Crossing the Great Plains 47 



On one occasion Bennie observed some 

 queer maneuvres by about twenty antelope, 

 who were galloping to and fro like wild 

 horses. Suddenly they would all stop and 

 stand stock still, each with his head held in 

 the same position. Then of one accord they 

 were off running side by side, or in file 

 as the case might be, until they were again 

 suddenly halted by their leader. Sometimes 

 they would turn upon a pivot, wheeling 

 like cavalry, to go off like the wind in a 

 new direction. These strange tactics they 

 kept up for nearly an hour, until the 

 schooner was out of sight of them. 



In many of the slopes of the rolling plains 

 there were towns of prairie dogs, queer little 

 chaps about the size of a half-grown wood- 

 chuck, and looking something like a small 

 chucky. If the team went too near to their 

 town, they would set up a great yelping and 

 barking, each sitting upon his tail near his 

 hole, and at the sound of a gun, all would 



