A murmur ran through the meeting. And there were cries of "Put him out!"
"That's what I say, too!" Mr. Crow bellowed.
And then he could hardly believe his ears when someone near him said,
"They mean you!"
XXII
THE TEST
Well, it was no wonder that Mr. Crow was surprised when he found that
some people wanted to put him out of the meeting just because he had said
one word. Had he not always talked more than anybody else at those sunset
meetings in the pine woods?
Luckily, no one made a move to oust him. And he managed to keep silent
for a little while. But he was so angry that he did not hear what the
stranger was saying. At last, however, Mr. Crow began to pay attention
again.
"Do you want to know why times are hard and food is scarce in this
neighborhood?" the impudent fellow asked.
Everybody except old Mr. Crow answered, "Yes!" And after the echo had
died away the stranger continued:
"It's because you need a new leader," he declared. "I understand that a
person called 'Old Mr. Crow' has been your leader for a good many years.
And my advice to you, friends, is this: _Get rid of him_!"
A good deal of applause greeted his words.
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