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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9605.txt b/9605.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd97ada --- /dev/null +++ b/9605.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3227 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Chico: the Story of a Homing Pigeon, by Lucy M. Blanchard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chico: the Story of a Homing Pigeon + +Author: Lucy M. Blanchard + +Posting Date: November 5, 2011 [EBook #9605] +Release Date: January, 2006 +First Posted: October 9, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHICO: STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, Josephine +Paolucci, and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + +CHICO + +THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON + +By LUCY M. BLANCHARD + +The Riverside Literature Series + +1922 + + + + + + + +DEDICATED TO ALL WHO LOVE VENICE + + +FOREWORD + +As is well known, the time for haphazard reading in the schools has passed. +The carefully selected lists compiled by those who make the education of +children their life work are adapted to the needs of every grade. + +It is not enough that a book possess story interest and that it be worth +while from a literary point of view. The great consideration is its +influence upon the mental and moral development of the child. It must be +stimulating and present to the pupil such ideals as will have a permanent +influence upon the formation of character. + +In CHICO, THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON, I believe present-day requirements +have been met, and that the book will prove of real value as a +supplementary reader in the primary grades. + +It has been my aim to depict accurately the Italian atmosphere and to give +information in such a way that children unconsciously will learn much of +the country form a true idea of the scenes described. + +Explanations of Italian words and phrases have been given when needed. + +I believe that the book will be found particularly valuable from the +standpoint of visual education, and well adapted also for silent reading +and topical recitations. + +The story was written out of a full heart, with the hope that it might +foster the love and appreciation of birds, and that the boy's sacrifice of +his precious homing pigeon to his country at a time of peril might carry an +ethical appeal to every young reader. + +THE AUTHOR + + CONTENTS + + I. OLD PAOLO + + II. ANDREA'S WISH + + III. MARIA'S BIRTHDAY + + IV. CHICO + + V. THE MEANEST CAT IN VENICE + + VI. TRAINING + + VII. DANGER AHEAD! + + VIII. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE + + IX. "COO-OO, COO-OO-OO. RUK-AT-A-COO" + + X. A GALA DAY + + XI. A LITTLE JOURNEY IN THE WORLD + + XII. THE BLUE ROSETTE + + XIII. AND ALL FOR ITALY! + + XIV. EVVIVA VENEZIA! EVVIVA ITALIA! + + XV. THE HERO OF THE SQUARE + + +[Illustration: CHICO] + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OLD PAOLO + + +Some years before the Great War, there lived in a little house on one of +the side canals of Venice, an honest workman and his family. Giovanni +Minetti, for such was his name, was employed in a certain glass factory in +Murano, while, in all Venice, there was no one with fingers more deft in +the making of beautiful lace than Luisa, his wife. + +At the time of our story, Andrea, the elder child, was nearly eight, and +his little sister, Maria, two years younger. + +Consigning the children to the care of her uncle (old Paolo, the caretaker +of St. Mark's), Luisa would go each morning to the lace factory, returning +just in time to prepare the simple dinner, at eventide. + +Those were wonderful days for the children, for though they missed their +father and mother, they were always happy with old Paolo. + +"Buon giorno" [Footnote: Good-morning.] they would shout every morning when +he stopped for them on his way to the famous church, and Maria, holding +tight to one of the old man's hands, would trot along by his side, while +Andrea, more independent, would run on ahead in his eagerness to thread the +narrow streets catch the first glimpse of the Piazza, as St. Mark's Square +is called. + +Then, while the old man cleaned and dusted, the children wandered about +the dusky interior, touching the gold mosaic figures with awed fingers, or +gazing reverently at the great altar front of silver gilt. + +After a little, hand in hand, they would scamper out into the bright +sunshine where they never tired of the many wonderful objects that make St. +Mark's Square a fairyland for young and old alike. + +"'Roglo!" little Maria would cry, as she pointed upward to the great clock +with its dial of blue and gold. It was the nearest she could come to +pronouncing "orologio," the Italian word for clock. Then she would listen +as hard as ever she could, hoping the bronze figures would strike the hour +on the bell. + +But Andrea loved best the horses that stood above the entrance of the +church. In his little soul he almost worshiped the fiery steeds and loved +to fancy himself seated on their backs. He even went so far as to plan to +scale the wall in order to satisfy his ambition. + +"Sometime, I will do it," he used to say, as he struck a determined +attitude, and Maria would look at him with adoring eyes. How venturesome he +was! He was taller than she by half a head, and his added two years gave +him a place in dignity far above her. + +It was no wonder the boy should be so crazy over the great bronze steeds +when one remembers that Venice is practically horseless and that they were +almost the only ones he had ever seen. + +Perchance, even, as they talked, they would hear the flutter of wings, and +some half-dozen pigeons, with soft coos, would light on their shoulders. +Then Maria would laugh aloud with delight, and Andrea would forget his wild +dreams as they stroked the glossy wings and admired the bright eyes, all +the while feeding them dried peas or grain with which their mother never +forgot to see their pockets were supplied. + +If, by chance, they flung a handful on the ground, in a second there would +be a whole flock of pigeons, lighting on the pavement. + +Then Maria would clap her hands, and Andrea would have all he could do to +see that no bird, greedier than the rest, got more than its share. + +The children would be so absorbed that they would become quite unconscious +of the tourists that would gather to watch the pretty group, for Venice was +full of tourists in those days--people who came, even from far-off America, +to see the wonderful St. Mark's Square, and hard-hearted, indeed, was the +man or woman who could turn away without buying at least one bag of grain +from insistent vendors and join the children in feeding the pigeons. + +But I have not yet begun to tell the wonders of St. Mark's Square. This was +in June, 1910; the Campanile was being built to replace the old one that +had fallen in 1902, and to little Maria and Andrea, there was a fascination +in watching the workmen lift the great stones into place from the confused +debris at its base. + +If the Piazza was wonderful, so, too, was the piazzetta with the Ducal +Palace with the golden staircase and the two columns, the one surmounted +by the winged lion of St. Mark, the other by St. Theodore, standing on a +crocodile. + +Sometimes, after having wandered to the edge of the Grand Canal and looked +away to the blue dome of the church of Maria della Salute, they would run +back to the Square and, hand in hand, go window-wishing among the shops +that line its sides. No one who has never seen these shops of Venice can +form any conception of how fascinating they are with their strands of +glittering beads or yards upon yards of marvelous laces. + +Often Andrea would exclaim, as they flattened their noses against the +glass, "When I am a man, I will work in the glass factory as my father +does, and, perhaps, who knows, I shall discover some new glaze which shall +make all the world amazed?" He had never forgotten the day when his father +had taken him to the factory and shown him the molten glaze and the workmen +blowing the glass into marvelous shapes. That day he had decided upon his +future career. + +But little Maria cared more for the laces, and would shyly point to some +especially beautiful piece and say softly: + +"Perhaps, it was the madre who made that." + +Once she followed an American woman into the shop and stood by her side +watching her bargain for an exquisite collar. So intently she looked that +the woman turned and met her gaze, remarking to her companion: + +"Even the children have it in them--I mean the love for beautiful things; +and did you see her fingers?--any one could tell they were meant for +lace-making." + +Sometimes the children lingered so long in this way that the bronze figures +would strike twelve, and they would have to hurry back so as not to keep +old Paolo waiting for his noonday lunch. + +Then, in some little recess around the corner of the church, with countless +pigeons waiting for the crumbs, they would sit with him, sharing his frugal +meal. When they had finished, he would sometimes take them for a ride in +his shabby gondola on the Grand Canal, and on the way they would beg to +stop for just a moment at the famous well with two porphyry lions. Andrea +was tall enough to clamber by himself after the manner of young Venetians, +and nothing would do but Paolo must lift Maria, so she, too, would proudly +straddle one of the fierce figures. There they would sit while the old +caretaker would count the pigeons bathing and splashing in the water. + +But, better than anything else, the children liked to snuggle close to +their companion while he told them wonderful stories until it was time for +him to go back to work. + +While they watched with fascinated eyes, he would trace a diagram in the +pavement to show how the Grand Canal, in its wanderings, exactly describes +the letter "S." His eyes would glow as he told of the grandeur of Venice +in the time of the Doges, or cause the children to shudder at gruesome +accounts of how, in the olden time, the prisoners were thrown from the +Bridge of Sighs, into the water below. + +Perchance, he would tell of the wedding of the Adriatic and call Venice the +Bride of the Sea, or give a vivid account of how the body of St. Mark was +brought there in the long ago. + +In fact, his tales were so realistic, that it almost seemed as if he must +have been an eyewitness of every incident he narrated. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ANDREA'S WISH + + +Of all the old man's tales, there was not one the children liked so well as +the story of St. Mark's pigeons. + +It was strange that, as soon as he began to talk about them, there would be +heard the whirr, whirr of wings, and in an instant, countless birds would +light on every possible ledge, nestling among the statuary and filling the +air with the soft music of their coos. + +On this special day of which I am going to tell you, three of the very +prettiest flew straight into Maria's lap and settled there, to her delight, +with an air of proprietorship, while one particularly striking fellow +perched inquisitively on Andrea's shoulder. + +"See, Paolo," the boy cried, "isn't he--GREAT?" This was a new word that he +had caught from one of the American tourists and he was immensely proud +of having mastered its pronunciation. As he spoke, he pointed to the fine +glossy wings and the bill that arched so delicately at the point. + +"See," he cried again, calling attention to the iridescent colors, shining +green and purple in the sunshine, then sighed disconsolately. "I do wish he +belonged to me." And he stroked lovingly the feathered head. "I never have +had a pet of any kind." + +"Is it, then, a matter of such grief?" questioned the old caretaker, +surprised at the lad's desire. + +"Si," [Footnote: Yes.] he answered passionately, "I wish--oh, how I wish +that I might have one for my very own!"--and he held the captive pigeon +close against his cheek. "Do you understand?" + +Paolo's answer came slowly. He had not forgotten an incident in his own +boyhood when he had made a pet of a certain fledgling. It had been injured +in some way and would have died had it not been for the careful nursing his +rescuer bestowed. His eyes grew misty and, somewhat angrily, he hastily +drew his coarse sleeve over them that the children might not perceive his +weakness. It had been foolish enough to have grieved, as a child, because a +pet pigeon had been shot by some heartless fellow for a pot-pie, but, after +a lapse of over sixty years--He cleared his throat, then patted Andrea's +dark hair. + +"There is no reason why you should not have your wish. Patience! and the +next fledgling that falls from the nest shall be yours." + +"Grazie!" the boy cried joyfully; "mil grazie!" [Footnote: Thanks! A +thousand thanks!] And in a paroxysm of delight, he seized one of his good +friend's hands. + +Laughing, Paolo turned to Maria who had sat quietly all the while, fondling +the feathered creatures in her lap. + +"How about you, little one? Would you, too, like a pigeon of your own?" + +"No," she answered shyly, "I love them _all_ too much." And the soft coo, +coo-oo-oo from the lapful of birds seemed appreciative of her words. + +"Very well, my dear, it shall be as you wish, and now that I have it all +straight in my old head, what pleases each of you best, what say you, shall +I begin the story?" + +"Si! Si!" they cried in unison, settling back against the wall, anxious not +to lose a single syllable. + +"It was in the time of the Doge, Enrico Dandolo," he began, bending a +questioning look at his eager listeners; "of course, you know that in the +long ago, Venice was ruled by men who bore the title of Doge?" + +The children nodded assent, and he went on, impressively: + +"Dandolo was a great man. He was eighty years old at the time he came into +the office, and blind, as well, but he was not too old to undertake mighty +enterprises." + +"When was it he lived?" asked Andrea meditatively. + +"Oh, many, many years ago--I am inclined to think it must have been at +least five or six hundred." + +"Five or six hundred years ago!" repeated Andrea incredulously, his +childish mind refusing to compass so great a lapse of time. + +"Well--thereabouts," Paolo resumed, somewhat disturbed at the interruption; +"it was in the time of the crusades. Have you ever heard of the crusades, +my dear?" And he softly touched Maria's chin. Before she could reply, her +brother put in, proudly, "I know, they were wars to rescue the holy lands +from the--" he paused. + +"Infidels," supplied Paolo approvingly. "That's right." And any one seeing +the old man would surely have thought that he had himself fought against +the infidels, such fire shot from his eyes, and so tense became his +muscles. "It was in the Fourth Crusade that Venice played so mighty a +part." + +"Was Dandolo the leader?" asked Andrea, sitting bolt upright in his +excitement, and forgetting the pigeon which, loosed by the sudden movement, +escaped, and soared, with a quick spiral curve, to the blue sky. + +Regretfully, the child watched the flight, but settled back as Paolo went +on: + +"Old though he was, he was the hero of the whole expedition. Even the +French had no general to compare with him. And tell me, both of you, did +you ever see a picture of a Doge of Venice?" + +"I have!" Maria cried; "and he wore a coat all red and gold and a cap--" + +"Si! si!" the old man interrupted, almost beside himself with excitement; +"those were his robes of state, but in armor, and on horseback before the +walls of Constantinople! Ah, then he must have been magnifico!" + +"On horseback, did you say?" repeated Andrea, and his eyes wandered to the +bronze steeds the manes of which glistened in the sunlight. + +Paolo nodded, "And I have no doubt but that the one great Dandolo rode was +like those very horses; and, by the way, my lad, did you ever hear that +they were part of the spoils he brought from the East in triumph and placed +above our own St. Mark's?" + +Without allowing Andrea time to comment on the amazing fact, he went on, +still more excitedly; + +"It is said that Dandolo, great as he was, would not have been able to +take the city had it not been for a messenger pigeon that brought him most +important information. Nor is that all the part the brave birds played at +this great time, for it was no other than some of our own fine homers that +conveyed the first news of glorious victory to Venice. Hence it was, that +when the Doge returned, in triumph, he issued a proclamation that the +pigeons should evermore be held in reverence." + +Paolo paused, well-nigh exhausted by his enthusiasm, and, reaching over, +laid his withered hand on the birds that still cooed contentedly in Maria's +lap. + +"It's no wonder they're so tame when every one has been loving them for the +last five or six hundred years!" she murmured. + +"Paolo!" Andrea suddenly asked, with sparkling eyes, "do you suppose that +we can teach my pigeon to carry messages?" + +"I shouldn't be surprised," replied the old caretaker, entering into the +lad's enthusiasm; "they're as intelligent now as they ever were. All they +need is the training. It's funny how their little heads can hold so much." + +Reaching over, he took one of the birds from Maria's lap and pointed to the +bulge just above the tiny ear: + +"Some people say that's where their sense of direction is located, but you +can't convince me it isn't in their hearts. It's the love they have +for their homes that makes 'em fly from any distance straight to their +nesting-places. I've noticed that a good homing pigeon has bright eyes, and +a stout heart, not to mention a keen sense of direction, and strong wings +to carry him long distances, but more than all else, there must be the love +of home." + +Andrea had lost not a syllable of what the old man said. For a long time +he had secretly cherished the desire to own one of the pretty fluttering +creatures, but not, until now, had the possibility occurred to him that he +might teach one to carry messages. + +Long after Paolo had returned to his duties in the church, the boy sat +watching the clouds of pigeons circling above, or flying double (bird and +shadow), against the walls of the church. + +He had made up his mind that as soon as Paolo fulfilled his promise, he +would begin to train his fledgling. + +"There's no knowing," he cried eagerly to Maria, "what important messages +my bird will carry!" + +In reply she only smiled--it was enough for her that the pigeons loved to +have her stroke them as they nestled in her lap. