ShewasoverthreedayslearningthemanifolddangersandcomplexitiesoftheEastRiverdocks。OnceshegotbymistakeonaferryboatandwascarriedovertoLongIsland;butshetookanearlyboatback。Atlengthonthethirdnightshereachedfamiliarground，theplaceshehadpassedthenightofherfirstescape。Fromthathercoursewassureandrapid。Sheknewjustwhereshewasgoingandhowtogetthere。ShekneweventhemoreprominentfeaturesintheDog—scapenow。Shewentfaster，felthappier。InalittlewhilesurelyshewouldbecurledupinhernativeOrient——theoldjunk—yard。Anotherturn，andtheblockwasinsight。
But——what！Itwasgone！Kittycouldn’tbelievehereyes;butshemust，forthesunwasnotyetup。Therewhereoncehadstoodorleanedorslouchedorstraggledthehousesoftheblock，wasagreatbrokenwildernessofstone，lumber，andholesintheground。
Kittywalkedallaroundit。Sheknewbythebearingsandbythelocalcolorofthepavementthatshewasinherhome，thattherehadlivedthebird—man，andtherewastheoldjunk—yard;butallweregone，completelygone，takingtheirfamiliarodorswiththem，andPussyturnedsickatheartintheutterhopelessnessofthecase。Herplace—lovewashermaster—mood。Shehadgivenupalltocometoahomethatnolongerexisted，andforoncehersturdylittleheartwascastdown。Shewanderedoverthesilentheapsofrubbishandfoundneitherconsolationnoreatables。Theruinhadtakeninseveraloftheblocksandreachedbackfromthewater。Itwasnotafire;Kittyhadseenoneofthosethings。
ThislookedmoreliketheworkofaflockoftheRed—eyedMonsters。Pussyknewnothingofthegreatbridgethatwastorisefromthisveryspot。
Whenthesuncameupshesoughtforcover。Anadjoiningblockstillstoodwithlittlechange，andtheRoyalAnalostanretiredtothat。Sheknewsomeofitstrails;butoncethere，wasunpleasantlysurprisedtofindtheplaceswarmingwithCatsthat，likeherself，weredrivenfromtheiroldgrounds，andwhenthegarbage—canscameouttherewereseveralSlummersateach。Itmeantafamineintheland，andPussy，afterstandingitafewdays，wasreducedtoseekingherotherhomeonFifthAvenue。Shegottheretofinditshutupanddeserted。Shewaitedaboutforaday;hadanunpleasantexperiencewithabigmaninabluecoat，andnextnightreturnedtothecrowdedslum。
SeptemberandOctoberworeaway。ManyoftheCatsdiedofstarvationorweretooweaktoescapetheirnaturalenemies。ButKitty，youngandstrong，stilllived。
Greatchangeshadcomeovertheruinedblocks。Thoughsilentonthenightwhenshefirstsawthem，theywerecrowdedwithnoisyworkmenallday。Atallbuilding，welladvancedonherarrival，wascompletedattheendofOctober，andSlumKitty，drivenbyhunger，wentsneakinguptoapailthatanegrohadsetoutside。
Thepail，unfortunately，wasnotforgarbage;itwasanewthinginthatregion：ascrubbing—pail。Asaddisappointment，butithadasenseofcomfort——thereweretracesofafamiliartouchonthehandle。Whileshewasstudyingit，thenegroelevator—boycameoutagain。Inspiteofhisblueclothes，hisodorouspersonconfirmedthegoodimpressionofthehandle。Kittyhadretreatedacrossthestreet。Hegazedather。
"Shoefdatdon’tlooklikedeRoyalAnkalostan！Hyar，Pussy，Pussy，Pu—s—s—s—s—y！Co—o—o—o—m—e，Pu—u—s—s—sy，hyar！I’spec’sshe’sshohungry。"
Hungry！Shehadn’thadarealmealformonths。Thenegrowentintothebuildingandreappearedwithaportionofhisownlunch。
"Hyar，Pussy，Puss，Puss，Puss！"Itseemedverygood，butPussyhadherdoubtsoftheman。Atlengthhelaidthemeatonthepavement，andwentbacktothedoor。SlumKittycameforwardverywarily;sniffedatthemeat，seizedit，andfledlikealittleTigresstoeatherprizeinpeace。
LIFEIV
XI
Thiswasthebeginningofanewera。Pussycametothedoorofthebuildingnowwheneverpinchedbyhunger，andthegoodfeelingforthenegrogrew。Shehadneverunderstoodthatmanbefore。Hehadalwaysseemedhostile。Nowhewasherfriend，theonlyoneshehad。
Oneweekshehadastreakofluck。Sevengoodmealsonsevensuccessivedays;andrightonthetopofthelastmealshefoundajuicydeadRat，thegenuinething，aperfectwindfall。Shehadneverkilledafull—grownRatinallherlives，butseizedtheprizeandranofftohideitforfutureuse。Shewascrossingthestreetinfrontofthenewbuildingwhenanoldenemyappeared，——theWharfDog，——andKittyretreated，naturallyenough，tothedoorwhereshehadafriend。Justasshenearedit，heopenedthedoorforawell—dressedmantocomeout，andbothsawtheCatwithherprize。
"Hello！LookatthatforaCat！"
"Yes，sah，"answeredthenegro。"Dat’smaCat，sah;she’saterroronRats，sah！hez’emaboutcleanedup，sah;dat’swhyshe’ssothin。"
"Well，don’tletherstarve，"saidthemanwiththeairofthelandlord。"Can’tyoufeedher？
"Delivermeat—mancomesreg’lar，sah;quatahdollaraweek，sah，"saidthenegro，fullyrealizingthathewasentitledtotheextrafifteencentsfor"theidea。"
"That’sallright。I’llstandit。"
XII
"M—e—a—t！M—e—a—t！"isheardthemagnetic，cat—conjuringcryoftheoldliver—man，ashisbarrowispusheduptheglorifiedScrimper’sAlley，andCatscomecrowding，asofyore，toreceivetheirdue。
ThereareCatsblack，white，yellow，andgraytoberemembered，and，aboveall，thereareownerstoberemembered。Asthebarrowroundsthecornernearthenewbuildingitmakesanewlyscheduledstop。
"Hyar，you，getouto’theroad，youcommontrash，"criestheliver—man，andhewaveshiswandtomakewayforthelittlegrayCatwithblueeyesandwhitenose。Shereceivesanunusuallylargeportion，forSamiswiselydividingthereturnsevenly;andSlumKittyretreatswithher’daily’intoshelterofthegreatbuilding，towhichsheisregularlyattached。Shehasenteredintoherfourthlifewithprospectsofhappinessneverbeforedreamedof。Everythingwasagainstheratfirst;noweverythingseemstobecomingherway。Itisverydoubtfulthathermindwasbroadenedbytravel，butsheknewwhatshewantedandshegotit。
