"I don't know," answered her playmate Rudolph. The two pronghorn antelopes were playing near the water hole on a perfect summer day. The dazzling sun was shining on their backs as they took a drink from the water hole. Nothing could spoil it, except---

"Hunters!" cried Rose. Rudolph turned around and saw two men with guns. They were dressed in brown to blend in with the tall, wavering grasses. Their names were Fred and George. They were the two most successful antelope poachers in all of California and they had never been caught. Luckily, the antelopes' brown skin kept them hidden from the poachers.

"Run!" he yelled. The two antelope quickly pranced away behind some thick bushes.

"That was close!" said Rose. "Tell me about it," gasped Rudolph, who was still out of breath from running. Suddenly, he noticed that the bush they were hiding behind was sagebrush, one of their favorite foods. He told Rose and they both started eating.

After about fifteen minutes Rose said, "I think we should go find our parents and tell them that there are hunters in the area." Rudolph agreed and they pranced out from behind the bush. They immediately saw Rose's mother, glancing around and looking very worried. "Mother!" she cried. They rushed toward each other and embraced. Rudolph was getting worried.

"Excuse me Miss," he called, "but there are"

"hunters. Everyone knows," Rose's mother interrupted. Suddenly, her face got very stern. "I am going to take you back to your mother. She is having her baby because her gestation period is over and the old sheaths on her horns are falling off. You must stay with her at all times. Is that understood?" she asked. Rudolph nodded.

Rudolph, Rose, and her mother started toward the Great Plains, where the antelope families gather. Rose pranced toward her father and told him about the poachers.

"I know, I know," he answered. "All the antelope families know about the poachers. We're going to hold a meeting on this problem. Look, the meeting is starting now. Let's head out to the water hole where they are planning to meet."

Rose, her mother, and her father pranced to the water hole. The leader cleared his throat and began to speak. "As all of you know, we are in danger because poachers have moved into the area. We can get away from coyotes, but not bullets from a poacher. I have thought about this problem long and hard, and now I have the solution. Our two strongest antelope will guard the east and west borders of our territory for two days and two nights. If the poachers come they will stamp their hooves on the ground and alert us. On the third day, we will move further west where there are no poachers." He then stepped backward. Slowly, all the antelope families left the water hole.

Meanwhile, Bill the cameraman was moving in. He was trying to get film on the pronghorn antelope for the Discovery Channel. He saw the two antelopes stationed at either end of the great plain. This was a very unusual thing for pronghorn antelope to do. Puzzled, he took out his camera and began to shoot. Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound. Then, he heard the hoarse voice of Fred, "There are too many. They even have two antelopes stationed at either end."

"You're right," said George. By now, Bill was shaking. He continued, "We'll try an ambush attack from the north tomorrow because the antelope are only stationed at the east and west. Let's go." Another rustling sound. Then silence. They were gone.

In his wood cabin later that night, Bill puzzled over what to do. He finally decided to take his story to the state officials. After all, he had the film to prove his point. He started east towards where the state official’s offices were located.

Rose fell asleep almost immediately after her father's reassuring words. Little did she know that the hunters’ were planning an ambush attack from the north. The pronghorn had not stationed any antelope to keep an eye out for the hunters on the north or south of their territory.

Bill finally reached the state officials. He told them what had happened. They watched the film and saw the evidence. Then they prepared to go out to the plains and arrest the poachers.

After a good rest, Rose felt refreshed. Suddenly, gunshots fired. She watched as many men came to surround the poachers. She gave a big sigh of relief. Everything was going to be all right, except…

Fred and George were sentenced to life in prison. Usually, punishments for illegal poaching were lighter, but Fred and George were also charged with grand theft. This was their first defeat, and their last.