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MARIA'S BIRTHDAY + + +Andrea was so possessed with his idea that he ran every step of the way +home that afternoon, climbed up the narrow dark stairs, two steps at a +time, and burst upon his mother in such excitement that she feared some +misfortune had befallen the children. + +"What is it?" she cried, looking up from the stiff porridge she was mixing, +"are you hurt?--and Maria--where is she?" + +"Nothing has happened," was the breathless answer; "that is, nothing +dreadful, and Maria is behind with Paolo. It is only--" his dark cheeks +flushed. "It is only that he has promised me a pigeon of my own!" + +"Is that all?" Greatly relieved, his mother turned again to the polenta. +[Footnote: Cake, or thick porridge made of maize.] What a child he was, to +be sure, to be so pleased at the idea of the possession of a pigeon! + +"But, madre," he protested, "I am going to train it to carry messages. +There's no knowing what _my_ pigeon will do!" + +"Si! Si!" She replied absently as she turned to see if the charcoal was +right for the baking. + +It was a mean little house, at least so it would seem to most American +children--just three rooms overlooking one of the side canals, and over +a fish shop. It was built of brick (no one knew, how long ago), and was +wedged in between others, of exactly the same type. + +But it was home, and whatever else it lacked, it had a front window, with +shutters, and a balcony with an iron railing, and when tucked up in their +beds at night, in the tiny dark alcove, the children could hear the soft +swish of the water against the embankment. + +In spite of the window, even the best room was never very light, and only +an occasional streak of sunshine found its way in, but on those rare +occasions it fell upon the choicest treasure of the home, a rude colored +print of the Virgin, in a modest shrine, hung with gilded fringe. On the +shelf above, Luisa took care to see that a lamp was ever burning, and on +the table before it stood always a tiny vase of fresh flowers. What matter, +that the carpet was old, and the furniture worn, the Virgin's shrine was +there! + +Unconsciously, the children trod gently in this room, and their +laughter was subdued, but in the kitchen--ah, there, their spirits were +unrestrained. + +Maria was not long behind her brother, but the scampi,[Footnote: Fish.] +were already frying in the pan, before Giovanni, in his working shirt, +appeared in the doorway, hungry and ready for his dinner. + +"Padre! Padre!" cried Andrea; "only guess--the pet I am to have!" Then, +with scarcely an instant's pause, he went on, in a shrill voice, "A pigeon, +padre, isn't that--GREAT?" + +"Well, well!" Giovanni answered, taking his seat at the head of the table, +"and so you are to have a pigeon for a pet. I might have guessed anything +else--a parrot, a little singing bird, or perhaps, a couple of grilli +[Footnote: Crickets.] in a tiny cage, but a pigeon! Why, you play with them +all day long on St. Mark's Square." + +"But that is not like having one of one's own," the boy protested. + +He made a gesture of disgust. "A parrot, a singing bird, a couple of +grilli! What was his father thinking of?" and in another moment he was +explaining how he would train his bird to be a carrier pigeon, and how +bright its eyes would be, and how strong its wings, until his father +laughed and declared himself convinced that it would be the most wonderful +thing in all the world to own a pigeon. + +The fish had quite disappeared from the platter when Giovanni again spoke: + +"To-morrow is the Sabbath, and it is the little Maria's birthday--what say +you?"--he addressed himself particularly to Luisa--"shall we go to the +Lido?" + +To the Lido! The children's eyes sparkled. There was nothing they loved +more to do than to play on the sand at the Lido. + +"Si!" Luisa answered with ready acquiescence; "and on the way let us spend +a little time at the Accademia--it has been long since I have seen the +pictures of the great Titian and even Maria is quite old enough." + +So it was settled, and the children talked of nothing else the rest of the +evening, dropping off to sleep without once giving a thought to the lapping +of the water. + +When they woke, it was late; their mother had been up for a long time, +getting everything ready for the day's excursion. Already the lunch-basket +was packed, and as soon as the children were dressed and the breakfast +eaten, it was time to start. + +At first, Andrea walked with his mother, insisting upon carrying +the basket, but after a little his arms became weary and, without +expostulation, he allowed his father to take it from him, while he ran +joyfully ahead, eager to catch a glimpse of the bronze horses, and dabble +his fingers a few moments in the well with the bathing pigeons. + +As for Maria, she was most conscious of the fact that she was six years +old, and with shining eyes walked carefully by her mother's side. She wore +a string of gay beads about her neck (a birthday gift from her father) and +red tassels dangled bewitchingly from the tops of her new shoes. + +It was only a ten-minutes walk from St. Mark's to the Accademia, and after +a number of turns through one narrow calle after another, they came to the +bridge that led directly to the entrance. + +Maria was awed at the imposing doorway, but Andrea, boylike, marched in +unabashed, and, after a cursory glance in various directions, declared +himself ready to leave. He would far rather be outdoors and could scarcely +wait to get on to the Lido. + +"Not so soon, my lad, there is much that you should see." And, taking him +by the hand, Giovanni led him into a great room with two immense pictures. +One was the Assumption of the Virgin by the great Titian and before it even +restless Andrea was stilled, feeling a little of the spell that has made of +this place a world shrine for all lovers of art--the wonderful figure of +the Virgin, in billowy robes, rising to heaven, while countless angels, +each one seeming more adorable than the other, seem to bear her up in her +glad flight. + +"Listen," Luisa whispered, "do you not hear them singing 'Halleleujah'?" + +There were other pictures in the same room, and one especially that +interested Andrea. It was Tintoretto's Miracle of St. Mark, and he listened +attentively as his father told the story: + +How a certain pious slave, forbidden to visit and venerate the house of St. +Mark, disobeyed the command and went, notwithstanding. His master, angered, +ordered that the poor fellow's eyes be put out. But lo, a miracle stayed +the hands of those who were sent to carry out the cruel sentence. The slave +was freed, and his master converted. + +Then Luisa led Maria into another room, saying: + +"Here is the picture I most wanted you to see, for you are named for the +blessed Virgin. Have you not heard how, when Mary was scarcely more than a +child, she was taken to the temple and consecrated to the service of the +church?" + +Maria shook her head; her childish heart was full; and with solemn eyes she +looked long and earnestly at the little girl, with tightly braided hair, +slowly mounting the long flight of steps to the high priest who, though he +seemed stern and austere, held out his hand in kindly greeting. + +Long Maria lingered, noticing every detail, the blue dress, the lighted +taper, the halo round the head, and she was loath to leave, even when her +father came to the door, and her mother said gently: + +"Come, we must be off, if we would be at the Lido for our lunch." + +Soon they were in the steamer which chugged so merrily that Andrea forgot +all about the pictures he had seen in his interest in watching the wheels +go around and the white foam in the vessel's wake, but Maria sat in a kind +of dream until they reached the landing. + +Then, in the hurry that ensued and the many distractions on the shore, the +picture of the brave little girl, for the time, faded from her mind, and +she, too, gave herself up with undisguised pleasure to the fascinations of +the Lido. + +It is a strip of shore extending along the mouth of the Lagoon and forming +a bulwark of Venice against the Adriatic. It was here that the wedding +ceremony was performed in the long ago, and the view is most beautiful from +this point. + +They sat on a bench in front of the Aquarium to eat their luncheon, and the +children could scarcely wait to finish, they were so eager to press their +noses against the glass and watch the funny creatures swimming in the +tanks. Maria clapped her hands and declared the best of all were the +sea-horses--"Cavalli marini," she called them. + +Then, what a glorious afternoon they had on the smooth beach, hunting for +shells and digging in the sand. How Andrea laughed when his father took him +away out and let the breakers roll over him. Then Maria, holding tight to +her brother's hand, who still seemed much bigger and stronger, even if this +was her birthday, ventured far into the waves. + +Much too quickly the happy hours sped, and before they knew it it was six +o'clock. + +All the way home on the steamer Andrea held tightly to the dried starfish +he had found on the sand, while Maria was the happiest child in Venice, +with a brooch made from the pearl shell of the Lido, which Luisa called +"fior di mare," or flower of the sea. + +As they stumbled sleepily across the Square in the darkening twilight, +holding fast to the hands of their mother and father, their ears failed to +catch the faint cheep of a baby bird in distress, and they reached home +entirely unaware of the tragedy that had happened in pigeon-land. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CHICO + + +When Paolo called for the children Monday morning, there was an air of +mystery about him that was distinctly puzzling. Then, too, he walked +unusually fast, so that Andrea found it difficult to keep up with him, +and finally demanded curiously, "What's the matter?" without, however, +receiving any answer. + +"What's the matter?" echoed Maria, falling behind after a futile effort to +keep up, Paolo slackened his pace with a laconic "Wait and see," that was +even more mystifying. + +On reaching the Piazza, his manner showed still greater excitement. + +"Venite!" [Footnote: "come here"] he exclaimed, leading the way to a small +shed back of the church where he was accustomed to keep his tools. + +"Venite!" he repeated, entering by a rear into the gloomy interior. + +It was several moments before the eyes of the children became sufficiently +accustomed to the dim light to really see what was being pointed out. High +above their heads was a small window, close to which had been placed a +wooden box. + +The old man stopped a moment, listened, reached up his hand, then drew it +back with an air of satisfaction, while the youngsters, fascinated, watched +without in the least surmising what it was all about. + +With a finger on his lips to enjoin silence, he suddenly seized Andrea and +raised him to the level of the window ledge. + +"There!" he cried, "don't be afraid. Put your hand into the box." + +As the boy timidly obeyed, he went on, "Now tell me, what do you feel? +Speak!" + +The frightened look on Andrea's face gave way, first to one of +mystification, then to an expression of joy as his hand touched something +warm: + +"L'uccello!" [Footnote: The bird.] he cried; then, in an ecstasy of +delight, "Is it mine?" + +Paolo nodded, and, after putting the boy down on the floor, gently lifted +Maria so that she, too, might put her fingers into the nest he had made for +the fledgling he had found on the pavement the evening before. + +"It's a baby pigeon," she softly murmured. + +"Si! Si!" the old caretaker declared, delighted at the sensation he had +caused, "I came across him all huddled up by yonder column." + +"And may I really have him?" queried Andrea, finding it hard to realize +that he had gained his heart's desire. + +"Why not? I doubt if the old birds will even notice he has gone. You +know when the mother has other eggs to take her attention, she gives the +fledglings into the care of the father bird, and it isn't very long before +he pushes them out to shift for themselves. There is no reason why this +particular one should not belong to you: in fact, I imagine he's a bit +lonesome in this strange place, though, to be sure, I did all I could to +make him comfortable, with a wisp of hay and a few dried sticks, but, at +best, I'm not much of a nest-maker. Come now, would you like to have a look +at him?" + +"Si! Si!" the children cried together. And with that Paolo, after lighting +a bit of discarded candle and giving it to Andrea to hold, stretched up and +took the pigeon from the nest. + +In the flickering light the children bent lovingly over the little +fluttering thing in the old man's hand; they had never before seen a young +bird at such close range and they looked with wonder at the soft, shapeless +body, the big eyes, the ugly bill, wide open in insistent demand for food. + +"May I give him a crumb to eat?" asked Andrea in an odd tone. + +"Si," was the ready assent; "I expect he's hungry enough, with no one to +wait on him. By the way, did you ever see a baby pigeon fed?" + +The children shook their heads and listened most eagerly as the old man +went on: + +"This is a matter in which both father and mother take a hand, and the +first food is a liquid secreted in their crops and called 'pigeons' milk.' +When mealtime comes, the parents open wide their beaks, the little birds +thrust in their bills, and the fun begins. I tell you it takes a great deal +of effort and bobbing of heads for Baby Pigeon to get a satisfactory meal." + +"How can we--ever--feed him?" Andrea anxiously interrupted, as if he felt +that his charge might prove somewhat of a responsibility. + +"Don't worry," was the comforting response as Paolo nodded his wise old +head; "he may not be able to shift for himself, but I am willing to wager +he will manage to eat whatever you offer him. You see this particular +kind of infant food only lasts a few days; after that the milk gradually +thickens and becomes mixed with bits of grain. Almost before he knows +it, Baby Pigeon is independent of his parents and eats quite as if fully +grown." + +With that the old caretaker held out a piece of cracked wheat to the +fledgling who devoured it greedily and opened his beak for more. + +The children laughed aloud and clapped their hands in glee, continuing +to feed him until Paolo declared the bird had had a royal breakfast and +carefully replaced him in the nest. + +Then, with Andrea on one side and Maria holding tightly to the other hand, +he led them out of the shed and into the bright sunshine. + +They stopped for a moment under the window for a lingering glance upward +while Paolo called their attention to the dry-goods box he had placed on +end for their special convenience. + +"By standing on this," he explained, "you can get on a level with the nest +without being dependent on me." + +All the morning the children hung around the shed, delighted when there +was an occasional sound from the nest above, and from time to time they +clambered up to whisper soft nothings to the sharp ears of Baby Pigeon. + +At noon, when eating their luncheon, they plied the old caretaker with +questions some of which, it must be confessed, taxed all his ingenuity to +answer satisfactorily. + +"How long will it be before I can begin to train him?" interrupted Andrea, +on fire with his desire at once to realize his ambition. + +Paolo laughed. "One question at a time. I notice some soft down already +beginning to show, so I fancy it will not be many weeks until he can boast +as much in the way of fine clothes as his own father and mother. As for his +training, it's quite too soon to think of that; so, my boy, you will have +to possess your soul in patience for a while longer. By the way, your bird +should have a name. Have you any in mind?" + +"Not yet, although I've been thinking about that very thing," Andrea +answered meditatively; "no name seems good enough." + +"I think 'bambino' would be nice," suggested Maria; "he's such a darling +baby." + +"Si, but he will soon be grown up" put in Andrea; "I was wondering how +Marco would do." + +"Well, I don't say it wouldn't do," Paolo answered reflectively; "but it +seems to me something like 'caro' or 'amato' [Footnote: Dear--beloved] +might be appropriate for such a pet." + +Andrea shook his head. And, after again racking his brain in an effort to +suggest a really appropriate name, the old man finally slapped his hand on +his side: + +"It just comes to me this instant, something I heard one of those touristas +call a little curly dog by. At the time it occurred to me that it sounded +more like a name for a pigeon." + +"What was it?" Andrea inquired eagerly. + +"Chico," Paolo answered, lingering on the first syllable, exactly as the +tourista had done--"Chee-ko." + +Andrea was charmed, agreeing that there was something about it that seemed +to suit a saucy pigeon, and, vastly pleased, he repeated over and over, +"Chico, Chico," while Maria echoed softly "Chee-ko." