when nimble had three-points on each of his antlers, in his fourth summer, he felt that he was at last grown up. he was now a "three-pointer." some of the older bucks had no more points than he. many of them were but "four-pointers." his own father had been a "five-pointer." so nimble hoped, secretly, that he would have five-point antlers in another two years.

as soon as his new horns were ready nimble and his friend dodger the deer began their mock battles again. and nimble found them greater fun than ever.

dodger was a spry fellow. he was quick as a flash at dodging. when nimble ran at him with head lowered and horns aimed straight at him dodger could wait until nimble all but struck him, before leaping aside. and then nimble would go rushing past him.

but dodger did not always dodge when attacked. sometimes he stood his ground, with his own head lowered in a threatening fashion. and then nimble checked his headlong rush and merely clashed his horns pleasantly against dodger's.

there was something about the sound that sent a thrill through nimble and started his coat to bristling along his backbone with a queer, creepy feeling.

one day in the fall nimble's mother came upon them in the woods when they were having one of their sham fights.

"you'd better stop that!" she said to them severely. "somebody will get hurt sooner or later if you're not careful."

nimble and dodger paid little heed to her warning, except to stop until the good lady had gone on and left them. then, just as they were on the point of renewing their frolic, somebody spoke in a hoarse voice. it was old mr. crow. he sat on a low branch of a spreading pine, where he had been watching the contest for some time without being noticed.

"i'd have my fun if i wanted to," he croaked. "ladies are too finicky. they don't know what a good time is."

now, mr. crow's remarks pleased nimble. and they pleased dodger the deer. they didn't know that the old gentleman was a famous trouble maker.

so dodger and nimble drew a little distance apart, as they always did when they were getting ready to clash.

"go it!" squalled mr. crow.

and they started. and mr. crow jumped up and down in his excitement.

"now there's going to be some real fun," he muttered.

but dodger the deer leaped aside just in time to avoid being hit. and that didn't please mr. crow at all.

"you fellows aren't half trying," he cried impatiently. "anyone would think you were a pair of spike horns."

now, all spike horns were two whole years younger than dodger and nimble. so it was no wonder that mr. crow's words stung them.

nimble charged more fiercely than ever. and dodger stood his ground. with his feet planted firmly beneath him he waited for the blow.

there was a crack and a thud.

"ha!" mr. crow squawked. "that's a little more like it. dodger didn't dodge that time, to be sure. but he stood still. and only a spike horn would stand and wait for the enemy."

of course dodger couldn't help wanting to show mr. crow that he knew how to carry on a mock battle. so the next time nimble rushed at him dodger did not wait. he jumped to meet nimble. they struck in the air with a frightful crash and fell sprawling upon the ground.

"ha! that's more like it!" mr. crow applauded. "that's the sort of mock battle i like to see!"