the song of the cardinal-第6章

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voices　of　his　kind。　　He　located　them；　but　it　was　only　several

staid　old　couples；　a　long　time　mated；　and　busy　with　their

nest…building。　　The　Cardinal　returned　to　the　sumac；　feeling　a

degree　lonelier　than　ever。



He　decided　to　prospect　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　taking

wing；　he　started　up　the　river。　　Following　the　channel；　he　winged

his　flight　for　miles　over　the　cool　sparkling　water；　between　the

tangle　of　foliage　bordering　the　banks。　　When　he　came　to　the　long

cumbrous　structures　of　wood　with　which　men　had　bridged　the　river；

where　the　shuffling　feet　of　tired　farm　horses　raised　clouds　of

dust　and　set　the　echoes　rolling　with　their　thunderous　hoof　beats；

he　was　afraid；　and　rising　high；　he　sailed　over　them　in　short

broken　curves　of　flight。　　But　where　giant　maple　and　ash；　leaning；

locked　branches　across　the　channel　in　one　of　old　Mother　Nature's

bridges　for　the　squirrels；　he　knew　no　fear；　and　dipped　so　low

beneath　them　that　his　image　trailed　a　wavering　shadow　on　the

silver　path　he　followed。



He　rounded　curve　after　curve；　and　frequently　stopping　on　a

conspicuous　perch；　flung　a　ringing　challenge　in　the　face　of　the

morning。　　With　every　mile　the　way　he　followed　grew　more

beautiful。　The　river　bed　was　limestone；　and　the　swiftly　flowing

water；　clear　and　limpid。　　The　banks　were　precipitate　in　some

places；　gently　sloping　in　others；　and　always　crowded　with　a

tangle　of　foliage。



At　an　abrupt　curve　in　the　river　he　mounted　to　the　summit　of　a　big

ash　and　made　boastful　prophecy；　〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃　and　on　all

