"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