em like a
harsh croak, because it had become much deeper in tone since he had
grown to his full size.

The birds looked at him curiously, and one or two fluttered their wings
in a timid and nervous way; but none of them, little or big, thought
best to make any reply.

"Well," said Jim Crow, gruffly, "what's the matter with you fellows?
Haven't you got tongues? You seemed to talk fast enough a minute ago."

"Excuse me," replied a bullfinch, in a dignified voice; "we haven't the
honor of your acquaintance. You are a stranger."

"My name's Jim Crow," he answered, "and I won't be a stranger long,
because I'm going to live here."

They all looked grave at this speech, and a little thrush hopped from
one branch to another, and remarked:

"We haven't any crows here at all. If you want to find your own folks
you must go to some other place."

"What do I care about my own folks?" asked Jim, with a laugh that made
the little thrush shudder. "I prefer to live alone."

"Haven't you a mate?" asked a robin, speaking in a very polite tone.

"No; and I don't want any," said Jim Crow. "I'm going to live all by
myself. There's plenty of room in this forest, I guess."

"Certainly," replied the bullfinch. "There is plenty of room for you here
if you behave yourself and obey the laws."

"Who's going to make me?" he asked, angrily.

"Any decent person, even if he's a crow, is bound to respect the law,"
answered the bullfinch, calmly.

Jim Crow was a little ashamed, for he didn't wish to acknowledge he
wasn't decent. So he said:

"What are your laws?"

"The same as those in all other forests. You must respect the nests and
the property of all other birds, and not interfere with them when
they're hunting for food. And you must warn your fellow-birds whenever
there is danger, and assist them to protect their young from prowling
beasts. If you obey these laws, and do not steal from or interfere with
your neighbors, you have a right to a nest in our forest."

"To be quite frank with you, though," said the robin, "we prefer your
room to your company."

"I'm going to stay," said the crow. "I guess I'm as good as the rest of
you; so you fellows just mind your own business and I'll mind mine."

With these words he left them, and when he had mounted to a position
above the trees he saw that one tall, slim pine was higher than all the
rest, and that at its very top was a big deserted nest.

Chapter IV
Jim Crow Becomes a Rob