Shehasachievedherlong—timegreatambitionbycatching，notaSparrow，buttwoofthem，whiletheywereclinchedinmortalcombatinthegutter。
ThereisnoreasontosupposethatsheevercaughtanotherRat;
butthenegrosecuresadeadonewhenhecan，forpurposesofexhibition，lestherpensionbeimperilled。Thedeadoneisleftinthehalltilltheproprietorcomes;thenitisapologeticallysweptaway。"Well，dratdatCat，sah;datRoyalAnkalostanblood，sah，isterrorsonRats。"
Shehashadseveralbroodssince。ThenegrothinkstheYellowTomisthefatherofsomeofthem，andnodoubtthenegroisright。
Hehassoldheranumberoftimeswithaperfectlyclearconscience，knowingquitewellthatitisonlyaquestionofafewdaysbeforetheRoyalAnalostancomesbackagain。Doubtlessheissavingthemoneyforsomehonorableambition。Shehaslearnedtotoleratetheelevator，andeventorideupanddownonit。Thenegrostoutlymaintainsthatonce，whensheheardthemeat—man，whileshewasonthetopfloor，shemanagedtopressthebuttonthatcalledtheelevatortotakeherdown。
Sheissleekandbeautifulagain。Sheisnotonlyoneofthefourhundredthatformtheinnercircleabouttheliver—barrow，butsheisrecognizedasthestarpensioneramongthem。Theliver—manispositivelyrespectful。Noteventhecream—and—chickenfedCatofthepawn—broker’swifehassuchapositionastheRoyalAnalostan。Butinspiteofherprosperity，hersocialposition，herroyalnameandfakepedigree，thegreatestpleasureofherlifeistoslipoutandgoa—slumminginthegloaming，fornow，asinherpreviouslives，sheisatheart，andlikelytobe，nothingbutadirtylittleSlumCat。
ARNAUX
THECHRONICLEOFAHOMINGPIGEON
WepassedthroughthesidedoorofabigstableonWestNineteenthStreet。Themildsmellofthewell—keptstallswaslostinthesweetodorofhay，aswemountedaladderandenteredthelonggarret。Thesouthendwaswalledoff，andthefamiliar"Coo—oo，cooooo—oo，ruk—at—a—coo，"variedwiththe"whirr，whirr，whirr"ofwings，informedusthatwewereatthepigeon—loft。
Thiswasthehomeofafamouslotofbirds，andto—daytherewastobearaceamongfiftyoftheyoungsters。Theownerofthelofthadaskedme，asanunprejudicedoutsider，tobejudgeinthecontest。
Itwasatrainingraceoftheyoungbirds。Theyhadbeentakenoutforshortdistanceswiththeirparentsonceortwice，thensetfreetoreturntotheloft。Nowforthefirsttimetheyweretobeflownwithouttheoldones。Thepointofstart，Elizabeth，N。J。，wasalongjourneyfortheirfirstunaidedattempt。"Butthen，"thetrainerremarked，"that’showweweedoutthefools;
onlythebestbirdsmakeit，andthat’sallwewantback。"
Therewasanothersidetotheflight。Itwastobearaceamongthosethatdidreturn。EachofthemenabouttheloftaswellasseveralneighboringfancierswereinterestedinoneorotheroftheHomers。Theymadeupapurseforthewinner，andonmewastodevolvetheimportantdutyofdecidingwhichshouldtakethestakes。Notthefirstbirdback，butthefirstbirdintotheloft，wastowin，foronethatreturnstohisneighborhoodmerely，withoutimmediatelyreportingathome，isoflittleuseasaletter—carrier。
TheHomingPigeonusedtobecalledtheCarrierbecauseitcarriedmessages，buthereIfoundthatnamerestrictedtotheshowbird，thecreaturewithabsurdlydevelopedwattles;theonethatcarriesthemessagesisnowcalledtheHomer，orHomingPigeon——thebirdthatalwayscomeshome。ThesePigeonsarenotofanyspecialcolor，norhavetheyanyofthefancyadornmentsofthekindthatfigureinBirdshows。Theyarenotbredforstyle，butforspeedandfortheirmentalgifts。Theymustbetruetotheirhome，abletoreturntoitwithoutfail。Thesenseofdirectionisnowbelievedtobelocatedinthebonylabyrinthoftheear。ThereisnocreaturewithfinersenseoflocalityanddirectionthanagoodHomer，andtheonlyvisibleproofsofitarethegreatbulgeoneachsideoftheheadovertheears，andthesuperbwingsthatcompletehisequipmenttoobeythenobleimpulseofhome—love。Nowthementalandphysicalequipmentsofthelastlotofyoungbirdsweretobeputtotest。
Althoughtherewereplentyofwitnesses，Ithoughtitbesttocloseallbutoneofthepigeon—doorsandstandreadytoshutthatbehindthefirstarrival。
Ishallneverforgetthesensationsofthatday。Ihadbeenwarned："Theystartat12;theyshouldbehereat12：30;butlookout，theycomelikeawhirlwind。Youhardlyseethemtillthey’rein。"
Wewererangedalongtheinsideoftheloft，eachwithaneyetoacrackorapartlyclosedpigeon—door，anxiouslyscanningthesouthwesternhorizon，whenoneshouted："Lookout——heretheycome！"Likeawhitecloudtheyburstintoview，lowskimmingoverthecityroofs，aroundagreatchimneypile，andintwosecondsafterfirstbeingseentheywereback。Theflashofwhite，therushofpinions，wereallsosudden，soshort，that，thoughpreparing，Iwasunprepared。Iwasattheonlyopendoor。A
whistlingarrowofblueshotin，lashedmyfacewithitspinions，andpassed。Ihadhardlytimetodropthelittledoor，asayellburstfromthemen，"Arnaux！Arnaux！Itoldyouhewould。Oh，he’sadarling;onlythreemonthsoldandawinner——he’salittledarling！"andArnaux’sownerdanced，moreforjoyinhisbirdthaninthepursehehadwon。
Themensatorkneeledandwatchedhiminpositivereverenceashegulpedaquantityofwater，thenturnedtothefood—trough。
"Lookatthateye，thosewings，anddidyoueverseesuchabreast？Oh，buthe’stherealgrit！"sohisownerprattledtothesilentoneswhosebirdshadbeendefeated。
ThatwasthefirstofArnaux’sexploits。Bestoffiftybirdsfromagoodloft，hisfuturewasbrightwithpromise。
