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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4979-0.txt b/4979-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7299e3c --- /dev/null +++ b/4979-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2668 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blacky the Crow, by Thornton W. Burgess + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blacky the Crow + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4979] +Posting Date: March 24, 2009 +Last Updated: March 10, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKY THE CROW *** + + + + +Produced by Kent Fielden + + + + + + +BLACKY THE CROW + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + + +CHAPTER I: Blacky The Crow Makes A Discovery + +Blacky the Crow is always watching for things not intended for his sharp +eyes. The result is that he gets into no end of trouble which he could +avoid. In this respect he is just like his cousin, Sammy Jay. Between +them they see a great deal with which they have no business and which it +would be better for them not to see. + +Now Blacky the Crow finds it no easy matter to pick up a living when +snow covers the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice binds the +Big River and the Smiling Pool. He has to use his sharp eyes for all +they are worth in order to find enough to fill his stomach, and he will +eat anything in the way of food that he can swallow. Often he travels +long distances looking for food, but at night he always comes back to +the same place in the Green Forest, to sleep in company with others of +his family. + +Blacky dearly loves company, particularly at night, and about the time +jolly, round, red Mr. Sun is beginning to think about his bed behind +the Purple Hills, you will find Blacky heading for a certain part of +the Green Forest where he knows he will have neighbors of his own kind. +Peter Rabbit says that it is because Blacky's conscience troubles him +so that he doesn't dare sleep alone, but Happy Jack Squirrel says that +Blacky hasn't any conscience. You can believe just which you please, +though I suspect that neither of them really knows. + +As I have said, Blacky is quite a traveler at this time of year, and +sometimes his search for food takes him to out-of-the-way places. One +day toward the very last of winter, the notion entered his black head +that he would have a look in a certain lonesome corner of the Green +Forest where once upon a time Redtail the Hawk had lived. Blacky knew +well enough that Redtail wasn't there now; he had gone south in the fell +and wouldn't be back until he was sure that Mistress Spring had arrived +on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest. + +Like the black imp he is, Blacky flew over the tree-tops, his sharp eyes +watching for something interesting below. Presently he saw ahead of him +the old nest of Red-tail. He knew all about that nest. He had visited +it before when Red-tail was away. Still it might be worth another visit. +You never can tell what you may find in old houses. Now, of course, +Blacky knew perfectly well that Redtail was miles and miles, hundreds +of miles away, and so there was nothing to fear from him. But Blacky +learned ever so long ago that there is nothing like making sure that +there is no danger. So, instead of flying straight to that old nest, he +first flew over the tree so that he could look down into it. + +Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his eyes. It +was quite large and white, and it looked--it looked very much indeed +like an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and blinked? Here was snow +on the ground, and Rough Brother North Wind and Jack Frost had given no +hint that they were even thinking of going back to the Far North. The +idea of any one laying an egg at this time of year! Blacky flew over to +a tall pine-tree to think it over. + +“Must be it was a little lump of snow,” thought he. “Yet if ever I saw +an egg, that looked like one. Jumping grasshoppers, how good an egg +would taste right now!” You know Blacky has a weakness for eggs. The +more he thought about it, the hungrier he grew. Several times he almost +made up his mind to fly straight over there and make sure, but he didn't +quite dare. If it were an egg, it must belong to somebody, and perhaps +it would be best to find out who. Suddenly Blacky shook himself. “I must +be dreaming,” said he. “There couldn't, there just couldn't be an egg at +this time of year, or in that old tumble-down nest! I'll just fly away +and forget it.” + +So he flew away, but he couldn't forget it. He kept thinking of it all +day, and when he went to sleep that night he made up his mind to have +another look at that old nest. + + + +CHAPTER II: Blacky Makes Sure + + “As true as ever I've cawed a caw + That was a new-laid egg I saw.” + +“What are you talking about?” demanded Sammy Jay, coming up just in time +to hear the last part of what Blacky the Crow was mumbling to himself. + +“Oh nothing, Cousin, nothing at all,” replied Blacky. “I was just +talking foolishness to myself.” Sammy looked at him sharply. “You aren't +feeling sick, are you, Cousin Blacky?” he asked. “Must be something +the matter with you when you begin talking about new-laid eggs, when +everything's covered with snow and ice. Foolishness is no name for it. +Whoever heard of such a thing as a new-laid egg this time of year.” + +“Nobody, I guess,” replied Blacky. “I told you I was just talking +foolishness. You see, I'm so hungry that I just got to thinking what I'd +have if I could have anything I wanted. That made me think of eggs, and +I tried to think just how I would feel if I should suddenly see a great +big egg right in front of me. I guess I must have said something about +it.” + +“I guess you must have. It isn't egg time yet, and it won't be for a +long time. Take my advice and just forget about impossible things. I'm +going over to Farmer Brown's corncrib. Corn may not be as good as eggs, +but it is very good and very filling. Better come along,” said Sammy. + +“Not this morning, thank you. Some other time, perhaps,” replied +Blacky. + +He watched Sammy disappear through the trees. Then he flew to the top +of the tallest pine-tree to make sure that no one was about. When he was +quite sure that no one was watching him, he spread his wings and headed +for the most lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + +“I'm foolish. I know I'm foolish,” he muttered. “But I've just got to +have another look in that old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I just can't get +it out of my head that that was an egg, a great, big, white egg, that I +saw there yesterday. It won't do any harm to have another look, anyway.” + +Straight toward the tree in which was the great tumble-down nest of +Redtail the Hawk he flew, and as he drew near, he flew high, for Blacky +is too shrewd and smart to take any chances. Not that he thought that +there could be any danger there; but you never can tell, and it is +always the part of wisdom to be on the safe side. As he passed over the +top of the tree, he looked down eagerly. Just imagine how he felt when +instead of one, he saw two white things in the old nest--two white +things that looked for all the world like eggs! The day before there had +been but one; now there were two. That settled it in Blacky's mind; they +were eggs! They couldn't be anything else. + +Blacky kept right on flying. Somehow he didn't dare stop just then. He +was too much excited by what he had discovered to think clearly. He had +got to have time to get his wits together. Whoever had laid those eggs +was big and strong. He felt sure of that. It must be some one a great +deal bigger than himself, and he was of no mind to get into trouble, +even for a dinner of fresh eggs. He must first find out whose they were; +then he would know better what to do. He felt sure that no one else knew +about them, and he knew that they couldn't run away. So he kept right on +flying until he reached a certain tall pine-tree where he could sit and +think without being disturbed. + +“Eggs!” he muttered. “Real eggs! Now who under the sun can have moved +into Redtail's old house? And what can they mean by laying eggs before +Mistress Spring has even sent word that she has started? It's too much +for me. It certainly is too much for me.” + + + +CHAPTER III: Blacky Finds Out Who Owns The Eggs + +Two big white eggs in a tumbledown nest, and snow and ice everywhere! +Did ever anybody hear of such a thing before? + +“Wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes,” muttered +Blacky the Crow. “Have to believe them. If I can't believe them, it's of +no use to try to believe anything in this world. As sure as I sit here, +that old nest has two eggs in it. Whoever laid them must be crazy to +start housekeeping at this time of year. I must find out whose eggs they +are and then--” + +Blacky didn't finish, but there was a hungry look in his eyes that would +have told any who saw it, had there been any to see it, that he had +a use for those eggs. But there was none to see it, and he took the +greatest care that there should be none to see him when he once again +started for a certain lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + +“First I'll make sure that the eggs are still there,” thought he, and +flew high above the tree tops, so that as he passed over the tree in +which was the old nest of Red-tail the Hawk, he might look down into it. +To have seen him, you would never have guessed that he was looking for +anything in particular. He seemed to be just flying over on his way to +some distant place. If the eggs were still there, he meant to come back +and hide in the top of a near-by pine-tree to watch until he was sure +that he might safely steal those eggs, or to find out whose they were. + +Blacky's heart beat fast with excitement as he drew near that old +tumble-down nest. Would those two big white eggs be there? Perhaps +there would be three! The very thought made him flap his wings a little +faster. A few more wing strokes and he would be right over the tree. How +he did hope to see those eggs! He could almost see into the nest now. +One stroke! Two strokes! Three strokes! Blacky bit his tongue to keep +from giving a sharp caw of disappointment and surprise. + +There were no eggs to be seen. No, Sir, there wasn't a sign of eggs in +that old nest. There wasn't because--why, do you think? There wasn't +because Blacky looked straight down on a great mass of feathers which +quite covered them from sight, and he didn't have to look twice to know +that that great mass of feathers was really a great bird, the bird to +whom those eggs belonged. + +Blacky didn't turn to come back as he had planned. He kept right on, +just as if he hadn't seen anything, and as he flew he shivered a little. +He shivered at the thought of what might have happened to him if he had +tried to steal those eggs the day before and had been caught doing it. + +“I'm thankful I knew enough to leave them alone,” said he. “Funny I +never once guessed whose eggs they are. I might have known that no one +but Hooty the Horned Owl would think of nesting at this time of year. +And that was Mrs. Hooty I saw on the nest just now. My, but she's big! +She's bigger than Hooty himself! Yes, Sir, it's a lucky thing I didn't +try to get those eggs yesterday. Probably both Hooty and Mrs. Hooty were +sitting close by, only they were sitting so still that I thought they +were parts of the tree they were in. Blacky, Blacky, the sooner you +forget those eggs the better.” + +Some things are best forgotten As soon as they are learned. Who never +plays with fire Will surely not get burned. + + + +CHAPTER IV: The Cunning Of Blacky + +Now when Blacky the Crow discovered that the eggs in the old tumble-down +nest of Redtail the Hawk in a lonesome corner of the Green Forest +belonged to Hooty the Owl, he straightway made the best of resolutions; +he would simply forget all about those eggs. He would forget that he +ever had seen them, and he would stay away from that corner of the Green +Forest. That was a very wise resolution. Of all the people who live in +the Green Forest, none is fiercer or more savage than Hooty the Owl, +unless it is Mrs. Hooty. She is bigger than Hooty and certainly quite as +much to be feared by the little people. + +All this Blacky knows. No one knows it better. And Blacky is not one +to poke his head into trouble with his eyes open. So he very wisely +resolved to forget all about those eggs. Now it is one thing to make a +resolution and quite another thing to live up to it, as you all know. +It was easy enough to say that he would forget, but not at all easy +to forget. It would have been different if it had been spring or early +summer, when there were plenty of other eggs to be had by any one smart +enough to find them and steal them. But now, when it was still winter +(such an unheard-of time for any one to have eggs!), and it was hard +work to find enough to keep a hungry Crow's stomach filled, the thought +of those eggs would keep popping into his head. He just couldn't seem to +forget them. After a little, he didn't try. + +Now Blacky the Crow is very, very cunning. He is one of the smartest +of all the little people who fly. No one can get into more mischief and +still keep out of trouble than can Blacky the Crow. That is because he +uses the wits in that black head of his. In fact, some people are unkind +enough to say that he spends all his spare time in planning mischief. +The more he thought of those eggs, the more he wanted them, and it +wasn't long before he began to try to plan some way to get them without +risking his own precious skin. + +“I can't do it alone,” thought he, “and yet if I take any one into my +secret, I'll have to share those eggs. That won't do at all, because +I want them myself. I found them, and I ought to have them.” He quite +forgot or overlooked the fact that those eggs really belonged to Hooty +and Mrs. Hooty and to no one else. “Now let me see, what can I do?” + +He thought and he thought and he thought and he thought, and little by +little a plan worked out in his little black head. Then he chuckled. He +chuckled right out loud, then hurriedly looked around to see if any one +had heard him. No one had, so he chuckled again. He cocked his head +on one side and half closed his eyes, as if that plan was something he +could see and he was looking at it very hard. Then he cocked his head on +the other side and did the same thing. + +“It's all right,” said he at last. “It'll give my relatives a lot of +fun, and of course they will be very grateful to me for that. It won't +hurt Hooty or Mrs. Hooty a bit, but it will make them very angry. They +have very short tempers, and people with short tempers usually forget +everything else when they are angry. We'll pay them a visit while the +sun is bright, because then perhaps they cannot see well enough to catch +us, and we'll tease them until they lose their tempers and forget all +about keeping guard over those eggs. Then I'll slip in and get one and +perhaps both of them. Without knowing that they are doing anything of +the kind, my friends and relatives will help me to get a good meal. My, +how good those eggs will taste!” + +It was a very clever and cunning plan, for Blacky is a very clever and +cunning rascal, but of course it didn't deserve success because nothing +that means needless worry and trouble for others deserves to succeed. + + + +CHAPTER V: Blacky Calls His Friends + +When Blacky cries “Caw, caw, caw, caw!” As if he'd dislocate his jaw, +His relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air. They +know that there is mischief afoot, and the Crow family is always ready +for mischief. So on this particular morning when they heard Blacky +cawing at the top of his lungs from the tallest pine-tree in the Green +Forest, they hastened over there as fast as they could fly, calling to +each other excitedly and sure that they were going to have a good time +of some kind. + +Blacky chuckled as he saw them coming. “Come on! Come on! Caw, caw, caw! +Hurry up and flap your wings faster. I know where Hooty the Owl is, and +we'll have no end of fun with him,” he cried. + +“Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” shouted all his relatives in great glee. +“Where is he? Lead us to him. We'll drive him out of the Green Forest!” + +So Blacky led the way over to the most lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, straight to the tree in which Hooty the Owl was comfortably +sleeping. Blacky had taken pains to slip over early that morning and +make sure just where he was. He had discovered Hooty fast asleep, and +he knew that he would remain right where he was until dark. You know +Hooty's eyes are not meant for much use in bright light, and the +brighter the light, the more uncomfortable his eyes feel. Blacky knows +this, too, and he had chosen the very brightest part of the morning to +call his relatives over to torment poor Hooty. Jolly, round, bright Mr. +Sun was shining his very brightest, and the white snow on the ground +made it seem brighter still. Even Blacky had to blink, and he knew that +poor Hooty would find it harder still. + +But one thing Blacky was very careful not to even hint of, and that was +that Mrs. Hooty was right close at hand. Mrs. Hooty is bigger and even +more fierce than Hooty, and Blacky didn't want to frighten any of the +more timid of his relatives. What he hoped down deep in his crafty heart +was that when they got to teasing and tormenting Hooty and making the +great racket which he knew they would, Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper +and fly over to join Hooty in trying to drive away the black tormentors. +Then Blacky would slip over to the nest which she had left unguarded and +steal one and perhaps both of the eggs he knew were there. + +When they reached the tree where Hooty was, he was blinking his great +yellow eyes and had fluffed out all his feathers, which is a way he has +when he is angry, to make himself look twice as big as he really is. Of +course, he had heard the noisy crew coming, and he knew well enough what +to expect. As soon as they saw him, they began to scream as loud as +ever they could and to call him all manner of names. The boldest of them +would dart at him as if to pull out a mouthful of feathers, but took +the greatest care not to get too near. You see, the way Hooty hissed and +snapped his great bill was very threatening, and they knew that if once +he got hold of one of them with those big cruel claws of his, that would +be the end. + +So they were content to simply scold and scream at him and fly around +him, just out of reach, and make him generally uncomfortable, and they +were so busy doing this that no one noticed that Blacky was not joining +in the fun, and no one paid any attention to the old tumble-down nest +of Redtail the Hawk only a few trees distant. So far Blacky's plans were +working out just as he had hoped. + + + +CHAPTER VI: Hooty The Owl Doesn't Stay Still + + Now what's the good of being smart + When others do not do their part? + +If Blacky the Crow didn't say this to himself, he thought it. He knew +that he had made a very cunning plan to get the eggs of Hooty the Owl, +a plan so shrewd and cunning that no one else in the Green Forest or on +the Green Meadows would have thought of it. There was only one weakness +in it, and that was that it depended for success on having Hooty the +Owl do as he usually did when tormented by a crowd of noisy Crows,--stay +where he was until they got tired and flew away. + +Now Blacky sometimes makes a mistake that smart people are very apt to +make; he thinks that because he is so smart, other people are stupid. +That is where he proves that smart as he is, he isn't as smart as he +thinks he is. He always thought of Hooty the Owl as stupid. That is, he +always thought of him that way in daytime. At night, when he was waked +out of a sound sleep by the fierce hunting cry of Hooty, he wasn't so +sure about Hooty being stupid, and he always took care to sit perfectly +still in the darkness, lest Hooty's great ears should hear him and +Hooty's great eyes, made for seeing in the dark, should find him. No, +in the night Blacky was not at all sure that Hooty was stupid. + +But in the daytime he was sure. You see, he quite forgot the fact that +the brightness of day is to Hooty what the blackness of night is to him. +So, because Hooty would simply sit still and hiss and snap his bill, +instead of trying to catch his tormentors or flying away, Blacky called +him stupid. He felt sure that Hooty would stay right where he was now, +and he hoped that Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and leave the nest +where she was sitting on those two eggs and join Hooty to help him try +to drive away that noisy crew. + +But Hooty isn't stupid. Not a bit of it. The minute he found out that +Blacky and his friends had discovered him, he thought of Mrs. Hooty and +the two precious eggs in the old nest of Redtail the Hawk close by. + +“Mrs. Hooty mustn't be disturbed,” thought he. “That will never do at +all. I must lead these black rascals away where they won't discover Mrs. +Hooty. I certainly must.” + +So he spread his broad wings and blundered away among the trees a little +way. He didn't fly far because the instant he started to fly that whole +noisy crew with the exception of Blacky were after him. Because he +couldn't use his claws or bill while flying, they grew bold enough to +pull a few feathers out of his back. So he flew only a little way to a +thick hemlock-tree, where it wasn't easy for the Crows to get at him, +and where the light didn't hurt his eyes so much. There he rested a few +minutes and then did the same thing over again. He meant to lead +those bothersome Crows into the darkest part of the Green Forest and +there--well, he could see better there, and it might be that one of them +would be careless enough to come within reach. No, Hooty wasn't stupid. +Certainly not. + +Blacky awoke to that fact as he sat in the top of a tall pine-tree +silently watching. He could see Mrs. Hooty on the nest, and as the noise +of Hooty's tormentors sounded from farther and farther away, she settled +herself more comfortably and closed her eyes. Blacky could imagine that +she was smiling to herself. It was clear that she had no intention of +going to help Hooty. His splendid plan had failed just because stupid +Hooty, who wasn't stupid at all, had flown away when he ought to have +sat still. It was very provoking. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Blacky Tries Another Plan + + When one plan fails, just try another; + Declare you'll win some way or other. + +People who succeed are those who do not give up because they fail the +first time they try. They are the ones who, as soon as one plan fails, +get busy right away and think of another plan and try that. If the thing +they are trying to do is a good thing, sooner or later they succeed. If +they are trying to do a wrong thing, very likely all their plans fail, +as they should. + +Now Blacky the Crow knows all about the value of trying and trying. He +isn't easily discouraged. Sometimes it is a pity that he isn't, because +he plans so much mischief. But the fact remains that he isn't, and he +tries and tries until he cannot think of another plan and just has to +give up. When he invited all his relatives to join him in tormenting +Hooty the Owl, he thought he had a plan that just couldn't fail. He felt +sure that Mrs. Hooty would leave her nest and help Hooty try to drive +away his tormentors. But Mrs. Hooty didn't do anything of the kind, +because Hooty was smart enough and thoughtful enough to lead his +tormentors away from the nest into the darkest part of the Green Forest +where their noise wouldn't bother Mrs. Hooty. So she just settled +herself more comfortably than ever on those eggs which Blacky had hoped +she would give him a chance to steal, and his fine plan was quite upset. + +Not one of his relatives had noticed that nest. They had been too busy +teasing Hooty. This was just as Blacky had hoped. He didn't want them to +know about that nest because he was selfish and wanted to get those eggs +just for himself alone. But now he knew that the only way he could get +Mrs. Hooty off of them would be by teasing her so that she would lose +her temper and try to catch some of her tormentors. If she did that, +there would be a chance that he might slip in and get at least one of +those eggs. + +He would try it. + +For a few minutes he listened to the noise of his relatives growing +fainter and fainter, as Hooty led them farther and farther into the +Green Forest. Then he opened his mouth. + +“Caw, caw, caw, caw!” he screamed. “Caw, caw, caw, caw! Come back, +everybody! Here is Mrs. Hooty on her nest! Caw, caw, caw, caw!” + +Now as soon as they heard that, all Blacky's relatives stopped chasing +and tormenting Hooty and started back as fast as they could fly. They +didn't like the dark part of the Green Forest into which Hooty was +leading them. Besides, they wanted to see that nest. So back they came, +cawing at the top of their lungs, for they were very much excited. Some +of them never had seen a nest of Hooty's. And anyway, it would be just +as much fun to tease Mrs. Hooty as it was to tease Hooty. + +“Where is the nest?” they screamed, as they came back to where Blacky +was cawing and pretending to be very much excited. + +“Why,” exclaimed one, “that is the old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I know +all about that nest.” And he looked at Blacky as if he thought Blacky +was playing a joke on them. + +“It was Redtail's, but it is Hooty's now. If you don't believe me, just +look in it,” retorted Blacky. + +At once they all began to fly over the top of the tree where they could +look down into the nest and there, sure enough, was Mrs. Hooty, her +great, round, yellow eyes glaring up at them angrily. Such a racket! +Right away Hooty was forgotten, and the whole crowd at once began to +torment Mrs. Hooty. Only Blacky sat watchful and silent, waiting for +Mrs. Hooty to lose her temper and try to catch one of her tormentors. He +had hope, a great hope, that he would get one of those eggs. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: Hooty Comes To Mrs. Hooty's Aid + +No one can live just for self alone. A lot of people think they can, +but they are very much mistaken. They are making one of the greatest +mistakes in the world. Every teeny, weeny act, no matter what it is, +affects somebody else. That is one of Old Mother Nature's great laws. +And it is just as true among the little people of the Green Forest and +the Green Meadows as with boys and girls and grown people. It is Old +Mother Nature's way of making each of us responsible for the good of all +and of teaching us that always we should help each other. + +As you know, when Blacky the Crow called all his relatives over to the +nest where Mrs. Hooty was sitting on her eggs, they at once stopped +tormenting Hooty and left him alone in a thick hemlock-tree in the +darkest part of the Green Forest. Of course Hooty was very, very glad +to be left in peace, and he might have spent the rest of the day there +sleeping in comfort. But he didn't. No, Sir, he didn't. At first he gave +a great sigh of relief and settled himself as if he meant to stay. He +listened to the voices of those noisy Crows growing fainter and fainter +and was glad. But it was only for a few minutes. + +Presently those voices stopped growing fainter. They grew more +excited-sounding than ever, and they came right from one place. Hooty +knew then that his tormentors had found the nest where Mrs. Hooty was, +and that they were tormenting her just as they had tormented him. He +snapped his bill angrily and then more angrily. + +“I guess Mrs. Hooty is quite able to take care of herself,” he +grumbled, “but she ought not to be disturbed while she is sitting on +those eggs. I hate to go back there in that bright sunshine. It hurts my +eyes, and I don't like it, but I guess I'll have to go back there. Mrs. +Hooty needs my help. I'd rather stay here, but--” + +He didn't finish. Instead, he spread his broad wings and flew back +towards the nest and Mrs. Hooty. His great wings made no noise, for they +are made so that he can fly without making a sound. “If I once get hold +of one of those Crows!” he muttered to himself. “If I once get hold of +one of those Crows, I'll--” He didn't say what he would do, but if +you had been near enough to hear the snap of his bill, you could have +guessed the rest. + +All this time the Crows were having what they called fun with Mrs. +Hooty. Nothing is true fun which makes others uncomfortable, but somehow +a great many people seem to forget this. So, while Blacky sat watching, +his relatives made a tremendous racket around Mrs. Hooty, and the more +angry she grew, the more they screamed and called her names and darted +down almost in her face, as they pretended that they were going to fight +her. They were so busy doing this, and Blacky was so busy watching them, +hoping that Mrs. Hooty would leave her nest and give him a chance to +steal the eggs he knew were under her, that no one gave Hooty a thought. + +All of a sudden he was there, right in the tree close to the nest! No +one had heard a sound, but there he was, and in the claws of one foot he +held the tail feathers of one of Blacky's relatives. It was lucky, very +lucky indeed for that one that the sun was in Hooty's eyes and so he had +missed his aim. Otherwise there would have been one less Crow. + +Now it is one thing to tease one lone Owl and quite another to tease two +together. Besides, there were those black tail feathers floating down +to the snow-covered ground. Quite suddenly those Crows decided that they +had had fun enough for one day, and in spite of all Blacky could do +to stop them, away they flew, cawing loudly and talking it all over +noisily. Blacky was the last to go, and his heart was sorrowful. However +could he get those eggs? + + + +CHAPTER IX: Blacky Thinks Of Farmer Brown's Boy + +“Such luck!” grumbled Blacky, as he flew over to his favorite tree to do +a little thinking. “Such luck! Now all my neighbors know about the nest +of Hooty the Owl, and sooner or later one of them will find out that +there are eggs in it. There is one thing about it, though, and that +is that if I can't get them, nobody can. That is to say, none of my +relatives can. I've tried every way I can think of, and those eggs are +still there. My, my, my, how I would like one of them right now!” + +Then Blacky the Crow did a thing which disappointed scamps often +do,--began to blame the ones he was trying to wrong because his plans +had failed. To have heard him talking to himself, you would have +supposed that those eggs really belonged to him and that Hooty and Mrs. +Hooty had cheated him out of them. Yes, Sir, that is what you would have +thought if you could have heard him muttering to himself there in the +tree-top. In his disappointment over not getting those eggs, he was +so sorry for himself that he actually did feel that he was the one +wronged,--that Hooty and Mrs. Hooty should have let him have those eggs. + +Of course, that was absolute foolishness, but he made himself believe +it just the same. At least, he pretended to believe it. And the more he +pretended, the angrier he grew. This is often the way with people who +try to wrong others. They grow angry with the ones they have tried to +wrong. When at last Blacky had to confess to himself that he could think +of no other way to get those eggs, he began to wonder if there was some +way to make trouble for Hooty and Mrs. Hooty. It was right then that he +thought of Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky's eyes snapped. He remembered how, +once upon a time, Farmer Brown's boy had delighted to rob nests. Blacky +had seen him take the eggs from the nests of Blacky's own relatives and +from many other feathered people. What he did with the eggs, Blacky had +no idea. Just now he didn't care. If Farmer Brown's boy would just +happen to find Hooty's nest, he would be sure to take those eggs, and +then he, Blacky, would feel better. He would feel that he was even with +Hooty. + +Right away he began to try to think of some way to bring Farmer Brown's +boy over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty's nest +was. If he could once get him there, he felt sure that Farmer Brown's +boy would see the nest and climb up to it, and then of course he would +take the eggs. If he couldn't have those eggs himself, the next best +thing would be to see some one else get them. + +Dear me, dear me, such dreadful thoughts! I am afraid that Blacky's +heart was as black as his coat. And the worst of it was, he seemed to +get a lot of pleasure in his wicked plans. Now right down in his heart +he knew that they were wicked plans, but he tried to make excuses to +himself. + +“Hooty the Owl is a robber,” said he. “Everybody is afraid of him. +He lives on other people, and so far as I know he does no good in the +world. He is big and fierce, and no one loves him. The Green Forest +would be better off without him. If those eggs hatch, there will be +little Owls to be fed, and they will grow up into big fierce Owls, like +their father and mother. So if I show Farmer Brown's boy that nest and +he takes those eggs, I will be doing a kindness to my neighbors.” + +So Blacky talked to himself and tried to hush the still, small voice +down inside that tried to tell him that what he was planning to do was +really a dreadful thing. And all the time he watched for Farmer Brown's +boy. + + + +CHAPTER X: Farmer Brown's Boy And Hooty + +Farmer Brown's boy had taken it into his head to visit the Green Forest. +It was partly because he hadn't anything else to do, and it was partly +because now that it was very near the end of winter he wanted to see how +things were there and if there were any signs of the coming of spring. +Blacky the Crow saw him coming, and Blacky chuckled to himself. He had +watched every day for a week for just this thing. Now he would tell +Farmer Brown's boy about that nest of Hooty the Owl. + +He flew over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty and +Mrs. Hooty had made their home and at once began to caw at the top of +his voice and pretend that he was terribly excited over something. + +“Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” shouted Blacky. At once all his relatives +within hearing hurried over to join him. They knew that he was +tormenting Hooty, and they wanted to join in the fun. It wasn't long +before there was a great racket going on over in that lonesome corner of +the Green Forest. + +Of course Farmer Brown's boy heard it. He stopped and listened. “Now +I wonder what Blacky and his friends have found this time,” said he. +“Whenever they make a fuss like that, there is usually something to see +there. I believe I'll so over and have a look.” + +So he turned in the direction of the lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, and as he drew near, he moved very carefully, so as to see all +that he could without frightening the Crows. He knew that as soon as +they saw him, they would fly away, and that might alarm the one they +were tormenting, for he knew enough of Crow ways to know that when they +were making such a noise as they were now making, they were plaguing +some one. + +Blacky was the first to see him because he was watching for him. But +he didn't say anything until Farmer Brown's boy was so near that he +couldn't help but see that nest and Hooty himself, sitting up very +straight and snapping his bill angrily at his tormentors. Then Blacky +gave the alarm, and at once all the Crows rose in the air and headed for +the Green Meadows, cawing at the top of their lungs. Blacky went with +them a little way. The first chance he got he dropped out of the flock +and silently flew back to a place where he could see all that might +happen at the nest of Hooty the Owl. + +When Farmer Brown's boy first caught sight of the nest and saw the Crows +darting down toward it and acting so excited, he was puzzled. + +“That's an old nest of Red-tail the Hawk,” thought he. “I found that +last spring. Now what can there be there to excite those Crows so?” + +Then he caught sight of Hooty the Owl. “Ha, so that's it!” he exclaimed. +“Those scamps have discovered Hooty and have been having no end of fun +tormenting him. I wonder what he's doing there.” + +He no longer tried to keep out of sight, but walked right up to the +foot of the tree, all the time looking up. Hooty saw him, but instead of +flying away, he snapped his bill just as he had at the Crows and hissed. + +“That's funny,” thought Farmer Brown's boy. “If I didn't know that +to be the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, and if it weren't still the +tail-end of winter, I would think that was Hooty's nest.” + +He walked in a circle around the tree, looking up. Suddenly he gave a +little start. Was that a tail sticking over the edge of the nest? He +found a stick and threw it up. It struck the bottom of the nest, and out +flew a great bird. It was Mrs. Hooty! Blacky the Crow chuckled. + + + +CHAPTER XI: Farmer Brown's Boy Is Tempted + + When you're tempted to do wrong + Is the time to prove you're strong. + Shut your eyes and clench each fist; + It will help you to resist. + +When a bird is found sitting on a nest, it is a pretty sure sign that +that nest holds something worth while. It is a sign that that bird has +set up housekeeping. So when Farmer Brown's boy discovered Mrs. Hooty +sitting so close on the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, in the most +lonesome corner of the Green Forest, he knew what it meant. Perhaps I +should say that he knew what it ought to mean. + +It ought to mean that there were eggs in that nest. + +But it was hard for Farmer Brown's boy to believe that. Why, spring +had not come yet! There was still snow, and the Smiling Pool was still +covered with ice. Who ever heard of birds nesting at this time of year? +Certainly not Farmer Brown's boy. And yet Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty +were acting for all the world as feathered folks do act when they have +eggs and are afraid that something is going to happen to them. It was +very puzzling. + +“That nest was built by Red-tail the Hawk, and it hasn't even been +repaired,” muttered Farmer Brown's boy, as he stared up at it. “If +Hooty and his wife have taken it for their home, they are mighty poor +housekeepers. And if Mrs. Hooty has laid eggs this time of year, she +must be crazy. I suppose the way to find out is to climb up there. It +seems foolish, but I'm going to do it. Those Owls certainly act as if +they are mighty anxious about something, and I'm going to find out what +it is.” + +He looked at Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, at their hooked bills and great +claws, and decided that he would take a stout stick along with him. He +had no desire to feel these great claws. When he had found a stick to +suit him, he began to climb the tree. Hooty and Mrs. Hooty snapped their +bills and hissed fiercely. They drew nearer. Farmer Brown's boy kept a +watchful eye on them. They looked so big and fierce that he was almost +tempted to give up and leave them in peace. But he just had to find out +if there was anything in that nest, so he kept on. As he drew near it, +Mrs. Hooty swooped very near to him, and the snap of her bill made an +ugly sound. He held his stick ready to strike and kept on. + +The nest was simply a great platform of sticks. When Farmer Brown's boy +reached it, he found that he could not get where he could look into it, +so he reached over and felt inside. Almost at once his fingers touched +something that made him tingle all over. It was an egg, a great big egg! +There was no doubt about it. It was just as hard for him to believe +as it had been for Blacky the Crow to believe, when he first saw those +eggs. Farmer Brown's boy's fingers closed over that egg and took it +out of the nest. Mrs. Hooty swooped very close, and Farmer Brown's boy +nearly dropped the egg as he struck at her with his stick. Then Mrs. +Hooty and Hooty seemed to lose courage and withdrew to a tree near by, +where they snapped their bills and hissed. + +Then Farmer Brown's boy looked at the prize in his hand. It was a big, +dirty-white egg. His eyes shone. What a splendid prize to add to his +collection of birds' eggs! It was the first egg of the Great Horned Owl, +the largest of all Owls, that he ever had seen. + +Once more he felt in the nest and found there was another egg there. +“I'll take both of them,” said he. “It's the first nest of Hooty's that +I've ever found, and perhaps I'll never find another. Gee, I'm glad +I came over here to find out what those Crows were making such a fuss +about. I wonder if I can get these down without breaking them.” + +Just at that very minute he remembered something. He remembered that he +had stopped collecting eggs. He remembered that he had resolved never to +take another bird's egg. + +“But this is different,” whispered the tempter. “This isn't like taking +the eggs of the little song birds.” + + + +CHAPTER XII: A Tree-Top Battle + + As black is black and white is white, + So wrong is wrong and right is right. + +There isn't any half way about it. A thing is wrong or it is right, and +that is all there is to it. But most people have hard work to see this +when they want very much to do a thing that the still small voice +way down inside tells them isn't right. They try to compromise. To +compromise is to do neither one thing nor the other but a little of +both. But you can't do that with right and wrong. It is a queer thing, +but a half right never is as good as a whole right, while a half wrong +often, very often, is as bad as a whole wrong. + +Farmer Brown's boy, up in the tree by the nest of Hooty the Owl in +the lonesome corner of the Green Forest, was fighting a battle. No, he +wasn't fighting with Hooty or Mrs. Hooty. He was fighting a battle right +inside himself. It was a battle between right and wrong. Once upon a +time he had taken great delight in collecting the eggs of birds, in +trying to see how many kinds he could get. Then as he had come to know +the little forest and meadow people better, he had seen that taking the +eggs of birds is very, very wrong, and he had stopped stealing them. He +bad declared that never again would he steal an egg from a bird. + +But never before had he found a nest of Hooty the Owl. Those two big +eggs would add ever so much to his collection. “Take 'em,” said a +little voice inside. “Hooty is a robber. You will be doing a kindness to +the other birds by taking them.” + +“Don't do it,” said another little voice. “Hooty may be a robber, but +he has a place in the Green Forest, or Old Mother Nature never would +have put him here. It is just as much stealing to take his eggs as to +take the eggs of any other bird. He has just as much right to them as +Jenny Wren has to hers.” + +“Take one and leave one,” said the first voice. + +“That will be just as much stealing as if you took both,” said the +second voice. “Besides, you will be breaking your own word. You said +that you never would take another egg.” + +“I didn't promise anybody but myself,” declared Farmer Brown's boy +right out loud. At the sound of his voice, Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, sitting +in the next tree, snapped their bills and hissed louder than ever. + +“A promise to yourself ought to be just as good as a promise to any one +else. I don't wonder Hooty hisses at you,” said the good little voice. + +“Think how fine those eggs will look in your collection and how proud +you will be to show them to the other fellows who never have found a +nest of Hooty's,” said the first little voice. + +“And think how mean and small and cheap you'll feel every time you look +at them,” added the good little voice. “You'll get a lot more fun if +you leave them to hatch out and then watch the little Owls grow up and +learn all about their ways. Just think what a stout, brave fellow Hooty +is to start housekeeping at this time of year, and how wonderful it is +that Mrs. Hooty can keep these eggs warm and when they have hatched +take care of the baby Owls before others have even begun to build their +nests. Besides, wrong is wrong and right is right, always.” + +Slowly Farmer Brown's boy reached over the edge of the nest and put +back the egg. Then he began to climb down the tree. When he reached the +ground he went off a little way and watched. Almost at once Mrs. Hooty +flew to the nest and settled down on the eggs, while Hooty mounted guard +close by. + +“I'm glad I didn't take 'em,” said Farmer Brown's boy. “Yes, Sir, I'm +glad I didn't take 'em.” + +As he turned back toward home, he saw Blacky the Crow flying over the +Green Forest, and little did he guess how he had upset Blacky's plans. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Blacky Has A Change Of Heart + +Blacky The Crow isn't all black. No, indeed. His coat is black, and +sometimes it seems as if his heart is all black, but this isn't so. It +certainly seemed as if his heart was all black when he tried so hard to +make trouble for Hooty the Owl. It would seem as if only a black heart +could have urged him to try so hard to steal the eggs of Hooty and Mrs. +Hooty, but this wasn't really so. You see, it didn't seem at all wrong +to try to get those eggs. Blacky was hungry, and those eggs would have +given him a good meal. He knew that Hooty wouldn't hesitate to catch +him and eat him if he had the chance, and so it seemed to him perfectly +right and fair to steal Hooty's eggs if he was smart enough to do so. +And most of the other little people of the Green Forest and the Green +Meadows would have felt the same way about it. You see, it is one of +the laws of Old Mother Nature that each one must learn to look out for +himself. + +But when Blacky showed that nest of Hooty's to Farmer Brown's boy with +the hope that Farmer Brown's boy would steal those eggs, there was +blackness in his heart. He was doing something then which was pure +meanness. He was just trying to make trouble for Hooty, to get even +because Hooty had been too smart for him. He had sat in the top of a +tall pine-tree where he could see all that happened, and he had chuckled +wickedly as he had seen Farmer Brown's boy climb to Hooty's nest and +take out an egg. He felt sure that he would take both eggs. He hoped so, +anyway. + +When he saw Farmer Brown's boy put the eggs back and climb down the tree +without any, he had to blink his eyes to make sure that he saw straight. +He just couldn't believe what he saw. At first he was dreadfully +disappointed and angry. It looked very much as if he weren't going to +get even with Hooty after all. He flew over to his favorite tree to +think things over. Now sometimes it is a good thing to sit by oneself +and think things over. It gives the little small voice deep down inside +a chance to be heard. It was just that way with Blacky now. + +The longer he thought, the meaner his action in calling Farmer Brown's +boy looked. It was one thing to try to steal those eggs himself, but it +was quite another matter to try to have them stolen by some one against +whom Hooty had no protection whatever. + +“If it had been any one but Hooty, you would have done your best to have +kept Farmer Brown's boy away,” said the little voice inside. Blacky +hung his head. He knew that it was true. More than once, in fact many +times, he had warned other feathered folks when Farmer Brown's boy had +been hunting for their nests, and had helped to lead him away. + +At last Blacky threw up his head and chuckled, and this time his chuckle +was good to hear. “I'm glad that Farmer Brown's boy didn't take those +eggs,” said he right out loud. “Yes, sir, I'm glad. I'll never do such +a thing as that again. I'm ashamed of what I did; yet I'm glad I did +it. I'm glad because I've learned some things. I've learned that Farmer +Brown's boy isn't as much to be feared as he used to be. I've learned +that Hooty isn't as stupid as I thought he was. I've learned that while +it may be all right for us people of the Green Forest to try to outwit +each other we ought to protect each other against common dangers. And +I've learned something I didn't know before, and that is that Hooty the +Owl is the very first of us to set up housekeeping. Now I think I'll go +hunt for an honest meal.” And he did. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Blacky Makes A Call + + Judge no one by his style of dress; + Your ignorance you thus confess. + --Blacky the Crow. + +“Caw, caw, caw, caw.” There was no need of looking to see who that was. +Peter Rabbit knew without looking. Mrs. Quack knew without looking. Just +the same, both looked up. Just alighting in the top of a tall tree was +Blacky the Crow. “Caw, caw, caw, caw,” he repeated, looking down at +Peter and Mrs. Quack and Mr. Quack and the six young Quacks. “I hope I +am not interrupting any secret gossip.” + +“Not at all,” Peter hastened to say. “Mrs. Quack was just telling me +of the troubles and clangers in bringing up a young family in the Far +North. How did you know the Quacks had arrived?” + +Blacky chuckled hoarsely. “I didn't,” said he. “I simply thought there +might be something going on I didn't know about over here in the pond +of Paddy the Beaver, so I came over to find out. Mr. Quack, you and Mrs. +Quack are looking very fine this fall. And those handsome young Quacks, +you don't mean to tell me that they are your children!” + +Mrs. Quack nodded proudly. “They are,” said she. + +“You don't say so!” exclaimed Blacky, as if he were very much surprised, +when all the time he wasn't surprised at all. “They are a credit to +their parents. Yes, indeed, they are a credit to their parents. Never +have I seen finer young Ducks in all my life. How glad the hunters with +terrible guns will be to see them.” + +Mrs. Quack shivered at that, and Blacky saw it. He chuckled softly. You +know he dearly loves to make others uncomfortable. “I saw three hunters +over on the edge of the Big River early this very morning,” said he. + +Mrs. Quack looked more anxious than ever. Blacky's sharp eyes noted +this. + +“That is why I came over here,” he added kindly. “I wanted to give you +warning.” + +“But you didn't know the Quacks were here!” spoke up Peter. + +“True enough, Peter. True enough,” replied Blacky, his eyes twinkling. +“But I thought they might be. I had heard a rumor that those who go +south are traveling earlier than usual this fall, so I knew I might find +Mr. and Mrs. Quack over here any time now. Is it true, Mrs. Quack, that +we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter?” + +“That is what they say up in the Far North,” replied Mrs. Quack. “And it +is true that Jack Frost had started down earlier than usual. That is +how it happens we are here now. But about those hunters over by the Big +River, do you suppose they will come over here?” There was an anxious +note in Mrs. Quack's voice. + +“No,” replied Blacky promptly. “Farmer Brown's boy won't let them. I +know. I've been watching him and he has been watching those hunters. As +long as you stay here, you will be safe. What a great world this would +be if all those two-legged creatures were like Farmer Brown's boy.” + +“Wouldn't it!” cried Peter. Then he added, “I wish they were.” + +“You don't wish it half as much as I do,” declared Mrs. Quack. + +“Yet I can remember when he used to hunt with a terrible gun and was as +bad as the worst of them,” said Blacky. + +“What changed him?” asked Mrs. Quack, looking interested. + +“Just getting really acquainted with some of the little people of the +Green Forest and the Green Meadows,” replied Blacky. “He found them +ready to meet him more than halfway in friendship and that some of them +really are his best friends.” + +“And now he is their best friend,” spoke up Peter. + +Blacky nodded. “Right, Peter,” said he. “That is why the Quacks are safe +here and will be as long as they stay.” + + + +CHAPTER XV: Blacky Does A Little Looking About + + Do not take the word of others + That things are or are not so + When there is a chance that you may + Find out for yourself and know. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow is a shrewd fellow. He is one of the smartest and +shrewdest of all the little people in the Green Forest and on the Green +Meadows. Everybody knows it. And because of this, all his neighbors have +a great deal of respect for him, despite his mischievous ways. + +Of course, Blacky had noticed that Johnny Chuck had dug his house deeper +than usual and had stuffed himself until he was fatter than ever before. +He had noticed that Jerry Muskrat was making the walls of his house +thicker than in other years, and that Paddy the Beaver was doing the +same thing to his house. You know there is very little that escapes the +sharp eyes of Blacky the Crow. + +He had guessed what these things meant. “They think we are going to have +a long, hard, cold winter,” muttered Blacky to himself. “Perhaps they +know, but I want to see some signs of it for myself. They may be only +guessing. Anybody can do that, and one guess is as good as another.” + +Then he found Mr. and Mrs. Quack, the Mallard Ducks, and their children +in the pond of Paddy the Beaver and remembered that they never had come +down from their home in the Far North as early in the fall as this. Mrs. +Quack explained that Jack Frost had already started south, and so they +had started earlier to keep well ahead of him. + +“Looks as if there may be something in this idea of a long, hard, cold +winter,” thought Blacky, “but perhaps the Quacks are only guessing, +too. I wouldn't take their word for it any more than I would the word +of Johnny Chuck or Jerry Muskrat or Paddy the Beaver. I'll look about a +little.” + +So after warning the Quacks to remain in the pond of Paddy the Beaver +if they would be safe, Blacky bade them good-by and flew away. He headed +straight for the Green Meadows and Farmer Brown's cornfield. A little of +that yellow corn would make a good breakfast. + +When he reached the cornfield, Blacky perched on top of a shock of corn, +for it already had been cut and put in shocks in readiness to be carted +up to Farmer Brown's barn. For a few minutes he sat there silent and +motionless, but all the time his sharp eyes were making sure that no +enemy was hiding behind one of those brown shocks. When he was quite +certain that things were as safe as they seemed, he picked out a plump +ear of corn and began to tear open the husks, so as to get at the yellow +grains. + +“Seems to me these husks are unusually thick,” muttered Blacky, as he +tore at them with his stout bill. “Don't remember ever having seen them +as thick as these. Wonder if it just happens to be so on this ear.” + +Then, as a sudden thought popped into his black head, he left that ear +and went to another. The husks of this were as thick as those on the +first. He flew to another shock and found the husks there just the same. +He tried a third shock with the same result. + +“Huh, they are all alike,” said he. Then he looked thoughtful and for a +few minutes sat perfectly still like a black statue. “They are right,” + said he at last. “Yes, Sir, they are right.” Of course he meant Johnny +Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks. “I don't +know how they know it, but they are right; we are going to have a long, +hard, cold winter. I know it myself now. I've found a sign. Old Mother +Nature has wrapped this corn in extra thick husks, and of course she has +done it to protect it. She doesn't do things without a reason. We are +going to have a cold winter, or my name isn't Blacky the Crow.” + + + +CHAPTER XVI: Blacky Finds Other Signs + + A single fact may fail to prove you either right or wrong; + Confirm it with another and your proof will then be strong. + --Blacky the Crow. + +After his discovery that Old Mother Nature had wrapped all the ears +of corn in extra thick husks, Blacky had no doubt in his own mind that +Johnny Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks were +quite right in feeling that the coming winter would be long, hard and +cold. But Blacky long ago learned that it isn't wise or wholly safe to +depend altogether on one thing. + +“Old Mother Nature never does things by halves,” thought Blacky, as he +sat on the fence post on the Green Meadows, thinking over his discovery +of the thick husks on the corn. “She wouldn't take care to protect the +corn that way and not do as much for other things. There must be other +signs, if I am smart enough to find them.” + +He lifted one black wing and began to set in order the feathers beneath +it. Suddenly he made a funny little hop straight up. + +“Well, I never!” he exclaimed, as he spread his wings to regain his +balance. “I never did!” + +“Is that so?” piped a squeaky little voice. “If you say you never did, I +suppose you never did, though I want the word of some one else before I +will believe it. What is it you never did?” + +Blacky looked down. Peeping up at him from the brown grass were two +bright little eyes. + +“Hello, Danny Meadow Mouse!” exclaimed Blacky. “I haven't seen you for a +long time. I've looked for you several times lately.” + +“I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it at all,” squeaked Danny. “You'll +never see me when you are looking for me. That is, you won't if I can +help it. You won't if I see you first.” + +Blacky chuckled. He knew what Danny meant. When Blacky goes looking +for Danny Meadow Mouse, it usually is in hope of having a Meadow Mouse +dinner, and he knew that Danny knew this. “I've had my breakfast,” said +Blacky, “and it isn't dinner time yet.” + +“What is it you never did?” persisted Danny, in his squeaky voice. + +“That was just an exclamation,” explained Blacky. “I made a discovery +that surprised me so I exclaimed right out.” + +“What was it?” demanded Danny. + +“It was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than I ever +knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to set them in +order a minute ago.” He buried his bill in the feathers of his breast. +“Yes, sir,” said he in a muffled voice, “they are coming in thicker than +I ever knew them to before. There is a lot of down around the roots of +them. I am going to have the warmest coat I've ever had.” + +“Well, don't think you are the only one,” retorted Danny. “My fur never +was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is the same way +with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose you know what it +means.” + +“What does it mean?” asked Blacky, just as if he didn't have the least +idea, although he had guessed the instant he discovered those extra +feathers. + +“It means we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter, and Old Mother +Nature is preparing us for it,” replied Danny, quite as if he knew all +about it. “You'll find that everybody who doesn't go south or sleep all +winter has a thicker coat than usual. Hello! There is old Roughleg the +Hawk! He has come extra early this year. I think I'll go back to warn +Nanny.” Without another word Danny disappeared in the brown grass. Again +Blacky chuckled. “More signs,” said he to himself. “More signs. There +isn't a doubt that we are going to have a hard winter. I wonder if I +can stand it or if I'd better go a little way south, where it will be +warmer.” + + + +CHAPTER XVII: Blacky Watches A Queer Performance + + This much to me is very clear: + A thing not understood is queer. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow may be right. Again he may not be. If he is right, it +will account for a lot of the queer people in the world. They are not +understood, and so they are queer. At least, that is what other people +say, and never once think that perhaps they are the queer ones for not +understanding. + +But Blacky isn't like those people who are satisfied not to understand +and to think other people and things queer. He does his best to +understand. He waits and watches and uses those sharp eyes of his and +those quick wits of his until at last usually he does understand. + +The day of his discovery of Old Mother Nature's signs that the coming +winter would be long, hard and cold, Blacky paid a visit to the Big +River. Long ago he discovered that many things are to be seen on or +beside the Big River, things not to be seen elsewhere. So there are few +clays in which he does not get over there. + +As he drew near the Big River, he was very watchful and careful, was +Blacky, for this was the season when hunters with terrible guns were +abroad, and he had discovered that they were likely to be hiding along +the Big River, hoping to shoot Mr. or Mrs. Quack or some of their +relatives. So he was very watchful as he drew near the Big River, for +he had learned that it was dangerous to pass too near a hunter with a +terrible gun. More than once he had been shot at. But he had learned by +these experiences. Oh, yes, Blacky had learned. For one thing, he had +learned to know a gun when he saw it. For another thing, he had learned +just how far away one of these dreadful guns could be and still hurt the +one it was pointed at, and to always keep just a little farther away. +Also he had learned that a man or boy without a terrible gun is quite +harmless, and he had learned that hunters with terrible guns are tricky +and sometimes hide from those they seek to kill, so that in the dreadful +hunting season it is best to look sharply before approaching any place. + +On this afternoon, as he drew near the Big River, he saw a man who +seemed to be very busy on the shore of the Big River, at a place where +wild rice and rushes grew for some distance out in the water, for just +there it was shallow far out from the shore. Blacky looked sharply for a +terrible gun. But the man had none with him and therefore was not to be +feared. Blacky boldly drew near until he was able to see what the man +was doing. + +Then Blacky's eyes stretched their widest and he almost cawed right out +with surprise. The man was taking yellow corn from a bag, a handful at +a time, and throwing it out in the water. Yes, Sir, that is what he was +doing, scattering nice yellow corn among the rushes and wild rice in the +water! + +“That's a queer performance,” muttered Blacky, as he watched. “What is +he throwing perfectly good corn out in the water for? He isn't planting +it, for this isn't the planting season. Besides, it wouldn't grow in the +water, anyway. It is a shame to waste nice corn like that. What is he +doing it for?” + +Blacky flew over to a tree some distance away and alighted in the top +of it to watch the queer performance. You know Blacky has very keen eyes +and he can see a long distance. For a while the man continued to scatter +corn and Blacky continued to wonder what he was doing it for. At last +the man went away in a boat. Blacky watched him until he was out of +sight. Then he spread his wings and slowly flew back and forth just +above the rushes and wild rice, at the place where the man had been +scattering the corn. He could see some of the yellow grains on the +bottom. Presently he saw something else. “Ha!” exclaimed Blacky. