ere 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 danger signal.

"It's of no use for me to try to follow him," thought the
hunter. "It is too dry for me to track him. He may not be so
badly scared, after all. I'll just find a good place and wait."

So the hunter found an old log behind some small trees and there
sat down. He could see all around Paddy's pond. He sat
perfectly still. He was a clever hunter and he knew that so long
as he did not move he was not likely to be noticed by any sharp
eyes that might come that way. What he didn't know was that
Lightfoot had been watching him all the time and was even then
standing where he could see him. And another thing he didn't
know was that Paddy the Beaver had come out of his house and,
swimming under water, had reached a hiding-place on the opposite
shore from which he too had seen the hunter sit down on the log.
So the hunter watched for Lightfoot, and Lightfoot and Paddy
watched the hunter.

CHAPTER XVI: Visitors To Paddy's Pond

That hunter was a man of patience. Also he was a man who
understood the little people of the Green Forest and the Green
Meadows. He knew that if he would not be seen he must not move.
So he didn't move. He kept as motionless as if he were a part of
the very log on which he was sitting.

For some time there was no sign of any living thing. Then, from
over the tree tops in the direction of the Big River, came the
whistle of swift wings, and Mr. and Mrs. Quack alighted with a
splash in the pond. For a few moments they sat on the water, a
picture of watchful suspicion. They were looking and listening
to make sure that no danger was near. Satisfied at last, they
began to clean their feathers. It was plain that they felt safe.
Paddy the Beaver was tempted to warn them that they were not as
safe as they thought, but as long as the hunter did not move
Paddy decided to wait.

Now the hunter was sorely tempted to shoot these Ducks, but he
knew that if he did he would have no chance that day to get
Lightfoot the Deer, and it was Lightfoot he wanted. So Mr. and
Mrs. Quack sw