But Nan was looking in another direction. Along
the western horizon a dull, slate-colored cloud was
slowly rising. Nan wondered if it was dust, and
if it was caused by the hoofs of cattle or horses.
It was a curious looking cloud.
THE ANTELOPE HUNT; AND MORE
The little party approached with caution the spot
where the antelopes were feeding. Rhoda was no
amateur; and she advised her friends to ride quietly,
to make no quick motions, and as far as possible to
ride along the edge of the rising ground.
Of course, the wind was blowing from the antelopes;
otherwise the party would never have got near them
at all. The creatures were feeding so far out
on the plain that it would, too, be unwise to try
to creep up on them behind the rocks and bushes among
which the cavalcade now rode.
“When we get somewhat nearer, we shall have
to ride right out into plain sight and run them down,”
Rhoda said. “That is our best chance.”
“The poor little things!” murmured Grace.
“They won’t have a chance with our ponies.”
“Oh, won’t they?” laughed Rhoda
softly. “I guess you don’t know that
the antelope is almost the fastest thing that ever
crossed these plains. Even the iron horse is
no match for the antelope.”
“Do you mean to say they can outrun a steam
engine?” asked Bess in wonder.
“Surely.”
“Then what chance have we to run them down?”
demanded Nan.
“Well, there are two ways by which we may get
near enough for a shot,” Rhoda explained.
“I have been out with the boys hunting antelope,
and they certainly are the most curious creatures.”
“Who are? The cowboys?” asked Bess.
“Yes. Sometimes,” laughed Rhoda.
“But in this case I mean that the antelopes
are curious. I’ve seen Steve get into a
clump of brush and stand on his head, waving his legs
in the air. A bunch of antelopes would come right
up around the waving legs, and as long as the wind
blew toward him instead of toward the antelopes, they
would not run. So all he had to do when he got
them close enough was to turn end for end, pick up
his gun, and shoot one.”
“I don’t suppose you girls would care
to try that,” Walter said, his eyes twinkling.
“But I might do it.”
“Only trouble is,” said Rhoda, after the
laugh at Walter’s suggestion, “I don’t
see any brush clumps out there. Do you?”
“No-o,” said Nan. “The plain
is as bare as your palm.”
“Exactly,” Rhoda agreed. “So
we must try running them down.”
“But you say they are very speedy,” objected
“Oh, yes. But there are ways of running
them,” said Rhoda. “We will ride
on a little further and then let our ponies breathe.
I’ll show you how you must ride.”
Nan was looking back again at the cloud on the horizon.
“Isn’t that a funny looking thing?”
she said to Bess.
