Part 9/12:
Despite his bravado, Ichabod’s horse, Gunpowder, becomes spooked, and the schoolmaster’s fate hangs in the balance. His encounter with the Horseman is described as a close call, a brush with death that leaves him trembling and bewildered. The Horseman, instead of striking him down, appears to vanish into the night, leaving Ichabod shaken but alive.
The Aftermath: Tales Continue and Legends Persist
In the aftermath, the narrative shifts to Brom Bones, a boisterous and spirited local, who is immediately suspected of pranking Ichabod or perhaps even orchestrating the night’s eerie events. Theories abound that Ichabod Crane disappeared without a trace, snatched by supernatural forces, or simply fled in terror, leaving behind only rumors.