"They rode like the Devil"

Bishop Spangenberg 

After the Moravians established themselves in North Carolina in 1753, Brother Spangenberg came up with the idea of riding rapidly on one's horse through Indian country. His thought was that Indians would find shooting a man on a galloping horse difficult. Of course he was right. When Bethania, a new Moravian Village, was founded 3 miles from, Moravian, Bethabara there was of course travel between the two villages. 

On one occasion Brother Spangenberg went with some of the men, who were plainly nervous, word having come that morning that Indians had been seen in the neighborhood. “Brothers”, said the bishop, “you do not know how to ride, let me show you.” He spurred his horse into a gallup. He maintained that speed for the entire distance between the villages. 

Thereafter that was the custom whenever there was rumor, or fact, that local Indians were being aggressive. As time passed the infrequent hostility of the Indians ended. The Native Americans admitted that time and again they had planned to take prisoners between the Old town (Bethabara) and the new village of Bethania but, said the Indians, “the Dutchers had big fat horses and rode like the devil.”