Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-04
WHOLE NO. 1860.

really seen the animal, and as Their
was chance TO secure somethin,
pslatable tor supper. 1 told then
that | would do SO. Tbey told me /,
go abeai, while they refined thei
animals down to a walk and pur
sued their way more leisurely.
l may here remark that hunter
often separate for an entire day
first agreeing upon the guides Sy
which they shall meet again, and
had no hesitation in doing the same
My horse was fresh, and snuffed III,
air as if anxious TO stretch his lin 5.
so without useless hesitation
waved them playful good-by and
started away.
l aimed directly towards tho spo,
where had discovered the object
L judged it TO be half mile distant
but when | reached the place il
proved to be double that distan CO. ar
illusion which often misleads hun.
tiers and travellers.
4 singularly formed ridge crossed
the plain from east to west. A
thicket of cactus grew upon it's sum
nit, snd towards the thicket-I di,
rected my course.
| dismounted before ascending
the hill, and cautiously leading my
horse among the cactus bushes. |
tied him with slight security, for
the noble beast did not need any
thing more. This done, stealthily
made my way through t5e bushes
towards the point that | was sure |
had seen the game.
what was my surprise and pleas
npre 10 zee not one antelope. but
half dozen, grazing beyond. This
vas surprise and pleasure in more
than one sense; for while we bad
set this section of the country down
as barren waste, here was prima
tdcie evidence of our mistake.
Where there was vegetation | ar
gued there must be water.
However, the auielopes were a
thousand feet distant,upon o smooth
grassy slope. There was not the
slightest covering to protect an ap-
proach, and | began TO debate with
my. elf upon the course to pursue.
Should | initiate the call of one of
their number in di2tress There
was something SO inhuman 10 that
that | revolted at the thought, and
took the consolation that no true
hunter would descend 20 such mean
ness.
Should | tie my red handkerchief
upon my rsmrod and take advantage
OF their curiosity ? They were too
shy.
All An idea struck me. My eye
suddenly rested upon q blush line
running across the prairie beyond
where the animals were feeding. Il
ives either buffalo road or the
channel of an arroyo; but which
ever 1t was, it was the very cover |
wanted, and | determined to take
immediate advantage of it.
Retreatiug as steal.hily from the
thicket SIS had entered it, | hurried
along the side of the slope toward a
point where | cad observed that
the ridge was depressed to the level
of the plain. Reaching this, to my
still greater surprise, | found myself
upon the banks of broad arroyo.
whose waters slowly meantered
over a bed Of sand ond gyrsam.
The banks were two or three feet
above the surface of the stream. ex,
cept where the ridge came down
upon the stream. Here there was
quite high bluff, and hurrying
around its base, | stepped into the
channel and commenced wadiug up
ward.
This was quite difficult feat, as
the bed of the creek was soft and
yielding, and | WAS obliged TO tread
very cautiously and slowly lest j
should start the game. The antelope
is one of the most timid of animals,
and has q wonderfully acute sense
of hearing-so much so that none
but the most experienced bunters
can approach them.
After creeping along in this W rear
isome manner several hundred yards
reached a small clamp of worm
wood bushes growing out of the
bank. Thinking this might be high
enough to answer for cover, | com
oluded to take advantage OF it.
L slowly raised myself up and
peered through the leaves. | had
just reached the right place, and
sighting at the heart of buck,
pulled the trigger. The brute sprang
up and dropped dead. / was on
the point of running forward to
claim the prize when | saw the doe
run up to its fallen mate and snuff
at it as if bewildered at the occur.
renee. Suddenly she seemed TO
comprehend the sad truth, and
throwing back her head, began ut
tering the most plsintive and pite-
Gus cries, while she occasionally ran
ronnd the body as if totally unable
to control her { ief.
At first it was not my intention
to kill the doe, and had l dreamed
of witnessing such q painful scene,
| should not have done so. How
often do We hunters, in the excite.
mept of the chase, commit deeds
which in our cslmer moments VIC
can see as heartlsss and cruel
But the deed was done past recall,
and wherefore regret2
AS | watched the mournful &c.
tons of the doe, and heard its pitc.
Gus cries, saw that il would be
mercy to kill il and end its misery.
Actuated by what perhaps was q
questionable humanity, ;ook care
fuI aim, pulled the trigger, and, as
the smoke cleared away, | disceroed
the doe lying dead with its head
resting upon its departed mate.
Both are out of distress" WAS
my comforting reflection, "and /
have secured rare supper, with
which | will tickle the palates OF
of my two friends, and convince
them that they are not the only
ones who have knowledge Of
huntiDg-but what is the meaning
Of this p
/ attempted to move and found