HOW PADDY WARNED LIGHTFOOT
It was a queer partnership, that partnership between Lightfoot and
Paddy, but it was a good partnership. They had been the best of friends
for a long time. Paddy had always been glad to have Lightfoot visit his
pond. To tell the truth, he was rather fond of handsome Lightfoot. You
know Paddy is himself not at all handsome. On land he is a rather
clumsy-looking fellow and really homely. So he admired Lightfoot
greatly. That is one reason why he proposed that they be partners.
Lightfoot himself thought the idea a splendid one. He spent that night
browsing not far from Paddy's pond. With the coming of daylight he lay
down in a thicket of young hemlock-trees near the upper end of the pond.
It was a quiet, peaceful day. It was so quiet and peaceful and beautiful
it was hard to believe that hunters with terrible guns were searching
the Green Forest for beautiful Lightfoot. But they were, and Lightfoot
knew that sooner or later one of them would be sure to visit Paddy's
pond. So, though he rested and took short naps all through that
beautiful day, he was anxious. He couldn't help but be.
The next morning found Lightfoot back in the same place. But this
morning he took no naps. He rested, but all the time he was watchful and
alert. A feeling of uneasiness possessed him. He felt in his bones that
danger in the shape of a hunter with a terrible gun was not far distant.
But the hours slipped away, and little by little he grew less uneasy. He
began to hope that that day would prove as peaceful as the previous day
had been. Then suddenly there was a sharp report from the farther end of
Paddy's pond. It was almost like a pistol shot. However, it wasn't a
pistol shot. It wasn't a shot at all. It was the slap of Paddy's broad
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.