animal heroes(动物英雄)-第11节
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Arnaux。
Pigeon marriages are arranged somewhat like those of mankind。
Propinquity is the first thing： force the pair together for a time and let
nature take its course。 So Billy locked Arnaux and the Little Lady up
together in a separate apartment for two weeks； and to make doubly sure
he locked Big Blue up with an Available Lady in another apartment for
two weeks。
Things turned out just as was expected。 The Little Lady surrendered to
Arnaux and the Available Lady to the Big Blue。 Two nests were begun and
everything shaped for a 〃lived happily ever after。〃 But the Big Blue was
very big and handsome。 He could blow out his crop and strut in the sun
and make rainbows all round his neck in a way that might turn the heart of
the staidest Homerine。
Arnaux； though sturdily built； was small and except for his brilliant
eyes； not especially good…looking。 Moreover； he was often away on
important business； and the Big Blue had nothing to do but stay around the
loft and display his unlettered wings。
It is the custom of moralists to point to the lower animals； and
especially to the Pigeon； for examples of love and constancy； and properly
so； but； alas there are exceptions。 Vice is not by any means limited to the
human race。
Arnaux's wife had been deeply impressed with the Big Blue； at the
outset； and at length while her spouse was absent the dreadful thing took
place。
Arnaux returned from Boston one day to find that the Big Blue； while
he retained his own Available Lady in the corner…box； had also annexed
the box and wife that belonged to himself； and a desperate battle followed。
The only spectators were the two wives； but they maintained an indifferent
aloofness。 Arnaux fought with his famous wings； but they were none the
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better weapons because they now bore twenty records。 His beak and feet
were small； as became his blood； and his stout little heart could not make
up for his lack of weight。 The battle went against him。 His wife sat
unconcernedly in the nest； as though it were not her affair； and Arnaux
might have been killed but for the timely arrival of Billy。 He was angry
enough to wring the Blue bird's neck； but the bully escaped from the loft
in time。 Billy took tender care of Arnaux for a few days。 At the end of a
week he was well again； and in ten days he was once more on the road。
Meanwhile he had evidently forgiven his faithless wife； for； without any
apparent feeling； he took up his nesting as before。 That month he made
two new records。 He brought a message ten miles in eight minutes； and he
came from Boston in four hours。 Every moment of the way he had been
impelled by the master…passion of home…love。 But it was a poor home…
coming if his wife figured at all in his thoughts； for he found her again
flirting with the Big Blue cock。 Tired as he was； the duel was renewed；
and again would have been to a finish but for Billy's interference。 He
separated the fighters； then shut the Blue cock up in a coop； determined to
get rid of him in some way。 Meanwhile the 〃Any Age Sweepstakes〃
handicap from Chicago to New York was on； a race of nine hundred miles。
Arnaux had been entered six months before。 His forfeit…money was up；
and notwithstanding his domestic complications； his friends felt that he
must not fail to appear。
The birds were sent by train to Chicago； to be liberated at intervals
there according to their handicap； and last of the start was Arnaux。 They
lost no time； and outside of Chicago several of these prime Flyers joined
by common impulse into a racing flock that went through air on the same
invisible track。 A Homer may make a straight line when following his
general sense of direction； but when following a familiar back track he
sticks to the well…remembered landmarks。 Most of the birds had been
trained by way of Columbus and Buffalo。 Arnaux knew the Columbus
route； but also he knew that by Detroit； and after leaving Lake Michigan；
he took the straight line for Detroit。 Thus he caught up on his handicap
and had the advantage of many miles。 Detroit； Buffalo； Rochester； with
their familiar towers and chimneys； faded behind him； and Syracuse was
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near at hand。 It was now late afternoon； six hundred miles in twelve hours
he had flown and was undoubtedly leading the race； but the usual thirst of
the Flyer had attacked him。 Skimming over the city roofs； he saw a loft of
Pigeons； and descending from his high course in two or three great circles；
he followed the ingoing Birds to the loft and drank greedily at the water…
trough； as he had often done before； and as every pigeon…lover hospitably
expects the messengers to do。 The owner of the loft was there and noted
the strange Bird。 He stepped quietly to where he could inspect him。 One of
his own Pigeons made momentary opposition to the stranger； and Arnaux；
sparring sidewise with an open wing in Pigeon style； displayed the long
array of printed records。 The man was a fancier。 His interest was aroused；
he pulled the string that shut the flying door； and in a few minutes Arnaux
was his prisoner。
The robber spread the much…inscribed wings； read record after record；
and glancing at the silver badgeit should have been goldhe read his
nameArnaux； then exclaimed： 〃Arnaux！ Arnaux！ Oh； I've heard of you；
you little beauty； and it's glad I am to trap you。〃 He snipped the message
from his tail； unrolled it； and read： 〃Arnaux left Chicago this morning at 4
A。M。； scratched in the Any Age Sweepstakes for New York。〃
〃Six hundred miles in twelve hours！ By the powers； that's a record…
breaker。〃 And the pigeon…stealer gently； almost reverently； put the
fluttering Bird safely into a padded cage。 〃Well；〃 he added； 〃I know it's no
use trying to make you stay； but I can breed from you and have some of
your strain。〃
So Arnaux was shut up in a large and comfortable loft with several
other prisoners。 The man； though a thief； was a lover of Homers； he gave
his captive everything that could insure his comfort and safety。 For three
months he left him in that loft。 At first Arnaux did nothing all day but walk
up and down the wire screen； looking high and low for means of escape；
but in the fourth month he seemed to have abandoned the attempt； and the
watchful jailer began the second part of his scheme。 He introduced a coy
young lady Pigeon。 But it did not seem to answer； Arnaux was not even
civil to her。 After a time the jailer removed the female； and Arnaux was
left in solitary confinement for a month。 Now a different female was
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brought in； but with no better luck； and thus it went onfor a year
different charmers were introduced。 Arnaux either violently repelled them
or was scornfully indifferent； and at times the old longing to get away；
came back with twofold power； so that he darted up and down the wire
front or dashed with all his force against it。
When the storied feathers of his wings began their annual moult； his
jailer saved them as precious things； and as each new feather came he
reproduced on it the record of its owner's fame。
Two years went slowly by； and the jailer had put Arnaux in a new loft
and brought in another lady Pigeon。 By chance she closely resembled the
faithless one at home。 Arnaux actually heeded the newcomer。 Once the
jailer thought he saw his famous prisoner paying some slight attention to
the charmer； and； yes； he surely saw her preparing a nest。 Then assuming
that they had reached a full understanding； the jailer； for the first time；
opened the outlet； and Arnaux was free。 Did he hang around in doubt？ Did
he hesitate？ No； not for one moment。 As soon as the drop of the door left
open the way； he shot thr