HewasinvestedwiththesilverankletoftheSacredOrderoftheHighHomer。Itborehisnumber，2590C，anumberwhichto—daymeansmuchtoallmenintheworldoftheHomingPigeon。
InthattrialflightfromElizabethonlyfortybirdshadreturned。Itisusuallyso。Somewereweakandgotleftbehind，somewerefoolishandstrayed。Bythissimpleprocessofflightselectionthepigeon—ownerskeepimprovingtheirstock。Oftheten，fivewereseennomore，butfivereturnedlaterthatday，notallatonce，butstragglingin;thelastoftheloitererswasabig，lubberlyBluePigeon。Themanintheloftatthetimecalled："Herecomesthatoldsap—headedBluethatJakeywasbettingon。Ididn’tsupposehewouldcomeback，andIdidn’tcare，neither，forit’smybeliefhehasastreakofPouter。"
TheBigBlue，alsocalled"Corner—box"fromthenestwherehewashatched，hadshownremarkablevigorfromthefirst。Thoughallwereaboutthesameage，hehadgrownfaster，wasbigger，andincidentallyhandsomer，thoughthefancierscaredlittleforthat。Heseemedfullyawareofhisimportance，andearlyshowedadispositiontobullyhissmallercousins。Hisownerprophesiedgreatthingsofhim，butBilly，thestable—man，hadgravedoubtsoverthelengthofhisneck，thebignessofhiscrop，hiscarriage，andhisover—size。"Abirdcan’tmaketimepushingabagofwindaheadofhim。Themlonglegsisdeadweight，an’anecklikethatain’tgotnogimpinit，"Billywouldgruntdisparaginglyashecleanedouttheloftofamorning。
II
Thetrainingofthebirdswentonafterthisatregulartimes。
Thedistancefromhome，ofthestart，was"jumped"twenty—fiveorthirtymilesfarthereachday，anditsdirectionchangedtilltheHomersknewthecountryforonehundredandfiftymilesaroundNewYork。Theoriginalfiftybirdsdwindledtotwenty，fortherigidprocessweedsoutnotonlytheweakandill—equipped，butthosealsowhomayhavetemporaryailmentsoraccidents，orwhomaymakethemistakeofover—eatingatthestart。Thereweremanyfinebirdsinthatflight，broad—breasted，bright—eyed，long—wingedcreatures，formedforswiftestflight，forhighunconsciousemprise，fortheseweredestinedtobemessengersintheserviceofmanintimesofseriousneed。Theircolorsweremostlywhite，blue，orbrown。Theyworenouniform，buteachandallofthechosenremnanthadthebrillianteyeandthebulgingearsofthefinestHomerblood;and，bestandchoicestofall，nearlyalwaysfirstamongthemwaslittleArnaux。Hehadnotmuchtodistinguishhimwhenatrest，fornowallofthebandhadthesilveranklet，butintheairitwasthatArnauxshowedhismake，andwhentheopeningofthehampergavetheorder"Start，"itwasArnauxthatfirstgotunderway，soaredtotheheightdeemedneedfultoexcludealllocalinfluence，divinedtheroadtohome，andtookit，pausingnotforfood，drink，orcompany。
NotwithstandingBilly’sevilforecasts，theBigBlueoftheCorner—boxwasoneofthechosentwenty。Oftenhewaslateinreturning;heneverwasfirst，andsometimeswhenhecamebackhoursbehindtherest，itwasplainthathewasneitherhungrynorthirsty，suresignsthathewasaloitererbytheway。Stillhehadcomeback;andnowheworeonhisankle，liketherest，thesacredbadgeandanumberfromtherollofpossiblefame。
Billydespisedhim，sethiminpoorcontrastwithArnaux，buthisownerwouldreply："Givehimachance;’soonripe，soonrotten，’
an’Ialwaysnoticethebestbirdistheslowesttoshowupatfirst。"
BeforeayearlittleArnauxhadmadearecord。Thehardestofallworkisoverthesea，forthereisnochanceofaidfromlandmarks;andthehardestofalltimesatseaisinfog，fortheneventhesunisblottedoutandthereisnothingwhateverforguidance。Withmemory，sight，andhearingunavailable，theHomerhasonethingleft，andhereinishisgreatstrength，theinbornsenseofdirection。Thereisonlyonethingthatcandestroythis，andthatisfear，hencethenecessityofastoutlittleheartbetweenthosenoblewings。
Arnaux，withtwoofhisorder，incourseoftraining，hadbeenshippedonanoceansteamerboundforEurope。Theyweretobereleasedoutofsightofland，butaheavyfogsetinandforbadethestart。Thesteamertookthemonward，theintentionbeingtosendthembackwiththenextvessel。Whentenhoursouttheenginebrokedown，thefogsettleddenseoverthesea，andthevesselwasadriftandhelplessasalog。Shecouldonlywhistleforassistance，andsofarasresultswereconcerned，thecaptainmightaswellhavewigwagged。ThenthePigeonswerethoughtof。
Starback，2592C，wasfirstselected。Amessageforhelpwaswrittenonwaterproofpaper，rolledup，andlashedtohistail—feathersontheunderside。Hewasthrownintotheairanddisappeared。Halfanhourlater，asecond，theBigBlueCorner—box，2600C，wasfreightedwithaletter。Heflewup，butalmostimmediatelyreturnedandalightedontherigging。Hewasapictureofpigeonfear;nothingcouldinducehimtoleavetheship。Hewassoterrorizedthathewaseasilycaughtandignominiouslythrustbackintothecoop。
Nowthethirdwasbroughtout，asmall，chunkybird。Theshipmendidnotknowhim，buttheynoteddownfromhisanklethisnameandnumber，Arnaux，2590C。Itmeantnothingtothem。Buttheofficerwhoheldhimnotedthathisheartdidnotbeatsowildlyasthatofthelastbird。ThemessagewastakenfromtheBigBlue。Itran：
10A。M。，Tuesday。
WebrokeourshafttwohundredandtenmilesoutfromNewYork;
wearedriftinghelplesslyinthefog。Sendoutatugassoonaspossible。Wearewhistlingonelong，followedatoncebyoneshort，everysixtyseconds。
（Signed）THECAPTAIN。
Thiswasrolledup，wrappedinwaterprooffilm，addressedtotheSteamshipCompany，andlashedtotheundersideofArnaux’smiddletail—feather。
