, 1862-02-06
The Moonlight Rids.

which accepted. He had one horse, which
was kept in stable by himself and was, without
exception, the ugliest and most savage animal OF
his kind had ever seen. There was not sin
| gle point Of strong or q fast horse about him.
He was as black as charcoal he was named
Satan, aud richly did he deserve the name. He
would ay at you like dog, with his teeth; at.
tempt to beat you down with his iorefeet, and
strike round corner at you with bis hind ones.
He had beaten of all the rough riders, groOms,
and jockeys in that part Of the country.
After being in the place for few days, was
asked by the gentleman IL ] thought l could
make anything OF Satan I replied that IL he
beat me, he would be the only horse which had
ever done so; but still considered him to be
by far the most savage had ever seen.
"Try him tomorrow at one O'Clock" said be,
as he turned to 60 away al will have few
friends with me to see how you succeed"
determined, however, TO try him that night,
and without any witness TO see whether / sue
ceeded or not Ny room was over the stable,
and as the moon did not rise till eleven o'clock,
threw myself upon the bed-clothes, and, con.
trary to my intention, fell asleep. When !
awoke, it was twelve, the moon was shining
brightly, and rendering everything as visible as
il il were day.
l went down to the stable with bride pre-
pared for the purpose, and heavily loaded whip
in my hand. knew that Il would beimpossble
TO saddle him; aud, indeed, should be safer on
his bare back, in the event Of his throwing him
self down. opened the stable-door gently, and
there he was prone on his side, bis legs and
neck stretched out, as have often seen horses
lying after sore fatigue. clapped my knee
upon his head, loosed the collar that bound him,
slipped the bit into his mouth buckled the throat
band, raised him to his feet, backed him out, and
leaped upon his back, before he had time to get
his eyes right opened. But open them now be
did, and that with vengeance; he paved and
struck the walls with his forefeet, till the fire
flashed from the stones; and then be reared ill
he fell right back upon the pavement was
prepared for this, and slipped of him as be went
down, and then leaped on him again as be rose
! had not as yet touched him with the whip,
bride, or spur. But now gave him the curb
and the spurs at the same instant. He gave one
mad bound, and then went of at q rate that
completely eclipsed the speed Of the heetest
horse had every ridden. He could not trot,
but his gallop was unapprcaehable, and consisted
In q succession Of leaps, performed with pre-
cisiOn, velocity, and strength, absolutely bewil-
dering. .y,,,E ,sit. -t,
He fairly overturned al my preconceivsd no.
tons Of a fast horse. On he thundered, til We
came under the shadow Of flr-wood, and then,
whether out Of mischief or dread Of the dark
ness, he halted instantaneously, his foreieet 30
close together that you might have put them into
a bucket. Owing 70 the depression Of bis shoul-
ders-ior he had no more witheFs than an ass
the way that he ieFked down bis head and the
suddsnness Of the stop, monkey, although be
had been holding on with his teeth, must have
been unseated. For me, was pitched . long
way over his head, but alighted upon spot 20
soft and mossy, thatit looEed as il some kind
hand had purposely prepared Il for me. Had
been in the slightest degree stunned, Or unable
to regain my feet, that instant be would have
torn me to pieces with his teeth, and beaten my
mangled body into the earth with bis hoOf& But
ct once sprang 70 my feet and laced him.
could have escaped BY leaPing into the wood
but my blood was up, my brain clear, and my
heart gave not one extra pulsatiOn. There he
stood upon bis hind-legs, nearly upright, bWting
the air with his iore-fset his mouth open, bis
ripper Lin curled, his under one drawn, bis large
white teeth glancing like ivory In the moonlight
As soon as be saw me upon my feet, he gave .
ven such as had never heard from . horse b.
fore, save once, and which ! believe Is never
elected from that animal, except when under the
domination Of frantic rage or fear.
This unearthly cry reused every living thing
within hearing. An army Of rocks. startled from
their oncampment in the wood, circled and
wheeled between US aud the moon, shading her
light, and filing the midnight air with their dis
cordant screams. This attracted the attention
Of Satan, and, bringing his ioreieet 70 the gTvund
he pricked up bis ears and listened. 1 sprang
forward, seized him By the mane, and Vaulted
upon bis back. As stopped forward % gather
uD the Feins. which were dangling RON bis head,
be caught me by the jacket Luckily il was but
the cuifI-and tore q up to my shoulder In
stantly be seized me again; but this time he
succeeded rather better, having small portion
Of the skin and flesh Of my thigh between ms
teeth. The intense pain occasoned by the oite,
or rather bvuise. Of horses mouth, can only be
property Judged by those who have felt Il
vas the madder Of the two now; and Of al ami
mails, an enraeed man Is the most dangerous and
the most fearless. I gave him q bloW between
the ears with the end Of the whip; and be went
down at once, stunned and senselesA WIN n's
legs doubled up under him, and bis nose Dnried
10 the ground. drew bis iore-egs from under
him, that he might nse the more readily, ane
then lashed him into life. He turned his head
slowly round, and looked at me, and then saw
that the savage glare Of bis eye was nearly
ouenched, and that, Il could follow up The 81;
vantage 1 had gained, should ultimately Be the
eononeror. I now assisted him 10 rise, mounted
him and struck at once with whip and spur,
IIe S,aye a few bounds forward, . stagger or two,
and then fell heavily upon bis side. was nearly
u der him; however, I did save my distance,
although that was ALL now began 10 teelsoT
Ior him; his wonderful speed had won my re-
sneot and as was far from being naturally cruel
whiD or spur never used except in cases o.
necessity; so thought would allow him 70 lie
fr few minutes, h be did not incline 70 get Up
Of himself However, as had no ihith in the
creature, sat down upon him and watched him
intentlv, He lay motionless, with bis eyes shut
snd had Il not been for the llrm and last beat Of
his heart, I should have considered him Dying
from the effects Of the blow; but the strong pull
sation told me that there vas plenty o. hie n
him: and suspected that be vas lying quist
,,sd;,,siOg nischjef vas right Every mus