ACROSS THE ROCKY >r JTINTAINS, ETC. 61 



There have been no buffalo upon the plain to day, all the 

 game that we have seen, being a few elk and antelopes ; but these 

 of course we did not attempt to kill, as our whole and undivided 

 attention was required to assist our progress. 



2Sth. — We fell in with a new species of game to day; — a 

 large band of wild horses. They were very shy, scarcely per- 

 mitting us to approach within rifle distance, and yet they kept 

 within sight of us for some hours. Several of us gave them 

 chase, in the hope of at least being able to approach sufficiently 

 near to examine them closely, but we might as well have pur- 

 sued the wind ; they scoured away from us with astonishing 

 velocity, their long manes and tails standing out almost horizon- 

 tally, as they sprang along before us. Occasionally they would 

 pause in their career, turn and look at us as we approached them, 

 and then, with a neigh that rang loud and high above the clatter- 

 ing of the hoofs, dart their light heels into the air, and fly from 

 us as before. We soon abandoned this wild chase, and contented 

 ourselves with admiring their sleek beauty at a distance. 



In the afternoon, I committed an act of cruelty and wanton- 

 ness, which distressed and troubled me beyond measure, and 

 which I have ever since recollected with sorrow and compunc- 

 tion. A beautiful doe antelope came running and bleating after 

 us, as though she wished to overtake the party ; she continued 

 following us for nearly an hour, at times approaching within 

 thirty or forty yards, and standing to gaze at us as we moved 

 slowly on our way. I several times raised my gun to fire at 

 her, but my better nature as often gained the ascendency, and I 

 at last rode into the midst of the party to escape the temptation. 

 Still the doe followed us, and I finally fell into the rear, but 

 without intending it, and again looked at her as she trotted 

 behind us. At that moment, my evil genius and love of sport 

 triumphed ; I slid down from my horse, aimed at the poor ante- 

 lope, and shot a ball through her side. Under other circum- 



