Blacky the Crow | Page 2

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