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Blacky Becomes Very Suspicious + + Of things you do not understand, + Beware! + They may be wholly harmless but-- + Beware! + You'll find the older that you grow + That only things and folks you know + Are fully to be trusted, so + Beware! + --Blacky the Crow. + +That is one of Blacky's wise sayings, and he lives up to it. It is one +reason why he has come to be regarded by all his neighbors as one of the +smartest of all who live in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadow. He +seldom gets into any real trouble because he first makes sure there +is no trouble to get into. When he discovers something he does not +understand, he is at once distrustful of it. + +As he watched a man scattering yellow corn in the water from the shore +of the Big River he at once became suspicious. He couldn't understand +why a man should throw good corn among the rushes and wild rice in the +water, and because he couldn't understand, he at once began to suspect +that it was for no good purpose. When the man left in a boat, Blacky +slowly flew over the rushes where the man had thrown the corn, and +presently his sharp eyes made a discovery that caused him to exclaim +right out. + +What was it Blacky had discovered? Only a few feathers. No one with eyes +less sharp than Blacky's would have noticed them. And few would have +given them a thought if they had noticed them. But Blacky knew right +away that those were feathers from a Duck. He knew that a Duck, or +perhaps a flock of Ducks, had been resting or feeding in there among +those rushes, and that in moving about they had left those two or three +downy feathers. + +“Ha!” exclaimed Blacky. “Mr. and Mrs. Quack or some of their relatives +have been here. It is just the kind of a place Ducks like. Also some +Ducks like corn. If they should come back here and find this corn, they +would have a feast, and they would be sure to come again. That man who +scattered the corn here didn't have a terrible gun, but that doesn't +mean that he isn't a hunter. He may come back again, and then he may +have a terrible gun. I'm suspicious of that man. I am so. I believe he +put that corn here for Ducks and I don't believe he did it out of the +kindness of his heart. If it was Farmer Brown's boy I would know that +all is well; that he was thinking of hungry Ducks, with few places where +they can feed in safety, as they make the long journey from the Far +North to the Sunny South. But it wasn't Farmer Brown's boy. I don't like +the looks of it. I don't indeed. I'll keep watch of this place and see +what happens.” + +All the way to his favorite perch in a certain big hemlock-tree in the +Green Forest, Blacky kept thinking about that corn and the man who +had seemed to be generous with it, and the more he thought, the more +suspicious he became. He didn't like the looks of it at all. + +“I'll warn the Quacks to keep away from there. I'll do it the very first +thing in the morning,” he muttered, as he prepared to go to sleep. “If +they have any sense at all, they will stay in the pond of Paddy the +Beaver. But if they should go over to the Big River, they would be +almost sure to find that corn, and if they should once find it, they +would keep going back for more. It may be all right, but I don't like +the looks of it.” + +And still full of suspicions, Blacky went to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Blacky Makes More Discoveries + + Little things you fail to see + May important prove to be. + --Blacky the Crow. + +One of the secrets of Blacky's success in life is the fact that he never +fails to take note of little things. Long ago he learned that little +things which in themselves seem harmless and not worth noticing may +together prove the most important things in life. So, no matter how +unimportant a thing may appear, Blacky examines it closely with those +sharp eyes of his and remembers it. + +The very first thing Blacky did, as soon as he was awake the morning +after he discovered the man scattering corn in the rushes at a certain +place on the edge of the Big River, was to fly over to the pond of Paddy +the Beaver and again warn Mr. and Mrs. Quack to keep away from the Big +River, if they and their six children would remain safe. Then he got +some breakfast. He ate it in a hurry and flew straight over to the Big +River to the place where he had seen that yellow corn scattered. + +Blacky wasn't wholly surprised to find Dusky the Black Duck, own cousin +to Mr. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard Ducks, with a number of his relatives +in among the rushes and wild rice at the very place where that corn had +been scattered. They seemed quite contented and in the best of spirits. +Blacky guessed why. Not a single grain of that yellow corn could Blacky +see. He knew the ways of Dusky and his relatives. He knew that they must +have come in there just at dusk the night before and at once had found +that corn. He knew that they would remain hiding there until frightened +out, and that then they would spend the day in some little pond where +they would not be likely to be disturbed or where at least no danger +could approach them without being seen in plenty of time. There they +would rest all day, and when the Black Shadows came creeping out from +the Purple Hills, they would return to that place on the Big River to +feed, for that is the time when they like best to hunt for their food. + +Dusky looked up as Blacky flew over him, but Blacky said nothing, and +Dusky said nothing. But if Blacky didn't use his tongue, he did use his +eyes. He saw just on the edge of the shore what looked like a lot of +small bushes growing close together on the very edge of the water. Mixed +in with them were a lot of the brown rushes. They looked very harmless +and innocent. But Blacky knew every foot of that shore along the Big +River, and he knew that those bushes hadn't been there during the +summer. He knew that they hadn't grown there. + +He flew directly over them. Just back of them were a couple of logs. +Those logs hadn't been there when he passed that way a few days before. +He was sure of it. + +“Ha!” exclaimed Blacky under his breath. “Those look to me as if they +might be very handy, very handy indeed, for a hunter to sit on. Sitting +there behind those bushes, he would be hidden from any Duck who might +come in to look for nice yellow corn scattered out there among the +rushes. It doesn't look right to me. No, Sir, it doesn't look right to +me. I think I'll keep an eye on this place.” + +So Blacky came back to the Big River several times that day. The second +time back he found that Dusky the Black Duck and his relatives had left. +When he returned in the afternoon, he saw the same man he had seen +there the afternoon before, and he was doing the same thing,--scattering +yellow corn out in the rushes. And as before, he went away in a boat. + +“I don't like it,” muttered Blacky, shaking his black head. “I don't +like it.” + + + +CHAPTER XX: Blacky Drops A Hint + + When you see another's danger + Warn him though he be a stranger. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Every day for a week a man came in a boat to scatter corn in the rushes +at a certain point along the bank of the Big River, and every day Blacky +the Crow watched him and shook his black head and talked to himself and +told himself that he didn't like it, and that he was sure that it was +for no good purpose. Sometimes Blacky watched from a distance, and +sometimes he flew right over the man. But never once did the man have a +gun with him. + +Every morning, very early, Blacky flew over there, and every morning he +found Dusky the Black Duck and his flock in the rushes and wild rice at +that particular place, and he knew that they had been there all night, +He knew that they had come in there just at dusk the night before, to +feast on the yellow corn the man had scattered there in the afternoon. + +“It is no business of mine what those Ducks do,” muttered Blacky to +himself, “but as surely as my tail feathers are black, something is +going to happen to some of them one of these days. That man may be +fooling them, but he isn't fooling me. Not a bit of it. He hasn't had +a gun with him once when I have seen him, but just the same he is a +hunter. I feel it in my bones. He knows those silly Ducks come in here +every night for that corn he puts out. He knows that after they have +been here a few times and nothing has frightened them, they will be +so sure that it is a safe place that they will not be the least bit +suspicious. Then he will hide behind those bushes he has placed close to +the edge of the water and wait for them with his terrible gun. That is +what he will do, or my name isn't Blacky.” + +Finally Blacky decided to drop a hint to Dusky the Black Duck. So the +next morning he stopped for a call. “Good morning,” said he, as Dusky +swam in just in front of him. “I hope you are feeling as fine as you +look.” + +“Quack, quack,” replied Dusky. “When Blacky the Crow flatters, he hopes +to gain something. What is it this time?” + +“Not a thing,” replied Blacky. “On my honor, not a thing. There is +nothing for me here, though there seems to be plenty for you and your +relatives, to judge by the fact that I find you in this same place every +morning. What is it?” + +“Corn,” replied Dusky in a low voice, as if afraid some one might +overhear him. “Nice yellow corn.” + +“Corn!” exclaimed Blacky, as if very much astonished. “How does corn +happen to be way over here in the water?” + +Dusky shook his head. “Don't ask me, for I can't tell you,” said he. “I +haven't the least idea. All I know is that every evening when we arrive, +we find it here. How it gets here, I don't know, and furthermore I don't +care. It is enough for me that it is here.” + +“I've seen a man over here every afternoon,” said Blacky. “I thought he +might be a hunter.” + +“Did he have a terrible gun?” asked Dusky suspiciously. + +“No-o,” replied Blacky. + +“Then he isn't a hunter,” declared Dusky, looking much relieved. + +“But perhaps one of these days he will have one and will wait for you to +come in for your dinner,” suggested Blacky. “He could hide behind these +bushes, you know.” + +“Nonsense,” retorted Dusky, tossing his head. “There hasn't been a sign +of danger here since we have been here. I know you, Blacky; you are +jealous because we find plenty to eat here, and you find nothing. You +are trying to scare us. But I'll tell you right now, you can't scare us +away from such splendid eating as we have had here. So there!” + + + +CHAPTER XXI: At Last Blacky Is Sure + + Who for another conquers fear + Is truly brave, it is most clear. + --Blacky the Crow. + +It was late in the afternoon, and Blacky the Crow was on his way to the +Green Forest. As usual, he went around by the Big River to see if that +man was scattering corn for the Ducks. He wasn't there. No one was to be +seen along the bank of the Big River. + +“He hasn't come to-day, or else he came early and has left,” thought +Blacky. And then his sharp eyes caught sight of something that made him +turn aside and make straight for a certain tree, from the top of which +he could see all that went on for a long distance. What was it Blacky +saw? It was a boat coming down the Big River. + +Blacky sat still and watched. Presently the boat turned in among the +rushes, and a moment later a man stepped out on the shore. It was the +same man Blacky had watched scatter corn in the rushes every day for a +week. There wasn't the least doubt about it, it was the same man. + +“Ha, ha!” exclaimed Blacky, and nearly lost his balance in his +excitement. “Ha, ha! It is just as I thought!” You see Blacky's sharp +eyes had seen that the man was carrying something, and that something +was a gun, a terrible gun. Blacky knows a terrible gun as far as he can +see it. + +The hunter, for of course that is what he was, tramped along the shore +until he reached the bushes which Blacky had noticed close to the water +and which he knew had not grown there. The hunter looked out over the +Big River. Then he walked along where he had scattered corn the day +before. Not a grain was to be seen. This seemed to please him. Then he +went back to the bushes and sat down on a log behind them, his terrible +gun across his knees. + +“I was sure of it,” muttered Blacky. “He is going to wait there for +those Ducks to come in, and then something dreadful will happen. What +terrible creatures these hunters are! They don't know what fairness is. +No, Sir, they don't know what fairness is. He has put food there day +after day, where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock would be sure to +find it, and has waited until they have become so sure there is no +danger that they are no longer suspicious. He knows they will feel so +sure that all is safe that they will come in without looking for danger. +Then he will fire that terrible gun and kill them without giving them +any chance at all. + +“Reddy Fox is a sly, clever hunter, but he wouldn't do a thing like +that. Neither would Old Man Coyote or anybody else who wears fur or +feathers. They might hide and try to catch some one by surprise. That is +all right, because each of us is supposed to be on the watch for things +of that sort. Oh, dear, what's to be done? It is time I was getting home +to the Green Forest. The Black Shadows will soon come creeping out from +the Purple Hills, and I must be safe in my hemlock-tree by then. I would +be scared to death to be out after dark. Yet those Ducks ought to be +warned. Oh, dear, what shall I do?” + +Blacky peered over at the Green Forest and then over toward the Purple +Hills, behind which jolly, round, red Mr. Sun would go to bed very +shortly. He shivered as he thought of the Black Shadows that soon would +come swiftly out from the Purple Hills across the Big River and over the +Green Meadows. With them might come Hooty the Owl, and Hooty wouldn't +object in the least to a Crow dinner. He wished he was in that +hemlock-tree that very minute. Then Blacky looked at the hunter with his +terrible gun and thought of what might happen, what would be almost sure +to happen, unless those Ducks were warned. “I'll wait a little while +longer,” muttered Blacky, and tried to feel brave. But instead he +shivered. + + + +CHAPTER XXII: Blacky Goes Home Happy + + No greater happiness is won + Than through a deed for others done. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky sat in the top of a tree near the bank of the Big River and +couldn't make up his mind what to do. He wanted to get home to the big, +thick hemlock-tree in the Green Forest before dusk, for Blacky is afraid +of the dark. That is, he is afraid to be out after dark. + +“Go along home,” said a voice inside him, “there is hardly time now for +you to get there before the Black Shadows arrive. Don't waste any more +time here. What may happen to those silly Ducks is no business of yours, +and there is nothing you can do, anyway. Go along home.” + +“Wait a few minutes,” said another little voice down inside him. “Don't +be a coward. You ought to warn Dusky the Black Duck and his flock that a +hunter with a terrible gun is waiting for them. Is it true that it is +no business of yours what happens to those Ducks? Think again, Blacky; +think again. It is the duty of each one who sees a common danger to warn +his neighbors. If something dreadful should happen to Dusky because +you were afraid of the dark, you never would be comfortable in your own +mind. Stay a little while and keep watch.” + +Not five minutes later Blacky saw something that made him, oh, so glad +he had kept watch. It was a swiftly moving black line just above the +water far down the Big River, and it was coming up. He knew what that +black line was. He looked over at the hunter hiding behind some bushes +close to the edge of the water. The hunter was crouching with his +terrible gun in his hands and was peeping over the bushes, watching that +black line. He, too, knew what it was. It was a flock of Ducks flying. + +Blacky was all ashake again, but this time it wasn't with fear of being +caught away from home in the dark; it was with excitement. He knew that +those Ducks had become so eager for more of that corn, that delicious +yellow corn which every night for a week they had found scattered in the +rushes just in front of the place where that hunter was now hiding, that +they couldn't wait for the coming of the Black Shadows. They were so +sure there was no danger that they were coming in to eat without waiting +for the Black Shadows, as they usually did. And Blacky was glad. Perhaps +now he could give them warning. + +Up the middle of the Big River, flying just above the water, swept the +flock with Dusky at its head. How swiftly they flew, those nine big +birds! Blacky envied them their swift wings. On past the hidden hunter +but far out over the Big River they swept. For just a minute Blacky +thought they were going on up the river and not coming in to eat, after +all. Then they turned toward the other shore, swept around in a circle +and headed straight in toward that hidden hunter. Blacky glanced at him +and saw that he was ready to shoot. + +Almost without thinking, Blacky spread his wings and started out from +that tree. “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” he shrieked at the top of his +lungs. “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” It was his danger cry that everybody +on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest knows. + +Instantly Dusky turned and began to climb up, up, up, the other Ducks +following him until, as they passed over the hidden hunter, they were so +high it was useless for him to shoot. He did put up his gun and aim at +them, but he didn't shoot. You see, he didn't want to frighten them so +that they would not return. Then the flock turned and started off in +the direction from which they had come, and in a few minutes they were +merely a black line disappearing far down the Big River. + +Blacky headed straight for the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. He +knew that those Ducks would not return until after dark. He had saved +them this time, and he was so happy he didn't even notice the Black +Shadows. And the hunter stood up and shook his fist at Blacky the Crow. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII: Blacky Calls Farmer Brown's Boy + +Blacky awoke in the best of spirits. Late the afternoon before he had +saved Dusky the Black Duck and his flock from a hunter with a terrible +gun. He wasn't quite sure whether he was most happy in having saved +those Ducks by warning them just in time, or in having spoiled the plans +of that hunter. He hates a hunter with a terrible gun, does Blacky. For +that matter, so do all the little people of the Green Forest and the +Green Meadows. + +So Blacky started out for his breakfast in high spirits. After +breakfast, he flew over to the Big River to see if Dusky the Black Duck +was feeding in the rushes along the shore. Dusky wasn't, and Blacky +guessed that he and his flock had been so frightened by that warning +that they had kept away from there the night before. + +“But they'll come back after a night or so,” muttered Blacky, as he +alighted in the top of a tree, the same tree from which he had watched +the hunter the afternoon before. “They'll come back, and so will that +hunter. If he sees me around again, he'll try to shoot me. I've done all +I can do. Anyway, Dusky ought to have sense enough to be suspicious of +this place after that warning. Hello, who is that? I do believe it is +Farmer Brown's boy. I wish he would come over here. If he should find +out about that hunter, perhaps he would do something to drive him away. +I'll see if I can call him over here.” + +Blacky began to call in the way he does when he has discovered something +and wants others to know about it. “Caw, caw, caaw, caaw, caw, caw, +caaw!” screamed Blacky, as if greatly excited. + +Now Farmer Brown's boy, having no work to do that morning, had started +for a tramp over the Green Meadows, hoping to see some of his little +friends in feathers and fur. He heard the excited cawing of Blacky and +at once turned in that direction. + +“That black rascal has found something over on the shore of the Big +River,” said Farmer Brown's boy to himself. “I'll go over there to +see what it is. There isn't much escapes the sharp eyes of that black +busybody. He has led me to a lot of interesting things, one time and +another. There he is on the top of that tree over by the Big River.” + +As Farmer Brown's boy drew near, Blacky flew down and disappeared below +the bank. Fanner Brown's boy chuckled. “Whatever it is, it is right down +there,” he muttered. + +He walked forward rapidly but quietly, and presently he reached the edge +of the bank. Up flew Blacky cawing wildly, and pretending to be scared +half to death. Again Farmer Brown's boy chuckled. “You're just making +believe,” he declared. “You're trying to make me believe that I have +surprised you, when all the time you knew I was coming and have been +waiting for me. Now, what have you found over here?” + +He looked eagerly along the shore, and at once he saw a row of low +bushes close to the edge of the water. He knew what it was instantly. +“A Duck blind!” he exclaimed. “A hunter has built a blind over here from +which to shoot Ducks. I wonder if he has killed any yet. I hope not.” He +went down to the blind, for that is what a Duck hunter's hiding-place +is called, and looked about. A couple of grains of corn just inside +the blind caught his eyes, and his face darkened. “That fellow has been +baiting Ducks,” thought he. “He has been putting out corn to get them to +come here regularly. My, how I hate that sort of thing! It is bad enough +to hunt them fairly, but to feed them and then kill them--ugh! I wonder +if he has shot any yet.” + +He looked all about keenly, and his face cleared. He knew that if that +hunter had killed any Ducks, there would be tell-tale feathers in the +blind, and there were none. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV: Farmer Brown's Boy Does Some Thinking + +Farmer Brown's boy sat on the bank of the Big River in a brown study. +That means that he was thinking very hard. Blacky the Crow sat in the +top of a tall tree a short distance away and watched him. Blacky was +silent now, and there was a knowing look in his shrewd little eyes. In +calling Farmer Brown's boy over there, he had done all he could, and he +was quite satisfied to leave the matter to Farmer Brown's boy. + +“A hunter has made that blind to shoot Black Ducks from,” thought Farmer +Brown's boy, “and he has been baiting them in here by scattering corn +for them. Black Ducks are about the smartest Ducks that fly, but if they +have been coming in here every evening and finding corn and no sign of +danger, they probably think it perfectly safe here and come straight +in without being at all suspicious. To-night, or some night soon, that +hunter will be waiting for them. + +“I guess the law that permits hunting Ducks is all right, but there +ought to be a law against baiting them in. That isn't hunting. No, Sir, +that isn't hunting. If this land were my father's, I would know what to +do. I would put up a sign saying that this was private property and no +shooting was allowed. But it isn't my father's land, and that hunter has +a perfect right to shoot here. He has just as much right here as I have. +I wish I could stop him, but I don't see how I can.” + +A frown puckered the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy. You see, he +was thinking very hard, and when he does that he is very apt to frown. + +“I suppose,” he muttered, “I can tear down his blind. He wouldn't know +who did it. But that wouldn't do much good; he would build another. +Besides, it wouldn't be right. He has a perfect right to make a blind +here, and having made it, it is his and I haven't any right to touch +it. I won't do a thing I haven't a right to do. That wouldn't be honest. +I've got to think of some other way of saving those Ducks.” + +The frown on his freckled face grew deeper, and for a long time he sat +without moving. Suddenly his face cleared, and he jumped to his feet. He +began to chuckle. “I have it!” he exclaimed. “I'll do a little shooting +myself!” Then he chuckled again and started for home. Presently he began +to whistle, a way he has when he is in good spirits. + +Blacky the Crow watched him go, and Blacky was well satisfied. He didn't +know what Farmer Brown's boy was planning to do, but he had a feeling +that he was planning to do something, and that all would be well. +Perhaps Blacky wouldn't have felt so sure could he have understood what +Farmer Brown's boy had said about doing a little shooting himself. + +As it was, Blacky flew off about his own business, quite satisfied that +now all would be well, and he need worry no more about those Ducks. +None of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows knew +Farmer Brown's boy better than did Blacky the Crow. None knew better +than he that Farmer Brown's boy was their best friend. “It is all right +now,” chuckled Blacky. “It is all right now.” And as the cheery whistle +of Farmer Brown's boy floated back to him on the Merry Little Breezes, +he repeated it: “It is all right now.” + + + +CHAPTER XXV: Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock + + When friends prove false, whom may we trust? + The springs of faith are turned to dust. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow was in the top of his favorite tree over near the Big +River early this afternoon. He didn't know what was going to happen, but +he felt in his bones that something was, and he meant to be on hand to +see. For a long time he sat there, seeing nothing unusual. At last he +spied a tiny figure far away across the Green Meadows. Even at that +distance he knew who it was; it was Farmer Brown's boy, and he was +coming toward the Big River. + +“I thought as much,” chuckled Blacky. “He is coming over here to drive +that hunter away.” + +The tiny figure grew larger. It was Farmer Brown's boy beyond a doubt. +Suddenly Blacky's eyes opened so wide that they looked as if they were +in danger of popping out of his head. He had discovered that Farmer +Brown's boy was carrying something and that that something was a gun! +Yes, Sir, Farmer Brown's boy was carrying a terrible gun! If Blacky +could have rubbed his eyes, he would have done so, just to make sure +that there was nothing the matter with them. + +“A gun!” croaked Blacky. “Farmer Brown's boy with a terrible gun! What +does it mean?” + +Nearer came Farmer Brown's boy, and Blacky could see that terrible gun +plainly now. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. “Perhaps he is going +to shoot that hunter!” thought Blacky, and somehow he felt better. + +Farmer Brown's boy reached the Big River at a point some distance below +the blind built by the hunter. He laid his gun down on the bank and went +down to the edge of the water. The rushes grew very thick there, and +for a while Farmer Brown's boy was very busy among them. Blacky from +his high perch could watch him, and as he watched, he grew more and more +puzzled. It looked very much as if Farmer Brown's boy was building a +blind much like that of the hunter's. At last he carried an old log +down there, got his gun, and sat down just as the hunter had done in his +blind the afternoon before. He was quite hidden there, excepting from a +place high up like Blacky's perch. + +“I--I--I do believe he is going to try to shoot those Ducks himself,” + gasped Blacky. “I wouldn't have believed it if any one had told me. No, +Sir, I wouldn't have believed it. I--I--can't believe it now. Farmer +Brown's boy hunting with a terrible gun! Yet I've got to believe my own +eyes.” + +A noise up river caught his attention. It was the noise of oars in a +boat. There was the hunter, rowing down the Big River. Just as he had +done the day before, he came ashore above his blind and walked down to +it. + +“This is no place for me,” muttered Blacky. “He'll remember that I +scared those Ducks yesterday, and as likely as not he'll try to shoot +me.” + +Blacky spread his black wings and hurriedly left the tree-top, heading +for another tree farther back on the Green Meadows where he would be +safe, but from which he could not see as well. There he sat until the +Black Shadows warned him that it was high time for him to be getting +back to the Green Forest. + +He had to hurry, for it was later than usual, and he was afraid to be +out after dark. Just as he reached the Green Forest he heard a faint +“bang, bang” from over by the Big River, and he knew that it came from +the place where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. + +“It is true,” croaked Blacky. “Farmer Brown's boy has turned hunter.” + It was such a dreadful shock to Blacky that it was a long time before he +could go to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI: Why The Hunter Got No Ducks + +The hunter who had come down the Big River in a boat and landed near +the place where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock had found nice yellow +corn scattered in the rushes night after night saw Blacky the Crow leave +the top of a certain tree as he approached. + +“It is well for you that you didn't wait for me to get nearer,” said the +hunter. “You are smart enough to know that you can't play the same trick +on me twice. You frightened those Ducks away last night, but if you try +it again, you'll be shot as surely as your coat is black.” + +Then the hunter went to his blind which, you know, was the hiding-place +he had made of bushes and rushes, and behind this he sat down with his +terrible gun to wait and watch for Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + +Now you remember that farther along the shore of the Big River was +Farmer Brown's boy, hiding in a blind he had made that afternoon. The +hunter couldn't see him at all. He didn't have the least idea that any +one else was anywhere near. “With that Crow out of the way, I think I +will get some Ducks to-night,” thought the hunter and looked at his gun +to make sure that it was ready. + +Over in the West, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed behind +the Purple Hills, and the Black Shadows came creeping out. Far down +the Big River the hunter saw a swiftly moving black line just above the +water. “Here they come,” he muttered, as he eagerly watched that black +line draw nearer. + +Twice those big black birds circled around over the Big River opposite +where the hunter was crouching behind his blind. It was plain that +Dusky, their leader, remembered Blacky's warning the night before. But +this time there was no warning. Everything appeared safe. Once more the +flock circled and then headed straight for that place where they hoped +to find more corn. The hunter crouched lower. They were almost near +enough for him to shoot when “bang, bang” went a gun a short distance +away. + +Instantly Dusky and his flock turned and on swift wings swung off and +up the river. If ever there was a disappointed hunter, it was the one +crouching in that blind. “Somebody else is hunting, and he spoiled +my shot that time,” he muttered. “He must have a blind farther down. +Probably some other Ducks I didn't see came in to him. I wonder if he +got them. Here's hoping that next time those Ducks come in here first.” + +He once more made himself comfortable and settled down for a long wait. +The Black Shadows crept out from the farther bank of the Big River. +Jolly, round red Mr. Sun had gone to bed, and the first little star was +twinkling high overhead. It was very still and peaceful. From out in the +middle of the Big River sounded a low “quack”; Dusky and his flock were +swimming in this time. Presently the hunter could see a silver line on +the water, and then he made out nine black spots. In a few minutes those +Ducks would be where he could shoot them. “Bang, bang” went that gun +below him again. With a roar of wings, Dusky and his flock were in the +air and away. That hunter stood up and said things, and they were not +nice things. He knew that those Ducks would not come back again that +night, and that once more he must go home empty-handed. But first he +would find out who that other hunter was and what luck he had had, so he +tramped down the shore to where that gun had seemed to be. He found the +blind of Farmer Brown's boy, but there was no one there. You see, as +soon as he had fired his gun the last time, Farmer Brown's boy had +slipped out and away. And as he tramped across the Green Meadows toward +home with his gun, he chuckled. “He didn't get those Ducks this time,” + said Farmer Brown's boy. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII: The Hunter Gives Up + +Blacky The Crow didn't know what to think. He couldn't make himself +believe that Farmer Brown's boy had really turned hunter, yet what else +could he believe? Hadn't he with his own eyes seen Farmer Brown's boy +with a terrible gun hide in rushes along the Big River and wait for +Dusky the Black Duck and his flock to come in? And hadn't he with his +own ears heard the “bang, bang” of that very gun? + +The very first thing the next morning Blacky had hastened over to the +place where Farmer Brown's boy had hidden in the rushes. With sharp eyes +he looked for feathers, that would tell the tale of a Duck killed. But +there were no feathers. There wasn't a thing to show that anything so +dreadful had happened. Perhaps Farmer Brown's boy had missed when he +shot at those Ducks. Blacky shook his head and decided to say nothing to +anybody about Farmer Brown's boy and that terrible gun. + +You may be sure that early in the afternoon he was perched in the top of +his favorite tree over by the Big River. His heart sank, just as on the +afternoon before, when he saw Farmer Brown's boy with his terrible gun +trudging across the Green Meadows to the Big River. Instead of going to +the same hiding place he made a new one farther down. + +Then came the hunter a little earlier than usual. Instead of stopping at +his blind, he walked straight to the blind Farmer Brown's boy had first +made. Of course, there was no one there. The hunter looked both glad and +disappointed. He went back to his own blind and sat down, and while he +watched for the coming of the Ducks, he also watched that other blind to +see if the unknown hunter of the night before would appear. Of course +he didn't, and when at last the hunter saw the Ducks coming, he was sure +that this time he would get some of them. + +But the same thing happened as on the night before. Just as those Ducks +were almost near enough, a gun went “bang, bang,” and away went the +Ducks. They didn't come back again, and once more a disappointed hunter +went home without any. + +The next afternoon he was on hand very early. He was there before Farmer +Brown's boy arrived, and when he did come, of course the hunter saw him. +He walked down to where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. +“Hello!” said he. “Are you the one who was shooting here last night and +the night before?” + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned. “Yes,” said he. + +“What luck did you have?” asked the hunter. + +“Fine,” replied Farmer Brown's boy. + +“How many Ducks did you get?” asked the hunter. + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned more broadly than before. “None,” said he. “I +guess I'm not a very good shot.” + +“Then what did you mean by saying you had fine luck?” demanded the +hunter. + +“Oh,” replied Farmer Brown's boy, “I had the luck to see those Ducks and +the fun of shooting,” and he grinned again. + +The hunter lost patience. He tried to order Farmer Brown's boy away. But +the latter said he had as much right there as the hunter had, and the +hunter knew that this was so. Finally he gave up, and muttering +angrily, he went back to his blind. Again the gun of Farmer Brown's boy +frightened away the Ducks just as they were coming in. + +The next afternoon there was no hunter nor the next, though Farmer +Brown's boy was there. The hunter had decided that it was a waste of +time to hunt there while Farmer Brown's boy was about. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII: Blacky Has A Talk With Dusky The Black Duck + + Doubt not a friend, but to the last + Grip hard on faith and hold it fast. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Every morning Blacky the Crow visited the rushes along the shore of +the Big River, hoping to find Dusky the Black Duck. He was anxious, was +Blacky. He feared that Dusky or some of his flock had been killed, and +he wanted to know. You see, he knew that Farmer Brown's boy had been +shooting over there. At last, early one morning, he found Dusky and his +flock in the rushes and wild rice. Eagerly he counted them. There were +nine. Not one was missing. Blacky sighed with relief and dropped down on +the shore close to where Dusky was taking a nap. + +“Hello!” said Blacky. + +Dusky awoke with a start. “Hello, yourself,” said he. + +“I've heard a terrible gun banging over here, and I was afraid you or +some of your flock had been shot,” said Blacky. + +“We haven't lost a feather,” declared Dusky. “That gun wasn't fired at +us, anyway.” + +“Then who was it fired at?” demanded Blacky. + +“I haven't the least idea,” replied Dusky. + +“Have you seen any other Ducks about here?” inquired Blacky. + +“Not one,” was Dusky's prompt reply. “If there had been any, I guess we +would have known it.” + +“Did you know that when that terrible gun was fired there was another +terrible gun right over behind those bushes?” asked Blacky. + +Dusky shook his head. “No,” said he, “but I learned long ago that where +there is one terrible gun there is likely to be more, and so when I +heard that one bang, I led my flock away from here in a hurry. We didn't +want to take any chances.” + +“It is a lucky thing you did,” replied Blacky. “There was a hunter +hiding behind those bushes all the time. I warned you of him once.” + +“That reminds me that I haven't thanked you,” said Dusky. “I knew there +was something wrong over here, but I didn't know what. So it was a +hunter. I guess it is a good thing that I heeded your warn-ing.” + +“I guess it is,” retorted Blacky dryly. “Do you come here in daytime +instead of night now?” + +“No,” replied Dusky. “We come in after dark and spend the night here. +There is nothing to fear from hunters after dark. We've given up coming +here until late in the evening. And since we did that, we haven't heard +a gun.” + +Blacky gossiped a while longer, then flew off to look for his breakfast; +and as he flew his heart was light. His shrewd little eyes twinkled. + +“I ought to have known Farmer Brown's boy better than even to suspect +him,” thought he. “I know now why he had that terrible gun. It was to +frighten those Ducks away so that the hunter would not have a chance to +shoot them. He wasn't shooting at anything. He just fired in the air to +scare those Ducks away. I know it just as well as if I had seen him do +it. I'll never doubt Farmer Brown's boy again. And I'm glad I didn't say +a word to anybody about seeing him with a terrible gun.” + +Blacky was right. Farmer Brown's boy had taken that way of making +sure that the hunter who had first baited those Ducks with yellow corn +scattered in the rushes in front of his hiding place should have no +chance to kill any of them. While appearing to be an enemy, he really +had been a friend of Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX: Blacky Discovers An Egg + +Blacky is fond of eggs, as you know. In this he is a great deal like +other people, Farmer Brown's boy for instance. But as Blacky cannot keep +hens, as Farmer Brown's boy does, he is obliged to steal eggs or else +go without. If you come right down to plain, everyday truth, I suppose +Blacky isn't so far wrong when he insists that he is no more of a thief +than Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky says that the eggs which the bens lay +belong to the hens, and that he, Blacky has just as much right to take +them as Farmer Brown's boy. He quite overlooks the fact that Farmer +Brown's boy feeds the biddies and takes the eggs as pay. Anyway, that +is what Farmer Brown's boy says, but I do not know whether or not the +biddies understand it that way. + +So Blacky the Crow cannot see why he should not help himself to an egg +when he gets the chance. He doesn't get the chance very often to steal +eggs from the hens, because usually they lay their eggs in the henhouse, +and Blacky is too suspicious to venture inside. The eggs he does get are +mostly those of his neighbors in the Green Forest and the Old Orchard. +But once in a great while some foolish hen will make a nest outside the +henhouse somewhere, and if Blacky happens to find it the black scamp +watches every minute he can spare from other mischief for a chance to +steal an egg. + +Now Blacky knows just what a rogue Farmer Brown's boy thinks he is, and +for this reason Blacky is very careful about approaching Farmer Brown or +any other man until he has made sure that he runs no risk of being shot. +Blacky knows quite as well as any one what a gun looks like. He also +knows that without a terrible gun, there is little Farmer Brown or any +one else can do to him. So when he sees Farmer Brown out in his fields, +Blacky often will fly right over him and shout “Caw, caw, caw, ca-a-w!” + in the most provoking way, and Fanner Brown's boy insists that he has +seen Blacky wink when he was doing it. + +But Blacky doesn't do anything of this kind around the buildings of +Farmer Brown. You see, he has learned that there are doors and windows +in buildings, and out of one of these a terrible gun may bang at any +time. Though he has suspected that Farmer Brown's boy would not now try +to harm him, Blacky is naturally cautious and takes no chances. So when +he comes spying around Farmer Brown's house and barn, he does it when +he is quite sure that no one is about, and he makes no noise about it. +First he sits in a tall tree from which he can watch Farmer Brown's +home. When he is quite sure that the way is clear, he flies over to the +Old Orchard, and from there he inspects the barnyard, never once making +a sound. If he is quite sure that no one is about, he sometimes drops +down into the henyard and helps himself to corn, if any happens to be +there. It was on one of these silent visits that Blacky spied something +which he couldn't forget. It was a box just inside the henhouse door. +In the box was some hay and in that hay he was sure that he had seen an +egg. In fact, he was sure that he saw two eggs there. He might not have +noticed them but for the fact that a hen had jumped down from that box, +making a terrible fuss. She didn't seem frightened, but very proud. What +under the sun she had to be proud about Blacky couldn't understand, but +he didn't stay to find out. The noise she was making made him nervous. +He was afraid that it would bring some one to find out what was going +on. So he spread his black wings and flew away as silently as he had +come. + +As he was flying away he saw those eggs. You see, as he rose into the +air, he managed to pass that open door in such a way that he could +glance in. That one glance was enough. You know Blacky's eyes are very +sharp. He saw the hay in the box and the two eggs in the hay, and that +was enough for him. From that instant Blacky the Crow began to scheme +and plan to get one or both of those eggs. It seemed to him that he +never, never, had wanted anything quite so much, and he was sure that he +would not and could not be happy until he succeeded in getting one. + + + +CHAPTER XXX: Blacky Screws Up His Courage + +If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a saying which you often +hear. It may be true sometimes, but it is very far from true at other +times. Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance into that nest +just inside the door of Farmer Brown's henhouse, but that glance had +been enough to show him two eggs there. Then, as he flew away toward the +Green Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of course. But do you think +they were out of mind? Not much! No, indeed! In fact, those eggs were +very much in Blacky's mind. He couldn't think of anything else. He +flew straight to a certain tall pine-tree in a lonely part of the Green +Forest. Whenever Blacky wants to think or to plan mischief, he seeks +that particular tree, and in the shelter of its broad branches he keeps +out of sight of curious eyes, and there he sits as still as still can +be. + +“I want one of those eggs,” muttered Blacky, as he settled himself in +comfort on a certain particular spot on a certain particular branch of +that tall pine-tree. Indeed, that particular branch might well be called +the “mischief branch,” for on it Blacky has thought out and planned most +of the mischief he is so famous for. “Yes, sir,” he continued, “I want +one of those eggs, and what is more, I am going to have one.” + +He half closed his eyes and tipped his head back and swallowed a couple +of times, as if he already tasted one of those eggs. + +“There is more in one of those eggs than in a whole nestful of Welcome +Robin's eggs. It is a very long time since I have been lucky enough +to taste a hen's egg, and now is my chance. I don't like having to go +inside that henhouse, even though it is barely inside the door. I'm +suspicious of doors. They have a way of closing most unexpectedly. +I might see if I cannot get Unc' Billy Possum to bring one of those eggs +out for me. But that plan won't do, come to think of it, because I can't +trust Unc' Billy. The old sinner is too fond of eggs himself. I would be +willing to divide with him, but he would be sure to eat his first, and +I fear that it would taste so good that he would eat the other. No. I've +got to get one of those eggs myself. It is the only way I can be sure of +it. + +“The thing to do is to make sure that Farmer Brown's boy and Farmer +Brown himself are nowhere about. They ought to be down in the cornfield +pretty soon. With them down there, I have only to watch my chance and +slip in. It won't take but a second. Just a little courage, Blacky, just +a little courage! Nothing in this world worth having is gained without +some risk. The thing to do is to make sure that the risk is as small as +possible.” + +Blacky shook out his feathers and then flew out of the tall pine-tree +as silently as he had flown into it. He headed straight toward Farmer +Brown's cornfield. When he was near enough to see all over the field, he +dropped down to the top of a fence post, and there he waited. He didn't +have long to wait. In fact, he had been there but a few minutes +when he spied two people coming down the Long Lane toward the cornfield. +He looked at them sharply, and then gave a little sigh of satisfaction. +They were Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's boy. Presently they reached +the cornfield and turned into it. Then they went to work, and Blacky +knew that so far as they were concerned, the way was clear for him to +visit the henyard. + +He didn't fly straight there. Oh, my, no! Blacky is too clever to do +anything like that. He flew toward the Green Forest. When he knew that +he was out of sight of those in the cornfield, he turned and flew over +to the Old Orchard, and from the top of one of the old apple-trees he +studied the henyard and the barnyard and Farmer Brown's house and the +barn, to make absolutely sure that there was no danger near. When he was +quite sure, he silently flew down into the henyard as he had done many +times before. He pretended to be looking for scattered grains of corn, +but all the time he was edging nearer and nearer to the open door of +the henhouse. At last he could see the box with the hay in it. He walked +right up to the open door and peered inside. There was nothing to be +afraid of that he could see. Still he hesitated. He did hate to go +inside that door, even for a minute, and that is all it would take to +fly up to that nest and get one of those eggs. + +Blacky closed his eyes for just a second, and when he did that he seemed +to see himself eating one of those eggs. “What are you afraid of?” he +muttered to himself as he opened his eyes. Then with a hurried look in +all directions, he flew up to the edge of the box. There lay the two +eggs! + + + +CHAPTER XXXI: An Egg That Wouldn't Behave + + If you had an egg and it wouldn't behave + Just what would you do with that egg, may I ask? + To make an egg do what it don't want to do + Strikes me like a difficult sort of a task. + +All of which is pure nonsense. Of course. Who ever heard of an egg +either behaving or misbehaving? Nobody. That is, nobody that I know, +unless it be Blacky. It is best not to mention eggs in Blacky's presence +these days. They are a forbidden topic when he is about. Blacky is apt +to be a little resentful at the mere mention of an egg. I don't know as +I wholly blame him. How would you feel if you knew you knew all there +was to know about a thing, and then found out that you didn't know +anything at all? Well, that is the way it is with Blacky the Crow. + +If any one had told Blacky that he didn't know all there is to know +about eggs, he would have laughed at the idea. Wasn't he, Blacky, +hatched from an egg himself? And hadn't he, ever since he was big +enough, hunted eggs and stolen eggs and eaten eggs? If he didn't know +about eggs, who did? That is the way he would have talked before his +visit to Farmer Brown's henhouse. It is since then that it has been +unwise to mention eggs. + +When Blacky saw the two eggs in the nest in Farmer Brown's henhouse how +Blacky did wish that he could take both. But he couldn't. One would be +all that he could manage. He must take his choice and go away while the +going was good. Which should he take? + +It often happens in this life that things which seem to be unimportant, +mere trifles in themselves, prove to be just the opposite. Now, so far +as Blacky could see, it didn't make the least difference which egg he +took, excepting that one was a little bigger than the other. As a matter +of fact, it made all the difference in the world. One was brown and very +good to look at. The other, the larger of the two, was white and also +very good to look at. In fact, Blacky thought it the better of the +two to look at, for it was very smooth and shiny. So, partly on this +account, and partly because it was the largest, Blacky chose the white +egg. He seized it in his claws and started to fly with it, but somehow +he could not seem to get a good grip on it. He fluttered to the ground +just outside the door, and there he got a better grip. Just as old +Dandy-cock the Rooster, with head down and all the feathers on his neck +standing out with anger, came charging at him, Blacky rose into the air +and started over the Old Orchard toward the Green Forest. + +Never had Blacky felt more like cawing at the top of his lungs. You see, +he felt that he had been very smart, and I suspect that he also felt +that he had been very brave. He would have liked to boast a little. But +he didn't. He wisely held his tongue. It would be time enough to do his +boasting after he had reached a place of safety and had eaten that egg. +He was halfway across the Old Orchard when he felt that egg beginning to +slip. Now at best it isn't easy to carry an egg without breaking it. You +know how very careful you have to be. Just imagine how Blacky felt when +that egg began to slip. Do what he would, he couldn't get a better +grip on it. It slipped a wee bit more. Blacky started down towards the +ground. But he wasn't quick enough. Striped Chipmunk, watching Blacky +from the old stone wall, saw something white drop from Blacky's claws. +He saw Blacky dash after it and clutch at it only to miss it. Then the +white thing struck a branch of an old apple tree, bounced off and fell +to the ground. Blacky followed it. + +Striped Chipmunk stole very softly through the grass to see what Blacky +was doing. Blacky was standing close beside a white thing that +looked very much like an egg. He was looking at it with the queerest +expression. + +Now and then he would reach out and rap it sharply with his bill, and +then look as if he didn't know what to make of it. He didn't. That egg +wasn't behaving right. It should have broken when it hit the branch of +the apple tree. Certainly it should have broken when he struck it that +way with his bill. However was he to eat that egg, if he couldn't break +the shell? Blacky didn't know. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII: What Blacky Did With The Stolen Egg + +Blacky was puzzled. He didn't know what to make of that egg he had +stolen from Farmer Brown's henhouse. It wasn't like any egg he ever had +seen or even heard of. It was a beautiful-looking egg, and he had been +sure that it would taste as good, quite as good as it looked. Even now +he wasn't sure that if he could only taste it, it would be all that he +had hoped. But how could he taste it, when he couldn't break that shell? +He never had heard of such a shell. He doubted if anybody else ever had, +either. He had hammered at it with his stout bill until he was afraid +that he would break that, instead of the egg. The more he tried to break +into it and couldn't, the hungrier he grew, and the more certain that +nothing else in all the world could possibly taste so good. But the +Old Orchard was not the place for him to work on that egg. In the first +place, it was too near Farmer Brown's house. This made Blacky uneasy. +You see, he had something of a guilty conscience. Not that he felt at +all a sense of having done wrong. To his way of thinking, if he were +smart enough to get that egg, he had just as much right to it as any one +else, particularly Farmer Brown's boy. Yet he wasn't at all sure that +Farmer Brown's boy would look at the matter quite that way. In fact, +he had a feeling that Farmer Brown's boy would call him a thief if he +should be discovered with that egg. Then, too, there were too many sharp +eyes in the Old Orchard. He wanted to get away where he could be sure of +being alone. Then if he couldn't break that shell, no one would be +the wiser. So he picked up the egg and flew straight over to the Green +Forest, and this time he managed to get there without dropping it. + +Now you would never suspect Blacky the Crow, he of the sharp wits and +crafty ways, of being amused by bright things, would you? But he is. In +fact, Blacky is quite like a little child in this matter. Anything that +is bright and shiny interests Blacky right away. If he finds anything of +this kind, he will take it away to a certain secret place, and there he +will admire it and play with it and finally hide it. If I didn't know +that it isn't so, because it couldn't possibly be so, I should think +that Blacky was some relation to certain small boys I know. Always their +pockets are filled with all sorts of useless odds and ends which they +have picked up here and there. Blacky has no pockets, so he keeps his +treasures of this kind in a secret hiding-place, a sort of treasure +storehouse. He visits this secretly every day, uncovers his treasures, +and gloats over them and plays with them, then carefully covers them up +again. First Blacky took this egg over near his home, and there he +once more tried and tried and tried to break the shell. But the shell +wouldn't break, not even when Blacky quite lost his temper and hammered +at it for all he was worth. Then he gave the thing up as a bad matter +and flew up to his favorite roost in the top of a tall pine-tree, +leaving the egg on the ground. But from where he sat on his favorite +roost in the tall pine-tree he could see that provoking egg, a little +spot of shining white. When a Jolly Little Sunbeam found it and rested +on it, it was so very bright and shiny that Blacky couldn't keep his +eyes off it. + +Little by little he forgot that it was an egg. At least, he forgot that +he wanted to eat it. He began to find pleasure in just looking at it. It +might not satisfy his stomach, but it certainly was very satisfying to +his eyes. He forgot to think of it as a thing to eat, but began to think +of it wholly as a thing to look at and admire. He was glad he hadn't +been able to break that shell. + +Once more he spread his black wings and flew down to the egg. He cocked +his head to one side and looked at it. He cocked his head to the other +side and looked at it. He walked all around it, chuckling and saying to +himself, “Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty and all mine, mine, mine, mine! +Pretty, pretty, and all mine!” + +Than he craftily looked all about to make sure that no one was watching +him. Having made quite sure, he rolled the egg over and turned it around +and admired it to his heart's content. At last he picked it up and +carried it to his treasure-house and covered it over very carefully. And +there that china nest-egg, for that is what he had stolen, is still his +chief treasure to this day, and Blacky still sometimes wonders what kind +of a hen laid such a hard-shelled egg. + +Blacky has had very many other adventures, but it would take another +book to tell about all of them. That would be hardly fair to some of the +other little people who also have had adventures and want them told to +you. One of these is a beautiful little fellow who lives in the Green +Forest, and so the next book will be Whitefoot the Wood Mouse. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blacky the Crow, by Thornton W. 