Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-16
TIE WHITE HORSE.

the sentinel pacing up and down
before the gates Of Fort Defiance,
up in the northeastern part Of Ari-
zonis, suddenly heard the hoof-beat
Of = horse.
Halt. Who comes there :" rang
out the challenge, but there was no
answer.
1t was a starlight night. Two or
three hundred feet away the senti-
mel caught sight of a white horse
approaching him at brisk walk.
When he could see the horse, he
could also see -thst it had no rider.
Droves Of wild horses, and still
wilder mustangs, were frequently
seen from the fort, and the senti-
mel was rather pleased that one Of
them was being led by curiosity TO
approach the gate.
The horse grew whittier and larg-
er as be came nearer, and when he
halted he was not over ten feet
from the guard. He was tall and
powerfully built, name hanging al
most 10 his knees, and tail sweep
ing the ground, and he was white
as snow. Head up, ears pointed
forward, and eyes opened to their
widest extent, the wild horse stood
for long time and looked into the
soldiers face. His nostrils dilated,
his tail moved this way and that,
snd the muscles Of his powerful
chest and legs stood out in bold re-
lief. The soldiers surprise and ad-
miration were so great that be
stood like s statue, musket on his
shoulder, and his mind almost
doubling what his eyes saw.
Suddenly. and without an in
stant's warning, the horse sprang
forward to the attack. Catching
the sentinel by the shoulder with
his teeth, be raised him clear ofi
the ground, and shook him right
and left. IS if be was so empty
grain bag. and then hurled him
against the heavy gate with terri
bic force. The yell Of pain and
slsrm uttered by the sentinel had
scarcely died away before relief
came out They found him lying
in 8 heap beside the s,ockade, un'
conscious. and his uniform in tat
tiers. There was no enemy in sight
not even s wolf skulked ava!
through the darkness 4 genera
alarm was sounded, the drums bea
10 arms, and for quarter OF 81
hour the excitement was intense
every one believing that s larg'
force Of Indians was on the poin
Of making 81 assault
When the sentinel recovered hi
senses, snd related his adventure
no one would believe his story, or
I'll s sergeant bad examined th
earth and discovered the hoof print
of the horse. 1t Was, hoEeve
such q singular adventure, that I
one felt easy until morning cam
Then the trail Of the white hor:
could be followed far ont on th
prairie, and soon after sunrise q
horse itself was discovered besrin
down on the fort from the directic
Of the mountain range, three mil
away. As the word went roun
every man turned out to cate
sight Of the animal about which
much bad been said.
He came forward at sveepiT
trot, bead up, tail streaming far b
hind. and bis knee-ac,ion As perfe
IS il be bad been trained on 6
course for years He sverv
neither to the right nor left, a
never haulted until be was with
pis,ol shot Of the crowd at {
stockade.
The sentinel bad not exsgger'
ed in his statements The CO
was spox-vhite, and soeh strene
and symmetry, no one bad ever
fore seen in . horse. The e'
we're pointed, eyes ~ bright
stars, and the sun glistened on
hide as II 10 bad been vanished,
For two or three minutes no NO
was spoken By any man, and
horse did not move . foot IN
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