Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-31
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White Devil.

One night in June, ten years age, The
sentinel pacing up and down before the
gates Of Fort Defiance, up IN the north
eastern part Of Arizona, suddenly heard
the hoof- beat Of horse
Halt! Who comes there7r rang out the
challenge, but there was no answer.
II Was starlight night. Two or three
hundred feet away the sentinel caught
sight OF white horse approaching him At
| q brisk walk. When he could see the horse
he could also see that 1t had no rider.
Droves OF wild horses and still wilder mus
tangs were frequently seen from the fort,
and the sentinel was rather pleased that
one OF them WAS being led by curiosity 70
approach the gate.
The horse grew whittier and larger as be
came nearer. and when be halted he WAS
not over ven feet from the guard. Ha1~ss
tall aad powerfully built. name hanging
almost TO his knees, and tail sweeping the
ground. Aand he was rs white rs snow.
Head up, ears pointed forward, and eyes
opened TO their widest ::extent, the wild
horse stood for q long minute and looked
into the soldiers face. His nsslrils dilat-
cd. his tall moved this way and that, and
the muscles 10 his powerful chest and legs
stood out In bold relief. The soldiers sur
prise and admiration were so great that he
! stood like statue, musket On his shoulder,
and his mind almost tdoubtiDX what bis
| eyes saw.
Suddenly, and without an instant's warn
| ing, the horse sprxng forward to the At
tack. Catching the sentinel BY the shoulder
| with his teeth. he raised him clear OF the
ground, and shook him right and left - II
be was an empty grain bag, and then hurl-
| ed him against the heavy gate with terri
| BILE force. The yell Of pain and alarm ut
| tered fby the sentinel bad scarcely died
away before the relief came hurrying out.
| They found him lying In . heap beside the
s,ockade, unconscious. and his uniform in
tatters. There vas DO enemy 10 sight -
not even Q wolf skulked away through the
darkness. A general alarm was sounded.
the drums beat u arms, and for quarter
Of an hour the excitement was intense,
every one believing that large force Ol
Indians was on the point Of making an As.
sault.
When the sentinel recovered his senses
and related his adventure. no Que would
believe his story until . sergeant had ex'
| amjped the earth and discovered the hool
prints Of the horse. II was. however, such
| . singular adventure that no one felt easy
until morning came. Then the trail Of the
white horse could be followed fAr out on
the prairie; and sOOn after sunrise the
horse himself Was discovered bearing down
on the fort from the direction OF the noun.
tain range three miles aWAy. As the word
went round, every man turned out 70 catch
sight Of the animal about which 20 much
had been said. He came forward At q
sweeping trot. head up. tail streaming faf
behind, and his kuee-sction as perfect ~ II
he had been trained on the course for years
He sWerved neither 70 the right nor lefs
snd never.halted until he was within pistol
shot OF the crowd at the stockade.
The sentinel had net exaggerated In hia
statements. The color Was snow white,
and such strength and symmetry no one
had ever before seen in . horse. The earl
we're pointed, the eyes - bright - stars
and the sun glistened on his hide as II i
had lheeu vanished. For two or thre<
mioutse nos . word Was spoken oy Any
man. and the horse did not move foot.
Then . scout aud ibunter, Who had come
into the fort about half IN hour before
said to the commander:
"Why. that's the hoss known smong q
and tie Injuns - White DevtlF I've seeE
hjw four or I've times, and I've heard o.
him st least once Q week for the last nv
yeass. He's the ugliest. slyest, sud mos
tfeacherous bsase stauding on four legs
The soout related that the horse before
then cane 70 his notics about i've year
before, vhe0 tha In6iAos oade eevera! ~
teopss 70 espture hin. He wes singled on
from the drove and pursued for severe
days. and In despair Of securing sim. ON
Of The red osa soUght 70 Kill him: 20 "a
10 ouo eleo should seeere Tie pri9e. -.
boess was ealy woanded ~ ~ oenes ses'