The next day, Ichabod is gone, and the only clues are his hat, his ruined saddle, and a smashed pumpkin by the creek, which convinces most locals he was taken by the Horseman. Over time, rumors spread that Ichabod actually survived, left town in shame, and eventually became a lawyer and politician, while Brom marries Katrina and laughs a little too hard at the pumpkin detail. The story ends with a wink, suggesting the narrator does not even fully believe it, leaving the “ghost” question hanging on purpose.