Whenthrownintotheair，hecircledroundtheship，thenroundagainhigher，thenagainhigherinawidercircle，andhewaslosttoview;andstillhighertillquiteoutofsightandfeelingoftheship。Shutoutfromtheuseofallhissensesnowbutone，hegavehimselfuptothat。Stronginhimitwas，anduntrammelledofthatmurderousdespotFear。TrueasaneedletothePolewentArnauxnow，nohesitation，nodoubts;withinoneminuteofleavingthecoophewasspeedingstraightasarayoflightfortheloftwherehewasborn，theonlyplaceonearthwherehecouldbemadecontent。
ThatafternoonBillywasondutywhenthewhistleoffastwingswasheard;ablueFlyerflashedintotheloftandmadeforthewater—trough。Hewasgulpingdownmouthfulaftermouthful，whenBillygasped："Why，Arnaux，it’syou，youbeauty。"Then，withthequickhabitofthepigeon—man，hepulledouthiswatchandmarkedthetime，2：40P。M，Aglanceshowedthetiestringonthetail。
Heshutthedooranddroppedthecatching—netquicklyoverArnaux’shead。Amomentlaterhehadtherollinhishand;intwominuteshewasspeedingtotheofficeoftheCompany，fortherewasafattipinview。TherehelearnedthatArnauxhadmadethetwohundredandtenmilesinfog，oversea，infourhoursandfortyminutes，andwithinonehourtheneedfulhelphadsetoutfortheunfortunatesteamer。
Twohundredandtenmilesinfogoverseainfourhoursandfortyminutes！Thiswasanoblerecord。ItwasdulyinscribedintherollsoftheHomingClub。Arnauxwasheldwhilethesecretary，withrubberstampandindelibleink，printedonasnowyprimaryofhisrightwingtherecordofthefeat，withthedateandreferencenumber。
Starback，thesecondbird，neverwasheardofagain。Nodoubtheperishedatsea。
BlueCorner—boxcamebackonthetug。
III
ThatwasArnaux’sfirstpublicrecord;butotherscamefast，andseveralcurioussceneswereenactedinthatoldpigeon—loftwithArnauxasthecentralfigure。Onedayacarriagedroveuptothestable;awhite—hairedgentlemangotout，climbedthedustystairs，andsatallmorningintheloftwithBilly。Peeringfromhisgold—rimmedglasses，firstatalotofpapers，nextacrosstheroofsofthecity，waiting，watching，forwhat？Newsfromalittleplacenotfortymilesaway——newsofgreatestweighttohim，tidingsthatwouldmakeorbreakhim，tidingsthatmustreachhimbeforeitcouldbetelegraphed：atelegrammeantatleastanhour’sdelayateachend。Whatwasfasterthanthatforfortymiles？Inthosedaystherewasbutonething——ahigh—classHomer。Moneywouldcountfornothingifhecouldwin。Thebest，theverybestatanypricehemusthave，andArnaux，withsevenindeliblerecordsonhispinions，wasthechosenmessenger。Anhourwentby，another，andathirdwasbegun，whenwithwhistleofwings，thebluemeteorflashedintotheloft。Billyslammedthedoorandcaughthim。Deftlyhesnippedthethreadsandhandedtherolltothebanker。Theoldmanturneddeathlypale，fumbleditopen，thenhiscolorcameback。"ThankGod！"hegasped，andthenwentspeedingtohisBoardmeeting，masterofthesituation。
LittleArnauxhadsavedhim。
ThebankerwantedtobuytheHomer，feelinginavaguewaythatheoughttohonorandcherishhim;butBillywasveryclearaboutit。"What’sthegood？Youcan’tbuyaHomer’sheart。Youcouldkeephimaprisoner，that’sall;butnothingonearthcouldmakehimforsaketheoldloftwherehewashatched。"SoArnauxstayedat2llWestNineteenthStreet。Butthebankerdidnotforget。
ThereisinourcountryaclassofmiscreantswhothinkaflyingPigeonisfairgame，becauseitisprobablyfarfromhome，ortheyshoothimbecauseitishardtofixthecrime。ManyanobleHomer，speedingwithalifeordeathmessage，hasbeenshotdownbyoneofthesewretchesandremorselesslymadeintoapot—pie。
Arnaux’sbrotherArnolf，withthreefinerecordsonhiswings，wasthusmurderedintheactofbearingahastysummonsforthedoctor。Ashefelldyingatthegunner’sfeet，hissuperbwingsspreadoutdisplayedhislistofvictories。Thesilverbadgeonhislegwasthere，andthegunnerwassmittenwithremorse。Hehadthemessagesenton;hereturnedthedeadbirdtotheHomingClub，sayingthathe"foundit。"Theownercametoseehim;thegunnerbrokedownundercross—examination，andwasforcedtoadmitthathehimselfhadshottheHomer，butdidsoinbehalfofapoorsickneighborwhocravedapigeon—pie。
Thereweretearsinthewrathofthepigeon—man。"Mybird，mybeautifulArnolf，twentytimeshashebroughtvitalmessages，threetimeshashemaderecords，twicehashesavedhumanlives，andyou’dshoothimforapot—pie。Icouldpunishyouunderthelaw，butIhavenoheartforsuchapoorrevenge。Ionlyaskyouthis，ifeveragainyouhaveasickneighborwhowantsapigeon—pie，come，we’llfreelysupplyhimwithpie—breedsquabs;
butifyouhaveatraceofmanhoodaboutyou，youwillnever，neveragainshoot，orallowotherstoshoot，ournobleandpricelessmessengers。"
Thistookplacewhilethebankerwasintouchwiththeloft，whilehisheartwaswarmforthePigeons。Hewasamanofinfluence，andthePigeonProtectivelegislationatAlbanywastheimmediatefruitofArnaux’sexploit。
IV
BillyhadneverlikedtheCorner—boxBlue（2600C）;
notwithstandingthefactthathestillcontinuedintheranksoftheSilverBadge，Billybelievedhewaspoorstuff。Thesteamerincidentseemedtoprovehimcoward;hecertainlywasabully。
OnemorningwhenBillywentintherewasarow，twoPigeons，alargeandasmall，alternatelyclinchingandsparringalloverthefloor，feathersflying，dustandcommotioneverywhere。AssoonastheywereseparatedBillyfoundthatthelittleonewasArnauxandthebigonewastheCorner—boxBlue。Arnauxhadmadeagoodfight，butwasovermatched，fortheBigBluewashalfasheavyagain。
Soonitwasveryclearwhattheyhadfoughtover——aprettylittleladyPigeonofthebluestHomingblood。TheBigBluecockhadkeptupastateofbadfeelingbyhisbullying，butitwastheLittleLadythathadmadethemcloseinmortalcombat。BillyhadnoauthoritytowringtheBigBlue’sneck，butheinterferedasfarashecouldinbehalfofhisfavoriteArnaux。