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Burgess + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blacky the Crow, by Thornton W. Burgess + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blacky the Crow + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: March 24, 2009 [EBook #4979] +Last Updated: March 10, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKY THE CROW *** + + + + +Produced by Kent Fielden, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + BLACKY THE CROW + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Thornton W. Burgess + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> Blacky The + Crow Makes A Discovery <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. + </a> Blacky Makes Sure <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> + CHAPTER III. </a> Blacky Finds Out Who Owns The Eggs <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> The Cunning Of + Blacky <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> Blacky + Calls His Friends <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> Hooty + The Owl Doesn't Stay Still <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER + VII. </a> Blacky Tries Another Plan <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> Hooty Comes To Mrs. + Hooty's Aid <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> Blacky + Thinks Of Farmer Brown's Boy <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER + X. </a> Farmer Brown's Boy And Hooty <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> Farmer Brown's Boy Is + Tempted <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> A + Tree-Top Battle <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> Blacky + Has A Change Of Heart <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. + </a> Blacky Makes A Call <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> + CHAPTER XV. </a> Blacky Does A Little Looking About <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> Blacky Finds Other + Signs <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. </a> Blacky + Watches A Queer Performance <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER + XVIII. </a> Blacky Becomes Very Suspicious <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> Blacky Makes More + Discoveries <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> Blacky + Drops A Hint <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. </a> At + Last Blacky Is Sure <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII. + </a> Blacky Goes Home Happy <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0023"> + CHAPTER XXIII. </a> Blacky Calls Farmer Brown's Boy <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV. </a> Farmer Brown's + Boy Does Some Thinking <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV. + </a> Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI. </a> Why The Hunter Got + No Ducks <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII. </a> The + Hunter Gives Up <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII. + </a> Blacky Has A Talk With Dusky The Black + Duck <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX. </a> Blacky + Discovers An Egg <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX. </a> Blacky + Screws Up His Courage <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI. + </a> An Egg That Wouldn't Behave <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII. </a> What Blacky Did + With The Stolen Egg <br /><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I: Blacky The Crow Makes A Discovery + </h2> + <p> + Blacky the Crow is always watching for things not intended for his sharp + eyes. The result is that he gets into no end of trouble which he could + avoid. In this respect he is just like his cousin, Sammy Jay. Between them + they see a great deal with which they have no business and which it would + be better for them not to see. + </p> + <p> + Now Blacky the Crow finds it no easy matter to pick up a living when snow + covers the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice binds the Big River + and the Smiling Pool. He has to use his sharp eyes for all they are worth + in order to find enough to fill his stomach, and he will eat anything in + the way of food that he can swallow. Often he travels long distances + looking for food, but at night he always comes back to the same place in + the Green Forest, to sleep in company with others of his family. + </p> + <p> + Blacky dearly loves company, particularly at night, and about the time + jolly, round, red Mr. Sun is beginning to think about his bed behind the + Purple Hills, you will find Blacky heading for a certain part of the Green + Forest where he knows he will have neighbors of his own kind. Peter Rabbit + says that it is because Blacky's conscience troubles him so that he + doesn't dare sleep alone, but Happy Jack Squirrel says that Blacky hasn't + any conscience. You can believe just which you please, though I suspect + that neither of them really knows. + </p> + <p> + As I have said, Blacky is quite a traveler at this time of year, and + sometimes his search for food takes him to out-of-the-way places. One day + toward the very last of winter, the notion entered his black head that he + would have a look in a certain lonesome corner of the Green Forest where + once upon a time Redtail the Hawk had lived. Blacky knew well enough that + Redtail wasn't there now; he had gone south in the fell and wouldn't be + back until he was sure that Mistress Spring had arrived on the Green + Meadows and in the Green Forest. + </p> + <p> + Like the black imp he is, Blacky flew over the tree-tops, his sharp eyes + watching for something interesting below. Presently he saw ahead of him + the old nest of Red-tail. He knew all about that nest. He had visited it + before when Red-tail was away. Still it might be worth another visit. You + never can tell what you may find in old houses. Now, of course, Blacky + knew perfectly well that Redtail was miles and miles, hundreds of miles + away, and so there was nothing to fear from him. But Blacky learned ever + so long ago that there is nothing like making sure that there is no + danger. So, instead of flying straight to that old nest, he first flew + over the tree so that he could look down into it. + </p> + <p> + Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his eyes. It was + quite large and white, and it looked—it looked very much indeed like + an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and blinked? Here was snow on the + ground, and Rough Brother North Wind and Jack Frost had given no hint that + they were even thinking of going back to the Far North. The idea of any + one laying an egg at this time of year! Blacky flew over to a tall + pine-tree to think it over. + </p> + <p> + “Must be it was a little lump of snow,” thought he. “Yet if ever I saw an + egg, that looked like one. Jumping grasshoppers, how good an egg would + taste right now!” You know Blacky has a weakness for eggs. The more he + thought about it, the hungrier he grew. Several times he almost made up + his mind to fly straight over there and make sure, but he didn't quite + dare. If it were an egg, it must belong to somebody, and perhaps it would + be best to find out who. Suddenly Blacky shook himself. “I must be + dreaming,” said he. “There couldn't, there just couldn't be an egg at this + time of year, or in that old tumble-down nest! I'll just fly away and + forget it.” + </p> + <p> + So he flew away, but he couldn't forget it. He kept thinking of it all + day, and when he went to sleep that night he made up his mind to have + another look at that old nest. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II: Blacky Makes Sure + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “As true as ever I've cawed a caw + That was a new-laid egg I saw.” + </pre> + <p> + “What are you talking about?” demanded Sammy Jay, coming up just in time + to hear the last part of what Blacky the Crow was mumbling to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Oh nothing, Cousin, nothing at all,” replied Blacky. “I was just talking + foolishness to myself.” Sammy looked at him sharply. “You aren't feeling + sick, are you, Cousin Blacky?” he asked. “Must be something the matter + with you when you begin talking about new-laid eggs, when everything's + covered with snow and ice. Foolishness is no name for it. Whoever heard of + such a thing as a new-laid egg this time of year.” + </p> + <p> + “Nobody, I guess,” replied Blacky. “I told you I was just talking + foolishness. You see, I'm so hungry that I just got to thinking what I'd + have if I could have anything I wanted. That made me think of eggs, and I + tried to think just how I would feel if I should suddenly see a great big + egg right in front of me. I guess I must have said something about it.” + </p> + <p> + “I guess you must have. It isn't egg time yet, and it won't be for a long + time. Take my advice and just forget about impossible things. I'm going + over to Farmer Brown's corncrib. Corn may not be as good as eggs, but it + is very good and very filling. Better come along,” said Sammy. + </p> + <p> + “Not this morning, thank you. Some other time, perhaps,” replied Blacky. + </p> + <p> + He watched Sammy disappear through the trees. Then he flew to the top of + the tallest pine-tree to make sure that no one was about. When he was + quite sure that no one was watching him, he spread his wings and headed + for the most lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + </p> + <p> + “I'm foolish. I know I'm foolish,” he muttered. “But I've just got to have + another look in that old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I just can't get it out + of my head that that was an egg, a great, big, white egg, that I saw there + yesterday. It won't do any harm to have another look, anyway.” + </p> + <p> + Straight toward the tree in which was the great tumble-down nest of + Redtail the Hawk he flew, and as he drew near, he flew high, for Blacky is + too shrewd and smart to take any chances. Not that he thought that there + could be any danger there; but you never can tell, and it is always the + part of wisdom to be on the safe side. As he passed over the top of the + tree, he looked down eagerly. Just imagine how he felt when instead of + one, he saw two white things in the old nest—two white things that + looked for all the world like eggs! The day before there had been but one; + now there were two. That settled it in Blacky's mind; they were eggs! They + couldn't be anything else. + </p> + <p> + Blacky kept right on flying. Somehow he didn't dare stop just then. He was + too much excited by what he had discovered to think clearly. He had got to + have time to get his wits together. Whoever had laid those eggs was big + and strong. He felt sure of that. It must be some one a great deal bigger + than himself, and he was of no mind to get into trouble, even for a dinner + of fresh eggs. He must first find out whose they were; then he would know + better what to do. He felt sure that no one else knew about them, and he + knew that they couldn't run away. So he kept right on flying until he + reached a certain tall pine-tree where he could sit and think without + being disturbed. + </p> + <p> + “Eggs!” he muttered. “Real eggs! Now who under the sun can have moved into + Redtail's old house? And what can they mean by laying eggs before Mistress + Spring has even sent word that she has started? It's too much for me. It + certainly is too much for me.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III: Blacky Finds Out Who Owns The Eggs + </h2> + <p> + Two big white eggs in a tumbledown nest, and snow and ice everywhere! Did + ever anybody hear of such a thing before? + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes,” muttered + Blacky the Crow. “Have to believe them. If I can't believe them, it's of + no use to try to believe anything in this world. As sure as I sit here, + that old nest has two eggs in it. Whoever laid them must be crazy to start + housekeeping at this time of year. I must find out whose eggs they are and + then—” + </p> + <p> + Blacky didn't finish, but there was a hungry look in his eyes that would + have told any who saw it, had there been any to see it, that he had a use + for those eggs. But there was none to see it, and he took the greatest + care that there should be none to see him when he once again started for a + certain lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + </p> + <p> + “First I'll make sure that the eggs are still there,” thought he, and flew + high above the tree tops, so that as he passed over the tree in which was + the old nest of Red-tail the Hawk, he might look down into it. To have + seen him, you would never have guessed that he was looking for anything in + particular. He seemed to be just flying over on his way to some distant + place. If the eggs were still there, he meant to come back and hide in the + top of a near-by pine-tree to watch until he was sure that he might safely + steal those eggs, or to find out whose they were. + </p> + <p> + Blacky's heart beat fast with excitement as he drew near that old + tumble-down nest. Would those two big white eggs be there? Perhaps there + would be three! The very thought made him flap his wings a little faster. + A few more wing strokes and he would be right over the tree. How he did + hope to see those eggs! He could almost see into the nest now. One stroke! + Two strokes! Three strokes! Blacky bit his tongue to keep from giving a + sharp caw of disappointment and surprise. + </p> + <p> + There were no eggs to be seen. No, Sir, there wasn't a sign of eggs in + that old nest. There wasn't because—why, do you think? There wasn't + because Blacky looked straight down on a great mass of feathers which + quite covered them from sight, and he didn't have to look twice to know + that that great mass of feathers was really a great bird, the bird to whom + those eggs belonged. + </p> + <p> + Blacky didn't turn to come back as he had planned. He kept right on, just + as if he hadn't seen anything, and as he flew he shivered a little. He + shivered at the thought of what might have happened to him if he had tried + to steal those eggs the day before and had been caught doing it. + </p> + <p> + “I'm thankful I knew enough to leave them alone,” said he. “Funny I never + once guessed whose eggs they are. I might have known that no one but Hooty + the Horned Owl would think of nesting at this time of year. And that was + Mrs. Hooty I saw on the nest just now. My, but she's big! She's bigger + than Hooty himself! Yes, Sir, it's a lucky thing I didn't try to get those + eggs yesterday. Probably both Hooty and Mrs. Hooty were sitting close by, + only they were sitting so still that I thought they were parts of the tree + they were in. Blacky, Blacky, the sooner you forget those eggs the + better.” + </p> + <p> + Some things are best forgotten As soon as they are learned. Who never + plays with fire Will surely not get burned. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV: The Cunning Of Blacky + </h2> + <p> + Now when Blacky the Crow discovered that the eggs in the old tumble-down + nest of Redtail the Hawk in a lonesome corner of the Green Forest belonged + to Hooty the Owl, he straightway made the best of resolutions; he would + simply forget all about those eggs. He would forget that he ever had seen + them, and he would stay away from that corner of the Green Forest. That + was a very wise resolution. Of all the people who live in the Green + Forest, none is fiercer or more savage than Hooty the Owl, unless it is + Mrs. Hooty. She is bigger than Hooty and certainly quite as much to be + feared by the little people. + </p> + <p> + All this Blacky knows. No one knows it better. And Blacky is not one to + poke his head into trouble with his eyes open. So he very wisely resolved + to forget all about those eggs. Now it is one thing to make a resolution + and quite another thing to live up to it, as you all know. It was easy + enough to say that he would forget, but not at all easy to forget. It + would have been different if it had been spring or early summer, when + there were plenty of other eggs to be had by any one smart enough to find + them and steal them. But now, when it was still winter (such an unheard-of + time for any one to have eggs!), and it was hard work to find enough to + keep a hungry Crow's stomach filled, the thought of those eggs would keep + popping into his head. He just couldn't seem to forget them. After a + little, he didn't try. + </p> + <p> + Now Blacky the Crow is very, very cunning. He is one of the smartest of + all the little people who fly. No one can get into more mischief and still + keep out of trouble than can Blacky the Crow. That is because he uses the + wits in that black head of his. In fact, some people are unkind enough to + say that he spends all his spare time in planning mischief. The more he + thought of those eggs, the more he wanted them, and it wasn't long before + he began to try to plan some way to get them without risking his own + precious skin. + </p> + <p> + “I can't do it alone,” thought he, “and yet if I take any one into my + secret, I'll have to share those eggs. That won't do at all, because I + want them myself. I found them, and I ought to have them.” He quite forgot + or overlooked the fact that those eggs really belonged to Hooty and Mrs. + Hooty and to no one else. “Now let me see, what can I do?” + </p> + <p> + He thought and he thought and he thought and he thought, and little by + little a plan worked out in his little black head. Then he chuckled. He + chuckled right out loud, then hurriedly looked around to see if any one + had heard him. No one had, so he chuckled again. He cocked his head on one + side and half closed his eyes, as if that plan was something he could see + and he was looking at it very hard. Then he cocked his head on the other + side and did the same thing. + </p> + <p> + “It's all right,” said he at last. “It'll give my relatives a lot of fun, + and of course they will be very grateful to me for that. It won't hurt + Hooty or Mrs. Hooty a bit, but it will make them very angry. They have + very short tempers, and people with short tempers usually forget + everything else when they are angry. We'll pay them a visit while the sun + is bright, because then perhaps they cannot see well enough to catch us, + and we'll tease them until they lose their tempers and forget all about + keeping guard over those eggs. Then I'll slip in and get one and perhaps + both of them. Without knowing that they are doing anything of the kind, my + friends and relatives will help me to get a good meal. My, how good those + eggs will taste!” + </p> + <p> + It was a very clever and cunning plan, for Blacky is a very clever and + cunning rascal, but of course it didn't deserve success because nothing + that means needless worry and trouble for others deserves to succeed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V: Blacky Calls His Friends + </h2> + <p> + When Blacky cries “Caw, caw, caw, caw!” As if he'd dislocate his jaw, His + relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air. They know that + there is mischief afoot, and the Crow family is always ready for mischief. + So on this particular morning when they heard Blacky cawing at the top of + his lungs from the tallest pine-tree in the Green Forest, they hastened + over there as fast as they could fly, calling to each other excitedly and + sure that they were going to have a good time of some kind. + </p> + <p> + Blacky chuckled as he saw them coming. “Come on! Come on! Caw, caw, caw! + Hurry up and flap your wings faster. I know where Hooty the Owl is, and + we'll have no end of fun with him,” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” shouted all his relatives in great glee. + “Where is he? Lead us to him. We'll drive him out of the Green Forest!” + </p> + <p> + So Blacky led the way over to the most lonesome corner of the Green + Forest, straight to the tree in which Hooty the Owl was comfortably + sleeping. Blacky had taken pains to slip over early that morning and make + sure just where he was. He had discovered Hooty fast asleep, and he knew + that he would remain right where he was until dark. You know Hooty's eyes + are not meant for much use in bright light, and the brighter the light, + the more uncomfortable his eyes feel. Blacky knows this, too, and he had + chosen the very brightest part of the morning to call his relatives over + to torment poor Hooty. Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun was shining his very + brightest, and the white snow on the ground made it seem brighter still. + Even Blacky had to blink, and he knew that poor Hooty would find it harder + still. + </p> + <p> + But one thing Blacky was very careful not to even hint of, and that was + that Mrs. Hooty was right close at hand. Mrs. Hooty is bigger and even + more fierce than Hooty, and Blacky didn't want to frighten any of the more + timid of his relatives. What he hoped down deep in his crafty heart was + that when they got to teasing and tormenting Hooty and making the great + racket which he knew they would, Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and fly + over to join Hooty in trying to drive away the black tormentors. Then + Blacky would slip over to the nest which she had left unguarded and steal + one and perhaps both of the eggs he knew were there. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the tree where Hooty was, he was blinking his great + yellow eyes and had fluffed out all his feathers, which is a way he has + when he is angry, to make himself look twice as big as he really is. Of + course, he had heard the noisy crew coming, and he knew well enough what + to expect. As soon as they saw him, they began to scream as loud as ever + they could and to call him all manner of names. The boldest of them would + dart at him as if to pull out a mouthful of feathers, but took the + greatest care not to get too near. You see, the way Hooty hissed and + snapped his great bill was very threatening, and they knew that if once he + got hold of one of them with those big cruel claws of his, that would be + the end. + </p> + <p> + So they were content to simply scold and scream at him and fly around him, + just out of reach, and make him generally uncomfortable, and they were so + busy doing this that no one noticed that Blacky was not joining in the + fun, and no one paid any attention to the old tumble-down nest of Redtail + the Hawk only a few trees distant. So far Blacky's plans were working out + just as he had hoped. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI: Hooty The Owl Doesn't Stay Still + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now what's the good of being smart + When others do not do their part? +</pre> + <p> + If Blacky the Crow didn't say this to himself, he thought it. He knew that + he had made a very cunning plan to get the eggs of Hooty the Owl, a plan + so shrewd and cunning that no one else in the Green Forest or on the Green + Meadows would have thought of it. There was only one weakness in it, and + that was that it depended for success on having Hooty the Owl do as he + usually did when tormented by a crowd of noisy Crows,—stay where he + was until they got tired and flew away. + </p> + <p> + Now Blacky sometimes makes a mistake that smart people are very apt to + make; he thinks that because he is so smart, other people are stupid. That + is where he proves that smart as he is, he isn't as smart as he thinks he + is. He always thought of Hooty the Owl as stupid. That is, he always + thought of him that way in daytime. At night, when he was waked out of a + sound sleep by the fierce hunting cry of Hooty, he wasn't so sure about + Hooty being stupid, and he always took care to sit perfectly still in the + darkness, lest Hooty's great ears should hear him and Hooty's great eyes, + made for seeing in the dark, should find him. No, in the night Blacky was + not at all sure that Hooty was stupid. + </p> + <p> + But in the daytime he was sure. You see, he quite forgot the fact that the + brightness of day is to Hooty what the blackness of night is to him. So, + because Hooty would simply sit still and hiss and snap his bill, instead + of trying to catch his tormentors or flying away, Blacky called him + stupid. He felt sure that Hooty would stay right where he was now, and he + hoped that Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and leave the nest where she + was sitting on those two eggs and join Hooty to help him try to drive away + that noisy crew. + </p> + <p> + But Hooty isn't stupid. Not a bit of it. The minute he found out that + Blacky and his friends had discovered him, he thought of Mrs. Hooty and + the two precious eggs in the old nest of Redtail the Hawk close by. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Hooty mustn't be disturbed,” thought he. “That will never do at all. + I must lead these black rascals away where they won't discover Mrs. Hooty. + I certainly must.” + </p> + <p> + So he spread his broad wings and blundered away among the trees a little + way. He didn't fly far because the instant he started to fly that whole + noisy crew with the exception of Blacky were after him. Because he + couldn't use his claws or bill while flying, they grew bold enough to pull + a few feathers out of his back. So he flew only a little way to a thick + hemlock-tree, where it wasn't easy for the Crows to get at him, and where + the light didn't hurt his eyes so much. There he rested a few minutes and + then did the same thing over again. He meant to lead those bothersome + Crows into the darkest part of the Green Forest and there—well, he + could see better there, and it might be that one of them would be careless + enough to come within reach. No, Hooty wasn't stupid. Certainly not. + </p> + <p> + Blacky awoke to that fact as he sat in the top of a tall pine-tree + silently watching. He could see Mrs. Hooty on the nest, and as the noise + of Hooty's tormentors sounded from farther and farther away, she settled + herself more comfortably and closed her eyes. Blacky could imagine that + she was smiling to herself. It was clear that she had no intention of + going to help Hooty. His splendid plan had failed just because stupid + Hooty, who wasn't stupid at all, had flown away when he ought to have sat + still. It was very provoking. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII: Blacky Tries Another Plan + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + When one plan fails, just try another; + Declare you'll win some way or other. +</pre> + <p> + People who succeed are those who do not give up because they fail the + first time they try. They are the ones who, as soon as one plan fails, get + busy right away and think of another plan and try that. If the thing they + are trying to do is a good thing, sooner or later they succeed. If they + are trying to do a wrong thing, very likely all their plans fail, as they + should. + </p> + <p> + Now Blacky the Crow knows all about the value of trying and trying. He + isn't easily discouraged. Sometimes it is a pity that he isn't, because he + plans so much mischief. But the fact remains that he isn't, and he tries + and tries until he cannot think of another plan and just has to give up. + When he invited all his relatives to join him in tormenting Hooty the Owl, + he thought he had a plan that just couldn't fail. He felt sure that Mrs. + Hooty would leave her nest and help Hooty try to drive away his + tormentors. But Mrs. Hooty didn't do anything of the kind, because Hooty + was smart enough and thoughtful enough to lead his tormentors away from + the nest into the darkest part of the Green Forest where their noise + wouldn't bother Mrs. Hooty. So she just settled herself more comfortably + than ever on those eggs which Blacky had hoped she would give him a chance + to steal, and his fine plan was quite upset. + </p> + <p> + Not one of his relatives had noticed that nest. They had been too busy + teasing Hooty. This was just as Blacky had hoped. He didn't want them to + know about that nest because he was selfish and wanted to get those eggs + just for himself alone. But now he knew that the only way he could get + Mrs. Hooty off of them would be by teasing her so that she would lose her + temper and try to catch some of her tormentors. If she did that, there + would be a chance that he might slip in and get at least one of those + eggs. + </p> + <p> + He would try it. + </p> + <p> + For a few minutes he listened to the noise of his relatives growing + fainter and fainter, as Hooty led them farther and farther into the Green + Forest. Then he opened his mouth. + </p> + <p> + “Caw, caw, caw, caw!” he screamed. “Caw, caw, caw, caw! Come back, + everybody! Here is Mrs. Hooty on her nest! Caw, caw, caw, caw!” + </p> + <p> + Now as soon as they heard that, all Blacky's relatives stopped chasing and + tormenting Hooty and started back as fast as they could fly. They didn't + like the dark part of the Green Forest into which Hooty was leading them. + Besides, they wanted to see that nest. So back they came, cawing at the + top of their lungs, for they were very much excited. Some of them never + had seen a nest of Hooty's. And anyway, it would be just as much fun to + tease Mrs. Hooty as it was to tease Hooty. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the nest?” they screamed, as they came back to where Blacky was + cawing and pretending to be very much excited. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” exclaimed one, “that is the old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I know + all about that nest.” And he looked at Blacky as if he thought Blacky was + playing a joke on them. + </p> + <p> + “It was Redtail's, but it is Hooty's now. If you don't believe me, just + look in it,” retorted Blacky. + </p> + <p> + At once they all began to fly over the top of the tree where they could + look down into the nest and there, sure enough, was Mrs. Hooty, her great, + round, yellow eyes glaring up at them angrily. Such a racket! Right away + Hooty was forgotten, and the whole crowd at once began to torment Mrs. + Hooty. Only Blacky sat watchful and silent, waiting for Mrs. Hooty to lose + her temper and try to catch one of her tormentors. He had hope, a great + hope, that he would get one of those eggs. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII: Hooty Comes To Mrs. Hooty's Aid + </h2> + <p> + No one can live just for self alone. A lot of people think they can, but + they are very much mistaken. They are making one of the greatest mistakes + in the world. Every teeny, weeny act, no matter what it is, affects + somebody else. That is one of Old Mother Nature's great laws. And it is + just as true among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green + Meadows as with boys and girls and grown people. It is Old Mother Nature's + way of making each of us responsible for the good of all and of teaching + us that always we should help each other. + </p> + <p> + As you know, when Blacky the Crow called all his relatives over to the + nest where Mrs. Hooty was sitting on her eggs, they at once stopped + tormenting Hooty and left him alone in a thick hemlock-tree in the darkest + part of the Green Forest. Of course Hooty was very, very glad to be left + in peace, and he might have spent the rest of the day there sleeping in + comfort. But he didn't. No, Sir, he didn't. At first he gave a great sigh + of relief and settled himself as if he meant to stay. He listened to the + voices of those noisy Crows growing fainter and fainter and was glad. But + it was only for a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + Presently those voices stopped growing fainter. They grew more + excited-sounding than ever, and they came right from one place. Hooty knew + then that his tormentors had found the nest where Mrs. Hooty was, and that + they were tormenting her just as they had tormented him. He snapped his + bill angrily and then more angrily. + </p> + <p> + “I guess Mrs. Hooty is quite able to take care of herself,” he grumbled, + “but she ought not to be disturbed while she is sitting on those eggs. I + hate to go back there in that bright sunshine. It hurts my eyes, and I + don't like it, but I guess I'll have to go back there. Mrs. Hooty needs my + help. I'd rather stay here, but—” + </p> + <p> + He didn't finish. Instead, he spread his broad wings and flew back towards + the nest and Mrs. Hooty. His great wings made no noise, for they are made + so that he can fly without making a sound. “If I once get hold of one of + those Crows!” he muttered to himself. “If I once get hold of one of those + Crows, I'll—” He didn't say what he would do, but if you had been + near enough to hear the snap of his bill, you could have guessed the rest. + </p> + <p> + All this time the Crows were having what they called fun with Mrs. Hooty. + Nothing is true fun which makes others uncomfortable, but somehow a great + many people seem to forget this. So, while Blacky sat watching, his + relatives made a tremendous racket around Mrs. Hooty, and the more angry + she grew, the more they screamed and called her names and darted down + almost in her face, as they pretended that they were going to fight her. + They were so busy doing this, and Blacky was so busy watching them, hoping + that Mrs. Hooty would leave her nest and give him a chance to steal the + eggs he knew were under her, that no one gave Hooty a thought. + </p> + <p> + All of a sudden he was there, right in the tree close to the nest! No one + had heard a sound, but there he was, and in the claws of one foot he held + the tail feathers of one of Blacky's relatives. It was lucky, very lucky + indeed for that one that the sun was in Hooty's eyes and so he had missed + his aim. Otherwise there would have been one less Crow. + </p> + <p> + Now it is one thing to tease one lone Owl and quite another to tease two + together. Besides, there were those black tail feathers floating down to + the snow-covered ground. Quite suddenly those Crows decided that they had + had fun enough for one day, and in spite of all Blacky could do to stop + them, away they flew, cawing loudly and talking it all over noisily. + Blacky was the last to go, and his heart was sorrowful. However could he + get those eggs? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX: Blacky Thinks Of Farmer Brown's Boy + </h2> + <p> + “Such luck!” grumbled Blacky, as he flew over to his favorite tree to do a + little thinking. “Such luck! Now all my neighbors know about the nest of + Hooty the Owl, and sooner or later one of them will find out that there + are eggs in it. There is one thing about it, though, and that is that if I + can't get them, nobody can. That is to say, none of my relatives can. I've + tried every way I can think of, and those eggs are still there. My, my, + my, how I would like one of them right now!” + </p> + <p> + Then Blacky the Crow did a thing which disappointed scamps often do,—began + to blame the ones he was trying to wrong because his plans had failed. To + have heard him talking to himself, you would have supposed that those eggs + really belonged to him and that Hooty and Mrs. Hooty had cheated him out + of them. Yes, Sir, that is what you would have thought if you could have + heard him muttering to himself there in the tree-top. In his + disappointment over not getting those eggs, he was so sorry for himself + that he actually did feel that he was the one wronged,—that Hooty + and Mrs. Hooty should have let him have those eggs. + </p> + <p> + Of course, that was absolute foolishness, but he made himself believe it + just the same. At least, he pretended to believe it. And the more he + pretended, the angrier he grew. This is often the way with people who try + to wrong others. They grow angry with the ones they have tried to wrong. + When at last Blacky had to confess to himself that he could think of no + other way to get those eggs, he began to wonder if there was some way to + make trouble for Hooty and Mrs. Hooty. It was right then that he thought + of Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky's eyes snapped. He remembered how, once upon + a time, Farmer Brown's boy had delighted to rob nests. Blacky had seen him + take the eggs from the nests of Blacky's own relatives and from many other + feathered people. What he did with the eggs, Blacky had no idea. Just now + he didn't care. If Farmer Brown's boy would just happen to find Hooty's + nest, he would be sure to take those eggs, and then he, Blacky, would feel + better. He would feel that he was even with Hooty. + </p> + <p> + Right away he began to try to think of some way to bring Farmer Brown's + boy over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty's nest + was. If he could once get him there, he felt sure that Farmer Brown's boy + would see the nest and climb up to it, and then of course he would take + the eggs. If he couldn't have those eggs himself, the next best thing + would be to see some one else get them. + </p> + <p> + Dear me, dear me, such dreadful thoughts! I am afraid that Blacky's heart + was as black as his coat. And the worst of it was, he seemed to get a lot + of pleasure in his wicked plans. Now right down in his heart he knew that + they were wicked plans, but he tried to make excuses to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Hooty the Owl is a robber,” said he. “Everybody is afraid of him. He + lives on other people, and so far as I know he does no good in the world. + He is big and fierce, and no one loves him. The Green Forest would be + better off without him. If those eggs hatch, there will be little Owls to + be fed, and they will grow up into big fierce Owls, like their father and + mother. So if I show Farmer Brown's boy that nest and he takes those eggs, + I will be doing a kindness to my neighbors.” + </p> + <p> + So Blacky talked to himself and tried to hush the still, small voice down + inside that tried to tell him that what he was planning to do was really a + dreadful thing. And all the time he watched for Farmer Brown's boy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X: Farmer Brown's Boy And Hooty + </h2> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy had taken it into his head to visit the Green Forest. + It was partly because he hadn't anything else to do, and it was partly + because now that it was very near the end of winter he wanted to see how + things were there and if there were any signs of the coming of spring. + Blacky the Crow saw him coming, and Blacky chuckled to himself. He had + watched every day for a week for just this thing. Now he would tell Farmer + Brown's boy about that nest of Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + He flew over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty and + Mrs. Hooty had made their home and at once began to caw at the top of his + voice and pretend that he was terribly excited over something. + </p> + <p> + “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” shouted Blacky. At once all his relatives + within hearing hurried over to join him. They knew that he was tormenting + Hooty, and they wanted to join in the fun. It wasn't long before there was + a great racket going on over in that lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + </p> + <p> + Of course Farmer Brown's boy heard it. He stopped and listened. “Now I + wonder what Blacky and his friends have found this time,” said he. + “Whenever they make a fuss like that, there is usually something to see + there. I believe I'll so over and have a look.” + </p> + <p> + So he turned in the direction of the lonesome corner of the Green Forest, + and as he drew near, he moved very carefully, so as to see all that he + could without frightening the Crows. He knew that as soon as they saw him, + they would fly away, and that might alarm the one they were tormenting, + for he knew enough of Crow ways to know that when they were making such a + noise as they were now making, they were plaguing some one. + </p> + <p> + Blacky was the first to see him because he was watching for him. But he + didn't say anything until Farmer Brown's boy was so near that he couldn't + help but see that nest and Hooty himself, sitting up very straight and + snapping his bill angrily at his tormentors. Then Blacky gave the alarm, + and at once all the Crows rose in the air and headed for the Green + Meadows, cawing at the top of their lungs. Blacky went with them a little + way. The first chance he got he dropped out of the flock and silently flew + back to a place where he could see all that might happen at the nest of + Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + When Farmer Brown's boy first caught sight of the nest and saw the Crows + darting down toward it and acting so excited, he was puzzled. + </p> + <p> + “That's an old nest of Red-tail the Hawk,” thought he. “I found that last + spring. Now what can there be there to excite those Crows so?” + </p> + <p> + Then he caught sight of Hooty the Owl. “Ha, so that's it!” he exclaimed. + “Those scamps have discovered Hooty and have been having no end of fun + tormenting him. I wonder what he's doing there.” + </p> + <p> + He no longer tried to keep out of sight, but walked right up to the foot + of the tree, all the time looking up. Hooty saw him, but instead of flying + away, he snapped his bill just as he had at the Crows and hissed. + </p> + <p> + “That's funny,” thought Farmer Brown's boy. “If I didn't know that to be + the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, and if it weren't still the tail-end of + winter, I would think that was Hooty's nest.” + </p> + <p> + He walked in a circle around the tree, looking up. Suddenly he gave a + little start. Was that a tail sticking over the edge of the nest? He found + a stick and threw it up. It struck the bottom of the nest, and out flew a + great bird. It was Mrs. Hooty! Blacky the Crow chuckled. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI: Farmer Brown's Boy Is Tempted + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + When you're tempted to do wrong + Is the time to prove you're strong. + Shut your eyes and clench each fist; + It will help you to resist. +</pre> + <p> + When a bird is found sitting on a nest, it is a pretty sure sign that that + nest holds something worth while. It is a sign that that bird has set up + housekeeping. So when Farmer Brown's boy discovered Mrs. Hooty sitting so + close on the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, in the most lonesome corner of + the Green Forest, he knew what it meant. Perhaps I should say that he knew + what it ought to mean. + </p> + <p> + It ought to mean that there were eggs in that nest. + </p> + <p> + But it was hard for Farmer Brown's boy to believe that. Why, spring had + not come yet! There was still snow, and the Smiling Pool was still covered + with ice. Who ever heard of birds nesting at this time of year? Certainly + not Farmer Brown's boy. And yet Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty were acting + for all the world as feathered folks do act when they have eggs and are + afraid that something is going to happen to them. It was very puzzling. + </p> + <p> + “That nest was built by Red-tail the Hawk, and it hasn't even been + repaired,” muttered Farmer Brown's boy, as he stared up at it. “If Hooty + and his wife have taken it for their home, they are mighty poor + housekeepers. And if Mrs. Hooty has laid eggs this time of year, she must + be crazy. I suppose the way to find out is to climb up there. It seems + foolish, but I'm going to do it. Those Owls certainly act as if they are + mighty anxious about something, and I'm going to find out what it is.” + </p> + <p> + He looked at Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, at their hooked bills and great claws, + and decided that he would take a stout stick along with him. He had no + desire to feel these great claws. When he had found a stick to suit him, + he began to climb the tree. Hooty and Mrs. Hooty snapped their bills and + hissed fiercely. They drew nearer. Farmer Brown's boy kept a watchful eye + on them. They looked so big and fierce that he was almost tempted to give + up and leave them in peace. But he just had to find out if there was + anything in that nest, so he kept on. As he drew near it, Mrs. Hooty + swooped very near to him, and the snap of her bill made an ugly sound. He + held his stick ready to strike and kept on. + </p> + <p> + The nest was simply a great platform of sticks. When Farmer Brown's boy + reached it, he found that he could not get where he could look into it, so + he reached over and felt inside. Almost at once his fingers touched + something that made him tingle all over. It was an egg, a great big egg! + There was no doubt about it. It was just as hard for him to believe as it + had been for Blacky the Crow to believe, when he first saw those eggs. + Farmer Brown's boy's fingers closed over that egg and took it out of the + nest. Mrs. Hooty swooped very close, and Farmer Brown's boy nearly dropped + the egg as he struck at her with his stick. Then Mrs. Hooty and Hooty + seemed to lose courage and withdrew to a tree near by, where they snapped + their bills and hissed. + </p> + <p> + Then Farmer Brown's boy looked at the prize in his hand. It was a big, + dirty-white egg. His eyes shone. What a splendid prize to add to his + collection of birds' eggs! It was the first egg of the Great Horned Owl, + the largest of all Owls, that he ever had seen. + </p> + <p> + Once more he felt in the nest and found there was another egg there. “I'll + take both of them,” said he. “It's the first nest of Hooty's that I've + ever found, and perhaps I'll never find another. Gee, I'm glad I came over + here to find out what those Crows were making such a fuss about. I wonder + if I can get these down without breaking them.” + </p> + <p> + Just at that very minute he remembered something. He remembered that he + had stopped collecting eggs. He remembered that he had resolved never to + take another bird's egg. + </p> + <p> + “But this is different,” whispered the tempter. “This isn't like taking + the eggs of the little song birds.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII: A Tree-Top Battle + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + As black is black and white is white, + So wrong is wrong and right is right. +</pre> + <p> + There isn't any half way about it. A thing is wrong or it is right, and + that is all there is to it. But most people have hard work to see this + when they want very much to do a thing that the still small voice way down + inside tells them isn't right. They try to compromise. To compromise is to + do neither one thing nor the other but a little of both. But you can't do + that with right and wrong. It is a queer thing, but a half right never is + as good as a whole right, while a half wrong often, very often, is as bad + as a whole wrong. + </p> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy, up in the tree by the nest of Hooty the Owl in the + lonesome corner of the Green Forest, was fighting a battle. No, he wasn't + fighting with Hooty or Mrs. Hooty. He was fighting a battle right inside + himself. It was a battle between right and wrong. Once upon a time he had + taken great delight in collecting the eggs of birds, in trying to see how + many kinds he could get. Then as he had come to know the little forest and + meadow people better, he had seen that taking the eggs of birds is very, + very wrong, and he had stopped stealing them. He bad declared that never + again would he steal an egg from a bird. + </p> + <p> + But never before had he found a nest of Hooty the Owl. Those two big eggs + would add ever so much to his collection. “Take 'em,” said a little voice + inside. “Hooty is a robber. You will be doing a kindness to the other + birds by taking them.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't do it,” said another little voice. “Hooty may be a robber, but he + has a place in the Green Forest, or Old Mother Nature never would have put + him here. It is just as much stealing to take his eggs as to take the eggs + of any other bird. He has just as much right to them as Jenny Wren has to + hers.” + </p> + <p> + “Take one and leave one,” said the first voice. + </p> + <p> + “That will be just as much stealing as if you took both,” said the second + voice. “Besides, you will be breaking your own word. You said that you + never would take another egg.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't promise anybody but myself,” declared Farmer Brown's boy right + out loud. At the sound of his voice, Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, sitting in the + next tree, snapped their bills and hissed louder than ever. + </p> + <p> + “A promise to yourself ought to be just as good as a promise to any one + else. I don't wonder Hooty hisses at you,” said the good little voice. + </p> + <p> + “Think how fine those eggs will look in your collection and how proud you + will be to show them to the other fellows who never have found a nest of + Hooty's,” said the first little voice. + </p> + <p> + “And think how mean and small and cheap you'll feel every time you look at + them,” added the good little voice. “You'll get a lot more fun if you + leave them to hatch out and then watch the little Owls grow up and learn + all about their ways. Just think what a stout, brave fellow Hooty is to + start housekeeping at this time of year, and how wonderful it is that Mrs. + Hooty can keep these eggs warm and when they have hatched take care of the + baby Owls before others have even begun to build their nests. Besides, + wrong is wrong and right is right, always.” + </p> + <p> + Slowly Farmer Brown's boy reached over the edge of the nest and put back + the egg. Then he began to climb down the tree. When he reached the ground + he went off a little way and watched. Almost at once Mrs. Hooty flew to + the nest and settled down on the eggs, while Hooty mounted guard close by. + </p> + <p> + “I'm glad I didn't take 'em,” said Farmer Brown's boy. “Yes, Sir, I'm glad + I didn't take 'em.” + </p> + <p> + As he turned back toward home, he saw Blacky the Crow flying over the + Green Forest, and little did he guess how he had upset Blacky's plans. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII: Blacky Has A Change Of Heart + </h2> + <p> + Blacky The Crow isn't all black. No, indeed. His coat is black, and + sometimes it seems as if his heart is all black, but this isn't so. It + certainly seemed as if his heart was all black when he tried so hard to + make trouble for Hooty the Owl. It would seem as if only a black heart + could have urged him to try so hard to steal the eggs of Hooty and Mrs. + Hooty, but this wasn't really so. You see, it didn't seem at all wrong to + try to get those eggs. Blacky was hungry, and those eggs would have given + him a good meal. He knew that Hooty wouldn't hesitate to catch him and eat + him if he had the chance, and so it seemed to him perfectly right and fair + to steal Hooty's eggs if he was smart enough to do so. And most of the + other little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows would have + felt the same way about it. You see, it is one of the laws of Old Mother + Nature that each one must learn to look out for himself. + </p> + <p> + But when Blacky showed that nest of Hooty's to Farmer Brown's boy with the + hope that Farmer Brown's boy would steal those eggs, there was blackness + in his heart. He was doing something then which was pure meanness. He was + just trying to make trouble for Hooty, to get even because Hooty had been + too smart for him. He had sat in the top of a tall pine-tree where he + could see all that happened, and he had chuckled wickedly as he had seen + Farmer Brown's boy climb to Hooty's nest and take out an egg. He felt sure + that he would take both eggs. He hoped so, anyway. + </p> + <p> + When he saw Farmer Brown's boy put the eggs back and climb down the tree + without any, he had to blink his eyes to make sure that he saw straight. + He just couldn't believe what he saw. At first he was dreadfully + disappointed and angry. It looked very much as if he weren't going to get + even with Hooty after all. He flew over to his favorite tree to think + things over. Now sometimes it is a good thing to sit by oneself and think + things over. It gives the little small voice deep down inside a chance to + be heard. It was just that way with Blacky now. + </p> + <p> + The longer he thought, the meaner his action in calling Farmer Brown's boy + looked. It was one thing to try to steal those eggs himself, but it was + quite another matter to try to have them stolen by some one against whom + Hooty had no protection whatever. + </p> + <p> + “If it had been any one but Hooty, you would have done your best to have + kept Farmer Brown's boy away,” said the little voice inside. Blacky hung + his head. He knew that it was true. More than once, in fact many times, he + had warned other feathered folks when Farmer Brown's boy had been hunting + for their nests, and had helped to lead him away. + </p> + <p> + At last Blacky threw up his head and chuckled, and this time his chuckle + was good to hear. “I'm glad that Farmer Brown's boy didn't take those + eggs,” said he right out loud. “Yes, sir, I'm glad. I'll never do such a + thing as that again. I'm ashamed of what I did; yet I'm glad I did it. I'm + glad because I've learned some things. I've learned that Farmer Brown's + boy isn't as much to be feared as he used to be. I've learned that Hooty + isn't as stupid as I thought he was. I've learned that while it may be all + right for us people of the Green Forest to try to outwit each other we + ought to protect each other against common dangers. And I've learned + something I didn't know before, and that is that Hooty the Owl is the very + first of us to set up housekeeping. Now I think I'll go hunt for an honest + meal.” And he did. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV: Blacky Makes A Call + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Judge no one by his style of dress; + Your ignorance you thus confess. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + “Caw, caw, caw, caw.” There was no need of looking to see who that was. + Peter Rabbit knew without looking. Mrs. Quack knew without looking. Just + the same, both looked up. Just alighting in the top of a tall tree was + Blacky the Crow. “Caw, caw, caw, caw,” he repeated, looking down at Peter + and Mrs. Quack and Mr. Quack and the six young Quacks. “I hope I am not + interrupting any secret gossip.” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” Peter hastened to say. “Mrs. Quack was just telling me of + the troubles and clangers in bringing up a young family in the Far North. + How did you know the Quacks had arrived?” + </p> + <p> + Blacky chuckled hoarsely. “I didn't,” said he. “I simply thought there + might be something going on I didn't know about over here in the pond of + Paddy the Beaver, so I came over to find out. Mr. Quack, you and Mrs. + Quack are looking very fine this fall. And those handsome young Quacks, + you don't mean to tell me that they are your children!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Quack nodded proudly. “They are,” said she. + </p> + <p> + “You don't say so!” exclaimed Blacky, as if he were very much surprised, + when all the time he wasn't surprised at all. “They are a credit to their + parents. Yes, indeed, they are a credit to their parents. Never have I + seen finer young Ducks in all my life. How glad the hunters with terrible + guns will be to see them.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Quack shivered at that, and Blacky saw it. He chuckled softly. You + know he dearly loves to make others uncomfortable. “I saw three hunters + over on the edge of the Big River early this very morning,” said he. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Quack looked more anxious than ever. Blacky's sharp eyes noted this. + </p> + <p> + “That is why I came over here,” he added kindly. “I wanted to give you + warning.” + </p> + <p> + “But you didn't know the Quacks were here!” spoke up Peter. + </p> + <p> + “True enough, Peter. True enough,” replied Blacky, his eyes twinkling. + “But I thought they might be. I had heard a rumor that those who go south + are traveling earlier than usual this fall, so I knew I might find Mr. and + Mrs. Quack over here any time now. Is it true, Mrs. Quack, that we are + going to have a long, hard, cold winter?” + </p> + <p> + “That is what they say up in the Far North,” replied Mrs. Quack. “And it + is true that Jack Frost had started down earlier than usual. That is how + it happens we are here now. But about those hunters over by the Big River, + do you suppose they will come over here?” There was an anxious note in + Mrs. Quack's voice. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Blacky promptly. “Farmer Brown's boy won't let them. I know. + I've been watching him and he has been watching those hunters. As long as + you stay here, you will be safe. What a great world this would be if all + those two-legged creatures were like Farmer Brown's boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn't it!” cried Peter. Then he added, “I wish they were.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't wish it half as much as I do,” declared Mrs. Quack. + </p> + <p> + “Yet I can remember when he used to hunt with a terrible gun and was as + bad as the worst of them,” said Blacky. + </p> + <p> + “What changed him?” asked Mrs. Quack, looking interested. + </p> + <p> + “Just getting really acquainted with some of the little people of the + Green Forest and the Green Meadows,” replied Blacky. “He found them ready + to meet him more than halfway in friendship and that some of them really + are his best friends.” + </p> + <p> + “And now he is their best friend,” spoke up Peter. + </p> + <p> + Blacky nodded. “Right, Peter,” said he. “That is why the Quacks are safe + here and will be as long as they stay.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV: Blacky Does A Little Looking About + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Do not take the word of others + That things are or are not so + When there is a chance that you may + Find out for yourself and know. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Blacky the Crow is a shrewd fellow. He is one of the smartest and + shrewdest of all the little people in the Green Forest and on the Green + Meadows. Everybody knows it. And because of this, all his neighbors have a + great deal of respect for him, despite his mischievous ways. + </p> + <p> + Of course, Blacky had noticed that Johnny Chuck had dug his house deeper + than usual and had stuffed himself until he was fatter than ever before. + He had noticed that Jerry Muskrat was making the walls of his house + thicker than in other years, and that Paddy the Beaver was doing the same + thing to his house. You know there is very little that escapes the sharp + eyes of Blacky the Crow. + </p> + <p> + He had guessed what these things meant. “They think we are going to have a + long, hard, cold winter,” muttered Blacky to himself. “Perhaps they know, + but I want to see some signs of it for myself. They may be only guessing. + Anybody can do that, and one guess is as good as another.” + </p> + <p> + Then he found Mr. and Mrs. Quack, the Mallard Ducks, and their children in + the pond of Paddy the Beaver and remembered that they never had come down + from their home in the Far North as early in the fall as this. Mrs. Quack + explained that Jack Frost had already started south, and so they had + started earlier to keep well ahead of him. + </p> + <p> + “Looks as if there may be something in this idea of a long, hard, cold + winter,” thought Blacky, “but perhaps the Quacks are only guessing, too. I + wouldn't take their word for it any more than I would the word of Johnny + Chuck or Jerry Muskrat or Paddy the Beaver. I'll look about a little.” + </p> + <p> + So after warning the Quacks to remain in the pond of Paddy the Beaver if + they would be safe, Blacky bade them good-by and flew away. He headed + straight for the Green Meadows and Farmer Brown's cornfield. A little of + that yellow corn would make a good breakfast. + </p> + <p> + When he reached the cornfield, Blacky perched on top of a shock of corn, + for it already had been cut and put in shocks in readiness to be carted up + to Farmer Brown's barn. For a few minutes he sat there silent and + motionless, but all the time his sharp eyes were making sure that no enemy + was hiding behind one of those brown shocks. When he was quite certain + that things were as safe as they seemed, he picked out a plump ear of corn + and began to tear open the husks, so as to get at the yellow grains. + </p> + <p> + “Seems to me these husks are unusually thick,” muttered Blacky, as he tore + at them with his stout bill. “Don't remember ever having seen them as + thick as these. Wonder if it just happens to be so on this ear.” + </p> + <p> + Then, as a sudden thought popped into his black head, he left that ear and + went to another. The husks of this were as thick as those on the first. He + flew to another shock and found the husks there just the same. He tried a + third shock with the same result. + </p> + <p> + “Huh, they are all alike,” said he. Then he looked thoughtful and for a + few minutes sat perfectly still like a black statue. “They are right,” + said he at last. “Yes, Sir, they are right.” Of course he meant Johnny + Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks. “I don't know + how they know it, but they are right; we are going to have a long, hard, + cold winter. I know it myself now. I've found a sign. Old Mother Nature + has wrapped this corn in extra thick husks, and of course she has done it + to protect it. She doesn't do things without a reason. We are going to + have a cold winter, or my name isn't Blacky the Crow.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI: Blacky Finds Other Signs + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A single fact may fail to prove you either right or wrong; + Confirm it with another and your proof will then be strong. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + After his discovery that Old Mother Nature had wrapped all the ears of + corn in extra thick husks, Blacky had no doubt in his own mind that Johnny + Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks were quite + right in feeling that the coming winter would be long, hard and cold. But + Blacky long ago learned that it isn't wise or wholly safe to depend + altogether on one thing. + </p> + <p> + “Old Mother Nature never does things by halves,” thought Blacky, as he sat + on the fence post on the Green Meadows, thinking over his discovery of the + thick husks on the corn. “She wouldn't take care to protect the corn that + way and not do as much for other things. There must be other signs, if I + am smart enough to find them.” + </p> + <p> + He lifted one black wing and began to set in order the feathers beneath + it. Suddenly he made a funny little hop straight up. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I never!” he exclaimed, as he spread his wings to regain his + balance. “I never did!” + </p> + <p> + “Is that so?” piped a squeaky little voice. “If you say you never did, I + suppose you never did, though I want the word of some one else before I + will believe it. What is it you never did?” + </p> + <p> + Blacky looked down. Peeping up at him from the brown grass were two bright + little eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Danny Meadow Mouse!” exclaimed Blacky. “I haven't seen you for a + long time. I've looked for you several times lately.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it at all,” squeaked Danny. “You'll never + see me when you are looking for me. That is, you won't if I can help it. + You won't if I see you first.