ANTELOPE. 47 



On the vast plains which the Antelope inhabits, and which are 

 often level and always destitute of timber, it might be imagined 

 that this animal would be secure from the attacks of any enemy. 

 But the little ravines, by which these prairies are so often inter- 

 sected, furnish a cover for the still hunter, and in a few localities 

 the Antelope are hunted with greyhounds. Then too the senti- 

 ment of curiosity is implanted so strongly in the nature of this 

 animal, that it often leads him to reconnoitre too closely some object 

 which he cannot clearly make out, and his investigations are pur- 

 sued until the dire answer to all inquiries is given by the sharp 

 " spang " of the rifle and the answering " spat " as the ball strikes 

 the beautiful creature's flank. 



The Antelope is a very wary animal, and although it will often 

 permit the hunter to advance within 500 or 600 yards without 

 manifesting any great alarm, it is a very difficult matter to approach 

 within easy range after it has once noticed his presence. As soon 

 as the first suspicion of danger crosses the mind of the game, it 

 betakes itself to the highest point of the bluffs near at hand, from 

 which coign of vantage it watches with the utmost intentness 

 the movements of its pursuer. Let not the latter vainly imagine 

 that if, by a careful flank movement, he shall succeed in putting a 

 bluff between himself and the object of his pursuit, he may still 

 approach within shooting distance. At the instant of his disap- 

 pearance, the Antelope is off again to the top of another bluff, and 

 when the hunter cautiously raises his head to shoot, the animal is 

 still as far off as before. 



In hunting the Antelope, and the rule applies to all large game, 

 the hunter should endeavor to discover his game before it is aware 

 of his proximity ; if he can accomplish this, his success, if he be a 

 skillful stalker' and the ground is favorable, will be assured ; if 

 however the game has been made suspicious by seeing him, the 

 chances against liim are much increased. Should he discover a 

 band before it has been disturbed, he will do well to bring his 

 horse as near as possible to that spot from which he is to shoot, 

 for an Antelope, though mortally wounded, will often run off for 

 some distance and will then conceal itself in the nearest ravine 

 with such care that the hunter will be unable to discover it. Un- 

 less the animal falls dead, the hunter should lose no time in 



