230 ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS 
true!—the proud horns of OI Buck himself 
looming up in the midst! 
Then Johnny stopped, actually pushing the 
fawns from the pan, while he appeased the rest 
with a few handfuls of oats cast on the snow, and 
held the pan toward OI Buck’s nose. Slowly, a 
little reluctantly, it almost seemed a little proudly, 
with his ears still up and his eyes alert, Ol Buck 
drew close, and put his nose into the food. 
Johnny raised one hand and touched his neck. 
Quick as a flash, he reared up and sprang back a 
full pace, but Johnny persisted, holding out the 
pan again. Again Ol’ Buck nuzzled into it, and 
this time he let Johnny’s hand rest a second on 
his strong, beautiful neck, before he reared back 
his head again and withdrew a dozen feet. ‘Then 
Johnny turned to the fawns, setting down his 
pan for the does to feed in, and putting an arm 
around the neck of each little deer, while his face, 
between theirs, laughed with inexpressible delight 
toward the astonished group of men below him. 
Somebody shouted, and OI’ Buck, with a single 
spring, was faced in the opposite direction and 
headed for the woods. The does followed, but 
