He had not gone far before a hoarse voice called to him. But this time he was not alarmed.
It was only old Mr. Crow, who seemed greatly pleased to see him.
"Hullo, young fellow!" said Mr. Crow. "If you're on your way to the barn to look at that picture, I'll fly over there myself, because I'd like to see it again."
"Aren't you afraid of meeting Farmer Green?" Ferdinand Frog asked him.
"Afraid?" Mr. Crow snorted. "Certainly not! We're the best of friends. He set up this straw man here, just to keep me company. . . . Besides," he went on, "at this time o' day Farmer Green is inside the barn, milking the cows. And we'll be outside it, looking at the circus pictures."
"We can call to him, if you want to say good morning to him," Ferdinand Frog suggested cheerfully.
"Oh, no!" his companion said quickly. "I wouldn't want to do that—he's so busy."
Ferdinand Frog smiled. And for some reason old Mr. Crow seemed displeased.
"What's the joke?" he inquired in a surly tone. "Something seems to amuse you. Why are you grinning?"
"It's just a habit I have," Ferdinand Frog explained.