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 grass 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.