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 of the thunder stick, but even so, he could not appreciate the fact that the great sleep had claimed her. Somehow, somewhere, she must come to life again and come trotting to meet him, either upon the meadows or on the mountains.

So, Redcoat spent several days in hunting for his kin. First, he searched the whole length of the mountain range, even going back into the foothills ten miles away from the home burrow. Then, he spent long moonlight evenings searching the meadows. He also went in close to the farmhouses trying to see if he could discover any of his kin. These men-creatures were so cunning. Perhaps they were keeping his family from him. Surely something was keeping them all.

Finally, as a last resort, Redcoat searched the home burrow, in all its branches, to see if in any way he had overlooked his family. Then gradually it came over Redcoat that his kin had gone forever, and he ceased to look for them, but he did put in several moonlight nights, sitting upon