it of
Arnaux's exploit.

IV

Billy had never liked the Corner-box Blue (2600 C); notwithstanding the
fact that he still continued in the ranks of the Silver Badge, Billy
believed he was poor stuff. The steamer incident seemed to prove him
coward; he certainly was a bully.

One morning when Billy went in there was a row, two Pigeons, a large
and a small, alternately clinching and sparring all over the floor,
feathers flying, dust and commotion everywhere. As soon as they were
separated Billy found that the little one was Arnaux and the big one
was the Corner-box Blue. Arnaux had made a good fight, but was
overmatched, for the Big Blue was half as heavy again.

Soon it was very clear what they had fought over--a pretty little lady
Pigeon of the bluest Homing blood. The Big Blue cock had kept up a
state of bad feeling by his bullying, but it was the Little Lady that
had made them close in mortal combat. Billy had no authority to wring
the Big Blue's neck, but he interfered as far as he could in behalf of
his favorite 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