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growing thirsty past endurance； left the nest and went to the
river。 Seeing her there； he made all possible haste to take his
turn at brooding； so he arrived just in time to see a pilfering
red squirrel starting away with an egg。
With a vicious scream the Cardinal struck him full force。 His
rush of rage cost the squirrel an eye； but it lost the father a
birdling； for the squirrel dropped the egg outside the nest。 The
Cardinal mournfully carried away the tell…tale bits of shell； so
that any one seeing them would not look up and discover his
treasures。 That left three eggs； and the brooding bird mourned
over the lost one so pitifully that the Cardinal perched close to
the nest the remainder of the day； and whispered over and over
for her comfort that she was 〃So dear！ So dear！〃
Chapter 5
〃See here！ See here！〃 demanded the Cardinal
The mandate repeatedly rang from the topmost twig of the thorn
tree； and yet the Cardinal was not in earnest。 He was beside
himself with a new and delightful excitement； and he found it
impossible to refrain from giving vent to his feelings。 He was
commanding the farmer and every furred and feathered denizen of
the river bottom to see； then he fought like a wild thing if any
of them ventured close； for great things were happening in the sumac。
In past days the Cardinal had brooded an hour every morning while
his mate went to take her exercise； bathe； and fluff in the sun
parlour。 He had gone to her that morning as usual； and she
looked at him with anxious eyes and refused to move。 He had
hopped to the very edge of the nest and repeatedly urged her to
go。 She only ruffled her feathers； and nestled the eggs she was
brooding to turn them； but did not offer to leave。 The Cardinal
reached over and gently nudged her with his beak； to remind her
that it was his time to brood； but she looked at him almost
savagely； and gave him a sharp peck； so he knew she was not to be
bothered。 He carried her every dainty he could find and hovered
near her； tense with anxiety。
It was late in the afternoon before she went after the drink for
which she was half famished。 She scarcely had reached a willow
and bent over the water before the Cardinal was on the edge of
the nest。 He examined it closely； but he could see no change。
He leaned to give the eggs careful scrutiny； and from somewhere
there came to him the faintest little 〃Chip！〃 he ever had heard。
Up went the Cardinal's crest； and he dashed to the willow。 There
was no danger in sight； and his mate was greedily dipping her
rosy beak in the water。 He went back to the cradle and listened
intently； and again that feeble cry came to him。 Under the nest；
around it； and all through the sumac he searched； until at last；
completely baffled； he came back to the edge。 The sound was so
much plainer there； that he suddenly leaned； caressing the eggs
with his beak； then the Cardinal knew！ He had heard the first
faint cries of his shell…incased babies！
With a wild scream he made a flying leap through the air。 His
heart was beating to suffocation。 He started in a race down the
river。 If he alighted on a bush he took only one swing； and
springing from it flamed on in headlong flight。 He flashed to
the top of the tallest tulip tree； and cried cloudward to the
lark： 〃See here！ See here！〃 He dashed to the river bank and told
the killdeers； and then visited the underbrush and informed the
thrushes and wood robins。 Father…tender； he grew so delirious
with joy that he forgot his habitual aloofness； and fraternized
with every bird beside the shining river。 He even laid aside his
customary caution； went chipping into the sumac； and caressed his
mate so boisterously she gazed at him severely and gave his wing
a savage pull to recall him to his sober senses。
That night the Cardinal slept in the sumac； very close to his
mate； and he shut only one eye at a time。 Early in the morning；
when he carried her the first food； he found that she was on the
edge of the nest； dropping bits of shell outside； and creeping to
peep； he saw the tiniest coral baby； with closed eyes； and little
patches of soft silky down。 Its beak was wide open； and though
his heart was even fuller than on the previous day； the Cardinal
knew what that meant； and instead of indulging in another
celebration； he assumed the duties of paternity； and began
