PRONG-HORNS 



and fearless in her determination to protect her- 

 self and the fawns, kept them at bay while the 

 cowardly coyotes were no less determined on se- 

 curing their noonday meal. The coyotes were 

 getting desperate. One rushed at the fawns 

 from the rear while the other tried to claim all 

 the attention of the doe by attacking her with 

 snarls and growls from the front. She was too 

 quick for them. With a tremendous blow from 

 her fore legs she cut a gash in the head of one coy- 

 ote, as she sent him rolling and howling with pain. 

 In an instant she turned and struck at the other 

 coyote, knocking him senseless just as he sprang 

 at the neck of one of the fawns. I saw there 

 was danger that the doe would be overpowered, 

 so I sent my pony on a long gallop forward and 

 drove the coyotes away. The antelope stood 

 for a moment and looked at me. It was the 

 same doe with the damaged ear and the fawns 

 that had grown to be a part of my life ! Pres- 

 ently they took to their heels and joined the 

 herd from which they had become separated, 

 leaving more than two miles between us. I 

 followed at a distance and watched the coyotes 

 who also followed and joined several other wolves 

 [47] 



