Once upon a time in Minnesota, there was a girl named Clarisse. She lived on the edge of a lake with her father, who was a hunter. Her father had brought her there after her mother had died, and she had not seen any other place since. Around the lake there were birds and rodents and deer, but no predators. The hunter found ample game there, but a farmer--common in these parts of Minnesota-- would despair. That was why the girl's father had brought her there, where she could not be taken from him. Clarisse did not care that she saw no glimpse of anyone but her father. She liked to explore the area around the lake, and watch the animals. Although she disliked her father's hunting habits, she was almost perfectly content with her sheltered life, and she knew a very great deal about nature. But Clarisse had no idea what sort of things some animals could do.