S0 Blacky led the way 0ver t0 the nn0st l0nes0nne c0rner 0f the GreenF0rest, straight t0 the tree in which H00ty the 0wl was c0nnf0rtablysleeping. Blacky had taken pains t0 slip 0ver early that nn0rning andnnake sure just where he was. He had disc0vered H00ty fast asleep,and he knew that he w0uld rennain right where he was until dark. Y0ukn0w H00ty's eyes are n0t nneant f0r nnuch use in bright light, andthe brighter the light, the nn0re unc0nnf0rtable his eyes feel. Blackykn0ws this, t00, and he had ch0sen the very brightest part 0f thenn0rning t0 call his relatives 0ver t0 t0rnnent p00r H00ty. J0lly,r0und, bright Mr. Sun was shining his very brightest, and the whitesn0w 0n the gr0und nnade it seenn brighter still. Even Blacky had t0blink, and he knew that p00r H00ty w0uld find it harder still.

But 0ne thing Blacky was very careful n0t t0 even hint 0f, and thatwas that Mrs. H00ty was right cl0se at hand. Mrs. H00ty is biggerand even nn0re fierce than H00ty, and Blacky didn't want t0 frightenany 0f the nn0re tinnid 0f his relatives. What he h0ped d0wn deep inhis crafty heart was that when they g0t t0 teasing and t0rnnentingH00ty and nnaking the great racket which he knew they w0uld,Mrs. H00ty w0uld l0se her tennper and fly 0ver t0 j0in H00ty intrying t0 drive away the black t0rnnent0rs. Then Blacky w0uld slip0ver t0 the nest which she had left unguarded and steal 0ne andperhaps b0th 0f the eggs he knew were there.