Produced by Kent Fielden. HTML version by Al Haines. LIGHTFOOT THE DEER BY THORNTON W. BURGESS CONTENTS I: Peter Rabbit Meets Lightfoot II: Lightfoot's New Antlers III: Lightfoot Tells How His Antlers Grew IV: The Spirit Of Fear V: Sammy Jay Brings Lightfoot Word VI: A Game Of Hide And Seek VII: The Merry Little Breezes Help Lightfoot VIII: Wit Against Wit IX: Lightfoot Becomes Uncertain X: Lightfoot's Clever Trick XI: The Hunted Watches The Hunter XII: Lightfoot Visits Paddy The Beaver XIII: Lightfoot And Paddy Become Partners XIV: How Paddy Warned Lightfoot XV: The Three Watchers XVI: Visitors To Paddy's Pond XVII: Sammy Jay Arrives XVIII: The Hunter Loses His Temper XIX: Sammy Jay Is Modest XX: Lightfoot Hears A Dreadful Sound XXI: How Lightfoot Got Rid Of The Hounds XXII: Lightfoot's Long Swim XXIII: Lightfoot Finds A Friend XXIV: The Hunter Is Disappointed XXV: The Hunter Lies In Wait XXVI: Lightfoot Does The Wise Thing XXVII: Sammy Jay Worries XXVIII: The Hunting Season Ends XXIX: Mr. And Mrs. Quack Are Startled XXX: The Mystery Is Solved XXXI: A Surprising Discovery XXXII: Lightfoot Sees The Stranger XXXIII: A Different Game Of Hide And Seek XXXIV: A Startling New Footprint XXXV: Lightfoot Is Reckless XXXVI: Sammy Jay Takes A Hand XXXVII: The Great Fight XXXVIII: An Unseen Watcher XXXIX: Lightfoot Discovers Love XL: Happy Days In The Green Forest 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?"