Pigeonmarriagesarearrangedsomewhatlikethoseofmankind。
Propinquityisthefirstthing：forcethepairtogetherforatimeandletnaturetakeitscourse。SoBillylockedArnauxandtheLittleLadyuptogetherinaseparateapartmentfortwoweeks，andtomakedoublysurehelockedBigBlueupwithanAvailableLadyinanotherapartmentfortwoweeks。
Thingsturnedoutjustaswasexpected。TheLittleLadysurrenderedtoArnauxandtheAvailableLadytotheBigBlue。Twonestswerebegunandeverythingshapedfora"livedhappilyeverafter。"ButtheBigBluewasverybigandhandsome。HecouldblowouthiscropandstrutinthesunandmakerainbowsallroundhisneckinawaythatmightturntheheartofthestaidestHomerine。
Arnaux，thoughsturdilybuilt，wassmallandexceptforhisbrillianteyes，notespeciallygood—looking。Moreover，hewasoftenawayonimportantbusiness，andtheBigBluehadnothingtodobutstayaroundtheloftanddisplayhisunletteredwings。
Itisthecustomofmoraliststopointtotheloweranimals，andespeciallytothePigeon，forexamplesofloveandconstancy，andproperlyso，but，alasthereareexceptions。Viceisnotbyanymeanslimitedtothehumanrace。
Arnaux’swifehadbeendeeplyimpressedwiththeBigBlue，attheoutset，andatlengthwhileherspousewasabsentthedreadfulthingtookplace。
ArnauxreturnedfromBostononedaytofindthattheBigBlue，whileheretainedhisownAvailableLadyinthecorner—box，hadalsoannexedtheboxandwifethatbelongedtohimself，andadesperatebattlefollowed。Theonlyspectatorswerethetwowives，buttheymaintainedanindifferentaloofness。Arnauxfoughtwithhisfamouswings，buttheywerenonethebetterweaponsbecausetheynowboretwentyrecords。Hisbeakandfeetweresmall，asbecamehisblood，andhisstoutlittleheartcouldnotmakeupforhislackofweight。Thebattlewentagainsthim。
Hiswifesatunconcernedlyinthenest，asthoughitwerenotheraffair，andArnauxmighthavebeenkilledbutforthetimelyarrivalofBilly。HewasangryenoughtowringtheBluebird’sneck，butthebullyescapedfromtheloftintime。BillytooktendercareofArnauxforafewdays。Attheendofaweekhewaswellagain，andintendayshewasoncemoreontheroad。
Meanwhilehehadevidentlyforgivenhisfaithlesswife，for，withoutanyapparentfeeling，hetookuphisnestingasbefore。
Thatmonthhemadetwonewrecords。Hebroughtamessagetenmilesineightminutes，andhecamefromBostoninfourhours。
Everymomentofthewayhehadbeenimpelledbythemaster—passionofhome—love。Butitwasapoorhome—comingifhiswifefiguredatallinhisthoughts，forhefoundheragainflirtingwiththeBigBluecock。Tiredashewas，theduelwasrenewed，andagainwouldhavebeentoafinishbutforBilly’sinterference。Heseparatedthefighters，thenshuttheBluecockupinacoop，determinedtogetridofhiminsomeway。Meanwhilethe"AnyAgeSweepstakes"handicapfromChicagotoNewYorkwason，araceofninehundredmiles。Arnauxhadbeenenteredsixmonthsbefore。Hisforfeit—moneywasup，andnotwithstandinghisdomesticcomplications，hisfriendsfeltthathemustnotfailtoappear。
ThebirdsweresentbytraintoChicago，tobeliberatedatintervalsthereaccordingtotheirhandicap，andlastofthestartwasArnaux。Theylostnotime，andoutsideofChicagoseveraloftheseprimeFlyersjoinedbycommonimpulseintoaracingflockthatwentthroughaironthesameinvisibletrack。A
Homermaymakeastraightlinewhenfollowinghisgeneralsenseofdirection，butwhenfollowingafamiliarbacktrackhestickstothewell—rememberedlandmarks。MostofthebirdshadbeentrainedbywayofColumbusandBuffalo。ArnauxknewtheColumbusroute，butalsoheknewthatbyDetroit，andafterleavingLakeMichigan，hetookthestraightlineforDetroit。Thushecaughtuponhishandicapandhadtheadvantageofmanymiles。Detroit，Buffalo，Rochester，withtheirfamiliartowersandchimneys，fadedbehindhim，andSyracusewasnearathand。Itwasnowlateafternoon;sixhundredmilesintwelvehourshehadflownandwasundoubtedlyleadingtherace;buttheusualthirstoftheFlyerhadattackedhim。Skimmingoverthecityroofs，hesawaloftofPigeons，anddescendingfromhishighcourseintwoorthreegreatcircles，hefollowedtheingoingBirdstotheloftanddrankgreedilyatthewater—trough，ashehadoftendonebefore，andaseverypigeon—loverhospitablyexpectsthemessengerstodo。TheowneroftheloftwasthereandnotedthestrangeBird。
Hesteppedquietlytowherehecouldinspecthim。OneofhisownPigeonsmademomentaryoppositiontothestranger，andArnaux，sparringsidewisewithanopenwinginPigeonstyle，displayedthelongarrayofprintedrecords。Themanwasafancier。Hisinterestwasaroused;hepulledthestringthatshuttheflyingdoor，andinafewminutesArnauxwashisprisoner。
Therobberspreadthemuch—inscribedwings，readrecordafterrecord，andglancingatthesilverbadge——itshouldhavebeengold——hereadhisname——Arnaux;thenexclaimed："Arnaux！Arnaux！
Oh，I’veheardofyou，youlittlebeauty，andit’sgladIamtotrapyou。"Hesnippedthemessagefromhistail，unrolledit，andread："ArnauxleftChicagothismorningat4A。M。，scratchedintheAnyAgeSweepstakesforNewYork。"
"Sixhundredmilesintwelvehours！Bythepowers，that’sarecord—breaker。"Andthepigeon—stealergently，almostreverently，puttheflutteringBirdsafelyintoapaddedcage。
"Well，"headded，"Iknowit’snousetryingtomakeyoustay，butIcanbreedfromyouandhavesomeofyourstrain。"
