With a hoarse cry he brandished his dagger, and with two gigantic strides stood on the summit.
But only for a moment, he stood there with a pale, terrified face, staring eye and shaking limbs. Then reeling, with a loud cry he rushed down into the cave and closed the entrance, terrified almost beyond his senses.
What was the matter—what had happened? Enough. There, on his old black horse, under his plumed black hat, sat the ghost of the Trailer.
CHAPTER VI.
KISSIE FINDS A FRIEND.
Pedro sat behind the closed entrance, lowering savagely through the glimmering chinks, and almost beside himself with astonishment, vague fear, and wonder. He had recovered his gun and was clutching it, ready to fire at the smallest rustle above; his precious treasure formed a costly seat, on which he squatted; afraid of the cave, afraid of the darkness, the ghost, his own horse, and even of himself.
Do not infer from this that Pedro was a coward. On the contrary, he was brave—a bolder man never drew breath. He was far-famed for his bravery. But, “put yourself in his place,” and cease to wonder at his alarm.
An hour passed, during which he fancied he heard a slight noise overhead. But if there was one, it was slight, scarcely discernible. He began to regain his habitual equanimity, and to try and laugh down his fears. But the latter was no easy task. To see the perfect form of a man he had shot through the heart a year ago—to see him mounted on the same steed he had dropped him from—to see his wicked, gleaming eye fixed upon him in deadly, unrelenting hate—and above all, to meet him at this place, in the country noted for its specters, was enough, as he strongly declared, “to scare the Old Nick out of ten years’ wickedness.”
Plucking up courage, he advanced to open the trap and peer out. Just then he heard a footfall above—he drew back again, seized with fear.
The footfall became two, then three, then grew into a succession of patters. He knew the sound—it was a horse. He did not stop to conjecture—he did not hesitate or draw a timid breath; but angry at himself for being alarmed, boldly threw open the trap, and with ready rifle, peered out.