224 Hunting Trips on the Prairie 



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 al- 

 ways, 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, with- 

 out turning in the least from the line the first fol- 

 lowed, 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 lat- 

 ter 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 con- 

 tain 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 creek fulfilling 

 .the required conditions. It wound its way through 

 a valley of rich bottom land, cottonwood trees of no 

 great height or size growing in thick groves along 

 its banks, while its bed contained many deep pools of 

 water, some of it fresh and good. I rode into a 

 great bend, with a grove of trees on its right and 

 containing excellent feed. Manitou was loosed, 