SoArnauxwasshutupinalargeandcomfortableloftwithseveralotherprisoners。Theman，thoughathief，wasaloverofHomers;hegavehiscaptiveeverythingthatcouldinsurehiscomfortandsafety。Forthreemonthshelefthiminthatloft。AtfirstArnauxdidnothingalldaybutwalkupanddownthewirescreen，lookinghighandlowformeansofescape;butinthefourthmonthheseemedtohaveabandonedtheattempt，andthewatchfuljailerbeganthesecondpartofhisscheme。HeintroducedacoyyoungladyPigeon。Butitdidnotseemtoanswer;Arnauxwasnotevenciviltoher。Afteratimethejailerremovedthefemale，andArnauxwasleftinsolitaryconfinementforamonth。Nowadifferentfemalewasbroughtin，butwithnobetterluck;andthusitwenton——forayeardifferentcharmerswereintroduced。Arnauxeitherviolentlyrepelledthemorwasscornfullyindifferent，andattimestheoldlongingtogetaway，camebackwithtwofoldpower，sothathedartedupanddownthewirefrontordashedwithallhisforceagainstit。
Whenthestoriedfeathersofhiswingsbegantheirannualmoult，hisjailersavedthemaspreciousthings，andaseachnewfeathercamehereproducedonittherecordofitsowner’sfame。
Twoyearswentslowlyby，andthejailerhadputArnauxinanewloftandbroughtinanotherladyPigeon。Bychanceshecloselyresembledthefaithlessoneathome。Arnauxactuallyheededthenewcomer。Oncethejailerthoughthesawhisfamousprisonerpayingsomeslightattentiontothecharmer，and，yes，hesurelysawherpreparinganest。Thenassumingthattheyhadreachedafullunderstanding，thejailer，forthefirsttime，openedtheoutlet，andArnauxwasfree。Didhehangaroundindoubt？Didhehesitate？No，notforonemoment。Assoonasthedropofthedoorleftopentheway，heshotthrough，hespreadthosewonderfulblazonedwings，and，withnosecondthoughtforthelatestCirce，sprangfromthehatedprisonloft——awayandaway。
V
WehavenomeansoflookingintothePigeon’smind;wemaygowronginconjuringupforitdeepthoughtsofloveandwelcomehome;butwearesafeinthis，wecannottoostronglypaint，wecannottoohighlypraiseandglorifythatwonderfulGod—implanted，mankind—fosteredhome—lovethatglowsunquenchablyinthisnoblebird。Callitwhatyoulike，amereinstinctdeliberatelyconstructedbymanforhisselfishends，explainitawayifyouwill，dissectit，misnameit，anditstillisthere，inoverwhelming，imperishablemaster—power，aslongasthebravelittleheartandwingscanbeat。
Home，home，sweethome！NeverhadmankindastrongerloveofhomethanArnaux。Thetrialsandsorrowsoftheoldpigeon—loftwereforgotteninthatall—dominatingforceofhisnature。Notyearsofprisonbars，notlaterloves，norfearofdeath，coulddownitspower;andArnaux，hadthegiftofsongbeenhis，mustsurelyhavesungassingsaheroinhishighestjoy，whenspranghefromthe’lightingboard，up—circlingfree，soaring，drawnbytheonlyimpulsethatthosegloriouswingswouldhonor，——up，up，inwidening，heighteningcirclesofashyblueintheblue，flashingthosemany—letteredwingsofwhite，tilltheyseemedlikejetsoffire——upandon，drivenbythathome—love，faithfultohisonlyhomeandtohisfaithlessmate;closinghiseyes，theysay;
closinghisears，theytell;shuttinghismind，——weallbelieve，——tonearerthings，totwoyearsofhislife，toonehalfofhisprime，butsoaringintheblue，retiring，asasaintmightdo，intohisinnerself，givinghimselfuptothatinmostguide。
Hewasthecaptainoftheship，butthepilot，thechartandcompass，all，werethatdeep—implantedinstinct。Onethousandfeetabovethetreestheinscrutablewhispercame，andArnauxinarrowyswiftnessnowwaspointingforthesouth—southeast。Thelittleflashesofwhitefireoneachsidewerelostinthelowsky，andthereverentrobberofSyracusesawArnauxnevermore。
Thefastexpresswassteamingdownthevalley。Itwasfarahead，butArnauxovertookandpassedit，astheflyingwildDuckpassestheswimmingMuskrat。Highinthevalleyshewent，lowoverthehillsofChenango，wherethepineswerecombingthebreezes。
Outfromhisoak—treeeyrieaHawkcamewheelingandsailing，silent，forhehadmarkedtheFlyer，andmeanthimforhisprey。
Arnauxturnedneitherrightnorleft，norraisednorloweredhisflight，norlostawing—beat。TheHawkwasinwaitinginthegapahead，andArnauxpassedhim，evenasaDeerinhisprimemaypassbyaBearinhispathway。Home！home！wastheonlyburningthought，theblindingimpulse。
Beat，beat，beat，thoseflashingpinionswentwithspeedunslackedonthenowfamiliarroad。InanhourtheCatskillswereathand。Intwohourshewaspassingoverthem。Oldfriendlyplaces，swiftlycomingnow，lentmoreforcetohiswings。Home！
home！wasthesilentsongthathisheartwassinging。Likethetravellerdyingofthirst，thatseesthepalm—treesfarahead，hisbrillianteyestookinthedistantsmokeofManhattan。
OutfromthecrestoftheCatskillstherelaunchedaFalcon。
Swiftestoftheraceofrapine，proudofhisstrength，proudofhiswings，herejoicedinaworthyprey。ManyandmanyaPigeonhadbeenbornetohisnest，andridingthewindhecame，swooping，reservinghisstrength，awaitingthepropertime。Oh，howwellheknewtheverymoment！Down，downlikeaflashingjavelin;nowildDuck，noHawkcouldeludehim，forthiswasaFalcon。Turnbacknow，OHomer，andsaveyourself;goroundthedangeroushills。Didheturn？Notawhit！forthiswasArnaux。
Home！home！home！washisonlythought。Tomeetthedanger，hemerelyaddedtohisspeed;andthePeregrinestooped;stoopedatwhat？——aflashingofcolor，atwinklingofwhiteness——andwentbackempty。WhileArnauxclefttheairofthevalleyasastonefromasling，tobelost——awhite—wingedbird——aspotwithflashinghalo——and，quickly，aspeckintheoffing。OndownthedearvalleyofHudson，thewell—knownhighway;fortwoyearshehadnotseenit！Nowhedroppedlowasthenoonbreezecamenorthandruffledtheriverbelowhim。Home！home！home！andthetowersofacityarecominginview！Home！home！pastthegreatspider—bridgeofPoughkeepsie，skimming，skirtingtheriver—banks。Lownowbythebankasthewindarose。Low，alas！
