Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-07
Hsrse-Stealinx In Algeria

The Arab who is projecting a mssterstroke ,
and intends selecting the handsomest out of a
thousand steeds, usually comes in the course
OF the day to inspect the bivouac, although he
j: obliged to make his preliminary observa-
tions from distance-from a very consider
able distance, it may be. The natives, in fact,
are allowed to penetrate easily into the middle
OF an encampment, but they are almost ALWAYS
people of the neighborhood who form part of
the expeditionary columns, such as camel
drivers, herdsmen, and pack horse dealers,
who have been hired for the transport of pro.
visions. In the latter case, the Arab thief
VIII be mistaken for one of the men employed
He will take good care that no one shall see
him enter. His choice made, the rogue dis
appears till night. In order to return to the
middle OF the bivouac, he habitually divests
himself OF every item Of clothing, and retains
no other arm than a well-shsrpened knife, in
leather sheath, slung with a strap across
rope OF camePs hair, which is twisted round his
head like turban. As soon as he has passed
the first sentriss, the thief is metamorphosed
into serpent; be crawls on continually with.
out hUrrying, without noise, without any per-
eeptible rustling. With his eyes fixed on the
living objects whom he wishes to ayoid, he stops
short if he percsives in the sentinels the slight
est sign that their attention has been attracted.
be will take three hours if need be to clear
distance of 100 yards. At last he gets near
the coveted object, the horse intended to be
stolen. There his movements are more deliber-
ate than ever, in order not to frighten the
animal, who must not be allowed several min
utes to perform any not very natural motions,
capable OF deceiving the eye of the most vigi-
lantsentinel. At iTst he cuts the shackles with
which the horses fore feet are tied together,
he fastens his rope to one of the horses feet
and retires, crawling all the while, as far as the
length Of the rope allows him. The distance
between himself and the animal then varies
from II to is feet. If during these prepara-
tlons the horsekeepers appear to have heard
any noise, the thief again remains motionless;
the horse remaining quiet, and the sentinels
resuming their former tranquility, the process
OF stealing is continued. The Arab slightly
pulls the rope; solicited by this mute appeal,
the horse rises and sets a step; but the move
pent is so perfectly similar TO that which the
animal Is in the habit of making when he
wants to reach a wisp Of hay or blade of grass
q little way off the stskh to which he is fasten-
ed, that by night, nine sentinels out of ten
would be deceived.
Ihe roooer repeats the same maneuver as long
as possible. As he has carefully studied the
ground he will continue il while no alarm is
given; but generally once out of the immediate
reach Of the men whose duty it is to keep
special watch over the stolen horse he leaps
on the animals back and sets of at a full
gallop, well knowing that gunshots by night
are only dangerous for the comrades Of those
who IRE them. Sometimes the thief covers his
entire person with leaves, but will commit no
such foolish act in a country denuded of shrubs
and bushes. On naked ground he Is as naked
as snake; in bushy country he transforms
himself into living bush; in short he assimi-
lates his person to the aspect of the country he
Is traVersing.-AH The Year Round.