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