jolly fellows, all right, now," croaked Mr. Crow, as he watched them out of sight, "and now my party begins." 

 Mr. Crow went in and took all the spoons from the deserted supper table and carried them off to his house. He hid them under the bed and then he got in and went to sleep. 

 He did not even bother to go over to see Mr. Dog the next day, so little did he care how the chase came out. He knew Mr. Dog did not catch Mr. Possum or Mr. Coon, because he saw them both the next day; but that was all he knew and all he cared, for those were the two he had in his plan for revenge. 

 The next day when Mr. Coon was out—and Mr. Crow made sure he was not only away from home but out of the woods—Mr. Crow took all the spoons but one under his wing and went over to Mr. Coon's house and got in the cellar window. 

 He went upstairs and put those spoons between Mr. Coon's feather beds. Mr. Coon had two fat feather beds, always having plenty of feathers on hand as he did. 

 Then Mr. Crow went over to Mr. Possum's house and found him sitting in the doorway, looking very sad. 

 "What is the matter with you, Friend Possum?" asked Mr. Crow in the most friendly tone he could master.  "Don't you feel well?" 

 "I have lost all my new tin spoons," said Mr. Possum.  "Some one stole them, I am afraid."  He did not want Mr. Crow to know about the party, so he did not tell him any more. 

 "That is too bad," said Mr. Crow.  "Were they anything like those Mr. Coon has? I saw him cleaning some very handsome ones this morning as I passed his window." 

 "I did not know he had any spoons," said Mr. Possum.  "He has never told me he had any tin spoons. Are you sure you saw them?" 

 "Just as sure as I am that I see you now, Mr. Possum," said Mr. Crow. "But, of course, they would not have anything to do with your spoons. I was wondering if his were like yours. If they are I could take a look at them, and then if in my travels I saw any like them I would know they were yours and bring them back to you. I am very clever at finding things that are lost." 

 Mr. Possum did not seem inclined to say anything, and Mr. Crow went on: "Why don't you come along with me to Mr. Coon's house and get him to show us his spoons. I am anxious to help you if I can. I know how I should feel if I lost some handsome tin spoons." 

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