Всадник без головы

For a moment Calhoun writhed under the awkward misconception of the auditory; but only for a moment. He was not the man to succumb to an unlucky accident of speech. On the contrary, he perceived the chance of a triumphant reply; and took advantage of it. "Indeed!" he drawled out, without appearing to address himself to any one in particular. "I was not aware that mustangs were so dangerous in these parts." As Calhoun said this, he was not looking at Louise Poindexter or he might have detected in her eye a glance to gratify him. The young Creole, despite an apparent coolness towards him, could not withhold admiration at anything that showed cleverness. His case might not be so hopeless? The young dragoon, Hancock, did not think it so; nor yet the lieutenant of rifles. Both observed the approving look, and both became imbued with the belief that Cassius Calhoun had-or might have-in his keeping, the happiness of his cousin. The conjecture gave a secret chagrin to both, but especially to the dragoon. There was but short time for him to reflect upon it; the manada was drawing near.	Между тем манада приближалась.
"To the saddle!" was the thought upon every mind, and the cry upon every tongue.	-- На коней! -- раздались со всех сторон голоса.
The bit was rudely inserted between teeth still industriously grinding the yellow corn; the bridle drawn over shoulders yet smoking after the quick skurry of twenty miles through the close atmosphere of a tropical morn; and, before a hundred could have been deliberately counted, every one, ladies and gentlemen alike, was in the stirrup, ready to ply whip and spur.	Едва ли можно было успеть сосчитать до ста, как удила были уже во рту лошадей, не успевших прожевать кукурузу, уздечки переброшены через их плечи, еще влажные от быстрой скачки в духоте тропического утра, и все были уже в седлах, готовые мчаться вперед.
By this time the wild mares appeared coming over the crest of the ridge upon which the vidette had been stationed.	В это время дикий табун появился на гребне возвышенности, на которой только что стоял дозорный.
He, himself a horse-catcher by trade, was already mounted, and in their midst-endeavouring to fling his lazo over one of the herd.	А он -- мустангер по профессии -- был уже в седле и в одно мгновение оказался среди табуна, пытаясь набросить лассо на одного из мустангов.
They were going at mad gallop, as if fleeing from a pursuer-some dreaded creature that was causing them to "whigher" and snort! With their eyes strained to the rear, they saw neither the sumpter waggon, nor the equestrians clustering around it, but were continuing onward to the spot; which chanced to lie directly in the line of their flight.	Дико храпя, лошади мчались бешеным галопом, словно спасаясь от какого-то страшного преследователя. Все время испуганно косясь назад, не замечая ни фургона, ни всадников, они неслись вперед.
"They are chased!" remarked Maurice, observing the excited action of the animals. "What is it, Crespino?" he cried out to the Mexican, who, from his position, must have seen any pursuer that might be after them.	-- За ними кто-то гонится,-- сказал Морис, заметив беспокойное поведение животных.-- Что там такое, Креспино? -- крикнул он мексиканцу, которому с холма было видно, кто преследует табун.
There was a momentary pause, as the party awaited the response.	В ожидании ответа все притихли.