animal heroes(动物英雄)-第12节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he hesitate？ No； not for one moment。 As soon as the drop of the door left
open the way； he shot through； he spread those wonderful blazoned wings；
and； with no second thought for the latest Circe； sprang from the hated
prison loftaway and away。
V
We have no means of looking into the Pigeon's mind； we may go
wrong in conjuring up for it deep thoughts of love and welcome home； but
we are safe in this； we cannot too strongly paint； we cannot too highly
praise and glorify that wonderful God…implanted； mankind…fostered home…
love that glows unquenchably in this noble bird。 Call it what you like； a
mere instinct deliberately constructed by man for his selfish ends； explain
it away if you will； dissect it； misname it； and it still is there； in
overwhelming； imperishable master…power； as long as the brave little heart
and wings can beat。
Home； home； sweet home！ Never had mankind a stronger love of
home than Arnaux。 The trials and sorrows of the old pigeon…loft were
forgotten in that all…dominating force of his nature。 Not years of prison
bars； not later loves； nor fear of death； could down its power； and Arnaux；
had the gift of song been his； must surely have sung as sings a hero in his
38
… Page 39…
Animal Heroes
highest joy； when sprang he from the 'lighting board； up…circling free；
soaring； drawn by the only impulse that those glorious wings would
honor；up； up； in widening； heightening circles of ashy blue in the blue；
flashing those many…lettered wings of white； till they seemed like jets of
fireup and on； driven by that home…love； faithful to his only home and to
his faithless mate； closing his eyes； they say； closing his ears； they tell；
shutting his mind；we all believe；to nearer things； to two years of his
life； to one half of his prime； but soaring in the blue； retiring； as a saint
might do； into his inner self； giving himself up to that inmost guide。 He
was the captain of the ship； but the pilot； the chart and compass； all； were
that deep…implanted instinct。 One thousand feet above the trees the
inscrutable whisper came； and Arnaux in arrowy swiftness now was
pointing for the south…southeast。 The little flashes of white fire on each
side were lost in the low sky； and the reverent robber of Syracuse saw
Arnaux nevermore。
The fast express was steaming down the valley。 It was far ahead； but
Arnaux overtook and passed it； as the flying wild Duck passes the
swimming Muskrat。 High in the valleys he went； low over the hills of
Chenango； where the pines were combing the breezes。
Out from his oak…tree eyrie a Hawk came wheeling and sailing； silent；
for he had marked the Flyer； and meant him for his prey。 Arnaux turned
neither right nor left； nor raised nor lowered his flight； nor lost a wing…beat。
The Hawk was in waiting in the gap ahead； and Arnaux passed him； even
as a Deer in his prime may pass by a Bear in his pathway。 Home！ home！
was the only burning thought； the blinding impulse。
Beat； beat； beat； those flashing pinions went with speed unslacked on
the now familiar road。 In an hour the Catskills were at hand。 In two hours
he was passing over them。 Old friendly places； swiftly coming now； lent
more force to his wings。 Home！ home！ was the silent song that his heart
was singing。 Like the traveller dying of thirst； that sees the palm…trees far
ahead； his brilliant eyes took in the distant smoke of Manhattan。
Out from the crest of the Catskills there launched a Falcon。 Swiftest of
the race of rapine； proud of his strength； proud of his wings； he rejoiced in
a worthy prey。 Many and many a Pigeon had been borne to his nest； and
39
… Page 40…
Animal Heroes
riding the wind he came； swooping； reserving his strength； awaiting the
proper time。 Oh； how well he knew the very moment！ Down； down like a
flashing javelin； no wild Duck； no Hawk could elude him； for this was a
Falcon。 Turn back now； O Homer； and save yourself； go round the
dangerous hills。 Did he turn？ Not a whit！ for this was Arnaux。 Home！
home！ home！ was his only thought。 To meet the danger； he merely added
to his speed； and the Peregrine stooped； stooped at what？a flashing of
color； a twinkling of whitenessand went back empty。 While Arnaux cleft
the air of the valley as a stone from a sling； to be losta white…winged
birda spot with flashing haloand； quickly； a speck in the offing。 On
down the dear valley of Hudson； the well…known highway； for two years
he had not seen it！ Now he dropped low as the noon breeze came north
and ruffled the river below him。 Home！ home！ home！ and the towers of a
city are coming in view！ Home！ home！ past the great spider…bridge of
Poughkeepsie； skimming； skirting the river…banks。 Low now by the bank
as the wind arose。 Low； alas！ too low！
What fiend was it tempted a gunner in June to lurk on that hill by the
margin？ what devil directed his gaze to the twinkling of white that came
from the blue to the northward？ Oh； Arnaux； Arnaux； skimming low；
forget not the gunner of old！ Too low； too low you are clearing that hill。
Too lowtoo late！ Flashbang！ and the death…hail has reached him；
reached； maimed； but not downed him。 Out of the flashing pinions broken
feathers printed with records went fluttering earthward。 The 〃naught〃 of
his sea record was gone。 Not two hundred and ten； but twenty…one miles it
now read。 Oh； shameful pillage！ A dark stain appeared on his bosom； but
Arnaux kept on。 Home； home； homeward bound。 The danger was past in
an instant。 Home； homeward he steered straight as before； but the
wonderful speed was diminished； not a mile a minute now； and the wind
made undue sounds in his tattered pinions。 The stain in his breast told of
broken force； but on； straight on； he flew。 Home； home was in sight； and
the pain in his breast was forgotten。 The tall towers of the city were in
clear view of his far…seeing eye as he skimmed by the high cliffs of Jersey。
On； onthe pinion might flag； the eye might darken； but the home…love
was stronger and stronger。
40
… Page 41…
Animal Heroes
Under the tall Palisades； to be screened from the wind； he passed； over
the sparkling water； over the trees； under the Peregrines' eyrie； under the
pirates' castle where the great grim Peregrines sat； peering like black…
masked highwaymen they marked the on…coming Pigeon。 Arnaux knew
them of old。 Many a message was lying undelivered in that nest； many a
record…bearing plume had fluttered away from its fastness。 But Arnaux had
faced them before； and now he came as beforeon； onward； swift； but not
as he had been； the deadly gun had sapped his force； had lowered his
speed。 On； on； and the Peregrines； biding their time； went forth like two
bow…bolts； strong and lightning…swift they went against one weak and
wearied。
Why tell of the race that followed？ Why paint the despair of a brave
little heart in sight of the home he had craved in vain？ in a minute all was
over。 The Peregrines screeched in their triumph。 Screeching and sailing；
they swung to their eyrie； and the prey in their claws was the body； the last
of the bright little Arnaux。 There on the rocks the beaks and claws of the
bandits were red with the life of the hero。 Torn asunder were those
matchless wings； and their records were scattered unnoticed。 In sun and in
storm they lay till the killers themselves were killed and their stronghold
rifled。 And none knew the fate of the peerless Bird till deep in the dust and
rubbish of that pirate…nest the avenger found； among others of its kind； a
silver ring； the sacred badge of the High Homer； and read upon it the
pregnant inscription： 〃ARNAUX； 2590 C。〃
BADLANDS BILLY The Wolf that
