Jody expresses his sympathies for the fawn that has just lost its mother. He seeks his father’s permission to raise the fawn. Jody’s father, Penny, is put in a fix, as the mother of the fawn was killed in order to save Penny.
He could not refuse Jody’s plea for that would be disgraceful to leave the fawn starving while the fawn’s mother gave new life to Penny. Jody further explains that since he is a big boy, he would not need much milk and his portion could be used to feed the fawn.
Jody Informs his Mother and Left for that Fawn
Jody informs his mother that father has given him permission to bring back the fawn and raise it. The mother becomes anxious as she is worried about the expenses to maintain the fawn. However, both Jody and Doc Wilson help her and understand their obligation towards the fawn. Mill-wheel assures Jody’s mother that he would help Jody find the fawn and also bring them back home.
On reaching the place where his father had been bitten by the snake and doe killed to save the father, Jody asks Mill-wheel to leave him alone. He was worried that if he was unable to find the fawn, his disappointment would be difficult to hide. And if the fawn was still there he would have liked the meeting to take place only between the two of them. He, therefore, lets Mill-wheel know that he would now manage it on his own and Mill-wheel should leave.
Jody Begins to Look for the Fawn
As the sound of Mill Wheel’s horde’s hooves faded away, Jody began to look for the fawn. The moment he began to enter the scrub he saw buzzards, who sat in a circle around the carcass of the doe. Jody had to scare them with his bough and they flew into the adjacent trees. It was difficult to imagine that this was just yesterday when he had seen the fawn along with its mother doe in the same place. Unable to find it, he began to look for its small hoofprints, but perhaps last night’s rain had wished them away.
Finally, Jody managed to find the fawn. It was found in a pitiable state. It was perhaps in a state of shock from the events of the last night as it was shaking when Jody found it. It made no effort to either rise or run. Jody came close to it and stretched his hands towards it and tenderly stroked its neck. The fawn became excited because of Jody’s familiar touch and Jody wrapped his arms around the fawn’s body. Jody wrapped his arms around the fawn’s body. Jody took the fawn in his arms and started taking it home.
Jody gets worried of the Fawn’s Reaction at the Sight of its Dead Mother
Jody was afraid that the fawn may get out of control on seeing its dead mother’s carcass lying there. Also, the legs of the fawn were surprisingly taller and it was heavy. Jody tried to balance the burden of its weight and its legs that were constantly getting entangled in the bushes. Only on reaching the intersection with the road home, did he put the fawn down to take a little rest.
The Fawn Comes Back to Jody
Jody is exhilarated when he realises that the fawn willingly wished to come with him. He recalled his father telling him that if the fawn had ever been carried it would follow on its own. At first, however, the fawn does not move. So, Jody had to come back to pick it up. But Jody was really tired and so he had to put it down again. This time he fawn willingly began to follow him. A little later Jody picked it up again and carried it in his arms.
Jody reached the gate of his house and he wished to carry the fawn directly to his father’s bedroom. The father was glad to see that Jody had found the fawn. At that moment, the father felt that eyes of both the fawn and Jody shone equally brightly.
Jody fed the Fawn
Jody then were to the kitchen and poured some milk in the gourd to feed the fawn. The fawn refused to drink milk from the gourd. Jody dipped his fingers in the milk and offered to the fawn and the fawn sucked then greedily. Jody lowered his fingers into the gourd and directed the fawn to take milk from the gourd. The fawn refused again. It took milk as long as Jody’s fingers were immersed into the gourd. Jody was ecstatic to feel the fawn’s tongue against his fingers.