The Adventures of Fleetfoot and Her Fawns

im of Lone Lake. But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as

e, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own lig

deal to learn before ever you can take care of yourselves

d the little ones, "b

Foot. "You need practice in running, and we must play 'Follow the Leader'

gled their ea

danger! Follow me!" And she stamped her foot three tim

them how, when she ran, she held the white lining of her tail straight up to show which

must give it, too, to warn the others,

?" asked the

we help each other. And remember-obey o

gave the da

ellow. And, because woods babies learn quickly they remembered to give their own tiny stamp and whistle, their own wee white flags wig-wagging behin

eded for a deer to know where and how to put his feet down when he makes those great leaps of his. He may land, now among the rocks, now in marshy ground

hurting their frail ankles. Then, one day, young Frisky Fox, hiding at the edge of the clearing,

the number. And close behind each doe came her two fawns. Then a fifth mo

do. The baby bucks made at each other with heads lowered, ready to fight. The infant does backed timidly away to the

coats spotted with white, and their great innocent brown eyes! Everything

d them. "Ah!" thought Frisky Fox, "a game of 'Follow the Leader'." H

earing, then they quickened their pace, th

e glade and off into the woodland. The other does followed. Then came Fleet Foot's y

oot wanted. She came back, st

ain." And she trotted out into the glade, and circled around it, t

nose against it. Fleet Foot hurdled back, and coming up behind, butted the youngster with her head till the fawn tried

there's nothing like trying," she urged. But he only

mes around the glade. "Now!" she stamped, leaping the log once

a race they had! First around and around the opening, faster and faster and faster. Then, without w

good eating? I'd certainly like to try it!" For the smell of veniso

bout it that night in the den on the hillside, and the older fox made up his mind that next day he would be the one to watch when the fawns came to the meadow. If he coul

cles. They made a track like a figure 8, only with three loops instea

learning to make a quick turn. Because they'd break their

he might not corner one by trickery. So, gliding from tree-trunk to tree-trunk, he crept nearer