The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-06-20
Continuation of
CHAPTER K.

pose to distill it in regular style),
I strained it through a cloth, pres
sing it strongly; the result ans
wered my purpose, and the scent
would certainly remain for some
days.
All my preparations being com
pleted, the pigeons were installed
in their new residence, and the
slides closed. The European birds
we're by this time quite friendly
with the three beautiful strang-
ers; and when the other boys
came home, and scrambled up the
ladder to peep in at a little pane
of glass l had fixed in front, they
saw them all contentedly picking
up grain, and pecking at the
magic food" as Fritz called it,
although he did not betray my
secret arts to his brothers.
Early on the third morning /
aroused Fritz, and directed him
to ascend the rope ladder, and
arrang a cord on the sliding
door of the dovecot, by which it
could be opened or closed from
below. Also he poured fresh ami
seed oil all about the entrance,
after which we returned, and
awoke the rest of the family, tel
ling them that if they liked to
make haste, they might e me
let the pigeons fly.
Everybody came to the dovecot,
understanding that some ceremony
was to attend the event, and |
waved a wand with mock sol
emnity, while l muttered a seem
ing incarnation, and then gave
Fritz a sign to draw up the slid
ing panel.
Presently out popped the pretty
heads of the captives, the soft
eyes glanced about in all direc-
tions; they withdrew, they ven
tured forth again, they came tim
idly out on "the veranda," as
little Franz expressed it; then, as
though suddenly startled, the
whole party took wing, with the
shrill whizzing sound peculiar to
the flight of pigeons, and circling
above us as they rose higher and
higher, finally darting quite out
of sight.
While we were yet gazing after
them. they reappeared, and set
tied quietly on the dovecot; but
as we congratulated ourselves on
a return which showed that they
accepted this as a home, up
spran the three blue pigeons,
the noble foreigners, for whom
chiefly l had planned the house,
and rising in circles high in air,
winged their rapid way direct to-
ward Falconhurst.
Their departure had such an air
Of determination and resolve
about it, THAT l feared them lost
to us forever.
Endeavoring to console our
selves by petting Jul four remain
ing birds, we could not forget
this disappointment, and all day
long the dovecot remained the
center of attraction.
Nothing, however, was seen Of
the fugitives until about the mid
die Of the next day; when most
of us were hard at work inside
the cavern, Jack sprang in full
of excitement, exclaiming:
HE is therel He is come! he
really isl"
who? Who is there? What do
you mean?"
1.-THE blue pigeon, to be sure!
Hurrah! Hurrah!"
ooh, ~nonsense!" said Ernest.
you want to play as a trick"
Why should it be '~nonsense'?"
cried 1. 81 fully believe we shall
see them all sooni"
Out a everybody to the dove
cot, and there, sure enough stood
the pretty fellow, but not alone,
for he was billing and cooling to
a mate, a stranger of his own
breed, apparently inviting her to
enter his dwelling; for he popped
in and out of the door, bowling,
siding, and cooling, in a most ir-
resistible manner, until the shy
little lady yielded to his blandish-
ments, and tripped daintily in.
Nov, let's shut the door"
"PuTl the cord and close the
PANEL" shouted the boys, max
ing a rush at the string.
"Stopl" cried l, "let the string
alone! 1 won't have you brighten
the little darlings. Besides, the
others will be coming-would you
shut the door in their faces?"
Here they comet here they
GOMEZ" exclaimed Fritz, whose
keen eye marked the birds afar,
and to our delight the second blue
pigeon arrived, likewise with a
mate, whom, after a pretty little
Irritation scene of real and as
sumed modesty on her part, he
succeeded in leading home.
The third and handsomest Of
the new pigeons was the last in
making his appearance. Perhaps
he had greater difficulty than the
others in finding a mate as dis
tinguished in rank and beauty as
himself.