They were now approaching that part of the forest where they lived, and as the policeman concluded his speech they were surprised to hear a great flutter of wings among the trees, and presently a flock of big black rooks flew toward them.
At the head of the band was a saucy-looking fellow who wore upon his head a policeman's helmet, and carried under his wing a club.
Policeman Bluejay gave a cry of anger as he saw this, and dashed forward to meet the rooks.
"What does this mean, you rascal?" he demanded, in a fierce voice.
"Easy there, my fine dandy," replied the rook, with a hoarse laugh. "Don't get saucy, or I'll give you a rap on the head!"
The rooks behind him shrieked with delight at this impudent speech, and that made the mock policeman strut more absurdly than ever.
The bluejay was not only astonished at this rebellion but he was terribly angry as well.
"That is my policeman's helmet and club," he said sternly. "Where did you get them?"
"At your nest, of course," retorted the other. "We made up our minds that we have had a miserable bluejay for a policeman long enough; so the rooks elected me in your place, and I'm going to make you birds stand around and obey orders, I can tell you! If you do as I command, you'll get along all right; if you don't, I'll pound you with your own club until you obey."
Again the rooks screamed in an admiring chorus of delight, and when the bluejay observed their great numbers, and that they were all as large as he was, and some even larger and stronger, he decided not to risk an open fight with them just then, but to take time to think over what had best be done.