114 
WILD AMERICANS 
“I don’t mean the eagle on the coin, Uncle Ely. 
The animal in your pocket is much bigger than an 
eagle,” answered Buck. 
Uncle Ely thought hard for a few seconds. 
"I don’t understand. No, I believe you are wrong. 
If it’s not an eagle, then I’m sure I have no animal in 
my pocket.” 
Ginger began to giggle. She knew about Buck’s 
secret. 
"Will you buy us an ice cream cone'if we prove it 
to you, Uncle Ely?” she asked. 
"Yes.” 
"A double-decked cone, one for each of us?” she 
questioned. 
Uncle Ely pretended to frown at this hard bar¬ 
gain. He screwed up his face and glared at the chil¬ 
dren. But finally he smiled and agreed. 
"It’s a buffalo! On your nickel, Uncle Ely!” Both 
children explained, and laughed. 
"All right, all right, I’ll buy the ice cream,” he 
agreed, laughing with them. "I forgot all about the 
buffalo nickels. But do you know something? I real¬ 
ly wouldn’t have to pay if I didn’t want to.” 
"Why?” asked Buck. By this time the lad was very 
much interested. 
