# Farmer Brown's Boy Does Some Thinking explained — Green Forest Stories > Chapter companion for Green Forest Stories by Thornton W. Burgess. ## What happens Farmer Brown's boy discovers a hunter's blind and baiting site for Black Ducks on the Big River. He wrestles with the ethics of intervening, ultimately deciding to use his own wits to protect the ducks without breaking the law. Blacky the Crow observes and trusts that Farmer Brown's boy will find a solution. ## Themes in this chapter ### Moral Ambiguity Farmer Brown's boy grapples with the legality versus morality of the hunter's actions, deciding to outwit rather than destroy property. ### Friendship and Cooperation Blacky the Crow trusts Farmer Brown's boy as a friend of the forest creatures, and the boy acts to protect the ducks. ## Character check-ins ### Farmer Brown Referenced as the father of Farmer Brown's boy, whose land is not the one in question. ### Blacky the Crow Watches Farmer Brown's boy from a tree, having called him to the river; trusts him to protect the ducks. ### Dusky the Black Duck Implied as the target of the hunter's baiting; the ducks are the reason for Farmer Brown's boy's concern. ### The Hunter The unseen antagonist who built the blind and baits corn to shoot Black Ducks. ## Key lines > Farmer Brown’s boy sat on the bank of the Big River in a brown study. That means that he was thinking very hard. Farmer Brown's boy sat deep in thought on the riverbank. _Sets the contemplative mood of the chapter._ > I guess the law that permits hunting Ducks is all right, but there ought to be a law against baiting them in. That isn’t hunting. No, sir, that isn’t hunting. He believes hunting is acceptable, but baiting ducks is unsporting and should be illegal. _Highlights the ethical distinction between fair hunting and baiting._ > I have it! I’ll do a little shooting myself! He exclaims that he will take action by pretending to shoot. _Foreshadows his plan to scare the ducks away without harming them._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters/xxiv-farmer-brown-s-boy-does-some-thinking - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters