Part 23 (1/2)

”Let's make a hunt in a different direction,” said Fred. ”It is best to keep away from the neighborhood of those Indians, so far as we can locate them from the shots we occasionally hear, for the game isn't likely to stay where they are.”

”Off yonder to the north appears to be a valley,” remarked Jack, after the two had studied their surroundings for some minutes through their gla.s.ses. ”I can't tell how extensive it is, for it is shut out by that mountain peak on the right, but I suppose one place is as good as another.”

Having agreed as to their course, they wasted no time. It was a long and severe tramp to the locality, for again the peculiar purity of the atmosphere misled them, and what they took to be one mile proved to be fully double that length. Finally the hungry lads reached a ridge from whose top they could look down in the valley that had first caught their attention, but which for the last hour had been excluded from their sight by the intervening obstacles.

”Now, we can't tell whether any game is below waiting for us,” said Jack, ”but we can't lose anything by acting as if there is.”

It was a wise precaution, as speedily became apparent. As carefully as a couple of Indians they picked their way up the slope, and just before reaching the crest sank upon their knees, and, crawling a little further, peeped over the top as if they expected to discover a hostile camp within a hundred yards.

The prospect caused an involuntary exclamation of pleasure from both.

The valley was two or three hundred yards in width, and, after winding past, curved out of sight behind the mountain range already referred to.

It was one emerald ma.s.s of rich gra.s.s, in which ten thousand cattle could have found abundant pasturage. No trees appeared anywhere except at the furthest bend in the valley, where a small grove stood near the middle, and seemed to surround a spring of water, which, flowing in the other direction, was not within sight of the young hunters.

What lent additional beauty to this landscape was the singular uniformity of the valley. The slope was gentle on each side, without any abrupt declivities, and there was hardly any variation in its width. The dark-green color of the incline and bottom of the valley gave the whole scene a softness that would have charmed an artist.

The young men admired the picturesque prospect, the like of which they had never before viewed, and yet it must be confessed that one feature of the landscape appealed more strongly to them than all the rest.

Perhaps a half-mile away six or eight antelope were cropping the gra.s.s, unconscious of the approach of danger. They were near the small clump of trees alluded to, and may have lately drank from the water flowing therefrom. They were in a bunch, all their heads down, and had evidently taken no alarm from the occasional distant reports of guns.

”I say, Jack, there's a splendid dinner!” whispered Fred, excitedly.

”What good will it do us, so long as it is _there_? I should like to have it _here_.”

”It ought to be easy to pick off one of those creatures; Hank told us they make fine eating.”

”That is all true, but it is also true that the antelope is one of the most timid of creatures, and the best hunter finds it hard work to get within reach of them.”

”You know how curious they are? The men at the ranch told the other night about lying down in the gra.s.s in the middle of a prairie and holding up a stick with a handkerchief at the end of it. Timid as was the antelope, it would gradually draw near to find out what the thing meant, and pay for its curiosity with its life.”

Such incidents are quite common in the West, but neither of the boys felt it safe to rely upon the stratagem. They feared that at the first attempt the antelope would take fright and make off beyond recovery, and Fred Greenwood's proposition was adopted.

”There doesn't seem to be any wind blowing, but if we try to steal down the side of the valley we are sure to frighten them off. Now, if you will stay here, Jack, I'll pick my way round to the other side, so that the herd will be between us. Then I'll do my best to get near enough for a shot; if I fail, they will run for this point and come within range of you. Between us two, one is certain to get a shot at them.”

”It's putting a big lot of work on you, Fred,” said the chivalrous Jack.

”It won't be half as hard to bear as the hunger I'll feel in the course of an hour or two if we don't get one of them.”

The plan was so simple that no explanation was necessary. Jack Dudley had only to remain extended on the ground where he was, with his Winchester ready, and keep an eye on the little herd, which could not observe him unless he was unusually careless. He could easily judge of Fred's success or failure by watching the animals, and it would seem that success was almost certain for one of the young hunters. The only thing to be feared was that Fred would betray himself before reaching the other side of the game that was so tempting to both.

The comrades looked at their watches at the moment of separating, and found it was precisely one o'clock. Fred gave himself an hour to reach a point from which to start on his return, though it was possible that double that time would be required. Before the interval had expired Jack had his gla.s.s to his eyes, and was studying the valley below.

As the antelope cropped the rich gra.s.s they occasionally took a step in the direction of the watcher; but the largest one, evidently the leader, changed his course so as to work back toward the little grove of trees, the others following. Now and then the leader raised his head and looked around, as if suspecting danger, though his fears were not confirmed. At longer intervals other members of the herd did the same, but it was evident that they neither saw nor scented anything amiss.

Jack's constant fear was that Fred would betray himself through some accident. His course would bring him nearer the game and the risk was considerable; but as the minutes pa.s.sed without anything of that nature taking place, his hope increased.

”More than likely Fred himself will get the shot instead of me. It makes no difference, so that we don't lose our supper; for,” he added, dismally, ”the dinner is already gone.”

When another half-hour had pa.s.sed, he was sure his chum was on the other side of the herd.