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CHAPTEE XXXVIII. 



STEALING. 



Ix the estimation of the Indian, the skilful thief stands 

 very nearly, if not quite, on a par with the daring fighter. 



The one attracts the admiration, not unmixed with 

 the fear, of his compeers ; while admiration for the other 

 is only modified by envy of his skill and consequent 

 wealth. ; Money makes the mare go ' among red skins 

 as among white skins ; and the man who owns a big herd 

 of horses and mules (the wealth of the Indian) is a most 

 respectable and respected man, however he got them. 

 Where all are such magnificent thieves, it is difficult to 

 decide which of the plains tribes deserves the palm for 

 stealing. 



The Indians themselves give it to the Comanches, 

 whose designation in the sign language of the plains is a 

 forward, wriggling motion of the fore finger, signifying 

 a snake, and indicating the silent stealth of that tribe. 

 This is true of the Comanches, who for crawling into 

 a camp, cutting hobbles and lariat ropes, and getting off 

 with animals undiscovered, are unsurpassed and unsur- 

 passable. But for dash and boldness in thieving, I think 

 the Cheyennes stand first, though closely emulated by the 

 Kiowas. 



I have known a Cornanche to crawl into a bivouac 

 where a dozen men were sleeping, each with his horse 

 tied to his wrist by the lariat, cut a rope within six feet 

 of a sleeper's person, and get off with the horse without 

 waking a soul. 



The corral fence at Fort Inge, Texas, was made of 



DD 