sides　there　sprang　up　the　voices　of　his　kind。　　Startled；　the

Cardinal　took　wing。　　He　followed　the　river　in　a　circling　flight

until　he　remembered　that　here　might　be　the　opportunity　to　win　the

coveted　river　mate；　and　going　slower　to　select　the　highest　branch

on　which　to　display　his　charms；　he　discovered　that　he　was　only　a

few　yards　from　the　ash　from　which　he　had　made　his　prediction。　

The　Cardinal　flew　over　the　narrow　neck　and　sent　another　call；

then　without　awaiting　a　reply；　again　he　flashed　up　the　river　and

circled　Horseshoe　Bend。　　When　he　came　to　the　same　ash　for　the

third　time；　he　understood。



The　river　circled　in　one　great　curve。　　The　Cardinal　mounted　to

the　tip…top　limb　of　the　ash　and　looked　around　him。　　There　was

never　a　fairer　sight　for　the　eye　of　man　or　bird。　　The　mist　and

shimmer　of　early　spring　were　in　the　air。　　The　Wabash　rounded

Horseshoe　Bend　in　a　silver　circle；　rimmed　by　a　tangle　of　foliage

bordering　both　its　banks；　and　inside　lay　a　low　open　space　covered

with　waving　marsh　grass　and　the　blue　bloom　of　sweet　calamus。　

Scattered　around　were　mighty　trees；　but　conspicuous　above　any；　in

the　very　center；　was　a　giant　sycamore；　split　at　its　base　into

three　large　trees；　whose　waving　branches　seemed　to　sweep　the　face

of　heaven；　and　whose　roots；　like　miserly　fingers；　clutched　deep

into　the　black　muck　of　Rainbow　Bottom。



It　was　in　this　lovely　spot　that　the　rainbow　at　last　materialized；

and　at　its　base；　free　to　all　humanity　who　cared　to　seek；　the

Great　Alchemist　had　left　His　rarest　treasuresthe　gold　of

sunshine；　diamond　water…drops；　emerald　foliage；　and　sapphire　sky。



For　good　measure；　there　were　added　seeds；　berries；　and　insects

for　the　birds；　and　wild　flowers；　fruit；　and　nuts　for　the

children。　　Above　all；　the　sycamore　waved　its　majestic　head。



It　made　a　throne　that　seemed　suitable　for　the　son　of　the　king；

and　mounting　to　its　topmost　branch；　for　miles　the　river　carried

his　challenge：　〃Ho；　cardinals！　Look　this　way！　Behold　me！　Have　you

seen　any　other　of　so　great　size？　Have　you　any　to　equal　my　grace？

Who　can　whistle　so　loud；　so　clear；　so　compelling　a　note？　Who　will

fly　to　me　for　protection？　Who　will　come　and　be　my　mate？〃



He　flared　his　crest　high；　swelled　his　throat　with　rolling　notes；

and　appeared　so　big　and　brilliant　that　among　the　many　cardinals

that　had　gathered　to　hear；　there　was　not　one　to　compare　with　him。



Black　envy　filled　their　hearts。　　Who　was　this　flaming　dashing

stranger；　flaunting　himself　in　the　faces　of　their　females？　There

were　many　unmated　cardinals　in　Rainbow　Bottom；　and　many　jealous

males。　　A　second　time　the　Cardinal；　rocking　and　flashing；

proclaimed　himself；　and　there　was　a　note　of　feminine　approval　so

strong　that　he　caught　it。　　Tilting　on　a　twig；　his　crest　flared　to

full　height；　his　throat　swelled　to　bursting；　his　heart　too　big

for　his　body；　the　Cardinal　shouted　his　challenge　for　the　third

time；　when　clear　and　sharp　arose　a　cry　in　answer；　〃Here！　Here！

Here！〃　　It　came　from　a　female　that　had　accepted　the　caresses　of

the　brightest　cardinal　in　Rainbow　Bottom　only　the　day　before；　and

had　spent　the　morning　carrying　twigs　to　a　thicket　of　red　haws。



The　Cardinal；　with　a　royal　flourish；　sprang　in　air　to　seek　her；

but　her　outraged　mate　was　ahead　of　him；　and　with　a　scream　she

fled；　leaving　a　tuft　of　feathers　in　her　mate's　beak。　　In　turn　the

Cardinal　struck　him　like　a　flashing　rocket；　and　then　red　war

waged　in　Rainbow　Bottom。　　The　females　scattered　for　cover　with

all　their　might。　　The　Cardinal　worked　in　a　kiss　on　one　poor

little　bird；　too　frightened　to　escape　him；　then　the　males　closed

in；　and　serious　business　began。　　The　Cardinal　would　have　enjoyed

a　fight　vastly　with　two　or　three　opponents；　but　a　half…dozen　made

discretion　better　than　valour。　　He　darted　among　them；　scattering

them　right　and　left；　and　made　for　the　sycamore。　　With　all　his

remaining　breath；　he　insolently　repeated　his　challenge；　and　then

headed　down　stream　for　the　sumac　with　what　grace　he　could

command。



There　was　an　hour　of　angry　recrimination　before　sweet　peace

brooded　again　in　Rainbow　Bottom。　　The　newly　mated　pair　finally

made　up；　the　females　speedily　resumed　their　coquetting；　and

forgot　the　captivating　strangerall　save　the　poor　little　one

that　had　been　kissed　by　accident。　　She　never　had　been　kissed

before；　and　never　had　expected　that　she　would　be；　for　she　was　a

creature　of　many　misfortunes　of　every　nature。



She　had　been　hatched　from　a　fifth　egg　to　begin　with；　and　every

one　knows　the　disadvantage　of　beginning　life　with　four　sturdy

older　birds　on　top　of　one。　　It　was　a　meager　egg；　and　a　feeble

baby　that　pipped　its　shell。　　The　remainder　of　the　family　stood

and　took　nearly　all　the　food　so　that　she　almost　starved　in　the

nest；　and　she　never　really　knew　the　luxury　of　a　hearty　meal　until

her　elders　had　flown。　　That　lasted　only　a　few　days；　for　the

others　went　then；　and　their　parents　followed　them　so　far　afield

that　the　poor　little　soul；　clamouring　alone　in　the　nest；　almost

perished。　Hunger…driven；　she　climbed　to　the　edge　and　exercised

her　wings　until　she　managed　some　sort　of　flight　to　a　neighbouring

bush。　　She　missed　the　twig　and　fell　to　the　ground；　where　she　lay

cold　and　shivering。



She　cried　pitifully；　and　was　almost　dead　when　a　brown…faced；

barefoot　boy；　with　a　fishing…pole　on　his　shoulder；　passed　and

heard　her。



〃Poor　little　thing；　you　are　almost　dead；〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　what