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky chuckled. He knew what Danny meant. When Blacky goes looking for + Danny Meadow Mouse, it usually is in hope of having a Meadow Mouse dinner, + and he knew that Danny knew this. “I've had my breakfast,” said Blacky, + “and it isn't dinner time yet.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it you never did?” persisted Danny, in his squeaky voice. + </p> + <p> + “That was just an exclamation,” explained Blacky. “I made a discovery that + surprised me so I exclaimed right out.” + </p> + <p> + “What was it?” demanded Danny. + </p> + <p> + “It was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than I ever + knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to set them in + order a minute ago.” He buried his bill in the feathers of his breast. + “Yes, sir,” said he in a muffled voice, “they are coming in thicker than I + ever knew them to before. There is a lot of down around the roots of them. + I am going to have the warmest coat I've ever had.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, don't think you are the only one,” retorted Danny. “My fur never + was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is the same way + with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose you know what it + means.” + </p> + <p> + “What does it mean?” asked Blacky, just as if he didn't have the least + idea, although he had guessed the instant he discovered those extra + feathers. + </p> + <p> + “It means we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter, and Old Mother + Nature is preparing us for it,” replied Danny, quite as if he knew all + about it. “You'll find that everybody who doesn't go south or sleep all + winter has a thicker coat than usual. Hello! There is old Roughleg the + Hawk! He has come extra early this year. I think I'll go back to warn + Nanny.” Without another word Danny disappeared in the brown grass. Again + Blacky chuckled. “More signs,” said he to himself. “More signs. There + isn't a doubt that we are going to have a hard winter. I wonder if I can + stand it or if I'd better go a little way south, where it will be warmer.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII: Blacky Watches A Queer Performance + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This much to me is very clear: + A thing not understood is queer. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Blacky the Crow may be right. Again he may not be. If he is right, it will + account for a lot of the queer people in the world. They are not + understood, and so they are queer. At least, that is what other people + say, and never once think that perhaps they are the queer ones for not + understanding. + </p> + <p> + But Blacky isn't like those people who are satisfied not to understand and + to think other people and things queer. He does his best to understand. He + waits and watches and uses those sharp eyes of his and those quick wits of + his until at last usually he does understand. + </p> + <p> + The day of his discovery of Old Mother Nature's signs that the coming + winter would be long, hard and cold, Blacky paid a visit to the Big River. + Long ago he discovered that many things are to be seen on or beside the + Big River, things not to be seen elsewhere. So there are few clays in + which he does not get over there. + </p> + <p> + As he drew near the Big River, he was very watchful and careful, was + Blacky, for this was the season when hunters with terrible guns were + abroad, and he had discovered that they were likely to be hiding along the + Big River, hoping to shoot Mr. or Mrs. Quack or some of their relatives. + So he was very watchful as he drew near the Big River, for he had learned + that it was dangerous to pass too near a hunter with a terrible gun. More + than once he had been shot at. But he had learned by these experiences. + Oh, yes, Blacky had learned. For one thing, he had learned to know a gun + when he saw it. For another thing, he had learned just how far away one of + these dreadful guns could be and still hurt the one it was pointed at, and + to always keep just a little farther away. Also he had learned that a man + or boy without a terrible gun is quite harmless, and he had learned that + hunters with terrible guns are tricky and sometimes hide from those they + seek to kill, so that in the dreadful hunting season it is best to look + sharply before approaching any place. + </p> + <p> + On this afternoon, as he drew near the Big River, he saw a man who seemed + to be very busy on the shore of the Big River, at a place where wild rice + and rushes grew for some distance out in the water, for just there it was + shallow far out from the shore. Blacky looked sharply for a terrible gun. + But the man had none with him and therefore was not to be feared. Blacky + boldly drew near until he was able to see what the man was doing. + </p> + <p> + Then Blacky's eyes stretched their widest and he almost cawed right out + with surprise. The man was taking yellow corn from a bag, a handful at a + time, and throwing it out in the water. Yes, Sir, that is what he was + doing, scattering nice yellow corn among the rushes and wild rice in the + water! + </p> + <p> + “That's a queer performance,” muttered Blacky, as he watched. “What is he + throwing perfectly good corn out in the water for? He isn't planting it, + for this isn't the planting season. Besides, it wouldn't grow in the + water, anyway. It is a shame to waste nice corn like that. What is he + doing it for?” + </p> + <p> + Blacky flew over to a tree some distance away and alighted in the top of + it to watch the queer performance. You know Blacky has very keen eyes and + he can see a long distance. For a while the man continued to scatter corn + and Blacky continued to wonder what he was doing it for. At last the man + went away in a boat. Blacky watched him until he was out of sight. Then he + spread his wings and slowly flew back and forth just above the rushes and + wild rice, at the place where the man had been scattering the corn. He + could see some of the yellow grains on the bottom. Presently he saw + something else. “Ha!” exclaimed Blacky. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII: Blacky Becomes Very Suspicious + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Of things you do not understand, + Beware! + They may be wholly harmless but— + Beware! + You'll find the older that you grow + That only things and folks you know + Are fully to be trusted, so + Beware! + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + That is one of Blacky's wise sayings, and he lives up to it. It is one + reason why he has come to be regarded by all his neighbors as one of the + smartest of all who live in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadow. He + seldom gets into any real trouble because he first makes sure there is no + trouble to get into. When he discovers something he does not understand, + he is at once distrustful of it. + </p> + <p> + As he watched a man scattering yellow corn in the water from the shore of + the Big River he at once became suspicious. He couldn't understand why a + man should throw good corn among the rushes and wild rice in the water, + and because he couldn't understand, he at once began to suspect that it + was for no good purpose. When the man left in a boat, Blacky slowly flew + over the rushes where the man had thrown the corn, and presently his sharp + eyes made a discovery that caused him to exclaim right out. + </p> + <p> + What was it Blacky had discovered? Only a few feathers. No one with eyes + less sharp than Blacky's would have noticed them. And few would have given + them a thought if they had noticed them. But Blacky knew right away that + those were feathers from a Duck. He knew that a Duck, or perhaps a flock + of Ducks, had been resting or feeding in there among those rushes, and + that in moving about they had left those two or three downy feathers. + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” exclaimed Blacky. “Mr. and Mrs. Quack or some of their relatives + have been here. It is just the kind of a place Ducks like. Also some Ducks + like corn. If they should come back here and find this corn, they would + have a feast, and they would be sure to come again. That man who scattered + the corn here didn't have a terrible gun, but that doesn't mean that he + isn't a hunter. He may come back again, and then he may have a terrible + gun. I'm suspicious of that man. I am so. I believe he put that corn here + for Ducks and I don't believe he did it out of the kindness of his heart. + If it was Farmer Brown's boy I would know that all is well; that he was + thinking of hungry Ducks, with few places where they can feed in safety, + as they make the long journey from the Far North to the Sunny South. But + it wasn't Farmer Brown's boy. I don't like the looks of it. I don't + indeed. I'll keep watch of this place and see what happens.” + </p> + <p> + All the way to his favorite perch in a certain big hemlock-tree in the + Green Forest, Blacky kept thinking about that corn and the man who had + seemed to be generous with it, and the more he thought, the more + suspicious he became. He didn't like the looks of it at all. + </p> + <p> + “I'll warn the Quacks to keep away from there. I'll do it the very first + thing in the morning,” he muttered, as he prepared to go to sleep. “If + they have any sense at all, they will stay in the pond of Paddy the + Beaver. But if they should go over to the Big River, they would be almost + sure to find that corn, and if they should once find it, they would keep + going back for more. It may be all right, but I don't like the looks of + it.” + </p> + <p> + And still full of suspicions, Blacky went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX: Blacky Makes More Discoveries + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Little things you fail to see + May important prove to be. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + One of the secrets of Blacky's success in life is the fact that he never + fails to take note of little things. Long ago he learned that little + things which in themselves seem harmless and not worth noticing may + together prove the most important things in life. So, no matter how + unimportant a thing may appear, Blacky examines it closely with those + sharp eyes of his and remembers it. + </p> + <p> + The very first thing Blacky did, as soon as he was awake the morning after + he discovered the man scattering corn in the rushes at a certain place on + the edge of the Big River, was to fly over to the pond of Paddy the Beaver + and again warn Mr. and Mrs. Quack to keep away from the Big River, if they + and their six children would remain safe. Then he got some breakfast. He + ate it in a hurry and flew straight over to the Big River to the place + where he had seen that yellow corn scattered. + </p> + <p> + Blacky wasn't wholly surprised to find Dusky the Black Duck, own cousin to + Mr. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard Ducks, with a number of his relatives in + among the rushes and wild rice at the very place where that corn had been + scattered. They seemed quite contented and in the best of spirits. Blacky + guessed why. Not a single grain of that yellow corn could Blacky see. He + knew the ways of Dusky and his relatives. He knew that they must have come + in there just at dusk the night before and at once had found that corn. He + knew that they would remain hiding there until frightened out, and that + then they would spend the day in some little pond where they would not be + likely to be disturbed or where at least no danger could approach them + without being seen in plenty of time. There they would rest all day, and + when the Black Shadows came creeping out from the Purple Hills, they would + return to that place on the Big River to feed, for that is the time when + they like best to hunt for their food. + </p> + <p> + Dusky looked up as Blacky flew over him, but Blacky said nothing, and + Dusky said nothing. But if Blacky didn't use his tongue, he did use his + eyes. He saw just on the edge of the shore what looked like a lot of small + bushes growing close together on the very edge of the water. Mixed in with + them were a lot of the brown rushes. They looked very harmless and + innocent. But Blacky knew every foot of that shore along the Big River, + and he knew that those bushes hadn't been there during the summer. He knew + that they hadn't grown there. + </p> + <p> + He flew directly over them. Just back of them were a couple of logs. Those + logs hadn't been there when he passed that way a few days before. He was + sure of it. + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” exclaimed Blacky under his breath. “Those look to me as if they + might be very handy, very handy indeed, for a hunter to sit on. Sitting + there behind those bushes, he would be hidden from any Duck who might come + in to look for nice yellow corn scattered out there among the rushes. It + doesn't look right to me. No, Sir, it doesn't look right to me. I think + I'll keep an eye on this place.” + </p> + <p> + So Blacky came back to the Big River several times that day. The second + time back he found that Dusky the Black Duck and his relatives had left. + When he returned in the afternoon, he saw the same man he had seen there + the afternoon before, and he was doing the same thing,—scattering + yellow corn out in the rushes. And as before, he went away in a boat. + </p> + <p> + “I don't like it,” muttered Blacky, shaking his black head. “I don't like + it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX: Blacky Drops A Hint + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + When you see another's danger + Warn him though he be a stranger. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Every day for a week a man came in a boat to scatter corn in the rushes at + a certain point along the bank of the Big River, and every day Blacky the + Crow watched him and shook his black head and talked to himself and told + himself that he didn't like it, and that he was sure that it was for no + good purpose. Sometimes Blacky watched from a distance, and sometimes he + flew right over the man. But never once did the man have a gun with him. + </p> + <p> + Every morning, very early, Blacky flew over there, and every morning he + found Dusky the Black Duck and his flock in the rushes and wild rice at + that particular place, and he knew that they had been there all night, He + knew that they had come in there just at dusk the night before, to feast + on the yellow corn the man had scattered there in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + “It is no business of mine what those Ducks do,” muttered Blacky to + himself, “but as surely as my tail feathers are black, something is going + to happen to some of them one of these days. That man may be fooling them, + but he isn't fooling me. Not a bit of it. He hasn't had a gun with him + once when I have seen him, but just the same he is a hunter. I feel it in + my bones. He knows those silly Ducks come in here every night for that + corn he puts out. He knows that after they have been here a few times and + nothing has frightened them, they will be so sure that it is a safe place + that they will not be the least bit suspicious. Then he will hide behind + those bushes he has placed close to the edge of the water and wait for + them with his terrible gun. That is what he will do, or my name isn't + Blacky.” + </p> + <p> + Finally Blacky decided to drop a hint to Dusky the Black Duck. So the next + morning he stopped for a call. “Good morning,” said he, as Dusky swam in + just in front of him. “I hope you are feeling as fine as you look.” + </p> + <p> + “Quack, quack,” replied Dusky. “When Blacky the Crow flatters, he hopes to + gain something. What is it this time?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a thing,” replied Blacky. “On my honor, not a thing. There is nothing + for me here, though there seems to be plenty for you and your relatives, + to judge by the fact that I find you in this same place every morning. + What is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Corn,” replied Dusky in a low voice, as if afraid some one might overhear + him. “Nice yellow corn.” + </p> + <p> + “Corn!” exclaimed Blacky, as if very much astonished. “How does corn + happen to be way over here in the water?” + </p> + <p> + Dusky shook his head. “Don't ask me, for I can't tell you,” said he. “I + haven't the least idea. All I know is that every evening when we arrive, + we find it here. How it gets here, I don't know, and furthermore I don't + care. It is enough for me that it is here.” + </p> + <p> + “I've seen a man over here every afternoon,” said Blacky. “I thought he + might be a hunter.” + </p> + <p> + “Did he have a terrible gun?” asked Dusky suspiciously. + </p> + <p> + “No-o,” replied Blacky. + </p> + <p> + “Then he isn't a hunter,” declared Dusky, looking much relieved. + </p> + <p> + “But perhaps one of these days he will have one and will wait for you to + come in for your dinner,” suggested Blacky. “He could hide behind these + bushes, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense,” retorted Dusky, tossing his head. “There hasn't been a sign of + danger here since we have been here. I know you, Blacky; you are jealous + because we find plenty to eat here, and you find nothing. You are trying + to scare us. But I'll tell you right now, you can't scare us away from + such splendid eating as we have had here. So there!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI: At Last Blacky Is Sure + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Who for another conquers fear + Is truly brave, it is most clear. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + It was late in the afternoon, and Blacky the Crow was on his way to the + Green Forest. As usual, he went around by the Big River to see if that man + was scattering corn for the Ducks. He wasn't there. No one was to be seen + along the bank of the Big River. + </p> + <p> + “He hasn't come to-day, or else he came early and has left,” thought + Blacky. And then his sharp eyes caught sight of something that made him + turn aside and make straight for a certain tree, from the top of which he + could see all that went on for a long distance. What was it Blacky saw? It + was a boat coming down the Big River. + </p> + <p> + Blacky sat still and watched. Presently the boat turned in among the + rushes, and a moment later a man stepped out on the shore. It was the same + man Blacky had watched scatter corn in the rushes every day for a week. + There wasn't the least doubt about it, it was the same man. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha!” exclaimed Blacky, and nearly lost his balance in his excitement. + “Ha, ha! It is just as I thought!” You see Blacky's sharp eyes had seen + that the man was carrying something, and that something was a gun, a + terrible gun. Blacky knows a terrible gun as far as he can see it. + </p> + <p> + The hunter, for of course that is what he was, tramped along the shore + until he reached the bushes which Blacky had noticed close to the water + and which he knew had not grown there. The hunter looked out over the Big + River. Then he walked along where he had scattered corn the day before. + Not a grain was to be seen. This seemed to please him. Then he went back + to the bushes and sat down on a log behind them, his terrible gun across + his knees. + </p> + <p> + “I was sure of it,” muttered Blacky. “He is going to wait there for those + Ducks to come in, and then something dreadful will happen. What terrible + creatures these hunters are! They don't know what fairness is. No, Sir, + they don't know what fairness is. He has put food there day after day, + where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock would be sure to find it, and has + waited until they have become so sure there is no danger that they are no + longer suspicious. He knows they will feel so sure that all is safe that + they will come in without looking for danger. Then he will fire that + terrible gun and kill them without giving them any chance at all. + </p> + <p> + “Reddy Fox is a sly, clever hunter, but he wouldn't do a thing like that. + Neither would Old Man Coyote or anybody else who wears fur or feathers. + They might hide and try to catch some one by surprise. That is all right, + because each of us is supposed to be on the watch for things of that sort. + Oh, dear, what's to be done? It is time I was getting home to the Green + Forest. The Black Shadows will soon come creeping out from the Purple + Hills, and I must be safe in my hemlock-tree by then. I would be scared to + death to be out after dark. Yet those Ducks ought to be warned. Oh, dear, + what shall I do?” + </p> + <p> + Blacky peered over at the Green Forest and then over toward the Purple + Hills, behind which jolly, round, red Mr. Sun would go to bed very + shortly. He shivered as he thought of the Black Shadows that soon would + come swiftly out from the Purple Hills across the Big River and over the + Green Meadows. With them might come Hooty the Owl, and Hooty wouldn't + object in the least to a Crow dinner. He wished he was in that + hemlock-tree that very minute. Then Blacky looked at the hunter with his + terrible gun and thought of what might happen, what would be almost sure + to happen, unless those Ducks were warned. “I'll wait a little while + longer,” muttered Blacky, and tried to feel brave. But instead he + shivered. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII: Blacky Goes Home Happy + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + No greater happiness is won + Than through a deed for others done. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Blacky sat in the top of a tree near the bank of the Big River and + couldn't make up his mind what to do. He wanted to get home to the big, + thick hemlock-tree in the Green Forest before dusk, for Blacky is afraid + of the dark. That is, he is afraid to be out after dark. + </p> + <p> + “Go along home,” said a voice inside him, “there is hardly time now for + you to get there before the Black Shadows arrive. Don't waste any more + time here. What may happen to those silly Ducks is no business of yours, + and there is nothing you can do, anyway. Go along home.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait a few minutes,” said another little voice down inside him. “Don't be + a coward. You ought to warn Dusky the Black Duck and his flock that a + hunter with a terrible gun is waiting for them. Is it true that it is no + business of yours what happens to those Ducks? Think again, Blacky; think + again. It is the duty of each one who sees a common danger to warn his + neighbors. If something dreadful should happen to Dusky because you were + afraid of the dark, you never would be comfortable in your own mind. Stay + a little while and keep watch.” + </p> + <p> + Not five minutes later Blacky saw something that made him, oh, so glad he + had kept watch. It was a swiftly moving black line just above the water + far down the Big River, and it was coming up. He knew what that black line + was. He looked over at the hunter hiding behind some bushes close to the + edge of the water. The hunter was crouching with his terrible gun in his + hands and was peeping over the bushes, watching that black line. He, too, + knew what it was. It was a flock of Ducks flying. + </p> + <p> + Blacky was all ashake again, but this time it wasn't with fear of being + caught away from home in the dark; it was with excitement. He knew that + those Ducks had become so eager for more of that corn, that delicious + yellow corn which every night for a week they had found scattered in the + rushes just in front of the place where that hunter was now hiding, that + they couldn't wait for the coming of the Black Shadows. They were so sure + there was no danger that they were coming in to eat without waiting for + the Black Shadows, as they usually did. And Blacky was glad. Perhaps now + he could give them warning. + </p> + <p> + Up the middle of the Big River, flying just above the water, swept the + flock with Dusky at its head. How swiftly they flew, those nine big birds! + Blacky envied them their swift wings. On past the hidden hunter but far + out over the Big River they swept. For just a minute Blacky thought they + were going on up the river and not coming in to eat, after all. Then they + turned toward the other shore, swept around in a circle and headed + straight in toward that hidden hunter. Blacky glanced at him and saw that + he was ready to shoot. + </p> + <p> + Almost without thinking, Blacky spread his wings and started out from that + tree. “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” he shrieked at the top of his lungs. + “Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!” It was his danger cry that everybody on the + Green Meadows and in the Green Forest knows. + </p> + <p> + Instantly Dusky turned and began to climb up, up, up, the other Ducks + following him until, as they passed over the hidden hunter, they were so + high it was useless for him to shoot. He did put up his gun and aim at + them, but he didn't shoot. You see, he didn't want to frighten them so + that they would not return. Then the flock turned and started off in the + direction from which they had come, and in a few minutes they were merely + a black line disappearing far down the Big River. + </p> + <p> + Blacky headed straight for the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. He knew + that those Ducks would not return until after dark. He had saved them this + time, and he was so happy he didn't even notice the Black Shadows. And the + hunter stood up and shook his fist at Blacky the Crow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII: Blacky Calls Farmer Brown's Boy + </h2> + <p> + Blacky awoke in the best of spirits. Late the afternoon before he had + saved Dusky the Black Duck and his flock from a hunter with a terrible + gun. He wasn't quite sure whether he was most happy in having saved those + Ducks by warning them just in time, or in having spoiled the plans of that + hunter. He hates a hunter with a terrible gun, does Blacky. For that + matter, so do all the little people of the Green Forest and the Green + Meadows. + </p> + <p> + So Blacky started out for his breakfast in high spirits. After breakfast, + he flew over to the Big River to see if Dusky the Black Duck was feeding + in the rushes along the shore. Dusky wasn't, and Blacky guessed that he + and his flock had been so frightened by that warning that they had kept + away from there the night before. + </p> + <p> + “But they'll come back after a night or so,” muttered Blacky, as he + alighted in the top of a tree, the same tree from which he had watched the + hunter the afternoon before. “They'll come back, and so will that hunter. + If he sees me around again, he'll try to shoot me. I've done all I can do. + Anyway, Dusky ought to have sense enough to be suspicious of this place + after that warning. Hello, who is that? I do believe it is Farmer Brown's + boy. I wish he would come over here. If he should find out about that + hunter, perhaps he would do something to drive him away. I'll see if I can + call him over here.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky began to call in the way he does when he has discovered something + and wants others to know about it. “Caw, caw, caaw, caaw, caw, caw, caaw!” + screamed Blacky, as if greatly excited. + </p> + <p> + Now Farmer Brown's boy, having no work to do that morning, had started for + a tramp over the Green Meadows, hoping to see some of his little friends + in feathers and fur. He heard the excited cawing of Blacky and at once + turned in that direction. + </p> + <p> + “That black rascal has found something over on the shore of the Big + River,” said Farmer Brown's boy to himself. “I'll go over there to see + what it is. There isn't much escapes the sharp eyes of that black + busybody. He has led me to a lot of interesting things, one time and + another. There he is on the top of that tree over by the Big River.” + </p> + <p> + As Farmer Brown's boy drew near, Blacky flew down and disappeared below + the bank. Fanner Brown's boy chuckled. “Whatever it is, it is right down + there,” he muttered. + </p> + <p> + He walked forward rapidly but quietly, and presently he reached the edge + of the bank. Up flew Blacky cawing wildly, and pretending to be scared + half to death. Again Farmer Brown's boy chuckled. “You're just making + believe,” he declared. “You're trying to make me believe that I have + surprised you, when all the time you knew I was coming and have been + waiting for me. Now, what have you found over here?” + </p> + <p> + He looked eagerly along the shore, and at once he saw a row of low bushes + close to the edge of the water. He knew what it was instantly. “A Duck + blind!” he exclaimed. “A hunter has built a blind over here from which to + shoot Ducks. I wonder if he has killed any yet. I hope not.” He went down + to the blind, for that is what a Duck hunter's hiding-place is called, and + looked about. A couple of grains of corn just inside the blind caught his + eyes, and his face darkened. “That fellow has been baiting Ducks,” thought + he. “He has been putting out corn to get them to come here regularly. My, + how I hate that sort of thing! It is bad enough to hunt them fairly, but + to feed them and then kill them—ugh! I wonder if he has shot any + yet.” + </p> + <p> + He looked all about keenly, and his face cleared. He knew that if that + hunter had killed any Ducks, there would be tell-tale feathers in the + blind, and there were none. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV: Farmer Brown's Boy Does Some Thinking + </h2> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy sat on the bank of the Big River in a brown study. That + means that he was thinking very hard. Blacky the Crow sat in the top of a + tall tree a short distance away and watched him. Blacky was silent now, + and there was a knowing look in his shrewd little eyes. In calling Farmer + Brown's boy over there, he had done all he could, and he was quite + satisfied to leave the matter to Farmer Brown's boy. + </p> + <p> + “A hunter has made that blind to shoot Black Ducks from,” thought Farmer + Brown's boy, “and he has been baiting them in here by scattering corn for + them. Black Ducks are about the smartest Ducks that fly, but if they have + been coming in here every evening and finding corn and no sign of danger, + they probably think it perfectly safe here and come straight in without + being at all suspicious. To-night, or some night soon, that hunter will be + waiting for them. + </p> + <p> + “I guess the law that permits hunting Ducks is all right, but there ought + to be a law against baiting them in. That isn't hunting. No, Sir, that + isn't hunting. If this land were my father's, I would know what to do. I + would put up a sign saying that this was private property and no shooting + was allowed. But it isn't my father's land, and that hunter has a perfect + right to shoot here. He has just as much right here as I have. I wish I + could stop him, but I don't see how I can.” + </p> + <p> + A frown puckered the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy. You see, he was + thinking very hard, and when he does that he is very apt to frown. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose,” he muttered, “I can tear down his blind. He wouldn't know who + did it. But that wouldn't do much good; he would build another. Besides, + it wouldn't be right. He has a perfect right to make a blind here, and + having made it, it is his and I haven't any right to touch it. I won't do + a thing I haven't a right to do. That wouldn't be honest. I've got to + think of some other way of saving those Ducks.” + </p> + <p> + The frown on his freckled face grew deeper, and for a long time he sat + without moving. Suddenly his face cleared, and he jumped to his feet. He + began to chuckle. “I have it!” he exclaimed. “I'll do a little shooting + myself!” Then he chuckled again and started for home. Presently he began + to whistle, a way he has when he is in good spirits. + </p> + <p> + Blacky the Crow watched him go, and Blacky was well satisfied. He didn't + know what Farmer Brown's boy was planning to do, but he had a feeling that + he was planning to do something, and that all would be well. Perhaps + Blacky wouldn't have felt so sure could he have understood what Farmer + Brown's boy had said about doing a little shooting himself. + </p> + <p> + As it was, Blacky flew off about his own business, quite satisfied that + now all would be well, and he need worry no more about those Ducks. None + of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows knew Farmer + Brown's boy better than did Blacky the Crow. None knew better than he that + Farmer Brown's boy was their best friend. “It is all right now,” chuckled + Blacky. “It is all right now.” And as the cheery whistle of Farmer Brown's + boy floated back to him on the Merry Little Breezes, he repeated it: “It + is all right now.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV: Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + When friends prove false, whom may we trust? + The springs of faith are turned to dust. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Blacky the Crow was in the top of his favorite tree over near the Big + River early this afternoon. He didn't know what was going to happen, but + he felt in his bones that something was, and he meant to be on hand to + see. For a long time he sat there, seeing nothing unusual. At last he + spied a tiny figure far away across the Green Meadows. Even at that + distance he knew who it was; it was Farmer Brown's boy, and he was coming + toward the Big River. + </p> + <p> + “I thought as much,” chuckled Blacky. “He is coming over here to drive + that hunter away.” + </p> + <p> + The tiny figure grew larger. It was Farmer Brown's boy beyond a doubt. + Suddenly Blacky's eyes opened so wide that they looked as if they were in + danger of popping out of his head. He had discovered that Farmer Brown's + boy was carrying something and that that something was a gun! Yes, Sir, + Farmer Brown's boy was carrying a terrible gun! If Blacky could have + rubbed his eyes, he would have done so, just to make sure that there was + nothing the matter with them. + </p> + <p> + “A gun!” croaked Blacky. “Farmer Brown's boy with a terrible gun! What + does it mean?” + </p> + <p> + Nearer came Farmer Brown's boy, and Blacky could see that terrible gun + plainly now. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. “Perhaps he is going + to shoot that hunter!” thought Blacky, and somehow he felt better. + </p> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy reached the Big River at a point some distance below + the blind built by the hunter. He laid his gun down on the bank and went + down to the edge of the water. The rushes grew very thick there, and for a + while Farmer Brown's boy was very busy among them. Blacky from his high + perch could watch him, and as he watched, he grew more and more puzzled. + It looked very much as if Farmer Brown's boy was building a blind much + like that of the hunter's. At last he carried an old log down there, got + his gun, and sat down just as the hunter had done in his blind the + afternoon before. He was quite hidden there, excepting from a place high + up like Blacky's perch. + </p> + <p> + “I—I—I do believe he is going to try to shoot those Ducks + himself,” gasped Blacky. “I wouldn't have believed it if any one had told + me. No, Sir, I wouldn't have believed it. I—I—can't believe it + now. Farmer Brown's boy hunting with a terrible gun! Yet I've got to + believe my own eyes.” + </p> + <p> + A noise up river caught his attention. It was the noise of oars in a boat. + There was the hunter, rowing down the Big River. Just as he had done the + day before, he came ashore above his blind and walked down to it. + </p> + <p> + “This is no place for me,” muttered Blacky. “He'll remember that I scared + those Ducks yesterday, and as likely as not he'll try to shoot me.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky spread his black wings and hurriedly left the tree-top, heading for + another tree farther back on the Green Meadows where he would be safe, but + from which he could not see as well. There he sat until the Black Shadows + warned him that it was high time for him to be getting back to the Green + Forest. + </p> + <p> + He had to hurry, for it was later than usual, and he was afraid to be out + after dark. Just as he reached the Green Forest he heard a faint “bang, + bang” from over by the Big River, and he knew that it came from the place + where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. + </p> + <p> + “It is true,” croaked Blacky. “Farmer Brown's boy has turned hunter.” It + was such a dreadful shock to Blacky that it was a long time before he + could go to sleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI: Why The Hunter Got No Ducks + </h2> + <p> + The hunter who had come down the Big River in a boat and landed near the + place where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock had found nice yellow corn + scattered in the rushes night after night saw Blacky the Crow leave the + top of a certain tree as he approached. + </p> + <p> + “It is well for you that you didn't wait for me to get nearer,” said the + hunter. “You are smart enough to know that you can't play the same trick + on me twice. You frightened those Ducks away last night, but if you try it + again, you'll be shot as surely as your coat is black.” + </p> + <p> + Then the hunter went to his blind which, you know, was the hiding-place he + had made of bushes and rushes, and behind this he sat down with his + terrible gun to wait and watch for Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + </p> + <p> + Now you remember that farther along the shore of the Big River was Farmer + Brown's boy, hiding in a blind he had made that afternoon. The hunter + couldn't see him at all. He didn't have the least idea that any one else + was anywhere near. “With that Crow out of the way, I think I will get some + Ducks to-night,” thought the hunter and looked at his gun to make sure + that it was ready. + </p> + <p> + Over in the West, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed behind + the Purple Hills, and the Black Shadows came creeping out. Far down the + Big River the hunter saw a swiftly moving black line just above the water. + “Here they come,” he muttered, as he eagerly watched that black line draw + nearer. + </p> + <p> + Twice those big black birds circled around over the Big River opposite + where the hunter was crouching behind his blind. It was plain that Dusky, + their leader, remembered Blacky's warning the night before. But this time + there was no warning. Everything appeared safe. Once more the flock + circled and then headed straight for that place where they hoped to find + more corn. The hunter crouched lower. They were almost near enough for him + to shoot when “bang, bang” went a gun a short distance away. + </p> + <p> + Instantly Dusky and his flock turned and on swift wings swung off and up + the river. If ever there was a disappointed hunter, it was the one + crouching in that blind. “Somebody else is hunting, and he spoiled my shot + that time,” he muttered. “He must have a blind farther down. Probably some + other Ducks I didn't see came in to him. I wonder if he got them. Here's + hoping that next time those Ducks come in here first.” + </p> + <p> + He once more made himself comfortable and settled down for a long wait. + The Black Shadows crept out from the farther bank of the Big River. Jolly, + round red Mr. Sun had gone to bed, and the first little star was twinkling + high overhead. It was very still and peaceful. From out in the middle of + the Big River sounded a low “quack”; Dusky and his flock were swimming in + this time. Presently the hunter could see a silver line on the water, and + then he made out nine black spots. In a few minutes those Ducks would be + where he could shoot them. “Bang, bang” went that gun below him again. + With a roar of wings, Dusky and his flock were in the air and away. That + hunter stood up and said things, and they were not nice things. He knew + that those Ducks would not come back again that night, and that once more + he must go home empty-handed. But first he would find out who that other + hunter was and what luck he had had, so he tramped down the shore to where + that gun had seemed to be. He found the blind of Farmer Brown's boy, but + there was no one there. You see, as soon as he had fired his gun the last + time, Farmer Brown's boy had slipped out and away. And as he tramped + across the Green Meadows toward home with his gun, he chuckled. “He didn't + get those Ducks this time,” said Farmer Brown's boy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII: The Hunter Gives Up + </h2> + <p> + Blacky The Crow didn't know what to think. He couldn't make himself + believe that Farmer Brown's boy had really turned hunter, yet what else + could he believe? Hadn't he with his own eyes seen Farmer Brown's boy with + a terrible gun hide in rushes along the Big River and wait for Dusky the + Black Duck and his flock to come in? And hadn't he with his own ears heard + the “bang, bang” of that very gun? + </p> + <p> + The very first thing the next morning Blacky had hastened over to the + place where Farmer Brown's boy had hidden in the rushes. With sharp eyes + he looked for feathers, that would tell the tale of a Duck killed. But + there were no feathers. There wasn't a thing to show that anything so + dreadful had happened. Perhaps Farmer Brown's boy had missed when he shot + at those Ducks. Blacky shook his head and decided to say nothing to + anybody about Farmer Brown's boy and that terrible gun. + </p> + <p> + You may be sure that early in the afternoon he was perched in the top of + his favorite tree over by the Big River. His heart sank, just as on the + afternoon before, when he saw Farmer Brown's boy with his terrible gun + trudging across the Green Meadows to the Big River. Instead of going to + the same hiding place he made a new one farther down. + </p> + <p> + Then came the hunter a little earlier than usual. Instead of stopping at + his blind, he walked straight to the blind Farmer Brown's boy had first + made. Of course, there was no one there. The hunter looked both glad and + disappointed. He went back to his own blind and sat down, and while he + watched for the coming of the Ducks, he also watched that other blind to + see if the unknown hunter of the night before would appear. Of course he + didn't, and when at last the hunter saw the Ducks coming, he was sure that + this time he would get some of them. + </p> + <p> + But the same thing happened as on the night before. Just as those Ducks + were almost near enough, a gun went “bang, bang,” and away went the Ducks. + They didn't come back again, and once more a disappointed hunter went home + without any. + </p> + <p> + The next afternoon he was on hand very early. He was there before Farmer + Brown's boy arrived, and when he did come, of course the hunter saw him. + He walked down to where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. + “Hello!” said he. “Are you the one who was shooting here last night and + the night before?” + </p> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy grinned. “Yes,” said he. + </p> + <p> + “What luck did you have?” asked the hunter. + </p> + <p> + “Fine,” replied Farmer Brown's boy. + </p> + <p> + “How many Ducks did you get?” asked the hunter. + </p> + <p> + Farmer Brown's boy grinned more broadly than before. “None,” said he. “I + guess I'm not a very good shot.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what did you mean by saying you had fine luck?” demanded the hunter. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” replied Farmer Brown's boy, “I had the luck to see those Ducks and + the fun of shooting,” and he grinned again. + </p> + <p> + The hunter lost patience. He tried to order Farmer Brown's boy away. But + the latter said he had as much right there as the hunter had, and the + hunter knew that this was so. Finally he gave up, and muttering angrily, + he went back to his blind. Again the gun of Farmer Brown's boy frightened + away the Ducks just as they were coming in. + </p> + <p> + The next afternoon there was no hunter nor the next, though Farmer Brown's + boy was there. The hunter had decided that it was a waste of time to hunt + there while Farmer Brown's boy was about. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII: Blacky Has A Talk With Dusky The Black Duck + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Doubt not a friend, but to the last + Grip hard on faith and hold it fast. + —Blacky the Crow. +</pre> + <p> + Every morning Blacky the Crow visited the rushes along the shore of the + Big River, hoping to find Dusky the Black Duck. He was anxious, was + Blacky. He feared that Dusky or some of his flock had been killed, and he + wanted to know. You see, he knew that Farmer Brown's boy had been shooting + over there. At last, early one morning, he found Dusky and his flock in + the rushes and wild rice. Eagerly he counted them. There were nine. Not + one was missing. Blacky sighed with relief and dropped down on the shore + close to where Dusky was taking a nap. + </p> + <p> + “Hello!” said Blacky. + </p> + <p> + Dusky awoke with a start. “Hello, yourself,” said he. + </p> + <p> + “I've heard a terrible gun banging over here, and I was afraid you or some + of your flock had been shot,” said Blacky. + </p> + <p> + “We haven't lost a feather,” declared Dusky. “That gun wasn't fired at us, + anyway.” + </p> + <p> + “Then who was it fired at?” demanded Blacky. + </p> + <p> + “I haven't the least idea,” replied Dusky. + </p> + <p> + “Have you seen any other Ducks about here?” inquired Blacky. + </p> + <p> + “Not one,” was Dusky's prompt reply. “If there had been any, I guess we + would have known it.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you know that when that terrible gun was fired there was another + terrible gun right over behind those bushes?” asked Blacky. + </p> + <p> + Dusky shook his head. “No,” said he, “but I learned long ago that where + there is one terrible gun there is likely to be more, and so when I heard + that one bang, I led my flock away from here in a hurry. We didn't want to + take any chances.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a lucky thing you did,” replied Blacky. “There was a hunter hiding + behind those bushes all the time. I warned you of him once.” + </p> + <p> + “That reminds me that I haven't thanked you,” said Dusky. “I knew there + was something wrong over here, but I didn't know what. So it was a hunter. + I guess it is a good thing that I heeded your warn-ing.” + </p> + <p> + “I guess it is,” retorted Blacky dryly. “Do you come here in daytime + instead of night now?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Dusky. “We come in after dark and spend the night here. + There is nothing to fear from hunters after dark. We've given up coming + here until late in the evening. And since we did that, we haven't heard a + gun.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky gossiped a while longer, then flew off to look for his breakfast; + and as he flew his heart was light. His shrewd little eyes twinkled. + </p> + <p> + “I ought to have known Farmer Brown's boy better than even to suspect + him,” thought he. “I know now why he had that terrible gun. It was to + frighten those Ducks away so that the hunter would not have a chance to + shoot them. He wasn't shooting at anything. He just fired in the air to + scare those Ducks away. I know it just as well as if I had seen him do it. + I'll never doubt Farmer Brown's boy again. And I'm glad I didn't say a + word to anybody about seeing him with a terrible gun.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky was right. Farmer Brown's boy had taken that way of making sure + that the hunter who had first baited those Ducks with yellow corn + scattered in the rushes in front of his hiding place should have no chance + to kill any of them. While appearing to be an enemy, he really had been a + friend of Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX: Blacky Discovers An Egg + </h2> + <p> + Blacky is fond of eggs, as you know. In this he is a great deal like other + people, Farmer Brown's boy for instance. But as Blacky cannot keep hens, + as Farmer Brown's boy does, he is obliged to steal eggs or else go + without. If you come right down to plain, everyday truth, I suppose Blacky + isn't so far wrong when he insists that he is no more of a thief than + Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky says that the eggs which the bens lay belong to + the hens, and that he, Blacky has just as much right to take them as + Farmer Brown's boy. He quite overlooks the fact that Farmer Brown's boy + feeds the biddies and takes the eggs as pay. Anyway, that is what Farmer + Brown's boy says, but I do not know whether or not the biddies understand + it that way. + </p> + <p> + So Blacky the Crow cannot see why he should not help himself to an egg + when he gets the chance. He doesn't get the chance very often to steal + eggs from the hens, because usually they lay their eggs in the henhouse, + and Blacky is too suspicious to venture inside. The eggs he does get are + mostly those of his neighbors in the Green Forest and the Old Orchard. But + once in a great while some foolish hen will make a nest outside the + henhouse somewhere, and if Blacky happens to find it the black scamp + watches every minute he can spare from other mischief for a chance to + steal an egg. + </p> + <p> + Now Blacky knows just what a rogue Farmer Brown's boy thinks he is, and + for this reason Blacky is very careful about approaching Farmer Brown or + any other man until he has made sure that he runs no risk of being shot. + Blacky knows quite as well as any one what a gun looks like. He also knows + that without a terrible gun, there is little Farmer Brown or any one else + can do to him. So when he sees Farmer Brown out in his fields, Blacky + often will fly right over him and shout “Caw, caw, caw, ca-a-w!” in the + most provoking way, and Fanner Brown's boy insists that he has seen Blacky + wink when he was doing it. + </p> + <p> + But Blacky doesn't do anything of this kind around the buildings of Farmer + Brown. You see, he has learned that there are doors and windows in + buildings, and out of one of these a terrible gun may bang at any time. + Though he has suspected that Farmer Brown's boy would not now try to harm + him, Blacky is naturally cautious and takes no chances. So when he comes + spying around Farmer Brown's house and barn, he does it when he is quite + sure that no one is about, and he makes no noise about it. First he sits + in a tall tree from which he can watch Farmer Brown's home. When he is + quite sure that the way is clear, he flies over to the Old Orchard, and + from there he inspects the barnyard, never once making a sound. If he is + quite sure that no one is about, he sometimes drops down into the henyard + and helps himself to corn, if any happens to be there. It was on one of + these silent visits that Blacky spied something which he couldn't forget. + It was a box just inside the henhouse door. In the box was some hay and in + that hay he was sure that he had seen an egg. In fact, he was sure that he + saw two eggs there. He might not have noticed them but for the fact that a + hen had jumped down from that box, making a terrible fuss. She didn't seem + frightened, but very proud. What under the sun she had to be proud about + Blacky couldn't understand, but he didn't stay to find out. The noise she + was making made him nervous. He was afraid that it would bring some one to + find out what was going on. So he spread his black wings and flew away as + silently as he had come. + </p> + <p> + As he was flying away he saw those eggs. You see, as he rose into the air, + he managed to pass that open door in such a way that he could glance in. + That one glance was enough. You know Blacky's eyes are very sharp. He saw + the hay in the box and the two eggs in the hay, and that was enough for + him. From that instant Blacky the Crow began to scheme and plan to get one + or both of those eggs. It seemed to him that he never, never, had wanted + anything quite so much, and he was sure that he would not and could not be + happy until he succeeded in getting one. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX: Blacky Screws Up His Courage + </h2> + <p> + If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a saying which you often hear. + It may be true sometimes, but it is very far from true at other times. + Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance into that nest just + inside the door of Farmer Brown's henhouse, but that glance had been + enough to show him two eggs there. Then, as he flew away toward the Green + Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of course. But do you think they + were out of mind? Not much! No, indeed! In fact, those eggs were very much + in Blacky's mind. He couldn't think of anything else. He flew straight to + a certain tall pine-tree in a lonely part of the Green Forest. Whenever + Blacky wants to think or to plan mischief, he seeks that particular tree, + and in the shelter of its broad branches he keeps out of sight of curious + eyes, and there he sits as still as still can be. + </p> + <p> + “I want one of those eggs,” muttered Blacky, as he settled himself in + comfort on a certain particular spot on a certain particular branch of + that tall pine-tree. Indeed, that particular branch might well be called + the “mischief branch,” for on it Blacky has thought out and planned most + of the mischief he is so famous for. “Yes, sir,” he continued, “I want one + of those eggs, and what is more, I am going to have one.” + </p> + <p> + He half closed his eyes and tipped his head back and swallowed a couple of + times, as if he already tasted one of those eggs. + </p> + <p> + “There is more in one of those eggs than in a whole nestful of Welcome + Robin's eggs. It is a very long time since I have been lucky enough to + taste a hen's egg, and now is my chance. I don't like having to go inside + that henhouse, even though it is barely inside the door. I'm suspicious of + doors. They have a way of closing most unexpectedly. I might see if I + cannot get Unc' Billy Possum to bring one of those eggs out for me. But + that plan won't do, come to think of it, because I can't trust Unc' Billy. + The old sinner is too fond of eggs himself. I would be willing to divide + with him, but he would be sure to eat his first, and I fear that it would + taste so good that he would eat the other. No. I've got to get one of + those eggs myself. It is the only way I can be sure of it. + </p> + <p> + “The thing to do is to make sure that Farmer Brown's boy and Farmer Brown + himself are nowhere about. They ought to be down in the cornfield pretty + soon. With them down there, I have only to watch my chance and slip in. It + won't take but a second. Just a little courage, Blacky, just a little + courage! Nothing in this world worth having is gained without some risk. + The thing to do is to make sure that the risk is as small as possible.” + </p> + <p> + Blacky shook out his feathers and then flew out of the tall pine-tree as + silently as he had flown into it. He headed straight toward Farmer Brown's + cornfield. When he was near enough to see all over the field, he dropped + down to the top of a fence post, and there he waited. He didn't have long + to wait. In fact, he had been there but a few minutes when he spied two + people coming down the Long Lane toward the cornfield. He looked at them + sharply, and then gave a little sigh of satisfaction. They were Farmer + Brown and Farmer Brown's boy. Presently they reached the cornfield and + turned into it. Then they went to work, and Blacky knew that so far as + they were concerned, the way was clear for him to visit the henyard. + </p> + <p> + He didn't fly straight there. Oh, my, no! Blacky is too clever to do + anything like that. He flew toward the Green Forest. When he knew that he + was out of sight of those in the cornfield, he turned and flew over to the + Old Orchard, and from the top of one of the old apple-trees he studied the + henyard and the barnyard and Farmer Brown's house and the barn, to make + absolutely sure that there was no danger near. When he was quite sure, he + silently flew down into the henyard as he had done many times before. He + pretended to be looking for scattered grains of corn, but all the time he + was edging nearer and nearer to the open door of the henhouse. At last he + could see the box with the hay in it. He walked right up to the open door + and peered inside. There was nothing to be afraid of that he could see. + Still he hesitated. He did hate to go inside that door, even for a minute, + and that is all it would take to fly up to that nest and get one of those + eggs. + </p> + <p> + Blacky closed his eyes for just a second, and when he did that he seemed + to see himself eating one of those eggs. “What are you afraid of?” he + muttered to himself as he opened his eyes. Then with a hurried look in all + directions, he flew up to the edge of the box. There lay the two eggs! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI: An Egg That Wouldn't Behave + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + If you had an egg and it wouldn't behave + Just what would you do with that egg, may I ask? + To make an egg do what it don't want to do + Strikes me like a difficult sort of a task. +</pre> + <p> + All of which is pure nonsense. Of course. Who ever heard of an egg either + behaving or misbehaving? Nobody. That is, nobody that I know, unless it be + Blacky. It is best not to mention eggs in Blacky's presence these days. + They are a forbidden topic when he is about. Blacky is apt to be a little + resentful at the mere mention of an egg. I don't know as I wholly blame + him. How would you feel if you knew you knew all there was to know about a + thing, and then found out that you didn't know anything at all? Well, that + is the way it is with Blacky the Crow. + </p> + <p> + If any one had told Blacky that he didn't know all there is to know about + eggs, he would have laughed at the idea. Wasn't he, Blacky, hatched from + an egg himself? And hadn't he, ever since he was big enough, hunted eggs + and stolen eggs and eaten eggs? If he didn't know about eggs, who did? + That is the way he would have talked before his visit to Farmer Brown's + henhouse. It is since then that it has been unwise to mention eggs. + </p> + <p> + When Blacky saw the two eggs in the nest in Farmer Brown's henhouse how + Blacky did wish that he could take both. But he couldn't. One would be all + that he could manage. He must take his choice and go away while the going + was good. Which should he take? + </p> + <p> + It often happens in this life that things which seem to be unimportant, + mere trifles in themselves, prove to be just the opposite. Now, so far as + Blacky could see, it didn't make the least difference which egg he took, + excepting that one was a little bigger than the other. As a matter of + fact, it made all the difference in the world. One was brown and very good + to look at. The other, the larger of the two, was white and also very good + to look at. In fact, Blacky thought it the better of the two to look at, + for it was very smooth and shiny. So, partly on this account, and partly + because it was the largest, Blacky chose the white egg. He seized it in + his claws and started to fly with it, but somehow he could not seem to get + a good grip on it. He fluttered to the ground just outside the door, and + there he got a better grip. Just as old Dandy-cock the Rooster, with head + down and all the feathers on his neck standing out with anger, came + charging at him, Blacky rose into the air and started over the Old Orchard + toward the Green Forest. + </p> + <p> + Never had Blacky felt more like cawing at the top of his lungs. You see, + he felt that he had been very smart, and I suspect that he also felt that + he had been very brave. He would have liked to boast a little. But he + didn't. He wisely held his tongue. It would be time enough to do his + boasting after he had reached a place of safety and had eaten that egg. He + was halfway across the Old Orchard when he felt that egg beginning to + slip. Now at best it isn't easy to carry an egg without breaking it. You + know how very careful you have to be. Just imagine how Blacky felt when + that egg began to slip. Do what he would, he couldn't get a better grip on + it. It slipped a wee bit more. Blacky started down towards the ground. But + he wasn't quick enough. Striped Chipmunk, watching Blacky from the old + stone wall, saw something white drop from Blacky's claws. He saw Blacky + dash after it and clutch at it only to miss it. Then the white thing + struck a branch of an old apple tree, bounced off and fell to the ground. + Blacky followed it. + </p> + <p> + Striped Chipmunk stole very softly through the grass to see what Blacky + was doing. Blacky was standing close beside a white thing that looked very + much like an egg. He was looking at it with the queerest expression. + </p> + <p> + Now and then he would reach out and rap it sharply with his bill, and then + look as if he didn't know what to make of it. He didn't. That egg wasn't + behaving right. It should have broken when it hit the branch of the apple + tree. Certainly it should have broken when he struck it that way with his + bill. However was he to eat that egg, if he couldn't break the shell? + Blacky didn't know. