Redruf 55 



again and again, a thundering * Thump, thumps 

 tJmnip, thiitiderrrrrrrrry that wakened dull 

 echoes as it rolled, and voice^his gladness in 

 the coming of the spring. 



Away down the valley was Cuddy's shanty. 

 He heard the drum-call on the still morning 

 air and ' reckoned there was a cock patridge to 

 git,' and came sneaking up the ravine with his 

 gun. But Redruff skimmed away in silence, 

 nor rested till once more in Mud Creek Glen. 

 And there he mounted the very log where first 

 he had drummed and rolled his loud tattoo 

 again and again, till a small boy who had taken 

 a short cut to the mill through the woods, ran 

 home, badly scared, to tell his mother he was 

 sure the Indians were on the war-path, for he 

 heard their war-drums beating in the glen. 



Why does a happy boy holla? Why does 

 a lonesome youth sigh? They don't know 

 any more than Redruff knew why every day 

 now he mounted some dead log and thumped 

 and thundered to the woods ; then strutted and 

 admired his gorgeous blazing ruffs as they 

 flashed their jewels in the sunlight, and then 

 thundered out again. Whence now came the 

 strange wish for someone else to admire the 

 plumes? And why had such a notion never 

 come till the Pussvwillow Moon? 



