Lightfoot the Deer | Page 9

the
Woodpecker at work drilling after worms in a tree not far away. Little
by little Lightfoot grew easy in his mind. It must be that that hunter had
become discouraged and was no longer following him.

CHAPTER XI
: The Hunted Watches The Hunter
It was so quiet and peaceful and altogether lovely there in the Green
Forest, where Lightfoot the Deer lay resting behind a pile of brush near
the top of a little hill, that it didn't seem possible such a thing as sudden
death could be anywhere near. It didn't seem possible that there could
be any need for watchfulness. But Lightfoot long ago had learned that
often danger is nearest when it seems least to be expected. So, though
he would have liked very much to have taken a nap, Lightfoot was too
wise to do anything so foolish. He kept his beautiful, great, soft eyes
fixed in the direction from which the hunter with the terrible gun would
come if he were still following that trail. He kept his great ears gently
moving to catch every little sound.
Lightfoot had about decided that the hunter had given up hunting for
that day, but he didn't let this keep him from being any the less
watchful. It was better to be overwatchful than the least bit careless. By
and by, Lightfoot's keen ears caught the sound of the snapping of a
little stick in the distance. It was so faint a sound that you or I would
have missed it altogether. But Lightfoot heard it and instantly he was
doubly alert, watching in the direction from which that faint sound had
come. After what seemed a long, long time he saw something moving,

and a moment later a man came into view. It was the hunter and across
one arm he carried the terrible gun.
Lightfoot knew now that this hunter had patience and perseverance and
had not yet given up hope of getting near enough to shoot Lightfoot. He
moved forward slowly, setting each foot down with the greatest care, so
as not to snap a stick or rustle the leaves. He was watching sharply
ahead, ready to shoot should he catch a glimpse of Lightfoot within
range.
Right along through the hollow at the foot of the little hill below
Lightfoot the hunter passed. He was no longer studying the ground for
Lightfoot's tracks, because the ground was so hard and dry down there
that Lightfoot had left no tracks. He was simply hunting in the direction
from which the Merry Little Breezes were blowing because he knew
that Lightfoot had gone in that direction, and he also knew that if
Lightfoot were still ahead of him, his scent could not be carried to
Lightfoot. He was doing what is called "hunting up-wind."
Lightfoot kept perfectly still and watched the hunter disappear among
the trees. Then he silently got to his feet, shook himself lightly, and
noiselessly stole away over the hilltop towards another part of the
Green Forest. He felt sure that that hunter would not find him again that
day.

CHAPTER XII
: Lightfoot Visits Paddy The Beaver
Deep in the Green Forest is the pond where lives Paddy the Beaver. It
is Paddy's own pond, for he made it himself. He made it by building a
dam across the Laughing Brook. When Lightfoot bounded away
through the Green Forest, after watching the hunter pass through the
hollow below him, he remembered Paddy's pond. "That's where I'll go,"
thought Lightfoot. "It is such a lonesome part of the Green Forest that I
do not believe that hunter will come there. I'll just run over and make
Paddy a friendly call."
So Lightfoot bounded along deeper and deeper into the Green Forest.
Presently through the trees he caught the gleam of water. It was Paddy's
pond. Lightfoot approached it cautiously. He felt sure he was rid of the
hunter who had followed him so far that day, but he knew that there

might be other hunters in the Green Forest. He knew that he couldn't
afford to be careless for even one little minute. Lightfoot had lived long
enough to know that most of the sad things and dreadful things that
happen in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadows are due to
carelessness. No one who is hunted, be he big or little, can afford ever
to be careless.
Now Lightfoot had known of hunters hiding near water, hoping to
shoot him when he came to drink. That always seemed to Lightfoot a
dreadful thing, an unfair thing. But hunters had done it before and they
might do it again. So Lightfoot was careful to approach Paddy's pond
upwind. That is, he approached the side of the pond from which