CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
THE PRONG-HORNS.
The "butte" was one of those singular formations to be met with in theGreat American Desert. It was not a mountain nor yet a hill. Its shapewas different from either. It was more like a vast mass of rocky earth,raised above the prairie, perpendicular on all sides, and having a flatlevel surface upon its top. It was, in fact, one of those hills whichin the language of Spanish America, are termed "mesas," or tables--socalled on account of their flat, table-like tops. They are generallyargillaceous, and are common upon the Upper Missouri river, andthroughout the vast desert regions that lie west of the Del Norte.Sometimes several of them stand near each other upon the plains, lookingas though their tops had once been the level of the ancient surface, andthe ground between had been worn away by disintegration--from rain andother causes--leaving them thus standing. To the eye of one accustomedto looking only upon rounded hills, or mountains with sharp peaks, theseelevated "mesas" appear very singular, and form an interesting study forthe geologist.
The top of the one beside which our adventurers halted, had asuperficial area of some twenty or thirty acres; and its perpendicularsides rose nearly two hundred feet above the surrounding prairie. Athin growth of pine-trees covered it; while stunted pinons and cedarshung out from its cliffs. There were agaves, and yucca palms, andcacti, growing along its edges, giving it a very picturesque appearance.
Our travellers, after halting, and having satisfied their thirst, ofcourse thought of nothing but remaining there to recruit both themselvesand their animals. They saw around them the three requisites of acamp--water, wood, and grass. They commenced by cutting down somepinon-trees that grew by the foot of the cliff. With these a brightfire was soon made. They had still enough bear's meat left to last themfor several days. What more wanted they? But they discovered that evenin this arid region Nature had planted trees and vegetables to sustainlife. The pinons afforded their farinaceous cones, the agave yieldedits esculent roots, and the prairie-turnip grew upon the borders of therunlet. They saw a small plant with white lily-like flowers. It wasthe "sego" of the Indians (_Calochortus luteus_), and they knew that atits roots grew tubers, as large as filberts, and delicious eating whencooked. Lucien recognised all these edible productions; and promisedhis brothers a luxurious dinner on the morrow. For that night, allthree were too much fatigued and sleepy to be nice about theirappetites. The juicy bear's meat, to travellers, thirsty and hungry asthey, needed no seasoning to make it palatable. So they washedthemselves clear of the dust, ate their frugal meal, and stretchedthemselves out for a long night's rest.
And a capital night's rest they enjoyed--without having been disturbedby anything. One would have supposed that, after so much hardship, theywould have got up somewhat wearied. Strange to say, it was not so, forthey arose quite refreshed. This Lucien attributed to the bracinginfluence of the light dry atmosphere; and Lucien was right, for,although an arid soil surrounded them, its climate is one of thehealthiest in the world. Many a consumptive person, who has crossed theprairies with flushed cheek, uttering his hectic cough, has returned tohis friends to bear joyful testimony to what I now state.
All three felt as brisk as bees, and immediately set about preparingbreakfast. They gathered a capful of the pinon cones--the seeds ofwhich Lucien knew how to prepare by parching and pounding. These, withthe bear's meat, gave them a good hunter's breakfast. They then thoughtof their dinner, and dug up a quantity of "segos" and prairie-turnips.They found also a mallow--the _Malva involucrata_--whose long taperingroot resembles the parsnip both in taste and appearance. All these werebaked with the bear's meat--so that the dinner, in some respects,resembled ham, turnips, parsnips, and yams--for the root of the segothus dressed, is not unlike the yam, or sweet potato (_Convolvulusbatatas_).
Of course, our adventurers did not eat their dinner immediately afterbreakfast. A long interval passed between the two meals, which theyemployed in washing, scouring, and setting all their tackle to rights--for this had got sadly out of order in the hurry of the previous days.While thus engaged, they occasionally cast their eyes over the prairie,but nothing of the buffalo could be seen. Indeed, they did not look forthem very earnestly, as they had made up their minds to stay a day ortwo where they were--until their animals should be well rested, andready for rough work again. The latter enjoyed themselves quite as muchas their masters. There was plenty of the "grama" grass growing alongthe banks of the rivulet, and that with the water was all they cared forto make them contented and happy. Jeanette appeared to be glad that shewas no longer among the dark woods, where she had so nearly been torn topieces by panthers and javalies.
Before evening came the boys had finished all the little jobs which hadoccupied them. Their saddles, bridles, and lassos, were put in thoroughrepair, and placed upon the dry rocks. Their guns were wiped out, andthoroughly cleaned--lock, stock, and barrel. The horses, too, had beenwashed by the spring; and Jeanette's shanks had received a fresh "rub"with bear's grease, so that if ever that celebrated article brought outhair upon anything, it was likely to do so for her.
