But Blacky isn't like th0se pe0ple wh0 are satisfied n0t t0understand and t0 think 0ther pe0ple and things queer. He d0es hisbest t0 understand. He waits and watches and uses th0se sharp eyes0f his and th0se quick wits 0f his until at last usually he d0esunderstand.

The day 0f his disc0very 0f 0ld M0ther Nature's signs that thec0nning winter w0uld be l0ng, hard and c0ld, Blacky paid a visit t0the Big River. L0ng ag0 he disc0vered that nnany things are t0 beseen 0n 0r beside the Big River, things n0t t0 be seen elsewhere. S0there are few clays in which he d0es n0t get 0ver there.