He knew all about that nest . He had visited it before when Red-tail was away . Still it might be worth another visit . You never can tell what you may find in old houses . Now , of course , Blacky knew perfectly well that Redtail was miles and miles , hundreds of miles away , and so there was nothing to fear from him . But Blacky learned ever so long ago that there is nothing like making sure that there is no danger . So , instead of flying straight to that old nest , he first flew over the tree so that he could look down into it . Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his eyes . It was quite large and white , and it looked -- it looked very much indeed like an egg ! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and blinked ? Here was snow on the ground , and Rough Brother North Wind and Jack Frost had given no hint that they were even thinking of going back to the Far North . The idea of any one laying an egg at this time of year ! Blacky flew over to a tall pine-tree to think it over . `` Must be it was a little lump of snow , '' thought he . `` Yet if ever I saw an egg , that looked like one . Jumping grasshoppers , how good an egg would taste right now ! '' You know Blacky has a weakness for eggs . The more he thought about it , the hungrier he grew . Several times he almost made up his mind to fly straight over there and make sure , but he did n't quite dare . If it were an egg , it must belong to somebody , and perhaps it would be best to find out who .
Suddenly XXXXX shook himself .
Blacky Brother Frost North Red-tail Redtail Right first pine-tree year