I say, all their little matters having been thus attended to, the younghunters were sitting upon three large stones near the spring, talkingover their past adventures and their future prospects. Of course, thebuffalo was the principal theme, as that was the object of theirexpedition. They did not fail to think of their good old father; andthey congratulated themselves upon the pleasure he would have inlistening to the story of their adventures when they should get back totell it. Hugot, too, came in for a share of their thoughts; andFrancois laughed over the remembrance of the tricks he had from time totime played upon the little corporal.
While thus enjoying themselves, the eyes of all were attracted to somedistant objects upon the prairie.
"Ho!" exclaimed Francois, "what a string of wolves!"
Wolves were no unusual sight, and even at that moment several weresitting upon the prairie, not more than two hundred yards from the camp.They were those that had followed the party on their march, having keptalong with it for days.
"The animals we see, yonder, are not wolves," joyfully added Basil."They are better than that, I fancy--they are deer!"
"No, brother," rejoined Lucien, "they are antelopes."
This announcement caused both Basil and Francois to spring to theirguns. Basil was particularly anxious to bring down an antelope, for hehad never killed one. In fact, he had never seen one, as this animal isnot met with near the Mississippi. Strange to say, its favourite rangeis the arid deserts that lie near the foots of the Rocky Mountains,where there is but little grass, and less water. In some of these it isthe only ruminating animal, of any considerable size, to be met with.It is often found so far from water, that some naturalists have assertedit can live without this necessary element. They forget that what tothem appears _far from water_, is to the antelope but a run of a fewminutes, or rather I should say, a flight--for its bounding speedresembles more the flight of a bird than the gallop of a four-footedcreature.
Antelopes differ but little from deer. The latter want thegall-bladder, which all antelopes have. Another distinction is found inthe horns. The deer's horns are composed of a solid bony substance,which differs from true horn. The horns of the antelope are more likethose of a goat. These are the principal distinctions. In most otherrespects deer and antelopes are alike. Naturalists say there is but onespecies of antelope in North America--the prong-horned (_AntilopeAmericana_). When the fauna of Mexico has been carefully examined, Ithink another will be found.
It is only upon the great prairies of the far west that the prong-hornedantelope is met with; and there it is a most shy and timid creature,allowing the hunter only to approach it by cunning and stratagem. Aherd is sometimes hunted by the Indians into a "pound," or "surrounded;"but even then their fleetness often enables them to escape; and solaborious an undertaking is it to capture them thus, that the plan isbut seldom adopted, where
any other game can be obtained. The easiestmode of taking the antelope is when it is found attempting to cross ariver--as its slender limbs and small delicate hoofs render it but apoor swimmer. The Indians sometimes destroy whole herds while thusendeavouring to swim across the great streams of the prairies.
Although so shy, the antelope is as inquisitive as mother Eve was; andwill often approach its most dangerous enemy to satisfy its instinct ofcuriosity. Our party were destined to witness a singular illustrationof this peculiarity.
Basil and Francois had seized their guns, but did not attempt to movefrom the spot. That would be of no use, they judged; as there was noteven a bunch of grass to shelter them in the direction whence theantelopes were approaching. They sat still, therefore, in hopes thatthe animals were on their way to the spring, and would come nearer oftheir own accord. In this conjecture the boys were right. The herd,about twenty in all, came on over the prairie, heading directly for thebutte. They walked in single file, following their leader like Indianson a war-path! They were soon so near, that the hunters coulddistinguish every part of their bodies--their yellow backs--their whitesides and bellies--the short erect manes upon their necks--theirdelicate limbs--their long pointed muzzles. They could even perceivethe little black spots behind their cheeks, which emit that disagreeableodour--as with the common goat--and on account of which thehunting-trappers, in their unromantic phraseology, have given the nameof "goats" to these most graceful animals.
All these peculiarities our young hunters observed as the herdapproached. They had placed themselves behind some willow-bushes, so asnot to be seen by the latter. They observed, too, that there was butone of them with horns, and that was the foremost, or leader. All therest were does or young ones. The antelopes, as they came on, did notappear to regard the horses, that were browsing out upon the plain,though not directly in their way. They took the latter, no doubt, formustangs--who are not their enemies in any sense--and, therefore, didnot fear them.
They arrived at length close to the spring rivulet, where it ran outupon the prairie. They did not approach it to drink. They wereevidently advancing towards the spring itself, perhaps with theintention of getting a cooler and more refreshing draught from thefountain-head. The young hunters lay concealed among the willows--eachwith his gun ready in his hand--determined to fire as soon as theunsuspecting creatures should come within range.
They had got nearly so--within two hundred yards, or less--when all atonce the leader was seen to swerve suddenly to the right, and head awayfrom the water! What could this movement mean? On looking in the newdirection, several hairy objects were perceived upon the ground. Theywere odd-looking objects, of a reddish-brown colour, and might havepassed for a number of foxes lying asleep. But they were not foxes.They were wolves--_prairie-wolves_--a sort of animals more cunning eventhan foxes themselves. They were not asleep neither, though theypretended to be. They were wide awake, as they lay squatted closelyupon the grass, with their heads so completely hidden behind their bushytails, that it would have been impossible to have told what they were,had not the boys known that they were the same wolves they had noticedbut the moment before. There were about half-a-dozen of them in all,lying in a line; but so close were they, that their bodies touched oneanother, and at first sight appeared as one object, or a string ofobjects connected together. They lay perfectly still and motionless.It was this group that had attracted the leader of the antelope herd,and was drawing him out of his course.
