10 
WILD AMERICANS 
Many things had already happened to Billy Buck 
and Mary Virginia Blair (nicknamed Ginger) since 
they left their home in the East. Uncle Ely, Father’s 
bachelor brother, who lived on a ranch in Texas, was 
taking the family on a long automobile tour. They 
lived in a shiny new trailer. Uncle Ely loved the 
outdoors, especially its animals, which he called 
“wild Americans.” 
This morning they were in western Texas. The 
grass was dry and tall and it tickled Virginia’s nose, 
so that she thought she would have to sneeze. Some' 
how she knew that wouldn’t be a wise thing to do. 
Suddenly Billy Buck grabbed her arm. 
“Sh'h'h'h!” warned Uncle Ely. 
Over the top of the shrubs and brush that lined 
the trail to the water hole, they saw something 
strange. The brush was rattling and waving, and 
above it appeared a great set of animal horns, 
branched like the limbs of a tree. 
“Look—antlers!” whispered Uncle Ely. 
“What are antlers?” Ginger whispered back. 
Buck answered her. As big brothers do, he want' 
ed to show her that he knew. 
“They’re horns,” he whispered. “Deer horns. I’ve 
seen pictures of them.” 