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE MEANEST CAT IN VENICE + + +It is hard to imagine a more forlorn experience in the life of a young bird +than to be suddenly pushed from the nest and find himself alone on a hard +pavement. It is bad enough when it happens as the result of premeditation +on the part of an unfeeling parent who has made up his mind that his +offspring are quite able to shift for themselves, but, when it occurs from +accident, it is nothing short of tragic. + +Poor Chico, this was what had happened to him, and he had huddled, +shivering, close to the column of St. Theodore and tried in vain to reason +everything out in his pigeon mind. Many things had happened of late that he +had not been able to understand. His mother, hitherto most attentive to his +sister and himself, had suddenly ceased feeding them with the nice soft +food they loved so well, at the same time refusing to cuddle them under her +warm breast. + +He remembered vaguely hearing her impatiently coo to his father, that _he_ +would have to look out for the fledglings, her duty was to the eggs. At the +time he hadn't understood what she meant by eggs, although once or twice he +had caught a glimpse of two white oval things under her breast which she +seemed to be dreadfully proud of. + +It wouldn't have been so bad if his father had been as affectionate as +usual, but, on the contrary, he had treated his sister and himself as if +they were in the way, and it was easy to see Father Pigeon would have +greatly preferred crowding on the nest with his mate to getting food for +two greedy fledglings. + +In fact, that was how the accident had happened. Chico had been so +unfortunate as to get in the way, with the result that he had been pushed +out and had fallen to the ground. + +Poor little naked fledgling, he had shivered and huddled close to the +friendly column, for, even in summer, the breeze from the Adriatic often +blows fresh and cool. + +He had just begun to wonder how he should get anything to eat, when +suddenly a shadow had come over him, causing him to crouch low in even, +greater terror, while his heart thumped horribly, but before he could utter +a sound he had been seized by a big warm hand, and a voice that was not +unkindly had exclaimed: + +"Did the little pigeon fall from the nest?" + +In the warm comfort of Paolo's hand the bird had forgotten his fear, and +his little heart had ceased to thump as he reflected this must be a human, +and his mother had always taught him that "humans" were kind to birds in +St. Mark's Square. So, with a feeling akin to confidence, he had allowed +himself to be carried somewhere he did not know, and deposited In what he +supposed was meant for a nest, although it was not bit like the nice, soft +one to which he had accustomed. + +He had even managed to eat a crumb or two, and, in spite of the fact that +he was very lonely without his sister to keep him company, he had finally +succeeded in going to sleep. + +In the morning the big hand had grasped him again and had shown him to two +long-legged creatures who he had guessed were human children, because they +looked much as his mother had described them in one of her favorite lullaby +coos. He had not been afraid of them, but, flattered by their delighted +exclamations, had eaten everything they had offered him. + +By the time the second night had come, Chico had so far become accustomed +to his strange surroundings that he slept almost as well as if he had been +under his mother's wings. + +He was still dreaming when he heard a voice call, "Chico, Chico--are you +still there, Chico?" + +He roused instantly, reminded of his friends who had given him his +breakfast the morning before. + +He raised his head. There was a sound of other little feet climbing upon +the dry-goods box, and a softer voice called, "Chico, Chico!" + +Still he made no movement, listening while the children speculated as to +whether or not their pet had been spirited away during the night. + +"Chico! Chico!" There was something so pleading in the boy's voice that the +baby pigeon thrust his open bill out of the window on the ledge. + +"He's here, he's here!" Andrea shouted, almost losing his balance in his +excitement, but he saved himself in time to put a bit of cracked wheat into +the wide-open mouth. It was greedily swallowed and the open bill demanded +more. This performance was repeated until the boy's supply was exhausted. +Then the bill was withdrawn, and Chico disappeared from view. But between +the boy and the bird had been established a bond that would never be +broken. From that time on, Chico was his pigeon in every sense of the word, +and, at Andrea's first call, the greedy bill would immediately appear. + +So it went on, until one bright morning, when the children turned the +corner of the church, they found Chico, perched on the window ledge, faking +a sun-bath and waiting for his friends. + +My! what excitement there was! Andrea could scarcely wait to climb up on +the box, and was delighted when Chico cocked his head on one side and +actually permitted his caresses. + +"Bambino!" murmured Maria; "dear little baby bird. Oh, see! he's actually +getting feathers!" + +It was true, the soft down with which he was covered in some places was +beginning to give way to the first pin feathers, his bill did not seem +so awkwardly large, and the soft, shapeless body already showed signs of +developing future grace. + +After this Chico was always waiting for the children, and would cock his +head on one side when he saw them coming, uttering little squeaky noises +that did not sound in the least like cooing. All the time his feathers were +growing and his wings becoming stronger. + +Then came a day when Paolo declared that Chico must have his first lesson +in flying, and the children watched, with abated breath, as the old man +took the bird from his nest and placed him on the pavement, at the same +time stationing himself at a little distance and holding an enticing +morsel. At first the baby pigeon flopped aimlessly about when, suddenly, +Maria caught Andrea's arm, whispering excitedly, "He's going to do it, oh, +he's going to do it!" and, miracle of miracles! after awkwardly raising +one wing and then another, he actually mastered the first lesson and, in +consequence, was treated to a royal breakfast. It was a great exertion, +and, after satisfying his hunger, he then and there closed his weary eyes +and took a nap on the pavement, much to Paolo's amusement. + +"Well," he exclaimed, "it's the first time I ever taught a bird to fly. One +never knows what one can do until one tries." + +After that not a day passed that Chico did not make short flights, to +Andrea from Maria, and from her to the old man's shoulder, until, one +morning, he greatly amazed them by flying into his own window box. + +Gaining confidence, Chico must have had it in his pigeon mind one morning +to fly from his nest and greet his friends upon the pavement. But alas, he +miscalculated his strength, even as human beings often do, and while he +spread his wings most boldly, he lost his balance and fell ignominiously to +the ground. That would not of itself have been so bad, for, like children +learning to walk, baby pigeons must have many a disaster before the art of +flying is completely mastered, but, by some strange chance, it happened +that a lean tortoise-shell kitten was prowling about one of the side +streets and at that moment poked her head into St. Mark's Square. Now, in +Venice, there are very few cats--in fact, because of the esteem in which +pigeons are held, they are not popular pets. More than that, they are +positively prohibited from St. Mark's Square, as any well-trained feline +should know. + +Where this cat came from, and to whom she belonged, ever remained a +mystery, but as she curiously poked her head into the forbidden precinct +she caught sight of Chico, lying stunned and helpless from his fall. Here +was her chance. Straightway flinging caution to the winds, with a quick +spring she landed full upon the trembling bird, at the same time seizing +him with her paws and burying her cruel teeth in his tender flesh. + +What would have been the result I shudder to reflect, had not Andrea at +that moment appeared upon the scene. With a scream of terror he rushed +forward, clapping his hands and making such an outcry that the kitten, +frightened, dropped her prey and disappeared down the side street from +which she had ventured. + +When Paolo arrived on the scene a few moments later he found Andrea, +well-nigh distracted, hugging his wounded pet to his breast, and whispering +over and over again: + +"Chico, Chico, you mustn't die--you mustn't die!" + +It took Paolo but a few moments to assure himself that Chico was not +seriously hurt, although he bore the scar made by the cruel claws for many +a day, and it was weeks before he dared again to try the flight from his +nest to the pavement. + +As for the cat, although the old caretaker sallied forth vowing vengeance, +she was never again seen. + +Soon it was time for the children to go to school in the old building +situated some distance from St. Mark's, not far from the Rialto. + +There was now only time in the morning for a brief visit with Chico before +lessons began, and a hurried half-hour with him at luncheon. Hence the +moments after four o'clock and the full holiday on Saturday were most +precious, and on those occasions no one was happier than Chico, flying from +one to another, and usually ending by perching coquettishly on Andrea's +shoulder. + +"There isn't a pigeon in Venice to compare with him," remarked Andrea, +lovingly touching the daintily arched bill, and looking into the clear +eyes. "Tell me, Paolo, did you ever see so fine a bird?" + +In answer the old man thoughtfully stretched out the well-shaped wings, +saying, as the colors shone iridescent green and blue in the sunshine: +"They're as beautiful as any wings I ever saw, and better than that, +they're strong. Wings like that can carry a pigeon any distance. Yes," he +continued, more to himself than to the children, "if he's to be a homer, it +seems to me it's full time to begin his training." + +Andrea started in an ecstasy of delight. + +"Do you mean it, Paolo? Do you really mean it?" + +The old man nodded. "Yes, and if you have no objections, we'll give him the +first lesson next Saturday morning." + +As if surmising that he was the subject of discussion, Chico flew back to +Andrea's shoulder, where he coo-ooed blissfully, while Paolo unfolded to +his eager listeners the details as he had planned them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TRAINING + + +As a first step he had secured a wicker basket with a close-fitting cover +which roused the liveliest curiosity and caused Andrea to ask, doubtfully: + +"What has a basket to do with teaching a pigeon?" + +"Just about everything," the old man wisely replied. "By carrying the bird +in a dark basket to the place from which he is to make his flight, he will +have no way of acquainting himself with the direction in which he traveled, +and, when released, must depend entirely upon his homing instinct." + +"Chico won't like being shut up in a dark prison," interrupted Maria, +stretching up to caress the glossy neck; "it's like being blindfolded." + +"Perhaps not," was the rejoinder, "but if he is going to be trained to be a +faithful homer, he will have to spend a good deal of time in the same dark +prison. It's part of the discipline of his life." As he finished, he began +tracing figures on the pavement, and the children, wondering still more, +watched him, fascinated. + +"There's no doubt," he mused, more to himself than to his listeners, "but +that he could find his way from such near-by points as the Ducal Palace and +the Bridge of Sighs--I'm disposed to take him farther away for his first +trial--say to the Rialto." + +"Bene! bene!" [Footnote: Good! good!] shouted Andrea, clapping his hands. + +"Then," continued the old man, without paying any attention to the +interruption, "if he does well from such distances as that, we'll gradually +take him farther away--perhaps to the Lido and--" + +"To the Lido," repeated Andrea, to whom this seemed a great distance. "Do +you think he could find his way from there?" + +"Without the least difficulty," was the answer, "and within a few weeks, +unless I miss my guess; after a while we'll have to arrange to try him from +other parts of Italy--Milan, for instance." + +"Milan! Other parts of Italy!" The children found it hard to fancy cooing +little Chico finding his way home from distant cities, and in spite +of himself, Andrea's eyes filled with tears, as he faltered, +"I--wouldn't--want--him to get--lost!" + +"Not much danger of that, I fancy. If he doesn't fall down on the easy +flights, he'll be able to take the longer ones. + +"Why, lad," Paolo went on kindly, touched by the boy's dejection, "if you +want Chico to be a real homing pigeon, you must expect him to run some +risks. Don't you remember Dandolo's bird that carried the glad news from +Constantinople?" + +Andrea nodded, doubtfully. While he had thought much of the possible glory +Chico might gain as a faithful messenger, for the first time he trembled +lest, in realizing the ambition, the safety of the bird might be +endangered. Thoughts of possible perils filled his mind with foreboding, +but he didn't wish Paolo to think he was turning the white feather, so he +swallowed hard and forced himself to say: + +"I guess it will be all right." + +"All right! I should say it would be," was the hearty response; "and just +remember, my boy, if you expect your bird to have a stout heart you must +keep up your own courage." + +At last Saturday came, the day Paolo had set for the training to begin. +Andrea was so excited he had no appetite for breakfast and would have +rushed from the house without a mouthful if Luisa had not insisted that +he eat at least one piece of the hot polenta. But that was all--he almost +bolted it whole, and, without waiting for Paolo, was out of the house and +in St. Mark's Square at least half an hour earlier than ever before. + +Not that it was much satisfaction, for hardhearted Paolo had carefully +placed the pigeon in the basket the night before, saying as he secured the +cover: + +"He must not be allowed his freedom until we reach the Rialto, then he will +be hungry and doubly anxious to reach home." + +"Can't we give him anything to eat?" Andrea asked anxiously. + +"Not a morsel!" was the stern reply. "If he is to be trained at all, it +must be done right. Come, children, give me your promise not to interfere." + +"We won't," they answered in unison, and though Andrea still thought +the treatment very harsh, he dared not again raise his voice in further +protest. + +It seemed very forlorn not to find Chico waiting on his window ledge +when he turned the corner of the church, and with heart aching for the +imprisoned bird, he entered the dark little shed and looked anxiously for +the basket. There it was, in the corner where Paolo had left it, but, as he +called once, and then again, there was no answering "coo." + +Andrea's heart sank; perhaps the bird was sick. Beset by anxious thoughts +he crossed the room, took the basket in his hand and held it to his ear. +Not a sound! Genuinely frightened, he regretted bitterly that he had +ever wished the bird trained. Why had he not been content with him as he +was--the most beautiful bird in St. Mark's Square? + +Turning the basket about, he looked it all over carefully. There was a +slight stir. He breathed a sigh of relief, then joyfully caught his breath +as he suddenly discovered two bright eyes looking straight at him through +one of the cracks. + +"Chico!" he cried joyfully; "Chico! Are you all right?" Placing his ear to +the wicker prison, he caught a faint answering "coo," and a minute later +the very tip of the bird's bill found its way through one of the cracks. It +was heartrending, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that Andrea +restrained himself from tearing off the cover of the basket and feeding +his hungry pet, but he had given his promise, so he was obliged to content +himself with holding the basket close to his cheek and murmuring soft words +into the responsive ears of the prisoner. + +So Paolo found him. Andrea started guiltily as the old caretaker stepped in +the door, but drew himself up proudly at the sharp inquiry: + +"Is it possible that you are feeding Chico?" + +"No," was the quick reply, "I am only talking to him. Surely there isn't +any harm in that!" + +"No harm at all," the old man answered; "and now I propose to take him to +the Rialto and there give him his freedom, while you wait here and see +if he knows enough to come home. Notice the time by the big clock; if he +returns promptly, you may reward him with a good breakfast and plenty of +water to drink, for he will be thirsty." + +Andrea's face lighted up with joy. He had a pocket full of choice morsels, +and, with a happy face, watched Paolo set out, carefully holding the basket +with its precious load, while he and Maria settled themselves to await +developments. + +The Rialto is one of the busiest spots in all Venice; especially is it +so at this time in the morning, for hither come the black boats from the +island laden with fruits and vegetables to provision the city. On +every side, amid the jostling throngs of people, one sees mountains of +watermelons, piles of garlic, old scows and worn-out gondolas, heaped with +all manner of strange-looking fish. Crossing over the bridge to the end +where the jewelers have their shops, and elbowing through the crowd of +young girls and matrons, with their gay-colored handkerchiefs and strands +of bright beads, Paolo came to a more secluded quarter. Here he stopped, +and, with careful deliberation, lifted the cover of the basket, saying as +he laid his hand affectionately on Chico's glossy head, "Now fly, my bird, +straight to your house!" + +Without a moment's delay Chico was out of his prison and with a quick, +spiral curve had soared into the blue Venetian sky. Pausing for an +imperceptible instant, as though in search of some familiar object, he was +off in the direction of St. Mark's Square. + +In the meantime Andrea and Maria waited impatiently enough. They knew it +would take time for Paolo to reach his destination, for the old man's steps +were not as quick as they had once been. And then the awful thought would +come that Chico might not fly straight home--might be beguiled elsewhere +for some reason. + +Full well Andrea knew how much depended upon this first flight. + +Just as the figures on the great clock struck the hour of ten there was a +whirr of wings. An arrow of silver shot through the air, and in another +instant Chico was in his nest. + +"Urra! Urra!" the boy shouted, throwing his cap into the air; then +boisterously seizing his pet, "You did it, you did it! Chico, old bird! My, +but I'm proud of you!" Then remembering that Paolo had said there would be +a message concealed about the bird's leg, his hand felt for the closely +wound bit of tissue paper, and tense with excitement he shouted aloud +Chico's first message: + +"Evviva Italia!" [Footnote: Long live Italy!] + +Again he hugged his pet until he suddenly discovered a hungry bill in his +pocket, and he remembered that Chico hadn't had his breakfast. + +When Paolo arrived upon the scene, puffing from his unaccustomed exertion, +he found Chico greedily eating while Maria was still repeating, "Viva +Italia!" + +Upon comparing his watch with the clock Paolo's delight knew no bounds at +finding that Chico had made the flight in one minute and a half, fully one +half a minute shorter time than Paolo had allowed. + +"Bene! bene!" he cried excitedly, "I told you he had the points of a good +homing pigeon. All he needs is training." Then, laying his hand on Andrea's +shoulder, he added, "My boy, you have a bird of which you may well be +proud." + +While he was thus under discussion Chico, seemingly unconscious that he had +done anything at all remarkable, with his crop fairly bulging with the good +things which he had eaten, perched serenely on the window ledge diligently +preening his feathers. + +This was but the first of many flights: the next time it was Paolo who +stayed to watch the nest while Andrea set off, carrying the bird in his +basket. He was especially delighted because the Colleoni statue was his +destination, for there was no place in Venice (except the Piazza of St. +Mark's) which possessed a greater fascination for him than the Campo of +Giovanni e Paolo. The sight of the stalwart figure of Colleoni in his coat +of mail astride the splendid steed never failed to rouse in his young heart +the fires of ambition. + +"It's a great thing, Chico!" he exclaimed, peering through the cracks at +the bright eyes--"a great thing to be so brave and do so much for Venice. +Perhaps, who knows, you and I may do as much some day." + +With that he loosed the prisoner who straightway flew into the air, and +after gracefully circling for an instant around the statue, without further +hesitation was off and was soon a mere speck in the blue sky. + +Once the boy had the felicity of keeping Chico in his home all night. Then +nothing would do but Luisa must admire his fine plumage, and his father +must declare that he was quite the finest pigeon he had ever seen. It took +the combined force of the family to consider what message they should send +old Paolo in the morning, and, after a great deal of discussion, Giovanni's +stiff old hand penned the simple words on a bit of paper: + +"Buon giorno!" + +So the days passed; every few mornings Chico essayed some new flight until +Paolo declared he was satisfied that the bird knew his way perfectly within +a certain radius and must now venture farther from home. After this it was +not so easy, and on several occasions Chico had adventures that tried even +his stout little heart, and brought many an hour of anxiety to his friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DANGER AHEAD! + + +The earnest little fellow carrying his bird in a basket was now a familiar +object in Venice and attracted much attention from tourists and bystanders +who often collected in little groups to watch the graceful flights. To some +it was the subject of jest, and to them it seemed nothing short of folly to +spend so much time in the training of a pigeon, while others were loud in +exclamations of delight. + +"Bello! Bello Colombo! [Footnote: Beautiful! Beautiful pigeon!] He's a +mighty fine bird, my boy!" + +As for Chico, one could see that he greatly enjoyed his experience. He no +longer showed resentment at being shut up in the basket, but evidently +considered that a necessary prelude to his glorious flights. + +One morning Andrea set out for the Arsenal, which is, as every one +acquainted with the city knows, one of the show places of Venice. In the +olden days, when the Venetians were first in the art of shipbuilding, it +was the working spring of their strength, their enemies looking upon +the stronghold with envious eyes as symbolizing her supremacy over the +Adriatic, and even now there was always a large number of strangers in its +vicinity. + +Andrea approached and took his station, near one of the two great lions +that guard the entrance. He was accosted by a well-dressed Austrian: + +"What have you there, my boy? Anything to sell?" + +"No, signore," was the quick reply. But Andrea, intent upon his mission, +felt vaguely disturbed, liking neither the looks of the man nor the tone of +his inquiry. + +Silently and with evident envy the man watched the pigeon's joyous spiral; +then he again addressed the boy: + +"Come, now, what will you take for him! Twenty lire! [Footnote: A lire in +ordinary times is worth about twenty cents.] A. hundred? You must admit +that is a high price for a pigeon when it would be so easy a matter to +replace him. There are hundreds of pigeons in Venice." + +"He is not for sale!" Andrea answered curtly, wishing the man would leave +him alone. + +The stranger turned sullenly, not liking to be baffled, muttering under his +breath, "That bird would be worth any amount of money to me if I could but +secure him for the War Department in Vienna!" + +As for Chico his troubles for the day had only begun. By chance he flew +somewhat lower than was usual with him, and thus attracted the attention of +a shabby, ill-looking fellow who with gun in hand was wandering about the +side streets, hoping he might be so fortunate as to get a shot at some fat +pigeon for a pot-pie. + +After a quick glance to be sure no sharpnosed guard was in sight, he raised +his gun and fired. Startled by the report Chico quickened his flight, and +the bullet whizzed past merely grazing one wing and inflicting a slight +wound on his left leg. The pain, however, was sharp and caused him to slow +down, so that he did not reach his destination until some time after Andrea +had returned, much to the anxiety of his friends. + +When he finally fluttered, exhausted, into the nest, the old caretaker +caught sight of the bloodstain, and exclaimed in alarm, "Chico, my bird, +what happened?" while Andrea, fairly beside himself, mourned as he stroked +his wounded pet. + +"It was the Austrian! I know It was! I liked not his words nor the +expression of his eyes. And now Chico is going to die!" + +"Nay, lad," Paolo answered, after carefully examining the leg. "It is only +a flesh wound, and he will soon be himself again. As for the Austrian--I +doubt very much if such was the case. I judge, from what you say, that +he is quite too anxious to get possession of the bird to run any risk of +harming him. More likely some greedy fellow shot him for a pie. I have +known such things to happen in Venice." + +"Shot for a pot-pie!" repeated Andrea, hot with indignation, while Maria +whispered, "Poor Chico! Poor Chico!" at the same time gently touching the +bird's head, who responded with a mournful "coo." + +For a few days the bird drooped and was quite an invalid: it was more than +a week before he ventured beyond the friendly precincts of St. Mark's +Square. + +But he had learned a lesson which, later on, stood him in good stead, for +ever after he took care to fly far above the reach of cruel gunners. + +Several weeks after this incident, Paolo himself took the pigeon to +Chioggia, some fifteen miles from Venice. However famous this little +Italian town may be because of the battle that was fought there in the long +ago, between the Venetians and the Genoese, it is now known chiefly as a +fishing village and a picturesque spot where artists love to congregate. + +On leaving the steamer the old man, not wishing to attract attention, +avoided the broad street, with its arcades and cafes, instead picking his +way along the canal, packed with fishing craft of every description, until +he to a superb white bridge, the pride of the little town. + +There he paused, and thinking himself quite away from inquisitive +spectators, loosed the bird and stood a few moments watching him speeding +his way above the beautiful white arch towards home. + +How strong were the graceful wings, and how steady the flight! + +It was a warm day in early spring; he threw himself on the bank of the +canal grass thinking how pleasant it was on the water's edge. Suddenly a +voice sounded in his ears causing him to start visibly: + +"Surely, it must be a pleasant occupation to be a pigeon fancier." + +The tone was ingratiating, but resenting the intrusion, Paolo looked +around and caught an expression that belied the smooth words, and made him +instinctively distrust the stranger who had accosted him. + +He did not answer, and the man pursued: "No wonder, when you have so fine a +bird. May I ask for what particular purpose you are training him?" + +"Only for a boy's pleasure," was the short reply. Paolo immediately +surmised that this was he of whom Andrea had told him. + +As he rose to go, the man went on, still more suavely: "By the way, I have +a very special reason why I should like a carrier pigeon." He lowered his +voice. "And am prepared to pay any amount for him; will you not set a +price?" + +Paolo emphatically shook his head. "He can't be bought! I tell you the bird +is not for sale!" And with that the old caretaker walked away. + +He was troubled, and the remainder of the time before the steamer sailed +walked the narrow streets, too much disturbed over the incident to notice +the women in the doorways making lace and the children sitting on the +ground beside the narrow footpaths, their fingers busy knitting or +stringing beads. + +He did not know that the Austrian followed him, and that, on reaching the +quay, the intruder chose a seat on the other side of the steamer. It is +no wonder that the artists go wild over the harbor, dotted as it is with +picturesque sails of yellow, blue, or red. Just beyond is Palestrina, +equally interesting, and known as the "narrowest town on earth," while a +little farther on the steamer skirts along manifold vegetable gardens, in +the midst of settlements whose simple homes are gay in their coloring of +pink, yellow, red, or white. + +By the time the Lido was reached, the sun was low in the heavens, and soon +the lagoon was before them, bright in the roseate rays. After this it was +not long before Venice came in sight, more lovely than ever in the first +twilight. + +With a sigh Paolo stretched his limbs, cramped by sitting so long in one +position. He was getting old, he reflected, and found even a few hours' +excursion tiring in the extreme. As he made his way towards the Piazza, he +decided positively that not one syllable would he breathe to the children +of his encounter with the Austrian. + +"It would only worry them, and what's the use?" he reflected. "It's old +Paolo who must guard Chico"--and he shook his head--"I fear it will be a +hard thing to do." + +At a safe distance the stranger followed until St. Mark's Square was +reached. There he concealed himself behind a column and watched to see the +location of Chico's nest. + +It was so late that the children had gone home, but Andrea had left a +folded paper, weighted by a stone, on the window ledge. Opening it Paolo +deciphered, without difficulty, the boy's writing. + +"Chico reached home at ten minutes to four." + +"Bene!" the old man ejaculated, forgetting his fatigue; "he made it in +thirty minutes, and it took me all of three hours." + +As he reached his rough hand in through the window and touched +affectionately the sleeping bird, the Austrian moved from his position and +slunk down a side street. He had found out all he wanted, and his malicious +expression changed to one of triumph as he muttered: + +"I'll have that bird yet, in spite of the old man!