

Redroff 



Redrufl's mother knew it was coming as soon 

 as she saw the frost grapes blackening, and the 

 maples shedding their crimson and gold. There 

 was nothing to do but care for their health and 

 keep them in the quietest part of the woods. 



The first sign of it came when a flock of wild 'T^ 



geese went honking southward overhead. The ^ "T^* 



young ones had never before seen such long- ^^ "T^ 



necked hawks, and were afraid of them. But l^. 



seeing that their mother had no fear, they took 

 courage, and watched them with intense inter- 

 est. Was it the wild, clanging cry that moved 

 them, or was it solely the inner prompting then 

 come to the surface ? A strange longing to fol- 

 low took possession of each of the young ones. 

 They watched those arrowy trumpeters fading 

 away to the south, and sought out higher 

 perches to watch them farther yet, and from 

 that time things were no more the same. The 

 November moon was waxing, and when it was 

 full, the November madness came. 



The least vigorous of the flock were most 

 affected. The little family was scattered. Red- 

 ruff himself flew on several long erratic night 

 journeys. The impulse took him southward, 



3*9 



