XVI VISITORS TO PADDY'S POND 83

XVII SAMMY JAY ARRIVES 88

XVIII THE HUNTER LOSES HIS TEMPER 93

XIX SAMMY JAY IS MODEST 97

XX LIGHTFOOT HEARS A DREADFUL SOUND 102

XXI HOW LIGHTFOOT GOT RID OF THE HOUNDS 107

XXII LIGHTFOOT'S LONG SWIM 111

XXIII LIGHTFOOT FINDS A FRIEND 116

XXIV THE HUNTER IS DISAPPOINTED 121

XXV THE HUNTER LIES IN WAIT 126

XXVI LIGHTFOOT DOES THE WISE THING 131

XXVII SAMMY JAY WORRIES 136

XXVIII THE HUNTING SEASON ENDS 141

XXIX MR. AND MRS. QUACK ARE STARTLED 146

XXX THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED 151

XXXI A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 156

XXXII LIGHTFOOT SEES THE STRANGER 161

XXXIII A DIFFERENT GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK 165

XXXIV A STARTLING NEW FOOTPRINT 170

XXXV LIGHTFOOT IS RECKLESS 175

XXXVI SAMMY JAY TAKES A HAND 180

XXXVII THE GREAT FIGHT 185

XXXVIII AN UNSEEN WATCHER 190

XXXIX LIGHTFOOT DISCOVERS LOVE 195

XL HAPPY DAYS IN THE GREEN FOREST 200

ILLUSTRATIONS

Wonderfully handsome was Lightfoot
the Deer. Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

"I don't understand these men creatures,"
said Peter to little Mrs. Peter. 28

"My, but that's a beautiful set of antlers
you have!" 71

"I tell you what it is," said Sammy
Jay to Bobby Coon, "something
has happened to Lightfoot." 143

LIGHTFOOT THE DEER

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,