A Trip on the Prairie 233 



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. 



A solitary trip such as this was, through a com- 

 paratively wild region in which game is still plenti- 

 ful, always has great attraction for any man who 

 cares for sport and for nature, and who is able to be 

 his own companion, but the pleasure, after all, de- 

 pends a good deal on the weather. To be sure, 

 after a little experience in roughing it, the hardships 

 seem a good deal less formidable than they formerly 

 did, and a man becomes able to roll up in a wet 

 blanket and sleep all night in a pelting rain without 

 hurting himself though he will shiver a good deal, 

 and feel pretty numb and stiff in those chill and 

 dreary hours just before dawn. But when a man's 

 clothes and bedding and rifle are all wet, no matter 

 how philosophically he may bear it, it may be taken 

 for granted that he does not enjoy it. So fair 

 weather is a very vital and important element among 

 those that go to make up the pleasure and success of 

 such a trip. Luckily fair weather can be counted 

 on with a good deal of certainty in late spring and 



