ite 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; he might get lost, and there would be
nobody to take care of the other boy, the sick one. Dick made an
easy diplomatic reply. He knew that Conway merely wished to be
unpleasant, but Dick was of a very good nature, and he was
particularly averse just then to quarreling with anybody. He was
too full of the glory of living. Instead, he offered some of the
antelope steaks to Conway, who churlishly accepted them, and that
night he broiled others for Albert and himself, dividing the rest
among the men.

Albert found antelope steak tender and juicy, and he ate with an
increasing appetite. Dick noted the increase with pleasure.

"I wish I could go out and kill antelope," said Albert.

Dick laughed cheerfully.

"Kill antelope," he said. "Why, Al, in six months you'll be
taking a grizzly bear by the neck and choking him to death with
your two hands."

"Wish I could believe it," said Albert.

But Dick went to sleep early that night, and slept peacefully
without dreams or visions, and the next morning the train resumed
its sanguine march. Th