searching for food； for now there were two empty crops in his
family。 On the following day there were four。 Then he really
worked。 How eagerly he searched； and how gladly he flew to the
sumac with every rare morsel！ The babies were too small for the
mother to leave； and for the first few days the Cardinal was
constantly on wing。
If he could not find sufficiently dainty food for them in the
trees and bushes； or among the offerings of the farmer； he
descended to earth and searched like a wood robin。 He forgot he
needed a bath or owned a sun parlour； but everywhere he went；
from his full heart there constantly burst the cry：
〃See here！ See here！〃
His mate made never a sound。 Her eyes were bigger and softer
than ever； and in them glowed a steady lovelight。 She hovered
over those three red mites of nestlings so tenderly！ She was so
absorbed in feeding； stroking； and coddling them she neglected
herself until she became quite lean。
When the Cardinal came every few minutes with food； she was a
picture of love and gratitude for his devoted attention； and once
she reached over and softly kissed his wing。 〃See here！ See
here！〃 shrilled the Cardinal； and in his ecstasy he again forgot
himself and sang in the sumac。 Then he carried food with greater
activity than ever to cover his lapse。
The farmer knew that it lacked an hour of noon； but he was so
anxious to tell Maria the news that he could not endure the
suspense another minute。 There was a new song from the sumac。
He had heard it as he turned the first corner with the shovel
plow。 He had listened eagerly； and had caught the meaning almost
at once〃See here！ See here！〃 He tied the old gray mare to the
fence to prevent her eating the young corn； and went immediately。
By leaning a rail against the thorn tree he was able to peer into
the sumac； and take a good look at the nest of handsome
birdlings； now well screened with the umbrella…like foliage。 It
seemed to Abram that he never could wait until noon。 He
critically examined the harness； in the hope that he would find a
buckle missing； and tried to discover a flaw in the plow that
would send him to the barn for a file； but he could not invent an
excuse for going。 So； when he had waited until an hour of noon；
he could endure it no longer。
〃Got news for you； Maria；〃 he called from the well； where he was
making a pretense of thirst。
〃Oh I don't know；〃 answered Maria； with a superior smile。 〃If
it's about the redbirds； he's been up to the garden three times
this morning yellin'； 'See here！' fit to split； an' I jest
figured that their little ones had hatched。 Is that your news？〃
〃Well I be durned！〃 gasped the astonished Abram。
Mid…afternoon Abram turned Nancy and started the plow down a row
that led straight to the sumac。 He intended to stop there； tie
to the fence； and go to the river bank； in the shade； for a visit
with the Cardinal。 It was very warm； and he was feeling the heat
so much； that in his heart he knew he would be glad to reach the
end of the row and the rest he had promised himself。
The quick nervous strokes of the dinner bell； 〃Clang！ Clang！〃
came cutting the air clearly and sharply。 Abram stopped Nancy
with a jerk。 It was the warning Maria had promised to send him
if she saw prowlers with guns。 He shaded his eyes with his hand
and scanned the points of the compass through narrowed lids with
concentrated vision。 He first caught a gleam of light playing on
a gun…barrel； and then he could discern the figure of a man clad
in hunter's outfit leisurely walking down the lane； toward the
river。
Abram hastily hitched Nancy to the fence。 By making the best
time he could； he reached the opposite corner； and was nibbling
the midrib of a young corn blade and placidly viewing the
landscape when the hunter passed。
〃Howdy！〃 he said in an even cordial voice。
The hunter walked on without lifting his eyes or making audible
reply。 To Abram's friendly oldfashioned heart this seemed the
rankest discourtesy； and there was a flash in his eye and a
certain quality in his voice he lifted a hand for parley。
〃Hold a minute； my friend；〃 he said。 〃Since you are on my
premises； might I be privileged to ask if you have seen a few
signs 'at I have posted pertainin' to the use of a gun？〃
〃I am not blind；〃 replied the hunter； 〃and my education has been
looked after to the extent that I can make out your notices。
From the number and size of them；