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Abram straightened and touched his hat brim in a trim half
military salute。 〃Well； good…bye； Mr。 Redbird。 Never had more
pleasure meetin' anybody in my life 'cept first time I met Maria。
You think about the plowin'； an'； if you say ‘stay；' it's a go！
Good…bye； an' do be a little more careful o' yourself。 See you
in the mornin'； right after breakfast； no count taken o' the
weather。〃
〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃 called the Cardinal after his retreating
figure。
Abram turned and gravely saluted the second time。 The Cardinal
went to the top rail and feasted on the sweet grains of corn
until his craw was full； and then nestled in the sumac and went
to sleep。 Early next morning he was abroad and in fine toilet；
and with a full voice from the top of the sumac greeted the
day〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃
Far down the river echoed his voice until it so closely resembled
some member of his family replying that he followed； searching
the banks mile after mile on either side； until finally he heard
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 l