A Trip on the Prairie. 213 



tried one unsuccessful stalk, not being able to come within 

 rifle range ; but towards evening, when only about a mile 

 from a wooded creek on whose banks I intended to sleep, 

 I came across a solitary buck, just as I was topping the 

 ridge of the last divide. As I was keeping a sharp look- 

 out at the time, I reined in the horse the instant the head 

 of the antelope came in sight, and jumping off crept up till 

 I could see his whole body, when I dropped on my knee 

 and took steady aim. He was a long way off (three hun- 

 dred yards by actual pacing), and not having made out 

 exactly what we were he stood still, looking intently in 

 our direction and broadside to us. I held well over 

 his shoulder, and at the report he dropped like a shot, 

 the ball having broken his neck. It was a very good shot ; 

 the best I ever made at antelope, of which game, as already 

 said, I have killed but very few individuals. Taking the 

 hams and saddle I rode on down to the creek and again 

 went into camp among timber. Thus on this trip I was 

 never successful in outwitting antelope on the several 

 occasions when I pitted my craft and skill against their 

 wariness and keen senses, always either failing to get 

 within range or else missing them ; but nevertheless I got 

 two by taking advantage of the stupidity and curiosity 

 which they occasionally show. 



The middle part of the days having proved so very hot, 

 and as my store of biscuits was nearly gone, and as I knew, 

 moreover, that the antelope meat would not keep over 

 twenty-four hours, I decided to push back home next day ; 

 and accordingly I broke camp at the first streak of dawn, 

 and took Manitou back to the ranch at a smart lope. 



