CHAPTER XI
THE OLD CROW CARRIES A MESSAGE TO NANNIE
After the Chums had rested and had a bath in a nearby lake, they laydown in a nice shady place to plan what they would do next.
"I think the first thing I should do," said Billy, "is to send amessage to Nannie that the three of us are alive and well and are onour way to the old farm, and to ask her, Billy Junior, Daisy and theTwins to start for Chicago, where we will meet them in Lincoln Park assoon as we get there. It will take them as long to come the shortdistance from Fon du Lac to Chicago as it will take us to travel allthe way from New York State, as they will have to travel slower,having the Twins with them. Besides, Nannie is not so young as she wasand cannot stand the hardships of a hurried trip. I don't believethere is a carrier pigeon within a hundred miles of here to take mymessage, so I think I shall have to entrust it to the crows. There arecrows in every State, and they are very reliable messengers and travelfast. One crow need not go all the way. One can carry it to the borderof New York State, say, and there give it to another crow inPennsylvania, and so on until it reaches my people in Fon du Lac,Wisconsin. If they get to Lincoln Park before we do, it is a fineplace to wait as they can visit with the wild animals and get all thegrass they want to eat in the Park, and all the water they want todrink and bathing too in Lake Michigan, which is on the east side ofthe Park. Now you fellows keep your eyes open for crows."
"I don't think we will see any around here," said Stubby, "as there isnothing they like to eat on the shores of this lake. We better findsome cornfield, as we shall be sure to find plenty of crows there."
So the three got up and trotted along until they came to a cornfield.And sure enough, the first thing they saw was a big, black crowsitting on a scarecrow as unafraid as if it had been a tree. On seeingthis, Billy exclaimed,
"That is the crow for me! He has no fear and will let nothing turnhim from his way. I am going to ask him to carry the message."
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself to take the baby's bottle away from it!" reproved Nannie (Page 128)]
Saying this, Billy jumped the fence that encircled the cornfield, andapproached the crow.
Crows not being afraid of animals, the old fellow on the scarecrow didnot stir as Billy approached, but when he was within twenty feet ofhim, the crow cawed out:
"Well, I never! If this isn't my old friend Billy Whiskers! And how doyou come to be away down East, when I met you away out West yearsago?"
"You don't mean to tell me that you are Black Wings, that saucy dandywho carried a message for me once from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Fon duLac, Wisconsin?" gasped Billy.
"I surely do! I am that very crow, only no longer young or dandified."
"From your looks I should say the world had treated you fine," saidBilly.
"Look who is here--Stubby and Button, the same traveling companionsyou had with you in the West!" exclaimed the crow in astonishment.
"Fellows, hurry your bones and see who is here," baaed Billy to Stubbyand Button.
"Don't tell me it is Black Wings!" barked Stubby, while Buttonmeowed, "You have grown portly since I saw you last, and are much moreeatable looking than you were then, though you looked very good to methat day I was starving and tried to catch you to eat." And they alllaughed, for once Button had nearly caught Black Wings, but he provedtoo quick for the half starved cat and flew up in a cactus plant andcawed and scolded Button. Afterwards they became good friends, andBlack Wings carried a message to Nannie telling her that Billy, Stubbyand Button would be back at the old farm on Billy's birthday. They hadmet the crow on the desert near Salt Lake City, and he had flown overthem and showed them where there was an oasis on the desert, affordingfood and water that was not alkaline. After which he carried themessage straight to Nannie without a relay as he was going East andsaid he would as soon go to the old farm as anywhere else.
"I should be delighted to carry another message for you. I always liketo do a friend a favor when I can. Besides, I should enjoy seeing yoursweet wife, handsome son and cunning grandchildren again. I shallnever forget the rousing party they gave me, and the amount of corn Iate that night. I really ate so much I thought my skin would burst.Now what is the message you wish me to take this time? And I supposeyou are in a tearing hurry as you usually are?"
"No; this time I am in no hurry at all, as there will be plenty oftime for you to go there and get back before we can possibly reachChicago. All I wish you to do is to go to the farm you went to beforeand tell Nannie that we three Chums have returned from the War safeand sound and without losing an eye or a leg, and for her to meet usin Chicago. Ask her too to bring as many of the family with her as shecan induce to come, and for them to meet us in Lincoln Park as it isthe safest and most comfortable place I can think of for them to waitfor us. And also tell her to allow a month for us to get there as wemight be captured and shut up somewhere for a time. But it will beonly for a time; no one could keep us long."
"Now if you fellows would like, I can show you an easy road to travelthat will take you to Chicago by the shortest and quickest route. Doyou see that line of telegraph poles the other side of this field?Well, just follow them until you come to the first town. When you getthere, leave them and follow the railroad. It will take you straightinto Chicago, but be careful you don't get on a side track when goingthrough some of the cities and towns where many railroads meet. Allthe way along you will find good friends and farmhouses where you canrest and get something to eat. I see a man with a gun coming this way.He has not seen us yet, but he soon will, so I guess we better saygood-by and separate."
Bing, bing, bang! and a shot went clear through the crown of the oldstraw hat on the scarecrow where the crow had just been sitting.