230 THE OX FAMILY 



My acquaintance with the beautiful, bright-eyed, 

 dark-hoofed, prong-horned antelope began many years 

 ago, when only one railway extended across his plains, 

 and only a few years after that road was opened for 

 business. 



It was then a common sight to see from the car- 

 windows the Indian villages, with skin-covered tepees, 

 and many of the Indians themselves, in bright blankets, 

 riding about on their ponies. Many Indians rode on 

 the tops of the freight-cars and sometimes on the 

 platforms of passenger trains. The antelopes were seen 

 shortly after leaving Omaha, on the Nebraska prairies, 

 and as the train passed into Wyoming the antelopes 

 were almost constantly in sight, grazing in bands or 

 racing away with an airy grace most charming to 

 behold. 



When near the train, or in motion, the antelopes were 

 easily seen, but when standing still at a distance they 

 were not so noticeable, since their yellowish-red coats 

 harmonized well with the gray-brown tone of the 

 plains. At one of the small stations an Indian joined 

 me on the rear platform of the Pullman car, where I 

 had taken my seat the better to observe the view while 

 I smoked a cigar. The Indian knew but a few English 

 words, among them, however, were " cigars " and 

 " antelope." Upon his saying the former word, I sup- 

 plied his want, and he often said "antelope" and 

 pointed out animals at a distance which I certainly 

 would not have seen without his calling my attention 

 to them. 



The conductor came to the door and said " Tickets," 

 and when I handed him mine he at once handed it 



