He was pastured in lonely grandeur in a spacious corral, shunned by all,
but apparently happy enough in spite of this. The three boys often
watched him at a safe distance, and regretted that his evil temper made
it impossible to be friendly with him. Satan often lost many a lump of
sugar or delicious carrot that he would have gotten had he been of a more
friendly nature, in this way resembling many humans who build up a wall
of reserve or ill-temper about them, and so lose many of the good things
of life.
Soon after the arrival of the boys at the ranch Mr. Melton decided to
purchase another stallion, as the demand for good horses at that time
was exceptionally great. Accordingly, one day another horse made his
appearance in a corral adjacent to that in which Satan was kept. The new
horse was a good-sized bay, but not quite as large as Satan, although a
little younger. The two corrals were separated by a double fence, so
that, while the two horses could get within a few feet of each other,
they could never get close enough to fight.
From the very beginning they exhibited a mutual hatred, and it was
evident that if they ever got within striking distance of each other
there would be trouble.
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