The Tale of Jasper Jay | Page 5

Meanwhile, he took special pains to dodge his cousin, old Mr. Crow,
whenever he caught sight of him; for he remembered Mr. Crow's
disagreeable remark. But the day finally came when Jasper met him
face to face in the woods. And Mr. Crow called to him loudly to wait a
moment.
"I want to ask you," said the old gentleman, "whether you've found and
driven away that stranger yet?" The old rogue's voice cracked as he
spoke and he rocked back and forth as if he were much amused by
something.
"I haven't set eyes on him yet," Jasper replied somewhat coldly. "But
I've heard him every noon. And I expect to find him pretty soon."
"Have you looked for him around the farmhouse?" Mr. Crow inquired.
"Why, no!" said Jasper. "I hadn't thought of his being there."
"Then," said old Mr. Crow, "I'd go over there at once, if I were you.
And I'd stay right there until noon. You won't have to wait more than
three or four hours. And unless I'm much mistaken you'll find your
search at an end...."
"I hope--" he added--"I hope you won't get hurt when you fight the
stranger."

Now, it struck Jasper Jay that old Mr. Crow knew more about the
strange bird with the loud voice than he was willing to tell. Anyhow,
Mr. Crow looked very wise. And he croaked and smiled in a way that
was most annoying. What he said about Jasper's not getting hurt made
Jasper feel quite uneasy, too.
"Won't you come with me?" he asked Mr. Crow very politely. To tell
the truth, Jasper was worried. Now that he was about to meet the
strange bird he began to be frightened. He did not like the thought of
facing him alone.
"I can't come now," said Mr. Crow, "because I'm going to be busy. But
I'll join you on the barnyard fence a little before midday. Maybe I'll
bring a friend or two along with me."
"Good!" cried Jasper Jay. "That will be fine."
So they said good-by. And Mr. Crow hurried off into the woods, for--as
he said--he was going to be busy.

VI
A JOKE ON JASPER JAY
WITH a loud squall of glee, Jasper Jay made off in the direction of the
farm buildings. Now that he was going to have company, later, he felt
much better. And he resolved to keep well hidden in the top of the great
oak near Farmer Green's house, until the time came for Mr. Crow to
arrive--and his friends, too, if he brought them.
Jasper waited in the big oak for a long time. He saw no strange bird.
And he was glad--because he did not want to meet him until Mr. Crow
came.
For once in his life Jasper kept quite still. He could see a kitten playing
in the dooryard; and he would have liked to tease it. And there were the
hens, too. Jasper smiled as he thought of the way they would scurry for

shelter if he should cry out like a hawk. But he made no noise, for he
was afraid the strange bird might be lurking about somewhere, ready to
pounce upon him before Jasper knew what was happening.
At last Jasper left his hiding place and flew beyond the barn, where he
alighted on the fence, to meet Mr. Crow. And very promptly the old
gentleman arrived. He brought ten of his relations with him, too--all
noisy and unmannerly fellows. They were not the least bit timid,
because they knew that Farmer Green and his son Johnnie and the
hired-man were working in the hayfield, beyond the pasture.
"Here we are!" cried Mr. Crow. "We've come to see you whip the
person with the loud voice and drive him out of the valley." And all ten
of his relations joined Mr. Crow in a loud, cackling laugh.
"What's the joke?" asked Jasper Jay.
"Oh, there's no joke at all--yet," said Mr. Crow. And he and his
companions all laughed again. "Come around to the other side of the
barn," Mr. Crow continued. "It's time for the stranger to screech, for it'll
be noon before you know it."
So they all moved to another part of the fence, from which they could
see the farmhouse. And no sooner had they settled themselves
comfortably than Farmer Green's wife came to the doorway and held a
horn to her lips.
Then came the loud blast that Jasper knew so well. He was so startled
that he almost fell off the fence. But he was not frightened.
He was very angry, however. For Mr. Crow and his friends began to
jeer at him.
"Fly at her!" cried Mr. Crow. "She's the bird that you're going to drive
out of Pleasant Valley. And