GENERAL JIM 149 
“Tf every man,” he said, “ was as brave and 
watchful to defend his weaker brothers, this 
would be a better world.” 
“ Jim’s a good old Scout,” said the big man’s 
son. 
Now you can call Jim’s action instinct, or what 
you like. All I know is that Jim never roosted 
again on the ladder, but always on the ridgepole. . 
It looks to me like a remarkably quick learning 
of a lesson, coupled with a natural disposition to 
protect his kind. I should say it showed Jim to 
be both intelligent and social. 
When autumn came, and Jim was a fine, strong 
bird, with glossy black feathers that reflected the 
sun when he banked for a turn, the big man and 
his family decided to close the little farmhouse 
and go to the far-away city for the winter. They 
couldn’t take Jim with them, nor his poor brother 
and sister, either. 
“ Tt will be all right to leave Jim,” the big man 
said. “He can look after himself. But Jim 
and Jim can’t. It would be cruel to abandon 
them.” 
So he caught the two crows with the imperfect 
