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