It seemed as though as soon as I slipped into some much needed sleep, Bentley was barking that low gutteral sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I threw my covers off and search for my slippers with my toes. "Bentley, why are you barking?"
     More deep throated sounds eminated from his throat.
     "Bentley?"
     The house was dark except for some light bouncing off the pond and shining into my living room window.
     "What's up, boy? What's bothering you?"
     Bentley stood poised and ready to burst out the door.  I walked over to the side door, unlocked the dead bolt and peered out the glass. Nothing.  At least nothing I could see. 
     "There's nothing out there, " I said.
     By now, Cooper is at my heels whining.
     "I don't get it. Boys, you should be sleeping. Enough!"
     It is quite apparent the dogs are not going to settle down, so I opened the door and watched them push me out of the way as they forced their huge bodies around me. It was cold and bitter outside. Bentley didn't even use the stairs as he jumped from the porch onto the ground in a puff of snow. Lunging over mountains of piled snow, Bentley easily glided toward his quarry. The deer was standing so close to the house, I didn't even see him in the shadows. Cooper had the scent and was following Bentley close behind.
     Another deer bounded off toward the Inn, down the slope, and over the creek. He was up the opposite side of the bank before Bentley or Cooper could get nearby.  Running to the backyard, another deer bounded off into the woods behind the house and out of site.  Snow flew everywhere as the deer kicked up clods of ice and snow with their hooves.  The boys didn't know where to run next.
     With the deer off the property and the boys unable to pursue because of the invisible fence, they can back to the door looking for me and back to their beds.
     That was enough excitment for one middle of the night adventure.