Soon, too, the gardens began
to yield early vegetables. In the morning, instead of hearing the
sound of guns, they were awakened by bird-songs, or by the
crowing of cocks and the bleating of goats. These were pleasant
sounds to the people of Fontanelle, for they brought memories of
peaceful and prosperous days, and the promise of more to come.
The rebuilding of the village was begun by the end of June, and
the sound of saws and hammers cheered them with the prospect of
comfortable homes before cold weather should come again. The work
proceeded slowly, for the workers were few, even though their
good friend the Commandant gave them all the help he could. There
were now a multitude of little chicks running about on what had
been the stately lawns of the Chateau, and there were twenty new
little rabbits in the rabbit-hutch. As the rabbits could not
forage for themselves, it was necessary for others to forage for
them, and this work fell to the lot of Pierre and Pierrette.
One summer morning one of the roosters crowed very, very early,
and the Twins, having no clock, supposed it was time for them to
get up and go for fresh leaves and roots for the rabbits, as they
did every day. They rose at once, and the sun was just peering
above the eastern horizon as they came out of the stable door.
They went to the rabbit-hutch, and the rabbits, seeing them,
stood up on their hind legs and wiggled their noses hungrily.
"Rabbits do have awful appetites," said Pierre, a little
ruefully, as he looked down at the empty food-box.
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