I'll　do　with　you。　　I'll　take　you　over　and　set　you　in　the　bushes

where　I　heard　those　other　redbirds；　and　then　your　ma　will　feed

you。〃



The　boy　turned　back　and　carefully　set　her　on　a　limb　close　to　one

of　her　brothers；　and　there　she　got　just　enough　food　to　keep　her

alive。



So　her　troubles　continued。　　Once　a　squirrel　chased　her；　and　she

saved　herself　by　crowding　into　a　hole　so　small　her　pursuer　could

not　follow。　　The　only　reason　she　escaped　a　big　blue　racer　when

she　went　to　take　her　first　bath；　was　that　a　hawk　had　his　eye　on

the　snake　and　snapped　it　up　at　just　the　proper　moment　to　save　the

poor；　quivering　little　bird。　　She　was　left　so　badly　frightened

that　she　could　not　move　for　a　long　time。



All　the　tribulations　of　birdland　fell　to　her　lot。　　She　was　so

frail　and　weak　she　lost　her　family　in　migration；　and　followed

with　some　strangers　that　were　none　too　kind。　　Life　in　the　South

had　been　full　of　trouble。　　Once　a　bullet　grazed　her　so　closely

she　lost　two　of　her　wing　quills；　and　that　made　her　more　timid

than　ever。　　Coming　North；　she　had　given　out　again　and　finally　had

wandered　into　Rainbow　Bottom；　lost　and　alone。



She　was　such　a　shy；　fearsome　little　body；　the　females　all　flouted

her；　and　the　males　never　seemed　to　notice　that　there　was　material

in　her　for　a　very　fine　mate。　　Every　other　female　cardinal　in

Rainbow　Bottom　had　several　males　courting　her；　but　this　poor；

frightened；　lonely　one　had　never　a　suitor；　and　she　needed　love　so

badly！　　Now　she　had　been　kissed　by　this　magnificent　stranger！



Of　course；　she　knew　it　really　was　not　her　kiss。　　He　had　intended

it　for　the　bold　creature　that　had　answered　his　challenge；　but

since　it　came　to　her；　it　was　hers；　in　a　way；　after　all。　　She　hid

in　the　underbrush　for　the　remainder　of　the　day；　and　was　never　so

frightened　in　all　her　life。　　She　brooded　over　it　constantly；　and

morning　found　her　at　the　down　curve　of　the　horseshoe；　straining

her　ears　for　the　rarest　note　she　ever　had　heard。　　All　day　she　hid

and　waited；　and　the　following　days　were　filled　with　longing；　but

he　never　came　again。



So　one　morning；　possessed　with　courage　she　did　not　understand；

and　filled　with　longing　that　drove　her　against　her　will；　she

started　down　the　river。　　For　miles　she　sneaked　through　the

underbrush；　and　watched　and　listened；　until　at　last　night　came；

and　she　returned　to　Rainbow　Bottom。　　The　next　morning　she　set　out

early　and　flew　to　the　spot　from　which　she　had　turned　back　the

night　before。　　From　there　she　glided　through　the　bushes　and

underbrush；　trembling　and　quaking；　yet　pushing　stoutly　onward；

straining　her　ears　for　some　note　of　the　brilliant　stranger's。



It　was　mid…forenoon　when　she　reached　the　region　of　the　sumac；　and

as　she　hopped　warily　along；　only　a　short　distance　from　her；　full

and　splendid；　there　burst　the　voice　of　the　singer　for　whom　she

was　searching。　　She　sprang　into　air；　and　fled　a　mile　before　she

realized　that　she　was　flying。　　Then　she　stopped　and　listened；　and

rolling　with　the　river；　she　heard　those　bold　true　tones。　　Close

to　earth；　she　went　back　again；　to　see　if；　unobserved；　she　could

find　a　spot　where　she　might　watch　the　stranger　that　had　kissed

her。　When　at　last　she　reached　a　place　where　she　could　see　him

plainly；　his　beauty　was　so　bewildering；　and　his　song　so　enticing

that　she　gradually　hopped　closer　and　closer　without　knowing　she

was　moving。



High　in　the　sumac　the　Cardinal　had　sung　until　his　throat　was

parched；　and　the　fountain　of　hope　was　almost　dry。　　There　was

nothing　save　defeat　from　overwhelming　numbers　in　Rainbow　Bottom。

He　had　paraded；　and　made　all　the　music　he　ever　had　been　taught；

and　improvised　much　more。　　Yet　no　one　had　come　to　seek　him。　　Was

it　of　necessity　to　be　the　Limberlost　then？　This　one　day　more　he

would　retain　his　dignity　and　his　location。　　He　tipped；　tilted；

and　flirted。　　He　whistled；　and　sang；　and　trilled。　　Over　the

lowland　and　up　and　down　the　shining　river；　ringing　in　every

change　he