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 could n'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 was n't a pistol shot . It was n'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 XXXXX .
Lightfoot Paddy day hours hunter naps place slap tail water