The Last of the Chiefs | Page 7

Off on the crest of a swell a moving figure was seen now and
then. "Antelope," said the hunters. Once they passed a slow creek. The
water was muddy, but it contained no alkali, and animals and men
drank eagerly. Cottonwoods, the first trees they had seen in days, grew
on either side of the stream, and they rested there awhile in the shade,

because the sun was now out in full splendor, and the vast plains
shimmered in the heat.
Albert resumed his place in the wagon. Dick had a horse which, on
becoming foot-sore, had been allowed to rest for a few days, and was
now well. He mounted it and galloped on ahead. The clouds were all
gone away and the golden visions had come back. He felt so strong, so
young, and the wonderful air of the plains was such a tonic that he
urged his horse to a gallop, and it was hard for him to keep from
shouting aloud in joy. He looked eagerly into the north, striving already
for a sight of the dark mountains that men called the Black Hills. The
blue gave back nothing but its own blue.
His horse seemed to share his spirits, and swung along with swift and
easy stride. Dick looked back presently, and saw that the train which
had been winding like a serpent over the plains was lost to sight behind
the swells. The surface of the earth had become more rolling as they
advanced northward, and he knew that the train, though out of sight,
was nor far away.
He enjoyed for the moment the complete absence of all human beings
save himself. To be alone then meant anything but loneliness. He
galloped to the crest of a higher swell than usual, and then stopped
short. Far off on the plain he saw tiny moving figures, a dozen or so,
and he was sure that they were antelope. They had seen antelope before
at a great distance, but had not bothered about them. Now the instincts
of the hunter rose in Dick, and he resolved to make a trial of his skill.
He found in one of the depressions between the swells a stunted
cottonwood, to which he hitched his horse, knowing it would be well
hidden there from the observation of the herd. He then advanced on
foot. He had heard that the antelope was a slave to its own curiosity,
and through that weakness he intended to secure his game.
When he had gone about half the distance he sank down on his hands
and knees and began to crawl, a laborious and sometimes painful
operation, burdened as he was with his rifle, and unused to such
methods of locomotion. Presently he noticed a flutter among the

antelope, a raising of timid heads, an alarmed looking in his direction.
But Dick was prepared. He lay flat upon his face, and dug the point of
the long hunting knife that he carried into the ground, while the wind
blew out the folds of the red handkerchief which he had tied to the
handle.
Mr. Big Buck Antelope, the chief of the herd and a wary veteran, saw
the waving red spot on the horizon and his interest was aroused, despite
his caution. What a singular thing! It must be investigated! It might be
some new kind of food very good for Mr. Big Buck's palate and
stomach, and no provident antelope could afford to let such an
opportunity pass.
He was trembling all over with curiosity, and perhaps his excitement
kept him from seeing the dark shape that blurred with the earth just
beyond the red something, or he may have taken it for a shadow. At
any event, his curiosity kept him from paying heed to it, and he began
to approach. His steps were hesitating, and now and then he drew away
a little, but that singular red object lured him on, and yard by yard he
drew nearer.
He suddenly saw the black shadow beyond the fluttering red object
detach itself from the ground, and resolve into a terrible shape. His
heart sprang up in his bosom, and he was about to rush madly away,
but it was too late. A stream of fire shot forth from the dark object and
the buck fell, a bullet through him.
Dick prepared the animal for dressing, thinking of the tender, juicy
steaks that Albert would enjoy, and then throwing the body across the
horse, behind him, rode back to the train, proud of his success.
Conway frowned and said grudging words. He did not like, he said, for
anybody to leave the train without his permission, and it was foolish,
anyhow, for a boy to be galloping about as he pleased over the prairie;