ON THE PRAIRIE 63 



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 outwit- 

 ting antelope on the several occasions v 

 I pitted my craft and skill against their \ 

 ness and keen senses, always either failing to 

 get within range or else missing them : 

 nevertheless I got two by taking advantage 

 of the stupidity and curiosity which they oc- 

 casionally 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 

 > 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 comparatively wild region in which game 

 is still plentiful, always has great attraction 

 for any man who cares for sport and for 

 nature, and who is able to be his own com- 



