e rats had stolen
most of his young chickens (of course that left very few for _them_), and
that the wild berry crop was poor.

Everybody agreed with the stranger. And everybody nodded his head, as if
to say, "That's quite true!"--at least, everybody but Mr. Crow. He was
determined that he would not agree with anything the stranger said. And
so he shouted, "Nonsense!" at the top of his lungs.

A murmur ran through the meeting. And there were cries of "Put him out!"

"That's what I say, too!" Mr. Crow bellowed.

And then he could hardly believe his ears when someone near him said,
"They mean you!"

XXII

THE TEST

Well, it was no wonder that Mr. Crow was surprised when he found that
some people wanted to put him out of the meeting just because he had said
one word. Had he not always talked more than anybody else at those sunset
meetings in the pine woods?

Luckily, no one made a move to oust him. And he managed to keep silent
for a little while. But he was so angry that he did not hear what the
stranger was saying. At last, however, Mr. Crow began to pay attention
again.

"Do you want to know why times are hard and food is scarce in this
neighborhood?" the impudent fellow asked.

Everybody except old Mr. Crow answered, "Yes!" And after the echo had
died away the stranger continued:

"It's because you need a new leader," he declared. "I understand that a
person called 'Old Mr. Crow' has been your leader for a good many years.
And my advice to you, friends, is this: _Get rid of him_!"

A good deal of applause greeted his words. But some of the older and
wiser of his listeners shook their heads.

"Who is there that could take Mr. Crow's place?" a voice called.

At that question the stranger coughed slightly and said:

"Of course, I wouldn't suggest any one specially, being a newcomer here
myself. And if the position were offered to me, I don't know that I could
accept it, though I _have_ had so much experience."

The young fellows on the limb with Mr. Crow at once set up a great
cawing.

"We want you!" they chanted. Old Mr. Crow might have been a scarecrow,
for all the attention they paid to him. And he did not dare open his
mouth. Many others took up the cry. And a great hub-bub arose--a beating
of wings, and flying up and down, and jostling. Some of the younger ones
squawked like chickens; others pretended to cry like children. But most
of the company cawed in their loudest tones, until the w