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE + + +Ever since Chico had become grown he had been in the habit of flying from +his nest in the early morning for a brief survey of the Piazza. First, he +would make his way to the famous well and, after a refreshing bath, would +walk about on the ground for a while in search of stray morsels of food, +perchance left by tourists the day before. Then, on the way back to his +ledge, he would stop for a moment here and there among the statuary for +a gossipy "coo" with one and another pigeon friend. But no matter how +interested he became in the sights and news of the Square, he was always on +his ledge in time to greet his dear human friends, upon whose appearance +there would ensue such an excited fluttering of wings and such a delighted +cooing that Maria would laugh aloud in glee, while Andrea emptied his +pockets of choicest tidbits. + +One morning, a few weeks after the trip to Chioggia, as Chico was making +his customary early flight, his bright eyes caught sight of some enticing +crumbs on the pavement close to the steps leading to the new Campanile. +They seemed unusually good, and he lingered for some time pecking, first at +one and then another. + +Suddenly he was grasped by a strong hand and hastily thrust into a padded +dark box. + +Poor Chico! His heart fluttered so that he couldn't think. Not but what he +was used to being handled, and perhaps his prison was a new kind of basket, +but even so he rebelled. There were no friendly cracks through which he +could catch an occasional glint of light, but only a few airholes clustered +at the top. Then, too, his quarters were so cramped that even the slightest +flutter was well-nigh impossible; and, after a few struggles, utterly +discouraged, and fearing the worst, he gave up and crouched down, entirely +at a loss as to what had happened. + +The Austrian, angered at having been thwarted in every attempt he had made +to purchase the pigeon, had been watching the bird's habits ever since he +had followed the old caretaker, and had deliberately planned to capture him +in this way. His prize now secured, he made his way straight for a gondola +and gave orders to be rowed with the greatest possible speed to his +lodgings, and, on arriving, carried to his room the innocent-appearing +black box which resembled nothing so much as a folding kodak. + +How satisfied he felt with himself, and how he gloated over the way in +which he had outwitted the old man! For a moment he held the box to his +ear, as if anxious to assure himself that the bird was still there. Not a +sound came from the trembling inmate. Had anything happened? Cautiously +unfastening the catch, he reached in his hand and touched the soft head. +There was a slight quiver. + +Catching hold of the trembling body, he lifted out the bird and feasted his +eyes upon him. What a beauty he was! Not so large, to be sure, as some that +flit about Venice, but so perfectly marked, and with so broad a breast, and +such sweep of wings! He would profit richly by his morning's work. If only +he could get his prize safely out of Venice. There was no time to lose. He +might be tracked by that old fool of a caretaker, and in that case he would +have had his pains for nothing. And if by chance the matter should be +brought to the attention of the authorities, he might be arrested and +jailed; the Venetians make such a fuss over their precious pigeons. + +A knock at the door made him start guiltily and thrust the pigeon roughly +back into the box. After all, it was only a messenger with a telegram +recalling him immediately to Vienna, which, he reflected, fitted nicely +into his plans. He would start the next morning, he concluded, as he +carefully concealed the black box under the bed, and took more than usual +pains in locking the door when he went out for dinner and to complete his +arrangements in regard to leaving. + +Chico heard the door close and knew he was alone. What did it all mean? He +had never before suffered such indignities! To be placed by loving friends +in his dear familiar basket, while he was being taken to some point from +which he might make a glorious flight--he had long since become +reconciled to that experience; but to be seized by a stranger's hands and +ignominiously shoved into a black prison and hidden in a strange room--that +was an insult his free spirit could not brook. For a while he felt too +utterly despondent to make a movement, but after a little, very cautiously, +he began again to feel carefully with his beak around the box in search of +some crack. There was not one to be found. Next he tried with all his power +to enlarge the tiny airholes. It was impossible, and he gave himself up to +blackest despair. + +When his captor returned he opened the box, took out the bird, at the same +time placing some kernels of corn and a saucer of water before him. Chico +had no appetite for food, but parched with thirst drank feverishly. + +"Eat! can't you?" The man spoke roughly. What on earth was the matter with +the pigeon to be so obstinate? "Hang it, if he won't eat," he exclaimed +aloud, "he'll starve to death before I can get him to the War Department." + +With that he fairly forced the spiritless head into the pile of kernels on +the floor, but without avail; the bird, heart-broken, refused to open his +beak. His tail feathers drooped more mournfully than ever, and his captor, +thoroughly out of patience, angrily thrust him back into his prison. So the +rest of the day and night passed. + +The Austrian rose early the next morning and hastily throwing his +belongings together was soon on his way to the station, suitcase in one +hand and the black box in the other. + +At the depot there was more than the usual delay in procuring his ticket. +There was a crowd of men and women before him, and, impatiently enough, he +was obliged to wait his turn. Worse than anything, he found it necessary to +lay aside his possessions. He hesitated, then, after a quick survey of the +room, selected a corner near enough for him to keep an eye on his +precious box. It seemed an eternity before he could get anywhere near the +ticket-office window, and he completely lost what little temper he had when +a garrulous woman blocked his way and took fifteen minutes of additional +time in an interminable wrangle over change. + +In the meantime an inquisitive youngster, left to his own devices by his +mother who was also in line before the ticket-office window, was creeping +about the floor in search of diversion. After being foiled in +various directions, his sharp eyes caught sight of the suit-case and +interesting-looking box. Without an instant's hesitation he scrambled +thither. As it happened, the Austrian having at last attained his object, +was at that very moment engaged in folding the long ticket, his attention, +therefore, was diverted from watching his property. + +The child fumbled first with the suit-case. It was securely locked. Next he +seized the black box with his grimy fingers. It was fastened only with a +single strap. As this finally yielded, a look of rapture spread over his +Italian features, and with renewed zeal he proceeded to pry open the cover. + +Suddenly he gave a shriek, at the same covering his face in terror as +something sharp brushed against his cheeks and flashed upwards. + +It was Chico! He was free at last! For a moment, dazed by the sudden +release, the bird battered his splendid head against the ceiling, then, +before the roomful of travelers realized what had happened, he was out in +the open, spreading his glorious wings toward home. + +When the Austrian, on turning to gather up his possessions, realized what +had occurred, he turned in rage toward the frightened child: + +"You, you--" He choked in wrath, raising his arm as if to strike. But at +that moment the mother threw herself against him, screaming: + +"You touch my child! You touch--" + +The crowd by this time was closing in upon them, so that even the station +guard found it difficult to push his way through in his endeavor to find +out the cause of the disturbance. + +Suddenly the cry of "All aboard!" was heard, and instantly the excited +gathering dispersed, the enraged woman grabbing her child and leading the +procession. + +Just behind came the Austrian, bearing his suitcase and the empty black +box. Fortunate it was for him that the summons had come when it did, for +otherwise he might soon have found himself taken into custody on the charge +of disturbing the peace, and on the way to a cell in the Venetian prison. + +As it was, he sank into his seat in the little train muttering all sorts of +imprecations upon the whole Italian people, and thanking his stars he would +soon be out of the country. + +While all this had been going on, great had been the consternation in St. +Mark's Square over Chico's strange disappearance. When the children did +not find him waiting, as usual, for them, they were sure he must have been +shot, and Andrea mourned constantly, "E morte! E morte!" [Footnote: He is +dead.] + +But Paolo had his theory, and the more he thought the matter over, the more +he felt convinced that the bird was alive and in the possession of the +Austrian. Dropping his work for the day, he spent the weary hours going up +and down the narrow streets in vain effort to discover some trace of him. +From time to time he called, "Chico! Chico!" But, alas, no Chico answered. + +Then the night came. Still no news. The next morning Paolo resolved to go +to the authorities, and was about to set out when suddenly there was a cry +from Maria, who was sitting grieving on the lowest step of the church, +watching the pigeons flying about in the blue sky. + +"There's Chico!" she exclaimed, greatly excited, and pointing to a small +speck, far above them. "It's he! I know it's he!" + +"I'm afraid not," the old man answered, shaking his head; "we have been +deceived too many times." + +But Andrea was leaning forward, his whole form tense with emotion, and, in +another moment with radiant face he flung his cap into the air, and leaped +to his feet, shouting, joyfully: + +"Urra! Urra! It's he! It's he!" and so it proved. No other bird could fly +with such strong, sure strokes. + +Soon he was in his nest drinking eagerly the water Andrea had placed for +him. It was the first thing he always wanted when he returned from a +flight, but now he drank more thirstily than usual Then, how he did eat! It +was plain he was half starved. There was no mistake about it, he was thin, +and his feathers were so bedraggled that it was evident he had not preened +them since he had been gone. + +But he was home, nothing else mattered! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"COO-OO, COO-OO-OO. RUK-AT-A-COO" + + +There was no denying the fact that Chico was a handsome bird, and as time +passed, he became more and more careful of his appearance. He would spend +fully half an hour each morning over his toilet, smoothing every feather +into place with the most exact nicety, polishing his delicately arched +bill, and proudly spreading his tail. Then, when the sun shone full upon +him, the peculiar markings of his wings seemed fairly radiant in their +glorious iridescence. + +From the saucy tilt of his dainty head to his graceful feet, he was a Beau +Brummel among pigeons. + +It was no wonder that his little master's heart swelled with pride, and +that he repeated, over and over again, "My Chico is grande; my Chico +is--GREAT!" + +But there came a time when it was evident that, in spite of the gorgeous +appearance he presented, he was not altogether happy. + +While he polished his beak and preened his feathers more assiduously than +ever, there was a note of pleading in his cooing that puzzled the children, +and caused Andrea to remark: "I wonder what can be the matter with Chico!" + +In reply Paolo nodded his wise old head and answered, with a touch of +sympathy, "I know--he's lonely, and wants a mate." The old man even went so +far as to select a dainty little lady pigeon and place her on the ledge, +but alas! Chico resented what he evidently considered an intrusion, +retreated to the extreme edge, where he looked askance at his companion, +and refused, to be moved by her modest advances. Not a single "coo" would +he give, and to his everlasting disgrace finally gently but firmly pushed +her off the ledge. It was plain she had no charms for him! After one or two +further attempts, which ended in the same way, Paolo gave up and allowed +Chico to manage his own courting. + +When his gentle, beseeching cooing failed to attract, he resorted to bolder +methods, flying about the Square, and lingering longer than was his wont +among neighboring nests, until he chanced upon a pigeon that took his +fancy. + +She was a modest little thing, soft drab in color, and not as strikingly +marked as he, but she was popular with the birds about, and Chico had to +fight one or two lusty rivals before he won her for himself. + +The children watched it all with fascinated interest, and when one morning +they found her by his side on the ledge outside his nest, they were fairly +beside themselves with delight. + +All day long they perched together, billing and cooing to their hearts' +content, "the prettiest sight in Venice," as all agreed who saw them. + +"Coo-oo," he would begin, and she would answer softly. Then they would join +in "Coo-oos coo-oo-oo. Ruk-at-a-coo, coo-oo." + +Sometimes he would playfully ruffle her feathers, and she would respond by +turning to him so coquettishly that they would touch their bills together, +so the hours would as they billed and cooed in their love-making. + +It was Maria who named the dainty little mate, calling her Pepita, from the +first time she saw her by Chico's side. But it was Paolo who declared he +could give a pretty good guess as to what they were saying to each other in +their soft pigeon language. + +"Well, what is it?" Andrea asked incredulously. + +"She wants him to help her fix up the old nest," he asserted in a tone +of confidence that greatly impressed his audience; "like the rest of the +women-folks, she isn't satisfied with it as it is, I don't know as I blame +her--it's a pretty poor excuse for a home, even if Chico did manage to make +it do while he was a bachelor." + +The children's faith in the old man increased tenfold when, the very next +day, they discovered Pepita returning from a short flight with a few coarse +straws in her beak, while in another moment Chico came flying around the +corner of the church with half a dozen more. + +"You were right!" Andrea exclaimed, as he made an effort to restrain his +boisterous delight, and quietly looked in at the busy pair; "they are +working as hard as ever they can this very minute." + +After that there were more straws brought, besides other things evidently +intended for lining, and though their home, when done, was not as smooth or +fine a piece of workmanship as many other birds can boast of, at least it +was comfortable, and exactly according to their ideas. + +Chico had always loved his nest, but, with the appearance of two eggs under +Pepita's breast, he found it difficult to leave, even on necessary flights. +He was a devoted husband and was content to perch by her side the whole day +long, softly cooing in his efforts to entertain her, and always ready to +relieve her in keeping the eggs warm when she wished to take a turn around +the Square for exercise or in search of food. + +To the children the nest was a place of mystery, and the first thing in the +morning they would together climb up to the old box and whisper: + +"Buon giorno, Chico; buon giorno, Pepita; how are the eggs to-day?" + +And then the mystery deepened! It was Paolo who whispered the wonderful +news in their ears. + +"How do you know the eggs have hatched?" Andrea queried somewhat +doubtfully. + +In reply the old man pointed to the pavement where some broken shells were +a mute witness of the miracle that had occurred. + +They were wild with ecstasy, and could scarcely wait to see the little +fledglings, and the second morning after the old caretaker let them come +into the shed and, by the light of a flickering candle, showed them the +naked little bodies, just as he had shown them Chico, months before. + +Pepita had, from the first, accepted the children as her friends (probably +Chico had told her all about them in the early days of their courtship), +but she couldn't help showing her anxiety on this occasion, and flew +distractedly back and forth, while Chico kept jealous watch perched on +Andrea's shoulder. + +He was a good father, never failing in loving attention to his family, and +bringing the choicest tidbits to Pepita. + +He hovered anxiously about while she fed the greedy fledglings with the +soft pulpy mass she prepared so carefully, and was always ready to look +after the "bambini," as Maria insisted on calling the baby birds. + +Altogether, Chico was so taken up with his new cares that his training was +badly interrupted, and Andrea, especially, became greatly worried lest he +should forget all he had learned. + +"He'll be all out of practice," he mourned, "and the next time we try him +he'll forget and lose his way home." + +But Paolo was reassuring. "Never you fear," he replied; "I have heard that +the most important messages are entrusted to birds that have young in the +nest. That is when the love of home is strongest." + +And so it proved: when Chico was once more tried, he surprised them by the +swiftness of his flight. In fact, in some instances he actually made more +than thirty miles an hour. + +The spring advanced: there were other eggs in the nest, and other broods +to be cared for, and always Chico remained the faithful husband and +father--tender to his fledgling offspring--loving and true to his little +wife. + +And, whenever household cares permitted, the two could be seen on the +window ledge, billing and cooing: + +"Coo-oo, coo-oo-oo, Ruk-at-a-coo." