The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-10
3 Tx, whltc horse.

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a
famous freebooter infested the Isle of
Sheppey, in the county of. Kent, and
made frequent incursions into the inte-
riOr of the country. A nobleman bv
birth, and probably under the sentence
of outlawry, he entrenched himself in
his stronghold, where he deposited all
the contributions which his successful
ievies on the travellers purse had OBJ
tanned. BY adopting the often-prac-
ticed ruse of shoeing his horses feet the
wrong way, he frequently escaped de-
lection and even when hotly pursued
the fleetness and sagacity of the noble
animal he rode, preserved him from his
enemies, and carried him to place of
security.
Thus the horse nearly rivalled the
fame of its rider, whose exploits became
SO frequent and daring, that the whole |
country rose up against him, offering |
such large rewards for his apprehen-
sion, that at length he found himself so |
closely beset on his island that, hope |
less of extrication or relief, he was COM |
PEELED to surrender at discretion, and to |
implore the mercy of Queen Elizabeth,
then on a visit on board the admiral's |
ship at the More.
The Queen, not disinclined to show |
favor to q man whose personal valOr.
determined perseverance, and fertility
of resource, weIe qualities highly esti-
mated i'm those semi-civilized adven-
lures, offered to grant his life upon
terms in keeping with the wild tenor
of his lawless career. These conditions
were that he should swim on horseback
three times round the ship which the
high admiral commanded, and, should
he escape the perils incidental to such |
trial, his sentence of outlawry should
be reversed. and a general pardon ex-
tended to all his offences.
Curiosity to see the feats of this cele-
brated horse, and a calculation OF the
chances which, I'm all probability, would
save the hangman his labor, and give
the Knight of Sbeppey less ignobie
death, probably induced the virgin
queen to make this proposal to the dar-
ing freebooter. 1t was instantly ac-
cepted. Armed at all points, the IN
trepjd bandit mounted his faithful steed
whose spirits he invigOrated with a Co
pious draught of brandy. Plunging at
once into the foaming tide, the steed
and horseman swan calamity round
the designated ship; the second extraor-
dinary evolution was performed with
eouai bravery and resolution but at
the third little more than the heads of
the horse and its rider could be seen
buffeting with the weltering waves
which seemed at every instant to
threaten their mutual annihilatiOn.-l
Straining every nerve and sinew to the
utmost, the gallant animal ceased not
TO struggle with the restless waves un-
til the last painful pilgrimage was COM
pleted and his weary hoofs rested on
the solid shore.
The place of landing was wild and
desolate; lofty cliff overhung the
narrow beach and concealed every hu-
man habitation. The moment the eX-
hausted courser gained firm footing
on his parent earth, a withered and de-
cripit lag, whose tangled elf-locks and
tattered weeds streaming in the wind
iIl-concealed the hideous deformity of a
saualid form, started from a recumbent
attitude, and, raising the shrivelled fin
ger with which she had traced unhal-
lowed spells upon the sand, shrieked
out an ill-omened prophecy: beware
of the horse ~ shrieked the beldame,
with triumphant laugh of malice
Although he has now saved your life,
he shall be the cause of your death"
"Thou liest, fiend of mischief" cried
the Knight of Sheppey. "Thus L fall
sify thy dark prediction" Actuated
by superstitious fears, the natural fe-
rocity of his temper Overcame every
sentiment of gratitude and affection.
Hastily dismounting, he plunged his
sword into the heart of the painting an
imal.
Restored to the favor of his sovereign
and permitted the quiet enjoyment OF
his ill-gotton wealth, the Knight OF
Sheppey lived for several years in un-
interrupted prosperity.
One morning, anxious to show a
friend the scene of his most wonderful
adventure, he descended to the beach
the skeleton of the slaughtered horse,
bleached by the storms of successive
winters, still lay extended on the sand.
Repeating the prophecy of the witch,
he spurned the head with his foot and
severed it from the body by the stroke.
At first he did not perceive that in the
act q small sharp bone had penetrated
his buskin. The wound was inconsld-
cradle and disregarded, but becoming
more serious, it ended in mortlfca-
ton which speedily carried him to his
grave.
His remains were deposited in the
vault of hisNncestors, and over them
was raised a monument in which the
rude sculptor of the times attempted to
deIineate his history. 1t is still to be
seenin the church at Minister. A war
Iior, clad in armor, lies extended on
the tomb, and at his feet is deposited
the head of q horse: the vane of the
weathercock on the church-steeple is
likewise formed of n horses head,
which renders it probable that the sto-
ry, though no doubt exaggerated into
the marvellous had some foundation.