meet the strange
bird he began to be frightened. He did not like the thought of facing
him alone.

"I can't come now," said Mr. Crow, "because I'm going to be busy. But
I'll join you on the barnyard fence a little before midday. Maybe I'll
bring a friend or two along with me."

"Good!" cried Jasper Jay. "That will be fine."

So they said good-by. And Mr. Crow hurried off into the woods, for--as
he said--he was going to be busy.

VI

A JOKE ON JASPER JAY

WITH a loud squall of glee, Jasper Jay made off in the direction of the
farm buildings. Now that he was going to have company, later, he felt
much better. And he resolved to keep well hidden in the top of the great
oak near Farmer Green's house, until the time came for Mr. Crow to
arrive--and his friends, too, if he brought them.

Jasper waited in the big oak for a long time. He saw no strange bird.
And he was glad--because he did not want to meet him until Mr. Crow
came.

For once in his life Jasper kept quite still. He could see a kitten
playing in the dooryard; and he would have liked to tease it. And there
were the hens, too. Jasper smiled as he thought of the way they would
scurry for shelter if he should cry out like a hawk. But he made no
noise, for he was afraid the strange bird might be lurking about
somewhere, ready to pounce upon him before Jasper knew what was
happening.

At last Jasper left his hiding place and flew beyond the barn, where he
alighted on the fence, to meet Mr. Crow. And very promptly the old
gentleman arrived. He brought ten of his relations with him, too--all
noisy and unmannerly fellows. They were not the least bit timid, because
they knew that Farmer Green and his son Johnnie and the hired-man were
working in the hayfield, beyond the pasture.

"Here we are!" cried Mr. Crow. "We've come to see you whip the person
with the loud voice and drive him out of the valley." And all ten of his
relations joined Mr. Crow in a loud, cackling laugh.

"What's the joke?" asked Jasper Jay.

"Oh, there's no joke at all--yet," said Mr. Crow. And he and his
companions all laughed again. "Come around to the other side of the
barn," Mr. Crow continued. "It's time for the stranger to screech, for
it'll be noon before you know it."

So they all moved to another part of the fence, from which they could
see the farmhouse. And no sooner had they settled themselves comfortably
than Farmer Green's wife came to the doorway and held a horn to