And it was this weakness of theirs for strawberries that led to their misunderstanding with the Boy, and then with the big rat that lived under the tool shed.
"That strawberry patch was one of the things that the Boy took a particular interest in.

When he saw that the imps also took such an interest in it, eating the berries instead of the grubs, he began to get annoyed.

From his window, which overlooked the garden, he had seen what liberties the imps took with the scarecrow, so he realized there was no help for him in scarecrows.

But _something_ must be done, that he vowed, and done at once, or his strawberries were going to be mighty scarce.

He didn't want to do any real harm to even such a troublesome pair of birds as the imps, but he was determined to give them a lesson that might teach them some respect, not only for strawberry patches, but even for scarecrows.
"On the crown of the scarecrow's old hat, which he had observed to be a favorite perch of the imps, he arranged a noose of light cord.