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A GALA DAY + + +At last the new Campanile was completed. When the historic old bell tower +had fallen that morning in July, the people had been stunned and had given +way to such grief as only Italians feel over the loss of a thing of beauty. + +It had fallen at nine-thirty in the morning, and when the Town Council met +that evening, it had been at once decided that immediate steps be taken to +erect a new tower, "dov'era, com'era" (where it was and as it was). And in +this all Italy concurred. The first stone had been laid on St. Mark's day, +April 25, 1903. + +Slowly the graceful tower had risen from the confused mass of debris at its +base, no effort being spared to make it as strong and beautiful as possible +to conceive. Three thousand piles had been used in the foundation, and +almost every fragment of the old had been utilized in the effort to +reproduce, as nearly as possible, the much-loved structure. Carefully +the shattered pieces of bas-reliefs had been fitted together by trained +artisans, the figure of Venice on the east walls had been completely +restored, while one favorite group of the Madonna and Child had been pieced +from sixteen hundred fragments: the bells had been recast, and when +this gala day dawned, the same gold angel surmounted the top of the new +Campanile that had looked protectingly over the city for generations. + +What wonder that Venice was beside herself with joy, and that great +festivities had been arranged to celebrate the occasion--on St, Mark's day, +1912? + +The city was filled with visitors; the little steamers and motor-boats +chugged right merrily along the canals, laden with sight-seers, while the +gondoliers reaped a rich, harvest from the crowds of strangers. + +Among those who came to attend the festivities was the children's uncle, +Pietro Minetti. He was the elder brother of Giovanni, and was an important +personage (at least in his own estimation) for had he not left the little +Venetian home years before and become a citizen of the world? Andrea and +Maria were wild with delight when they heard he was coming, and speculated +much as to their rich uncle, for, of course, he must be rich as every one +was out in the great world. + +And at first sight it seemed that he must be even richer than they had +dreamed, so elegant did he appear in his checked trousers and starched +shirt. His mustache was waxed, and he walked with a swagger as he jauntily +swung a cane. + +All at once the little home on the side canal seemed poorer and shabbier +than ever, and Luisa couldn't help wishing the smells of fish and garlic +from the shop below were not quite so strong. + +But though Pietro looked somewhat superciliously at the plain surroundings, +after the strangeness wore off he proved to be a most entertaining guest, +with his stories of the great cities which he had visited. He had been as +far as London, and the children drew close in order that they might not +lose a single syllable of his wonderful tales. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, introducing the subject of the Campanile, "it +really seems as if the town is waking up! I hear there is a lift in the +tower, and the old angel on the top has been actually placed on a pivot, to +act as a weather vane as well as a thing of beauty. That's more than could +have been expected of slow Venetians. If it were only possible to get in a +few automobiles there might be some hope for the city." + +"Automobiles!" Giovanni was indignant, resenting even the mention of such +newfangled contrivances. "Venice wouldn't be Venice with automobiles!" + +"Well, motor-cycles, then!" laughed Pietro good naturedly; "anything that +would give some noise and ginger to the old town. Pep is what Venice +needs!" And he chuckled to himself at the thought of motor-cycles on St. +Mark's Square. + +Neither Giovanni nor Luisa had any patience with such talk, but the +children edged nearer, and their eyes grew bigger as they asked him eager +questions in regard to the marvelous things he had mentioned. + +"Have you ever seen horses?" Andrea ventured timidly; "I mean real horses, +not pretend ones like those on the top of St. Mark's?" + +"Horses!" he repeated, bursting into so loud a laugh that Maria shrank +away, half frightened; "horses! Why, they're so old-fashioned that no one +cares for them any more. They're quite too slow for the twentieth century!" + +Andrea's head swam--horses old-fashioned! What kind of a strange world was +it outside of Venice? All at once his childish air castles came tumbling +down. But before he could question further it was time for bed, and with +his imagination roused to the utmost he tossed uneasily until he fell +asleep to dream he was racing with the wind in a strange kind of car with +the Devil himself as driver. + +The exercises were to begin at ten o'clock the next morning, and the Piazza +was fairly packed with people hours before that time. Thanks to Paolo our +little group had a good place to view the proceedings in a certain musty +alcove of St. Mark's, and there they sat cramped through what seemed to +Maria like interminable hours. + +As for St. Mark's Square, even Pietro had only words of praise for its gala +appearance: from the three flagstaffs opposite the church fluttered the +colors of Italy. Everywhere was music, everywhere was gayety, and the +crowds of people united in glad cries of "Viva Venezia!" [Footnote: Long +live Venice!] + +For Venice, more than any other place in the world, belongs to rich and +poor alike, and in the midst of it all, sympathizing with every mood, is +St. Mark's Church, the pride of the Venetian people. Never did she seem +more glorious than on this gala day, never did her gold mosaics sparkle +more brilliantly in the sunshine than when the great high magistrate +pronounced the solemn words: "Dov'era, com'era," and the bells rang to mark +the completion of the exercises. + +Then, hark! a whirr, whirr of wings, a sudden darkening of the sky that +caused the joyful thousands to look into the heavens above them. + +In an instant the shadow resolved itself into over twenty-five hundred +pigeons that had been brought to Venice that they might carry the glad news +to every part of Italy. + +Then it was that the populace went wild with joy; thousands of +handkerchiefs fluttered, the cries of "Viva Venezia!" swelled and rent the +air, until they were drowned by the inspiring notes of the Italian national +tune, played by patriotic musicians in the bandstand at Florian's. + +Our little group shared in all the excitement, waving with the rest +and joining in glad cries of "Urra! Urra!" Even Pietro was aroused to +admiration, and as the music died away and the crowds began to disperse, he +exclaimed: "There's no doubt but that Venice has outdone herself, and it +was a master stroke to make such use of homing pigeons. These spoiled birds +that flutter about the Square have no spirit in them, and I doubt if one of +them could carry a message even from the Lido!" + +"Chico could," asserted Andrea stoutly, touched to the quick by the +sweeping declaration; "he could carry a message from 'most anywhere to +Venice!" + +"Who's Chico?" Pietro asked quickly, elbowing his way through the surging +mass of people in the church. + +"He's my pigeon!" Andrea answered, eager to defend his bird, and raising +his voice in an effort to make himself heard above the confusion. "I've +trained him, and I'll show you to-morrow! I don't suppose I could get to +him in all this crowd." + +"To-morrow will do as well," Pietro managed to ejaculate, as they found +themselves at last in the Square, which was still solidly jammed with +people. "I am somewhat of a pigeon-fancier myself, and if that bird of +yours is what you say he is we'll see, we'll see!" + +With this their conversation was interrupted and not again resumed, the +remainder of the afternoon being spent in promenading the Square, going up +in the lift of the Campanile, and managing to appease their appetites with +the various pastes and fruits which Pietro generously stood treat for. + +Almost before they were aware of it, the afternoon was drawing to a close, +and with the coming of twilight Venice became more of a fairyland than +ever. + +Outlining the buildings throughout the Square, throwing into prominence +every graceful point and cornice, were thousands of electric lights: St. +Mark's herself appeared more like a jewel box than ever, and was only +surpassed by the Campanile which was ablaze from top to bottom. + +Everywhere was music, everywhere was light, and in this new and splendid +setting, Venice looked a very gorgeous "Bride of the Sea!" + +The spirit of the old Carnival days was once more present: as women in +black shawls and strange masked figures threaded their way amid the throngs +of people accompanied by wild music, while confetti, thrown from every +balcony, caused shouts of laughter and fell harmlessly upon them. + +There were to be fireworks on the water, and Paolo had offered his old +gondola that they might join the gay crowds on the Grand Canal. Here Pietro +was supreme, and it required only the twisting of a scarf about his waist +to transform him into a gondolier, at least in the eyes of his not too +critical audience. + +So Giovanni and the children crowded into the shabby gondola and rowed with +thousands of others up and down, watching the rockets soaring into the sky +and bursting into myriads of dazzling stars as they fell into the water +below. + +Later, when the display was over, Pietro guided them among the storied +palaces of the long ago, now close behind some concert barge, playing +softest strains of grand opera, or answering the low call of passing +gondoliers with like musical response. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A LITTLE JOURNEY IN THE WORLD + + +The morning after the great Carnival day Andrea woke with a sense of +disquietude. Something was going to happen, but for a few moments he could +not think what it was. Then with a rush he remembered. He had promised to +show Chico to his uncle. Since the suggestion had been made he had not been +able to dismiss it from his mind and, even while watching the bursting +rockets the evening before, he had found himself wondering what Pietro +could have meant by his mysterious remark, "If the bird is what you say--we +shall see. We shall see!" + +Although he liked his uncle immensely, he had not been able entirely to +overcome a certain feeling of awe in his presence, and he shuddered at +thought of many scathing criticisms he had heard him make upon objects +which he had been brought up to regard with veneration. Suppose he should +make fun of Chico! The quick tears started at the thought. Then his eyes +flashed and he sprang out of bed, exclaiming to himself, "I don't care what +he may say, I know he's the finest pigeon in the world!" + +This feeling of confidence lasted until they finished breakfast and Pietro +had pushed back his chair, with the remark: + +"And now, my boy, we must be off to see that wonderful bird of yours!" + +Then his timidity returned, and beset by anxious fears, he walked silently +by his uncle's side. + +Pietro was in his most jocund mood that morning, jauntily swinging his +cane, joking about the Rialto as they crossed it, and talking a great deal +about London and Paris. His companion's courage gradually oozed away. In +fact it was completely gone by the time they rounded the corner of the +church and came upon the happy couple basking in the sunlight and cooing +affectionately to each other. + +"So that's the fellow!"--and Pietro pointed to Chico, entirely ignoring +little Pepita by his side. + +Andrea nodded, not daring to trust himself to speak. + +"Hum-mm." His uncle cleared his throat. "Suppose you call him that I may +see him closer." + +Andrea managed a faint "Chico," and in an instant the pigeon was in his +lap, burrowing in his pocket in search of the usual tidbits. + +"Hum-mm." Pietro caught the bird firmly in one hand, at the same time +swiftly running the other over the trembling body. + +"Long wings, bulge prominent over the ear, broad breast, a clear, keen +eye--" + +Andrea's heart almost ceased to beat. + +Then, very slowly, Pietro went on appraisingly. "Very good, very good, +indeed! And you say he has had some training?" + +"Oh, yes!" the boy answered, and with glowing face, vastly relieved, "he +has carried messages from ever so far, from the Lido, from Chioggia--" + +"Have you kept his record?" Pietro interrupted brusquely. + +At this the boy fished in one pocket after another, finally producing a +grimy card, covered with figures. + +His uncle took it and, after studying it over carefully, handed it back, +saying: + +"This is somewhat remarkable, and should be marked on his wings." With that +he produced a tiny bottle of India ink a rubber stamp, and while Andrea, +with fascinated interest, held the bird, Pietro copied the figures on the +primary feathers of the right wing, remarking as he finished, "There, I +guess that will attract attention from any fancier. You have really a fine +bird, my boy, and I would suggest that it might be well to exhibit him at +some pigeon show. There's to be one at Verona next week." + +Andrea's head swam. What was his uncle saying? Go to Verona? Exhibit Chico? +Impossible! Well he knew there was no money in the little home to pay for +any such expenditure, but Pietro was not yet through. + +"Your father and mother have treated me right royally ever I've been in +Venice, and I am sure they will not deny me this opportunity to make +some return. It will not cost you a single lira. What say you, will you +accompany me? I happen to be going in that direction and can arrange to +stop over as well as not." + +Andrea caught his uncle's hands in a paroxysm of joy. In his wildest dreams +he had never thought of ever going anywhere outside of Venice, and now, to +be thus calmly discussing an errand like this, it seemed as if he could +scarcely believe his ears. + +Then Pietro, taking for granted that the matter was settled as far as +Andrea was concerned, that very evening broached the plan to the boy's +father and mother, overruling all their objections with the result that the +following Monday found the two travelers, with Chico in his basket, on the +train bound for Verona. + +It is an interesting trip for any one through the plain towns of northern +Italy, and, needless to state, not the slightest detail of the passing +landscape was lost on Andrea. Not once did he take his eyes from the car +window save occasionally to look through the cracks of the basket into +Chico's bright eyes, as if to assure himself that the bird was still there. + +On, on they sped, catching glimpses of gnarled olive trees, silvery gray, +while Roman walls, centuries old, silhouetted against the horizon, spoke +of a civilization long past. There were rounded hill-slopes and ancient +castles, while the broad Adige dashed madly along the sides of the track. + +It was two o'clock when they reached their destination and rumbled into the +huge covered station of Verona. + +With beating heart, Andrea followed the business-like Pietro as he led the +way out of the station and hailed a vettura [Footnote: Carriage.] to take +them up the wide tree-shaded avenue. + +The boy paid little attention to the marble palaces by which they drove, +but was overwhelmed at the experience of actually being behind a horse. +He drew a deep breath--it was a dream come true; he was further amazed at +finding their conveyance but one of an endless throng of wagons, carriages, +and tram-cars. + +In many ways Verona is fully as old-fashioned as Venice, but to Andrea the +city seemed the personification of all that was progressive, and while the +horses were not the gay steeds of the boy's dream, they were really alive, +and wonder of wonders, as they drove over the grand arches of the historic +structure which bridges the muddy, swirling waters of the Adige, they +were suddenly outdistanced by what Pietro pointed out as one of the few +automobiles of Verona. + +The boy's eyes widened. What tales he would have to tell old Paolo and the +little Maria! When they came to the great Arena, in the heart of the city, +Pietro dismissed their vettura, and together they walked down the principal +promenade to the shopping center where they mingled with the endless crowds +of pedestrians and looked into the windows of the gay little shops that +made Andrea think of Venice. + +Not far from the imposing City Hall was an ancient red marble Gothic cross +about which were clustered hundreds of what looked like canvas toadstools, +but which were, in reality, immense white umbrellas, sheltering countless +market stalls. Here were gathered a motley collection of all sorts of +things for sale, ranging from boots and shoes to many kinds of provisions +and fruits. + +Through all this Pietro walked so fast that his companion had hard work to +keep up with him, and was glad when they finally stopped in front of an +enclosure sheltered by two large umbrellas. Then his heart sank and he +clutched his basket closer as he realized that here was where the pigeon +show would be held, and understood, from what a loud-voiced man was +calling, that the birds were already being entered. He wished--oh, how he +wished--he had not come, and was almost overwhelmed by the thought that he +would be obliged to leave Chico with these chattering strangers. + +There was no alternative--already many of the birds were in place. He +could see some of them and realized they were, for the most part, dejected +looking specimens. He touched Pietro's sleeve nervously and inquired +faintly, "Are you sure I shall get him back?" + +But on this point his uncle was most reassuring and replied confidently: + +"There's nothing at all to worry about. The bird will be perfectly safe. +They'll fasten an aluminum tag about his leg with his number on it and give +you the duplicate. A claim check, you know. Come, buck up and be a sport!" + +Still doubtful, Andrea sorrowfully relinquished his pet. From that time on, +his peace of mind was gone, and he mournfully studied the bit of aluminum +with the number--1104. