<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI" /><SPAN name="Page_196" id="Page_196" />CHAPTER XLI</h2>
<h3>WHAT BLACKY THE CROW SAW</h3>
<div class="blockquot">The greatest puzzle is simple enough when you know the answer.
<br/>
<br/><i>Bowser the Hound.</i></div>
<p>There were just two people to whom the disappearance of that fat hen
Reddy Fox had hidden in the hollow stump was not a mystery. One of them
was Blacky the Crow. When the farmer and Bowser the Hound had rushed out
at the sound of Blacky's excited cawing, Blacky had flown to the top of
a tall tree from which he could see all that went on. Everything had
happened just as Blacky <SPAN name="Page_197" id="Page_197" />had hoped it would. Bowser had taken the trail
of Reddy Fox, and Blacky felt sure that sooner or later Reddy would lead
him back home to Farmer Brown's.</p>
<p>Blacky was doubly pleased with himself. He was pleased to think that he
had found a way of getting Bowser back home, and he was quite as much
pleased because he had been smart enough to outwit Reddy Fox. He didn't
wish Reddy any harm, and he felt sure that no harm would come to him. He
didn't even wish him to lose that dinner Reddy had come so far to get,
but he didn't care if Reddy did lose it, if only his plan worked out as
he hoped it would.</p>
<p>"I wonder what he'll do with <SPAN name="Page_198" id="Page_198" />that fat hen," muttered Blacky, as he
watched Reddy race away with it thrown over his shoulders. "He can't
carry that hen far and keep out of the way of Bowser. I think I'll
follow and see what he does with it."</p>
<p>So Blacky followed, and his eyes twinkled when he saw Reddy hide the fat
hen in the hollow stump. He knew that no matter how far Bowser might
chase Reddy, Reddy would come back for that fat hen, and he was rather
glad to think that Reddy would have that good dinner after all.</p>
<p>"No one will ever think to look in that hollow stump," thought Blacky,
"and I certainly will not tell any one. Reddy has earned <SPAN name="Page_199" id="Page_199" />that dinner.
Now I think I'll go get something to eat myself."</p>
<p>At that very instant Blacky's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a gray form
with broad wings, and in a perfect panic of fear Blacky began to fly as
fast as he knew how for a thick spruce-tree not far away. He plunged in
among the branches and hid in the thickest part he could find. With
little shivers of fear running all over him, he peeked out and watched
that big gray form. On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump.
Two long legs with great curving claws reached down in, and a moment
later that fat hen was disappearing over the tree tops. Blacky sighed
with relief.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <SPAN name="img04" id="img04"></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/img04.jpg" width-obs="390" height-obs="600" title="On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump." alt="A huge bird swooped on the fat hen." /> <br/> <b>ON BROAD WINGS IT SAILED OVER TO THAT HOLLOW STUMP.</b></div>
<p>"<SPAN name="Page_200" id="Page_200" />It's a lucky thing for me that robber, Mr. Goshawk, saw Reddy hide that
fat hen," muttered Blacky. "If he hadn't, he might have caught me, for I
didn't see him at all."</p>
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