More Robbers 



Of course right away all the birds hurried over 

 to sympathize with the Chebecs and to repeat 

 against the unknown thief all the threats they 

 had made against Blacky the Crow. They knew 

 it couldn't have been Blacky this time because they 

 had heard Blacky cawing over on the edge of the 

 Green Forest. In the midst of the excited dis- 

 cussion as to who the thief was, Weaver the 

 Orchard Oriole spied a blue and white feather on 

 the ground just below Chebec's nest. 



"It was Sammy Jay ! There is no doubt about 

 it, it was Sammy Jay !" he cried. 



At the sight of that telltale feather all the birds 

 knew that Weaver was right, and led by Scrapper 

 the Kingbird they began a noisy search of the 

 Old Orchard for the sly robber. But Sammy 

 wasn't to be found, and they soon gave up the 

 search, none daring to stay longer away from his 

 own home lest something should happen there. 

 Welcome and Mrs. Robin continued to cry mourn- 

 fully, but little Mr. and Mrs. Chebec bore their 

 trouble almost silently. 



"There is one thing about it," said Mr. Chebec 

 to his sorrowful little wife, "that egg of Sally 

 Sly 's went with the rest, and we won't have to raise 

 that bothersome orphan." 



"That's true," said she. "There is no use 

 crying over what can't be helped. It is a waste 

 [123] 



