he one who
had done all the hiding. Now, he was "it", and some one else was
doing the hiding. Instead of the dreadful fear which had filled
him in that other game, he was now filled with longing,--longing
to find and make friends with the beautiful stranger of
whom he had just once caught a glimpse, but of whom every day he
found tracks.

At times Lightfoot would lose his temper. Yes, Sir, Lightfoot
would lose his temper. That was a foolish thing to do, but it
seemed to him that he just couldn't help it. He would stamp his
feet angrily and thrash the bushes with his great spreading
antlers as if they were an enemy with whom he was fighting.
More than once when he did this a pair of great, soft, gentle eyes
were watching him, though he didn't know it. If he could have
seen them and the look of admiration in them, he would have been
more eager than ever to find that beautiful stranger.

At other times Lightfoot would steal about through the Green
Forest as noiselessly as a shadow. He would peer into thickets
and behind tangles of fallen trees and brush piles, hoping to
surprise the one he sought. He would be very, very patient.
Perhaps he would come to the thicket which he knew from
the signs the stranger had left only a few moments before.
Then his patience would vanish in impatience, and he would dash ahead,
eager to catch up with the shy stranger. But always it was in vain.
He had thought himself very clever but this stranger was proving
herself more clever.

Of course it wasn't long before all the little people in the
Green Forest knew what was going on. They knew all about that
game of hide and seek just as they had known all about that other
game of hide and seek with the hunters. But now, instead of
trying to help Lightfoot as they did then, they gave him no help
at all. The fact is, they were enjoying that game. Mischievous
Sammy Jay even went so far as to warn the stranger several times
when Lightfoot was approaching. Of course Lightfoot knew when
Sammy did this, and each time he lost his temper. For the time
being, he quite forgot all that Sammy had done for him when he
was the one that was being hunted.

Once Lightfoot almost ran smack into Buster Bear and was so
provoked by his own carelessness that instead of bounding away he
actually threatened to fight Buster. But when Buster grinned
good-naturedly at him, Lightfoot thought better of it and bounded
away to continue his search.

The