THE ANTELOPE, OR PRONG-HORN. 377 



where we expected to meet some sturdy males that would 

 test to the utmost the speed of the dogs. We had not 

 proceeded half a mile, ere we encountered a solitary and 

 burly old fellow grazing in a gully. As soon as he saw 

 us, he gazed at the unusual apparition for a few moments, 

 then broke away at a slashing gait. The young hound 

 having strayed off a short distance, managed to get on 

 his line of flight and to turn him to the left; and this 

 movement enabled the larger dogs to get a short-cut, by 

 which they closed rapidly upon him. Breaking away in a 

 straight line, he made for the streamlet near which we en- 

 camped in the morning ; but the hounds clung to him, and 

 for a distance of two miles forced him to his best pace, so 

 that they did not seem to gain an inch. Our party, who 

 were quietly seated in their saddles, were preparing to 

 follow the chase, as it was rapidly retreating from our 

 range of vision, when it suddenly appeared on the right, 

 the crafty stag having decided to seek safety among the 

 higher ridges; but the determined pursuers had closed the 

 distance so much that, ere he could seek his retreat, he was 

 compelled to double and turn in evei-y possible direction. 

 This was the prettiest bit of a run I ever saw, for, quick as 

 were the twists of the fugitive, those of the hounds were 

 not less so, and they lost little ground in the doublings. 

 Within an area of one mile the animal was turned twelve 

 or fifteen times, perhaps ; but overcome by fatigue, and the 

 presence on every side of some one of its pursuers, which 

 left it no means of escape except outrunning them, it be- 

 gan to slacken its pace, until it was finally dragged to the 

 earth by its merciless foes. When we reached the quarry 

 it was alive, the hounds being too weary to kill it ; so a 

 revolver was put to its head, as it was injured so much 

 as to be unable to live any length of time. Were it not 

 for its injuries, the gallant creature would have received 

 its life for the sake of the amusement it afforded and the 

 display of speed it manifested. 



As the dogs were too fatigued to run any more for some 

 time, we went in quest of fawns, and, meeting many, we 