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXII: What Blacky Did With The Stolen Egg + </h2> + <p> + Blacky was puzzled. He didn't know what to make of that egg he had stolen + from Farmer Brown's henhouse. It wasn't like any egg he ever had seen or + even heard of. It was a beautiful-looking egg, and he had been sure that + it would taste as good, quite as good as it looked. Even now he wasn't + sure that if he could only taste it, it would be all that he had hoped. + But how could he taste it, when he couldn't break that shell? He never had + heard of such a shell. He doubted if anybody else ever had, either. He had + hammered at it with his stout bill until he was afraid that he would break + that, instead of the egg. The more he tried to break into it and couldn't, + the hungrier he grew, and the more certain that nothing else in all the + world could possibly taste so good. But the Old Orchard was not the place + for him to work on that egg. In the first place, it was too near Farmer + Brown's house. This made Blacky uneasy. You see, he had something of a + guilty conscience. Not that he felt at all a sense of having done wrong. + To his way of thinking, if he were smart enough to get that egg, he had + just as much right to it as any one else, particularly Farmer Brown's boy. + Yet he wasn't at all sure that Farmer Brown's boy would look at the matter + quite that way. In fact, he had a feeling that Farmer Brown's boy would + call him a thief if he should be discovered with that egg. Then, too, + there were too many sharp eyes in the Old Orchard. He wanted to get away + where he could be sure of being alone. Then if he couldn't break that + shell, no one would be the wiser. So he picked up the egg and flew + straight over to the Green Forest, and this time he managed to get there + without dropping it. + </p> + <p> + Now you would never suspect Blacky the Crow, he of the sharp wits and + crafty ways, of being amused by bright things, would you? But he is. In + fact, Blacky is quite like a little child in this matter. Anything that is + bright and shiny interests Blacky right away. If he finds anything of this + kind, he will take it away to a certain secret place, and there he will + admire it and play with it and finally hide it. If I didn't know that it + isn't so, because it couldn't possibly be so, I should think that Blacky + was some relation to certain small boys I know. Always their pockets are + filled with all sorts of useless odds and ends which they have picked up + here and there. Blacky has no pockets, so he keeps his treasures of this + kind in a secret hiding-place, a sort of treasure storehouse. He visits + this secretly every day, uncovers his treasures, and gloats over them and + plays with them, then carefully covers them up again. First Blacky took + this egg over near his home, and there he once more tried and tried and + tried to break the shell. But the shell wouldn't break, not even when + Blacky quite lost his temper and hammered at it for all he was worth. Then + he gave the thing up as a bad matter and flew up to his favorite roost in + the top of a tall pine-tree, leaving the egg on the ground. But from where + he sat on his favorite roost in the tall pine-tree he could see that + provoking egg, a little spot of shining white. When a Jolly Little Sunbeam + found it and rested on it, it was so very bright and shiny that Blacky + couldn't keep his eyes off it. + </p> + <p> + Little by little he forgot that it was an egg. At least, he forgot that he + wanted to eat it. He began to find pleasure in just looking at it. It + might not satisfy his stomach, but it certainly was very satisfying to his + eyes. He forgot to think of it as a thing to eat, but began to think of it + wholly as a thing to look at and admire. He was glad he hadn't been able + to break that shell. + </p> + <p> + Once more he spread his black wings and flew down to the egg. He cocked + his head to one side and looked at it. He cocked his head to the other + side and looked at it. He walked all around it, chuckling and saying to + himself, “Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty and all mine, mine, mine, mine! + Pretty, pretty, and all mine!” + </p> + <p> + Than he craftily looked all about to make sure that no one was watching + him. Having made quite sure, he rolled the egg over and turned it around + and admired it to his heart's content. At last he picked it up and carried + it to his treasure-house and covered it over very carefully. And there + that china nest-egg, for that is what he had stolen, is still his chief + treasure to this day, and Blacky still sometimes wonders what kind of a + hen laid such a hard-shelled egg. + </p> + <p> + Blacky has had very many other adventures, but it would take another book + to tell about all of them. That would be hardly fair to some of the other + little people who also have had adventures and want them told to you. One + of these is a beautiful little fellow who lives in the Green Forest, and + so the next book will be Whitefoot the Wood Mouse. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blacky the Crow, by Thornton W. 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Burgess + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4979] +Posting Date: March 24, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKY THE CROW *** + + + + +Produced by Kent Fielden + + + + + + +BLACKY THE CROW + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + + +CHAPTER I: Blacky The Crow Makes A Discovery + +Blacky the Crow is always watching for things not intended for his sharp +eyes. The result is that he gets into no end of trouble which he could +avoid. In this respect he is just like his cousin, Sammy Jay. Between +them they see a great deal with which they have no business and which it +would be better for them not to see. + +Now Blacky the Crow finds it no easy matter to pick up a living when +snow covers the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice binds the +Big River and the Smiling Pool. He has to use his sharp eyes for all +they are worth in order to find enough to fill his stomach, and he will +eat anything in the way of food that he can swallow. Often he travels +long distances looking for food, but at night he always comes back to +the same place in the Green Forest, to sleep in company with others of +his family. + +Blacky dearly loves company, particularly at night, and about the time +jolly, round, red Mr. Sun is beginning to think about his bed behind +the Purple Hills, you will find Blacky heading for a certain part of +the Green Forest where he knows he will have neighbors of his own kind. +Peter Rabbit says that it is because Blacky's conscience troubles him +so that he doesn't dare sleep alone, but Happy Jack Squirrel says that +Blacky hasn't any conscience. You can believe just which you please, +though I suspect that neither of them really knows. + +As I have said, Blacky is quite a traveler at this time of year, and +sometimes his search for food takes him to out-of-the-way places. One +day toward the very last of winter, the notion entered his black head +that he would have a look in a certain lonesome corner of the Green +Forest where once upon a time Redtail the Hawk had lived. Blacky knew +well enough that Redtail wasn't there now; he had gone south in the fell +and wouldn't be back until he was sure that Mistress Spring had arrived +on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest. + +Like the black imp he is, Blacky flew over the tree-tops, his sharp eyes +watching for something interesting below. Presently he saw ahead of him +the old nest of Red-tail. He knew all about that nest. He had visited +it before when Red-tail was away. Still it might be worth another visit. +You never can tell what you may find in old houses. Now, of course, +Blacky knew perfectly well that Redtail was miles and miles, hundreds +of miles away, and so there was nothing to fear from him. But Blacky +learned ever so long ago that there is nothing like making sure that +there is no danger. So, instead of flying straight to that old nest, he +first flew over the tree so that he could look down into it. + +Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his eyes. It +was quite large and white, and it looked--it looked very much indeed +like an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and blinked? Here was snow +on the ground, and Rough Brother North Wind and Jack Frost had given no +hint that they were even thinking of going back to the Far North. The +idea of any one laying an egg at this time of year! Blacky flew over to +a tall pine-tree to think it over. + +"Must be it was a little lump of snow," thought he. "Yet if ever I saw +an egg, that looked like one. Jumping grasshoppers, how good an egg +would taste right now!" You know Blacky has a weakness for eggs. The +more he thought about it, the hungrier he grew. Several times he almost +made up his mind to fly straight over there and make sure, but he didn't +quite dare. If it were an egg, it must belong to somebody, and perhaps +it would be best to find out who. Suddenly Blacky shook himself. "I must +be dreaming," said he. "There couldn't, there just couldn't be an egg at +this time of year, or in that old tumble-down nest! I'll just fly away +and forget it." + +So he flew away, but he couldn't forget it. He kept thinking of it all +day, and when he went to sleep that night he made up his mind to have +another look at that old nest. + + + +CHAPTER II: Blacky Makes Sure + + "As true as ever I've cawed a caw + That was a new-laid egg I saw." + +"What are you talking about?" demanded Sammy Jay, coming up just in time +to hear the last part of what Blacky the Crow was mumbling to himself. + +"Oh nothing, Cousin, nothing at all," replied Blacky. "I was just +talking foolishness to myself." Sammy looked at him sharply. "You aren't +feeling sick, are you, Cousin Blacky?" he asked. "Must be something +the matter with you when you begin talking about new-laid eggs, when +everything's covered with snow and ice. Foolishness is no name for it. +Whoever heard of such a thing as a new-laid egg this time of year." + +"Nobody, I guess," replied Blacky. "I told you I was just talking +foolishness. You see, I'm so hungry that I just got to thinking what I'd +have if I could have anything I wanted. That made me think of eggs, and +I tried to think just how I would feel if I should suddenly see a great +big egg right in front of me. I guess I must have said something about +it." + +"I guess you must have. It isn't egg time yet, and it won't be for a +long time. Take my advice and just forget about impossible things. I'm +going over to Farmer Brown's corncrib. Corn may not be as good as eggs, +but it is very good and very filling. Better come along," said Sammy. + +"Not this morning, thank you. Some other time, perhaps," replied +Blacky. + +He watched Sammy disappear through the trees. Then he flew to the top +of the tallest pine-tree to make sure that no one was about. When he was +quite sure that no one was watching him, he spread his wings and headed +for the most lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + +"I'm foolish. I know I'm foolish," he muttered. "But I've just got to +have another look in that old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I just can't get +it out of my head that that was an egg, a great, big, white egg, that I +saw there yesterday. It won't do any harm to have another look, anyway." + +Straight toward the tree in which was the great tumble-down nest of +Redtail the Hawk he flew, and as he drew near, he flew high, for Blacky +is too shrewd and smart to take any chances. Not that he thought that +there could be any danger there; but you never can tell, and it is +always the part of wisdom to be on the safe side. As he passed over the +top of the tree, he looked down eagerly. Just imagine how he felt when +instead of one, he saw two white things in the old nest--two white +things that looked for all the world like eggs! The day before there had +been but one; now there were two. That settled it in Blacky's mind; they +were eggs! They couldn't be anything else. + +Blacky kept right on flying. Somehow he didn't dare stop just then. He +was too much excited by what he had discovered to think clearly. He had +got to have time to get his wits together. Whoever had laid those eggs +was big and strong. He felt sure of that. It must be some one a great +deal bigger than himself, and he was of no mind to get into trouble, +even for a dinner of fresh eggs. He must first find out whose they were; +then he would know better what to do. He felt sure that no one else knew +about them, and he knew that they couldn't run away. So he kept right on +flying until he reached a certain tall pine-tree where he could sit and +think without being disturbed. + +"Eggs!" he muttered. "Real eggs! Now who under the sun can have moved +into Redtail's old house? And what can they mean by laying eggs before +Mistress Spring has even sent word that she has started? It's too much +for me. It certainly is too much for me." + + + +CHAPTER III: Blacky Finds Out Who Owns The Eggs + +Two big white eggs in a tumbledown nest, and snow and ice everywhere! +Did ever anybody hear of such a thing before? + +"Wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," muttered +Blacky the Crow. "Have to believe them. If I can't believe them, it's of +no use to try to believe anything in this world. As sure as I sit here, +that old nest has two eggs in it. Whoever laid them must be crazy to +start housekeeping at this time of year. I must find out whose eggs they +are and then--" + +Blacky didn't finish, but there was a hungry look in his eyes that would +have told any who saw it, had there been any to see it, that he had +a use for those eggs. But there was none to see it, and he took the +greatest care that there should be none to see him when he once again +started for a certain lonesome corner of the Green Forest. + +"First I'll make sure that the eggs are still there," thought he, and +flew high above the tree tops, so that as he passed over the tree in +which was the old nest of Red-tail the Hawk, he might look down into it. +To have seen him, you would never have guessed that he was looking for +anything in particular. He seemed to be just flying over on his way to +some distant place. If the eggs were still there, he meant to come back +and hide in the top of a near-by pine-tree to watch until he was sure +that he might safely steal those eggs, or to find out whose they were. + +Blacky's heart beat fast with excitement as he drew near that old +tumble-down nest. Would those two big white eggs be there? Perhaps +there would be three! The very thought made him flap his wings a little +faster. A few more wing strokes and he would be right over the tree. How +he did hope to see those eggs! He could almost see into the nest now. +One stroke! Two strokes! Three strokes! Blacky bit his tongue to keep +from giving a sharp caw of disappointment and surprise. + +There were no eggs to be seen. No, Sir, there wasn't a sign of eggs in +that old nest. There wasn't because--why, do you think? There wasn't +because Blacky looked straight down on a great mass of feathers which +quite covered them from sight, and he didn't have to look twice to know +that that great mass of feathers was really a great bird, the bird to +whom those eggs belonged. + +Blacky didn't turn to come back as he had planned. He kept right on, +just as if he hadn't seen anything, and as he flew he shivered a little. +He shivered at the thought of what might have happened to him if he had +tried to steal those eggs the day before and had been caught doing it. + +"I'm thankful I knew enough to leave them alone," said he. "Funny I +never once guessed whose eggs they are. I might have known that no one +but Hooty the Horned Owl would think of nesting at this time of year. +And that was Mrs. Hooty I saw on the nest just now. My, but she's big! +She's bigger than Hooty himself! Yes, Sir, it's a lucky thing I didn't +try to get those eggs yesterday. Probably both Hooty and Mrs. Hooty were +sitting close by, only they were sitting so still that I thought they +were parts of the tree they were in. Blacky, Blacky, the sooner you +forget those eggs the better." + +Some things are best forgotten As soon as they are learned. Who never +plays with fire Will surely not get burned. + + + +CHAPTER IV: The Cunning Of Blacky + +Now when Blacky the Crow discovered that the eggs in the old tumble-down +nest of Redtail the Hawk in a lonesome corner of the Green Forest +belonged to Hooty the Owl, he straightway made the best of resolutions; +he would simply forget all about those eggs. He would forget that he +ever had seen them, and he would stay away from that corner of the Green +Forest. That was a very wise resolution. Of all the people who live in +the Green Forest, none is fiercer or more savage than Hooty the Owl, +unless it is Mrs. Hooty. She is bigger than Hooty and certainly quite as +much to be feared by the little people. + +All this Blacky knows. No one knows it better. And Blacky is not one +to poke his head into trouble with his eyes open. So he very wisely +resolved to forget all about those eggs. Now it is one thing to make a +resolution and quite another thing to live up to it, as you all know. +It was easy enough to say that he would forget, but not at all easy +to forget. It would have been different if it had been spring or early +summer, when there were plenty of other eggs to be had by any one smart +enough to find them and steal them. But now, when it was still winter +(such an unheard-of time for any one to have eggs!), and it was hard +work to find enough to keep a hungry Crow's stomach filled, the thought +of those eggs would keep popping into his head. He just couldn't seem to +forget them. After a little, he didn't try. + +Now Blacky the Crow is very, very cunning. He is one of the smartest +of all the little people who fly. No one can get into more mischief and +still keep out of trouble than can Blacky the Crow. That is because he +uses the wits in that black head of his. In fact, some people are unkind +enough to say that he spends all his spare time in planning mischief. +The more he thought of those eggs, the more he wanted them, and it +wasn't long before he began to try to plan some way to get them without +risking his own precious skin. + +"I can't do it alone," thought he, "and yet if I take any one into my +secret, I'll have to share those eggs. That won't do at all, because +I want them myself. I found them, and I ought to have them." He quite +forgot or overlooked the fact that those eggs really belonged to Hooty +and Mrs. Hooty and to no one else. "Now let me see, what can I do?" + +He thought and he thought and he thought and he thought, and little by +little a plan worked out in his little black head. Then he chuckled. He +chuckled right out loud, then hurriedly looked around to see if any one +had heard him. No one had, so he chuckled again. He cocked his head +on one side and half closed his eyes, as if that plan was something he +could see and he was looking at it very hard. Then he cocked his head on +the other side and did the same thing. + +"It's all right," said he at last. "It'll give my relatives a lot of +fun, and of course they will be very grateful to me for that. It won't +hurt Hooty or Mrs. Hooty a bit, but it will make them very angry. They +have very short tempers, and people with short tempers usually forget +everything else when they are angry. We'll pay them a visit while the +sun is bright, because then perhaps they cannot see well enough to catch +us, and we'll tease them until they lose their tempers and forget all +about keeping guard over those eggs. Then I'll slip in and get one and +perhaps both of them. Without knowing that they are doing anything of +the kind, my friends and relatives will help me to get a good meal. My, +how good those eggs will taste!" + +It was a very clever and cunning plan, for Blacky is a very clever and +cunning rascal, but of course it didn't deserve success because nothing +that means needless worry and trouble for others deserves to succeed. + + + +CHAPTER V: Blacky Calls His Friends + +When Blacky cries "Caw, caw, caw, caw!" As if he'd dislocate his jaw, +His relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air. They +know that there is mischief afoot, and the Crow family is always ready +for mischief. So on this particular morning when they heard Blacky +cawing at the top of his lungs from the tallest pine-tree in the Green +Forest, they hastened over there as fast as they could fly, calling to +each other excitedly and sure that they were going to have a good time +of some kind. + +Blacky chuckled as he saw them coming. "Come on! Come on! Caw, caw, caw! +Hurry up and flap your wings faster. I know where Hooty the Owl is, and +we'll have no end of fun with him," he cried. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" shouted all his relatives in great glee. +"Where is he? Lead us to him. We'll drive him out of the Green Forest!" + +So Blacky led the way over to the most lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, straight to the tree in which Hooty the Owl was comfortably +sleeping. Blacky had taken pains to slip over early that morning and +make sure just where he was. He had discovered Hooty fast asleep, and +he knew that he would remain right where he was until dark. You know +Hooty's eyes are not meant for much use in bright light, and the +brighter the light, the more uncomfortable his eyes feel. Blacky knows +this, too, and he had chosen the very brightest part of the morning to +call his relatives over to torment poor Hooty. Jolly, round, bright Mr. +Sun was shining his very brightest, and the white snow on the ground +made it seem brighter still. Even Blacky had to blink, and he knew that +poor Hooty would find it harder still. + +But one thing Blacky was very careful not to even hint of, and that was +that Mrs. Hooty was right close at hand. Mrs. Hooty is bigger and even +more fierce than Hooty, and Blacky didn't want to frighten any of the +more timid of his relatives. What he hoped down deep in his crafty heart +was that when they got to teasing and tormenting Hooty and making the +great racket which he knew they would, Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper +and fly over to join Hooty in trying to drive away the black tormentors. +Then Blacky would slip over to the nest which she had left unguarded and +steal one and perhaps both of the eggs he knew were there. + +When they reached the tree where Hooty was, he was blinking his great +yellow eyes and had fluffed out all his feathers, which is a way he has +when he is angry, to make himself look twice as big as he really is. Of +course, he had heard the noisy crew coming, and he knew well enough what +to expect. As soon as they saw him, they began to scream as loud as +ever they could and to call him all manner of names. The boldest of them +would dart at him as if to pull out a mouthful of feathers, but took +the greatest care not to get too near. You see, the way Hooty hissed and +snapped his great bill was very threatening, and they knew that if once +he got hold of one of them with those big cruel claws of his, that would +be the end. + +So they were content to simply scold and scream at him and fly around +him, just out of reach, and make him generally uncomfortable, and they +were so busy doing this that no one noticed that Blacky was not joining +in the fun, and no one paid any attention to the old tumble-down nest +of Redtail the Hawk only a few trees distant. So far Blacky's plans were +working out just as he had hoped. + + + +CHAPTER VI: Hooty The Owl Doesn't Stay Still + + Now what's the good of being smart + When others do not do their part? + +If Blacky the Crow didn't say this to himself, he thought it. He knew +that he had made a very cunning plan to get the eggs of Hooty the Owl, +a plan so shrewd and cunning that no one else in the Green Forest or on +the Green Meadows would have thought of it. There was only one weakness +in it, and that was that it depended for success on having Hooty the +Owl do as he usually did when tormented by a crowd of noisy Crows,--stay +where he was until they got tired and flew away. + +Now Blacky sometimes makes a mistake that smart people are very apt to +make; he thinks that because he is so smart, other people are stupid. +That is where he proves that smart as he is, he isn't as smart as he +thinks he is. He always thought of Hooty the Owl as stupid. That is, he +always thought of him that way in daytime. At night, when he was waked +out of a sound sleep by the fierce hunting cry of Hooty, he wasn't so +sure about Hooty being stupid, and he always took care to sit perfectly +still in the darkness, lest Hooty's great ears should hear him and +Hooty's great eyes, made for seeing in the dark, should find him. No, +in the night Blacky was not at all sure that Hooty was stupid. + +But in the daytime he was sure. You see, he quite forgot the fact that +the brightness of day is to Hooty what the blackness of night is to him. +So, because Hooty would simply sit still and hiss and snap his bill, +instead of trying to catch his tormentors or flying away, Blacky called +him stupid. He felt sure that Hooty would stay right where he was now, +and he hoped that Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and leave the nest +where she was sitting on those two eggs and join Hooty to help him try +to drive away that noisy crew. + +But Hooty isn't stupid. Not a bit of it. The minute he found out that +Blacky and his friends had discovered him, he thought of Mrs. Hooty and +the two precious eggs in the old nest of Redtail the Hawk close by. + +"Mrs. Hooty mustn't be disturbed," thought he. "That will never do at +all. I must lead these black rascals away where they won't discover Mrs. +Hooty. I certainly must." + +So he spread his broad wings and blundered away among the trees a little +way. He didn't fly far because the instant he started to fly that whole +noisy crew with the exception of Blacky were after him. Because he +couldn't use his claws or bill while flying, they grew bold enough to +pull a few feathers out of his back. So he flew only a little way to a +thick hemlock-tree, where it wasn't easy for the Crows to get at him, +and where the light didn't hurt his eyes so much. There he rested a few +minutes and then did the same thing over again. He meant to lead +those bothersome Crows into the darkest part of the Green Forest and +there--well, he could see better there, and it might be that one of them +would be careless enough to come within reach. No, Hooty wasn't stupid. +Certainly not. + +Blacky awoke to that fact as he sat in the top of a tall pine-tree +silently watching. He could see Mrs. Hooty on the nest, and as the noise +of Hooty's tormentors sounded from farther and farther away, she settled +herself more comfortably and closed her eyes. Blacky could imagine that +she was smiling to herself. It was clear that she had no intention of +going to help Hooty. His splendid plan had failed just because stupid +Hooty, who wasn't stupid at all, had flown away when he ought to have +sat still. It was very provoking. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Blacky Tries Another Plan + + When one plan fails, just try another; + Declare you'll win some way or other. + +People who succeed are those who do not give up because they fail the +first time they try. They are the ones who, as soon as one plan fails, +get busy right away and think of another plan and try that. If the thing +they are trying to do is a good thing, sooner or later they succeed. If +they are trying to do a wrong thing, very likely all their plans fail, +as they should. + +Now Blacky the Crow knows all about the value of trying and trying. He +isn't easily discouraged. Sometimes it is a pity that he isn't, because +he plans so much mischief. But the fact remains that he isn't, and he +tries and tries until he cannot think of another plan and just has to +give up. When he invited all his relatives to join him in tormenting +Hooty the Owl, he thought he had a plan that just couldn't fail. He felt +sure that Mrs. Hooty would leave her nest and help Hooty try to drive +away his tormentors. But Mrs. Hooty didn't do anything of the kind, +because Hooty was smart enough and thoughtful enough to lead his +tormentors away from the nest into the darkest part of the Green Forest +where their noise wouldn't bother Mrs. Hooty. So she just settled +herself more comfortably than ever on those eggs which Blacky had hoped +she would give him a chance to steal, and his fine plan was quite upset. + +Not one of his relatives had noticed that nest. They had been too busy +teasing Hooty. This was just as Blacky had hoped. He didn't want them to +know about that nest because he was selfish and wanted to get those eggs +just for himself alone. But now he knew that the only way he could get +Mrs. Hooty off of them would be by teasing her so that she would lose +her temper and try to catch some of her tormentors. If she did that, +there would be a chance that he might slip in and get at least one of +those eggs. + +He would try it. + +For a few minutes he listened to the noise of his relatives growing +fainter and fainter, as Hooty led them farther and farther into the +Green Forest. Then he opened his mouth. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw!" he screamed. "Caw, caw, caw, caw! Come back, +everybody! Here is Mrs. Hooty on her nest! Caw, caw, caw, caw!" + +Now as soon as they heard that, all Blacky's relatives stopped chasing +and tormenting Hooty and started back as fast as they could fly. They +didn't like the dark part of the Green Forest into which Hooty was +leading them. Besides, they wanted to see that nest. So back they came, +cawing at the top of their lungs, for they were very much excited. Some +of them never had seen a nest of Hooty's. And anyway, it would be just +as much fun to tease Mrs. Hooty as it was to tease Hooty. + +"Where is the nest?" they screamed, as they came back to where Blacky +was cawing and pretending to be very much excited. + +"Why," exclaimed one, "that is the old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I know +all about that nest." And he looked at Blacky as if he thought Blacky +was playing a joke on them. + +"It was Redtail's, but it is Hooty's now. If you don't believe me, just +look in it," retorted Blacky. + +At once they all began to fly over the top of the tree where they could +look down into the nest and there, sure enough, was Mrs. Hooty, her +great, round, yellow eyes glaring up at them angrily. Such a racket! +Right away Hooty was forgotten, and the whole crowd at once began to +torment Mrs. Hooty. Only Blacky sat watchful and silent, waiting for +Mrs. Hooty to lose her temper and try to catch one of her tormentors. He +had hope, a great hope, that he would get one of those eggs. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: Hooty Comes To Mrs. Hooty's Aid + +No one can live just for self alone. A lot of people think they can, +but they are very much mistaken. They are making one of the greatest +mistakes in the world. Every teeny, weeny act, no matter what it is, +affects somebody else. That is one of Old Mother Nature's great laws. +And it is just as true among the little people of the Green Forest and +the Green Meadows as with boys and girls and grown people. It is Old +Mother Nature's way of making each of us responsible for the good of all +and of teaching us that always we should help each other. + +As you know, when Blacky the Crow called all his relatives over to the +nest where Mrs. Hooty was sitting on her eggs, they at once stopped +tormenting Hooty and left him alone in a thick hemlock-tree in the +darkest part of the Green Forest. Of course Hooty was very, very glad +to be left in peace, and he might have spent the rest of the day there +sleeping in comfort. But he didn't. No, Sir, he didn't. At first he gave +a great sigh of relief and settled himself as if he meant to stay. He +listened to the voices of those noisy Crows growing fainter and fainter +and was glad. But it was only for a few minutes. + +Presently those voices stopped growing fainter. They grew more +excited-sounding than ever, and they came right from one place. Hooty +knew then that his tormentors had found the nest where Mrs. Hooty was, +and that they were tormenting her just as they had tormented him. He +snapped his bill angrily and then more angrily. + +"I guess Mrs. Hooty is quite able to take care of herself," he +grumbled, "but she ought not to be disturbed while she is sitting on +those eggs. I hate to go back there in that bright sunshine. It hurts my +eyes, and I don't like it, but I guess I'll have to go back there. Mrs. +Hooty needs my help. I'd rather stay here, but--" + +He didn't finish. Instead, he spread his broad wings and flew back +towards the nest and Mrs. Hooty. His great wings made no noise, for they +are made so that he can fly without making a sound. "If I once get hold +of one of those Crows!" he muttered to himself. "If I once get hold of +one of those Crows, I'll--" He didn't say what he would do, but if +you had been near enough to hear the snap of his bill, you could have +guessed the rest. + +All this time the Crows were having what they called fun with Mrs. +Hooty. Nothing is true fun which makes others uncomfortable, but somehow +a great many people seem to forget this. So, while Blacky sat watching, +his relatives made a tremendous racket around Mrs. Hooty, and the more +angry she grew, the more they screamed and called her names and darted +down almost in her face, as they pretended that they were going to fight +her. They were so busy doing this, and Blacky was so busy watching them, +hoping that Mrs. Hooty would leave her nest and give him a chance to +steal the eggs he knew were under her, that no one gave Hooty a thought. + +All of a sudden he was there, right in the tree close to the nest! No +one had heard a sound, but there he was, and in the claws of one foot he +held the tail feathers of one of Blacky's relatives. It was lucky, very +lucky indeed for that one that the sun was in Hooty's eyes and so he had +missed his aim. Otherwise there would have been one less Crow. + +Now it is one thing to tease one lone Owl and quite another to tease two +together. Besides, there were those black tail feathers floating down +to the snow-covered ground. Quite suddenly those Crows decided that they +had had fun enough for one day, and in spite of all Blacky could do +to stop them, away they flew, cawing loudly and talking it all over +noisily. Blacky was the last to go, and his heart was sorrowful. However +could he get those eggs? + + + +CHAPTER IX: Blacky Thinks Of Farmer Brown's Boy + +"Such luck!" grumbled Blacky, as he flew over to his favorite tree to do +a little thinking. "Such luck! Now all my neighbors know about the nest +of Hooty the Owl, and sooner or later one of them will find out that +there are eggs in it. There is one thing about it, though, and that +is that if I can't get them, nobody can. That is to say, none of my +relatives can. I've tried every way I can think of, and those eggs are +still there. My, my, my, how I would like one of them right now!" + +Then Blacky the Crow did a thing which disappointed scamps often +do,--began to blame the ones he was trying to wrong because his plans +had failed. To have heard him talking to himself, you would have +supposed that those eggs really belonged to him and that Hooty and Mrs. +Hooty had cheated him out of them. Yes, Sir, that is what you would have +thought if you could have heard him muttering to himself there in the +tree-top. In his disappointment over not getting those eggs, he was +so sorry for himself that he actually did feel that he was the one +wronged,--that Hooty and Mrs. Hooty should have let him have those eggs. + +Of course, that was absolute foolishness, but he made himself believe +it just the same. At least, he pretended to believe it. And the more he +pretended, the angrier he grew. This is often the way with people who +try to wrong others. They grow angry with the ones they have tried to +wrong. When at last Blacky had to confess to himself that he could think +of no other way to get those eggs, he began to wonder if there was some +way to make trouble for Hooty and Mrs. Hooty. It was right then that he +thought of Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky's eyes snapped. He remembered how, +once upon a time, Farmer Brown's boy had delighted to rob nests. Blacky +had seen him take the eggs from the nests of Blacky's own relatives and +from many other feathered people. What he did with the eggs, Blacky had +no idea. Just now he didn't care. If Farmer Brown's boy would just +happen to find Hooty's nest, he would be sure to take those eggs, and +then he, Blacky, would feel better. He would feel that he was even with +Hooty. + +Right away he began to try to think of some way to bring Farmer Brown's +boy over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty's nest +was. If he could once get him there, he felt sure that Farmer Brown's +boy would see the nest and climb up to it, and then of course he would +take the eggs. If he couldn't have those eggs himself, the next best +thing would be to see some one else get them. + +Dear me, dear me, such dreadful thoughts! I am afraid that Blacky's +heart was as black as his coat. And the worst of it was, he seemed to +get a lot of pleasure in his wicked plans. Now right down in his heart +he knew that they were wicked plans, but he tried to make excuses to +himself. + +"Hooty the Owl is a robber," said he. "Everybody is afraid of him. +He lives on other people, and so far as I know he does no good in the +world. He is big and fierce, and no one loves him. The Green Forest +would be better off without him. If those eggs hatch, there will be +little Owls to be fed, and they will grow up into big fierce Owls, like +their father and mother. So if I show Farmer Brown's boy that nest and +he takes those eggs, I will be doing a kindness to my neighbors." + +So Blacky talked to himself and tried to hush the still, small voice +down inside that tried to tell him that what he was planning to do was +really a dreadful thing. And all the time he watched for Farmer Brown's +boy. + + + +CHAPTER X: Farmer Brown's Boy And Hooty + +Farmer Brown's boy had taken it into his head to visit the Green Forest. +It was partly because he hadn't anything else to do, and it was partly +because now that it was very near the end of winter he wanted to see how +things were there and if there were any signs of the coming of spring. +Blacky the Crow saw him coming, and Blacky chuckled to himself. He had +watched every day for a week for just this thing. Now he would tell +Farmer Brown's boy about that nest of Hooty the Owl. + +He flew over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty and +Mrs. Hooty had made their home and at once began to caw at the top of +his voice and pretend that he was terribly excited over something. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" shouted Blacky. At once all his relatives +within hearing hurried over to join him. They knew that he was +tormenting Hooty, and they wanted to join in the fun. It wasn't long +before there was a great racket going on over in that lonesome corner of +the Green Forest. + +Of course Farmer Brown's boy heard it. He stopped and listened. "Now +I wonder what Blacky and his friends have found this time," said he. +"Whenever they make a fuss like that, there is usually something to see +there. I believe I'll so over and have a look." + +So he turned in the direction of the lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, and as he drew near, he moved very carefully, so as to see all +that he could without frightening the Crows. He knew that as soon as +they saw him, they would fly away, and that might alarm the one they +were tormenting, for he knew enough of Crow ways to know that when they +were making such a noise as they were now making, they were plaguing +some one. + +Blacky was the first to see him because he was watching for him. But +he didn't say anything until Farmer Brown's boy was so near that he +couldn't help but see that nest and Hooty himself, sitting up very +straight and snapping his bill angrily at his tormentors. Then Blacky +gave the alarm, and at once all the Crows rose in the air and headed for +the Green Meadows, cawing at the top of their lungs. Blacky went with +them a little way. The first chance he got he dropped out of the flock +and silently flew back to a place where he could see all that might +happen at the nest of Hooty the Owl. + +When Farmer Brown's boy first caught sight of the nest and saw the Crows +darting down toward it and acting so excited, he was puzzled. + +"That's an old nest of Red-tail the Hawk," thought he. "I found that +last spring. Now what can there be there to excite those Crows so?" + +Then he caught sight of Hooty the Owl. "Ha, so that's it!" he exclaimed. +"Those scamps have discovered Hooty and have been having no end of fun +tormenting him. I wonder what he's doing there." + +He no longer tried to keep out of sight, but walked right up to the +foot of the tree, all the time looking up. Hooty saw him, but instead of +flying away, he snapped his bill just as he had at the Crows and hissed. + +"That's funny," thought Farmer Brown's boy. "If I didn't know that +to be the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, and if it weren't still the +tail-end of winter, I would think that was Hooty's nest." + +He walked in a circle around the tree, looking up. Suddenly he gave a +little start. Was that a tail sticking over the edge of the nest? He +found a stick and threw it up. It struck the bottom of the nest, and out +flew a great bird. It was Mrs. Hooty! Blacky the Crow chuckled. + + + +CHAPTER XI: Farmer Brown's Boy Is Tempted + + When you're tempted to do wrong + Is the time to prove you're strong. + Shut your eyes and clench each fist; + It will help you to resist. + +When a bird is found sitting on a nest, it is a pretty sure sign that +that nest holds something worth while. It is a sign that that bird has +set up housekeeping. So when Farmer Brown's boy discovered Mrs. Hooty +sitting so close on the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, in the most +lonesome corner of the Green Forest, he knew what it meant. Perhaps I +should say that he knew what it ought to mean. + +It ought to mean that there were eggs in that nest. + +But it was hard for Farmer Brown's boy to believe that. Why, spring +had not come yet! There was still snow, and the Smiling Pool was still +covered with ice. Who ever heard of birds nesting at this time of year? +Certainly not Farmer Brown's boy. And yet Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty +were acting for all the world as feathered folks do act when they have +eggs and are afraid that something is going to happen to them. It was +very puzzling. + +"That nest was built by Red-tail the Hawk, and it hasn't even been +repaired," muttered Farmer Brown's boy, as he stared up at it. "If +Hooty and his wife have taken it for their home, they are mighty poor +housekeepers. And if Mrs. Hooty has laid eggs this time of year, she +must be crazy. I suppose the way to find out is to climb up there. It +seems foolish, but I'm going to do it. Those Owls certainly act as if +they are mighty anxious about something, and I'm going to find out what +it is." + +He looked at Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, at their hooked bills and great +claws, and decided that he would take a stout stick along with him. He +had no desire to feel these great claws. When he had found a stick to +suit him, he began to climb the tree. Hooty and Mrs. Hooty snapped their +bills and hissed fiercely. They drew nearer. Farmer Brown's boy kept a +watchful eye on them. They looked so big and fierce that he was almost +tempted to give up and leave them in peace. But he just had to find out +if there was anything in that nest, so he kept on. As he drew near it, +Mrs. Hooty swooped very near to him, and the snap of her bill made an +ugly sound. He held his stick ready to strike and kept on. + +The nest was simply a great platform of sticks. When Farmer Brown's boy +reached it, he found that he could not get where he could look into it, +so he reached over and felt inside. Almost at once his fingers touched +something that made him tingle all over. It was an egg, a great big egg! +There was no doubt about it. It was just as hard for him to believe +as it had been for Blacky the Crow to believe, when he first saw those +eggs. Farmer Brown's boy's fingers closed over that egg and took it +out of the nest. Mrs. Hooty swooped very close, and Farmer Brown's boy +nearly dropped the egg as he struck at her with his stick. Then Mrs. +Hooty and Hooty seemed to lose courage and withdrew to a tree near by, +where they snapped their bills and hissed. + +Then Farmer Brown's boy looked at the prize in his hand. It was a big, +dirty-white egg. His eyes shone. What a splendid prize to add to his +collection of birds' eggs! It was the first egg of the Great Horned Owl, +the largest of all Owls, that he ever had seen. + +Once more he felt in the nest and found there was another egg there. +"I'll take both of them," said he. "It's the first nest of Hooty's that +I've ever found, and perhaps I'll never find another. Gee, I'm glad +I came over here to find out what those Crows were making such a fuss +about. I wonder if I can get these down without breaking them." + +Just at that very minute he remembered something. He remembered that he +had stopped collecting eggs. He remembered that he had resolved never to +take another bird's egg. + +"But this is different," whispered the tempter. "This isn't like taking +the eggs of the little song birds." + + + +CHAPTER XII: A Tree-Top Battle + + As black is black and white is white, + So wrong is wrong and right is right. + +There isn't any half way about it. A thing is wrong or it is right, and +that is all there is to it. But most people have hard work to see this +when they want very much to do a thing that the still small voice +way down inside tells them isn't right. They try to compromise. To +compromise is to do neither one thing nor the other but a little of +both. But you can't do that with right and wrong. It is a queer thing, +but a half right never is as good as a whole right, while a half wrong +often, very often, is as bad as a whole wrong. + +Farmer Brown's boy, up in the tree by the nest of Hooty the Owl in +the lonesome corner of the Green Forest, was fighting a battle. No, he +wasn't fighting with Hooty or Mrs. Hooty. He was fighting a battle right +inside himself. It was a battle between right and wrong. Once upon a +time he had taken great delight in collecting the eggs of birds, in +trying to see how many kinds he could get. Then as he had come to know +the little forest and meadow people better, he had seen that taking the +eggs of birds is very, very wrong, and he had stopped stealing them. He +bad declared that never again would he steal an egg from a bird. + +But never before had he found a nest of Hooty the Owl. Those two big +eggs would add ever so much to his collection. "Take 'em," said a +little voice inside. "Hooty is a robber. You will be doing a kindness to +the other birds by taking them." + +"Don't do it," said another little voice. "Hooty may be a robber, but +he has a place in the Green Forest, or Old Mother Nature never would +have put him here. It is just as much stealing to take his eggs as to +take the eggs of any other bird. He has just as much right to them as +Jenny Wren has to hers." + +"Take one and leave one," said the first voice. + +"That will be just as much stealing as if you took both," said the +second voice. "Besides, you will be breaking your own word. You said +that you never would take another egg." + +"I didn't promise anybody but myself," declared Farmer Brown's boy +right out loud. At the sound of his voice, Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, sitting +in the next tree, snapped their bills and hissed louder than ever. + +"A promise to yourself ought to be just as good as a promise to any one +else. I don't wonder Hooty hisses at you," said the good little voice. + +"Think how fine those eggs will look in your collection and how proud +you will be to show them to the other fellows who never have found a +nest of Hooty's," said the first little voice. + +"And think how mean and small and cheap you'll feel every time you look +at them," added the good little voice. "You'll get a lot more fun if +you leave them to hatch out and then watch the little Owls grow up and +learn all about their ways. Just think what a stout, brave fellow Hooty +is to start housekeeping at this time of year, and how wonderful it is +that Mrs. Hooty can keep these eggs warm and when they have hatched +take care of the baby Owls before others have even begun to build their +nests. Besides, wrong is wrong and right is right, always." + +Slowly Farmer Brown's boy reached over the edge of the nest and put +back the egg. Then he began to climb down the tree. When he reached the +ground he went off a little way and watched. Almost at once Mrs. Hooty +flew to the nest and settled down on the eggs, while Hooty mounted guard +close by. + +"I'm glad I didn't take 'em," said Farmer Brown's boy. "Yes, Sir, I'm +glad I didn't take 'em." + +As he turned back toward home, he saw Blacky the Crow flying over the +Green Forest, and little did he guess how he had upset Blacky's plans. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Blacky Has A Change Of Heart + +Blacky The Crow isn't all black. No, indeed. His coat is black, and +sometimes it seems as if his heart is all black, but this isn't so. It +certainly seemed as if his heart was all black when he tried so hard to +make trouble for Hooty the Owl. It would seem as if only a black heart +could have urged him to try so hard to steal the eggs of Hooty and Mrs. +Hooty, but this wasn't really so. You see, it didn't seem at all wrong +to try to get those eggs. Blacky was hungry, and those eggs would have +given him a good meal. He knew that Hooty wouldn't hesitate to catch +him and eat him if he had the chance, and so it seemed to him perfectly +right and fair to steal Hooty's eggs if he was smart enough to do so. +And most of the other little people of the Green Forest and the Green +Meadows would have felt the same way about it. You see, it is one of +the laws of Old Mother Nature that each one must learn to look out for +himself. + +But when Blacky showed that nest of Hooty's to Farmer Brown's boy with +the hope that Farmer Brown's boy would steal those eggs, there was +blackness in his heart. He was doing something then which was pure +meanness. He was just trying to make trouble for Hooty, to get even +because Hooty had been too smart for him. He had sat in the top of a +tall pine-tree where he could see all that happened, and he had chuckled +wickedly as he had seen Farmer Brown's boy climb to Hooty's nest and +take out an egg. He felt sure that he would take both eggs. He hoped so, +anyway. + +When he saw Farmer Brown's boy put the eggs back and climb down the tree +without any, he had to blink his eyes to make sure that he saw straight. +He just couldn't believe what he saw. At first he was dreadfully +disappointed and angry. It looked very much as if he weren't going to +get even with Hooty after all. He flew over to his favorite tree to +think things over. Now sometimes it is a good thing to sit by oneself +and think things over. It gives the little small voice deep down inside +a chance to be heard. It was just that way with Blacky now. + +The longer he thought, the meaner his action in calling Farmer Brown's +boy looked. It was one thing to try to steal those eggs himself, but it +was quite another matter to try to have them stolen by some one against +whom Hooty had no protection whatever. + +"If it had been any one but Hooty, you would have done your best to have +kept Farmer Brown's boy away," said the little voice inside. Blacky +hung his head. He knew that it was true. More than once, in fact many +times, he had warned other feathered folks when Farmer Brown's boy had +been hunting for their nests, and had helped to lead him away. + +At last Blacky threw up his head and chuckled, and this time his chuckle +was good to hear. "I'm glad that Farmer Brown's boy didn't take those +eggs," said he right out loud. "Yes, sir, I'm glad. I'll never do such +a thing as that again. I'm ashamed of what I did; yet I'm glad I did +it. I'm glad because I've learned some things. I've learned that Farmer +Brown's boy isn't as much to be feared as he used to be. I've learned +that Hooty isn't as stupid as I thought he was. I've learned that while +it may be all right for us people of the Green Forest to try to outwit +each other we ought to protect each other against common dangers. And +I've learned something I didn't know before, and that is that Hooty the +Owl is the very first of us to set up housekeeping. Now I think I'll go +hunt for an honest meal." And he did. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Blacky Makes A Call + + Judge no one by his style of dress; + Your ignorance you thus confess. + --Blacky the Crow. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw." There was no need of looking to see who that was. +Peter Rabbit knew without looking. Mrs. Quack knew without looking. Just +the same, both looked up. Just alighting in the top of a tall tree was +Blacky the Crow. "Caw, caw, caw, caw," he repeated, looking down at +Peter and Mrs. Quack and Mr. Quack and the six young Quacks. "I hope I +am not interrupting any secret gossip." + +"Not at all," Peter hastened to say. "Mrs. Quack was just telling me +of the troubles and clangers in bringing up a young family in the Far +North. How did you know the Quacks had arrived?" + +Blacky chuckled hoarsely. "I didn't," said he. "I simply thought there +might be something going on I didn't know about over here in the pond +of Paddy the Beaver, so I came over to find out. Mr. Quack, you and Mrs. +Quack are looking very fine this fall. And those handsome young Quacks, +you don't mean to tell me that they are your children!" + +Mrs. Quack nodded proudly. "They are," said she. + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Blacky, as if he were very much surprised, +when all the time he wasn't surprised at all. "They are a credit to +their parents. Yes, indeed, they are a credit to their parents. Never +have I seen finer young Ducks in all my life. How glad the hunters with +terrible guns will be to see them." + +Mrs. Quack shivered at that, and Blacky saw it. He chuckled softly. You +know he dearly loves to make others uncomfortable. "I saw three hunters +over on the edge of the Big River early this very morning," said he. + +Mrs. Quack looked more anxious than ever. Blacky's sharp eyes noted +this. + +"That is why I came over here," he added kindly. "I wanted to give you +warning." + +"But you didn't know the Quacks were here!" spoke up Peter. + +"True enough, Peter. True enough," replied Blacky, his eyes twinkling. +"But I thought they might be. I had heard a rumor that those who go +south are traveling earlier than usual this fall, so I knew I might find +Mr. and Mrs. Quack over here any time now. Is it true, Mrs. Quack, that +we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter?" + +"That is what they say up in the Far North," replied Mrs. Quack. "And it +is true that Jack Frost had started down earlier than usual. That is +how it happens we are here now. But about those hunters over by the Big +River, do you suppose they will come over here?" There was an anxious +note in Mrs. Quack's voice. + +"No," replied Blacky promptly. "Farmer Brown's boy won't let them. I +know. I've been watching him and he has been watching those hunters. As +long as you stay here, you will be safe. What a great world this would +be if all those two-legged creatures were like Farmer Brown's boy." + +"Wouldn't it!" cried Peter. Then he added, "I wish they were." + +"You don't wish it half as much as I do," declared Mrs. Quack. + +"Yet I can remember when he used to hunt with a terrible gun and was as +bad as the worst of them," said Blacky. + +"What changed him?" asked Mrs. Quack, looking interested. + +"Just getting really acquainted with some of the little people of the +Green Forest and the Green Meadows," replied Blacky. "He found them +ready to meet him more than halfway in friendship and that some of them +really are his best friends." + +"And now he is their best friend," spoke up Peter. + +Blacky nodded. "Right, Peter," said he. "That is why the Quacks are safe +here and will be as long as they stay." + + + +CHAPTER XV: Blacky Does A Little Looking About + + Do not take the word of others + That things are or are not so + When there is a chance that you may + Find out for yourself and know. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow is a shrewd fellow. He is one of the smartest and +shrewdest of all the little people in the Green Forest and on the Green +Meadows. Everybody knows it. And because of this, all his neighbors have +a great deal of respect for him, despite his mischievous ways. + +Of course, Blacky had noticed that Johnny Chuck had dug his house deeper +than usual and had stuffed himself until he was fatter than ever before. +He had noticed that Jerry Muskrat was making the walls of his house +thicker than in other years, and that Paddy the Beaver was doing the +same thing to his house. You know there is very little that escapes the +sharp eyes of Blacky the Crow. + +He had guessed what these things meant. "They think we are going to have +a long, hard, cold winter," muttered Blacky to himself. "Perhaps they +know, but I want to see some signs of it for myself. They may be only +guessing. Anybody can do that, and one guess is as good as another." + +Then he found Mr. and Mrs. Quack, the Mallard Ducks, and their children +in the pond of Paddy the Beaver and remembered that they never had come +down from their home in the Far North as early in the fall as this. Mrs. +Quack explained that Jack Frost had already started south, and so they +had started earlier to keep well ahead of him. + +"Looks as if there may be something in this idea of a long, hard, cold +winter," thought Blacky, "but perhaps the Quacks are only guessing, +too. I wouldn't take their word for it any more than I would the word +of Johnny Chuck or Jerry Muskrat or Paddy the Beaver. I'll look about a +little." + +So after warning the Quacks to remain in the pond of Paddy the Beaver +if they would be safe, Blacky bade them good-by and flew away. He headed +straight for the Green Meadows and Farmer Brown's cornfield. A little of +that yellow corn would make a good breakfast. + +When he reached the cornfield, Blacky perched on top of a shock of corn, +for it already had been cut and put in shocks in readiness to be carted +up to Farmer Brown's barn. For a few minutes he sat there silent and +motionless, but all the time his sharp eyes were making sure that no +enemy was hiding behind one of those brown shocks. When he was quite +certain that things were as safe as they seemed, he picked out a plump +ear of corn and began to tear open the husks, so as to get at the yellow +grains. + +"Seems to me these husks are unusually thick," muttered Blacky, as he +tore at them with his stout bill. "Don't remember ever having seen them +as thick as these. Wonder if it just happens to be so on this ear." + +Then, as a sudden thought popped into his black head, he left that ear +and went to another. The husks of this were as thick as those on the +first. He flew to another shock and found the husks there just the same. +He tried a third shock with the same result. + +"Huh, they are all alike," said he. Then he looked thoughtful and for a +few minutes sat perfectly still like a black statue. "They are right," +said he at last. "Yes, Sir, they are right." Of course he meant Johnny +Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks. "I don't +know how they know it, but they are right; we are going to have a long, +hard, cold winter. I know it myself now. I've found a sign. Old Mother +Nature has wrapped this corn in extra thick husks, and of course she has +done it to protect it. She doesn't do things without a reason. We are +going to have a cold winter, or my name isn't Blacky the Crow." + + + +CHAPTER XVI: Blacky Finds Other Signs + + A single fact may fail to prove you either right or wrong; + Confirm it with another and your proof will then be strong. + --Blacky the Crow. + +After his discovery that Old Mother Nature had wrapped all the ears +of corn in extra thick husks, Blacky had no doubt in his own mind that +Johnny Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks were +quite right in feeling that the coming winter would be long, hard and +cold. But Blacky long ago learned that it isn't wise or wholly safe to +depend altogether on one thing. + +"Old Mother Nature never does things by halves," thought Blacky, as he +sat on the fence post on the Green Meadows, thinking over his discovery +of the thick husks on the corn. "She wouldn't take care to protect the +corn that way and not do as much for other things. There must be other +signs, if I am smart enough to find them." + +He lifted one black wing and began to set in order the feathers beneath +it. Suddenly he made a funny little hop straight up. + +"Well, I never!" he exclaimed, as he spread his wings to regain his +balance. "I never did!" + +"Is that so?" piped a squeaky little voice. "If you say you never did, I +suppose you never did, though I want the word of some one else before I +will believe it. What is it you never did?" + +Blacky looked down. Peeping up at him from the brown grass were two +bright little eyes. + +"Hello, Danny Meadow Mouse!" exclaimed Blacky. "I haven't seen you for a +long time. I've looked for you several times lately." + +"I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it at all," squeaked Danny. "You'll +never see me when you are looking for me. That is, you won't if I can +help it. You won't if I see you first." + +Blacky chuckled. He knew what Danny meant. When Blacky goes looking +for Danny Meadow Mouse, it usually is in hope of having a Meadow Mouse +dinner, and he knew that Danny knew this. "I've had my breakfast," said +Blacky, "and it isn't dinner time yet." + +"What is it you never did?" persisted Danny, in his squeaky voice. + +"That was just an exclamation," explained Blacky. "I made a discovery +that surprised me so I exclaimed right out." + +"What was it?" demanded Danny. + +"It was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than I ever +knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to set them in +order a minute ago." He buried his bill in the feathers of his breast. +"Yes, sir," said he in a muffled voice, "they are coming in thicker than +I ever knew them to before. There is a lot of down around the roots of +them. I am going to have the warmest coat I've ever had." + +"Well, don't think you are the only one," retorted Danny. "My fur never +was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is the same way +with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose you know what it +means." + +"What does it mean?" asked Blacky, just as if he didn't have the least +idea, although he had guessed the instant he discovered those extra +feathers. + +"It means we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter, and Old Mother +Nature is preparing us for it," replied Danny, quite as if he knew all +about it. "You'll find that everybody who doesn't go south or sleep all +winter has a thicker coat than usual. Hello! There is old Roughleg the +Hawk! He has come extra early this year. I think I'll go back to warn +Nanny." Without another word Danny disappeared in the brown grass. Again +Blacky chuckled. "More signs," said he to himself. "More signs. There +isn't a doubt that we are going to have a hard winter. I wonder if I +can stand it or if I'd better go a little way south, where it will be +warmer." + + + +CHAPTER XVII: Blacky Watches A Queer Performance + + This much to me is very clear: + A thing not understood is queer. