RED INDIANS 109 



the hostile camp at night, loose and drive off 

 the war horses tied at the lodge doors, or 

 stampede the tribal herd, and drive straight 

 for home. These Httle excursions, practised 

 by all the tribes, led to occasional unpleasant- 

 ness between them, and engagements were 

 fought when one side could lure the other into 

 an ambush, cut off a hunting or war party of 

 the enemy, or surprise a hostile camp. Fight- 

 ing mounted with lance or bow and arrows, 

 the Blackfeet developed forty thousand cavalry 

 within twenty-five years from the day they first 

 saw a pony. Shock action was unusual, and 

 the tactics were generally those of cavalry in 

 reconnaissance. A raw-hide string round the 

 pony's lower jaw, and a robe tied on the back 

 with a surcingle completed the equipment ; but 

 the warrior, whose costume was a breech clout, 

 would usually be attended by a pack pony to 

 carry his war kit and face paint for use on oc- 

 casions of high ceremonial, or a full dress battle. 

 It is a superstition of running and jumping 

 horsemanship that a big horse and a httle man 

 are the right combination for travel. The Red 

 Indian of the Plains would average five foot 

 ten, and his pony say thirteen hands, a big 

 man on a very little mount. The United 

 States cavalry were on the average smaller 



