Raggylug 



blazing crimson and gold in the light. Beyond 

 the house the barn with its gable and roof, new 

 gilt as the house, stood up like a Noah's ark. 



The sounds that came from it, and yet more 

 the delicious smell that mingled with the smoke, 

 told Rag that the animals were being fed cab- 

 bage in the yard. Rag's mouth watered at the 

 idea of the feast. He blinked and blinked as 

 he snuffed its odorous promises, for he loved 

 cabbage dearly. But then he had been to the 

 barnyard the night before after a few paltry 

 clover-tops, and no wise rabbit would go two 

 nights running to the same place. 



Therefore he did the wise thing. He moved 

 across where he could not smell the cabbage and 

 made his supper of a bundle of hay that had 

 been blown from the stack. Later, when about 

 to settle for the night, he was joined by Molly, 

 who had taken her teaberry and then eaten her 

 frugal meal of sweet birch near the Sunning 

 Bank. 



Meanwhile the sun had gone about his busi- 

 ness elsewhere, taking all his gold and glory 

 with him. Off in the east a big black shutter 

 came pushing up and rising higher and higher; 



136 



