at
without moving. Suddenly his face cleared, and he jumped to his feet. He
began to chuckle. "I have it!" he exclaimed. "I'll do a little shooting
myself!" Then he chuckled again and started for home. Presently he began
to whistle, a way he has when he is in good spirits.

Blacky the Crow watched him go, and Blacky was well satisfied. He didn't
know what Farmer Brown's boy was planning to do, but he had a feeling
that he was planning to do something, and that all would be well.
Perhaps Blacky wouldn't have felt so sure could he have understood what
Farmer Brown's boy had said about doing a little shooting himself.

As it was, Blacky flew off about his own business, quite satisfied that
now all would be well, and he need worry no more about those Ducks.
None of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows knew
Farmer Brown's boy better than did Blacky the Crow. None knew better
than he that Farmer Brown's boy was their best friend. "It is all right
now," chuckled Blacky. "It is all right now." And as the cheery whistle
of Farmer Brown's boy floated back to him on the Merry Little Breezes,
he repeated it: "It is all right now."

CHAPTER XXV: Blacky Gets A Dreadful Shock

When friends prove false, whom may we trust?
The springs of faith are turned to dust.
--Blacky the Crow.

Blacky the Crow was in the top of his favorite tree over near the Big
River early this afternoon. He didn't know what was going to happen, but
he felt in his bones that something was, and he meant to be on hand to
see. For a long time he sat there, seeing nothing unusual. At last he
spied a tiny figure far away across the Green Meadows. Even at that
distance he knew who it was; it was Farmer Brown's boy, and he was
coming toward the Big River.

"I thought as much," chuckled Blacky. "He is coming over here to drive
that hunter away."

The tiny figure grew larger. It was Farmer Brown's boy beyond a doubt.
Suddenly Blacky's eyes opened so wide that they looked as if they were
in danger of popping out of his head. He had discovered that Farmer
Brown's boy was carrying something and that that something was a gun!
Yes, Sir, Farmer Brown's boy was carrying a terrible gun! If Blacky
could have rubbed his eyes, he would have done so, just to make sure
that there was nothing the matter with them.

"A gun!" croaked Blacky. "Farmer Brown's boy with a terrible gun! What
does it mean?"

Nearer came Farmer Brown's boy, and Bl