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow may be right. Again he may not be. If he is right, it +will account for a lot of the queer people in the world. They are not +understood, and so they are queer. At least, that is what other people +say, and never once think that perhaps they are the queer ones for not +understanding. + +But Blacky isn't like those people who are satisfied not to understand +and to think other people and things queer. He does his best to +understand. He waits and watches and uses those sharp eyes of his and +those quick wits of his until at last usually he does understand. + +The day of his discovery of Old Mother Nature's signs that the coming +winter would be long, hard and cold, Blacky paid a visit to the Big +River. Long ago he discovered that many things are to be seen on or +beside the Big River, things not to be seen elsewhere. So there are few +clays in which he does not get over there. + +As he drew near the Big River, he was very watchful and careful, was +Blacky, for this was the season when hunters with terrible guns were +abroad, and he had discovered that they were likely to be hiding along +the Big River, hoping to shoot Mr. or Mrs. Quack or some of their +relatives. So he was very watchful as he drew near the Big River, for +he had learned that it was dangerous to pass too near a hunter with a +terrible gun. More than once he had been shot at. But he had learned by +these experiences. Oh, yes, Blacky had learned. For one thing, he had +learned to know a gun when he saw it. For another thing, he had learned +just how far away one of these dreadful guns could be and still hurt the +one it was pointed at, and to always keep just a little farther away. +Also he had learned that a man or boy without a terrible gun is quite +harmless, and he had learned that hunters with terrible guns are tricky +and sometimes hide from those they seek to kill, so that in the dreadful +hunting season it is best to look sharply before approaching any place. + +On this afternoon, as he drew near the Big River, he saw a man who +seemed to be very busy on the shore of the Big River, at a place where +wild rice and rushes grew for some distance out in the water, for just +there it was shallow far out from the shore. Blacky looked sharply for a +terrible gun. But the man had none with him and therefore was not to be +feared. Blacky boldly drew near until he was able to see what the man +was doing. + +Then Blacky's eyes stretched their widest and he almost cawed right out +with surprise. The man was taking yellow corn from a bag, a handful at +a time, and throwing it out in the water. Yes, Sir, that is what he was +doing, scattering nice yellow corn among the rushes and wild rice in the +water! + +"That's a queer performance," muttered Blacky, as he watched. "What is +he throwing perfectly good corn out in the water for? He isn't planting +it, for this isn't the planting season. Besides, it wouldn't grow in the +water, anyway. It is a shame to waste nice corn like that. What is he +doing it for?" + +Blacky flew over to a tree some distance away and alighted in the top +of it to watch the queer performance. You know Blacky has very keen eyes +and he can see a long distance. For a while the man continued to scatter +corn and Blacky continued to wonder what he was doing it for. At last +the man went away in a boat. Blacky watched him until he was out of +sight. Then he spread his wings and slowly flew back and forth just +above the rushes and wild rice, at the place where the man had been +scattering the corn. He could see some of the yellow grains on the +bottom. Presently he saw something else. "Ha!" exclaimed Blacky. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Blacky Becomes Very Suspicious + + Of things you do not understand, + Beware! + They may be wholly harmless but-- + Beware! + You'll find the older that you grow + That only things and folks you know + Are fully to be trusted, so + Beware! + --Blacky the Crow. + +That is one of Blacky's wise sayings, and he lives up to it. It is one +reason why he has come to be regarded by all his neighbors as one of the +smartest of all who live in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadow. He +seldom gets into any real trouble because he first makes sure there +is no trouble to get into. When he discovers something he does not +understand, he is at once distrustful of it. + +As he watched a man scattering yellow corn in the water from the shore +of the Big River he at once became suspicious. He couldn't understand +why a man should throw good corn among the rushes and wild rice in the +water, and because he couldn't understand, he at once began to suspect +that it was for no good purpose. When the man left in a boat, Blacky +slowly flew over the rushes where the man had thrown the corn, and +presently his sharp eyes made a discovery that caused him to exclaim +right out. + +What was it Blacky had discovered? Only a few feathers. No one with eyes +less sharp than Blacky's would have noticed them. And few would have +given them a thought if they had noticed them. But Blacky knew right +away that those were feathers from a Duck. He knew that a Duck, or +perhaps a flock of Ducks, had been resting or feeding in there among +those rushes, and that in moving about they had left those two or three +downy feathers. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Blacky. "Mr. and Mrs. Quack or some of their relatives +have been here. It is just the kind of a place Ducks like. Also some +Ducks like corn. If they should come back here and find this corn, they +would have a feast, and they would be sure to come again. That man who +scattered the corn here didn't have a terrible gun, but that doesn't +mean that he isn't a hunter. He may come back again, and then he may +have a terrible gun. I'm suspicious of that man. I am so. I believe he +put that corn here for Ducks and I don't believe he did it out of the +kindness of his heart. If it was Farmer Brown's boy I would know that +all is well; that he was thinking of hungry Ducks, with few places where +they can feed in safety, as they make the long journey from the Far +North to the Sunny South. But it wasn't Farmer Brown's boy. I don't like +the looks of it. I don't indeed. I'll keep watch of this place and see +what happens." + +All the way to his favorite perch in a certain big hemlock-tree in the +Green Forest, Blacky kept thinking about that corn and the man who +had seemed to be generous with it, and the more he thought, the more +suspicious he became. He didn't like the looks of it at all. + +"I'll warn the Quacks to keep away from there. I'll do it the very first +thing in the morning," he muttered, as he prepared to go to sleep. "If +they have any sense at all, they will stay in the pond of Paddy the +Beaver. But if they should go over to the Big River, they would be +almost sure to find that corn, and if they should once find it, they +would keep going back for more. It may be all right, but I don't like +the looks of it." + +And still full of suspicions, Blacky went to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Blacky Makes More Discoveries + + Little things you fail to see + May important prove to be. + --Blacky the Crow. + +One of the secrets of Blacky's success in life is the fact that he never +fails to take note of little things. Long ago he learned that little +things which in themselves seem harmless and not worth noticing may +together prove the most important things in life. So, no matter how +unimportant a thing may appear, Blacky examines it closely with those +sharp eyes of his and remembers it. + +The very first thing Blacky did, as soon as he was awake the morning +after he discovered the man scattering corn in the rushes at a certain +place on the edge of the Big River, was to fly over to the pond of Paddy +the Beaver and again warn Mr. and Mrs. Quack to keep away from the Big +River, if they and their six children would remain safe. Then he got +some breakfast. He ate it in a hurry and flew straight over to the Big +River to the place where he had seen that yellow corn scattered. + +Blacky wasn't wholly surprised to find Dusky the Black Duck, own cousin +to Mr. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard Ducks, with a number of his relatives +in among the rushes and wild rice at the very place where that corn had +been scattered. They seemed quite contented and in the best of spirits. +Blacky guessed why. Not a single grain of that yellow corn could Blacky +see. He knew the ways of Dusky and his relatives. He knew that they must +have come in there just at dusk the night before and at once had found +that corn. He knew that they would remain hiding there until frightened +out, and that then they would spend the day in some little pond where +they would not be likely to be disturbed or where at least no danger +could approach them without being seen in plenty of time. There they +would rest all day, and when the Black Shadows came creeping out from +the Purple Hills, they would return to that place on the Big River to +feed, for that is the time when they like best to hunt for their food. + +Dusky looked up as Blacky flew over him, but Blacky said nothing, and +Dusky said nothing. But if Blacky didn't use his tongue, he did use his +eyes. He saw just on the edge of the shore what looked like a lot of +small bushes growing close together on the very edge of the water. Mixed +in with them were a lot of the brown rushes. They looked very harmless +and innocent. But Blacky knew every foot of that shore along the Big +River, and he knew that those bushes hadn't been there during the +summer. He knew that they hadn't grown there. + +He flew directly over them. Just back of them were a couple of logs. +Those logs hadn't been there when he passed that way a few days before. +He was sure of it. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Blacky under his breath. "Those look to me as if they +might be very handy, very handy indeed, for a hunter to sit on. Sitting +there behind those bushes, he would be hidden from any Duck who might +come in to look for nice yellow corn scattered out there among the +rushes. It doesn't look right to me. No, Sir, it doesn't look right to +me. I think I'll keep an eye on this place." + +So Blacky came back to the Big River several times that day. The second +time back he found that Dusky the Black Duck and his relatives had left. +When he returned in the afternoon, he saw the same man he had seen +there the afternoon before, and he was doing the same thing,--scattering +yellow corn out in the rushes. And as before, he went away in a boat. + +"I don't like it," muttered Blacky, shaking his black head. "I don't +like it." + + + +CHAPTER XX: Blacky Drops A Hint + + When you see another's danger + Warn him though he be a stranger. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Every day for a week a man came in a boat to scatter corn in the rushes +at a certain point along the bank of the Big River, and every day Blacky +the Crow watched him and shook his black head and talked to himself and +told himself that he didn't like it, and that he was sure that it was +for no good purpose. Sometimes Blacky watched from a distance, and +sometimes he flew right over the man. But never once did the man have a +gun with him. + +Every morning, very early, Blacky flew over there, and every morning he +found Dusky the Black Duck and his flock in the rushes and wild rice at +that particular place, and he knew that they had been there all night, +He knew that they had come in there just at dusk the night before, to +feast on the yellow corn the man had scattered there in the afternoon. + +"It is no business of mine what those Ducks do," muttered Blacky to +himself, "but as surely as my tail feathers are black, something is +going to happen to some of them one of these days. That man may be +fooling them, but he isn't fooling me. Not a bit of it. He hasn't had +a gun with him once when I have seen him, but just the same he is a +hunter. I feel it in my bones. He knows those silly Ducks come in here +every night for that corn he puts out. He knows that after they have +been here a few times and nothing has frightened them, they will be +so sure that it is a safe place that they will not be the least bit +suspicious. Then he will hide behind those bushes he has placed close to +the edge of the water and wait for them with his terrible gun. That is +what he will do, or my name isn't Blacky." + +Finally Blacky decided to drop a hint to Dusky the Black Duck. So the +next morning he stopped for a call. "Good morning," said he, as Dusky +swam in just in front of him. "I hope you are feeling as fine as you +look." + +"Quack, quack," replied Dusky. "When Blacky the Crow flatters, he hopes +to gain something. What is it this time?" + +"Not a thing," replied Blacky. "On my honor, not a thing. There is +nothing for me here, though there seems to be plenty for you and your +relatives, to judge by the fact that I find you in this same place every +morning. What is it?" + +"Corn," replied Dusky in a low voice, as if afraid some one might +overhear him. "Nice yellow corn." + +"Corn!" exclaimed Blacky, as if very much astonished. "How does corn +happen to be way over here in the water?" + +Dusky shook his head. "Don't ask me, for I can't tell you," said he. "I +haven't the least idea. All I know is that every evening when we arrive, +we find it here. How it gets here, I don't know, and furthermore I don't +care. It is enough for me that it is here." + +"I've seen a man over here every afternoon," said Blacky. "I thought he +might be a hunter." + +"Did he have a terrible gun?" asked Dusky suspiciously. + +"No-o," replied Blacky. + +"Then he isn't a hunter," declared Dusky, looking much relieved. + +"But perhaps one of these days he will have one and will wait for you to +come in for your dinner," suggested Blacky. "He could hide behind these +bushes, you know." + +"Nonsense," retorted Dusky, tossing his head. "There hasn't been a sign +of danger here since we have been here. I know you, Blacky; you are +jealous because we find plenty to eat here, and you find nothing. You +are trying to scare us. But I'll tell you right now, you can't scare us +away from such splendid eating as we have had here. So there!" + + + +CHAPTER XXI: At Last Blacky Is Sure + + Who for another conquers fear + Is truly brave, it is most clear. + --Blacky the Crow. + +It was late in the afternoon, and Blacky the Crow was on his way to the +Green Forest. As usual, he went around by the Big River to see if that +man was scattering corn for the Ducks. He wasn't there. No one was to be +seen along the bank of the Big River. + +"He hasn't come to-day, or else he came early and has left," thought +Blacky. And then his sharp eyes caught sight of something that made him +turn aside and make straight for a certain tree, from the top of which +he could see all that went on for a long distance. What was it Blacky +saw? It was a boat coming down the Big River. + +Blacky sat still and watched. Presently the boat turned in among the +rushes, and a moment later a man stepped out on the shore. It was the +same man Blacky had watched scatter corn in the rushes every day for a +week. There wasn't the least doubt about it, it was the same man. + +"Ha, ha!" exclaimed Blacky, and nearly lost his balance in his +excitement. "Ha, ha! It is just as I thought!" You see Blacky's sharp +eyes had seen that the man was carrying something, and that something +was a gun, a terrible gun. Blacky knows a terrible gun as far as he can +see it. + +The hunter, for of course that is what he was, tramped along the shore +until he reached the bushes which Blacky had noticed close to the water +and which he knew had not grown there. The hunter looked out over the +Big River. Then he walked along where he had scattered corn the day +before. Not a grain was to be seen. This seemed to please him. Then he +went back to the bushes and sat down on a log behind them, his terrible +gun across his knees. + +"I was sure of it," muttered Blacky. "He is going to wait there for +those Ducks to come in, and then something dreadful will happen. What +terrible creatures these hunters are! They don't know what fairness is. +No, Sir, they don't know what fairness is. He has put food there day +after day, where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock would be sure to +find it, and has waited until they have become so sure there is no +danger that they are no longer suspicious. He knows they will feel so +sure that all is safe that they will come in without looking for danger. +Then he will fire that terrible gun and kill them without giving them +any chance at all. + +"Reddy Fox is a sly, clever hunter, but he wouldn't do a thing like +that. Neither would Old Man Coyote or anybody else who wears fur or +feathers. They might hide and try to catch some one by surprise. That is +all right, because each of us is supposed to be on the watch for things +of that sort. Oh, dear, what's to be done? It is time I was getting home +to the Green Forest. The Black Shadows will soon come creeping out from +the Purple Hills, and I must be safe in my hemlock-tree by then. I would +be scared to death to be out after dark. Yet those Ducks ought to be +warned. Oh, dear, what shall I do?" + +Blacky peered over at the Green Forest and then over toward the Purple +Hills, behind which jolly, round, red Mr. Sun would go to bed very +shortly. He shivered as he thought of the Black Shadows that soon would +come swiftly out from the Purple Hills across the Big River and over the +Green Meadows. With them might come Hooty the Owl, and Hooty wouldn't +object in the least to a Crow dinner. He wished he was in that +hemlock-tree that very minute. Then Blacky looked at the hunter with his +terrible gun and thought of what might happen, what would be almost sure +to happen, unless those Ducks were warned. "I'll wait a little while +longer," muttered Blacky, and tried to feel brave. But instead he +shivered. + + + +CHAPTER XXII: Blacky Goes Home Happy + + No greater happiness is won + Than through a deed for others done. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky sat in the top of a tree near the bank of the Big River and +couldn't make up his mind what to do. He wanted to get home to the big, +thick hemlock-tree in the Green Forest before dusk, for Blacky is afraid +of the dark. That is, he is afraid to be out after dark. + +"Go along home," said a voice inside him, "there is hardly time now for +you to get there before the Black Shadows arrive. Don't waste any more +time here. What may happen to those silly Ducks is no business of yours, +and there is nothing you can do, anyway. Go along home." + +"Wait a few minutes," said another little voice down inside him. "Don't +be a coward. You ought to warn Dusky the Black Duck and his flock that a +hunter with a terrible gun is waiting for them. Is it true that it is +no business of yours what happens to those Ducks? Think again, Blacky; +think again. It is the duty of each one who sees a common danger to warn +his neighbors. If something dreadful should happen to Dusky because +you were afraid of the dark, you never would be comfortable in your own +mind. Stay a little while and keep watch." + +Not five minutes later Blacky saw something that made him, oh, so glad +he had kept watch. It was a swiftly moving black line just above the +water far down the Big River, and it was coming up. He knew what that +black line was. He looked over at the hunter hiding behind some bushes +close to the edge of the water. The hunter was crouching with his +terrible gun in his hands and was peeping over the bushes, watching that +black line. He, too, knew what it was. It was a flock of Ducks flying. + +Blacky was all ashake again, but this time it wasn't with fear of being +caught away from home in the dark; it was with excitement. He knew that +those Ducks had become so eager for more of that corn, that delicious +yellow corn which every night for a week they had found scattered in the +rushes just in front of the place where that hunter was now hiding, that +they couldn't wait for the coming of the Black Shadows. They were so +sure there was no danger that they were coming in to eat without waiting +for the Black Shadows, as they usually did. And Blacky was glad. Perhaps +now he could give them warning. + +Up the middle of the Big River, flying just above the water, swept the +flock with Dusky at its head. How swiftly they flew, those nine big +birds! Blacky envied them their swift wings. On past the hidden hunter +but far out over the Big River they swept. For just a minute Blacky +thought they were going on up the river and not coming in to eat, after +all. Then they turned toward the other shore, swept around in a circle +and headed straight in toward that hidden hunter. Blacky glanced at him +and saw that he was ready to shoot. + +Almost without thinking, Blacky spread his wings and started out from +that tree. "Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" he shrieked at the top of his +lungs. "Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" It was his danger cry that everybody +on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest knows. + +Instantly Dusky turned and began to climb up, up, up, the other Ducks +following him until, as they passed over the hidden hunter, they were so +high it was useless for him to shoot. He did put up his gun and aim at +them, but he didn't shoot. You see, he didn't want to frighten them so +that they would not return. Then the flock turned and started off in +the direction from which they had come, and in a few minutes they were +merely a black line disappearing far down the Big River. + +Blacky headed straight for the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. He +knew that those Ducks would not return until after dark. He had saved +them this time, and he was so happy he didn't even notice the Black +Shadows. And the hunter stood up and shook his fist at Blacky the Crow. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII: Blacky Calls Farmer Brown's Boy + +Blacky awoke in the best of spirits. Late the afternoon before he had +saved Dusky the Black Duck and his flock from a hunter with a terrible +gun. He wasn't quite sure whether he was most happy in having saved +those Ducks by warning them just in time, or in having spoiled the plans +of that hunter. He hates a hunter with a terrible gun, does Blacky. For +that matter, so do all the little people of the Green Forest and the +Green Meadows. + +So Blacky started out for his breakfast in high spirits. After +breakfast, he flew over to the Big River to see if Dusky the Black Duck +was feeding in the rushes along the shore. Dusky wasn't, and Blacky +guessed that he and his flock had been so frightened by that warning +that they had kept away from there the night before. + +"But they'll come back after a night or so," muttered Blacky, as he +alighted in the top of a tree, the same tree from which he had watched +the hunter the afternoon before. "They'll come back, and so will that +hunter. If he sees me around again, he'll try to shoot me. I've done all +I can do. Anyway, Dusky ought to have sense enough to be suspicious of +this place after that warning. Hello, who is that? I do believe it is +Farmer Brown's boy. I wish he would come over here. If he should find +out about that hunter, perhaps he would do something to drive him away. +I'll see if I can call him over here." + +Blacky began to call in the way he does when he has discovered something +and wants others to know about it. "Caw, caw, caaw, caaw, caw, caw, +caaw!" screamed Blacky, as if greatly excited. + +Now Farmer Brown's boy, having no work to do that morning, had started +for a tramp over the Green Meadows, hoping to see some of his little +friends in feathers and fur. He heard the excited cawing of Blacky and +at once turned in that direction. + +"That black rascal has found something over on the shore of the Big +River," said Farmer Brown's boy to himself. "I'll go over there to +see what it is. There isn't much escapes the sharp eyes of that black +busybody. He has led me to a lot of interesting things, one time and +another. There he is on the top of that tree over by the Big River." + +As Farmer Brown's boy drew near, Blacky flew down and disappeared below +the bank. Fanner Brown's boy chuckled. "Whatever it is, it is right down +there," he muttered. + +He walked forward rapidly but quietly, and presently he reached the edge +of the bank. Up flew Blacky cawing wildly, and pretending to be scared +half to death. Again Farmer Brown's boy chuckled. "You're just making +believe," he declared. "You're trying to make me believe that I have +surprised you, when all the time you knew I was coming and have been +waiting for me. Now, what have you found over here?" + +He looked eagerly along the shore, and at once he saw a row of low +bushes close to the edge of the water. He knew what it was instantly. +"A Duck blind!" he exclaimed. "A hunter has built a blind over here from +which to shoot Ducks. I wonder if he has killed any yet. I hope not." He +went down to the blind, for that is what a Duck hunter's hiding-place +is called, and looked about. A couple of grains of corn just inside +the blind caught his eyes, and his face darkened. "That fellow has been +baiting Ducks," thought he. "He has been putting out corn to get them to +come here regularly. My, how I hate that sort of thing! It is bad enough +to hunt them fairly, but to feed them and then kill them--ugh! I wonder +if he has shot any yet." + +He looked all about keenly, and his face cleared. He knew that if that +hunter had killed any Ducks, there would be tell-tale feathers in the +blind, and there were none. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV: Farmer Brown's Boy Does Some Thinking + +Farmer Brown's boy sat on the bank of the Big River in a brown study. +That means that he was thinking very hard. Blacky the Crow sat in the +top of a tall tree a short distance away and watched him. Blacky was +silent now, and there was a knowing look in his shrewd little eyes. In +calling Farmer Brown's boy over there, he had done all he could, and he +was quite satisfied to leave the matter to Farmer Brown's boy. + +"A hunter has made that blind to shoot Black Ducks from," thought Farmer +Brown's boy, "and he has been baiting them in here by scattering corn +for them. Black Ducks are about the smartest Ducks that fly, but if they +have been coming in here every evening and finding corn and no sign of +danger, they probably think it perfectly safe here and come straight +in without being at all suspicious. To-night, or some night soon, that +hunter will be waiting for them. + +"I guess the law that permits hunting Ducks is all right, but there +ought to be a law against baiting them in. That isn't hunting. No, Sir, +that isn't hunting. If this land were my father's, I would know what to +do. I would put up a sign saying that this was private property and no +shooting was allowed. But it isn't my father's land, and that hunter has +a perfect right to shoot here. He has just as much right here as I have. +I wish I could stop him, but I don't see how I can." + +A frown puckered the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy. You see, he +was thinking very hard, and when he does that he is very apt to frown. + +"I suppose," he muttered, "I can tear down his blind. He wouldn't know +who did it. But that wouldn't do much good; he would build another. +Besides, it wouldn't be right. He has a perfect right to make a blind +here, and having made it, it is his and I haven't any right to touch +it. I won't do a thing I haven't a right to do. That wouldn't be honest. +I've got to think of some other way of saving those Ducks." + +The frown on his freckled face grew deeper, and for a long time he sat +without moving. Suddenly his face cleared, and he jumped to his feet. He +began to chuckle. "I have it!" he exclaimed. "I'll do a little shooting +myself!" Then he chuckled again and started for home. Presently he began +to whistle, a way he has when he is in good spirits. + +Blacky the Crow watched him go, and Blacky was well satisfied. He didn't +know what Farmer Brown's boy was planning to do, but he had a feeling +that he was planning to do something, and that all would be well. +Perhaps Blacky wouldn't have felt so sure could he have understood what +Farmer Brown's boy had said about doing a little shooting himself. + +As it was, Blacky flew off about his own business, quite satisfied that +now all would be well, and he need worry no more about those Ducks. +None of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows knew +Farmer Brown's boy better than did Blacky the Crow. None knew better +than he that Farmer Brown's boy was their best friend. "It is all right +now," chuckled Blacky. "It is all right now." And as the cheery whistle +of Farmer Brown's boy floated back to him on the Merry Little Breezes, +he repeated it: "It is all right now." + + + +CHAPTER XXV: Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock + + When friends prove false, whom may we trust? + The springs of faith are turned to dust. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow was in the top of his favorite tree over near the Big +River early this afternoon. He didn't know what was going to happen, but +he felt in his bones that something was, and he meant to be on hand to +see. For a long time he sat there, seeing nothing unusual. At last he +spied a tiny figure far away across the Green Meadows. Even at that +distance he knew who it was; it was Farmer Brown's boy, and he was +coming toward the Big River. + +"I thought as much," chuckled Blacky. "He is coming over here to drive +that hunter away." + +The tiny figure grew larger. It was Farmer Brown's boy beyond a doubt. +Suddenly Blacky's eyes opened so wide that they looked as if they were +in danger of popping out of his head. He had discovered that Farmer +Brown's boy was carrying something and that that something was a gun! +Yes, Sir, Farmer Brown's boy was carrying a terrible gun! If Blacky +could have rubbed his eyes, he would have done so, just to make sure +that there was nothing the matter with them. + +"A gun!" croaked Blacky. "Farmer Brown's boy with a terrible gun! What +does it mean?" + +Nearer came Farmer Brown's boy, and Blacky could see that terrible gun +plainly now. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. "Perhaps he is going +to shoot that hunter!" thought Blacky, and somehow he felt better. + +Farmer Brown's boy reached the Big River at a point some distance below +the blind built by the hunter. He laid his gun down on the bank and went +down to the edge of the water. The rushes grew very thick there, and +for a while Farmer Brown's boy was very busy among them. Blacky from +his high perch could watch him, and as he watched, he grew more and more +puzzled. It looked very much as if Farmer Brown's boy was building a +blind much like that of the hunter's. At last he carried an old log +down there, got his gun, and sat down just as the hunter had done in his +blind the afternoon before. He was quite hidden there, excepting from a +place high up like Blacky's perch. + +"I--I--I do believe he is going to try to shoot those Ducks himself," +gasped Blacky. "I wouldn't have believed it if any one had told me. No, +Sir, I wouldn't have believed it. I--I--can't believe it now. Farmer +Brown's boy hunting with a terrible gun! Yet I've got to believe my own +eyes." + +A noise up river caught his attention. It was the noise of oars in a +boat. There was the hunter, rowing down the Big River. Just as he had +done the day before, he came ashore above his blind and walked down to +it. + +"This is no place for me," muttered Blacky. "He'll remember that I +scared those Ducks yesterday, and as likely as not he'll try to shoot +me." + +Blacky spread his black wings and hurriedly left the tree-top, heading +for another tree farther back on the Green Meadows where he would be +safe, but from which he could not see as well. There he sat until the +Black Shadows warned him that it was high time for him to be getting +back to the Green Forest. + +He had to hurry, for it was later than usual, and he was afraid to be +out after dark. Just as he reached the Green Forest he heard a faint +"bang, bang" from over by the Big River, and he knew that it came from +the place where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. + +"It is true," croaked Blacky. "Farmer Brown's boy has turned hunter." +It was such a dreadful shock to Blacky that it was a long time before he +could go to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI: Why The Hunter Got No Ducks + +The hunter who had come down the Big River in a boat and landed near +the place where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock had found nice yellow +corn scattered in the rushes night after night saw Blacky the Crow leave +the top of a certain tree as he approached. + +"It is well for you that you didn't wait for me to get nearer," said the +hunter. "You are smart enough to know that you can't play the same trick +on me twice. You frightened those Ducks away last night, but if you try +it again, you'll be shot as surely as your coat is black." + +Then the hunter went to his blind which, you know, was the hiding-place +he had made of bushes and rushes, and behind this he sat down with his +terrible gun to wait and watch for Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + +Now you remember that farther along the shore of the Big River was +Farmer Brown's boy, hiding in a blind he had made that afternoon. The +hunter couldn't see him at all. He didn't have the least idea that any +one else was anywhere near. "With that Crow out of the way, I think I +will get some Ducks to-night," thought the hunter and looked at his gun +to make sure that it was ready. + +Over in the West, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed behind +the Purple Hills, and the Black Shadows came creeping out. Far down +the Big River the hunter saw a swiftly moving black line just above the +water. "Here they come," he muttered, as he eagerly watched that black +line draw nearer. + +Twice those big black birds circled around over the Big River opposite +where the hunter was crouching behind his blind. It was plain that +Dusky, their leader, remembered Blacky's warning the night before. But +this time there was no warning. Everything appeared safe. Once more the +flock circled and then headed straight for that place where they hoped +to find more corn. The hunter crouched lower. They were almost near +enough for him to shoot when "bang, bang" went a gun a short distance +away. + +Instantly Dusky and his flock turned and on swift wings swung off and +up the river. If ever there was a disappointed hunter, it was the one +crouching in that blind. "Somebody else is hunting, and he spoiled +my shot that time," he muttered. "He must have a blind farther down. +Probably some other Ducks I didn't see came in to him. I wonder if he +got them. Here's hoping that next time those Ducks come in here first." + +He once more made himself comfortable and settled down for a long wait. +The Black Shadows crept out from the farther bank of the Big River. +Jolly, round red Mr. Sun had gone to bed, and the first little star was +twinkling high overhead. It was very still and peaceful. From out in the +middle of the Big River sounded a low "quack"; Dusky and his flock were +swimming in this time. Presently the hunter could see a silver line on +the water, and then he made out nine black spots. In a few minutes those +Ducks would be where he could shoot them. "Bang, bang" went that gun +below him again. With a roar of wings, Dusky and his flock were in the +air and away. That hunter stood up and said things, and they were not +nice things. He knew that those Ducks would not come back again that +night, and that once more he must go home empty-handed. But first he +would find out who that other hunter was and what luck he had had, so he +tramped down the shore to where that gun had seemed to be. He found the +blind of Farmer Brown's boy, but there was no one there. You see, as +soon as he had fired his gun the last time, Farmer Brown's boy had +slipped out and away. And as he tramped across the Green Meadows toward +home with his gun, he chuckled. "He didn't get those Ducks this time," +said Farmer Brown's boy. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII: The Hunter Gives Up + +Blacky The Crow didn't know what to think. He couldn't make himself +believe that Farmer Brown's boy had really turned hunter, yet what else +could he believe? Hadn't he with his own eyes seen Farmer Brown's boy +with a terrible gun hide in rushes along the Big River and wait for +Dusky the Black Duck and his flock to come in? And hadn't he with his +own ears heard the "bang, bang" of that very gun? + +The very first thing the next morning Blacky had hastened over to the +place where Farmer Brown's boy had hidden in the rushes. With sharp eyes +he looked for feathers, that would tell the tale of a Duck killed. But +there were no feathers. There wasn't a thing to show that anything so +dreadful had happened. Perhaps Farmer Brown's boy had missed when he +shot at those Ducks. Blacky shook his head and decided to say nothing to +anybody about Farmer Brown's boy and that terrible gun. + +You may be sure that early in the afternoon he was perched in the top of +his favorite tree over by the Big River. His heart sank, just as on the +afternoon before, when he saw Farmer Brown's boy with his terrible gun +trudging across the Green Meadows to the Big River. Instead of going to +the same hiding place he made a new one farther down. + +Then came the hunter a little earlier than usual. Instead of stopping at +his blind, he walked straight to the blind Farmer Brown's boy had first +made. Of course, there was no one there. The hunter looked both glad and +disappointed. He went back to his own blind and sat down, and while he +watched for the coming of the Ducks, he also watched that other blind to +see if the unknown hunter of the night before would appear. Of course +he didn't, and when at last the hunter saw the Ducks coming, he was sure +that this time he would get some of them. + +But the same thing happened as on the night before. Just as those Ducks +were almost near enough, a gun went "bang, bang," and away went the +Ducks. They didn't come back again, and once more a disappointed hunter +went home without any. + +The next afternoon he was on hand very early. He was there before Farmer +Brown's boy arrived, and when he did come, of course the hunter saw him. +He walked down to where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the rushes. +"Hello!" said he. "Are you the one who was shooting here last night and +the night before?" + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned. "Yes," said he. + +"What luck did you have?" asked the hunter. + +"Fine," replied Farmer Brown's boy. + +"How many Ducks did you get?" asked the hunter. + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned more broadly than before. "None," said he. "I +guess I'm not a very good shot." + +"Then what did you mean by saying you had fine luck?" demanded the +hunter. + +"Oh," replied Farmer Brown's boy, "I had the luck to see those Ducks and +the fun of shooting," and he grinned again. + +The hunter lost patience. He tried to order Farmer Brown's boy away. But +the latter said he had as much right there as the hunter had, and the +hunter knew that this was so. Finally he gave up, and muttering +angrily, he went back to his blind. Again the gun of Farmer Brown's boy +frightened away the Ducks just as they were coming in. + +The next afternoon there was no hunter nor the next, though Farmer +Brown's boy was there. The hunter had decided that it was a waste of +time to hunt there while Farmer Brown's boy was about. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII: Blacky Has A Talk With Dusky The Black Duck + + Doubt not a friend, but to the last + Grip hard on faith and hold it fast. + --Blacky the Crow. + +Every morning Blacky the Crow visited the rushes along the shore of +the Big River, hoping to find Dusky the Black Duck. He was anxious, was +Blacky. He feared that Dusky or some of his flock had been killed, and +he wanted to know. You see, he knew that Farmer Brown's boy had been +shooting over there. At last, early one morning, he found Dusky and his +flock in the rushes and wild rice. Eagerly he counted them. There were +nine. Not one was missing. Blacky sighed with relief and dropped down on +the shore close to where Dusky was taking a nap. + +"Hello!" said Blacky. + +Dusky awoke with a start. "Hello, yourself," said he. + +"I've heard a terrible gun banging over here, and I was afraid you or +some of your flock had been shot," said Blacky. + +"We haven't lost a feather," declared Dusky. "That gun wasn't fired at +us, anyway." + +"Then who was it fired at?" demanded Blacky. + +"I haven't the least idea," replied Dusky. + +"Have you seen any other Ducks about here?" inquired Blacky. + +"Not one," was Dusky's prompt reply. "If there had been any, I guess we +would have known it." + +"Did you know that when that terrible gun was fired there was another +terrible gun right over behind those bushes?" asked Blacky. + +Dusky shook his head. "No," said he, "but I learned long ago that where +there is one terrible gun there is likely to be more, and so when I +heard that one bang, I led my flock away from here in a hurry. We didn't +want to take any chances." + +"It is a lucky thing you did," replied Blacky. "There was a hunter +hiding behind those bushes all the time. I warned you of him once." + +"That reminds me that I haven't thanked you," said Dusky. "I knew there +was something wrong over here, but I didn't know what. So it was a +hunter. I guess it is a good thing that I heeded your warn-ing." + +"I guess it is," retorted Blacky dryly. "Do you come here in daytime +instead of night now?" + +"No," replied Dusky. "We come in after dark and spend the night here. +There is nothing to fear from hunters after dark. We've given up coming +here until late in the evening. And since we did that, we haven't heard +a gun." + +Blacky gossiped a while longer, then flew off to look for his breakfast; +and as he flew his heart was light. His shrewd little eyes twinkled. + +"I ought to have known Farmer Brown's boy better than even to suspect +him," thought he. "I know now why he had that terrible gun. It was to +frighten those Ducks away so that the hunter would not have a chance to +shoot them. He wasn't shooting at anything. He just fired in the air to +scare those Ducks away. I know it just as well as if I had seen him do +it. I'll never doubt Farmer Brown's boy again. And I'm glad I didn't say +a word to anybody about seeing him with a terrible gun." + +Blacky was right. Farmer Brown's boy had taken that way of making +sure that the hunter who had first baited those Ducks with yellow corn +scattered in the rushes in front of his hiding place should have no +chance to kill any of them. While appearing to be an enemy, he really +had been a friend of Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX: Blacky Discovers An Egg + +Blacky is fond of eggs, as you know. In this he is a great deal like +other people, Farmer Brown's boy for instance. But as Blacky cannot keep +hens, as Farmer Brown's boy does, he is obliged to steal eggs or else +go without. If you come right down to plain, everyday truth, I suppose +Blacky isn't so far wrong when he insists that he is no more of a thief +than Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky says that the eggs which the bens lay +belong to the hens, and that he, Blacky has just as much right to take +them as Farmer Brown's boy. He quite overlooks the fact that Farmer +Brown's boy feeds the biddies and takes the eggs as pay. Anyway, that +is what Farmer Brown's boy says, but I do not know whether or not the +biddies understand it that way. + +So Blacky the Crow cannot see why he should not help himself to an egg +when he gets the chance. He doesn't get the chance very often to steal +eggs from the hens, because usually they lay their eggs in the henhouse, +and Blacky is too suspicious to venture inside. The eggs he does get are +mostly those of his neighbors in the Green Forest and the Old Orchard. +But once in a great while some foolish hen will make a nest outside the +henhouse somewhere, and if Blacky happens to find it the black scamp +watches every minute he can spare from other mischief for a chance to +steal an egg. + +Now Blacky knows just what a rogue Farmer Brown's boy thinks he is, and +for this reason Blacky is very careful about approaching Farmer Brown or +any other man until he has made sure that he runs no risk of being shot. +Blacky knows quite as well as any one what a gun looks like. He also +knows that without a terrible gun, there is little Farmer Brown or any +one else can do to him. So when he sees Farmer Brown out in his fields, +Blacky often will fly right over him and shout "Caw, caw, caw, ca-a-w!" +in the most provoking way, and Fanner Brown's boy insists that he has +seen Blacky wink when he was doing it. + +But Blacky doesn't do anything of this kind around the buildings of +Farmer Brown. You see, he has learned that there are doors and windows +in buildings, and out of one of these a terrible gun may bang at any +time. Though he has suspected that Farmer Brown's boy would not now try +to harm him, Blacky is naturally cautious and takes no chances. So when +he comes spying around Farmer Brown's house and barn, he does it when +he is quite sure that no one is about, and he makes no noise about it. +First he sits in a tall tree from which he can watch Farmer Brown's +home. When he is quite sure that the way is clear, he flies over to the +Old Orchard, and from there he inspects the barnyard, never once making +a sound. If he is quite sure that no one is about, he sometimes drops +down into the henyard and helps himself to corn, if any happens to be +there. It was on one of these silent visits that Blacky spied something +which he couldn't forget. It was a box just inside the henhouse door. +In the box was some hay and in that hay he was sure that he had seen an +egg. In fact, he was sure that he saw two eggs there. He might not have +noticed them but for the fact that a hen had jumped down from that box, +making a terrible fuss. She didn't seem frightened, but very proud. What +under the sun she had to be proud about Blacky couldn't understand, but +he didn't stay to find out. The noise she was making made him nervous. +He was afraid that it would bring some one to find out what was going +on. So he spread his black wings and flew away as silently as he had +come. + +As he was flying away he saw those eggs. You see, as he rose into the +air, he managed to pass that open door in such a way that he could +glance in. That one glance was enough. You know Blacky's eyes are very +sharp. He saw the hay in the box and the two eggs in the hay, and that +was enough for him. From that instant Blacky the Crow began to scheme +and plan to get one or both of those eggs. It seemed to him that he +never, never, had wanted anything quite so much, and he was sure that he +would not and could not be happy until he succeeded in getting one. + + + +CHAPTER XXX: Blacky Screws Up His Courage + +If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a saying which you often +hear. It may be true sometimes, but it is very far from true at other +times. Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance into that nest +just inside the door of Farmer Brown's henhouse, but that glance had +been enough to show him two eggs there. Then, as he flew away toward the +Green Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of course. But do you think +they were out of mind? Not much! No, indeed! In fact, those eggs were +very much in Blacky's mind. He couldn't think of anything else. He +flew straight to a certain tall pine-tree in a lonely part of the Green +Forest. Whenever Blacky wants to think or to plan mischief, he seeks +that particular tree, and in the shelter of its broad branches he keeps +out of sight of curious eyes, and there he sits as still as still can +be. + +"I want one of those eggs," muttered Blacky, as he settled himself in +comfort on a certain particular spot on a certain particular branch of +that tall pine-tree. Indeed, that particular branch might well be called +the "mischief branch," for on it Blacky has thought out and planned most +of the mischief he is so famous for. "Yes, sir," he continued, "I want +one of those eggs, and what is more, I am going to have one." + +He half closed his eyes and tipped his head back and swallowed a couple +of times, as if he already tasted one of those eggs. + +"There is more in one of those eggs than in a whole nestful of Welcome +Robin's eggs. It is a very long time since I have been lucky enough +to taste a hen's egg, and now is my chance. I don't like having to go +inside that henhouse, even though it is barely inside the door. I'm +suspicious of doors. They have a way of closing most unexpectedly. +I might see if I cannot get Unc' Billy Possum to bring one of those eggs +out for me. But that plan won't do, come to think of it, because I can't +trust Unc' Billy. The old sinner is too fond of eggs himself. I would be +willing to divide with him, but he would be sure to eat his first, and +I fear that it would taste so good that he would eat the other. No. I've +got to get one of those eggs myself. It is the only way I can be sure of +it. + +"The thing to do is to make sure that Farmer Brown's boy and Farmer +Brown himself are nowhere about. They ought to be down in the cornfield +pretty soon. With them down there, I have only to watch my chance and +slip in. It won't take but a second. Just a little courage, Blacky, just +a little courage! Nothing in this world worth having is gained without +some risk. The thing to do is to make sure that the risk is as small as +possible." + +Blacky shook out his feathers and then flew out of the tall pine-tree +as silently as he had flown into it. He headed straight toward Farmer +Brown's cornfield. When he was near enough to see all over the field, he +dropped down to the top of a fence post, and there he waited. He didn't +have long to wait. In fact, he had been there but a few minutes +when he spied two people coming down the Long Lane toward the cornfield. +He looked at them sharply, and then gave a little sigh of satisfaction. +They were Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's boy. Presently they reached +the cornfield and turned into it. Then they went to work, and Blacky +knew that so far as they were concerned, the way was clear for him to +visit the henyard. + +He didn't fly straight there. Oh, my, no! Blacky is too clever to do +anything like that. He flew toward the Green Forest. When he knew that +he was out of sight of those in the cornfield, he turned and flew over +to the Old Orchard, and from the top of one of the old apple-trees he +studied the henyard and the barnyard and Farmer Brown's house and the +barn, to make absolutely sure that there was no danger near. When he was +quite sure, he silently flew down into the henyard as he had done many +times before. He pretended to be looking for scattered grains of corn, +but all the time he was edging nearer and nearer to the open door of +the henhouse. At last he could see the box with the hay in it. He walked +right up to the open door and peered inside. There was nothing to be +afraid of that he could see. Still he hesitated. He did hate to go +inside that door, even for a minute, and that is all it would take to +fly up to that nest and get one of those eggs. + +Blacky closed his eyes for just a second, and when he did that he seemed +to see himself eating one of those eggs. "What are you afraid of?" he +muttered to himself as he opened his eyes. Then with a hurried look in +all directions, he flew up to the edge of the box. There lay the two +eggs! + + + +CHAPTER XXXI: An Egg That Wouldn't Behave + + If you had an egg and it wouldn't behave + Just what would you do with that egg, may I ask? + To make an egg do what it don't want to do + Strikes me like a difficult sort of a task. + +All of which is pure nonsense. Of course. Who ever heard of an egg +either behaving or misbehaving? Nobody. That is, nobody that I know, +unless it be Blacky. It is best not to mention eggs in Blacky's presence +these days. They are a forbidden topic when he is about. Blacky is apt +to be a little resentful at the mere mention of an egg. I don't know as +I wholly blame him. How would you feel if you knew you knew all there +was to know about a thing, and then found out that you didn't know +anything at all? Well, that is the way it is with Blacky the Crow. + +If any one had told Blacky that he didn't know all there is to know +about eggs, he would have laughed at the idea. Wasn't he, Blacky, +hatched from an egg himself? And hadn't he, ever since he was big +enough, hunted eggs and stolen eggs and eaten eggs? If he didn't know +about eggs, who did? That is the way he would have talked before his +visit to Farmer Brown's henhouse. It is since then that it has been +unwise to mention eggs. + +When Blacky saw the two eggs in the nest in Farmer Brown's henhouse how +Blacky did wish that he could take both. But he couldn't. One would be +all that he could manage. He must take his choice and go away while the +going was good. Which should he take? + +It often happens in this life that things which seem to be unimportant, +mere trifles in themselves, prove to be just the opposite. Now, so far +as Blacky could see, it didn't make the least difference which egg he +took, excepting that one was a little bigger than the other. As a matter +of fact, it made all the difference in the world. One was brown and very +good to look at. The other, the larger of the two, was white and also +very good to look at. In fact, Blacky thought it the better of the +two to look at, for it was very smooth and shiny. So, partly on this +account, and partly because it was the largest, Blacky chose the white +egg. He seized it in his claws and started to fly with it, but somehow +he could not seem to get a good grip on it. He fluttered to the ground +just outside the door, and there he got a better grip. Just as old +Dandy-cock the Rooster, with head down and all the feathers on his neck +standing out with anger, came charging at him, Blacky rose into the air +and started over the Old Orchard toward the Green Forest. + +Never had Blacky felt more like cawing at the top of his lungs. You see, +he felt that he had been very smart, and I suspect that he also felt +that he had been very brave. He would have liked to boast a little. But +he didn't. He wisely held his tongue. It would be time enough to do his +boasting after he had reached a place of safety and had eaten that egg. +He was halfway across the Old Orchard when he felt that egg beginning to +slip. Now at best it isn't easy to carry an egg without breaking it. You +know how very careful you have to be. Just imagine how Blacky felt when +that egg began to slip. Do what he would, he couldn't get a better +grip on it. It slipped a wee bit more. Blacky started down towards the +ground. But he wasn't quick enough. Striped Chipmunk, watching Blacky +from the old stone wall, saw something white drop from Blacky's claws. +He saw Blacky dash after it and clutch at it only to miss it. Then the +white thing struck a branch of an old apple tree, bounced off and fell +to the ground. Blacky followed it. + +Striped Chipmunk stole very softly through the grass to see what Blacky +was doing. Blacky was standing close beside a white thing that +looked very much like an egg. He was looking at it with the queerest +expression. + +Now and then he would reach out and rap it sharply with his bill, and +then look as if he didn't know what to make of it. He didn't. That egg +wasn't behaving right. It should have broken when it hit the branch of +the apple tree. Certainly it should have broken when he struck it that +way with his bill. However was he to eat that egg, if he couldn't break +the shell? Blacky didn't know. