A Trip on the Prairie. 189 



down again. But at a very early age the fawns learn how 

 to shift for themselves, and can then run almost as fast as 

 their parents, even when no larger than a jack-rabbit. 

 Once, while we were haying, a couple of my cow-boys 

 spent half an hour in trying to run down and capture a 

 little fawn, but they were unable to catch it, it ran so fast 

 and ducked about so quickly. Antelope fawns are very 

 easily tamed and make most amusing pets. We have had 

 two or three, but have never succeeded in rearing any of 

 them ; but some of the adjoining ranchmen have been 

 more fortunate. They are not nearly so pretty as deer 

 fawns, having long, gangling legs and angular bodies, but 

 they are much more familiar and interesting. One of my 

 neighbors has three live prong-horns, as well as two little 

 spotted white-tail deer. The deer fawns are always skulk- 

 ing about, and are by no means such bold inquisitive little 

 creatures as the small antelope are. The latter have a 

 nurse in the shape of a fat old ewe ; and it is funny to 

 see her, when alarmed, running off at a waddling gait, 

 while her ungainly little foster-children skip round and 

 round her, cutting the most extraordinary antics. There 

 are a couple of very large dogs, mastiffs, on the place, 

 whose natural solemnity is completely disconcerted by the 

 importunities and fearlessness of the little antelope fawns. 

 Where one goes the other two always follow ; and so one 

 of the mastiffs, while solemnly blinking in the sun, will 

 suddenly find himself charged at full speed by the three 

 queer little creatures, who will often fairly butt up against 

 him. The uneasy look of the dog, and his efforts to get 

 out of the way without compromising his dignity, are 

 really very comical. 



