Lightfoot the Deer

Lightfoot the Deer

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lightfoot the Deer
by Thornton W. Burgess (#6 in our series by Thornton W. Burgess)
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Title: Lightfoot the Deer

Author: Thornton W. Burgess
Release Date: November, 2003 [Etext #4670] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 26,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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LIGHTFOOT THE DEER
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS

CHAPTER I

: Peter Rabbit Meets Lightfoot
Peter Rabbit was on his way back from the pond of Paddy the Beaver
deep in the Green Forest. He had just seen Mr. and Mrs. Quack start
toward the Big River for a brief visit before leaving on their long,
difficult journey to the far-away Southland. Farewells are always rather
sad, and this particular farewell had left Peter with a lump in his throat,
-- a queer, choky feeling.
"If I were sure that they would return next spring, it wouldn't be so
bad," he muttered. "It's those terrible guns. I know what it is to have to
watch out for them. Farmer Brown's boy used to hunt me with one of
them, but he doesn't any more. But even when he did hunt me it wasn't
anything like what the Ducks have to go through. If I kept my eyes and
ears open, I could tell when a hunter was coming and could hide in a
hole if I wanted to. I never had to worry about my meals. But with the
Ducks it is a thousand times worse. They've got to eat while making
that long journey, and they can eat only where there is the right kind of
food. Hunters with terrible guns know where those places are and hide
there until the Ducks come, and the Ducks have no way of knowing
whether the hunters are waiting for them or not. That isn't hunting. It's
-- it's --"
"Well, what is it? What are you talking to yourself about, Peter
Rabbit?"
Peter looked up with a start to find the soft, beautiful eyes of Lightfoot
the Deer gazing down at him over the top of a little hemlock tree.
"It's awful," declared Peter. "It's worse than unfair. It doesn't give them
any chance at all."
"I suppose it must be so if you say so," replied Lightfoot, "but you
might tell me what all this awfulness is about."
Peter grinned. Then he began at the beginning and told Lightfoot all
about Mr. and Mrs. Quack and the many dangers they must face on
their long journey to the far-away Southland and back again in the
spring, all because of the heartless hunters with terrible guns. Lightfoot
listened and his great soft eyes were filled with pity for the Quack
family.
"I hope they will get through all right," said he, "and I hope they will
get back in the spring. It is