HUNTING THE PRONG-BUCK. 287 



appear perfectly bewildered. "When, by this 

 manoeuvre, the Indians have approached suffi- 

 ciently near, each throws his unerring lasso, then 

 shoots arrows at the flying herd. As many as 

 six are often killed and caught at one circling. 



On foot the crafty savage, getting the wind of 

 the herd, crawls along the grass, and every now 

 and then lies on his back, and elevates his two 

 legs into the air. Attached to the heel of each 

 mocassin is a strip of ermine-skin, which floats 

 like a pennant. The antelopes soon notice it, 

 stand, and look ; down go the heels, and on the 

 Indian crawls ; and if the herd does not come 

 towards him, he gets a little nearer. In a short 

 time their curiosity tempts them to approach 

 slowly and cautiously towards the two feet, 

 which are performing every variety of strange 

 evolution. Near enough, they too soon discover 

 their error ; the twang of the string and whistling 

 arrow, that goes up to the feather-end in the 

 chest of the foremost male, warns the others to 

 fly, and leave their leader and king a prey to the 

 wily redskin. 



We are on the sandy waste, and right well 

 does it merit its name desert, for a more dismal 

 barren wilderness cannot be imagined ; its surface 

 is all pumice and cinders, with nothing growing 



