Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest

Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest is the eleventh book in the Hank the Cowdog series.

Plot

The book 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 rooster 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 cat. When Hank goes to tackle Pete for fun he finds out that it is actually Sinister, the local bobcat. Hank and Sinister fight, and Sinister wins. Sally May and Loper come back and Sally May has had a baby which Hank calls 'a giant baldheaded lizard.' Alfred, the five-year-old son of Loper and Sally May gets jealous of the new baby and runs away. Alfred runs away and down toward the Dark Unchanted Forest. 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.

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 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 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- barn cat