334 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



larder handsomely supplied, these inland-feeding wild- 

 duck being most excellent eating. 



Our camp diet was also varied with quail, of the 

 small blue Mexican kind that give the best of sport. 



Another of our relaxations was to shoot antelope 

 from the buck-board. These antelope had been here 

 and there enclosed in the pastures when the fences 

 were erected, and had continued to thrive, and even 

 to increase, alongside the cattle. But they were, 

 after the manner of their kind, exceedingly difficult 

 to approach. Old Man Boyce and myself devised a 

 means of obtaining a running shot now and then 

 at a band of antelope, that afforded in our view the 

 maximum of sport and enjoyment. 



It is a peculiarity of antelope that they seldom run 

 straight away from a pursuer, but will usually circle 

 round and then cross ahead of him. When we came 

 across a band conveniently situated, I would crouch, 

 rifle in hand, in front of the buck-board, while Boyce 

 urged the pair of mules he drove into a gallop over 

 the smooth grass-covered prairie, not in a direct line 

 after the antelope, but on one side, as if attempting to 

 cut them off. The band would then generally gallop 

 round in a semicircle, and cross in front of us at 

 right angles. At the psychological moment Boyce 

 would pull up sharp, and it was left for me to jump 

 quickly out of the buck-board and take the shot. If 

 the ground was fairly favourable and the start good, I 

 sometimes got in this way a fair broadside running 

 chance at some old buck within 200 yards, and 

 occasionally killed him. Two of the best antelope 

 heads in my possession were secured in this manner. 



Old Man Boyce carried a revolver, and knew well 

 how to use it. I have constantly seen him shoot 