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BLUE ROSETTE + + +Pietro noticed the lad's dejection and exerted himself to the utmost to +divert him. After a good dinner he proceeded to show him the sights of +Verona, at the same time telling him interesting tales about the Arena, +the beautiful gardens, and the palaces of olden time. But Andrea remained +listless, only rousing when his proposed a visit to the tomb of Romeo and +Juliet which was the one place his mother had charged him to see. + +The show was to open the next morning at ten o'clock, and long before that +time there was an eager crowd at the turnstile. + +All was in order--the birds of the various exhibits being arranged in cages +in different compartments. There were of every color variety, from big +fellows, brought 'way from London, to all white beauties. One corner was +devoted to the homing pigeons, and here Andrea discovered Chico in the same +cage with some highly trained racers from Belgium. His head had lost its +saucy tilt, and he was miserably pecking in the sawdust as if in search of +something to eat. But otherwise he seemed in good condition, and his master +felt a glow of pride as he mentally contrasted the appearance of "1104" +with those exhibited by the foreign fanciers, although, of course, he +supposed that, in all probability, Chico didn't have a ghost of a chance. + +All this time his uncle was excitedly bobbing back and forth, mingling with +the people and commenting on the points of one or another specimen. It was +a good-natured crowd, that had, for the most part, drifted in from the +poultry show that was being held in an adjoining tent. There was not much +enthusiasm until four judges made their appearance, and with notebooks +in hand, began their inspection of the cages. Then there was a stir; the +bystanders pressed more closely to the railing, and there was considerable +excitement as fluttering blue and white ribbons indicated the winners of +first and second honors. + +By the time the cage of messenger pigeons was reached, there was a ripple +of genuine excitement, and from one and another quarter bids were shouted +by those who knew the characteristics of a good homer. These began as low +as "Four lire" on a pigeon from Milan, "A hundred lire" on number "670," +an aggressive-looking Belgian, and then--Andrea's head swam as a burly +American called out, "fifty dollars on '1104.'" + +After that things became lively as the judges passed from one to another, +inspecting every bird most carefully and making note of individual +characteristics. When they seemed especially pleased, or stopped to confer, +as occasionally happened, over the record which, in every case, was marked +on the wings, then the bidding became fairly furious, "670" leading and +"1104" a close second. One of the judges took so long in his examination of +Chico that a fat German changed his bid, and an American called out, "Come, +get a move on you!" There was a long conference among the judges, during +which the people waited impatiently enough, and Andrea felt himself more +tense every moment. + +Finally, with exasperating deliberateness, one of them turned and announced +that the blue rosette was awarded to number "1104." Andrea's cheeks went +scarlet, and the air was rent by cries of "Urra! Urra!" "Bully for 1104!" + +The boy's head swam. CHICO HAD WON. It seemed as if he could scarcely +believe his senses. He looked around for his uncle only to find he had +leaped the railing and was shaking hands with the judges, and pointing +to Andrea as the owner of the bird. On every side could be heard excited +comments, and the American, just behind, was holding forth at a great rate: + +"I knew it--I knew it all the time; he doesn't make the show some of 'em +do, but look at his breast! Look at the length of his wings, and his eye! +There isn't a bird here with such a keen eye as he has! Then, did you watch +him? He wasn't half as scared as the other birds! Just kind of bored by the +performance! One can see he has a strong heart, and that's what counts in +a homer! Why, bless me, I'd like to get hold of that bird. Is the owner +anywhere around?" + +It was then Pietro reappeared, jubilant, of course. He wrung the boy's hand +until it ached, at the time exclaiming, "You're wanted on every side; you +can take your pick of chances to sell your bird, and if you ever wish to +engage as a trainer of pigeons, the way is open to you!" + +When Andrea presented his metal tag for "1104," the crowd fairly closed in +upon him, shouting offers. Altogether it was a great triumph, but he felt +tired, and his head ached so that it was a distinct relief when Pietro, +looking at his watch, declared there wasn't a moment to lose if he intended +to catch the noon train for Venice! + +He was glad it was over, and all the way down the tree-lined avenue, he +kept looking through the cracks of the basket, as if to assure himself that +Chico was really there. + +But at the station another ordeal confronted him. Pietro had insisted when +they were first discussing coming to Verona that Chico must fly home, and +to this Andrea, at the time, had consented. Now he wished he had not. He +felt it almost an impossibility again to relinquish his bird, and pleaded +with Pietro to release him from his promise. But, no, his uncle was +obdurate, and was moved by no entreaties. + +"Of what are you afraid? A bird which has the blue rosette can find his way +from Verona. He must carry the news of his victory himself, and I miss my +guess, if he doesn't reach home before you do." + +"But it looks most terribly like a storm," the boy expostulated, his eyes +resting uneasily on the angry clouds looming over the castled hills. + +"And what if it does rain? A homing pigeon has a stout heart and I warrant +it will take more than a thunder-storm to dismay our prize bird." And with +that he fastened to Chico's leg a little aluminum pouch, in which was a bit +of paper, containing the laconic message, "WON--THE BLUE ROSETTE!" + +Andrea made no further protest, and away flew the bird, circling into the +air above, then, by still wider circles, higher and higher until he was +finally off. + +Andrea watched until the mere speck in the distance had completely +disappeared. Venice seemed very far away! With a sinking heart he made his +way across the platform, and climbed into the little train from the window +of which he forlornly waved "good-bye" to the irrepressible Pietro, who, +after shouting a final injunction to the lad to "buck-up," and to be sure +and let him know how long Chico took to make the trip by his "air-line," +jauntily waved his hand, and the train, moved out. + +For fully half an hour Andrea crouched in his seat, altogether dejected, +watching the sky illuminated from time to time by flashes of lightning. A +man in the seat across the aisle leaned over to inquire the meaning of the +blue rosette he wore on his breast, but Andrea shook his head and with +blurred eyes looked out at the storm already breaking. Soon the thunder +could be heard above the noise of the train, and hailstones as large as +marbles rattled against the windows. + +Somewhere in all that darkness Chico was flying! The boy's heart grew more +and more heavy and was filled with bitterness against his uncle who had +been so insistent. Of what use were empty honors if his bird was lost +forever? + +In the meantime Chico was having his difficulties. For the first time he +was too far from Venice to catch even a glimpse of her domes or the new +Campanile. He was puzzled. + +But somewhere was Venice, _somewhere_ his nest--with Pepita and the +fledglings. The thunder rumbled, the lightning flashed, the rain fell. Yet +his heart was stout and his courage strong. + +Do they call it instinct that so unerringly guides the flight of the homing +pigeon? Was it the sea that called? Did the winds convey a message? I know +not, but, after that single moment of hesitation, the brave bird plunged +into the darkness and made his way to home and loved ones. + +At last the long afternoon was over and the slow Italian train pulled into +Venice. Andrea sadly picked up his empty basket. As it happened, at the +very moment he stepped upon the platform, the clouds parted and the sun +shone, lighting with splendor the rippling waters of the Adriatic, and +shining full on the golden domes of the churches. + +He expected Paolo and his sister would be at the station to welcome him and +to hear the result of the pigeon show. After all, what had it all amounted +to if the bird had been lost in the storm? At that point in his reflections +a little figure came rushing to him, all breathless with excitement. It was +Maria, with her father and mother just behind. They were followed by the +old caretaker, hurrying as fast as his rheumaticky limbs would permit, and, +wonder of wonders! Andrea had to look twice to be sure he was not mistaken, +perched upon his shoulder was--CHICO! To be sure, his feathers were a +little disheveled, for he had been too busy with Pepita and the fledglings +to take time to preen them, but apparently he was unharmed by the perils +through which he had passed, and there was as saucy a tilt to his as ever. + +"Urra! Urra!" the boy cried, throwing his cap twice into the air, while his +father wrung his hand excitedly, and Maria exclaimed: + +"He came into the nest more than an hour and a half ago. Oh, isn't he the +grande bird?" + +"He's the fast express all right!" put in Paolo, waving his cane proudly in +the air; "made the whole distance at the rate of over forty miles an hour." + +Then they all talked at once, asking questions, first about the pigeon +show, and then about the adventures in Verona. + +It seemed as if Andrea couldn't answer fast enough, there was so much to +tell, and he repeated more than once as he passed the blue rosette for +their closer inspection: + +"There wasn't a bird to compare with him!" + +"And you say you rode behind a horse?" Paolo questioned, as the entire +party crowded into the old gondola, and Chico flew into his master's lap. + +"Si! Si! And saw an automobile!" was the proud answer as Andrea went on to +describe how it "went like the wind," just like the one he had dreamed of. + +Unconsciously there crept into his demeanor a slight suggestion of Pietro's +swagger, and while he was glad to get home, and though St. Mark's Square +never seemed so beautiful before, still there was no denying it was a great +experience to have traveled and seen something of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AND ALL FOR ITALY! + + +Some years passed and Andrea was now a stocky lad with resolute walk and +steady black eyes. He was fourteen, the age to which he had long looked +forward as the time when he should realize his ambition to work beside +his father in the glass factory. Maria, too, was growing up: already her +fingers were almost as deft as her mother's in making lace, under +whose guidance she could even fashion the beautiful roses, the special +characteristic of Venetian point. + +As for Chico, he was constantly establishing new records, and his wings +bore witness to many triumphs. + +Then the Great War came, and the world shook with its thunders. On May 23, +1915, Italy had declared hostilities against Austria-Hungary, although the +Italian offensive did not begin until 1917. + +At first the victories were all on the side of Italy, when her brave +heroes broke through on the Isonzo front, it seemed almost as if they were +destined to sweep everything before them Then the tide turned: one town +after another was retaken by the Austrians, until, on October 29, 1917, the +entire Italian front on the Isonzo collapsed. + +Then came days of black despair: all Italy mourned, but in Venice +especially was the horror felt. From her situation she had always been a +bulwark against the Austrians, and not yet had she forgotten the hated rule +of her enemies. + +Nearer drew the lines until the roar of the cannon could be sometimes +heard, and there was scarcely a clear night that aeroplanes did not hover +over the terrified city. Dimmed were the lights that were wont to make a +fairyland of St. Mark's Square, and in the daytime the red, white, and +green of the Italian flag supplied almost the only color, while the only +music was the martial call of Garibaldi, to which countless marched to the +field of battle. + + "To arms! + Haste! Haste! ye martial youth! + On every wind our banners fly, + Rise all with arms, all with fire!" + +The glass factories were closed, and Giovanni went, with the rest of the +brave men, to fight for home and country. Even Pietro hastened from his +wanderings to offer his services. The lace factories were deserted, +and instead of the delicate threads and the bobbins, the women busied +themselves with bandages for the Red Cross. + +No longer did the canals echo the laughter of gay tourists, and desolately +the pigeons flew about St. Mark's Square, which was almost a deserted place +save for the workmen to whom had been assigned the task of protecting the +church by placing sandbags on the roofs and iron girders at the windows: +mournfully lapped the waters of the Adriatic. + +The bronze horses were transferred to Rome for safety; even the pictures by +the great masters were taken from their places and hidden, lest they fall +into the hands of the enemy. + +Old Paolo, who, for a year past had been decrepit, died, broken-hearted, +when the first news came of Austrian victories. He was sadly missed in his +accustomed haunts. A younger man succeeded him as caretaker of St. Mark's, +and Andrea, not old enough to be drafted for service at the front, was +appointed chief guard of the church by night. + +Sacrifice was the watchword of the hour. Men gave up the savings of years, +women brought their trinkets to be sold or melted down for the use of the +Government. + +And Andrea--what had he to give? + +One night, as he paced back and forth on his beat, listening for the +possible roar of an aeroplane or the sudden bursting of a bomb, there +flashed into his mind the story of services rendered Venice in the olden +time by homing pigeons. He seemed a child again, sitting close to old +Paolo's side and listening to his tales of happenings in the long ago. + +True, now there was wireless at the front, besides telephones and +telegraphs, and yet, even with all modern inventions, he wondered if the +War Department might not be able to find some use for a trusty pigeon. + +Though the boy's heart grew faint at the thought of the sacrifice, his +resolution was immediately taken, and as soon as he was released from duty +in the morning he made his way directly round the church to the bird's +nest. He was tall now and had no need of the box Paolo had placed so long +ago for use as a step: thrusting his hand through the aperture, he firmly +grasped Chico who happened at that time to be taking his turn with the eggs +while his mate enjoyed a much-needed constitutional. + +Naturally he resented the interruption and made futile efforts to free +himself. But Andrea was resolved on no delay, and without more ado bore off +the struggling bird, just as Pepita fluttered into the aperture, with an +apology for being late, and ready to assume her wifely duties. + +"Chico! Chico!" the boy exclaimed, gently smoothing the rumpled feathers, +"you mustn't mind, old fellow. I'm sorry to take you away, but you and I +have a duty to our country and we mustn't shirk!" + +Gradually the pigeon ceased to struggle, and while not in the least +understanding what it was all about, snuggled close to Andrea's breast, +putting his head confidingly inside his soldier's coat. + +"And, Chico," the boy went on, "you must do your part, no matter what +happens. And, if you"--he choked a little at the thought--"and if you +should never come