222 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



in the light of their own campfire. Knowing then that the party was 

 from Fishhook VUlage, Kidney announced that they would have some 

 fun with them and "strike them" while they slept. They sneaked in 

 close and listened to the young fellows talli, not knowing that their 

 horses had been taken from them and that "enemies" were in the 

 neighborhood. Kidney's party rushed them so fast that it was not 

 possible to tell who had "struck the coups." The boys were without 

 food as the enemy had been close on their tracks. Nevertheless, they 

 had permitted their own people to sneak into their camp, steal their 

 horses, and strike coups on them. The boys were fed and their 

 horses were returned to them in the morning. Their credit for stealing 

 two horses was somewhat dampened when Kidney's party returned 

 and told the young men's joking relatives of striking coup on them 

 in the night. 



The Hidatsa endeavored to organize their military activities so that 

 the warriors advanced in status by degrees in much the same manner 

 as advancements were made through the age-grade series. Boys 14 

 or 15 years of age who had done some fasting, were skilled with 

 weapons, and were handy around horses, were selected as camp tenders 

 as rewards for effective and faithful fasting or for caring for the older 

 men's horses. On these military expeditions, the boys waited on the 

 leader and the older men of Old Wolf status, bringing wood for the 

 fires, preparing the food, and attending to the horses. On these trips, 

 the boys were given few opportunities to leave the main party either 

 to steal horses or to engage in fighting: The leader kept them near him 

 all the time. They assisted the leader by bringing things needed in 

 the rites — ^wood, branches, or dried buffalo manure — and usually 

 served as waiter in passing the ceremonial pipes around to the warriors. 

 Whenever the leader called for assistance, the camp tenders were 

 expected to jump up and perform the duty requested, even though one 

 could do the job as well as several. Camp tenders cared for the horses, 

 seeing that they got water and grass, and generally made themselves 

 useful wherever they could. In case a member was wounded in 

 battle, they cared for him. The military pattern provided public 

 recognition for their services and those who performed faithfully were 

 praised publicly when the party returned to the village. Even in 

 later life, as a distinguished war leader, one would often relate publicly 

 his exploits as a boy when he built a travois on which to bring back to 

 the vUlage those wounded in battle, feeding and watching over them all 

 the time, and thus saving their lives. 



Even as those who had shown interest and obedience while serving 

 as camp tenders were praised publicly by the leader, names of those 

 who were lazy and wanted to sleep all the time were omitted. The 

 tribe would listen during the Victory dances for the names of those who 



