A Boy's Trip Across the Plains (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt: ... time, for Guy, remembering his former experience on the prairie, was afraid to venture for even a' moment out of sight of the camp-fires. But at last they all became so impatient at remaining so still and seeing nothing, that they ventured, very cautiously, a little farther up the stream. Guy took the lead, and very often would stop, and motion to his companions to do likewise, whenever he fancied he-heard any noise. Thus two very tiresome hours passed away, and Gus was very crossly protesting against staying any longer, when Guy motioned him very eagerly to be still, and with great triumph pointed to a number of animals that, one by one, veiy slowly and cautiously, were going down to the water to drink. They were very slender and graceful, about the size of a small deer, and covered with coarse, wiry hair, and bearing upon their small, well-formed heads a pair of branching horns. They descended to the water, without exhibiting any signs of suspicion or fear, for the toys, quite by accident, had got to the leeward of them--that is, where the wiud would not pass from them to the antelopes, and give to the keen animals notice of their presence. " Now," whispered Guy, excitedly, " wait until you see them stoop their heads to drink, and then fire at them Now--ready " Both boys raised their guns and fired. There was a terrible concussion. Both were thrown flat upon their backs, with the idea that their heads, or at least their noses, were shot off, and away stampeded the antelopes, as fast as their slender legs would carry them. Gus began to howl and cry most wildly, believing that his brother and Guy were both killed. They, however, soon convinced him that they were both alive, by rising, each declaring his no.39 was broken, and pointing t...