ladies of the party to a tree,
saying:

"You are the first white women whose feet have trod this region. Carve
your names here, and celebrate the event."

After a good night's rest and a bounteous breakfast, we set out in high
spirits, and were soon far out in the foothills.

One who has never seen these peculiar formations can have but little
idea of them. On every side, as far as the eye can see, undulations
of earth stretch away like the waves of the ocean, and on them no
vegetation flourishes save buffalo-grass, sage-brush, and the cactus,
blooming but thorny.

The second day I rode horseback, in company with Will and one or two
others of the party, over a constant succession of hill and vale;
we mounted an elevation and descended its farther side, only to be
confronted by another hill. The horseback party was somewhat in advance
of those in carriages.

From the top of one hill Will scanned the country with his field-glass,
and remarked that some deer were headed our way, and that we should have
fresh venison for dinner. He directed us to ride down into the valley
and tarry there, so that we might not startle the timid animals, while
he continued part way up the hill and halted in position to get a good
shot at the first one that came over the knoll. A fawn presently bounded
into view, and Will brought his rifle to his shoulder; but much to our
surprise, instead of firing, dropped the weapon to his side. Another
fawn passed him before he fired, and as the little creature fell we rode
up to Will and began chaffing him unmercifully, one gentleman remarking:

"It is difficult to believe we are in the presence of the crack shot of
America, when we see him allow two deer to pass by before he brings one
down."

But to the laughing and chaffing Will answered not a word, and recalling
the childish story I had heard of his buck fever, I wondered if, at this
late date, it were possible for him to have another attack of that kind.
The deer was handed over to the commissary department, and we rode on.

"Will, what was the matter with you just now?" I asked him, privately.
"Why didn't you shoot that first deer; did you have another attack like
you had when you were a little boy?"

He rode along in silence for a few moments, and then turned to me with
the query:

"Did you ever look into a deer's eyes?" And as I replied that I had not,
he continued:

"Every one has his little weakness; mine is a deer's eye. I don't w