126 THE AMERICAN ANTELOPE, OR PRONG-HORN. 



surface of the plain, a buffalo road, or the channel of 

 an arroyo ; in either case the very cover I wanted, for 

 the animals were not a hundred yards from it, and were 

 getting nearer to it as they fed. 



' Creeping back out of the thicket, I ran along the 

 side of the slope towards a point where I had noticed 

 that the ridge was depressed to the prairie level. Here 

 to my surprise I found myself on the banks of a broad 

 arroyo, whose waters, clear and shallow, ran slowly over 

 a bed of sand and gypsum. 



' The banks were low, not over three feet above the 

 surface of the water except where the ridge infringed 

 upon the stream. Here there was a high bluff; and, 

 hurrying round its base, I entered the channel, and 

 commenced wading upwards. 



' As I had anticipated, I soon came to a bend where 

 the stream, after running parallel to the ridge, swept 

 round and canoned through it. At this place I stopped 

 and looked cautiously over the bank. The antelopes 

 had approached within less than rifle range of the 

 arroyo ; but they were yet far above my position. 

 They were still quietly feeding and unconscious of 

 danger. I again bent down and waded on. 



' It was a difficult task proceeding in this way. The 

 bed of the creek was soft and yielding, and I was com- 

 pelled to tread slowly and silently lest I should alarm 

 the game ; but I was cheered in my exertions by the 

 prospect of fresh venison for sujjper. 



