PATIENCE BEWAEDED. 123 



threatenings of attack. " The prospect of venison was now 

 in the ascendant. I commenced to believe my eggs near 

 enough hatched to count them chickens, when a con- 

 founded prairie-dog, who doubtless had been watching all 

 my strategy, uttered his shrill, quick whistle, and took a 

 header into his burrow. This was enough ; the antelopes 

 simultaneously closed into a bunch, and with every sense 

 strained looked eagerly around for the cause of alarm. A 

 closer stalk was impossible, the movement of a mouse 

 could not escape their notice ; so springing on one knee, 

 I pulled both triggers almost simultaneously, taking sight 

 for the nearest of the ruck. As the smoke lifted, with 

 satisfaction I beheld two victims, one apparently dead, the 

 other making violent efforts to get upon his pins, while the 

 remainder of the drove were scampering across the prairie 

 at such a pace as these animals only are capable of going. 

 As quickly as possible I reloaded my gun, and on 

 advancing to bleed my victims, the wounded buck got 

 his legs under him, and frad I not given him the right 

 barrel, a nice clean shot at fifty yards tumbling him all 

 of a heap, I should have been left with only a single 

 prize. 



After bleeding my trophies, I went after Broomstick, 

 who, like all perverse beasts, had grazed off at as rapid a 

 pace as possible, in exactly the reverse direction to that 

 wanted. Oh, Broomstick, you provoking brute ! was ever an 

 unfortunate sportsman so tortured by having to endure the 

 vagaries of so ugly and obstinate a steed ! Venting my 

 indignation on his sparsely- covered ribs, and giving him 

 every second stride a reminder that his owner was on his 



