The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-09-30
A True Antelope Story.

TIP and l were in that part of Western
Kansas which is left blank on the maps.
Two hunters, Thompson and Hughes,
had joined us; and we were coming back
from butfalo-chase. We had been
crawling lazily along over prairie,
through valley, up and down hill since
sunrise and it was now nearly noon.
All of sudden, from clump of tall
grass near US, up sprang an antelope and
a pair Of beautiful fawns. Like flash, the
old one and one of the fawns started over
the brow of the ridge on which they were
lying; while the other little fellow began
running around in circle, as you have
seen ponies do at the circus, bleating as
hard as lie could.
The boys leaped from the wagons in an
instant, while | remained to hold the
horses. Ranging themselves around the
circle the three hunters every now and
then dashed headlong after the fawn as
he flew past; but missed him by rod or
more every time.
Our dog Landy also was on hand for
q
see the great awkward fellow straining
every nerve to overtake the little streak
of animated lightning that flashed before
him. Landy was a Newfoundland shep-
herd, and / knew that nothing could in
duce him to hurt the fawn if he should
catch him.
While l was watching the sport and
laughing at the drollery of it all at once [
heard a stamping On the other side Of the
wagon, and, stepping quickly around the
horses heads, saw the old doe and
buck AMI doe with her.
As the avn came bounding along the
circle the Duck and does, bleating anx-
iously, darted in ahead of him, rushing
right by the men and dog. Never stop
ping aiiinstant the big buck led the way;
the does Apd fawn followed; and before
you couldA Asay "Jack Robinson" they
were "oveFthe hills and far away"
This was Abe antelope that we almost
caught. Thu boys came back to the
wagons, thoroughly tagged out, and look
ing painfully sQy.
A Again we droHS along, but had not pro-
decided more than mile or two when up
sArang another old doe and ran toward
Lady, stamping her fore-feet fiercely.
OF 4ourse the foolish dog took after her
as hard as he could go-just as she want
ed hiA to do; and fine chase she led
him, aways taking care not to leave him
so far Behind as to discourage him and
make him turn back.
We knew at once by heractions that she
had fawn near there; and so, while she
was leading Landy away from it, we set
about hunting it up. In few minutes 1
came across the little slender-legged
beauty, snugly curled up under tutt of
grass As came upon him he dashed
out of cover with shrill, plaintive little
"Baa baa, baa-baa," and, as fawns always
do in such cases, began running in
small circle.
Landy, disguised with his hopeless
chase, came trotting back, and at once
struck in after the fawn. This one was
not so fleet as the other; and by and by
Landy overlook him, and tried to stop
him by pushing him over with his nose.
This frightened the fawn so badly that he
made direct for Tip, who was squatting
in the long grass in wait for him, and
rushed joyfully into his arms.
We took the brighteyed little thing
into the wagon, and by night he was SO
tame that he would follow us around; and
when we lay down to sleep on the ground
gave him corner of my blanket for a
bed. At last we got back to Thompson's
log-h which stood near the timber;
and when we went away we gave the fawn
to his two little girls l would really
like to know what ever became Of it
Lloyd Wyman, in Nursery.