AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 205 



They were near the edge of the table, and from just 

 beyond them the formation fell abruptly away into 

 the valley some fifty feet. I crawle<J up this bluff 

 until within about forty yards of the nearest ante- 

 lope, and then, lying flat upon the ground, I placed 

 my rifle in position for firing, and, inch by inch, 

 edged up over the apex of the bluff until within 

 fair view of the game. Again selecting the best 

 buck for I wanted a good head for mounting I 

 drew down on his brown side until I felt sure that 

 if there had been a silver dollar hung on it I could 

 have driven it through Mm. Confidently expecting 

 to see him drop in his tracks, I touched the trigger. 

 But, alas ! I was doomed to still further disgrace. 

 When the smoke lifted, my coveted prize was speed- 

 ing away with the rest of the herd. 



I simply stood, with my lower jaw hanging down, 

 and looked after them till they were out of sight. 

 Then I went and got my horse and went to camp. 

 Sam and Dick were there with the saddles of three 

 antelopes. When I told them what I had been 

 doing, they tried to console me, but I wouldn't be^ 

 consoled. After dinner, Sam picked up my rifle 

 and looked it over carefully. 



" Why, look here, you blooming idiot," said he. 

 " No wonder you couldn't kill at short range. The 

 wedge has slipped up under your rear sight two 

 notches. She's elevated for 350 yards, and at that 

 rate would shoot about a foot high at a hundred 

 yards." I looked and found it even so. Then I 

 offered him and Dick a dollar each if they would 

 kick me, but they wouldn't. 



Sam said good-naturedly: "Come, go with me 



