tramped a mile or more that Bob realised how
quickly the time had passed. It was disappointing to have to return
empty-handed to the camp, especially since he had heard Alf's gun crack
twice again. At the same time, if there were no creatures to be shot, he
could not be reproached for his lack of success.

With a rueful grimace and a laugh of amusement at his own failure, the
boy was just turning to retrace his steps, when suddenly the bush
rustled at his side, and a brown body leapt into the air as if it had
been shot from a catapult.

"Antelope!" Bob exclaimed with delight, and quick as a flash of light
the butt of his gun darted to his shoulder and the woods resounded with
the explosion of a cartridge.

It was a quick aim and not too good, for the animal disappeared in the
farther bush, and the cracking of twigs told the young hunter that the
quarry was yet active.

"This is worth waiting for," said Bob to himself, as he rushed forward
in pursuit. "A dozen of Alf's prairie chicken will not be equal to an
antelope--if I get him!"

There was much in that little "if," for evidently the deer was far from
being disabled, since it had so rapidly made distance between itself and
the hunter.

Nothing daunted, Bob hurried on, replacing the used cartridge as he ran,
and easily following the tracks that the animal had made in its dash for
liberty.

Bob's pulses were thrilling with excitement, but his nerves were the
real hunter's nerves that can be steady even when excitement runs
highest. He gripped his gun firmly, and with eyes scaled to see each
tremor of a leaf he followed the track with the dogged purpose of one
who meant to capture.

Time and distance were unheeded now. All the boy's senses were converged
towards one aim, and for the time being he was oblivious to all other
distractions. Suddenly he stopped in the very midst of a pace, as if he
were suddenly changed into a statue of marble; for at no great distance,
he saw the deer standing at the edge of what seemed to be a natural
paddock of green grass. The animal had paused in its flight, and was now
sniffing the air with head raised, to discover if it were still pursued.

It was worth gun-shot.

Cautiously Bob raised his weapon without even moving from the strained
position in which he had stopped at first glimpse of the game. It would
be useless for him to approach closer, for the least disturbance of the
bush would be discovered, and a few leaps would