wered in a threatening fashion. And then
Nimble checked his headlong rush and merely clashed his horns pleasantly
against Dodger's.

There was something about the sound that sent a thrill through Nimble
and started his coat to bristling along his backbone with a queer,
creepy feeling.

One day in the fall Nimble's mother came upon them in the woods when
they were having one of their sham fights.

"You'd better stop that!" she said to them severely. "Somebody will get
hurt sooner or later if you're not careful."

Nimble and Dodger paid little heed to her warning, except to stop until
the good lady had gone on and left them. Then, just as they were on the
point of renewing their frolic, somebody spoke in a hoarse voice. It was
old Mr. Crow. He sat on a low branch of a spreading pine, where he had
been watching the contest for some time without being noticed.

"I'd have my fun if I wanted to," he croaked. "Ladies are too finicky.
They don't know what a good time is."

Now, Mr. Crow's remarks pleased Nimble. And they pleased Dodger the
Deer. They didn't know that the old gentleman was a famous trouble
maker.

So Dodger and Nimble drew a little distance apart, as they always did
when they were getting ready to clash.

"Go it!" squalled Mr. Crow.

And they started. And Mr. Crow jumped up and down in his excitement.

"Now there's going to be some real fun," he muttered.

But Dodger the Deer leaped aside just in time to avoid being hit. And
that didn't please Mr. Crow at all.

"You fellows aren't half trying," he cried impatiently. "Anyone would
think you were a pair of Spike Horns."

Now, all Spike Horns were two whole years younger than Dodger and
Nimble. So it was no wonder that Mr. Crow's words stung them.

Nimble charged more fiercely than ever. And Dodger stood his ground.
With his feet planted firmly beneath him he waited for the blow.

There was a crack and a thud.

"Ha!" Mr. Crow squawked. "That's a little more like it. Dodger didn't
dodge that time, to be sure. But he stood still. And only a Spike Horn
would stand and _wait_ for the enemy."

Of course Dodger couldn't help wanting to show Mr. Crow that he knew how
to carry on a mock battle. So the next time Nimble rushed at him Dodger
did not wait. He jumped to meet Nimble. They struck in the air with a
frightful crash and fell sprawling upon the ground.

"Ha! That's more like it!" Mr. Crow applauded. "That's the sort of mock
battle I like to see