mbed up on Paddy's dam and began to eat.
You know Bobby Coon is very particular about his food. Whenever there is
water near, Bobby washes his food before eating. Once more the hunter
was tempted, but did not yield to the temptation, which was a very good
thing for Bobby Coon.

All this Lightfoot saw as he stood among the little hemlock-trees at the
top of the ridge behind the hunter. He saw and he understood. "It is
because he wants to kill me that he doesn't shoot at Mr. and Mrs. Quack
or Bobby Coon," thought Lightfoot a little bitterly. "What have I ever
done that he should be so anxious to kill me?"

Still the hunter sat without moving. Mr. and Mrs. Quack contentedly
hunted for food in the mud at the bottom of Paddy's pond. Bobby Coon
finished his meal, crossed the dam and disappeared in the Green Forest.
He had gone off to take a nap somewhere. Time slipped away. The hunter
continued to watch patiently for Lightfoot, and Lightfoot and Paddy the
Beaver watched the hunter. Finally, another visitor appeared at the
upper end of the pond--a visitor in a wonderful coat of red. It was
Reddy Fox.

CHAPTER XVII

SAMMY JAY ARRIVES

When Reddy Fox arrived at the pond of Paddy the Beaver, the hunter who
was hiding there saw him instantly. So did Lightfoot. But no one else
did. He approached in that cautious, careful way that he always uses
when he is hunting. The instant he reached a place where he could see
all over Paddy's pond, he stopped as suddenly as if he had been turned
to stone. He stopped with one foot lifted in the act of taking a step.
He had seen Mr. and Mrs. Quack.

Now you know there is nothing Reddy Fox likes better for a dinner than a
Duck. The instant he saw Mr. and Mrs. Quack, a gleam of longing crept
into his eyes and his mouth began to water. He stood motionless until
both Mr. and Mrs. Quack had their heads under water as they searched for
food in the mud in the bottom of the pond. Then like a red flash he
bounded out of sight behind the dam of Paddy the Beaver.

Presently the hunter saw Reddy's black nose at the end of the dam as
Reddy peeped around it to watch Mr. and Mrs. Quack. The latter were
slowly moving along in that direction as they fed. Reddy was quick to
see this. If he remained right where he was, and Mr. and Mrs. Quack
kept on feeding in that direction, the chances were that he would have a
dinner of fat Duck. All he need do was to be patient and wait. So, with
his eyes fixed