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII: What Blacky Did With The Stolen Egg + +Blacky was puzzled. He didn't know what to make of that egg he had +stolen from Farmer Brown's henhouse. It wasn't like any egg he ever had +seen or even heard of. It was a beautiful-looking egg, and he had been +sure that it would taste as good, quite as good as it looked. Even now +he wasn't sure that if he could only taste it, it would be all that he +had hoped. But how could he taste it, when he couldn't break that shell? +He never had heard of such a shell. He doubted if anybody else ever had, +either. He had hammered at it with his stout bill until he was afraid +that he would break that, instead of the egg. The more he tried to break +into it and couldn't, the hungrier he grew, and the more certain that +nothing else in all the world could possibly taste so good. But the +Old Orchard was not the place for him to work on that egg. In the first +place, it was too near Farmer Brown's house. This made Blacky uneasy. +You see, he had something of a guilty conscience. Not that he felt at +all a sense of having done wrong. To his way of thinking, if he were +smart enough to get that egg, he had just as much right to it as any one +else, particularly Farmer Brown's boy. Yet he wasn't at all sure that +Farmer Brown's boy would look at the matter quite that way. In fact, +he had a feeling that Farmer Brown's boy would call him a thief if he +should be discovered with that egg. Then, too, there were too many sharp +eyes in the Old Orchard. He wanted to get away where he could be sure of +being alone. Then if he couldn't break that shell, no one would be +the wiser. So he picked up the egg and flew straight over to the Green +Forest, and this time he managed to get there without dropping it. + +Now you would never suspect Blacky the Crow, he of the sharp wits and +crafty ways, of being amused by bright things, would you? But he is. In +fact, Blacky is quite like a little child in this matter. Anything that +is bright and shiny interests Blacky right away. If he finds anything of +this kind, he will take it away to a certain secret place, and there he +will admire it and play with it and finally hide it. If I didn't know +that it isn't so, because it couldn't possibly be so, I should think +that Blacky was some relation to certain small boys I know. Always their +pockets are filled with all sorts of useless odds and ends which they +have picked up here and there. Blacky has no pockets, so he keeps his +treasures of this kind in a secret hiding-place, a sort of treasure +storehouse. He visits this secretly every day, uncovers his treasures, +and gloats over them and plays with them, then carefully covers them up +again. First Blacky took this egg over near his home, and there he +once more tried and tried and tried to break the shell. But the shell +wouldn't break, not even when Blacky quite lost his temper and hammered +at it for all he was worth. Then he gave the thing up as a bad matter +and flew up to his favorite roost in the top of a tall pine-tree, +leaving the egg on the ground. But from where he sat on his favorite +roost in the tall pine-tree he could see that provoking egg, a little +spot of shining white. When a Jolly Little Sunbeam found it and rested +on it, it was so very bright and shiny that Blacky couldn't keep his +eyes off it. + +Little by little he forgot that it was an egg. At least, he forgot that +he wanted to eat it. He began to find pleasure in just looking at it. It +might not satisfy his stomach, but it certainly was very satisfying to +his eyes. He forgot to think of it as a thing to eat, but began to think +of it wholly as a thing to look at and admire. He was glad he hadn't +been able to break that shell. + +Once more he spread his black wings and flew down to the egg. He cocked +his head to one side and looked at it. He cocked his head to the other +side and looked at it. He walked all around it, chuckling and saying to +himself, "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty and all mine, mine, mine, mine! +Pretty, pretty, and all mine!" + +Than he craftily looked all about to make sure that no one was watching +him. Having made quite sure, he rolled the egg over and turned it around +and admired it to his heart's content. At last he picked it up and +carried it to his treasure-house and covered it over very carefully. And +there that china nest-egg, for that is what he had stolen, is still his +chief treasure to this day, and Blacky still sometimes wonders what kind +of a hen laid such a hard-shelled egg. + +Blacky has had very many other adventures, but it would take another +book to tell about all of them. That would be hardly fair to some of the +other little people who also have had adventures and want them told to +you. One of these is a beautiful little fellow who lives in the Green +Forest, and so the next book will be Whitefoot the Wood Mouse. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blacky the Crow, by Thornton W. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Blacky the Crow + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4979] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002] +[Most recently updated: April 7, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BLACKY THE CROW *** + + + + +This eBook was transcribed by Kent Fielden (fielden3@aol.com), (408)738-4920 + + +BLACKY THE CROW + +BY THORNTON W. BURGESS + + + +CHAPTER I: Blacky The Crow Makes A Discovery + +Blacky the Crow is always watching for things not intended for his +sharp eyes. The result is that he gets into no end of trouble which +he could avoid. In this respect he is just like his cousin, Sammy +Jay. Between them they see a great deal with which they have no +business and which it would be better for them not to see. + +Now Blacky the Crow finds it no easy matter to pick up a living when +snow covers the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice binds +the Big River and the Smiling Pool. he has to use his sharp eyes for +all they are worth in order to find enough to fill his stomach, and +he will eat anything in the way of food that he can swallow. Often +he travels long distances looking for food, but at night he always +comes back to the same place in the Green Forest, to sleep in +company with others of his family. + +Blacky dearly loves company, particularly at night, and about the +time jolly, round, red Mr. Sun is beginning to think about his bed +behind the Purple Hills, you will find Blacky heading for a certain +part of the Green Forest where he knows he will have neighbors of +his own kind. Peter Rabbit says that it is because Blacky's +conscience troubles him so that he doesn't dare sleep alone, but +Happy Jack Squirrel says that Blacky hasn't any conscience. You can +believe just which you please, though I suspect that neither of them +really knows. + +As I have said, Blacky is quite a traveler at this time of year, and +sometimes his search for food takes him to out-of-the-way +places. One day toward the very last of winter, the notion entered +his black head that he would have a look in a certain lonesome +corner of the Green Forest where once upon a time Redtail the Hawk +had lived. Blacky knew well enough that +Redtail wasn't there now; he had gone south in the fell and wouldn't +be back until he was sure that Mistress Spring had arrived on the +Green Meadows and in the Green Forest. + +Like the black imp he is, Blacky flew over the tree-tops, his sharp +eyes watching for something interesting below. Presently he saw +ahead of him the old nest of Red-tail. He knew all about that +nest. He had visited it before when Red-tail was away. Still it +might be worth another visit. You never can tell what you may find +in old houses. Now, of course, Blacky knew perfectly well that +Redtail was miles and miles, hundreds of miles away, and so there +was nothing to fear from him. But Blacky learned ever so long ago +that there is nothing like making sure that there is no danger. So, +instead of flying straight to that old nest, he first flew over the +tree so that he could look down into it. + +Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his +eyes. It was quite large and white, and it looked -- it looked +very much indeed like an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and +blinked? Here was snow on the ground, and Rough Brother North Wind +and Jack Frost had given no hint that they were even thinking of +going back to the Far North. The idea of any one laying an egg at +this time of year! Blacky flew over to a tall pine-tree to think it +over. + +"Must be it was a little lump of snow," thought he. "Yet if ever I +saw an egg, that looked like one. Jumping grasshoppers, how good an +egg would taste right now!" You know Blacky has a weakness for +eggs. The more he thought about it, the hungrier he grew. Several +times he almost made up his mind to fly straight over there and make +sure, but he didn't quite dare. If it were an egg, it must belong to +somebody, and perhaps it would be best to find out who. Suddenly +Blacky shook himself. "I must be dreaming," said he. "There +couldn't, there just couldn't be an egg at this time of year, or in +that old tumble-down nest! I'll just fly away and forget it." + +So he flew away, but he couldn't forget it. He kept thinking of it +all day, and when he went to sleep that night he made up his mind to +have another look at that old nest. + + + +CHAPTER II: Blacky Makes Sure + + "As true as ever I've cawed a caw + That was a new-laid egg I saw." + +"What are you talking about?" demanded Sammy Jay, coming up just in +time to hear the last part of what Blacky the Crow was mumbling to +himself. + +"Oh nothing, Cousin, nothing at all," replied Blacky. "I was just +talking foolishness to myself." Sammy looked at him sharply. "You +aren't feeling sick, are you, Cousin Blacky?" he asked. "Must be +something the matter with you when you begin talking about new-laid +eggs, when everything's covered with snow and ice. Foolishness is +no name for it. Whoever heard of such a thing as a new-laid egg this +time of year" + +"Nobody, I guess, " replied Blacky. "I told you I was just talking +foolishness. You see, I'm so hungry that I just got to thinking what +I'd have if I could have anything I wanted. That made me think of +eggs, and I tried to think just how I would feel if I should +suddenly see a great big egg right in front of me. I guess I must +have said something about it." + +"I guess you must have. It isn't egg time yet, and it won't be for a +long time. Take my advice and just forget about impossible +things. I'm going over to Farmer Brown's corncrib. Corn may not be +as good as eggs, but it is very good and very filling. Better come +along, " said Sammy. + +"Not this morning, thank you. Some other time, perhaps, " replied Blacky. + +He watched Sammy disappear through the trees. Then he flew to the +top of the tallest pine-tree to make sure that no one was +about. When he was quite sure that no one was watching him, he +spread his wings and headed for the most lonesome corner of the +Green Forest. + +"I'm foolish. I know I'm foolish, " he muttered. "But I've just got +to have another look in that + +old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I just can't get it out of my head +that that was an egg, a great, big, white egg, that I saw there +yesterday. It won't do any harm to have another look, anyway." + +Straight toward the tree in which was the great tumble-down nest of +Redtail the Hawk he flew, and as he drew near, he flew high, for +Blacky is too shrewd and smart to take any chances. Not that he +thought that there could be any danger there; but you never can +tell, and it is always the part of wisdom to be on the safe side. As +he passed over the top of the tree, he looked down eagerly. Just +imagine how he felt when instead of one, he saw two white things in +the old nest. -- two white things that looked for all the world like +eggs! The day before there had been but one; now there were +two. That settled it in Blacky's mind; they were eggs! They couldn't +be anything else. + +Blacky kept right on flying. Somehow he didn't dare stop just +then. He was too much excited by what he had discovered to think +clearly. He had got to have time to get his wits together. Whoever +had laid those eggs was big and strong. He felt sure of that. It +must be some one a great deal bigger than himself, and he was of no +mind to get into trouble, even for a dinner of fresh eggs. He must +first find out whose they were; + +then he would know better what to do. He felt sure that no one else +knew about them, and he knew that they couldn't run away. So he kept +right on flying until he reached a certain tall pine-tree where he +could sit and think without being disturbed. + +"Eggs!" he muttered. "Real eggs! Now who under the sun can have +moved into Redtail's old house? And what can they mean by laying +eggs before Mistress Spring has even sent word that she has started? +It's too much for me. It certainly is too much for me." + + + +CHAPTER III: Blacky Finds Out Who Owns The Eggs + +Two big white eggs in a tumbledown nest, and snow and ice +everywhere! Did ever anybody hear of such a thing before? + +"Wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," +muttered Blacky the Crow. "Have to believe them. If I can't believe +them, it's of no use to try to believe anything in this world. As +sure as I sit here, that old nest has two eggs in it. Whoever laid +them must be crazy to start housekeeping at this time of year. I +must find out whose eggs they are and then --" + +Blacky didn't finish, but there was a hungry look in his eyes that +would have told any who saw it, had there been any to see it, that +he had a use for those eggs. But there was none to see it, and he +took the greatest care that there should be none to see him when he +once again started for a certain lonesome corner of the Green +Forest. + +"First I'll make sure that the eggs are still there, " thought he, +and flew high above the tree tops, so that as he passed over the +tree in which was the old nest of Red-tail the Hawk, he might look +down into it. To have seen him, you would never have guessed that he +was looking for anything in particular. He seemed to be just flying +over on his way to some distant place. If the eggs were still there, +he meant to come back and hide in the top of a near-by pine-tree to +watch until he was sure that he might safely steal those eggs, or to +find out whose they were. + +Blacky's heart beat fast with excitement as he drew near that old +tumble-down nest. Would those two big white eggs be there? Perhaps +there would be three! The very thought made him flap his wings a +little faster. A few more wing strokes and he would be right over +the tree. How he did hope to see those eggs! He could almost see +into the nest now. One stroke! Two strokes! Three strokes! Blacky +bit his tongue to keep from giving a sharp caw of disappointment and +surprise. + +There were no eggs to be seen. No, Sir, there wasn't a sign of eggs +in that old nest. There wasn't because -- why, do you think? There +wasn't because Blacky looked straight down on a great mass of +feathers which quite covered them from sight, and he didn't have to +look twice to know that that great mass of feathers was really a +great bird, the bird to whom those eggs belonged. + +Blacky didn't turn to come back as he had planned. He kept right on, +just as if he hadn't seen anything, and as he flew he shivered a +little. He shivered at the thought of what might have happened to +him if he had tried to steal those eggs the day before and had been +caught doing it. + +"I'm thankful I knew enough to leave them alone, " said he. "Funny I +never once guessed whose eggs they are. I might have known that no +one but Hooty the Horned Owl would think of nesting at this time of +year. And that was Mrs. Hooty I saw on the nest just now. My, but +she's big! She's bigger than Hooty himself! Yes, Sir, it's a lucky +thing I didn't try to get those eggs yesterday. Probably both Hooty +and Mrs. Hooty were sitting close by, only they were sitting so +still that I thought they were parts of the tree they were +in. Blacky, Blacky, the sooner you forget those eggs the better." + +Some things are best forgotten As soon as they are learned. +Who never plays with fire Will surely not get burned. + + + +CHAPTER IV: The Cunning Of Blacky + +Now when Blacky the Crow discovered that the eggs in the old +tumble-down nest of Redtail the Hawk in a lonesome corner of the +Green Forest belonged to Hooty the Owl, he straightway made the best +of resolutions; he would simply forget all about those eggs. He +would forget that he ever had seen them, and he would stay away from +that corner of the Green Forest. That was a very wise resolution. Of +all the people who live in the Green Forest, none is fiercer or more +savage than Hooty the Owl, unless it is Mrs. Hooty. She is bigger +than Hooty and certainly quite as much to be feared by the little +people. + +All this Blacky knows. No one knows it better. And Blacky is not one +to poke his head into trouble with his eyes open. So he very wisely +resolved to forget all about those eggs. Now it is one thing to make +a resolution and quite another thing to live up to it, as you all +know. It was easy enough to say that he would forget, but not at all +easy to forget. It would have been different if it had been spring +or early summer, when there were plenty of other eggs to be had by +any one smart enough to find them and steal them. But now, when it +was still winter (such an unheard-of time for any one to have +eggs!), and it was hard work to find enough to keep a hungry Crow's +stomach filled, the thought of those eggs would keep popping into +his head. He just couldn't seem to forget them. After a little, he +didn't try. + +Now Blacky the Crow is very, very cunning. He is one of the smartest +of all the little people who fly. No one can get into more mischief +and still keep out of trouble than can Blacky the Crow. That is +because he uses the wits in that black head of his. In fact, some +people are unkind enough to say that he spends all his spare time in +planning mischief. The more he thought of those eggs, the more he +wanted them, and it wasn't long before he began to try to plan some +way to get them without risking his own precious skin. + +"I can't do it alone, " thought he, "and yet if I take any one into +my secret, I'll have to share those eggs. That won't do at all, +because I want them myself. I found them, and I ought to have +them." He quite forgot or overlooked the fact that those eggs +really belonged to Hooty and Mrs. Hooty and to no one else. "Now let +me see, what can I do?" + +He thought and he thought and he thought and he thought, and little +by little a plan worked out in his little black head. Then he +chuckled. He chuckled right out loud, then hurriedly looked around +to see if any one had heard him. No one had, so he chuckled +again. He cocked his head on one side and half closed his eyes, as +if that plan was something he could see and he was looking at it +very hard. Then he cocked his head on the other side and did the +same thing. + +"It's all right, " said he at last. "It'll give my relatives a lot +of fun, and of course they will be very grateful to me for that. It +won't hurt Hooty or Mrs. Hooty a bit, but it will make them very +angry. They have very short tempers, and people with short tempers +usually forget everything else when they are angry. We'll pay them a +visit while the sun is bright, because then perhaps they cannot see +well enough to catch us, and we'll tease them until they lose their +tempers and forget all about keeping guard over those eggs. Then +I'll slip in and get one and perhaps both of them. Without knowing +that they are doing anything of the kind, my friends and relatives +will help me to get a good meal. My, how good those eggs will +taste!" + +It was a very clever and cunning plan, for Blacky is a very clever +and cunning rascal, but of course it didn't deserve success because +nothing that means needless worry and trouble for others deserves to +succeed. + + + +CHAPTER V: Blacky Calls His Friends + +When Blacky cries "Caw, caw, caw, caw!" As if he'd dislocate his +jaw, His relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air. +They know that there is mischief afoot, and the Crow family is +always ready for mischief. So on this particular morning when they +heard Blacky cawing at the top of his lungs from the tallest +pine-tree in the Green Forest, they hastened over there as fast as +they could fly, calling to each other excitedly and sure that they +were going to have a good time of some kind. + +Blacky chuckled as he saw them coming. "Come on! Come on! Caw, caw, +caw! Hurry up and flap your wings faster. I know where Hooty the Owl +is, and we'll have no end of fun with him, " he cried. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" shouted all his relatives in great +glee. "Where is he? Lead us to him. We'll drive him out of the Green +Forest!" + +So Blacky led the way over to the most lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, straight to the tree in which Hooty the Owl was comfortably +sleeping. Blacky had taken pains to slip over early that morning and +make sure just where he was. He had discovered Hooty fast asleep, +and he knew that he would remain right where he was until dark. You +know Hooty's eyes are not meant for much use in bright light, and +the brighter the light, the more uncomfortable his eyes feel. Blacky +knows this, too, and he had chosen the very brightest part of the +morning to call his relatives over to torment poor Hooty. Jolly, +round, bright Mr. Sun was shining his very brightest, and the white +snow on the ground made it seem brighter still. Even Blacky had to +blink, and he knew that poor Hooty would find it harder still. + +But one thing Blacky was very careful not to even hint of, and that +was that Mrs. Hooty was right close at hand. Mrs. Hooty is bigger +and even more fierce than Hooty, and Blacky didn't want to frighten +any of the more timid of his relatives. What he hoped down deep in +his crafty heart was that when they got to teasing and tormenting +Hooty and making the great racket which he knew they would, +Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and fly over to join Hooty in +trying to drive away the black tormentors. Then Blacky would slip +over to the nest which she had left unguarded and steal one and +perhaps both of the eggs he knew were there. + +When they reached the tree where Hooty was, he was blinking his +great yellow eyes and had fluffed out all his feathers, which is a +way he has when he is angry, to make himself look twice as big as he +really is. Of course, he had heard the noisy crew coming, and he +knew well enough what to expect. As soon as they saw him, they began +to scream as loud as ever they could and to call him all manner of +names. The boldest of them would dart at him as if to pull out a +mouthful of feathers, but took the greatest care not to get too +near. You see, the way Hooty hissed and snapped his great bill was +very threatening, and they knew that if once he got hold of one of +them with those big cruel claws of his, that would be the end. + +So they were content to simply scold and scream at him and fly +around him, just out of reach, and make him generally uncomfortable, +and they were so busy doing this that no one noticed that Blacky was +not joining in the fun, and no one paid any attention to the old +tumble-down nest of Redtail the Hawk only a few trees distant. So +far Blacky's plans were working out just as he had hoped. + + + +CHAPTER VI: Hooty The Owl Doesn't Stay Still + + Now what's the good of being smart + When others do not do their part? + +If Blacky the Crow didn't say this to himself, he thought it. He +knew that he had made a very cunning plan to get the eggs of Hooty +the Owl, a plan so shrewd and cunning that no one else in the Green +Forest or on the Green Meadows would have thought of it. There was +only one weakness in it, and that was that it depended for success +on having Hooty the Owl do as he usually did when tormented by a +crowd of noisy Crows, -- stay where he was until they got tired and +flew away. + +Now Blacky sometimes makes a mistake that smart people are very apt +to make; he thinks that because he is so smart, other people are +stupid. That is where he proves that smart as he is, he isn't as +smart as he thinks he is. He always thought of Hooty the Owl as +stupid. That is, he always thought of him that way in daytime. At +night, when he was waked out of a sound sleep by the fierce hunting +cry of Hooty, he wasn't so sure about Hooty being stupid, and he +always took care to sit perfectly still in the darkness, lest +Hooty's great ears should hear him and + +Hooty's great eyes, made for seeing in the dark, should find +him. No, in the night Blacky was not at all sure that Hooty was +stupid. + +But in the daytime he was sure. You see, he quite forgot the fact +that the brightness of day is to Hooty what the blackness of night +is to him. So, because Hooty would simply sit still and hiss and +snap his bill, instead of trying to catch his tormentors or flying +away, Blacky called him stupid. He felt sure that Hooty would stay +right where he was now, and he hoped that Mrs. Hooty would lose her +temper and leave the nest where she was sitting on those two eggs +and join Hooty to help him try to drive away that noisy crew. + +But Hooty isn't stupid. Not a bit of it. The minute he found out +that Blacky and his friends had discovered him, he thought of +Mrs. Hooty and the two precious eggs in the old nest of Redtail the +Hawk close by. + +"Mrs. Hooty mustn't be disturbed, " thought he. "That will never do +at all. I must lead these black rascals away where they won't +discover Mrs. Hooty. I certainly must." + +So he spread his broad wings and blundered away among the trees a +little way. He didn't fly far because the instant he started to fly +that whole noisy crew with the exception of Blacky were after +him. Because he couldn't use his claws or bill while flying, they +grew bold enough to pull a few feathers out of his back. So he flew +only a little way to a thick hemlock-tree, where it wasn't easy for +the Crows to get at him, and where the light didn't hurt his eyes so +much. There he rested a few minutes and then did the same thing over +again. He meant to lead those bothersome Crows into the darkest part +of the Green Forest and there -- well, he could see better there, +and it might be that one of them would be careless enough to come +within reach. No, Hooty wasn't stupid. Certainly not. + +Blacky awoke to that fact as he sat in the top of a tall pine-tree +silently watching. He could see Mrs. Hooty on the nest, and as the +noise of Hooty's tormentors sounded from farther and farther away, +she settled herself more comfortably and closed her eyes. Blacky +could imagine that she was smiling to herself. It was clear that she +had no intention of going to help Hooty. His splendid plan had +failed just because stupid Hooty, who wasn't stupid at all, had +flown away when he ought to have sat still. It was very provoking. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Blacky Tries Another Plan + + When one plan fails, just try another; + Declare you'll win some way or other. + +People who succeed are those who do not give up because they fail +the first time they try. They are the ones who, as soon as one plan +fails, get busy right away and think of another plan and try +that. If the thing they are trying to do is a good thing, sooner or +later they succeed. If they are trying to do a wrong thing, very +likely all their plans fail, as they should. + +Now Blacky the Crow knows all about the value of trying and +trying. He isn't easily discouraged. Sometimes it is a pity that he +isn't, because he plans so much mischief. But the fact remains that +he isn't, and he tries and tries until he cannot think of another +plan and just has to give up. When he invited all his relatives to +join him in tormenting Hooty the Owl, he thought he had a plan that +just couldn't fail. He felt sure that Mrs. Hooty would leave her +nest and help Hooty try to drive away his tormentors. But Mrs. Hooty +didn't do anything of the kind, because Hooty was smart enough and +thoughtful enough to lead his tormentors away from the nest into the +darkest part of the Green Forest where their noise wouldn't bother +Mrs. Hooty. So she just settled herself more comfortably than ever +on those eggs which Blacky had hoped she would give him a chance to +steal, and his fine plan was quite upset. + +Not one of his relatives had noticed that nest. They had been too +busy teasing Hooty. This was just as Blacky had hoped. He didn't +want them to know about that nest because he was selfish and wanted +to get those eggs just for himself alone. But now he knew that the +only way he could get Mrs. Hooty off of them would be by teasing her +so that she would lose her temper and try to catch some of her +tormentors. If she did that, there would be a chance that he might +slip in and get at least one of those eggs. + +He would try it. + +For a few minutes he listened to the noise of his relatives growing +fainter and fainter, as Hooty led them farther and farther into the +Green Forest. Then he opened his mouth. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw!" he screamed. "Caw, caw, caw, caw! Come back, +everybody! Here is Mrs. Hooty on her nest! Caw, caw, caw, caw!" + +Now as soon as they heard that, all Blacky's relatives stopped +chasing and tormenting Hooty and started back as fast as they could +fly. They didn't like the dark part of the Green Forest into which +Hooty was leading them. Besides, they wanted to see that nest. So +back they came, cawing at the top of their lungs, for they were very +much excited. Some of them never had seen a nest of Hooty's. And +anyway, it would be just as much fun to tease Mrs. Hooty as it was +to tease Hooty. + +"Where is the nest?" they screamed, as they came back to where +Blacky was cawing and pretending to be very much excited. + +"Why, " exclaimed one, "that is the old nest of Redtail the Hawk. I +know all about that nest. " And he looked at Blacky as if he thought +Blacky was playing a joke on them. + +"It was Redtail's, but it is Hooty's now. If you don't believe me, +just look in it, " retorted Blacky. + +At once they all began to fly over the top of the tree where they +could look down into the nest and there, sure enough, was +Mrs. Hooty, her great, round, yellow eyes glaring up at them +angrily. Such a racket! Right away Hooty was forgotten, and the +whole crowd at once began to torment Mrs. Hooty. Only Blacky sat +watchful and silent, waiting for Mrs. Hooty to lose her temper and +try to catch one of her tormentors. He had hope, a great hope, that +he would get one of those eggs. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: Hooty Comes To Mrs. Hooty's Aid + +No one can live just for self alone. A lot of people think they can, +but they are very much mistaken. They are making one of the greatest +mistakes in the world. Every teeny, weeny act, no matter what it is, +affects somebody else. That is one of Old Mother Nature's great +laws. And it is just as true among the little people of the Green +Forest and the Green Meadows as with boys and girls and grown +people. It is Old Mother Nature's way of making each of us +responsible for the good of all and of teaching us that always we +should help each other. + +As you know, when Blacky the Crow called all his relatives over to +the nest where Mrs. Hooty was sitting on her eggs, they at once +stopped tormenting Hooty and left him alone in a thick hemlock-tree +in the darkest part of the Green Forest. Of course Hooty was very, +very glad to be left in peace, and he might have spent the rest of +the day there sleeping in comfort. But he didn't. No, Sir, he +didn't. At first he gave a great sigh of relief and settled himself +as if he meant to stay. He listened to the voices of those noisy +Crows growing fainter and fainter and was glad. But it was only for +a few minutes. + +Presently those voices stopped growing fainter. They grew more +excited-sounding than ever, and they came right from one +place. Hooty knew then that his tormentors had found the nest where +Mrs. Hooty was, and that they were tormenting her just as they had +tormented him. He snapped his bill angrily and then more angrily. + +"I guess Mrs. Hooty is quite able to take care of herself, " he +grumbled, "but she ought not to be disturbed while she is sitting on +those eggs. I hate to go back there in that bright sunshine. It +hurts my eyes, and I don't like it, but I guess I'll have to go back +there. Mrs. Hooty needs my help. I'd rather stay here, but --" + +He didn't finish. Instead, he spread his broad wings and flew back +towards the nest and Mrs. Hooty. His great wings made no noise, for +they are made so that he can fly without making a sound. "If I once +get hold of one of those Crows!" he muttered to himself. "If I once +get hold of one of those Crows, I'll --" He didn't say what he +would do, but if you had been near enough to hear the snap of his +bill, you could have guessed the rest. + +All this time the Crows were having what they called fun with +Mrs. Hooty. Nothing is true fun which makes others uncomfortable, +but somehow a great many people seem to forget this. So, while +Blacky sat watching, his relatives made a tremendous racket around +Mrs. Hooty, and the more angry she grew, the more they screamed and +called her names and darted down almost in her face, as they +pretended that they were going to fight her. They were so busy doing +this, and Blacky was so busy watching them, hoping that Mrs. Hooty +would leave her nest and give him a chance to steal the eggs he knew +were under her, that no one gave Hooty a thought. + +All of a sudden he was there, right in the tree close to the nest! +No one had heard a sound, but there he was, and in the claws of one +foot he held the tail feathers of one of Blacky's relatives. It was +lucky, very lucky indeed for that one that the sun was in Hooty's +eyes and so he had missed his aim. Otherwise there would have been +one less Crow. + +Now it is one thing to tease one lone Owl and quite another to tease +two together. Besides, there were those black tail feathers floating +down to the snow-covered ground. Quite suddenly those Crows decided +that they had had fun enough for one day, and in spite of all Blacky +could do to stop them, away they flew, cawing loudly and talking it +all over noisily. Blacky was the last to go, and his heart was +sorrowful. However could he get those eggs? + + + +CHAPTER IX: Blacky Thinks Of Farmer Brown's Boy + +"Such luck!" grumbled Blacky, as he flew over to his favorite tree +to do a little thinking. "Such luck! Now all my neighbors know about +the nest of Hooty the Owl, and sooner or later one of them will find +out that there are eggs in it. There is one thing about it, though, +and that is that if I can't get them, nobody can. That is to say, +none of my relatives can. I've tried every way I can think of, and +those eggs are still there. My, my, my, how I would like one of them +right now!" + +Then Blacky the Crow did a thing which disappointed scamps often do, +-- began to blame the ones he was trying to wrong because his plans +had failed. To have heard him talking to himself, you would have +supposed that those eggs really belonged to him and that Hooty and +Mrs. Hooty had cheated him out of them. Yes, Sir, that is what you +would have thought if you could have heard him muttering to himself +there in the tree-top. In his disappointment over not getting those +eggs, he was so sorry for himself that he actually did feel that he +was the one wronged, -- that Hooty and Mrs. Hooty should have let +him have those eggs. + +Of course, that was absolute foolishness, but he made himself +believe it just the same. At least, he pretended to believe it. And +the more he pretended, the angrier he grew. This is often the way +with people who try to wrong others. They grow angry with the ones +they have tried to wrong. When at last Blacky had to confess to +himself that he could think of no other way to get those eggs, he +began to wonder if there was some way to make trouble for Hooty and +Mrs. Hooty. It was right then that he thought of Farmer Brown's boy. +Blacky's eyes snapped. He remembered how, once upon a time, Farmer +Brown's boy had + +delighted to rob nests. Blacky had seen him take the eggs from the +nests of Blacky's own relatives and from many other feathered +people. What he did with the eggs, Blacky had no idea. Just now he +didn't care. If Farmer Brown's boy would just happen to find Hooty's +nest, he would be sure to take those eggs, and then he, Blacky, +would feel better. He would feel that he was even with Hooty. + +Right away he began to try to think of some way to bring Farmer +Brown's boy over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where +Hooty's nest was. If he could once get him there, he felt sure that +Farmer Brown's boy would see the nest and climb up to it, and then +of course he would take the eggs. If he couldn't have those eggs +himself, the next best thing would be to see some one else get them. + +Dear me, dear me, such dreadful thoughts! I am afraid that Blacky's +heart was as black as his coat. And the worst of it was, he seemed +to get a lot of pleasure in his wicked plans. Now right down in his +heart he knew that they were wicked plans, but he tried to make +excuses to himself. + +"Hooty the Owl is a robber, " said he. "Everybody is afraid of +him. He lives on other people, and so far as I know he does no good +in the world. He is big and fierce, and no one loves him. The Green +Forest would be better off without him. If those eggs hatch, there +will be little Owls to be fed, and they will grow up into big fierce +Owls, like their father and mother. So if I show Farmer Brown's boy +that nest and he takes those eggs, I will be doing a kindness to my +neighbors." + +So Blacky talked to himself and tried to hush the still, small voice +down inside that tried to tell him that what he was planning to do +was really a dreadful thing. And all the time he watched for Farmer +Brown's boy. + + + +CHAPTER X: Farmer Brown's Boy And Hooty + +Farmer Brown's boy had taken it into his head to visit the Green +Forest. It was partly because he hadn't anything else to do, and it +was partly because now that it was very near the end of winter he +wanted to see how things were there and if there were any signs of +the coming of spring. Blacky the Crow saw him coming, and Blacky +chuckled to himself. He had watched every day for a week for just +this thing. Now he would tell Farmer Brown's boy about that nest of +Hooty the Owl. + +He flew over to the lonesome corner of the Green Forest where Hooty +and Mrs. Hooty had made their home and at once began to caw at the +top of his voice and pretend that he was terribly excited over +something. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" shouted Blacky. At once all his relatives +within hearing hurried over to join him. They knew that he was +tormenting Hooty, and they wanted to join in the fun. It wasn't long +before there was a great racket going on over in that lonesome +corner of the Green Forest. + +Of course Farmer Brown's boy heard it. He stopped and listened. "Now +I wonder what Blacky and his friends have found this time, " said +he. "Whenever they make a fuss like that, there is usually something +to see there. I believe I'll so over and have a look." + +So he turned in the direction of the lonesome corner of the Green +Forest, and as he drew near, he moved very carefully, so as to see +all that he could without frightening the Crows. He knew that as +soon as they saw him, they would fly away, and that might alarm the +one they were tormenting, for he knew enough of Crow ways to know +that when they were making such a noise as they were now making, +they were plaguing some one. + +Blacky was the first to see him because he was watching for him. But +he didn't say anything until Farmer Brown's boy was so near that he +couldn't help but see that nest and Hooty himself, sitting up very +straight and snapping his bill angrily at his tormentors. Then +Blacky gave the alarm, and at once all the Crows rose in the air and +headed for the Green Meadows, cawing at the top of their +lungs. Blacky went with them a little way. The first chance he got +he dropped out of the flock and silently flew back to a place where +he could see all that might happen at the nest of Hooty the Owl. + +When Farmer Brown's boy first caught sight of the nest and saw the +Crows darting down toward it and acting so excited, he was puzzled. + +"That's an old nest of Red-tail the Hawk, " thought he. "I found +that last spring. Now what can there be there to excite those Crows +so?" + +Then he caught sight of Hooty the Owl. "Ha, so that's it!" he +exclaimed. "Those scamps have discovered Hooty and have been having +no end of fun tormenting him. I wonder what he's doing there." + +He no longer tried to keep out of sight, but walked right up to the +foot of the tree, all the time looking up. Hooty saw him, but +instead of flying away, he snapped his bill just as he had at the +Crows and hissed. + +"That's funny, " thought Farmer Brown's boy. "If I didn't know that +to be the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, and if it weren't still the +tail-end of winter, I would think that was Hooty's nest." + +He walked in a circle around the tree, looking up. Suddenly he gave +a little start. Was that a tail sticking over the edge of the nest? +He found a stick and threw it up. It struck the bottom of the nest, +and out flew a great bird. It was Mrs. Hooty! Blacky the Crow +chuckled. + + + +CHAPTER XI: Farmer Brown's Boy Is Tempted + + When you're tempted to do wrong + Is the time to prove you're strong. + Shut your eyes and clench each fist; + It will help you to resist. + +When a bird is found sitting on a nest, it is a pretty sure sign +that that nest holds something worth while. It is a sign that that +bird has set up housekeeping. So when Farmer Brown's boy discovered +Mrs. Hooty sitting so close on the old nest of Redtail the Hawk, in +the most lonesome corner of the Green Forest, he knew what it +meant. Perhaps I should say that he knew what it ought to mean. + +It ought to mean that there were eggs in that nest. + +But it was hard for Farmer Brown's boy to believe that. Why, spring +had not come yet! There was still snow, and the Smiling Pool was +still covered with ice. Who ever heard of birds nesting at this time +of year? Certainly not Farmer Brown's boy. And yet Hooty the Owl and +Mrs. Hooty were acting for all the world as feathered folks do act +when they have eggs and are afraid that something is going to happen +to them. It was very puzzling. + +"That nest was built by Red-tail the Hawk, and it hasn't even been +repaired, " muttered Farmer Brown's boy, as he stared up at it. "If +Hooty and his wife have taken it for their home, they are mighty +poor housekeepers. And if Mrs. Hooty has laid eggs this time of +year, she must be crazy. I suppose the way to find out is to climb +up there. It seems foolish, but I'm going to do it. Those Owls +certainly act as if they are mighty anxious about something, and I'm +going to find out what it is." + +He looked at Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, at their hooked bills and great +claws, and decided that he would take a stout stick along with +him. He had no desire to feel these great claws. When he had found a +stick to suit him, he began to climb the tree. Hooty and Mrs. Hooty +snapped their bills and hissed fiercely. They drew nearer. Farmer +Brown's boy kept a watchful eye on them. They looked so big and +fierce that he was almost tempted to give up and leave them in +peace. But he just had to find out if there was anything in that +nest, so he kept on. As he drew near it, Mrs. Hooty swooped very +near to him, and the snap of her bill made an ugly sound. He held +his stick ready to strike and kept on. + +The nest was simply a great platform of sticks. When Farmer Brown's +boy reached it, he found that he could not get where he could look +into it, so he reached over and felt inside. Almost at once his +fingers touched something that made him tingle all over. It was an +egg, a great big egg! There was no doubt about it. It was just as +hard for him to believe as it had been for Blacky the Crow to +believe, when he first saw those eggs. Farmer Brown's boy's fingers +closed over that egg and took it out of the nest. Mrs. Hooty swooped +very close, and Farmer Brown's boy nearly dropped the egg as he +struck at her with his stick. Then Mrs. Hooty and Hooty seemed to +lose courage and withdrew to a tree near by, where they snapped +their bills and hissed. + +Then Farmer Brown's boy looked at the prize in his hand. It was a +big, dirty-white egg. His eyes shone. What a splendid prize to add +to his collection of birds' eggs! It was the first egg of the Great +Horned Owl, the largest of all Owls, that he ever had seen. + +Once more he felt in the nest and found there was another egg +there. "I'll take both of them, " said he. "It's the first nest of +Hooty's that I've ever found, and perhaps I'll never find +another. Gee, I'm glad I came over here to find out what those Crows +were making such a fuss about. I wonder if I can get these clown +without breaking them." + +Just at that very minute he remembered something. He remembered that +he had stopped collecting eggs. He remembered that he had resolved +never to take another bird's egg. + +"But this is different, " whispered the tempter. "This isn't like +taking the eggs of the little song birds." + + + +CHAPTER XII: A Tree-Top Battle + + As black is black and white is white, + So wrong is wrong and right is right. + +There isn't any half way about it. A thing is wrong or it is right, +and that is all there is to it. But most people have hard work to +see this when they want very much to do a thing that the still small +voice way down inside tells them isn't right. They try to +compromise. To compromise is to do neither one thing nor the other +but a little of both. But you can't do that with right and wrong. It +is a queer thing, but a half right never is as good as a whole +right, while a half wrong often, very often, is as bad as a whole +wrong. + +Farmer Brown's boy, up in the tree by the nest of Hooty the Owl in +the lonesome corner of the Green Forest, was fighting a battle. No, +he wasn't fighting with Hooty or Mrs. Hooty. He was fighting a +battle right inside himself. It was a battle between right and +wrong. Once upon a time he had taken great delight in collecting the +eggs of birds, in trying to see how many kinds he could get. Then as +he had come to know the little forest and meadow people better, he +had seen that taking the eggs of birds is very, very wrong, and he +had stopped stealing them. He bad declared that never again would he +steal an egg from a bird. + +But never before had he found a nest of Hooty the Owl. Those two big +eggs would add ever so much to his collection. "Take 'em, " said a +little voice inside. "Hooty is a robber. You will be doing a +kindness to the other birds by taking them." + +"Don't do it, " said another little voice. "Hooty may be a robber, +but he has a place in the Green Forest, or Old Mother Nature never +would have put him here. It is just as much stealing to take his +eggs as to take the eggs of any other bird. He has just as much +right to them as Jenny Wren has to hers." + +"Take one and leave one, " said the first voice. + +"That will be just as much stealing as if you took both, " said the +second voice. "Besides, you will be breaking your own word. You said +that you never would take another egg." + +"I didn't promise anybody but myself, " declared Farmer Brown's boy +right out loud. At the sound of his voice, Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, +sitting in the next tree, snapped their bills and hissed louder than +ever. + +"A promise to yourself ought to be just as good as a promise to any +one else. I don't wonder Hooty hisses at you, " said the good little +voice. + +"Think how fine those eggs will look in your collection and how +proud you will be to show them to the other fellows who never have +found a nest of Hooty's, " said the first little voice. + +"And think how mean and small and cheap you'll feel every time you +look at them, " added the good little voice. "You'll get a lot more +fun if you leave them to hatch out and then watch the little Owls +grow up and learn all about their ways. Just think what a stout, +brave fellow Hooty is to start housekeeping at this time of year, +and how wonderful it is that Mrs. Hooty can keep these eggs warm and +when they have hatched take care of the baby Owls before others have +even begun to build their nests. Besides, wrong is wrong and right +is right, always." + +Slowly Farmer Brown's boy reached over the edge of the nest and put +back the egg. Then he began to climb down the tree. When he reached +the ground he went off a little way and watched. Almost at once +Mrs. Hooty flew to the nest and settled down on the eggs, while +Hooty mounted guard close by. + +"I'm glad I didn't take 'em, " said Farmer Brown's boy. "Yes, Sir, +I'm glad I didn't take 'em." + +As he turned back toward home, he saw Blacky the Crow flying over +the Green Forest, and little did he guess how he had upset Blacky's +plans. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Blacky Has A Change Of Heart + +Blacky The Crow isn't all black. No, indeed. His coat is black, and +sometimes it seems as if his heart is all black, but this isn't +so. It certainly seemed as if his heart was all black when he tried +so hard to make trouble for Hooty the Owl. It would seem as if only +a black heart could have urged him to try so hard to steal the eggs +of Hooty and Mrs. Hooty, but this wasn't really so. You see, it +didn't seem at all wrong to try to get those eggs. Blacky was +hungry, and those eggs would have given him a good meal. He knew +that Hooty wouldn't hesitate to catch him and eat him if he had the +chance, and so it seemed to him perfectly right and fair to steal +Hooty's eggs if he was smart enough to do so. And most of the other +little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows would have +felt the same way about it. You see, it is one of the laws of Old +Mother Nature that each one must learn to look out for himself. + +But when Blacky showed that nest of Hooty's to Farmer Brown's boy +with the hope that Farmer Brown's boy would steal those eggs, there +was blackness in his heart. He was doing something then which was +pure meanness. He was just trying to make trouble for Hooty, to get +even because Hooty had been too smart for him. He had sat in the top +of a tall pine-tree where he could see all that happened, and he had +chuckled wickedly as he had seen Farmer Brown's boy climb to Hooty's +nest and take out an egg. He felt sure that he would take both +eggs. He hoped so, anyway. + +When he saw Farmer Brown's boy put the eggs back and climb down the +tree without any, he had to blink his eyes to make sure that he saw +straight. He just couldn't believe what he saw. At first he was +dreadfully disappointed and angry. It looked very much as if he +weren't going to get even with Hooty after all. He flew over to his +favorite tree to think things over. Now sometimes it is a good thing +to sit by oneself and think things over. It gives the little small +voice deep down inside a chance to be heard. It was just that way +with Blacky now. + +The longer he thought, the meaner his action in calling Farmer +Brown's boy looked. It was one thing to try to steal those eggs +himself, but it was quite another matter to try to have them stolen +by some one against whom Hooty had no protection whatever. + +"If it had been any one but Hooty, you would have done your best to +have kept Farmer Brown's boy away, " said the little voice +inside. Blacky hung his head. He knew that it was true. More than +once, in fact many times, he had warned other feathered folks when +Farmer Brown's boy had been hunting for their nests, and had helped +to lead him away. + +At last Blacky threw up his head and chuckled, and this time his +chuckle was good to hear. "I'm glad that Farmer Brown's boy didn't +take those eggs, " said he right out loud. "Yes, sir, I'm glad. I'll +never do such a thing as that again. I'm ashamed of what I did; yet +I'm glad I did it. I'm glad because I've learned some things. I've +learned that Farmer Brown's boy isn't as much to be feared as he +used to be. I've learned that Hooty isn't as stupid as I thought he +was. I've learned that while it may be all right for us people of +the Green Forest to try to outwit each other we ought to protect +each other against common dangers. And I've learned something I +didn't know before, and that is that Hooty the Owl is the very first +of us to set up housekeeping. Now I think I'll go hunt for an honest +meal." And he did. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Blacky Makes A Call + + Judge no one by his style of dress; + Your ignorance you thus confess. + - Blacky the Crow. + +"Caw, caw, caw, caw." There was no need of looking to see who that +was. Peter Rabbit knew without looking. Mrs. Quack knew without +looking. Just the same, both looked up. Just alighting in the top of +a tall tree was Blacky the Crow. "Caw, caw, caw, caw," he repeated, +looking down at Peter and Mrs. Quack and Mr. Quack and the six young +Quacks. "I hope I am not interrupting any secret gossip." + +"Not at all," Peter hastened to say. "Mrs. Quack was just telling +me of the troubles and clangers in bringing up a young family in the +Far North. How did you know the Quacks had arrived?" + +Blacky chuckled hoarsely. "I didn't, " said he. "I simply thought +there might be something going on I didn't know about over here in +the pond of Paddy the Beaver, so I came over to find out. Mr. Quack, +you and Mrs. Quack are looking very fine this fall. And those +handsome young Quacks, you don't mean to tell me that they are your +children!" + +Mrs. Quack nodded proudly. "They are," said she. + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Blacky, as if he were very much +surprised, when all the time he wasn't surprised at all. "They are a +credit to their parents. Yes, indeed, they are a credit to their +parents. Never have I seen finer young Ducks in all my life. How +glad the hunters with terrible guns will be to see them." + +Mrs. Quack shivered at that, and Blacky saw it. He chuckled +softly. You know he dearly loves to make others uncomfortable. "I +saw three hunters over on the edge of the Big River early this very +morning," said he. + +Mrs. Quack looked more anxious than ever. Blacky's sharp eyes noted +this. + +"That is why I came over here," he added kindly. "I wanted to give +you warning." + +"But you didn't know the Quacks were here!" spoke up Peter. + +"True enough, Peter. True enough," replied Blacky, his eyes +twinkling. "But I thought they might be. I had heard a rumor that +those who go south are traveling earlier than usual this fall, so I +knew I might find Mr. and Mrs. Quack over here any time now. Is it +true, Mrs. Quack, that we are going to have a long, hard, cold +winter?" + +"That is what they say up in the Far North," replied +Mrs. Quack. "And it is true that Jack Frost had started down earlier +than usual. That is how it happens we are here now. But about those +hunters over by the Big River, do you suppose they will come over +here?" There was an anxious note in Mrs. Quack's voice. + +"No," replied Blacky promptly. "Farmer Brown's boy won't let +them. I know. I've been watching him and he has been watching those +hunters. As long as you stay here, you will be safe. What a great +world this would be if all those two-legged creatures were like +Farmer Brown's boy." + +"Wouldn't it!" cried Peter. Then he added, "I wish they were." + +"You don't wish it half as much as I do," declared Mrs. Quack. + +"Yet I can remember when he used to hunt with a terrible gun and was +as bad as the worst of them," said Blacky. + +"What changed him?" asked Mrs. Quack, looking interested. + +"Just getting really acquainted with some of the little people of +the Green Forest and the Green Meadows," replied Blacky. "He found +them ready to meet him more than halfway in friendship and that some +of them really are his best friends." + +"And now he is their best friend," spoke up Peter. + +Blacky nodded. "Right, Peter," said he. "That is why the Quacks are +safe here and will be as long as they stay." + + + +CHAPTER XV: Blacky Does A Little Looking About + + Do not take the word of others + That things are or are not so + When there is a chance that you may + Find out for yourself and know. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow is a shrewd fellow. He is one of the smartest and +shrewdest of all the little people in the Green Forest and on the +Green Meadows. Everybody knows it. And because of this, all his +neighbors have a great deal of respect for him, despite his +mischievous ways. + +Of course, Blacky had noticed that Johnny Chuck had dug his house +deeper than usual and had stuffed himself until he was fatter than +ever before. He had noticed that Jerry Muskrat was making the walls +of his house thicker than in other years, and that Paddy the Beaver +was doing the same thing to his house. You know there is very little +that escapes the sharp eyes of Blacky the Crow. + +He had guessed what these things meant. "They think we are going to +have a long, hard, cold winter, " muttered Blacky to +himself. "Perhaps they know, but I want to see some signs of it for +myself. They may be only guessing. Anybody can do that, and one +guess is as good as another." + +Then he found Mr. and Mrs. Quack, the Mallard Ducks, and their +children in the pond of Paddy the Beaver and remembered that they +never had come down from their home in the Far North as early in the +fall as this. Mrs. Quack explained that Jack Frost had already +started south, and so they had started earlier to keep well ahead of +him. + +"Looks as if there may be something in this idea of a long, hard, +cold winter," thought Blacky, "but perhaps the Quacks are only +guessing, too. I wouldn't take their word for it any more than I +would the word of Johnny Chuck or Jerry Muskrat or Paddy the +Beaver. I'll look about a little." + +So after warning the Quacks to remain in the pond of Paddy the +Beaver if they would be safe, Blacky bade them good-by and flew +away. He headed straight for the Green Meadows and Farmer Brown's +cornfield. A little of that yellow corn would make a good breakfast. + +When he reached the cornfield, Blacky perched on top of a shock of +corn, for it already had been cut and put in shocks in readiness to +be carted up to Farmer Brown's barn. For a few minutes he sat there +silent and motionless, but all the time his sharp eyes were making +sure that no enemy was hiding behind one of those brown shocks. When +he was quite certain that things were as safe as they seemed, he +picked out a plump ear of corn and began to tear open the husks, so +as to get at the yellow grains. + +"Seems to me these husks are unusually thick," muttered Blacky, as +he tore at them with his stout bill. "Don't remember ever having +seen them as thick as these. Wonder if it just happens to be so on +this ear." + +Then, as a sudden thought popped into his black head, he left that +ear and went to another. The husks of this were as thick as those on +the first. He flew to another shock and found the husks there just +the same. He tried a third shock with the same result. + +"Huh, they are all alike," said he. Then he looked thoughtful and +for a few minutes sat perfectly still like a black statue. "They are +right," said he at last. "Yes, Sir, they are right." Of course he +meant Johnny Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the +Quacks. "I don't know how they know it, but they are right; we are +going to have a long, hard, cold winter. I know it myself now. I've +found a sign. Old Mother Nature has wrapped this corn in extra thick +husks, and of course she has done it to protect it. She doesn't do +things without a reason. We are going to have a cold winter, or my +name isn't Blacky the Crow." + + + +CHAPTER XVI: Blacky Finds Other Signs + + A single fact may fail to prove you either right or wrong; + Confirm it with another and your proof will then be strong. + - Blacky the Crow. + +After his discovery that Old Mother Nature had wrapped all the ears +of corn in extra thick husks, Blacky had no doubt in his own mind +that Johnny Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the +Quacks were quite right in feeling that the coming winter would be +long, hard and cold. But Blacky long ago learned that it isn't wise +or wholly safe to depend altogether on one thing. + +"Old Mother Nature never does things by halves," thought Blacky, as +he sat on the fence post on the Green Meadows, thinking over his +discovery of the thick husks on the corn. "She wouldn't take care to +protect the corn that way and not do as much for other things. There +must be other signs, if I am smart enough to find them." + +He lifted one black wing and began to set in order the feathers +beneath it. Suddenly he made a funny little hop straight up. + +"Well, I never!" he exclaimed, as he spread his wings to regain his +balance. "I never did!" + +"Is that so?" piped a squeaky little voice. "If you say you never +did, I suppose you never did, though I want the word of some one +else before I will believe it. What is it you never did?" + +Blacky looked down. Peeping up at him from the brown grass were two +bright little eyes. + +"Hello, Danny Meadow Mouse!" exclaimed Blacky. "I haven't seen you +for a long time. I've looked for you several times lately." + +"I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it at all," squeaked +Danny. "You'll never see me when you are looking for me. That is, +you won't if I can help it. You won't if I see you first." + +Blacky chuckled. He knew what Danny meant. When Blacky goes looking +for Danny Meadow Mouse, it usually is in hope of having a Meadow +Mouse dinner, and he knew that Danny knew this. "I've had my +breakfast," said Blacky, "and it isn't dinner time yet." + +"What is it you never did?" persisted Danny, in his squeaky voice. + +"That was just an exclamation," explained Blacky. "I made a +discovery that surprised me so I exclaimed right out." + +"What was it?" demanded Danny. + +"It was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than I +ever knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to set +them in order a minute ago." He buried his bill in the feathers of +his breast. "Yes, sir," said he in a muffled voice, "they are +coming in thicker than I ever knew them to before. There is a lot of +down around the roots of them. I am going to have the warmest coat +I've ever had." + +"Well, don't think you are the only one," retorted Danny. "My fur +never was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is the +same way with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose you +know what it means." + +"What does it mean?" asked Blacky, just as if he didn't have the +least idea, although he had guessed the instant he discovered those +extra feathers. + +"It means we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter, and Old +Mother Nature is preparing us for it," replied Danny, quite as if +he knew all about it. "You'll find that everybody who doesn't go +south or sleep all winter has a thicker coat than usual. Hello! +There is old Roughleg the Hawk! He has come extra early this year. I +think I'll go back to warn Nanny." Without another word Danny +disappeared in the brown grass. Again Blacky chuckled. "More signs," +said he to himself. "More signs. There isn't a doubt that we are +going to have a hard winter. I wonder if I can stand it or if I'd +better go a little way south, where it will be warmer." + + + +CHAPTER XVII: Blacky Watches A Queer Performance + + This much to me is very clear: + A thing not understood is queer. