Even then he could feel his strength leaving him . Had he escaped those hounds and the terrible hunters only to be drowned in the Big River ? This new fear gave him more strength for a little while . But it did not last long . He was three fourths of the way across the Big River but still that other shore seemed a long distance away . 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 . 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 . He had found a little sand bar out in the Big River . With a little gasp of returning hope , Lightfoot waded along until the water began to grow deeper again . He had hoped that he would be able to wade ashore , but he saw now that he would have to swim again . So for a long time he remained right where he was . He was so tired that he trembled all over , and he was as frightened as he was tired . He knew that standing out there in the water he could be seen for a long distance , and that made him nervous and fearful . Supposing a hunter on the shore he was trying to reach should see him . Then he would have no chance at all , for the hunter would simply wait for him and shoot him as he came out of the water . But rest he must , and so he stood for a long time on the little sand bar in the Big River . And little by little he felt his strength returning .
CHAPTER XXIII : XXXXX Finds A Friend As Lightfoot rested , trying to recover his breath , out there on the little sand bar in the Big River , his great , soft , beautiful eyes watched first one bank and then the other .
Lightfoot River drowned end feet fourths heart knees right stroke