San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-15
Foxy Crandpa's
Stories
A Strange Habit of An
African Antelope.

"We'll be lucky II we see one, L
suppose, said as we tramped across
a plain in Western Africa.
II hope we do" said Bobby. 81
would like to see il African antelopes
are very different from American ante
lopes."
"They have a different name, that's
sure" said Bunny.
What is that funny manner" asked
the boy. sounds something ike
springing board"
"The scientific name Of the African
antelope is springbok, Bunny SAID,
with his professor-like air. "They
are strange creatures and possess
qualities which / am sure will interest
the student of animal life"
Bobby winked ut me and said:
go on. professor. Tell US some
more"
Il prefer to give you Twin: ex'
ample of the habits of the subject I'M
der discussion" And he switched his
tail and bounded out of hearing.
Isn't he aggravating?" said Bob
by.
Not when it comes TO making good
on his predictions was forced to
say.
WELL said Bobby, well see."
And we did. Because late that aft
ernoon we came to a clump of trees
and just as We were about to pass
it, Bunny gave my trouser-leg pull
and jerked me back into the thicket
90 quickly that I almost sat down be-
fore / knew it.
Bobby lodged quickly beside me.
He knew there was something up.
Then we remained perfectly still
and our eyes nearly popped out OF
our heads; because right there on the
other side of the small grove Of trees
was n whole herd of springboks
I was so afraid of disturbing these
interesting animals that / even hesi-
tated about getting my camera out.
There they were grazing as peacefully
as a herd Of kind-faced cows.
"See that little streak of white down
that fellows back there?" whispered
Bunny.
"Yes,- I whispered back.
swatch it," was all he said quietly
unUer nlS WDlskerc.
We watched them in silence for o
while and then Bunny said:
Take out your camera very quietly.
It will be too dark in q moment for
YOU to get . picture and they're likely
to move on at any minute.
unstrapped my camera from my
shoulder and got it in place without
disturbing our friends.
I focused it and snapped the bulb.
The antelope nearest us, raised his
head and then he raised something
else. That white streak which was
very narrow suddenly became wider.
The brown fur on the sides had sep
arated and there clear white streak
shonc clearly right from his neck to
his tail. And that hair stood on
end, exactly like a pussy-cats fur on
his neck when he gets mad.
For a moment he stood there and
then he gave bound and MS if he
had signaled to the rest Of the herd,
they followed quickly on his heels and
in n very few moments all that VIC saw
Of our springboks was a cloud OF
dust.
These springboks certainly can
oplihPs Sulu blu yOu tftA
see anything like them?"
But wasn't that fur on his back
stranger" said.
mot at ALL" said bunny. THAT
is sign that he is frightened or mad
and when it shows like that it is n
warning to his fellows to follow him.
They can follow him better on account
Of that white streak"
Wonderful" said I.
Same principle as our tails being
white. SO that when we are young we
can follow our mothers better through
thickets. Personally / think the
white. tail is more useful" And he
gave his proud twitch.
Copyright. 1925. International Features
Syndicate. Inc.