The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-01-18
The Deranged Horse.

hae ever laid hand to their cheeks, were
returning from chihuahua on their way
home, and had encamped for the night
near the Cross Timbers. They had fin
lshed their little supper with an evident
relish, when one Of the party said, as he
wiped his knife on the sleeve Of his hunt
ing shirt, Ewing, tell US the story about
that deranged horse that you said you rode
once, for, wish | may starye to death on
the prairie, if didn't think my old mule
had put in plea Of insanity to-day TO the
charge of give out, for she reared plunged
and pitched as if she had been entered for
a quarter race and was held back, when
five minutes before | was thinking that the
next mile would finish her-and was con-
templating what sort of broil her sirloin
would makc.'
NO danger, Harry, Of your mule giving
out," said Ewing. .for | believe it's the
same one that died three times with me
the first trip that made out here, and
come to again. Flltell you how it was. !"
mo, no. cried the majority Of the par
ty, who were now stretched out on their
blankets, smoking their pipes and puros,
lets have the story Of the deranged horse
"See here, Ewing SAID Black Dan.
the eldest Of the party, who had spent near
" all his life on the prairie and among the
mountains, and who obtained that sobriquet
from his swarthy features and long black
halr-"See here, Ewing. none Of your
qnizzing stories, old boys" and he raised
on his elbow 10 rest his head on his
hand. ''Now, I've seen wild buffalo and
mad bulls, but never heard of horse that
went crazy Or had the hydraphobia. Fla!
ha! ha.'' And Black Dan here gave a
wild laugh, in which the young men
joined.
but at that time,'' said Harry, "Ew-
ing was SweL-hcad. and there's no doubt
but the horse caught the distemper from
him, which would account for his mad
ness"
No, boys says Ewing, "you may
Joke as much as you please, but the horse
was subject to temporary fits Of insanity.
You see"-
"Come, come. Ewing , interrupted Black
Dan, ''stick 70 the point. You said the
horse was derangcd, and now you say lie
was subject to fits. You can't surfeit US
with this story"
"Oh let him go on" said Harry-and
Ewing resumed.
"When | was on a visit to Mississippi
one time, | asked friend 10 loan me a
horse to ride out in the country. Ny
friend said that the only horse lie had was
50 wild that he feared could not ride him.
He was an old four mile horse who had
seen his best days, and had been once a
celebrated racer. Oh, said, would ride
The devil, if that was all but" said my
friend, this horse is a little crazy, and
takes some wild freaks in his
head mo matter, said |, III ride him.
SO off we went TO the stable, and the black
boy was ordered TO saddle up Old Hector
Look heah, massa,' said the negro, as |
examined the girth of the saddle, '.if you
10 be good rider, you better not get on
Old Hector he be de berry debbiI-wha,
nassa, dis hoss is mad" .'WeIl, said |, as
mounted, if he be mad, II tame him be-
ore get off, and with that gave him
ouch Of the whip, but he moved no faster
han an old dray horse. | turned up the
main street Of the town, to take the road
eading out into the country, when .Old
Hector suddenly took shy at covered
wagon, and away he went, sure enough;
he outskirts of the city were soon reached,
when he took a neighborhood road leading
0 race track, jumping fences and bitches
IN his way, until he reached the track,
when, to my terror and surprise, around it
lie went, ''at killing pace" as they say
n jockey phrase, until he had run a four
nile heat; and | wish | may be ''wiped
,ut'' if | didn't think the time was shorter
han ever made. Well, at the end Of the
ast mile he bolted the track and took
through the woods. Then | thought my
ast ride had come, for / had to let ''Hcc-
or have his own way, to save my brains
rom being knocked out against the trees.
Away he flew, like lightning, taking eve
ything in his way, until he struck a road
which led back to the town, which he took
ull bent for the stables. | knew | had
lothing to do but to hold on, as had long
5iven up all hope of stopping him. Down
he street he went at fearful rate, when
perceived to my horror that the next square
vas blocked up with wagon teams, &C., so
made desperate effort to make him
urn the corner, on which stood an apothe-
ary's shop, but | did not succeed in turn
ng him in time, but having altered his
curse, he took right for the apothecary's
window, and through it he went. Such
moth II smash and a crash of bottles and
tuff you never heard of, but it brought
Old Hector" up, and broke his neck in
he bargain, while it scared me so that my
air never grew afterwards, which ac-
cunts, boys, for its being so Short
''Blacll Dan" gave yell, which was
ollowed by a burst Of laughter from the |
arty, Dan saying afterwards that if Ew-
ng wasn't the best rider in the world, he
ould beat the devil a lying.
Observation-Disclosures is never granted |
D man, but as the reward oflabor. II ar
ues, indeed, no small strength Of mind to |
al L