THE SIGNAL 31 



There was no wind, and for a moment Anne was 

 puzzled. 



" Ask Wabeno. Heart of Nature may not tell 

 House People all the secrets of his garden, lest 

 they grow too wise. Go up out of the lowlands, 

 Anne ; the evening mists are only good for Frogs, 

 Will-o'-the-Wisp, and Jack-o'-Lantern." 



" Oh please, stop a minute, dear Heart of Nature, 

 and tell me if Wabeno is a really truly." 



" Why not ask Wabeno himself ? " said the sil- 

 very voice, rippling off to start the spring planting 

 in the garden of wood and wayside, and give the 

 Meadow-lark the key for the first notes of his 

 spring song. 



Waddles had walked uphill toward the light 

 woods by the old barn, stopping every few 

 minutes to point. Anne followed him, looking 

 carefully, as there seemed to be something of a 

 commotion going on in among the trees. Chip- 

 munks and Gray and Red Squirrels were chatter- 

 ing, Rabbits hopped and scurried everywhere. A 

 great Crow perched on a dead hickory branch, 

 talking in a quavering voice to some Purple 

 Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, and a beau- 

 tiful Ruffed Grouse stood erect upon a stump, his 

 feet braced firmly and his wing raised. 



"What can be going on?" said Anne, half 



