The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-09-23

I'll couple OF hours rest anu Ieeu
had put the horse in good trim for the
afternoon ride When 1t came to
crossing over the dry creek on whose
bank we had rested. we almost went
down in quicksand, and it. was only
by frantic struggles and founderings
that we managed to get over.
On account CT these quicksands and
mud-holes, crossing the creeks on the
prairie is often very disagreeable work.
Even when apparently perfectly dry
the bottom may have merely thin
crust Of hard mud and underneath
fathomless bed of slime. If the grass
appears wet and with here and there a
few tussocks of taller blades in it, it
is well to avoid it. Often a man may
have to go along creek nearly mile
before he can find a safe crossing, or
else run the risk OF seeing his horse
mired hard and fast. When horse is
once in mud hole it will perhaps so
exhaust itself by its first desperate
and fruitless struggle that it is almost
impossible to get it out Its bride
and saddle have to be taken off; if
another horse is along the lariat is
drawn from the pomn1el of the latter's
saddle to the neck of the one that Is in,
and it is hauled out by main force
Otherwise a man may have to work
half a day, fixing the horses legs in
the right position and then taking it by
the forelock and endeavoring to get 1t
to make a plunge; each plunge bring
ing it perhaps a few inches nearer the
firm ground. Quicksands are even
more dangerous than these mudholes
rs, if at all deep, creature that can
not get out Immediately is sure to be
speedily engulfed. Many parts of the
Little Missouri are impossible on &C
count Of these quickSands. Always in
crossing unknown ground that looks
dangerous it is best to feel your way
very cautiously along and. If possible,
to find out some cattle trail or even
game trail which can be followed.
For some time after leaving the
creek nothing was seen; until. on COM
ing over the crest of the next great
divide, l came in sight OF band or
six or eight prong-horn about quar-
ter of a mile off to my right hand.
There was slight breeze from the
southeast which blew diagonally
across my path towards the antelopes.
The latter. after staring at me min
ute. as l rode slowly on, suddenly
started at full speed to run directly
up wind. and therefore in direction
that would cut the line of my course
less than half a mile ahead of where
was Knowing that when antelope
begin running in a straight line they
are very hard to turn, and seeing that
they would have to run longer dis
lance than my horse would to inter
cept them, | clapped spurs into Mani
tou. and the game old fellow. very
fleet runner. stretched himself down
to the ground and seemed to go almost
as fast as the quarry. AS | had eX-
pected. the latter, when they saw me
running, merely Strengthened them
selves out and went on, possibly even
| faster than before, without changing
the line of their fight. keeping right
up wind. Both horse and antelope
fairly few over the ground. their
courses being at an angle that would
certainly bring them together. Two
of the antelope led, by some fifty
yards or SO, the others, who were all
punched together. Nearer and nearer
we came, Manitou. in spite OF carrying
myself and the pack behind the sad
die, gamely holding his own, while the
antelope, with outstretched necks.
went at an even. regular gait that
offered a strong contrast to the spring
ing bounds with which deer run. At
last the two leading animals crossed
the line of my fight ahead of me;
when l pulled short up. leaped from
Manitou's back, and blazed into the
band as they went by not forty yards
off, aiming well ahead Of fine buck
who was on the side nearest me.
/ An antelope's gait is so even that 1t
offers a good running mark: and as the
smoke blew off | saw the buck roll
over like rabbit, with both shoulders
broken. | then emptied the Winchester
at the rest Of the band. breaking one
hind leg Of young buck. Hastily cut
ting the throat of, and opening. the
dead buck, / again mounted and start
ed Off after the wounded one. But,
though only on three legs, it went as
tonishingly fast. having had good
start: and after following it over a
mile gave up the pursuit. though !
had gained good deal; for the heat
was very great, and did not deem II
well to tire the horse at the beginning
Of the trip. Returning to the carcass,
cut off the hams and strung them be
side the saddle; an antelope is SO spare
that there is very little more meat on
the body.
This trick Of running In straight
line Is another of the antelope's pecul-
lar characteristics which frequently
lead it into danger. Although with SC
much sharper eyes than deer, ante.
lope are in many ways far stupideI
animals. more like sheep. and they
especially resemble the latter in theil