to prepare to move up to the Old Pasture.




XI


HOW BLACKY THE CROW'S PLAN WORKED OUT

"Thief! thief! thief!" Old Granny Fox, trotting along a cow-path in the Old
Pasture on the edge of the mountain, heard it and grinned. Reddy Fox,
sitting in the doorway of their new home under the great rocks in the midst
of the thickest clump of bushes and young trees, heard it, too, and he
grinned even more broadly than Granny Fox. It sounded good to him, did that
harsh scream, for it was the first time he had heard the voice of a single
one of the little meadow and forest people since he and Granny Fox had
moved up to the lonesome Old Pasture.

"Now I wonder what has brought Sammy Jay way up here?" said Reddy, as he
limped out to the edge of the thick tangle of bushes and young trees.
Pretty soon he caught sight of a wonderful coat of bright blue with white
trimmings.

"Hi, Sammy Jay! What are you doing up here?" shouted Reddy Fox.

Sammy Jay heard him and hurried over to where Reddy Fox was sitting.

"Hello, Reddy Fox! How are you feeling?" said Sammy Jay.