The animal was hit, or the wolves would not have embarked in a chase so hopeless as the pursuit of a prong-horn; for, strange to say, these cunning creatures can tell when game has been wounded better than the hunters themselves, and very often pursue and run it down, when the latter believes it to have escaped! It was evident, therefore, that Basil had hit the animal--though not in a deadly part--and the wolves were now following with the hope of hunting it down.
A new idea came into Basil's mind.

He thought he might yet _be in at the death_; and with this idea he ran up to his horse, drew the picket-pin, and leaping upon his bare back, directed him after the chase.

He was soon in full gallop over the prairie, keeping the wolves in sight as he went.

He could see the antelope, he had fired at, some distance ahead of the wolves, but _far behind the rest of the herd_, and evidently running _heavily and with pain_.
It cost the young hunter a five-mile gallop; and, at the end of that, while he was yet half-a-mile in the rear, he saw the wolves come up with the wounded antelope, and drag it down upon the prairie.

He made all the haste he could--putting Black Hawk to the top of his speed.