If he were discovered , there would be small chance for him to get another fat hen . Reddy is keen enough to make the most of an opportunity . He knew that if he could get one of these hens without frightening the others , he would have a chance to get another . He might have a chance to get several in this way . So , though he was so eager and so hungry , he made himself keep perfectly still , while he studied out a plan . By and by he stole ever so carefully around back of the barn to the cowyard . Some of those fat hens were scratching in the straw of the cowyard . Just outside the cowyard was a pile of old boards . Reddy crawled behind this pile of old boards and then crouched and settled himself to be patient . He knew that sooner or later one of those fat hens would be likely to come out of the cowyard . In this way he might be able to catch one without the others knowing a thing about it . Blacky the Crow sat in the top of a tall tree where he could see all that was going on . Blacky was as impatient as Reddy was patient . `` Why does n't the red rascal rush in and get one of those fat hens ? '' muttered Blacky . `` What is the matter with him , anyway ? I wonder if he is afraid . He could catch one of them without half trying , and there he lies as if he expected them to run right into his mouth . I do n't want to sit here all day . Yet I ca n't do a thing until he catches one of those hens . ''
So Reddy waited patiently and XXXXX waited impatiently , and the fat hens wandered about unsuspectingly , and for a long , long time nothing happened .
Blacky Crow Reddy boards cowyard day matter patient right top