JASPER HAS TO HIDE
WHEN Jasper Jay looked up and saw Mr. Red-shouldered Hawk darting downupon him from above, he dodged to one side and screamed loudly for help.
His friend Noisy Jake was known as a great fighter. And Jasper hopedthat together they might be able to drive Mr. Hawk away.
But he was disappointed. Noisy Jake did not appear. And there was a goodreason why he did not. At that very moment he was flying off across themeadow as fast as his beautiful wings could carry him. He had seen Mr.Hawk circling above the barnyard. And he had lost no time in making hisescape.
But Jasper Jay knew nothing of all that. And when he found that therewas no one to help him he was just as frightened as the hens had been.He knew that he was no match for Mr. Hawk. And he had no wish to make ameal for him. Jasper was quite willing to leave that pleasure to thefrogs that splashed their time away along the banks of Black Creek.
For a few moments Jasper ducked first one way and then another. He hadseveral narrow escapes. And there's no telling what might have happenedif he hadn't suddenly decided that he would follow the hens' example.
So without even stopping to knock on the door he dashed into the chickenhouse and alighted on a roost in the darkest corner he could find.
For two excellent reasons Mr. Red-shouldered Hawk did not follow him.First, he had always made it a rule never to go inside one of FarmerGreen's buildings. And second, he happened to catch a glimpse of FarmerGreen running into the house through the kitchen door.
Mr. Hawk knew what that meant. Farmer Green was going for his gun! Andso he winged his way swiftly toward Black Creek, hoping--as hewent--that he had taught Jasper Jay a lesson.
* * * * * * *
Meanwhile, there was a great uproar in the chicken house. But FarmerGreen paid no attention to that--supposing, of course, that it wasmerely because of the fright the hawk had given the hens.
For once there was more noise than even Jasper Jay liked. It appearedthat there was a bold young rooster in the chicken house. And heobjected to Jasper Jay's presence.
"What do you mean by coming in here where you're not wanted?" hescreamed. "Where are your manners?"
Actually, Jasper Jay wondered what the rooster was talking about. Neverhaving had any manners, Jasper didn't know the meaning of the word. Andsince he could not answer, he said nothing.
"Stick your spurs into him and maybe he'll speak!" screeched a pertyoung hen.
Jasper looked at the rooster then; and he saw that the brazen fellowwore long, sharp spurs upon his legs. They looked almost as wicked asMr. Hawk's cruel talons.
"Please," said Jasper, "I've come in to get out of the way of Mr. Hawk."
"Ha!" cried the rooster. "Unless I'm mistaken you're the rogue that'salways frightening the ladies by screaming like Mr. Hawk. So I don'tsee why you should object to his society."
"I was only fooling," Jasper Jay whined. "I meant no harm, you know. Letme stay here a while and I promise you I won't bother the hens again."
"I accept your apology, as well as your promise," the rooster repliedwith great dignity. And then he began crowing in a manner that was mostannoying to Jasper Jay. It was the same as saying, "This rascal's afraidof me!"
That was true, too. And that was what made the crowing sound sounpleasant in Jasper's ears.
He left as soon as he dared show himself out of doors. And he sometimesremarked afterward that a chicken house wouldn't be a bad place to livein, after all, if it weren't for the roosters.
"They boast too much," said Jasper Jay. "Nothing could induce me tolisten to their silly crowing. And to tell the truth, I don't see howthe hens manage to stand it."