Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-11-24
A oRoup oF ANrELoPG.


How They Appear aud Act In Their Ma
tlve Wilde.
From the crest Of hill, higher than
any Of its neighbors, may be seen the
wide prospect Of the rolling plain
Near at hand the swells rise one after
another In succeeding waves which
lessen in the distance until at last far
away the land seems Dat. On the yell
low prairie the winding course Of a
farotf stream IL clearly marked by the
dark green Of the fresh-growing vege-
tation which stands along its banks.
Scattered over the nearer plain are yell
low and white moving ms-antelope,
feeding or at rest. The wind blows
freshly and bends the prairie grass,
rattling the seed pods Of the tall weeds,
and now and then catching up the light
dust In miniature whirlwinds-the In
dians' ghosts
From the crest of this hill n hunter,
who should creep up to his position
with caution and lie there looking
through the grass, would see pretty
sight--a family of antelope.
The old buck lies by himself. little
to one side. His head is held low, his
eyes are half closed, and his whole at
titude speaks of entire security. The
task Of watching for danger he leaves
to his wives. little dreaming that with
in easy range is tho deadly tube that
has SO often dealt out death to others Of
his kind. The does and the young are
by themselves, the elders for the most
part lying down, while the kids are
walking about feeding and playing.
Some of the old does are on their feet
however now taking Bit 0f grass or
standing perfectly still steadily staring
away over the plain ut some distant OBJ
ject that they cannot quite make out
Others move about as II seeking COM
Portable spot to lie down, aud In doing
this walk up the Hill toward the watch
er, who lowers his head still closer TO
the ground.
They are all clean cut and graceful
figures, but daintiest and most grace
ful of all are the little kids They are
old enough now TO have lost the stllty
ungainliness which marked their ear
lest youth, aud are marvels of light
ness. quickness and beauty As they
race about in their play their light feet
seem scarcely to touch the ground and
their slender legs move SO fast that
they cannot DC seen. Now and then,
as some scent or sound imperceptibls to
gfosser senses comes 10 them thsy stop
and all stand with raised heads and
quivering nostrils. while the white hair
on the rump OF each rises till il stands
on end and seems to expand from side to
side. Fora moment thsy stand like tiny
statues; then, their suspicious allaysd,
one starts, and then another, till all
have resumed their romp. AT last. tir-
ing of this, Some Of them lie down close
TO their dams, while others begin TO
feed, or, by nosing their mothers or
buttpg them with their Tiny heads. try
TO persuade them to rise and give them
suck.
But il some curious or uneasy old doe
walks too far up the hill and detects
the strange form lying there prone
upon the ground-in moment all is
changed. Inc doe makes a few rapid
boundS-each antelope Is at once upon
its feet--the old buck utters his curious
barking cry Of slarm-and In a close
group they bound away Before they
have gone hundred yards they stop
and turn 10 look, and now, il the
watcher needs meat. is the dangerous
moment for the old buck II the rife
cracks he may fall, mover to rise again.
Forest and Stream