58 
WILD AMERICANS 
softer reds and browns of great boulders added still 
more beauty, and the purplish-red mountains, hazy in 
the distance, made a lovely background for it all. 
Uncle Ely, speaking softly, had been pointing out 
these things, encouraging the children to enjoy the 
outdoors. The three were walking quietly. Then 
Buck stumbled on a root and fell right into a bush. 
Instantly something moved nearby—thump! bump- 
ety-bumpety-bumpety—making a running sound that 
quickly faded away. 
“O—oh!” said Ginger, very much startled. 
Leaping and running away from them at a truly 
astonishing speed was a gray animal almost as tall 
as a dog. 
It seemed to jump more than it ran. When it came 
to a bush, it just leaped over, never hesitating. Its 
legs were very long. 
Everyone stared for several seconds, even after the 
animal had disappeared in the distance. 
“My goodness!” Ginger exclaimed under her 
breath. But Uncle Ely answered now. 
“That, children, was the westerner I spoke of. Did 
you notice?” 
“Yes! Yes, sir, I surely did!” Buck was excited 
about it. “He had the longest ears I have ever seen 
