We’ve had word from there; but not so late as you may bring.
Have you heard anything, miss?”
“That people were gone after the asesinado.
Your party, senor?”
“Yes—yes—it meant us, no doubt.
You heard nothing more?”
“Oh, yes; something very strange, senores; so strange, you may think I am jesting.”
“What is it?” inquire a score of voices in quick simultaneity; while the eyes of all turn with eager interest towards the fair equestrian.
“There is a story of one being seen without a head—on horseback—out here too.
Valga me Dios! we must now be near the place?
It was by the Nueces—not far from the ford—where the road crosses for the Rio Grande.
So the vaqueros said.”
“Oh; some vaqueros have seen it?”
“Si, senores; three of them will swear to having witnessed the spectacle.”
Isidora is a little surprised at the moderate excitement which such a strange story causes among the “Tejanos.” There is an exhibition of interest, but no astonishment.
A voice explains:
“We’ve seen it too—that headless horseman—at a distance.
Did your vaqueros get close enough to know what it was?”
“Santissima! no.”
“Can you tell us, miss?”
“I? Not I.
I only heard of it, as I’ve said.
What it may be, quien sabe?”
There is an interval of silence, during which all appear to reflect on what they have heard.
The planter interrupts it, by a recurrence to his original interrogatory.
“Have you met, or seen, any one, miss—out here, I mean?”
“Si—yes—I have.”
“You have! What sort of person?
Be good enough to describe—”
“A lady.”
“Lady!” echo several voices.
“Si, senores.”
“What sort of a lady?”
“Una Americana.”
“An American lady!—out here?
Alone?”
“Si, senores.”
“Who?”
“Quien sabe?”
“You don’t know her?
What was she like?”
“Like?—like?”
“Yes; how was she dressed?”
“Vestido de caballo.”
“On horseback, then?”
“On horseback.”
“Where did you meet the lady you speak of?”
“Not far from this; only on the other side of the chapparal.”
“Which way was she going?
Is there any house on the other side?”