ANTELOPE. 199 



locate the sound of the rifle, or to see any dust, they 

 rushed round and round the glade, and only escaped 

 after I had knocked down seven of their number. 



Another trait he has in common with the domestic 

 sheep, namely, that where the leader goes the rest will 

 follow at all hazards ; and if the leader, in his fright, or 

 from having been hit, should bound in the air, all the 

 others bound likewise in the most ridiculous manner. A 

 knowledge of this peculiarity enables the hunter fre- 

 quently to bag antelope which would otherwise escape 

 him. 



Sometimes a herd will start in a diagonal direction 

 which the sportsman can cut by rapid riding. Provided 

 he does not interfere with the course of the leader, he 

 need not fear that the others will change their direction. 

 As he nears them they increase their speed, but keep in 

 the track of the leader, and the hunter may get near 

 enough for several good shots. I one afternoon bagged 

 three antelope by successive shots from my hunting 

 waggon, in which, by a rapid dash across the prairie, I 

 had cut their line of flight. 



I have already spoken of the antipathy of the ante- 

 lope to woods and close canons, and their disposition 

 always to take refuge on the open prairie. This I have 

 frequently taken advantage of. A herd being discovered 

 in a canon, a circuit is made, and the hunter suddenly 

 shows himself at the mouth of the canon. Without a 

 moment's hesitation the whole herd will rush for the open, 

 even though they have to pass within twenty feet of the 

 sportsman. A friend and myself one day bagged five in 

 such a rush, the herd passing within thirty yards of us. 



The antelope is the most fleet of all the plains animals, 

 though he may be pulled down by greyhounds, and on a 

 few occasions I have run into a herd on a good horse. 

 His run is remarkably even and regular, so that he is 

 nearly as good a mark running as when standing. Indeed, 

 I think I have bagged more antelope on the run than 