toolow！
WhatfiendwasittemptedagunnerinJunetolurkonthathillbythemargin？whatdevildirectedhisgazetothetwinklingofwhitethatcamefromthebluetothenorthward？Oh，Arnaux，Arnaux，skimminglow，forgetnotthegunnerofold！Toolow，toolowyouareclearingthathill。Toolow——toolate！Flash——bang！
andthedeath—hailhasreachedhim;reached，maimed，butnotdownedhim。Outoftheflashingpinionsbrokenfeathersprintedwithrecordswentflutteringearthward。The"naught"ofhissearecordwasgone。Nottwohundredandten，buttwenty—onemilesitnowread。Oh，shamefulpillage！Adarkstainappearedonhisbosom，butArnauxkepton。Home，home，homewardbound。Thedangerwaspastinaninstant。Home，homewardhesteeredstraightasbefore，butthewonderfulspeedwasdiminished;notamileaminutenow;andthewindmadeunduesoundsinhistatteredpinions。Thestaininhisbreasttoldofbrokenforce;buton，straighton，heflew。Home，homewasinsight，andthepaininhisbreastwasforgotten。Thetalltowersofthecitywereinclearviewofhisfar—seeingeyeasheskimmedbythehighcliffsofJersey。On，on——thepinionmightflag，theeyemightdarken，butthehome—lovewasstrongerandstronger。
UnderthetallPalisades，tobescreenedfromthewind，hepassed，overthesparklingwater，overthetrees，underthePeregrines’eyrie，underthepirates’castlewherethegreatgrimPeregrinessat;peeringlikeblack—maskedhighwaymentheymarkedtheon—comingPigeon。Arnauxknewthemofold。Manyamessagewaslyingundeliveredinthatnest，manyarecord—bearingplumehadflutteredawayfromitsfastness。ButArnauxhadfacedthembefore，andnowhecameasbefore——on，onward，swift，butnotashehadbeen;thedeadlygunhadsappedhisforce，hadloweredhisspeed。On，on;andthePeregrines，bidingtheirtime，wentforthliketwobow—bolts;strongandlightning—swifttheywentagainstoneweakandwearied。
Whytelloftheracethatfollowed？Whypaintthedespairofabravelittleheartinsightofthehomehehadcravedinvain？inaminuteallwasover。ThePeregrinesscreechedintheirtriumph。
Screechingandsailing，theyswungtotheireyrie，andthepreyintheirclawswasthebody，thelastofthebrightlittleArnaux。Thereontherocksthebeaksandclawsofthebanditswereredwiththelifeofthehero。Tornasunderwerethosematchlesswings，andtheirrecordswerescatteredunnoticed。Insunandinstormtheylaytillthekillersthemselveswerekilledandtheirstrongholdrifled。AndnoneknewthefateofthepeerlessBirdtilldeepinthedustandrubbishofthatpirate—nesttheavengerfound，amongothersofitskind，asilverring，thesacredbadgeoftheHighHomer，andreaduponitthepregnantinscription："ARNAUX，2590C。"
BADLANDSBILLY
TheWolfthatWonI
THEHOWLBYNIGHT
DoyouknowthethreecallsofthehuntingWolf：——thelong—drawndeephowl，themuster，thattellsofgamediscoveredbuttoostrongforthefindertomanagealone;andthehigherululationthatringingandswellingisthecryofthepackonahotscent;
andthesharpbarkcoupledwithashorthowlthat，seemingleastofall，isyetagongofdoom，forthisisthecry"Closein"——thisisthefinish？
WewereridingtheBadlandButtes，KingandI，withapackofvarioushuntingDogsstringingbehindortrottingalongside。Thesunhadgonefromthesky，andablood—streakmarkedthespotwherehedied，awayoverSentinelButte。Thehillsweredim，thevalleysdark，whenfromthenearestgloomthererolledalong—drawncrythatallmenrecognizeinstinctively——melodious，yetwithatoneinitthatsendsashudderupthespine，thoughnowithaslostallmenaceformankind。Welistenedforamoment。
ItwastheWolf—hunterwhobrokesilence："That’sBadlandsBilly;
ain’titavoice？He’soutforhisbeefto—night。"
II
ANCIENTDAYS
InpristinedaystheBuffaloherdswerefollowedbybandsofWolvesthatpreyedonthesick，theweak，andthewounded。WhentheBuffalowereexterminatedtheWolveswerehardputforsupport，buttheCattlecameandsolvedthequestionforthembytakingtheBuffaloes’place。Thiscausedthewolf—war。TheranchmenofferedabountyforeachWolfkilled，andeverycowboyoutofwork，wassuppliedwithtrapsandpoisonforwolf—killing。
Theveryexpertmadethistheirsolebusinessandbecameknownaswolvers。KingRyderwasoneofthese。Hewasaquiet，gentlespokenfellow，withakeeneyeandaninsightintoanimallifethatgavehimespecialpoweroverBroncosandDogs，aswellasWolvesandBears，thoughinthelasttwocasesitwaspowermerelytosurmisewheretheywereandhowbesttogetatthem。Hehadbeenawolverforyears，andgreatlysurprisedmebysayingthat"neverinallhisexperiencehadheknownaGray—wolftoattackahumanbeing。"
Wehadmanycamp—firetalkswhiletheothermenweresleeping，andthenitwasIlearnedthelittlethatheknewaboutBadlandsBilly。"SixtimeshaveIseenhimandtheseventhwillbeSunday，youbet。Hetakeshislongrestthen。"Andthusontheverygroundwhereitallfellout，tothenoiseofthenightwindandtheyappingoftheCoyote，interruptedsometimesbythedeep—drawnhowloftheherohimself，Iheardchaptersofthishistorywhich，withothersgleanedinmanyfields，gavemethestoryoftheBigDarkWolfofSentinelButte。
III
INTHECANON
Awaybackinthespringof’92awolverwas"wolving"ontheeastsideoftheSentinelMountainthatsolongwasaprincipallandmarkoftheoldPlainsmen。PeltswerenotgoodinMay，butthebountieswerehigh，fivedollarsahead，anddoubleforShe—wolves。AshewentdowntothecreekonemorninghesawaWolfcomingtodrinkontheotherside。Hehadaneasyshot，andonkillingitfounditwasanursingShe—wolf。Evidentlyherfamilyweresomewherenear，sohespenttwoorthreedayssearchinginallthelikelyplaces，butfoundnocluetotheden。
