48 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



springing on his horse and following it. If the wound is a severe 

 one and the horse fleet, the Antelope may generally be secured by 

 this means, though often only after a long chase. If however it be 

 but slightly wounded another herd should be sought without delay. 

 Pursuit under these circumstances will in all probability result onty 

 in injury to the steed, while the game will easily escape. 



The early morning, when the herds are feeding, is of course the 

 best time to hunt the Antelope, and the sportsman who starts be- 

 fore sunrise will get more shots during the first two hours hunt- 

 ing than during all the rest of the day. 



The officers of posts in the Antelope country, often hunt them 

 with greyhounds, and a most noble and exhilarating sport this is. 

 To cope successfully in speed with these animals, however, dogs 

 of unusual fleetness are required. Besides this the Antelope do 

 not regard cactus at all, while a dog, in running through a thick 

 bed of these pestiferous plants, may often be absolutely crippled. 

 The dogs are brought within view, as near the quarry as possible, 

 the hunters are to follow on their horses as best they may. The 

 hounds having been slipped the chase begins. The startled herd 

 stand gazing for an instant as if to determine the character of the 

 approaching whirlwind, and then wheeling seem to float from 

 view beyond the bluff. The dogs, fresh and eager, soon narrow 

 the intervening space, but the Antelope, finding themselves so 

 hotly pursued, redouble their exertions. In their headlong flight 

 their hoofs scarce touch the ground. The hunters find difficulty 

 in keeping the chase in view, but by dint of whip and spur, those 

 best mounted are able to follow. The aspect of the " field " is 

 continually changing. Stragglers are left behind, and winded dogs 

 withdraw, till at the end of fifteen minutes the game has outstrip- 

 ped men and dogs, or the exhausted quarry is dragged to the 

 ground, and is soon dispatched by the panting, but exultant rider, 

 who is first in at the death. 



During the Yellowstone expedition of 1873, General Stanley's 

 dog Gibbon is said to have captured unaided, no less than twenty- 

 four unwounded antelopes. There is probably no other dog in 

 the country that can approach this record. 



Where Antelope are numerous, but the prairie is too level to 

 afford the requisite cover for the stalker, the animals may some- 



