Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-14
nybody else near the Old Brier Patch


with one over here in the Green For
est But even when he did hunt me
it wasn't anything like what the
Quacks have to go through. If I kept
my eyes open l could tell when hunt
er was coming, and could hide in a
hole If l wanted to. l never had to
worry about my meals. But with the
Quacks 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 there or not. That isn't hunting.
It's-its-'
We'll. what is It? What are you
talking to yourself about. Peter Rab-
bit?''
Peter looked up with a start to hnd
the soft beautiful eyes of Lightfoot the
Deer gazing down at him over the top
of little hemlock tree.
IT'S awful" declared Peter. IT'S
worse than unfair 1t doesn't give
them any chance at ALL
Il suppose 1t must be so if you say So
replied Lightfoot. but suppose you tell
me what all this awfulness is about"
beginning and told Lightfoot all about
Mr.. and Mrs Quack and the awful dan
gers 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
Lghtfoot listened and his great soft eyes
We're filled with pity for the troubles of
the Quack family.
Il hope they will get through all right"
said he, land ] hope they will get back
in the spring. 1t is bad enough to be
hunted by men at one time Of the year.
be hunted in the spring as wei as in the
| fall is more than twice as bad. Men are
| strange creatures. ! do not understand
| them at all. None Of the people of the
| terrible things. ! suppose it is quite right
| to hunt others in order to get enough to
eat though I am thankful to say that /
have never had to do that, but to hunt
| thing I cannot understand at all. And
yet that is what men seem to do it for /
guess the trouble is they never have been
hunted themselves and don't know how 1t
feels. Sometimes l think I'll hunt one
some day just to teach him a lesson.
What are you laughing at. Peter?"
REPLIED Ae the pst asa of your hunting hsat - h
Lightfoot. but you are too timid and gen.
tie to frighten any one. Big as you are.
wouldn't fear you
sprang out in front Of Peter. He stamped
his sharp hoofs. lowered his handsome
head until the sharp points of his horns
pointed straight at Peter, lifted the hair
dioHS lHt DdCh VI HIS IcCk ana maze d
motion as il to plunge at Peter His eyes.
which Peter had always thought so soft
and gentle. seemed to flash fire.
"Oh !" cried Peter in faint, frightened
sounding voice, and leaped to one side
before 1t entered his foolish little head
that Lightfoot was just pretending
Lightfoot chuckled. Did you say 1
couldn't brighten any one?" he demanded.
II didn't know you could look SO
terribly fierce" stammered Peter Those
horns look really dangerous when you
point them that way Why-why, what is
of old fur Have you been tearing some
body's coat Lightfoot?" Peters eyes were
wide with wonder and suspicion.