DENIG] 



THE ASSINIBOIN 547 



owners and the rest grazing near. Sometimes pens are made around 

 the lodges, the horses driven in at dark, and cottonwood bark thrown 

 in for them to eat. The risk of extracting horses from the interior 

 of a camp is very great, as young men are moving about from lodge 

 to lodge all night in their various prosecutions of schemes on women ; 

 but the horses must be had. and the venture must be made. 



Near daylight, when all the people of the camp are supposed to 

 be asleep, but when yet dark (and the darkest kind of nights are 

 chosen) each warrior creeps slowly and silently toward that portion 

 of horses apparently the best situated to be taken off unperceived. 

 Should he in this way be so fortunate as to reach them without dis- 

 covery he cuts the cords with which they are tied and works them 

 gradually into the shade or darkness, then mounting one, drives 

 the whole to the appointed place of rendezvous. But owing to the 

 many obstacles in the way of each, the probability of some one being 

 observed is great, and in that case the whole camp is alarmed on the 

 instant, each rushing toward his horses. Shots are fired and the 

 warriors seek safety in flight, with or without horses as it happens. 

 If there be snow to show their tracks the enemy pursues them the 

 next day, but if no trail can be found to follow they abandon it. 

 In either case the warriors shape their course individually toward 

 the appointed place of meeting, and if all are not assembled, leave 

 some token for those not arrived to know they have passed, and 

 continue their flight. 



The horses are put to full speed day and night for several days 

 in succession until entirely out of reach of pursuit, and now begins 

 a series of quarrels as to the right of possession of the animals. 

 Some who have been disappointed and drove none off take from 

 those who have. The leader takes several, combinations of two or 

 three to rob another are entered into, horses are killed in the quarrel, 

 or stolen from each other, and unless a great haul has been made. 

 very little satisfaction appears. These differences are mostly gotten 

 through with before reaching home and they make known their 

 approach by setting the prairie on fire. When arrived in the out- 

 skirts they shoot and sing, but do not black themselves for stealing 

 horses, unless they have brought a scalp also, which occasionally 

 happens. If any of their party have been killed they arrive utter- 

 ing loud lamentations. 



The whole camp turns out to meet them. The old women cry 

 over their sons, rubbing the hand down their face, a great deal of 

 flattery is used by some of the elderly men. shouting the name of 

 some one of the warriors in a loud voice, stating his bravery, great- 

 ness of heart, etc., until overwhelmed by glory, he presents him with 

 one of the horses. Great is the joy and tumult, and it frequently 



