merely lying down on their backs and kicking their heels in the air, or by waving any white object on the point of an arrow, while the hunter keeps concealed by lying flat in the grass.  By these means a herd of antelopes may be induced to wheel round and round an object in timid but intense surprise, gradually approaching until they come near enough to enable the hunter to make sure of his mark.  Thus the animals, which of all others ought to be the most difficult to slay, are, in consequence of their insatiable curiosity, more easily shot than any other deer of the plains.

May we not gently suggest to the reader for his or her consideration that there are human antelopes, so to speak, whose case bears a striking resemblance to the prong-horn of the North American prairie?

Dick’s horse was no match for the antelope, neither was Crusoe; so they pulled up shortly and returned to their companions, to be laughed at.

“It’s no manner o’ use to wind yer horse, lad, after sich game.  They’re not much worth, an’, if I mistake not, we’ll be among the buffalo soon.  There’s fresh tracks everywhere, and the herds are scattered now.  Ye see, when they keep together in bands o’ thousands ye don’t so often fall in wi’ them.  But when they scatters about in twos, an’ threes, an’ sixes ye may shoot them every day as much as ye please.”

Several groups of buffalo had already been seen on the horizon, but as a red-deer had been shot in a belt of woodland the day before they did not pursue them.  The red-deer is very much larger than the prong-horned antelope, and is highly esteemed both for its flesh and its skin, which latter becomes almost like chamois leather when dressed.  Notwithstanding this supply of food, the hunters could not resist the temptation to give chase to a herd of about nine buffaloes that suddenly came into view as they overtopped an undulation in the plain.

“It’s no use,” cried Dick, “I must go at them!”

Joe himself caught fire from the spirit of his young friend, so calling to Henri to come on and let the pack-horse remain to feed, he dashed away in pursuit.  The buffaloes gave one stare of surprise, and then fled as fast as possible.  At first it seemed as if such huge, unwieldy carcasses could not run very fast; but in a few minutes they managed to get up a pace that put the horses to their mettle.  Indeed, at first it seemed as if the hunters did not gain an inch; but by degrees they closed with them, for buffaloes are not long winded.

On nearing the herd, the three men diverged from each other and selected their animals.  Henri, being short-sighted, naturally singled out the largest; and the largest—­also naturally—­was a tough old bull.  Joe brought down a fat young cow at the first shot, and Dick was equally fortunate.  But he well-nigh shot Crusoe, who, just as he was about to fire, rushed in unexpectedly and sprang at the animal’s throat, for which piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch the pack-horse.