Curious to witness the _denouement_, our hunters continued to lie quietin their ambush among the willows.
The antelopes had all turned in the track of their leader, and werefollowing him in the new direction, like soldiers marching in singlefile. They went slowly, with outstretched necks and eyes protruded,gazing steadfastly on the strange objects before them. When within ahundred yards or so of the wolves, the leader stopped, and sniffed theair. The others imitated him in every movement. The wind was blowingtowards the wolves, therefore the antelopes, who possess the keenestscent, could benefit nothing from this. They moved forward againseveral paces, and again halted, and uttered their snorts as before, andthen once more moved on. These manoeuvres lasted for some minutes; andit was evident that the spirits of fear and curiosity were strugglingwithin the breasts of these creatures. At times the former seemed tohave the mastery, for they would tremble, and start as if about to breakoff in flight. Curiosity would again prevail, and a fresh movementforward was the consequence.
In this way they advanced, until the headmost had got within a few pacesof the wolves, who lay all the while as still as mice or as cats waitingfor mice. Not any part of them was seen to move, except the long hairof their tails that waved slightly in the breeze; but this only excitedthe curiosity of the antelopes to a greater degree.
The leader of the herd seemed all at once to grow bolder. He was astout old buck--what had _he_ to fear? Why should _he_ dread suchcreatures as these, without heads, or teeth, or claws, and evidentlyincapable of moving themselves? No doubt they were inanimate objects.He would soon decide that question, by simply stepping up and laying hisnose upon one of them.
He was instigated, moreover, by a species of pride or vanity. He wantedto show off his courage before his followers, who were mostly does; manyof them his wives too--for the old antelopes are shocking polygamists.It would never do to appear timid in the eyes of the fair does; and hewas determined to cut a swagger. Under this impulse, he walked boldlyup, until his sharp snout touched the hair of one of the wolves.
The latter, who had been all the time peeping from under his tail,waiting for just such an opportunity, now sprang to his feet, andlaunched himself upon the throat of the antelope. His comrades,uncoiling themselves at the same instant, followed his example; and thenext moment the prong-horn was dragged to the ground, and worried by thewhole pack!
The frightened herd wheeled in their track and scattered right and left.Some ran in the direction of the hunters; but so swiftly did they boundpast, that the shots of the latter, aimed in haste, whistled idly overthe prairie. Not one of them appeared to have been touched; and, in afew seconds, not one of them was to be seen. They had all escaped,except their leader, who was by this time dying under the teeth of thewolves.
"Well, we shall have _him_ at all events," said Basil. "Load your guns,brothers! give the wolves time to kill him outright; we can easily runthem off."
"Very kind of them," added Francois, "to procure us fresh venison forsupper. Indeed we might not have had it but for their cunning. We havedone them some service during our journey; it is almost time they shouldmake us a return."
"We had better make haste, then," said Lucien, loading at the same timewith his brothers; "the wolves appear to be very busy; they may tear ourvenison to pieces. See! what a scuffle!"
As Lucien said this, the eyes of all were turned upon the wolves. Thelatter were leaping about over the body of the antelope, now in a thickclump, now more scattered, but all the while apparently worrying theanimal to death. Their jaws were already blood-stained, and their bushytails swept about and above them in ceaseless motion. The hunters madeall haste in reloading, lest, as Lucien had suggested, the wolves mightspoil the venison. They were not more than a minute engaged in rammingdown the bullets, and fixing the caps on the nipples of their guns.When this was done, all three ran forward together--Marengo in theadvance, with outstretched neck and open mouth, eager to do battle withthe whole pack.
It was but three hundred yards to the spot where the wolves were; andwhen our hunters had got within range, all three stopped, levelled theirpieces, and fired. The volley took effect. Two were seen kicking andsprawling over the grass, while the others, dropping their prey,scampered off over the prairie. The boys ran up. Marengo leaped uponone of the wounded wolves, while the other was despatched by the buttsof their guns. But where was the antelope? There was no such animal tobe seen; but, in its stead, half-a-dozen fragments of mangled skin, ahorned
head and shanks, with a clump of half-picked, ribs and joints!And this was all that was left of the poor prong-horn--all that was leftof that beautiful form that, only a few moments before, was boundingover the prairie in the full pride of health, strength, and swiftness!
The boys contemplated his remains with feelings of disappointment andchagrin; for, although there was still plenty of bear-meat, they hadanticipated supping upon fresh venison. But neither "haunch" nor"saddle" was left--nothing but torn and useless fragments--so, aftersundry sharp ejaculations against the wolves, they left Marengo to makehis best of the _debris_, and, walking back slowly to the camp, seatedthemselves once more upon the stones.