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow may be right. Again he may not be. If he is right, +it will account for a lot of the queer people in the world. They are +not understood, and so they are queer. At least, that is what other +people say, and never once think that perhaps they are the queer +ones for not understanding. + +But Blacky isn't like those people who are satisfied not to +understand and to think other people and things queer. He does his +best to understand. He waits and watches and uses those sharp eyes +of his and those quick wits of his until at last usually he does +understand. + +The day of his discovery of Old Mother Nature's signs that the +coming winter would be long, hard and cold, Blacky paid a visit to +the Big River. Long ago he discovered that many things are to be +seen on or beside the Big River, things not to be seen elsewhere. So +there are few clays in which he does not get over there. + +As he drew near the Big River, he was very watchful and careful, was +Blacky, for this was the season when hunters with terrible guns were +abroad, and he had discovered that they were likely to be hiding +along the Big River, hoping to shoot Mr. or Mrs. Quack or some of +their relatives. So he was very watchful as he drew near the Big +River, for he had learned that it was dangerous to pass too near a +hunter with a terrible gun. More than once he had been shot at. But +he had learned by these experiences. Oh, yes, Blacky had +learned. For one thing, he had learned to know a gun when he saw +it. For another thing, he had learned just how far away one of these +dreadful guns could be and still hurt the one it was pointed at, and +to always keep just a little farther away. Also he had learned that +a man or boy without a terrible gun is quite harmless, and he had +learned that hunters with terrible guns are tricky and sometimes +hide from those they seek to kill, so that in the dreadful hunting +season it is best to look sharply before approaching any place. + +On this afternoon, as he drew near the Big River, he saw a man who +seemed to be very busy on the shore of the Big River, at a place +where wild rice and rushes grew for some distance out in the water, +for just there it was shallow far out from the shore. Blacky looked +sharply for a terrible gun. But the man had none with him and +therefore was not to be feared. Blacky boldly drew near until he was +able to see what the man was doing. + +Then Blacky's eyes stretched their widest and he almost cawed right +out with surprise. The man was taking yellow corn from a bag, a +handful at a time, and throwing it out in the water. Yes, Sir, that +is what he was doing, scattering nice yellow corn among the rushes +and wild rice in the water! + +"That's a queer performance," muttered Blacky, as he watched. "What +is he throwing perfectly good corn out in the water for? He isn't +planting it, for this isn't the planting season. Besides, it +wouldn't grow in the water, anyway. It is a shame to waste nice corn +like that. What is he doing it for?" + +Blacky flew over to a tree some distance away and alighted in the +top of it to watch the queer performance. You know Blacky has very +keen eyes and he can see a long distance. For a while the man +continued to scatter corn and Blacky continued to wonder what he was +doing it for. At last the man went away in a boat. Blacky watched +him until he was out of sight. Then he spread his wings and slowly +flew back and forth just above the rushes and wild rice, at the +place where the man had been scattering the corn. He could see some +of the yellow grains on the bottom. Presently he saw something +else. "Ha!" exclaimed Blacky. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Blacky Becomes Very Suspicious + + Of things you do not understand, + Beware! + They may be wholly harmless but-- + Beware! + You'll find the older that you grow + That only things and folks you know + Are fully to be trusted, so + Beware! + - Blacky the Crow. + +That is one of Blacky's wise sayings, and he lives up to it. It is +one reason why he has come to be regarded by all his neighbors as +one of the smartest of all who live in the Green Forest and on the +Green Meadow. He seldom gets into any real trouble because he first +makes sure there is no trouble to get into. When he discovers +something he does not understand, he is at once distrustful of it. + +As he watched a man scattering yellow corn in the water from the +shore of the Big River he at once became suspicious. He couldn't +understand why a man should throw good corn among the rushes and +wild rice in the water, and because he couldn't understand, he at +once began to suspect that it was for no good purpose. When the man +left in a boat, Blacky slowly flew over the rushes where the man had +thrown the corn, and presently his sharp eyes made a discovery that +caused him to exclaim right out. + +What was it Blacky had discovered? Only a few feathers. No one with +eyes less sharp than Blacky's would have noticed them. And few would +have given them a thought if they had noticed them. But Blacky knew +right away that those were feathers from a Duck. He knew that a +Duck, or perhaps a flock of Ducks, had been resting or feeding in +there among those rushes, and that in moving about they had left +those two or three downy feathers. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Blacky. "Mr. and Mrs. Quack or some of their +relatives have been here. It is just the kind of a place Ducks +like. Also some Ducks like corn. + +If they should come back here and find this corn, they would have a +feast, and they would be sure to come again. That man who scattered +the corn here didn't have a terrible gun, but that doesn't mean that +he isn't a hunter. He may come back again, and then he may have a +terrible gun. I'm suspicious of that man. I am so. I believe he put +that corn here for Ducks and I don't believe he did it out of the +kindness of his heart. If it was Farmer Brown's boy I would know +that all is well; that he was thinking of hungry Ducks, with few +places where they can feed in safety, as they make the long journey +from the Far North to the Sunny South. But it wasn't Farmer Brown's +boy. I don't like the looks of it. I don't indeed. I'll keep watch +of this place and see what happens." + +All the way to his favorite perch in a certain big hemlock-tree in +the Green Forest, Blacky kept thinking about that corn and the man +who had seemed to be generous with it, and the more he thought, the +more suspicious he became. He didn't like the looks of it at all. + +"I'll warn the Quacks to keep away from there. I'll do it the very +first thing in the morning," he muttered, as he prepared to go to +sleep. "If they have any sense at all, they will stay in the pond of +Paddy the Beaver. But if they should go over to the Big River, they +would be almost sure to find that corn, and if they should once find +it, they would keep going back for more. It may be all right, but I +don't like the looks of it." + +And still full of suspicions, Blacky went to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Blacky Makes More Discoveries + + Little things you fail to see + May important prove to be. + - Blacky the Crow. + +One of the secrets of Blacky's success in life is the fact that he +never fails to take note of little things. Long ago he learned that +little things which in themselves seem harmless and not worth +noticing may together prove the most important things in life. So, +no matter how unimportant a thing may appear, Blacky examines it +closely with those sharp eyes of his and remembers it. + +The very first thing Blacky did, as soon as he was awake the morning +after he discovered the man scattering corn in the rushes at a +certain place on the edge of the Big River, was to fly over to the +pond of Paddy the Beaver and again warn Mr. and Mrs. Quack to keep +away from the Big River, if they and their six children would remain +safe. Then he got some breakfast. He ate it in a hurry and flew +straight over to the Big River to the place where he had seen that +yellow corn scattered. + +Blacky wasn't wholly surprised to find Dusky the Black Duck, own +cousin to Mr. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard Ducks, with a number of his +relatives in among the rushes and wild rice at the very place where +that corn had been scattered. They seemed quite contented and in the +best of spirits. Blacky guessed why. Not a single grain of that +yellow corn could Blacky see. He knew the ways of Dusky and his +relatives. He knew that they must have come in there just at dusk +the night before and at once had found that corn. He knew that they +would remain hiding there until frightened out, and that then they +would spend the day in some little pond where they would not be +likely to be disturbed or where at least no danger could approach +them without being seen in plenty of time. There they would rest all +day, and when the Black Shadows came creeping out from the Purple +Hills, they would return to that place on the Big River to feed, for +that is the time when they like best to hunt for their food. + +Dusky looked up as Blacky flew over him, but Blacky said nothing, +and Dusky said nothing. But if Blacky didn't use his tongue, he did +use his eyes. He saw just on the edge of the shore what looked like +a lot of small bushes growing close together on the very edge of the +water. Mixed in with them were a lot of the brown rushes. They +looked very harmless and innocent. But Blacky knew every foot of +that shore along the Big River, and he knew that those bushes hadn't +been there during the summer. He knew that they hadn't grown there. + +He flew directly over them. Just back of them were a couple of +logs. Those logs hadn't been there when he passed that way a few +days before. He was sure of it. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Blacky under his breath. "Those look to me as if +they might be very handy, very handy indeed, for a hunter to sit +on. Sitting there behind those bushes, he would be hidden from any +Duck who might come in to look for nice yellow corn scattered out +there among the rushes. It doesn't look right to me. No, Sir, it +doesn't look right to me. I think I'll keep an eye on this place." + +So Blacky came back to the Big River several times that day. The +second time back he found that Dusky the Black Duck and his +relatives had left. When he returned in the afternoon, he saw the +same man he had seen there the afternoon before, and he was doing +the same thing, -- scattering yellow corn out in the rushes. And as +before, he went away in a boat. + +"I don't like it," muttered Blacky, shaking his black head. "I +don't like it." + + + +CHAPTER XX: Blacky Drops A Hint + + When you see another's danger + Warn him though he be a stranger. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Every day for a week a man came in a boat to scatter corn in the +rushes at a certain point along the bank of the Big River, and every +day Blacky the Crow watched him and shook his black head and talked +to himself and told himself that he didn't like it, and that he was +sure that it was for no good purpose. Sometimes Blacky watched from +a distance, and sometimes he flew right over the man. But never once +did the man have a gun with him. + +Every morning, very early, Blacky flew over there, and every morning +he found Dusky the Black Duck and his flock in the rushes and wild +rice at that particular place, and he knew that they had been there +all night, He knew that they had come in there just at dusk the +night before, to feast on the yellow corn the man had scattered +there in the afternoon. + +"It is no business of mine what those Ducks do," muttered Blacky to +himself, "but as surely as my tail feathers are black, something is +going to happen to some of them one of these days. That man may be +fooling them, but he isn't fooling me. Not a bit of it. He hasn't +had a gun with him once when I have seen him, but just the same he +is a hunter. I feel it in my bones. He knows those silly Ducks come +in here every night for that corn he puts out. He knows that after +they have been here a few times and nothing has frightened them, +they will be so sure that it is a safe place that they will not be +the least bit suspicious. Then he will hide behind those bushes he +has placed close to the edge of the water and wait for them with his +terrible gun. That is what he will do, or my name isn't Blacky." + +Finally Blacky decided to drop a hint to Dusky the Black Duck. So +the next morning he stopped for a call. "Good morning," said he, as +Dusky swam in just in front of him. "I hope you are feeling as fine +as you look." + +"Quack, quack," replied Dusky. "When Blacky the Crow flatters, he +hopes to gain something. What is it this time?" + +"Not a thing," replied Blacky. "On my honor, not a thing. There is +nothing for me here, though there seems to be plenty for you and +your relatives, to judge by the fact that I find you in this same +place every morning. What is it?" + +"Corn," replied Dusky in a low voice, as if afraid some one might +overhear him. "Nice yellow corn." + +"Corn" exclaimed Blacky, as if very much astonished. "How does corn +happen to be way over here in the water?" + +Dusky shook his head. "Don't ask me, for I can't tell you," said +he. "I haven't the least idea. All I know is that every evening when +we arrive, we find it here. How it gets here, I don't know, and +furthermore I don't care. It is enough for me that it is here." + +"I've seen a man over here every afternoon," said Blacky. "I +thought he might be a hunter." + +"Did he have a terrible gun?" asked Dusky suspiciously. + +"No-o," replied Blacky. + +"Then he isn't a hunter," declared Dusky, looking much relieved. + +"But perhaps one of these days he will have one and will wait for +you to come in for your dinner," suggested Blacky. "He could hide +behind these bushes, you know." + +"Nonsense," retorted Dusky, tossing his head. "There hasn't been a +sign of danger here since we have been here. I know you, Blacky; you +are jealous because we find plenty to eat here, and you find +nothing. You are trying to scare us. But I'll tell you right now, +you can't scare us away from such splendid eating as we have had +here. So there!" + + + +CHAPTER XXI: At Last Blacky Is Sure + + Who for another conquers fear + Is truly brave, it is most clear. + - Blacky the Crow. + +It was late in the afternoon, and Blacky the Crow was on his way to +the Green Forest. As usual, he went around by the Big River to see +if that man was scattering corn for the Ducks. He wasn't there. No +one was to be seen along the bank of the Big River. + +"He hasn't come to-day, or else he came early and has left," +thought Blacky. And then his sharp eyes caught sight of something +that made him turn aside and make straight for a certain tree, from +the top of which he could see all that went on for a long +distance. What was it Blacky saw? It was a boat coming down the Big +River. + +Blacky sat still and watched. Presently the boat turned in among the +rushes, and a moment later a man stepped out on the shore. It was +the same man Blacky had watched scatter corn in the rushes every day +for a week. There wasn't the least doubt about it, it was the same +man. + +"Ha, ha!" exclaimed Blacky, and nearly lost his balance in his +excitement. "Ha, ha! It is just as I thought!" You see Blacky's +sharp eyes had seen that the man was carrying something, and that +something was a gun, a terrible gun. Blacky knows a terrible gun as +far as he can see it. + +The hunter, for of course that is what he was, tramped along the +shore until he reached the bushes which Blacky had noticed close to +the water and which he knew had not grown there. The hunter looked +out over the Big River. Then he walked along where he had scattered +corn the day before. Not a grain was to be seen. This seemed to +please him. Then he went back to the bushes and sat down on a log +behind them, his terrible gun across his knees. + +"I was sure of it," muttered Blacky. "He is going to wait there for +those Ducks to come in, and then something dreadful will +happen. What terrible creatures these hunters are! They don't know +what fairness is. No, Sir, they don't know what fairness is. He has +put food there day after day, where Dusky the Black Duck and his +flock would be sure to find it, and has waited until they have +become so sure there is no danger that they are no longer +suspicious. He knows they will feel so sure that all is safe that +they will come in without looking for danger. Then he will fire that +terrible gun and kill them without giving them any chance at all. + +"Reddy Fox is a sly, clever hunter, but he wouldn't do a thing like +that. Neither would Old Man Coyote or anybody else who wears fur or +feathers. They might hide and try to catch some one by +surprise. That is all right, because each of us is supposed to be on +the watch for things of that sort. Oh, dear, what's to be done? It +is time I was getting home to the Green Forest. The Black Shadows +will soon come creeping out from the Purple Hills, and I must be +safe in my hemlock-tree by then. I would be scared to death to be +out after dark. Yet those Ducks ought to be warned. Oh, dear, what +shall I do?" + +Blacky peered over at the Green Forest and then over toward the +Purple Hills, behind which jolly, round, red Mr. Sun would go to bed +very shortly. He shivered as he thought of the Black Shadows that +soon would come swiftly out from the Purple Hills across the Big +River and over the Green Meadows. With them might come Hooty the +Owl, and Hooty wouldn't object in the least to a Crow dinner. He +wished he was in that hemlock-tree that very minute. Then Blacky +looked at the hunter with his terrible gun and thought of what might +happen, what would be almost sure to happen, unless those Ducks were +warned. "I'll wait a little while longer," muttered Blacky, and +tried to feel brave. But instead he shivered. + + + +CHAPTER: Blacky Goes Home Happy + + No greater happiness is won + Than through a deed for others done. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky sat in the top of a tree near the bank of the Big River and +couldn't make up his mind what to do. He wanted to get home to the +big, thick hemlock-tree in the Green Forest before dusk, for Blacky +is afraid of the dark. That is, he is afraid to be out after dark. + +"Go along home," said a voice inside him, "there is hardly time now +for you to get there before the Black Shadows arrive. + +Don't waste any more time here. What may happen to those silly Ducks +is no business of yours, and there is nothing you can do, anyway. Go +along home." + +"Wait a few minutes," said another little voice down inside +him. "Don't be a coward. You ought to warn Dusky the Black Duck and +his flock that a hunter with a terrible gun is waiting for them. Is +it true that it is no business of yours what happens to those Ducks? +Think again, Blacky; think again. It is the duty of each one who +sees a common danger to warn his neighbors. If something dreadful +should happen to Dusky because you were afraid of the dark, you +never would be comfortable in your own mind. Stay a little while and +keep watch." + +Not five minutes later Blacky saw something that made him, oh, so +glad he had kept watch. It was a swiftly moving black line just +above the water far down the Big River, and it was coming up. He +knew what that black line was. He looked over at the hunter hiding +behind some bushes close to the edge of the water. The hunter was +crouching with his terrible gun in his hands and was peeping over +the bushes, watching that black line. He, too, knew what it was. It +was a flock of Ducks flying. + +Blacky was all ashake again, but this time it wasn't with fear of +being caught away from home in the dark; it was with excitement. He +knew that those Ducks had become so eager for more of that corn, +that delicious yellow corn which every night for a week they had +found scattered in the rushes just in front of the place where that +hunter was now hiding, that they couldn't wait for the coming of the +Black Shadows. They were so sure there was no danger that they were +coming in to eat without waiting for the Black Shadows, as they +usually did. And Blacky was glad. Perhaps now he could give them +warning. + +Up the middle of the Big River, flying just above the water, swept +the flock with Dusky at its head. How swiftly they flew, those nine +big birds! Blacky envied them their swift wings. On past the hidden +hunter but far out over the Big River they swept. For just a minute +Blacky thought they were going on up the river and not coming in to +eat, after all. Then they turned toward the other shore, swept +around in a circle and headed straight in toward that hidden +hunter. Blacky glanced at him and saw that he was ready to shoot. + +Almost without thinking, Blacky spread his wings and started out +from that tree. "Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" he shrieked at the top of +his lungs. "Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" It was his danger cry that +everybody on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest knows. + +Instantly Dusky turned and began to climb up, up, up, the other +Ducks following him until, as they passed over the hidden hunter, +they were so high it was useless for him to shoot. He did put up his +gun and aim at them, but he didn't shoot. You see, he didn't want to +frighten them so that they would not return. Then the flock turned +and started off in the direction from which they had come, and in a +few minutes they were merely a black line disappearing far down the +Big River. + +Blacky headed straight for the Green Forest, chuckling as he +flew. He knew that those Ducks would not return until after dark. He +had saved them this time, and he was so happy he didn't even notice +the Black Shadows. And the hunter stood up and shook his fist at +Blacky the Crow. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII: Blacky Calls Farmer Brown's Boy + +Blacky awoke in the best of spirits. Late the afternoon before he +had saved Dusky the Black Duck and his flock from a hunter with a +terrible gun. He wasn't quite sure whether he was most happy in +having saved those Ducks by warning them just in time, or in having +spoiled the plans of that hunter. He hates a hunter with a terrible +gun, does Blacky. For that matter, so do all the little people of +the Green Forest and the Green Meadows. + +So Blacky started out for his breakfast in high spirits. After +breakfast, he flew over to the Big + +River to see if Dusky the Black Duck was feeding in the rushes along +the shore. Dusky wasn't, and Blacky guessed that he and his flock +had been so frightened by that warning that they had kept away from +there the night before. + +"But they'll come back after a night or so," muttered Blacky, as he +alighted in the top of a tree, the same tree from which he had +watched the hunter the afternoon before. "They'll come back, and so +will that hunter. If he sees me around again, he'll try to shoot +me. I've done all I can do. Anyway, Dusky ought to have sense enough +to be suspicious of this place after that warning. Hello, who is +that? I do believe it is Farmer Brown's boy. I wish he would come +over here. If he should find out about that hunter, perhaps he would +do something to drive him away. I'll see if I can call him over +here." + +Blacky began to call in the way he does when he has discovered +something and wants others to know about it. "Caw, caw, caaw, caaw, +caw, caw, caaw!" screamed Blacky, as if greatly excited. + +Now Farmer Brown's boy, having no work to do that morning, had +started for a tramp over the Green Meadows, hoping to see some of +his little friends in feathers and fur. He heard the excited cawing +of Blacky and at once turned in that direction. + +"That black rascal has found something over on the shore of the Big +River," said Farmer Brown's boy to himself. "I'll go over there to +see what it is. There isn't much escapes the sharp eyes of that +black busybody. He has led me to a lot of interesting things, one +time and another. There he is on the top of that tree over by the +Big River." + +As Farmer Brown's boy drew near, Blacky flew down and disappeared +below the bank. Fanner Brown's boy chuckled. "Whatever it is, it is +right down there," he muttered. + +He walked forward rapidly but quietly, and presently he reached the +edge of the bank. Up flew Blacky cawing wildly, and pretending to be +scared half to death. Again Farmer Brown's boy chuckled. "You're +just making believe," he declared. "You're trying to make me +believe that I have surprised you, when all the time you knew I was +coming and have been waiting for me. Now, what have you found over +here?" + +He looked eagerly along the shore, and at once he saw a row of low +bushes close to the edge of the water. He knew what it was +instantly. "A Duck blind!" he exclaimed. "A hunter has built a blind +over here from which to shoot Ducks. I wonder if he has killed any +yet. I hope not." He went down to the blind, for that is what a +Duck hunter's hiding-place is called, and looked about. A couple of +grains of corn just inside the blind caught his eyes, and his face +darkened. "That fellow has been baiting Ducks," thought he. "He has +been putting out corn to get them to come here regularly. My, how I +hate that sort of thing! It is bad enough to hunt them fairly, but +to feed them and then kill them -- ugh! I wonder if he has shot any +yet." + +He looked all about keenly, and his face cleared. He knew that if +that hunter had killed any Ducks, there would be tell-tale feathers +in the blind, and there were none. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV: Farmer Brown's Boy Does Some Thinking + +Farmer Brown's boy sat on the bank of the Big River in a brown +study. That means that he was thinking very hard. Blacky the Crow +sat in the top of a tall tree a short distance away and watched +him. Blacky was silent now, and there was a knowing look in his +shrewd little eyes. In calling Farmer Brown's boy over there, he had +done all he could, and he was quite satisfied to leave the matter to +Farmer Brown's boy. + +"A hunter has made that blind to shoot Black Ducks from," thought +Farmer Brown's boy, "and he has been baiting them in here by +scattering corn for them. Black Ducks are about the smartest Ducks +that fly, but if they have been coming in here every evening and +finding corn and no sign of danger, they probably think it perfectly +safe here and come straight in without being at all +suspicious. To-night, or some night soon, that hunter will be +waiting for them. + +"I guess the law that permits hunting Ducks is all right, but there +ought to be a law against baiting them in. That isn't hunting. No, +Sir, that isn't hunting. If this land were my father's, I would know +what to do. I would put up a sign saying that this was private +property and no shooting was allowed. But it isn't my father's land, +and that hunter has a perfect right to shoot here. He has just as +much right here as I have. I wish I could stop him, but I don't see +how I can." + +A frown puckered the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy. You see, +he was thinking very hard, and when he does that he is very apt to +frown. + +"I suppose," he muttered, "I can tear down his blind. He wouldn't +know who did it. But that wouldn't do much good; he would build +another. Besides, it wouldn't be right. He has a perfect right to +make a blind here, and having made it, it is his and I haven't any +right to touch it. I won't do a thing I haven't a right to do. That +wouldn't be honest. I've got to think of some other way of saving +those Ducks." + +The frown on his freckled face grew deeper, and for a long time he +sat without moving. Suddenly his face cleared, and he jumped to his +feet. He began to chuckle. "I have it!" he exclaimed. "I'll do a +little shooting myself!" Then he chuckled again and started for +home. Presently he began to whistle, a way he has when he is in good +spirits. + +Blacky the Crow watched him go, and Blacky was well satisfied. He +didn't know what Farmer Brown's boy was planning to do, but he had a +feeling that he was planning to do something, and that all would be +well. Perhaps Blacky wouldn't have felt so sure could he have +understood what Farmer Brown's boy had said about doing a little +shooting himself. + +As it was, Blacky flew off about his own business, quite satisfied +that now all would be well, and he need worry no more about those +Ducks. None of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green +Meadows knew Farmer Brown's boy better than did Blacky the +Crow. None knew better than he that Farmer Brown's boy was their +best friend. "It is all right now," chuckled Blacky. "It is all +right now." And as the cheery whistle of Farmer Brown's boy floated +back to him on the Merry Little Breezes, he repeated it: "It is all +right now." + + + +CHAPTER XXV: Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock + + When friends prove false, whom may we trust? + The springs of faith are turned to dust. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Blacky the Crow was in the top of his favorite tree over near the +Big River early this afternoon. He didn't know what was going to +happen, but he felt in his bones that something was, and he meant to +be on hand to see. For a long time he sat there, seeing nothing +unusual. At last he spied a tiny figure far away across the Green +Meadows. Even at that distance he knew who it was; it was Farmer +Brown's boy, and he was coming toward the Big River. + +"I thought as much," chuckled Blacky. "He is coming over here to +drive that hunter away." + +The tiny figure grew larger. It was Farmer Brown's boy beyond a +doubt. Suddenly Blacky's eyes opened so wide that they looked as if +they were in danger of popping out of his head. He had discovered +that Farmer Brown's boy was carrying something and that that +something was a gun! Yes, Sir, Farmer Brown's boy was carrying a +terrible gun! If Blacky could have rubbed his eyes, he would have +done so, just to make sure that there was nothing the matter with +them. + +"A gun!" croaked Blacky. +"Farmer Brown's boy with a terrible gun! What does it mean?" + +Nearer came Farmer Brown's boy, and Blacky could see that terrible +gun plainly now. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. "Perhaps he +is going to shoot that hunter!" thought Blacky, and somehow he felt +better. + +Farmer Brown's boy reached the Big River at a point some distance +below the blind built by the hunter. He laid his gun down on the +bank and went down to the edge of the water. The rushes grew very +thick there, and for a while Farmer Brown's boy was very busy among +them. Blacky from his high perch could watch him, and as he watched, +he grew more and more puzzled. It looked very much as if Farmer +Brown's boy was building a blind much like that of the hunter's. At +last he carried an old log down there, got his gun, and sat down +just as the hunter had done in his blind the afternoon before. He +was quite hidden there, excepting from a place high up like Blacky's +perch. + +"I -- I -- I do believe he is going to try to shoot those Ducks +himself," gasped Blacky. "I wouldn't have believed it if any one had +told me. No, Sir, I wouldn't have believed it. I -- I -- can't +believe it now. Farmer Brown's boy hunting with a terrible gun! Yet +I've got to believe my own eyes." + +A noise up river caught his attention. It was the noise of oars in a +boat. There was the hunter, rowing down the Big River. Just as he +had done the day before, he came ashore above his blind and walked +down to it. + +"This is no place for me," muttered Blacky. "He'll remember that I +scared those Ducks yesterday, and as likely as not he'll try to +shoot me." + +Blacky spread his black wings and hurriedly left the tree-top, +heading for another tree farther back on the Green Meadows where he +would be safe, but from which he could not see as well. There he sat +until the Black Shadows warned him that it was high time for him to +be getting back to the Green Forest. + +He had to hurry, for it was later than usual, and he was afraid to +be out after dark. Just as he reached the Green Forest he heard a +faint "bang, bang" from over by the Big River, and he knew that it +came from the place where Farmer Brown's boy was hiding in the +rushes. + +"It is true," croaked Blacky. "Farmer Brown's boy has turned +hunter." It was such a dreadful shock to Blacky that it was a long +time before he could go to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI: Why The Hunter Got No Ducks + +The hunter who had come down the Big River in a boat and landed near +the place where Dusky the Black Duck and his flock had found nice +yellow corn scattered in the rushes night after night saw Blacky the +Crow leave the top of a certain tree as he approached. + +"It is well for you that you didn't wait for me to get nearer," said +the hunter. "You are smart enough to know that you can't play the +same trick on me twice. You frightened those Ducks away last night, +but if you try it again, you'll be shot as surely as your coat is +black." + +Then the hunter went to his blind which, you know, was the +hiding-place he had made of bushes and rushes, and behind this he +sat down with his terrible gun to wait and watch for Dusky the Black +Duck and his flock. + +Now you remember that farther along the shore of the Big River was +Farmer Brown's boy, hiding in a blind he had made that afternoon. +The hunter couldn't see him at all. He didn't have the least idea +that any one else was anywhere near. "With that Crow out of the way, +I think I will get some Ducks to-night," thought the hunter and looked +at his gun to make sure that it was ready. + +Over in the West, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed +behind the Purple Hills, and the Black Shadows came creeping +out. Far down the Big River the hunter saw a swiftly moving black +line just above the water. "Here they come," he muttered, as he +eagerly watched that black line draw nearer. + +Twice those big black birds circled around over the Big River +opposite where the hunter was crouching behind his blind. It was +plain that Dusky, their leader, remembered Blacky's warning the +night before. But this time there was no warning. Everything +appeared safe. Once more the flock circled and then headed straight +for that place where they hoped to find more corn. The hunter +crouched lower. They were almost near enough for him to shoot when +"bang, bang" went a gun a short distance away. + +Instantly Dusky and his flock turned and on swift wings swung off +and up the river. If ever there was a disappointed hunter, it was +the one crouching in that blind. "Somebody else is hunting, and he +spoiled my shot that time," he muttered. "He must have a blind +farther down. Probably some other Ducks I didn't see came in to +him. I wonder if he got them. Here's hoping that next time those +Ducks come in here first." + +He once more made himself comfortable and settled down for a long +wait. The Black Shadows crept out from the farther bank of the Big +River. Jolly, round red Mr. Sun had gone to bed, and the first +little star was twinkling high overhead. It was very still and +peaceful. From out in the middle of the Big River sounded a low +"quack"; Dusky and his flock were swimming in this time. Presently +the hunter could see a silver line on the water, and then he made +out nine black spots. In a few minutes those Ducks would be where he +could shoot them. "Bang, bang" went that gun below him again. With +a roar of wings, Dusky and his flock were in the air and away. That +hunter stood up and said things, and they were not nice things. He +knew that those Ducks would not come back again that night, and that +once more he must go home empty-handed. But first he would find out +who that other hunter was and what luck he had had, so he tramped +down the shore to where that gun had seemed to be. He found the +blind of Farmer Brown's boy, but there was no one there. You see, as +soon as he had fired his gun the last time, Farmer Brown's boy had +slipped out and away. And as he tramped across the Green Meadows +toward home with his gun, he chuckled. "He didn't get those Ducks +this time," said Farmer Brown's boy. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII: The Hunter Gives Up + +Blacky The Crow didn't know what to think. He couldn't make himself +believe that Farmer Brown's boy had really turned hunter, yet what +else could he believe? Hadn't he with his own eyes seen Farmer +Brown's boy with a terrible gun hide in rushes along the Big River +and wait for Dusky the Black Duck and his flock to come in? And +hadn't he with his own ears heard the "bang, bang" of that very gun? + +The very first thing the next morning Blacky had hastened over to +the place where Farmer Brown's boy had hidden in the rushes. With +sharp eyes he looked for feathers, that would tell the tale of a +Duck killed. But there were no feathers. There wasn't a thing to +show that anything so dreadful had happened. Perhaps Farmer Brown's +boy had missed when he shot at those Ducks. Blacky shook his head +and decided to say nothing to anybody about Farmer Brown's boy and +that terrible gun. + +You may be sure that early in the afternoon he was perched in the +top of his favorite tree over by the Big River. His heart sank, just +as on the afternoon before, when he saw Farmer Brown's boy with his +terrible gun trudging across the Green Meadows to the Big +River. Instead of going to the same hiding place he made a new one +farther down. + +Then came the hunter a little earlier than usual. Instead of +stopping at his blind, he walked straight to the blind Farmer +Brown's boy had first made. Of course, there was no one there. The +hunter looked both glad and disappointed. He went back to his own +blind and sat down, and while he watched for the coming of the +Ducks, he also watched that other blind to see if the unknown hunter +of the night before would appear. Of course he didn't, and when at +last the hunter saw the Ducks coming, he was sure that this time he +would get some of them. + +But the same thing happened as on the night before. Just as those +Ducks were almost near enough, a gun went "bang, bang," and away +went the Ducks. They didn't come back again, and once more a +disappointed hunter went home without any. + +The next afternoon he was on hand very early. He was there before +Farmer Brown's boy arrived, and when he did come, of course the +hunter saw him. He walked down to where Farmer Brown's boy was +hiding in the rushes. "Hello!" said he. "Are you the one who was +shooting here last night and the night before?" + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned. "Yes," said he. + +"What luck did you have?" asked the hunter. + +"Fine," replied Farmer Brown's boy. + +"How many Ducks did you get?" asked the hunter. + +Farmer Brown's boy grinned more broadly than before. "None," said +he. "I guess I'm not a very good shot." + +"Then what did you mean by saying you had fine luck?" demanded the hunter. + +"Oh," replied Farmer Brown's boy, "I had the luck to see those Ducks +and the fun of shooting," and he grinned again. + +The hunter lost patience. He tried to order Farmer Brown's boy +away. But the latter said he had as much right there as the hunter +had, and the hunter knew that this was so. Finally he gave up, and +muttering angrily, he went back to his blind. Again the gun of +Farmer Brown's boy frightened away the Ducks just as they were +coming in. + +The next afternoon there was no hunter nor the next, though Farmer +Brown's boy was there. The hunter had decided that it was a waste of +time to hunt there while Farmer Brown's boy was about. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII: Blacky Has A Talk With Dusky The Black Duck + + Doubt not a friend, but to the last + Grip hard on faith and hold it fast. + - Blacky the Crow. + +Every morning Blacky the Crow visited the rushes along the shore of +the Big River, hoping to find Dusky the Black Duck. He was anxious, +was Blacky. He feared that Dusky or some of his flock had been +killed, and he wanted to know. You see, he knew that Farmer Brown's +boy had been shooting over there. At last, early one morning, he +found Dusky and his flock in the rushes and wild rice. Eagerly he +counted them. There were nine. Not one was missing. Blacky sighed +with relief and dropped down on the shore close to where Dusky was +taking a nap. + +"Hello!" said Blacky. + +Dusky awoke with a start. "Hello, yourself," said he. + +"I've heard a terrible gun banging over here, and I was afraid you +or some of your flock had been shot," said Blacky. + +"We haven't lost a feather," declared Dusky. "That gun wasn't fired +at us, anyway." + +"Then who was it fired at?" demanded Blacky. + +"I haven't the least idea," replied Dusky. + +"Have you seen any other Ducks about here?" inquired Blacky. + +"Not one," was Dusky's prompt reply. "If there had been any, I guess +we would have known it." + +"Did you know that when that terrible gun was fired there was +another terrible gun right over behind those bushes?" asked Blacky. + +Dusky shook his head. "No," said he, "but I learned long ago that +where there is one terrible gun there is likely to be more, and so +when I heard that one bang, I led my flock away from here in a +hurry. We didn't want to take any chances." + +"It is a lucky thing you did," replied Blacky. "There was a +hunter hiding behind those bushes all the time. I warned you of him once." + +"That reminds me that I haven't thanked you," said Dusky. "I knew +there was something wrong over here, but I didn't know what. So it +was a hunter. I guess it is a good thing that I heeded your +warn-ing." + +"I guess it is," retorted Blacky dryly. "Do you come here in daytime +instead of night now?" + +"No," replied Dusky. "We come in after dark and spend the night +here. There is nothing to fear from hunters after dark. We've given +up coming here until late in the evening. And since we did that, we +haven't heard a gun." + +Blacky gossiped a while longer, then flew off to look for his +breakfast; and as he flew his heart was light. His shrewd little +eyes twinkled. + +"I ought to have known Farmer Brown's boy better than even to +suspect him," thought he. "I know now why he had that terrible +gun. It was to frighten those Ducks away so that the hunter would +not have a chance to shoot them. He wasn't shooting at anything. He +just fired in the air to scare those Ducks away. I know it just as +well as if I had seen him do it. I'll never doubt Farmer Brown's boy +again. And I'm glad I didn't say a word to anybody about seeing him +with a terrible gun." + +Blacky was right. Farmer Brown's boy had taken that way of making +sure that the hunter who had first baited those Ducks with yellow +corn scattered in the rushes in front of his hiding place should +have no chance to kill any of them. While appearing to be an enemy, +he really had been a friend of Dusky the Black Duck and his flock. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX: Blacky Discovers An Egg + +Blacky is fond of eggs, as you know. In this he is a great deal like +other people, Farmer Brown's boy for instance. But as Blacky cannot +keep hens, as Farmer Brown's boy does, he is obliged to steal eggs +or else go without. If you come right down to plain, everyday truth, +I suppose Blacky isn't so far wrong when he insists that he is no +more of a thief than Farmer Brown's boy. Blacky says that the eggs +which the bens lay belong to the hens, and that he, Blacky has just +as much right to take them as Farmer Brown's boy. He quite overlooks +the fact that Farmer Brown's boy feeds the biddies and takes the +eggs as pay. Anyway, that is what Farmer Brown's boy says, but I do +not know whether or not the biddies understand it that way. + +So Blacky the Crow cannot see why he should not help himself to an +egg when he gets the chance. He doesn't get the chance very often to +steal eggs from the hens, because usually they lay their eggs in the +henhouse, and Blacky is too suspicious to venture inside. The eggs +he does get are mostly those of his neighbors in the Green Forest +and the Old Orchard. But once in a great while some foolish hen will +make a nest outside the henhouse somewhere, and if Blacky happens to +find it the black scamp watches every minute he can spare from other +mischief for a chance to steal an egg. + +Now Blacky knows just what a rogue Farmer Brown's boy thinks he is, +and for this reason Blacky is very careful about approaching Farmer +Brown or any other man until he has made sure that he runs no risk +of being shot. Blacky knows quite as well as any one what a gun +looks like. He also knows that without a terrible gun, there is +little Farmer Brown or any one else can do to him. So when he sees +Farmer Brown out in his fields, Blacky often will fly right over him +and shout "Caw, caw, caw, ca-a-w!" in the most provoking way, and +Fanner Brown's boy insists that he has seen Blacky wink when he was +doing it. + +But Blacky doesn't do anything of this kind around the buildings of +Farmer Brown. You see, he has learned that there are doors and +windows in buildings, and out of one of these a terrible gun may +bang at any time. Though he has suspected that Farmer Brown's boy +would not now try to harm him, Blacky is naturally cautious and +takes no chances. So when he comes spying around Farmer Brown's +house and barn, he does it when he is quite sure that no one is +about, and he makes no noise about it. First he sits in a tall tree +from which he can watch Farmer Brown's home. When he is quite sure +that the way is clear, he flies over to the Old Orchard, and from +there he inspects the barnyard, never once making a sound. If he is +quite sure that no one is about, he sometimes drops down into the +henyard and helps himself to corn, if any happens to be there. It +was on one of these silent visits that Blacky spied something which +he couldn't forget. It was a box just inside the henhouse door. In +the box was some hay and in that hay he was sure that he had seen an +egg. In fact, he was sure that he saw two eggs there. He might not +have noticed them but for the fact that a hen had jumped down from +that box, making a terrible fuss. She didn't seem frightened, but +very proud. What under the sun she had to be proud about Blacky +couldn't understand, but he didn't stay to find out. The noise she +was making made him nervous. He was afraid that it would bring some +one to find out what was going on. So he spread his black wings and +flew away as silently as he had come. + +As he was flying away he saw those eggs. You see, as he rose into +the air, he managed to pass that open door in such a way that he +could glance in. That one glance was enough. You know Blacky's eyes +are very sharp. He saw the hay in the box and the two eggs in the +hay, and that was enough for him. From that instant Blacky the Crow +began to scheme and plan to get one or both of those eggs. It seemed +to him that he never, never, had wanted anything quite so much, and +he was sure that he would not and could not be happy until he +succeeded in getting one. + + + +CHAPTER XXX: Blacky Screws Up His Courage + +If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a saying which you often +hear. It may be true sometimes, but it is very far from true at +other times. Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance into +that nest just inside the door of Farmer Brown's henhouse, but that +glance had been enough to show him two eggs there. Then, as he flew +away toward the Green Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of +course. But do you think they were out of mind? Not much! No, +indeed! In fact, those eggs were very much in Blacky's mind. He +couldn't think of anything else. He flew straight to a certain tall +pine-tree in a lonely part of the Green Forest. Whenever Blacky +wants to think or to plan mischief, he seeks that particular tree, +and in the shelter of its broad branches he keeps out of sight of +curious eyes, and there he sits as still as still can be. + +"I want one of those eggs," muttered Blacky, as he settled himself +in comfort on a certain particular spot on a certain particular +branch of that tall pine-tree. Indeed, that particular branch might +well be called the "mischief branch," for on it Blacky has thought +out and planned most of the mischief he is so famous for. "Yes, +sir," he continued, "I want one of those eggs, and what is more, I +am going to have one." + +He half closed his eyes and tipped his head back and swallowed a +couple of times, as if he already tasted one of those eggs. + +"There is more in one of those eggs than in a whole nestful of +Welcome Robin's eggs. It is a very long time since I have been lucky +enough to taste a hen's egg, and now is my chance. I don't like +having to go inside that henhouse, even though it is barely inside +the door. I'm suspicious of doors. They have a way of closing most +unexpectedly. + +I might see if I cannot get Unc' Billy Possum to bring one of those +eggs out for me. But that plan won't do, come to think of it, +because I can't trust Unc' Billy. The old sinner is too fond of eggs +himself. I would be willing to divide with him, but he would be sure +to eat his first, and I fear that it would taste so good that he +would eat the other. No. I've got to get one of those eggs +myself. It is the only way I can be sure of it. + +"The thing to do is to make sure that Farmer Brown's boy and Farmer +Brown himself are nowhere about. They ought to be down in the +cornfield pretty soon. With them down there, I have only to watch my +chance and slip in. It won't take but a second. Just a little +courage, Blacky, just a little courage! Nothing in this world worth +having is gained without some risk. The thing to do is to make sure +that the risk is as small as possible." + +Blacky shook out his feathers and then flew out of the tall +pine-tree as silently as he had flown into it. He headed straight +toward Farmer Brown's cornfield. When he was near enough to see all +over the field, he dropped down to the top of a fence post, and +there he waited. he didn't have long to wait. In fact, he had been +there but a few minutes + +when he spied two people coming down the Long Lane toward the +cornfield. He looked at them sharply, and then gave a little sigh of +satisfaction. They were Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's +boy. Presently they reached the cornfield and turned into it. Then +they went to work, and Blacky knew that so far as they were +concerned, the way was clear for him to visit the henyard. + +He didn't fly straight there. Oh, my, no! Blacky is too clever to do +anything like that. He flew toward the Green Forest. When he knew +that he was out of sight of those in the cornfield, he turned and +flew over to the Old Orchard, and from the top of one of the old +apple-trees he studied the henyard and the barnyard and Farmer +Brown's house and the barn, to make absolutely sure that there was +no danger near. When he was quite sure, he silently flew down into +the henyard as he had done many times before. He pretended to be +looking for scattered grains of corn, but all the time he was edging +nearer and nearer to the open door of the henhouse. At last he could +see the box with the hay in it. He walked right up to the open door +and peered inside. There was nothing to be afraid of that he could +see. Still he hesitated. He did hate to go inside that door, even +for a minute, and that is all it would take to fly up to that nest +and get one of those eggs. + +Blacky closed his eyes for just a second, and when he did that he +seemed to see himself eating one of those eggs. "What are you afraid +of?" he muttered to himself as he opened his eyes. Then with a +hurried look in all directions, he flew up to the edge of the +box. There lay the two eggs! + + + +CHAPTER XXXI: An Egg That Wouldn't Behave + + If you had an egg and it wouldn't behave + Just what would you do with that egg, may I ask? + To make an egg do what it don't want to do + Strikes me like a difficult sort of a task. + +All of which is pure nonsense. Of course. Who ever heard of an egg +either behaving or misbehaving? Nobody. That is, nobody that I know, +unless it be Blacky. It is best not to mention eggs in Blacky's +presence these days. They are a forbidden topic when he is +about. Blacky is apt to be a little resentful at the mere mention of +an egg. I don't know as I wholly blame him. How would you feel if +you knew you knew all there was to know about a thing, and then +found out that you didn't know anything at all? Well, that is the +way it is with Blacky the Crow. + +If any one had told Blacky that he didn't know all there is to know +about eggs, he would have laughed at the idea. Wasn't he, Blacky, +hatched from an egg himself? And hadn't he, ever since he was big +enough, hunted eggs and stolen eggs and eaten eggs? If he didn't +know about eggs, who did? That is the way he would have talked +before his visit to Farmer Brown's henhouse. It is since then that +it has been unwise to mention eggs + +When Blacky saw the two eggs in the nest in Farmer Brown's henhouse +how Blacky did wish that he could take both. But he couldn't. One +would be all that he could manage. He must take his choice and go +away while the going was good. Which should he take? + +It often happens in this life that things which seem to be +unimportant, mere trifles in themselves, prove to be just the +opposite. Now, so far as Blacky could see, it didn't make the least +difference which egg he took, excepting that one was a little bigger +than the other. As a matter of fact, it made all the difference in +the world. One was brown and very good to look at. The other, the +larger of the two, was white and also very good to look at. In fact, +Blacky thought it the better of the two to look at, for it was very +smooth and shiny. So, partly on this account, and partly because it +was the largest, Blacky chose the white egg. He seized it in his +claws and started to fly with it, but somehow he could not seem to +get a good grip on it. He fluttered to the ground just outside the +door, and there he got a better grip. Just as old Dandy-cock the +Rooster, with head down and all the feathers on his neck standing +out with anger, came charging at him, Blacky rose into the air and +started over the Old Orchard toward the Green Forest. + +Never had Blacky felt more like cawing at the top of his lungs. You +see, he felt that he had been very smart, and I suspect that he also +felt that he had been very brave. He would have liked to boast a +little. But he didn't. He wisely held his tongue. It would be time +enough to do his boasting after he had reached a place of safety and +had eaten that egg. He was halfway across the Old Orchard when he +felt that egg beginning to slip. Now at best it isn't easy to carry +an egg without breaking it. You know how very careful you have to +be. Just imagine how Blacky felt when that egg began to slip. Do +what he would, he couldn't get a better grip on it. It slipped a wee +bit more. Blacky started down towards the ground. But he wasn't +quick enough. Striped Chipmunk, watching Blacky from the old stone +wall, saw something white drop from Blacky's claws. He saw Blacky +dash after it and clutch at it only to miss it. Then the white thing +struck a branch of an old apple tree, bounced off and fell to the +ground. Blacky followed it. + +Striped Chipmunk stole very softly through the grass to see what +Blacky was doing. Blacky was standing close beside a white thing +that looked very much like an egg. He was looking at it with the +queerest expression. + +Now and then he would reach out and rap it sharply with his bill, +and then look as if he didn't know what to make of it. He +didn't. That egg wasn't behaving + +right. It should have broken when it hit the branch of the apple +tree. Certainly it should have broken when he struck it that way +with his bill. However was he to eat that egg, if he couldn't break +the shell? Blacky didn't know. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII: What Blacky Did With The Stolen Egg + +Blacky was puzzled. He didn't know what to make of that egg he had +stolen from Farmer Brown's henhouse. It wasn't like any egg he ever +had seen or even heard of. It was a beautiful-looking egg, and he +had been sure that it would taste as good, quite as good as it +looked. Even now he wasn't sure that if he could only taste it, it +would be all that he had hoped. But how could he taste it, when he +couldn't break that shell? He never had heard of such a shell. He +doubted if anybody else ever had, either. He had hammered at it with +his stout bill until he was afraid that he would break that, instead +of the egg. The more he tried to break into it and couldn't, the +hungrier he grew, and the more certain that nothing else in all the +world could possibly taste so good. But the Old Orchard was not the +place for him to work on that egg. In the first place, it was too +near Farmer Brown's house. This made Blacky uneasy. You see, he had +something of a guilty conscience. Not that he felt at all a sense of +having done wrong. To his way of thinking, if he were smart enough +to get that egg, he had just as much right to it as any one else, +particularly Farmer Brown's boy. Yet he wasn't at all sure that +Farmer Brown's boy would look at the matter quite that way. In fact, +he had a feeling that Farmer Brown's boy would call him a thief if +he should be discovered with that egg. Then, too, there were too +many sharp eyes in the Old Orchard. He wanted to get away where he +could be sure of being alone. Then if he couldn't break that shell, +no one would be the wiser. So he picked up the egg and flew straight +over to the Green Forest, and this time he managed to get there +without dropping it. + +Now you would never suspect Blacky the Crow, he of the sharp wits +and crafty ways, of being amused by bright things, would you? But he +is. In fact, Blacky is quite like a little child in this +matter. Anything that is bright and shiny interests Blacky right +away. If he finds anything of this kind, he will take it away to a +certain secret place, and there he will admire it and play with it +and finally hide it. If I didn't know that it isn't so, because it +couldn't possibly be so, I should think that Blacky was some +relation to certain small boys I know. Always their pockets are +filled with all sorts of useless odds and ends which they have +picked up here and there. Blacky has no pockets, so he keeps his +treasures of this kind in a secret hiding-place, a sort of treasure +storehouse. He visits this secretly every day, uncovers his +treasures, and gloats over them and plays with them, then carefully +covers them up again. First Blacky took this egg over near his home, +and there he once more tried and tried and tried to break the +shell. But the shell wouldn't break, not even when Blacky quite lost +his temper and hammered at it for all he was worth. Then he gave the +thing up as a bad matter and flew up to his favorite roost in the +top of a tall pine-tree, leaving the egg on the ground. But from +where he sat on his favorite roost in the tall pine-tree he could +see that provoking egg, a little spot of shining white. When a Jolly +Little Sunbeam found it and rested on it, it was so very bright and +shiny that Blacky couldn't keep his eyes off it. + +Little by little he forgot that it was an egg. At least, he forgot +that he wanted to eat it. He began to find pleasure in just looking +at it. It might not satisfy his stomach, but it certainly was very +satisfying to his eyes. He forgot to think of it as a thing to eat, +but began to think of it wholly as a thing to look at and admire. He +was glad he hadn't been able to break that shell. + +Once more he spread his black wings and flew down to the egg. He +cocked his head to one side and looked at it. He cocked his head to +the other side and looked at it. He walked all around it, chuckling +and saying to himself, "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty and all mine, +mine, mine, mine! Pretty, pretty, and all mine!" + +Than he craftily looked all about to make sure that no one was +watching him. Having made quite sure, he rolled the egg over and +turned it around and admired it to his heart's content. At last he +picked it up and carried it to his treasure-house and covered it +over very carefully. And there that china nest-egg, for that is what +he had stolen, is still his chief treasure to this day, and Blacky +still sometimes wonders what kind of a hen laid such a hard-shelled egg. + +Blacky has had very many other adventures, but it would take another +book to tell about all of them. That would be hardly fair to some of +the other little people who also have had adventures and want them +told to you. One of these is a beautiful little fellow who lives in +the Green Forest, and so the next book will be Whitefoot the Wood Mouse. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BLACKY THE CROW *** + +This file should be named blcky10.txt or blcky10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, blcky11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, blcky10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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