48 HUNTING TRIPS 



stretched necks, went at an even, regular gait 

 that offered a strong contrast to the spring- 

 ing bounds with which a deer runs. At last 

 the two leading animals crossed the line of 

 my flight ahead of me ; when I pulled short 

 up, leaped from Manitou's back, and blazed 

 into the band as they went by not forty yards 

 off, aiming well ahead of a fine buck who 

 was on the side nearest me. An antelope's 

 gait is so even that it offers a good running 

 mark; and as the smoke blew off I saw the 

 buck roll over like a rabbit, with both shoul- 

 ders broken. I then emptied the Winchester 

 at the rest of the band, breaking one hind 

 leg of a young buck. Hastily cutting the 

 throat of, and opening, the dead buck, I 

 again mounted and started .off after the 

 wounded one. But, though only on three 

 legs, it went astonishingly fast, having had 

 a good start; and after following it over a 

 mile I gave up the pursuit, though I had 

 gained a good deal; for the heat was very 

 great, and I did not deem it well to tire 

 the horse at the beginning of the trip. Re- 



