Читать книгу Всадник без головы / The Headless Horseman онлайн | страница 15
“Will you step this way, Mr Stump?” said the young Irishman, rising from his stool, and proceeding in the direction of the door.
The hunter followed, not without showing some surprise at the abrupt invitation.
Maurice conducted his visitor round to the rear of the cabin; and, pointing into the shed, inquired—
“Does that look anything like the mustang you’ve been speaking of?”
“Dog-gone my cats, if it’s not the same! Caught already! Two hundred dollars! Young fellow, you’re in luck: two hundred, – and the animal’s worth every cent of the money! Won’t Miss Poindexter be pleased!”
Answer the following questions:1) How does Maurice’s dwelling characterize its owner? Describe it.
2) Who is Phelim?
3) Who is Maurice’s new captive?
4) Why was Maurice unable to obtain repose? What did he talk about in his dreams?
5) Who is Zeb Stump? What did he come for?
Chapter Four
hacienda
house-warming
Soon they loud voices were heard in the courtyard.
“Oh, Mr Zebulon Stump, is it you?” exclaimed a silvery voice, followed by the appearance of Louise Poindexter upon the verandah.
“I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” continued the young lady, “you said you were going upon a long journey. Well – I am pleased that you are here; and so will papa and Henry be. Pluto! go instantly to Chloe, the cook, and see what she can give you for Mr Stump’s dinner.
Zeb told Louise that he had come to talk to her father about the spotted mustang that he’d promised to purchase for her. She asked who caught it, and the hunter told her it was a mustanger.
“His name?”
“Well, as to the name of his family, I’ve never heard it. He’s known up there about the Fort as Maurice the mustanger.”
The old hunter was not sufficiently observant to take note of the tone of eager interest in which the question had been asked, nor the sudden deepening of colour upon the cheeks of the questioner as she heard the answer. Neither had escaped the observation of Florinda.
“Miss Looey!” exclaimed the latter, “that’s the name of the brave young white gentleman – that saved us in the black prairie?”