Evening star., 1916-10-31

Forest and the Green Meadows heard
the hunting cry of the dogs and shfv-
cred as they peeped from safe hiding
places and caught glimpses of Light
foot painting for breath and with fear
widened eyes, as he bounded past, and
a few minutes later saw the three dogs.
their noses to the ground, 1oiloWing IN
his tracks. 1t was fearsome thing, a
strange thing. to see. There was one OF
their own number, the handsomest and
noblest looking of them all, possessed
by terrible fear. And there were these
other creatures possessed by fierce
hunted and the JOY Of the hunters, and
| it was terrible to see and near
Once. in despair, Lghtfoot decided to
hold his ground and fight instead of
| direction from which those clamoring
voices were coming. A great anger
filled Lightfoot's heart What right
had these dogs to hunt him so? What
had he ever done that they should
seek to kill him? They did not need
! him for food. for they were fed and
cared for by man. He paved the
ground in sudden rage at the injustice
| of it and lowered his head so that the
| sharp points of his horns We're like
so many spears leveled just above the
ground.
Out from the shadows burst three saw
| age looking forms. For just a second
! they paused in surprise at seeing Light
! foot there With a snort of anger he
| charged at them and they sprang aside.
But one was not quite quick enough
| and there was a sharp yelp OF pain as
one of the sharp points of his horns
| tore a little red cash across the hip OF
this one. But in an instant the other
two were at Lightfoots heels. snap p
ping savagely at him as they tried to
pull him down. What could one do
against three? Had there been but one
5ightfoot would have stood his ground
and fought for his life. Three We're
foo for h i'm
fled. his f1anks bleeding from the teeth
which had vainly sought TO pun MIN
down.
Very early, as day was dawning, Far
mer Browns Boy started for the barn
to milk the cows. From over IN the
Old Pasture came the sound of eager
voices, the voices of dogs huntlns.
Now, who are they following?" NUT
tered Farmer Browns Boy. Il wonder
if it can be a fox. 1t sounds IKE II
and yet somehow it doesn't Whoever
it is they are pretty close to nm TO
judge by the noise they are making.
He put down his milk pals and went
around back of the barn where he
could look over to the Old Pasture
! Over the fence on the edge of the Old
Pasture on to the Green Meadows leap
ed a noble form. "Lightfoot!" ex-
claimed Farmer Browns Boy: As l
live it is Lightfoot the Deer! Those
dogs must have run him all night. for he
| looks ready to drop. If he'll only come
| this way I'll give those dogs a lesson
| that will teach them not to hunt deer
again in a hurry He hastily caught
up stick and waited.
| 1t seemed almost as if Lightfoot must
| have known the thoughts of Farmer
! Browns Boy, for he turned and headed
| straight Br the barnyard. Great as
| was his fear of man he seemed to feel
that in man alone was his only hope
| now. On he came. the dogs almost at
his heels. A great wave of pity swept
| over Farmer Browns Boy as with the
| last of his strength Lightfoot leaped
| the low bars of the barnyard and made
| straight for the open door of the cow
| shed, his breath coming in great gasps
| and terrible despair in his great ewes.
| Then with his stick Farmer Brown S
| Boy spraDg forward and beat off the
| dogs, sending them yelping, their tails
between their legs. He had saved
| Lightfoot the Deer.