AS A Horseman in the Sky . wmaAnnouncer : Now , the Special English program , AMERICAN STORIES . ( MUSIC ) Our story today is called , " A Horseman in the Sky . " It was written by Ambrose Bierce . Here is Roy Depew with the story . ( MUSIC ) Narrator : Carter Druse was born in Virginia . He loved his parents , his home and the south . But he loved his country , too . And in the autumn of eighteen sixty - one , when the United States was divided by a terrible civil war , Carter Druse , a southerner , decided to join the Union Army of the north . He told his father about his decision one morning at breakfast . The older man looked at his only son for a moment , too shocked to speak . Then he said , " As of this moment you are a traitor to the south . Please don ' t tell your mother about your decision . She is sick , and we both know she has only a few weeks to live . " Carter ' s father paused , again looking deep into his son ' s eyes . " Carter , " he said , " No matter what happens -- be sure you always do what you think is your duty . " Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with broken hearts . And Carter soon left his home , and everyone he loved to wear the blue uniform of the Union soldier . One sunny afternoon , a few weeks later , Carter Druse lay with his face in the dirt by the side of a road . He was on his stomach , his arms still holding his gun . Carter would not receive a medal for his actions . In fact , if his commanding officer were to see him , he would order Carter shot immediately . For Carter was not dead or wounded . He was sleeping while on duty . Fortunately , no one could see him . He was hidden by some bushes , growing by the side of the road . The road Carter Druse had been sent to guard was only a few miles from his father ' s house . It began in a forest , down in the valley , and climbed up the side of a huge rock . Anyone standing on the top of this high rock would be able to see down into the valley . And that person would feel very dizzy , looking down . If he dropped a stone from the edge of this cliff , it would fall for six hundred meters before disappearing into the forest in the valley below . Giant cliffs , like the one Carter lay on , surrounded the valley . Hidden in the valley ' s forest were five union regiments -- thousands of Carter ' s fellow soldiers . They had marched for thirty - six hours . Now they were resting . But at midnight they would climb that road up the rocky cliff . Their plan was to attack by surprise an army of southerners , camped on the other side of the cliff . But if their enemy learned about the Union Army hiding in the forest , the soldiers would find themselves in a trap with no escape . That was why Carter Druse had been sent to guard the road . It was his duty to be sure that no enemy soldier , dressed in gray , spied on the valley , where the union army was hiding . But Carter Druse had fallen asleep . Suddenly , as if a messenger of fate came to touch him on the shoulder , the young man opened his eyes . As he lifted his head , he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff that looked down into the valley . The rider and his horse stood so still that they seemed made of stone . The man ' s gray uniform blended with the blue sky and the white clouds behind him . He held a gun in his right hand , and the horse ' s reins in the other . Carter could not see the man ' s face , because the rider was looking down into the valley . But the man and his horse seemed to be of heroic , almost gigantic size , standing there motionless against the sky . Carter discovered he was very much afraid , even though he knew the enemy soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes . Suddenly the horse moved , pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff . Carter was completely awake now . He raised his gun , pushing its barrel through the bushes . And he aimed for the horseman ' s heart . A small squeeze of the trigger , and Carter Druse would have done his duty . At that instant , the horseman turned his head and looked in Carter ' s direction . He seemed to look at Carter ' s face , into his eyes , and deep into his brave , generous heart . Carter ' s face became very white . His entire body began shaking . His mind began to race , and in his fantasy , the horse and rider became black figures , rising and falling in slow circles against a fiery red sky . Carter did not pull the trigger . Instead , he let go of his gun and slowly dropped his face until it rested again in the dirt . Brave and strong as he was , Carter almost fainted from the shock of what he had seen . Is it so terrible to kill an enemy who might kill you and your friends ? Carter knew that this man must be shot from ambush -- without warning . This man must die without a moment to prepare his soul ; without even the chance to say a silent prayer . Slowly , a hope began to form in Carter Druse ' s mind . Perhaps the southern soldier had not seen the northern troops . Perhaps he was only admiring the view . Perhaps he would now turn and ride carelessly away . Then Carter looked down into the valley so far below . He saw a line of men in blue uniforms and their horses , slowly leaving the protection of the forest . A foolish Union officer had permitted his soldiers to bring their horses to drink at a small stream near the forest . And there they were -- in plain sight ! Carter Druse looked back to the man and horse standing there against the sky . Again he took aim . But this time he pointed his gun at the horse . Words rang in his head -- the last words his father ever spoke to him : " No matter what happens , be sure you always do what you think is your duty . " Carter Druse was calm as he pulled the trigger of his gun . At that moment , a Union officer happened to look up from his hiding place near the edge of the forest . His eyes climbed to the top of the cliff that looked over the valley . Just looking at the top of the gigantic rock , so far above him , made the soldier feel dizzy . And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror . A man on a horse was riding down into the valley through the air ! The rider sat straight in his saddle . His hair streamed back , waving in the wind . His left hand held his horse ' s reins while his right hand was hidden in the cloud of the horse ' s mane . The horse looked as if it were galloping across the earth . Its body was proud and noble . As the frightened Union officer watched this horseman in the sky , he almost believed he was witnessing a messenger from heaven . A messenger who had come to announce the end of the world . The officer ' s legs grew weak , and he fell . At almost the same instant , he heard a crashing sound in the trees . The sound died without an echo . And all was silent . The officer got to his feet , still shaking . He went back to his camp . But he didn ' t tell anyone what he had seen . He knew no one would ever believe him . Soon after firing his gun , Carter Druse was joined by a Union sergeant . Carter did not turn his head as the sergeant kneeled beside him . " Did you fire ? " The sergeant whispered . " Yes . "" At what ? "" A horse . It was on that rock . It ' s not there now . It went over the cliff . " Carter ' s face was white . But he showed no other sign of emotion . The sergeant did not understand . " See here , Druse , " he said , after a moment ' s silence . " Why are you making this into a mystery . I order you to report . Was there anyone on the horse ? "" Yes . "" Who ? "" My father . "( MUSIC ) Announcer : You have heard the story called , " A Horseman in the Sky . " It was written by Ambrose Bierce , and adapted for Special English by Dona de Sanctis . Your storyteller was Roy Depew . For VOA Special English , this is Shirley Griffith . ( MUSIC )