"Careful!" she warned him.

"All right, Mis' Green," he said. "I haven't been up in the maintop for
nothing."

You see, once upon a time, he had been a sailor. There was nothing that the
Toyman hadn't done.

He reached the top of the ladder, then swung out on the roof. At last he
reached the ridge.

There stood the Gold Rooster, never crowing or saying anything at all. And
under him lay Robber Hawk, and he didn't say anything either.

Carefully the Toyman climbed down from the ridge of the barn, holding the
rascal in his hands. Then one by one down the rungs of the ladder he came.

When he reached the ground Jehosophat, Marmaduke and Hepzebiah
gathered round.

Robber Hawk hung limp from the Toyman's hand.

His dark brown feathers never stirred. His white breast with its dark bars
and patches never moved.

"Robber Hawk," spoke the Toyman, "your old curved beak will never feed on
any more good chicken."

Then he turned to the children.