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There was something extremely provoking in this obstinately pacific system; it left Brom no alternative but to draw upon the funds of rustic waggery in his disposition, and to play off boorish practical jokes upon his rival.

In the middle of the story, the narrator describes Brom’s frustration at being unable to beat up Ichabod to highlight his brutish and immature nature. It also underscores the fact that Brom is not a simple, mindless brute as Ichabod presumes him to be, as he is wise enough to realize that using physical force against Ichabod would be a bad idea. The quote also foreshadows the end of the story where Brom’s potential final prank in his impersonation of the Headless Horseman drives Ichabod out of town.

He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire.

Just before the climax of the story, Brom’s joke about racing the Headless Horseman emphasizes his good-humored nature. It also provides a lesson that Brom seems to live by, which is to not take life too seriously. Additionally, it foreshadows Brom’s possible intention to prank Ichabod by impersonating the Headless Horseman. He provides these details about the Headless Horseman knowing that the gullible and easily frightened Ichabod will interpret them as fact.

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