Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest
Encyclopedia
Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest is the eleventh book in the Hank the Cowdog
Hank the Cowdog
Hank the Cowdog is series of humorous children's mystery novels, written by John R. Erickson and illustrated by Gerald L. Holmes.The series began in 1982 with a couple of short stories about the proud but bumbling Hank, the self-styled "Head of Ranch Security"...

 series.

Plot

Starts with Hank and Drover around the machine shed and Hank informs us of how Sally May has gone to the hospital. J.T. Cluck, the local rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...

 calls Hank over to look at some tracks in the dirt. Hank takes credit for finding the track and angers J.T. Hank is positive that there is a raccoon in the feed barn. Once Hank and Drover are in the feed barn, Hank says it's not a raccoon but Pete the barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...

cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

. When Hank goes to tackle Pete for fun he finds out that it is actually Sinister, the local bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...

. Hank and Sinister fight, and Sinister wins. Sally May and Loper comes back and Sally May has had a baby which Hank calls, 'a giant baldheaded lizard.' Alfred, the five year old boy of Loper and Sally May gets jealous of the new baby and runs away. Alfred runs away and down toward the Dark Unchanted Forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...

. And the next thing Hank knows, he is lost in the woods. He later finds out that Sinister is following Alfred. Hank figures who would win in a fight? Five year old boy or large bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...

. While in the woods, Hank thinks he's going crazy when something starts talking to him. The next thing he knows he is hanging upside down from a high branch, next to the burrowing owl
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...

 Madam Moonshine. While they are hanging upside down from the tree branch, the two coyotes Rip and Snort wait for them to fall]] Hank and Moonshine come up with an idea and drop from the tree branch down to the ground, Rip and Snort coming in for the kill. Moonshine, being a witch, convinces Rip and Snort that they don't want 'Hunk' and owl but they want cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

 as in bobcat. Hank says he knows where a bobcat is and he, Rip, and Snort go running threw the woods to find Sinister and Alfred. It starts to get dark with clouds and begins to rain. They find Alfred hiding in a cave, Sinister sneaking up behind him. The two turkey vultures, Junior and Wallace, waiting for Sinister to make the kill. Wallace goes over and tells Sinister to hurry up and kill Alfred. Sinister chases Wallace off. Then Rip and Snort go after Sinister. During a later book it is revealed that Sinister was not killed. Hank and Alfred then leave the forest, as the clouds clear, and come back to the ranch.

Major characters

  • Hank- Head of Ranch Security
  • Drover- Hank's assistant
  • Sinister- bobcat, villain in book
  • Alfred- five year old boy
  • Rip- Coyote
  • Snort- Coyote, brother of Rip
  • Madam Moonshine- burrowing owl, witch
  • Pete- barncat
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK