tail on the surface of the water. Instantly Lightfoot was on his feet.
He knew just what that meant. He knew that Paddy had seen or heard or
smelled a hunter.

It was even so. Paddy had heard a dry stick snap. It was a very tiny
snap, but it was enough to warn Paddy. With only his head above water he
had watched in the direction from which that sound had come. Presently,
stealing quietly along towards the pond, a hunter had come in view.
Instantly, Paddy had brought his broad tail down on the water with all
his force. He knew that Lightfoot would know that that meant danger.
Then Paddy had dived, and swimming under water, had sought the safety
of his house. He had done his part, and there was nothing more he could
do.

CHAPTER XV

THE THREE WATCHERS

When Paddy the Beaver slapped the water with his broad tail, making a
noise like a pistol shot, Lightfoot understood that this was meant as a
warning of danger. He was on his feet instantly, with eyes, ears, and
nose seeking the cause of Paddy's warning. After a moment or two he
stole softly up to the top of a little ridge some distance back from
Paddy's pond, but from the top of which he could see the whole of the
pond. There he hid among some close-growing young hemlock-trees. It
wasn't long before he saw a hunter with a terrible gun come down to the
shore of the pond.

Now the hunter had heard Paddy slap the water with his broad tail. Of
course. There would have been something very wrong with his ears had he
failed to hear it.

"Confound that Beaver!" muttered the hunter crossly. "If there was a
Deer anywhere around this pond, he probably is on his way now. I'll have
a look around and see if there are any signs."

So the hunter went on to the edge of Paddy's pond and then began to walk
around it, studying the ground as he walked. Presently he found the
footprints of Lightfoot in the mud where Light foot had gone down to
the pond to drink.

"I thought as much," muttered the hunter. "Those tracks were made last
night. That Deer probably was lying down somewhere near here, and I
might have had a shot but for that pesky Beaver. I'll just look the land
over, and then I think I'll wait here awhile. If that Deer isn't too
badly scared, he may come back."

So the hunter went quite around the pond, looking into all likely
hiding-places. He found where Lightfoot had been lying, and he knew that
in all probability Lightfoot had been there when Paddy gave the da