofthemezquites.Theoldmare,relishingtherecumbentattitude,hadstillkepttoit;andtherewasnonecessityforre-disposingofher.

           WhatZebnowsawwasamanonhorseback—arealhorseman,withaheaduponhisshoulders.