A Trip on the Prairie. 205 



This trick of running in a straight line is another of 

 the antelope's peculiar characteristics which frequently 

 lead it into danger. Although with so much sharper eyes 

 than a deer, antelope are in many ways far stupider ani- 

 mals, more like sheep, and they especially resemble the 

 latter in their habit of following a leader, and in their 

 foolish obstinacy in keeping to a course they have once 

 adopted. If a horseman starts to head off a deer the 

 latter will always turn long before he has come within 

 range, but quite often an antelope will merely increase his 

 speed and try to pass ahead of his foe. Almost always, 

 however, one if alone will keep out of gunshot, owing to 

 the speed at which he goes, but if there are several in a 

 band which is well strung out, the leader only cares for his 

 own safety and passes well ahead himself. The others 

 follow like sheep, without turning in the least from the 

 line the first followed, and thus may pass within close 

 range. If the leader bounds into the air, those following 

 will often go through exactly the same motions ; and if he 

 turns, the others are very apt to each in succession run up 

 and turn in the same place, unless the whole band are 

 manoeuvring together, like a squadron of cavalry under 

 orders, as has already been spoken of. 



After securing the buck's hams and head (the latter 

 for the sake of the horns, which were unusually long and 

 fine), I pushed rapidly on without stopping to hunt, to 

 reach some large creek which should contain both wood 

 and water, for even in summer a fire adds greatly to the 

 comfort and cosiness of a night camp. When the sun 

 had nearly set we went over a divide and came in sight of a 



