Evening star., 1936-10-09


r IGHTFOOT THE DEER was
slowly and rather aimlessly
wandering about in the Green
- Forest Lightfoot was feeling
very good. He had largely regained
the strength he had lost while his
beautiful antlers were growing. Now
they had stopped growing and were
hardening. 1t wouldn't be long before
he would be rubbing of the velvet.
as the skin with which they are COW
cred while growing is called. He
would rub that velvet of against trees
until the points of his antlers were
polished. Then he would be ready
to 90 forth to battle with any strange
Buck who might happen to venture
into that part Of the Green Forest.
Presently Lightfoot heard some
queer sounds. He stopped and stood
perfectly still, with his big ears turned
in the direction of those queer sounds.
There were complaining whines min
gled with growls of discomfort. Step
ping softly, as Lightfoot can when
he wants to, he moved toward the
place from which the sounds had
come. 1t is surprising how quiet such
a big fellow as Lightfoot the Deer
can be when he wants to be. After q
bit Lightfoot came in sight Of an odd
little group He knew them at once.
They were Unc' Billy Possum, OF Mrs.
Possum and the Possum children. The
children were poking about. getting
something to eat. Unc' Billy Possum
and or Mrs. Possum appeared to be
in bad temper. Mrs. Possum was
scolding. She was scolding Unc' Billy.
Now and then Unc' Billy made
sharp reply. Lightfoot watched this
family party for few moments. Then
an idea came to him.
IT wonder what would happen II I
should give them all bad scare" said
Lightfoot to himself. He chuckled at
the thought.
The more he thought about it the
more Lightfoot thought 1t would be
fun to give the Possum family scare.
Probably they'll take to the trees,
thought Lightfoot. "Of course. II
they see me first they wouldn't be
scared, because they know won't
harm them I must scare them before
they see who it is
Now Lightfoot stole away as silent
" as he had come. You know that
Lightfoot, like all members of the
Deer family, has hard, sharp hoofs.
You would hardly expect him to be
able to move about as silently as he
does when he wants to. Not single
stick snapped beneath those hoofs.
Not a single dry leaf rustled. He
didn't 20 far. He went back just q
little way. Then he turned.
"I'n go crashing right into the
midst of them" thought Lightfoot.
Now when Lightfoot wants to make
a noise he can make plenty. He can
90 crashing through the brush SO that
the sound can be heard for some dis
tance. He has way Of plunging
ahead in a somewhat startling man.
ner. This is what he did now. He
plunged forward crashing through
the brush as if he were running In
great fright. He leaped out into the
middle of the tiny opening in which
the Possum family had been gathered
and stopped with half whistle. halt
snort.
Now what Lightfoot expected to see
was scattering of those Possums. He
expected to see them running for
trees, for he knew that Possums are
at home in trees. He hadn't had the
least little doubt that each one OF
those Possums would scamper for the
nearest tree as fast as legs could take
him. Imagine his astonishment when
instead of Possums running in all
directions, he saw not a single rum
ming Possum. but circle of Possums