# Lightfoot's Long Swim explained — Green Forest Stories

> Chapter companion for Green Forest Stories by Thornton W. Burgess.

## What happens

Exhausted from the chase, Lightfoot the Deer struggles to swim across the Big River. As his strength wanes, he nearly gives up hope of reaching the far shore, but he finds a sandbar where he can rest and regain his strength.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fear and Survival

Lightfoot's desperate swim and fear of drowning or being shot by a hunter highlight the primal struggle for survival.

### Humanity and Nature

The hunter's threat looms even as Lightfoot battles the natural obstacle of the river, illustrating the tension between wild animals and human hunters.

## Character check-ins

### Lightfoot the Deer

Lightfoot is exhausted from the chase and struggles to swim across the Big River, nearly drowning before finding a sandbar to rest.

## Key lines

> The Big River was very wide. It would have been a long swim for Lightfoot had he been fresh and at his best.

The river was so wide that even a well-rested Lightfoot would have found it a challenge.

_Sets the stage for the difficulty of the swim._

> Little by little hope died in the heart of Lightfoot the Deer. He would keep on just as long as he could and then—well, it was better to drown than to be torn to pieces by dogs.

Lightfoot's hope faded as he considered drowning preferable to being killed by the hounds.

_Reveals Lightfoot's despair and grim calculus._

> Just as Lightfoot felt that he could not take another stroke and that the end was at hand, one foot touched something. Then, all four feet touched. A second later he had found solid footing and was standing with the water only up to his knees.

When Lightfoot was about to give up, his hooves unexpectedly found a shallow sandbar.

_The turning point where Lightfoot finds respite._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters/xxii-lightfoot-s-long-swim
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters