HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 269 



advantage of any creek, dell, or brushwood that may 

 serve to conceal them from the observation of the 

 out-pickets ; if they succeed in reaching the extremity 

 of the village undiscovered, they stand up and walk 

 deliberately through it, wrapped in their buffalo 

 robes. They can no longer be distinguished from the 

 Pawnees by the faint light of the half-extinguished 

 fires ; and as they pass the groups of horses collected 

 before their respective owners' lodges, they cut with 

 a sharp knife the laryettes that secure those they 

 purpose to carry off. As soon as they have loosened 

 the required number^ each man jumps upon one, and 

 they drive off the rest at full speed, shaking their 

 blankets and urging the alarmed animals to their 

 utmost exertions. Of course they obtain a consider- 

 able start of any pursuit, and, if the night is dark, 

 run but little risk of being overtaken. 



'The manner of securing horses on the prairie 

 against these depredators is twofold; either to tie 

 them by a laryette passed round the neck ; or to 

 " hobble " them, which is effected by tying the fore- 

 legs close together, by leather thongs passed round 

 them, below the knee-joint. This latter is the safer 

 plan, because a thief can sometimes cut the laryette 

 as he walks, without risk of observation ; but if he 

 stoops down to untie or cut a strong leather thong 

 between the shins of a horse, he not only runs more 

 risk of alarming the animal, but incurs suspicion 

 from any one who may happen to be lying awake in 



