An Unseen Watcher explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Courtship

  The fight is driven by the desire to win Miss Daintyfoot's love, and she watches to decide her preference.

• Fear and Survival

  Once beaten, the stranger is consumed by fear and flees for his life.

Characters to notice

• Lightfoot the Deer

  Fights the stranger for the right to win Miss Daintyfoot's love, ultimately victorious.

• Miss Daintyfoot

  Watches the fight from hiding, uncertain at first which deer she wants to win, but finally realizes she wanted Lightfoot.

• Paddy the Beaver

  His pond is near the clearing where the fight takes place.

Key passages

• “As Lightfoot the Deer and the big stranger from the Great Mountain fought in the little opening near the pond of Paddy the Beaver, neither knew or cared who saw them.”

  Lightfoot and the stranger fought in a clearing by Paddy's pond, oblivious to any onlookers.

  Sets the scene for the fight.

• “She knew that they were fighting for her. Of course. She knew it just as she had known how both had been hunting for her.”

  Miss Daintyfoot understood the fight was over her, just as she knew both deer had been seeking her.

  Highlights her awareness of the stakes.

• “Then Lightfoot turned back to the open place where they had fought. There he threw up his beautiful head, crowned by its great antlers, and whistled a challenge to all the Green Forest.”

  Lightfoot returned to the clearing, raised his antlered head, and issued a triumphant challenge to the forest.

  Shows Lightfoot's victory and dominance.