Prongbuck 245 



an equal distance apart. Soon these left the others and 

 careered about like twin meteors, this way and that, then our 

 way; at first in changing line, but later directly toward us. 

 Their wonderful speed soon ate up the intervening mile or two, 

 and we now saw clearly that they were Antelope, one in pursuit 

 of the other. High over their heads a golden eagle was sailing. 



On they came. The half mile shrank to a couple of hun- 

 dred yards, and we saw that they were bucks — the hind one the 

 larger — dashing straight toward us. As they yet neared we 

 could see the smaller one making desperate efforts to avoid 

 the savage lunges of the big one's horns, and barely maintaining 

 the scant six feet that were between him and his foe. 



We reined up to watch, for it now was clear that the 

 smaller buck had been defeated in battle, and was trying to 

 save his life by flight. But his heaving flanks and gaping, 

 dribbling mouth showed that he could not hold out much 

 longer. Straight on he came toward us, the deadliest foes 

 of his race, the ones he fears the most. 



He was clearly between two deaths — which should he sanctu- 

 choose ? He seemed not to hesitate — the 200 yards shrank 

 to 100, the 100 to 50 — then the pursuer slacked his speed, 

 seeing that it would be folly to come farther. The fugitive 

 kept on until he dashed right in among our startled horses. 

 The eagle alighted on a rock 200 yards away. 



The victorious buck veered off, shaking his sharp, black 

 horns, and circling at a safe distance around our cavalcade to 

 intercept his victim when he should come out the other side. 

 But the victim did not come out. He felt that he was saved, 

 and he stayed with us. The other buck, seeing that he was 

 balked, gave up the attempt, and turning back, sailed across 

 the plain, till he became a white speck that rejoined the other 

 specks — no doubt the does that had caused the duel. 



The vanquished buck with us stood for a time panting, 

 lolling his tongue, and showing every sign of dire distress. It 

 would have been easy to lasso him, but none of us had any 

 desire to do him harm. In a very short time he regained his 



