t any
time. Though he has suspected that Farmer Brown's boy would not now try
to harm him, Blacky is naturally cautious and takes no chances. So when
he comes spying around Farmer Brown's house and barn, he does it when
he is quite sure that no one is about, and he makes no noise about it.
First he sits in a tall tree from which he can watch Farmer Brown's
home. When he is quite sure that the way is clear, he flies over to the
Old Orchard, and from there he inspects the barnyard, never once making
a sound. If he is quite sure that no one is about, he sometimes drops
down into the henyard and helps himself to corn, if any happens to be
there. It was on one of these silent visits that Blacky spied something
which he couldn't forget. It was a box just inside the henhouse door.
In the box was some hay and in that hay he was sure that he had seen an
egg. In fact, he was sure that he saw two eggs there. He might not have
noticed them but for the fact that a hen had jumped down from that box,
making a terrible fuss. She didn't seem frightened, but very proud. What
under the sun she had to be proud about Blacky couldn't understand, but
he didn't stay to find out. The noise she was making made him nervous.
He was afraid that it would bring some one to find out what was going
on. So he spread his black wings and flew away as silently as he had
come.

As he was flying away he saw those eggs. You see, as he rose into the
air, he managed to pass that open door in such a way that he could
glance in. That one glance was enough. You know Blacky's eyes are very
sharp. He saw the hay in the box and the two eggs in the hay, and that
was enough for him. From that instant Blacky the Crow began to scheme
and plan to get one or both of those eggs. It seemed to him that he
never, never, had wanted anything quite so much, and he was sure that he
would not and could not be happy until he succeeded in getting one.

CHAPTER XXX: Blacky Screws Up His Courage

If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a saying which you often
hear. It may be true sometimes, but it is very far from true at other
times. Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance into that nest
just inside the door of Farmer Brown's henhouse, but that glance had
been enough to show him two eggs there. Then, as he flew away toward the
Green Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of course. But do you think
they were out of mind? Not much! No, indeed! In fact, those eggs wer