Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-24


party OF my friends we're starting down the
Platte River to see their herds Of cattle.
Don't you want to go along with us?' said
Calvin "we may get some antelope"
The idea of riding and camping and story
telling and hunting oraweek seemed charming
Just then, go, with blankets and rife, joined
the party.
In an hour We came in sight OF the river, of
which some traveller has said. sit is navigable
only for shingle," 20 sandy is its bed aud 30
changing its currents. All day we followed the
river bottom, now near the water, now a mile
away from it. In the COX bows or bends OF the
river, the grass was growing ,abundantly and
thousands snd tens of Thousands Of sleek kline
were feeding there.
Near the high lands, We saw great numbers of
prairie dogs aud little owls, living in sthe same
holes. The dogs wagged their tails, and, bark
ing with great energy, ran into their houses
the owls, old and young, toddled in too, .when we
approached.
Toward evening we saw tall blue cranes alight-
ing on the sand-ba Flocks of ducks arose
from the water and fled from the hawks. Jack
rabbits bounded queerly from our path, and a
little way off, turned to see what we intended to
do. We saw two wolves sneaking among the
bluffs, but never an antelope.
The morning after we reached Dana's cattle
camp, we went out early among the sand-hills
for antelopes.
We agreed to hunt independently, and during
the next half-hour we saw plenty OF game in the
distance. After time, Dana and met. Care
lessly ascending little sand-hill, we started up
lonely buck. We so quickly sank upon the
ground TINT the animal had only glimpse of
us, and after sharp run, turned to satisfy its
eyer-eager curiosity as to what we were. My
companion passed his red handkerchief to me
''Waye that, he whispered, ''on the end of
your rifle. Well try the Indian game on him.
Easy Wave it easy
Slowly 1 waved the flag to and fro, just in the
creatures sight, while Dana settled his body at
full length upon the sand, and rested his Win
chester rifle on an unoccupied ant-hill.
The antelope now advanced few steps, re-
| treated, turned and looked again, As we pre-
sented the same appearance, he became as GU
rious concerning lis as Blue Boards wife about
| the forbidden room. Several times we thought
| he had seen enough of us, and was off. But 10
his intense curiosity forced him hearer and
neared. Unused to hunting as was, became
| much excited. Had that antelope been an ele-
| phant, don't believe could have hit it. had
what old hunters call "buck fever" Suddenly
the buck exposed his side to us. Crack went
Dana's rifle and over went the antelope.
| We saw a herder on his pony, mot far away and
beckoned him to come near. Dana knew him, and
asked him to pack our game to camp. But no
sooner had we placed it behind the saddle, than
tile pony reared and plunged until he had dis
| lodged his burden. So we cut of the launches,
and making pack-horses of ourselves, took them
| to camp.
In the month of June it is not hard matter tc
capture young antelopes. They are then 80 frai
and tender that man ON horseback soon over
takes them. They are then taught to take mtlh
from bottle, and soon become very tame. We
saw several so tame that they would come al
call. We passed a turf cabin where there were
five of these pretty pete, all with ribbons about
tine neck, and one graceful doe, with cherry
colored ribbon tied about the tall 0irer Hoio-
ard in 81 Nicho as for September.