But this was equally improbable. My Mexican blanket was worth a hundred dollars. That would have been taken. It was not, nor anything else that Poindexter had carried about him. Nothing appeared to have been touched. Even the watch was still in his waistcoat pocket, with the chain around his neck glistening through the gore that had spurted over it!
"I came to the conclusion: that the deed must have been done for the satisfaction of some spite or revenge; and I tried to remember whether I had ever heard of any one having a quarrel with young Poindexter, or a grudge against him.
"I never had.
"Besides, why had the head been cut off?
"It was this that filled me with astonishment--with horror.
"Without attempting to explain it, I bethought me of what was best to be done.
"To stay by the dead body could serve no purpose. To bury it would have been equally idle.
"Then I thought of galloping back to the Fort, and getting a.s.sistance to carry it to Casa del Corvo.
"But if I left it in the chapparal, the coyotes might discover it; and both they and the buzzards would be at it before we could get back.
Already the vultures were above--taking their early flight. They appeared to have espied it.
"Mutilated as was the young man"s form, I could not think of leaving it, to be made still more so. I thought of the tender eyes that must soon behold it--in tears."
CHAPTER NINETY FOUR.
THE MYSTERY MADE CLEAR.
The accused pauses in his recital. No one offers any observation-- either to interrupt, or hurry him on.
There is a reluctance to disturb the chain of a narrative, all know to be unfinished; and every link of which has been binding them to a closer and more earnest attention.
Judge, jury, and spectators remain breathlessly silent; while their eyes--many with mouths agape--are attentively turned upon the prisoner.
Amidst solemn stillness he is permitted to proceed.
"My next idea was to cover the body with the cloak--as well as the serape still around the shoulders. By so doing it would be protected from both wolves and buzzards--at least till we could get back to fetch it away.
"I had taken off the cloak for this purpose; when a different plan suggested itself--one that appeared in every way better.
"Instead of returning to the Port alone, I should take the body along with me. I fancied I could do this, by laying it across the croup, and lashing it to the saddle with my lazo.
"I led my horse up to the spot, and was preparing to put the body upon him, when I perceived that there was another horse upon the ground. It was that lately ridden by him who was now no more.
"The animal was near by, browsing upon the gra.s.s--as tranquilly as if nothing had happened to disturb it.
"As the bridle trailed upon the ground, I had no difficulty in catching hold of it. There was more in getting the horse to stand still-- especially when brought alongside what lay upon the ground.
"Holding the reins between my teeth, I lifted the body up, and endeavoured to place it crosswise in the saddle.
"I succeeded in getting it there, but it would not remain. It was too stiff to bend over, and there was no way to steady it.
"Besides, the _horse_ became _greatly excited_, at sight of the strange load he was being called upon to carry.
"After several attempts, I saw I could not succeed.
"I was about to give up the idea, when another occurred to me--one that promised better. It was suggested by a remembrance of something I had read, relating to the Gauchos of South America. When one dies, or is killed by accident, in some remote station of the Pampas, his comrades carry his corpse to their distant home--strapped in the saddle, and seated in the same att.i.tude, as though he were still alive.
"Why should I not do the same with the body of Henry Poindexter?
"I made the attempt--first trying to set him on his own horse.
"But the saddle being a flat one, and the animal still remaining restive, I did not succeed.
"There was but one other chance of our making the home journey together: by exchanging horses.
"I knew that my own would not object. Besides, my Mexican saddle, with its deep tree, would answer admirably for the purpose.
"In a short while I had the body in it, seated erect,--in the natural position. Its stiffness, that had obstructed me before, now served to keep it in its place. The rigid limbs were easily drawn into the proper stride; and with the feet inserted into the stirrups, and the water-guards buckled tightly over the thighs, there was little chance of the body slipping off.
"To make it thoroughly secure, I cut a length from my lazo; and, warping it round the waist, fastened one end to the pommel in front, the other to the cantle behind.
"A separate piece tied to the stirrups, and pa.s.sing under the belly of the horse, kept the feet from swinging about.
"The head still remained to be dealt with. It too must be taken along.
"On lifting it from the ground, and endeavouring to detach it from the hat, I found that this could not be done. It was swollen to enormous dimensions; and the sombrero adhered to it--close as the skin itself.
"Having no fear that they would fall apart, I tied a piece of string to the buckle of the band; and hung both hat and head over the horn of the saddle.
"This completed my preparations for the journey.
"I mounted the horse of the murdered man; and, calling upon my own to follow me--he was accustomed to do so without leading--I started to ride back to the settlement.
"In less than five minutes after, I was knocked out of my saddle--and my senses at the same time.
"But for that circ.u.mstance I should not be standing here,--at all events, not in the unpleasant position I now hold."
"Knocked out of your saddle!" exclaims the judge. "How was that?"
"A simple accident; or rather was it due to my own carelessness. On mounting the strange horse I neglected to take hold of the bridle.
Accustomed to guide my own--often with only my voice and knees--I had grown regardless of the reins. I did not antic.i.p.ate an occurrence of the kind that followed.
"The horse I was on, had only stopped three lengths of itself, from the place where I had bestridden him, when something caused him to shy to one side, and break into a gallop.
"I need not say _something_; for I knew what it was. He had looked round, and seen the other coming on behind, with that strange shape upon his back, that now in the broad light of day was enough to frighten horse or man.
"I clutched at the bridle; but, before I could lay my hand upon it, the horse was at his full speed.
"At first I was but little alarmed; indeed not at all. I supposed I should soon recover the reins, and bring the runaway to a stand.