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those also who may have temporary ailments or accidents； or who
may make the mistake of over…eating at the start。 There were many
fine birds in that flight； broad…breasted； bright…eyed；
long…winged creatures； formed for swiftest flight； for high
unconscious emprise； for these were destined to be messengers in
the service of man in times of serious need。 Their colors were
mostly white； blue； or brown。 They wore no uniform； but each and
all of the chosen remnant had the brilliant eye and the bulging
ears of the finest Homer blood； and； best and choicest of all；
nearly always first among them was little Arnaux。 He had not much
to distinguish him when at rest； for now all of the band had the
silver anklet； but in the air it was that Arnaux showed his make；
and when the opening of the hamper gave the order 〃Start；〃 it was
Arnaux that first got under way； soared to the height deemed
needful to exclude all local influence； divined the road to home；
and took it； pausing not for food； drink； or company。
Notwithstanding Billy's evil forecasts； the Big Blue of the
Corner…box was one of the chosen twenty。 Often he was late in
returning； he never was first； and sometimes when he came back
hours behind the rest； it was plain that he was neither hungry
nor thirsty； sure signs that he was a loiterer by the way。 Still
he had come back； and now he wore on his ankle； like the rest；
the sacred badge and a number from the roll of possible fame。
Billy despised him； set him in poor contrast with Arnaux； but his
owner would reply： 〃Give him a chance；'soon ripe； soon rotten；'
an' I always notice the best bird is the slowest to show up at
first。〃
Before a year little Arnaux had made a record。 The hardest of all
work is over the sea； for there is no chance of aid from
landmarks； and the hardest of all times at sea is in fog； for
then even the sun is blotted out and there is nothing whatever
for guidance。 With memory； sight； and hearing unavailable； the
Homer has one thing left； and herein is his great strength； the
inborn sense of direction。 There is only one thing that can
destroy this； and that is fear； hence the necessity of a stout
little heart between those noble wings。
Arnaux； with two of his order； in course of training； had been
shipped on an ocean steamer bound for Europe。 They were to be
released out of sight of land； but a heavy fog set in and forbade
the start。 The steamer took them onward； the intention being to
send them back with the next vessel。 When ten hours out the
engine broke down； the fog settled dense over the sea； and the
vessel was adrift and helpless as a log。 She could only whistle
for assistance； and so far as results were concerned； the captain
might as well have wigwagged。 Then the Pigeons were thought of。
Starback； 2592 C； was first selected。 A message for help was
written on waterproof paper； rolled up； and lashed to his
tail…feathers on the under side。 He was thrown into the air and
disappeared。 Half an hour later； a second； the Big Blue
Corner…box； 2600 C； was freighted with a letter。 He flew up； but
almost immediately returned and alighted on the rigging。 He was a
picture of pigeon fear； nothing could induce him to leave the
ship。 He was so terrorized that he was easily caught and
ignominiously thrust back into the coop。
Now the third was brought out； a small； chunky bird。 The shipmen
did not know him； but they noted down from his anklet his name
and number； Arnaux； 2590 C。 It meant nothing to them。 But the
officer who held him noted that his heart did not beat so wildly
as that of the last bird。 The message was taken from the Big
Blue。 It ran：
10 A。M。； Tuesday。
We broke our shaft two hundred and ten miles out from New York；
we are drifting helplessly in the fog。 Send out a tug as soon as
possible。 We are whistling one long； followed at once by one
short； every sixty seconds。
（Signed） THE CAPTAIN。
This was rolled up； wrapped in waterproof film； addressed to the
Steamship Company； and lashed to the under side of Arnaux's
middle tail…feather。
When thrown into the air； he circled round the ship； then round
again higher； then again higher in a wider circle； and he was
lost to view； and still higher till quite out of sight and
feeling of the ship。 Shut out from the use of all his senses now
but one； he gave himself up to that。 Strong in him it was； and
untrammelled of that murderous despot Fear。 True as a needle to
the Pole went Arnaux now； no hesitation； no doubts； within one
minute of leaving the coop he was speeding straight as a ray of
light for the loft where he was born； the only place on earth
where he could be made content。
That afternoon Billy was on duty when the whistle of fast wings
was heard； a blue Flyer flashed into the loft and made for the
water…trough。 He was gulping down mouthful after mouthful； when
Billy gasped： 〃Why； Arnaux； it's you； you beauty。〃 Then； with the
quick habit of the pigeon…man； he pulled out his watch and marked
the time； 2：40 P。M； A glance showed the tie string on the tail。
He shut the door and dropped the catching…net quickly over
Arnaux's head。 A moment later he had the roll in his hand； in two
minutes he was speeding to the office of the Company； for there
was a fat tip in view。 There he learned that Arnaux had made the
two hundred and ten miles in fog； over sea； in four hours and
forty minutes； and within one hour the needful help had set out
for the unfortunate steamer。
Two hundred and ten miles in fog over sea in four hours and forty
minutes！ This was a noble record。 It was duly inscribed in the
rolls of the Homing Club。 Arnaux was held while the secretary；
with rubber stamp and indelible ink； printed on a snowy primary
of his right wing the record of the feat； with the date and
reference number。
Starback； the second bird； never was heard of again。 No doubt he
perished at sea。
Blue Corner…box came back on the tug。
III
That was Arnaux's first public record； but others came fast； and
several curious scenes were enacted in that old pigeon…loft with
Arnaux as the central figure。 One day a carriage drove up to the
stable； a white…haired gentleman got out； climbed the dusty
stairs； and sat all morning in the loft with Billy。 Peering from
his gold…rimmed glasses； first at a lot of papers； next across
the roofs of the city； waiting； watching； for what？ News from a
little place not forty miles awaynews of greatest weight to
him； tidings that would make or break him； tidings that must
reach him before it could be telegraphed： a telegram meant at
least an hour's delay at each end。 What was faster than that for
forty miles？ In those days there was but one thinga high…class
Homer。 Money would count for nothing if he could win。 The best；
the very best at any price he must have； and Arnaux； with seven
indelible records on his pinions； was the chosen messenger。 An
hour went by； another； and a third was begun； when with whistle
of wings； the blue meteor flashed into the loft。 Billy slammed
the door and caught him。 Deftly he snipped the threads and handed
the roll to the banker。 The old man turned deathly pale； fumbled
it open； then his color came back。