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

How They Appear aud Act In Their Ma
tive wnds.
From the crest of a hill, higher than
any Of its neighbors, may be seen the
wide prospect Of the rolling plain.
Nea. at hand the swells rise one after
another In succeeding waves which
lessen In the distance uhtil at last far
away the land seems fat. On the yell
low prairie the winding course Of a
far-off stream is 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 forms--antelope'
feeding or at rest. The wind blows
freshly and bends the prairie grass,
rafting the seed pods Of the tall weeds,
and now anu then catching up the light
dust in miniature whirlwinds-the In
dians' ghosts.
From the crest of this hill a 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, aud his whole at
titude speaks Of entire security. The
task of watching for danger he leaves
10 his wives. little dreaming that with
in easy range Is the deadly tube that
has SO often dealt out death 10 others Of
his kind The does and the young are
by themselves, the eldors 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 Of grass or
standing perfectly still steadily staring
away over the plain at some distant OBJ
ject that they cannot quite make out
Others move about as IL seeking a COM
Portable spot TO lie down, aud In doing
this walk up tho hill toward the watch
er, who lowers his head still closer TO
the ground.
They are al 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 stilty
ungainliness which marked their ear.
liest youth, and are marvels Of light
ness, quiclsness 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 be seen. Now and then,
as sOn0 scent or sound imperceptible to
! gsoSsor senses comes TO them they stop
aud all stand with raised heads and
( quivering nostrlls, while the white hair
on the rump Of each rises till it stands
on end and seems to expand from side TO
side For q moment they stand like tiny
statues then, their suspicious allayod,
one starts, and then another, till oil
have resumed their romp. AZ last. tir.
ing of this, some Of them lie down close
10 their dams, while others begin to
feed, or, by nosing their mothers OF
buttipg them with their tiny heads. try
20 persuade them to rise and give them
suck.
But II some curious or uneasy old doe
walks too far up the hill and detects
the strange form lying there prone
upon the ground-in q moment all is
changed. The doe makes n few rapid
bounds-each antelope Is at once upon
its feet-the old buck utters his curious
barking cry Of alarm-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. 10 the dangerous
moment for the old buck II the rife
cracks he may fall. never to rise again.
Forest and Stream.