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 soon told him that the newcomer was a rival; so he started after him in hot haste. He soon overtook them and fell upon his rival with great fury, and after a running battle of half a mile, he discomforted him and drove him away out of the rabbit swamp. Then he went back to Fluffy and this time she did not flee from him.

This night of playing tag in the rabbit swamp, and of racing through the pines and the aspens on the side of the mountain, was the first of many mad frolics under the February moon.

As Redcoat looked back and remembered how lonely he had been he now seemed like another creature. The joy of life and of wild untamed living was in their veins. Their blood exulted as did the sap in the maple. They were one with the life that thrilled in the wild flowers down under the snow. The mating madness was upon them and they lived it to the full.

Thus the happy weeks went by until late in April when Fluffy became less inclined to play. Often she seemed to wish