The Death Shot — Mayne Reid

Plain, treeless, shrubless, smooth as a sleeping sea. Grass upon it; this so short, that the smallest quadruped could not cross over without being seen. Even the crawling reptile would not be concealed among its tufts. Objects are upon it-sufficiently visible to be distinguished at some distance. They are of a character scarce deserving a glance from the passing traveller. He would deem it little worth while to turn his eyes towards a pack of prairie wolves, much less go in chase of them. With vultures soaring above, he might be more disposed to hesitate, and reflect. The foul birds and filthy beasts seen consorting together, would be proof of prey-that some quarry had fallen upon the plain. Perhaps, a stricken stag, a prong-horn antelope, or a wild horse crippled by some mischance due to his headlong nature? Believing it any of these, the traveller would reloosen his rein, and ride onward, -leaving the beasts and birds to their banquet. There is no traveller passing over the prairie in question-no human being upon it. Nothing like life, save the coyotes grouped over the ground, and the buzzards swooping above. They are not unseen by human eye. There is one sees-one who has reason to fear them. Their eager excited movements tell them to be anticipating a repast; at the same time, that they have not yet commenced it. Something appears in their midst. At intervals they approach it: the birds swoopingly from heaven, the beasts crouchingly along the earth. Both go close, almost to touching it; then suddenly withdraw, starting back as in affright Soon again to return; but only to be frayed as before. And so on, in a series of approaches, and recessions. What can be the thing thus attracting, at the same time repelling them? Surely no common quarry, as the carcase of elk, antelope, or mustang? It seems not a thing that is dead. Nor yet looks it like anything alive. Seen from a distance it resembles a human head. Nearer, the resemblance is stronger. Close up, it becomes complete. Certainly, it is a human head-the head of a man Not much in this to cause surprise-a man's head lying upon a Texan prairie Nothing, whatever, if scalpless. It would only prove that some ill-starred individual-traveller, trapper, or hunter of wild horses-has been struck down by Comanches; afterwards beheaded, and scalped