The Headless Horseman: A Strange Tale of Texas. Майн Рид. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Майн Рид
Издательство: Bookwire
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Жанр произведения: Языкознание
Год издания: 0
isbn: 4057664652119
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Chapter Fifty Six.

       Chapter Fifty Seven.

       Chapter Fifty Eight.

       Chapter Fifty Nine.

       Chapter Sixty.

       Chapter Sixty One.

       Chapter Sixty Two.

       Chapter Sixty Three.

       Chapter Sixty Four.

       Chapter Sixty Five.

       Chapter Sixty Six.

       Chapter Sixty Seven.

       Chapter Sixty Eight.

       Chapter Sixty Nine.

       Chapter Seventy.

       Chapter Seventy One.

       Chapter Seventy Two.

       Chapter Seventy Three.

       Chapter Seventy Four.

       Chapter Seventy Five.

       Chapter Seventy Six.

       Chapter Seventy Seven.

       Chapter Seventy Eight.

       Chapter Seventy Nine.

       Chapter Eighty.

       Chapter Eighty One.

       Chapter Eighty Two.

       Chapter Eighty Three.

       Chapter Eighty Four.

       Chapter Eighty Five.

       Chapter Eighty Six.

       Chapter Eighty Seven.

       Chapter Eighty Eight.

       Chapter Eighty Nine.

       Chapter Ninety.

       Chapter Ninety One.

       Chapter Ninety Two.

       Chapter Ninety Three.

       Chapter Ninety Four.

       Chapter Ninety Five.

       Chapter Ninety Six.

       Chapter Ninety Seven.

       Chapter Ninety Eight.

       Chapter Ninety Nine.

       Chapter One Hundred.

       Table of Contents

      The Burnt Prairie.

      On the great plain of Texas, about a hundred miles southward from the old Spanish town of San Antonio de Bejar, the noonday sun is shedding his beams from a sky of cerulean brightness. Under the golden light appears a group of objects, but little in unison with the landscape around them: since they betoken the presence of human beings, in a spot where there is no sign of human habitation.

      The objects in question are easily identified—even at a great distance. They are waggons; each covered with its ribbed and rounded tilt of snow-white “Osnaburgh.”

      There are ten of them—scarce enough to constitute a “caravan” of traders, nor yet a “government train.” They are more likely the individual property of an emigrant; who has landed upon the coast, and is wending his way to one of the late-formed settlements on the Leona.

      Slowly crawling across the savannah, it could scarce be told that they are in motion; but for their relative-position, in long serried line, indicating the order of march.

      The dark bodies between each two declare that the teams are attached; and that they are making progress is proved, by the retreating antelope, scared from its noonday siesta, and the long-shanked curlew, rising with a screech from the sward—both bird and beast wondering at the string of strange behemoths, thus invading their wilderness domain.

      Elsewhere upon the prairie, no movement may be detected—either of bird or quadruped. It is the time of day when all tropical life becomes torpid, or seeks repose in the shade; man alone, stimulated by the love of gain, or the promptings of ambition, disregarding the laws of nature, and defying the fervour of the sun.