136 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



in the ascendant. I commenced to believe my eggs near 

 enough hatched to count them chickens, when a confounded 

 prairie-dog, who doubtless had been watching all my strat- 

 egy, uttered his shrill, quick whistle, and took a header into 

 his burrow. This was enough ; the antelopes simultane- 

 ously closed into a bunch, and with every sense strained, 

 looked eagerly around 1 for the cause of alarm. A closer 

 stalk was impossible the movement of a mouse could not 

 escape their notice ; so, springing on one knee, I pulled both 

 triggers almost simultaneously, taking sight for the near- 

 est of the ruck. As the smoke lifted, with satisfaction I be- 

 held two victims, one apparently dead, the other making vio- 

 lent efforts to get upon his pins, while the remainder of the 

 drove were scampering across the prairie at such a pace as 

 these animals only are capable of going. As quickly as 

 possible I reloaded my gun, and on advancing to bleed my 

 victims, the wounded buck got his legs under him, and had 

 I not given him the right barrel a nice clean shot at fifty 

 yards tumbling him all of a heap I should have been left 

 with only a single prize. 



After bleeding my trophies, I went after Broomstick, 

 who, like all perverse beasts, had grazed off at as rapid a 

 pace as possible, in exactly the reverse direction to that 

 wanted. Oh, Broomstick, you provoking brute ! was ever 

 an unfortunate sportsman so tortured by having to endure 

 the vagaries of so ugly and obstinate a steed? Venting 

 my indignation on his sparsely - covered ribs, and giving 

 him every second stride a reminder that his owner was on 

 his back, I hurried back to my quarry, in the hope of mak- 

 ing camp at an early hour, and having a good fire before 

 my comrades returned. Nor was I too soon, for already a 

 coyote had scented blood, and was about to whet his sharp 

 tusks on the results of my labor. With considerable hoist- 

 ing, and not until I had blindfolded my mount, I got both 



