DRO VES OF ANTEL OPES. 1 35 



goes by the name of timber-snake, much larger and totally 

 different in color from the prairie rattlesnake, or massa- 

 sauga, which is always black, and never exceeds eighteen or 

 twenty inches in length. 



Having found no game in the timber, I struck out for the 

 open land, and, riding several miles, I saw two small droves 

 of antelopes. This beautiful animal is very difficult to 

 stalk ; but as there appeared to be no other means of get- 

 ting on intimate terms with them, I hobbled my horse, and 

 taking advantage of all intervening obstacles, managed un- 

 seen to get within five hundred yards. Farther approach 

 now looked impossible, and I had almost relinquished the 

 idea, when it struck me that, by making a slight detour to 

 leeward, I could find shelter from a dip that appeared to 

 lead in the direction of the game. On hands and knees, 

 slowly I crossed the open, my stomach almost on the ground. 

 The antelopes still continued feeding ; so far they had not 

 been alarmed. Twenty yards more would again place me 

 under cover. He who wishes successfully to stalk game 

 must never deem precaution thrown away. On the care 

 with which you pass over an open space depends often the 

 success of your labor. With a feeling of gratification I re- 

 gained shelter, and such shelter as I was able to take the 

 twists and knots out of my legs and arms with the con- 

 sciousness that I could do so without imperiling success. 

 A few moments' inspection of the game sufficed. With 

 renewed care, slowly but steadily, I made for the shelter of 

 an unusually high prairie-dog's earth. From the back of 

 it I would be within eighty or a hundred yards of my prey. 

 The antelopes, perfectly ignorant of my presence, were 

 quietly feeding, while occasionally one or two of the young- 

 sters, like kids, would shake their heads at each other, rear 

 up, or stamp with their feet, and make other grotesque 

 threatenings of attack. The prospect of venison was now 