Twoweeksafterward，asthewolverrodedownanadjoiningca駉n，hesawaWolfcomeoutofahole。Theever—readyrifleflewup，andanotherten—dollarscalpwasaddedtohisstring。Nowhedugintothedenandfoundthelitter，amostsurprisingoneindeed，foritconsistednotoftheusualfiveorsixWolf—pups，butofeleven，andthese，strangetosay，wereoftwosizes，fiveofthemlargerandolderthantheothersix。Hereweretwodistinctfamilieswithonemother，andasheaddedtheirscalpstohisstringoftrophiesthetruthdawnedonthehunter。OnelotwassurelythefamilyoftheShe—wolfhehadkilledtwoweeksbefore。
Thecasewasclear：thelittleonesawaitingthemotherthatwasnevertocome，hadwhinedpiteouslyandmoreloudlyastheirhunger—pangsincreased;theothermotherpassinghadheardtheCubs;herheartwastendernow，herownlittleoneshadsorecentlycome，andshecaredfortheorphans，carriedthemtoherownden，andwasprovidingforthedoublefamilywhentheriflemanhadcutthegentlechaptershort。
Manyawolverhasdugintoawolf—dentofindnothing。TheoldWolvesorpossiblytheCubsthemselvesoftendiglittlesidepocketsandoffgalleries，andwhenanenemyisbreakingintheyhideinthese。ThelooseearthconcealsthesmallpocketandthustheCubsescape。WhenthewolverretiredwithhisscalpshedidnotknowthatthebiggestofalltheCubs，wasstillintheden，andevenhadhewaitedaboutfortwohours，hemighthavebeennowiser。Threehourslaterthesunwentdownandtherewasaslightscratchingafarinthehole;firsttwolittlegraypaws，thenasmallblacknoseappearedinasoftsand—piletoonesideoftheden。AtlengththeCubcameforthfromhishiding。Hehadbeenfrightenedbytheattackontheden;nowhewasperplexedbyitscondition。
Itwasthriceaslargeasithadbeenandopenatthetopnow。
Lyingnearwerethingsthatsmelledlikehisbrothersandsisters，buttheywererepellenttohim。Hewasfilledwithfearashesniffedatthem，andsneakedasideintoathicketofgrass，asaNight—hawkboomedoverhishead。Hecrouchedallnightinthatthicket。Hedidnotdaretogoneartheden，andknewnotwhereelsehecouldgo。ThenextmorningwhentwoVulturescameswoopingdownonthebodies，theWolf—cubranoffinthethicket，andseekingitsdeepestcover，wasleddownaravinetoawidevalley。SuddenlytherearosefromthegrassabigShe—wolf，likehismother，yetdifferent，astranger，andinstinctivelythestrayCubsanktotheearth，astheoldWolfboundedonhim。NodoubttheCubhadbeentakenforsomelawfulprey，butawhiffsetthatright。Shestoodoverhimforaninstant。Hegrovelledatherfeet。Theimpulsetokillhimoratleastgivehimashakediedaway。HehadthesmellofayoungCub。Herownwereabouthisage，herheartwastouched，andwhenhefoundcourageenoughtoputhisnoseupandsmellhernose，shemadenoangrydemonstrationexceptashorthalf—heartedgrowl。Now，however，hehadsmelledsomethingthathesorelyneeded。Hehadnotfedsincethedaybefore，andwhentheoldWolfturnedtoleavehim，hetumbledafterheronclumsypuppylegs。HadtheMother—wolfbeenfarfromhomehemustsoonhavebeenleftbehind，butthenearesthollowwasthechosenplace，andtheCubarrivedattheden’smouthsoonaftertheMother—wolf。
Astrangerisanenemy，andtheoldonerushingforthtothedefense，mettheCubagain，andagainwasrestrainedbysomethingthatroseinherresponsivetothesmell。TheCubhadthrownhimselfonhisbackinuttersubmission，butthatdidnotpreventhisnosereportingtohimthegoodthingalmostwithinreach。TheShe—wolfwentintothedenandcurledherselfaboutherbrood;
theCubpersistedinfollowing。Shesnarledasheapproachedherownlittleones，butdisarmingwratheachtimebysubmissionandhisverycubhood，hewaspresentlyamongherbrood，helpinghimselftowhathewantedsogreatly，andthusheadoptedhimselfintoherfamily。Inafewdayshewassomuchoneofthemthatthemotherforgotabouthisbeingastranger。Yethewasdifferentfromtheminseveralways——olderbytwoweeks，stronger，andmarkedontheneckandshoulderswithwhatafterwardgrewtobeadarkmane。
LittleDuskymanecouldnothavebeenhappierinhischoiceofafoster—mother，fortheYellowWolfwasnotonlyagoodhunterwithafundofcunning，butshewasaWolfofmodernideasaswell。TheoldtricksoftollingaPrairieDog，relayingforAntelope，houghingaBroncoorflankingaSteershehadlearnedpartlyfrominstinctandpartlyfromtheexampleofhermoreexperiencedrelatives，whentheyjoinedtoformthewinterbands。
But，justasnecessarynowadays，shehadlearnedthatallmencarryguns，thatgunsareirresistible，thattheonlywaytoavoidthemisbykeepingoutofsightwhilethesunisup，andyetthatatnighttheyareharmless。Shehadafaircomprehensionoftraps，indeedshehadbeeninoneonce，andthoughsheleftatoebehindinpullingfree，itwasatoemostadvantageouslydisposedof;thenceforth，thoughnotcomprehendingthenatureofthetrap，shewasthoroughlyimbuedwiththehorrorofit，withtheideaindeedthatironisdangerous，andatanypriceitshouldbeavoided。
Ononeoccasion，whensheandfiveotherswereplanningtoraidaSheepyard，sheheldbackatthelastminutebecausesomenewstrungwiresappeared。TheothersrushedintofindtheSheepbeyondtheirreach，themselvesinadeath—trap。
Thusshehadlearnedthenewerdangers，andwhileitisunlikelythatshehadanyclearmentalconceptionofthemshehadacquiredawholesomedistrustofallthingsstrange，andahorrorofoneortwoinparticularthatprovedherlastingsafeguard。EachyearsheraisedherbroodsuccessfullyandthenumberofYellowWolvesincreasedinthecountry。Guns，traps，menandthenewanimalstheybroughthadbeenlearned，buttherewasyetanotherlessonbeforeher——aterribleoneindeed。