456 Expedition to the 



here before a tremendous storm of wind assailed our tents 

 with such violence, that it was only by stationing ourselves 

 outside, and holding the margin to the ground, that we were 

 able to keep them standing. 



Two of the hunters who had been sent out during the af- 

 ternoon, returned to camp late in the evening, bringing in a 

 buck antelope, a highly acceptable acquisition to us, as we 

 had been for some time restricted to short commons. The 

 flesh we found palatable, being very similar in every respect 

 to that of the common deer. 



We had proceeded but a few miles from our camp, on the 

 following morning, when we perceived a number of ante- 

 lopes at a little distance in the prairie. Being on the wind- 

 ward side of the party they were not able, by their sense of 

 smelling, to inform themselves of the nature of the danger 

 which was approaching. One of them, lt the patriarch of the 

 flock," leaving his companions came so near our line as to 

 be within the reach of a rifle ball, and was killed by Lieu- 

 tenant Swift. 



The antelope possesses an unconquerable inquisitiveness, 

 of which the hunters often take advantage to compass the 

 destruction of the animal. The attempt to approach imme- 

 diately towards them in the open plain, where they are al- 

 ways found, rarely proves successful. Instead of this the 

 hunter getting as near the animal as is practicable without 

 exciting alarm, conceals himself by lying down, then fixing a 

 handkerchief, or cap, upon the end of his ramrod continues 

 to wave it, still remaining concealed. The animal after a 

 long contest between curiosity and fear, at length approaches 

 near enough to become a sacrifice to the former.* 



In the afternoon a single bison was seen at the distance of 

 several miles, being the second since we had left the Paw- 

 nee villages, which were now about a hundred miles distant, 



* See Bradbury, p. 113. 



