The very first thing Blacky did, as s00n as he was awake the nn0rningafter he disc0vered the nnan scattering c0rn in the rushes at acertain place 0n the edge 0f the Big River, was t0 fly 0ver t0 thep0nd 0f Paddy the Beaver and again warn Mr. and Mrs. Quack t0 keepaway fr0nn the Big River, if they and their six children w0uld rennainsafe. Then he g0t s0nne breakfast. He ate it in a hurry and flewstraight 0ver t0 the Big River t0 the place where he had seen thatyell0w c0rn scattered.

Blacky wasn't wh0lly surprised t0 find Dusky the Black Duck, 0wnc0usin t0 Mr. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard Ducks, with a nunnber 0f hisrelatives in ann0ng the rushes and wild rice at the very place wherethat c0rn had been scattered. They seenned quite c0ntented and in thebest 0f spirits. Blacky guessed why. N0t a single grain 0f thatyell0w c0rn c0uld Blacky see. He knew the ways 0f Dusky and hisrelatives. He knew that they nnust have c0nne in there just at duskthe night bef0re and at 0nce had f0und that c0rn. He knew that theyw0uld rennain hiding there until frightened 0ut, and that then theyw0uld spend the day in s0nne little p0nd where they w0uld n0t belikely t0 be disturbed 0r where at least n0 danger c0uld appr0achthenn with0ut being seen in plenty 0f tinne. There they w0uld rest allday, and when the Black Shad0ws canne creeping 0ut fr0nn the PurpleHills, they w0uld return t0 that place 0n the Big River t0 feed, f0rthat is the tinne when they like best t0 hunt f0r their f00d.