back, it will be for Venice, and for Italy. We won't +forget that, will we, my bird?" + +As he spoke, he bent his head to listen caught a faint answering "coo," as +Chico snuggled his head closer. + +By this time he had reached the War Office which was located in one of the +buildings on the north side of the Square. In response to his knock he was +ushered into the presence of a kindly official who sat at a table littered +with maps and papers of every description. + +There was a moment's pause, during which Andrea stood uneasily fidgeting, +and his courage almost oozed away as he nervously twisted his cap. + +But at last the great man looked up, and somewhat abstractly asked, "Well, +my boy, what can I do for you?" + +"Please, signore," Andrea faltered, as he took from his coat the precious +bird, "please, I have a homing pigeon--" + +At once the officer became alert. "A homing pigeon?" he repeated quickly. +"Is he trained to carry messages?" + +"Si, signore." And the boy forgot his embarrassment in his anxiety to tell +of Chico's exploits. "He won the blue rosette at a pigeon show at Verona, a +few years since, and see, here is the record of his flights." With that he +spread out the wings and the officer studied them over thoughtfully. + +When at last he spoke, Andrea could not but note the light in the tense +eyes and the eagerness of his tone: + +"My boy, this well-trained homing pigeon will, indeed, be valuable to the +War Department. Tell me, what shall I give you for your bird? Name your +price!" + +"My Chico is not for sale!" the boy protested stoutly, "It is my wish to +give his services to my country!" + +"Think carefully, the Department is ready to pay well for this branch of +air-line service." + +But Andrea shook his head, "No, signore, it is for Italy. There is but one +thing I would make sure of." He paused. + +"And what is that?" the great official inquired kindly. He was beginning to +realize that this was no ordinary relation which existed between the lad +and his pigeon. + +"Please, I would ask that when the war is ended, I may have my bird again; +that is, that is--" and the boy's eyes were misty as he spoke. + +"To be sure, to be sure," the officer cleared his throat. "I'll see that +you have a written voucher to that effect." + +He touched a bell and gave the order in a business-like tone to the +respectful soldier who at once made his appearance. + +"We have a valuable addition to our air messengers in the shape of this +well-trained homing pigeon. Have you room for him in the next consignment +that is sent to the front?" + +"Si, signore, one will go to-morrow. The baskets have four compartments and +there is one place still vacant." With that he fixed the metal anklet, and +Chico was thereby enrolled as number 7788 in the air brigade of the Italian +army. + +But that was not all; a voucher was then and there made out that, after +hostilities had ceased, number 7788 should be returned to the owner, Andrea +Minetti. + +The great official affixed his own signature and, after handing the paper +to the lad, escorted him to the door and opened it for him. + +Though Andrea's heart was well-nigh bursting with grief, the parting words +brought a thrill to his whole being: + +"It is such sacrifices that will win the war for Italy and, believe me, +this act of yours will not be forgotten!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +EVVIVA VENEZIA! EVVIVA ITALIA! [Footnote: Long live Venice! Long live +Italy!] + + +Still nearer drew the hated Austrians: the roar of cannon could be heard +distinctly now, an air raid was no longer a novelty, and many a home and +public building showed ravages wrought by bursting bombs. + +The hospitals were crowded with maimed, among whom was Pietro who had been +gassed and wounded at the front, and was now slowly convalescing in Venice. + +The Piazza echoed the tread of marching feet, by day and by night, and the +battle hymn heard on every side: + + "To arms! + Haste! Haste! ye martial youth! + On every wind our banners fly, + Rise all with arms, all with fire!" + +The world thrilled with tales of bravery, the exploits of Italian soldiers +and aviators were quoted far and wide. But with all their heroism they +could not stay the Austrian advance. + +With the coming of 1918 deepest gloom settled over Italy as the people +girded themselves for what seemed a struggle for very existence: not the +slightest suggestion of luxury was permitted, even the making and selling +of cakes, pastry, and confectionery being sternly prohibited by government +edict. + +The Minetti family had fared as had the others, neither better nor worse, +and though one corner of the wall of the modest home had been torn away +in an explosion, the statue of the Virgin remained as if to protect from +further harm. No news had come from Giovanni since his return to the front, +over six months before, and Luisa, dry-eyed but worn and racked with +anxiety, worked far into the night on bandages for the wounded. Maria, +in common with others of her age, had lost the fresh prettiness that, +by right, belongs to youth, and her form was bent by work and her face +furrowed by lines of apprehension. + +Of Chico nothing had been heard since the morning, months before, when his +master had left him in the office of the War Department. One's heart ached +for the faithful little mate, as she brooded forlornly on the window ledge, +refusing to pay the slightest heed to any bold fellow who dared make +overtures to her. + +His bird was much in Andrea's thoughts as he paced back and forth each +night upon his beat and, gazing into the sky in his lookout for aeroplanes, +he would strain his eyes for a speck that might resolve itself into Chico's +wings. + +Possibly, he reasoned, the bird had not yet been made use of. Perhaps--and +at the thought, his heart would almost fail him--perhaps, it might even be +that he had been entrusted with some message, but had failed to reach his +destination. + +To the boy's other duties had been added that of watching the nest. He had +scorned the suggestion that an electric bell be placed there to attract +attention. + +"As if I should not hear the slightest flutter of my Chico's wings!" he +protested. But, to make sure, he even slept in the little room back of the +church and arranged that hither should his meals be brought. + +Poor lad! He, too, showed the strain of the Great War, and looked tense +and worn. He was not the same Andrea who had dreamed of inventing some +wonderful new glaze: now his ambition was to be an aviator in the service +of the Government and, like the bird he loved, fly through the blue +heavens. + +One evening (it happened to be a cloudless one, with the moon scheduled to +rise about one o'clock) he felt more than usually restless and on fire with +this desire. + +It was on such nights as this that the danger from air raids was especially +imminent, and the boy's senses were at tight tension. + +As the moon rose, Venice stood revealed an enchanted city, a place of +beauty, touched as of old with a magic wand. Hark--already the clock was +striking the hour of two! Andrea's eyes wandered from one familiar object +to another the Ducal Palace, the new Campanile, the column of St. Theodore, +and, beyond, the dome of Sta. Maria della Salute. He held his breath, it +was so wonderful. And to think--to-night, to-morrow, all might be in ruins. +Surely the great God would never permit it! + +Only a short time before, on June 15, the enemy had launched a new +offensive the Piave River, from the Asiago Plateau to the Adriatic Sea, and +though a few days later the news had reached Venice that their own brave +men had taken the offensive, nothing had since been heard. Would it be as +it had been before, a few spasmodic successes and then--loss and defeat? + +Suddenly (was he dreaming?) there was a whirr of wings; he rubbed his +sleeve across his eyes. Swiftly there shot across his vision something that +in the soft moonbeams seemed an arrow of silver--a flash of light! He was +dazed; could it be--Chico? At full speed he ran to the nest, and there, +close by the side of cooing Pepita, lay the exhausted bird, while a ray of +moonlight closed a stain of blood across his breast. + +Quick as a flash the boy reached in his hand, unfastened the little +aluminum pouch, and, without waiting to find out whether the pigeon was +alive or dead, fairly flew to the War Department where a light was burning, +as he knew it would be. In these days of strain the high official scarcely +closed his eyes and on this night he was tracing over and over again the +plan of the new offensive. + +Andrea rapped on the window--he could not wait to knock and be admitted, +neither did he dare to leave his watch for even a fraction of a second. + +"Who is it?"--the window was cautiously opened. + +"It is I, Andrea Minetti, number 7788 has just come in with a message from +the front." With that he thrust the metal cylinder into the officer's hand. +He tore it open and for one tense moment scanned the bit of tissue paper, +then, with tears of joy, he read aloud: "'Austrian offensive declared a +failure--Italians make sweeping victories along the Piave: Evviva Venezia! +Evviva Italia!'" Then added exultantly, "Buone notizie! good news, good +news!" and the tears coursed freely down his furrowed cheek, Andrea, beside +himself with joy, threw his cap Into the air, echoing; "Viva Venezia! +Evviva Italia! It was my Chico brought the message!" + +At mention of the pigeon the officer turned quickly, asking: + +"Your bird--tell me, is he alive and in good condition?" + +"I know not, signore, there was a stain of blood upon his breast, but I +stopped not to find the cause." + +"Then go, go quickly. I will have some one relieve you of your watch the +rest of the night. See that everything is done. Venice wakes from her +nightmare, and the faithful messenger that brought the joyful tidings must +not be neglected!" + +Andrea saluted and started away, but had gone only a few steps when the +officer recalled him: + +"Hold--you say there was a stain of blood! The Red Cross surgeon is not too +great a personage to save the bird. If you will take him to the hospital, I +myself will telephone the story!" + +With a look of gratitude in his dark eyes, and a "Grazie, signore," Andrea +was off as quickly as he had come, and fifteen minutes later was in the Red +Cross rooms holding out the suffering Chico to the great surgeon, who, in +less time than it takes to say it, had located the trouble, extracted the +tiny bit of lead that had come so perilously near piercing the brave heart, +bound up the wound, and handed the quivering bird back to his master: + +"There, I have done my best. A short time and he will be all right, +although his left wing will be crippled and his flights from now on can +only be short." As he spoke, he laid his hand on Andrea's shoulder: "My +boy, there is no greater hero in the wards of this hospital than this +faithful homing pigeon!" + +Tears blurred Andrea's sight as he hugged Chico close and with reiterated +expressions of gratitude made his way down the hospital steps. The heart +within his soldier's coat was pulsating with joy at the spontaneous words +of praise and the assurance that Chico would not die. Anything else +mattered little. + +Gently he laid the wounded pigeon in his nest, just as Maria came with his +breakfast. + +She was dazed, and at first did not understand what had happened; then +a light broke over her face and, reaching up, she smoothed the ruffled +feathers whispered, "Poor Chico! Poor Chico!" until a quiver of the eyelids +and the most pathetic of faint "coos" gave evidence that the sufferer +appreciated her sympathy. + +In the meantime the word had spread, and cries of "Evviva Venezia! Evviva +Italia!" rent the air. People, mad with joy, marched up and down the narrow +streets unfurling flags shouting: + +"Buone notizie! Buone notizie! Good news! Good news!" + +The piazza became an animated place as groups of men, women, children +gathered, embracing one another, and longing to hear further details. + +In the hospitals there was great excitement: it was difficult to restrain +the joyful demonstrations. When Luisa whispered the news in Pietro's ear, +he leaped out of bed in spite of his wounds, crying: + +"The grande bird! I always said he would be game! Oh, but he's a sport!" + +As for Chico, if he could have spoken he would have told a harrowing +tale. Thrown into the air with dozens of others, when all other means +of communication were interrupted, at first even _his_ stout heart was +appalled. One by one the others fluttered to the ground, afraid to attempt +the flight, and of the four who persisted, three fell, torn to pieces by +bullets. But Chico struggled on, on, in spite of shot and shell--on, on, in +spite of the fact that he was wounded, and the loss of blood made him weak, +while the crippled wing retarded the swiftness of his flight. Still he +carried on--his stout heart never wavering, until, in the distance, his +keen eyes detected the tall shape of the new Campanile. Then, on and on, in +spite of the great aeroplanes constantly threatening destruction. + +At last the domes of the churches came in sight, and the salt smell of +the Adriatic acted as a tonic to the weary bird. He was nearing home +and Venice. Another moment and he was safe--safe with Pepita excitedly +fluttering over him. + +In the rejoicing Chico was called for again and again, but for the first +time since Paolo had clumsily put together the rude nest for the forlorn +little pigeon he found upon the pavement, the window was closed that the +sufferer might not be disturbed. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE HERO OF THE SQUARE + + +It was some months before hostilities ended, but favorable word continued +to come from the front, and the gloom that had so long overhung Italy was +dissipated. Women worked with light hearts, men fought with the assurance +of victory. + +Chico was soon about again and was the hero of the Square. Although his +nights were now somewhat restricted, he found it very pleasant to fly about +the accustomed haunts, and if he was a little inclined to assume the airs +of a war veteran, no one criticized. + +When Pepita, amid the cares of domesticity, wearied a little of her +husband's oft-repeated tales of life at the front, he had only to repair +to the Piazza where, in the perches among the Statuary, he never failed to +find plenty of cronies eager to pay him fascinated attention. + +When the armistice was signed, Venice gave herself up to revelry, and the +scenes when the Piazza was once more illuminated were wilder than at any +Carnival time. + +Processions of people, mad with joy, marched up and down, headed by Chico +and his master, and shouting in praise of the brave bird. + +It was not long before the city began to assume her customary appearance as +greatly prized treasures were brought from their hiding-places. + +The Colleoni statue once more stood in place; Titian's famous Assumption of +the Virgin that had transferred to Pisa was returned securely packed in +a huge chest, some seven and a half meters in length, and amid the wild +excitement the bronze horses were restored to their position on the top of +St. Mark's. People thronged to witness the ceremony and afterwards flocked +into the church where the patricians of Venice intoned the Te Deum in +thanksgiving. + +When the time came for conferring honors upon the war heroes, Chico was not +forgotten. After some discussion as to whether it would be practicable for +the bird to wear a band of honor about his leg, the idea was abandoned, and +a special medal was struck off and given to Andrea. It bore the arms of +Italy on one side and a pigeon on the other, with the inscription, "De +virtute." [Footnote: For courage.] + +On the eventful day in the office of the War Department, after the +presentation had been made, the General further addressed the boy who +stood, all trembling at the honor that had come to his Chico. + +"Special orders, my lad, have come from Rome that something shall be done +for you." + +As he paused, Andrea protested, "No, No! it is enough--the medal is +enough!" + +"The orders on this point are most explicit." The General's tone was +positive. "Come tell us, what is your ambition?" + +"To be an aviator, signore, in the service of my country," was the +stammering answer. + +"Bene! It shall be done. Your expenses shall be paid to the best government +school of aviation, and, from this time on, an income of one hundred and +fifty lire a month shall be allowed your parents, for it is understood your +father has aged greatly in the service of his country." + +Andrea bowed his head. He had no words to express his gratitude. But, once +outside, he ran every step of the way home, in his eagerness to tell the +wonderful news. + + * * * * * + +The Great War is now a matter of history, and once more tourists are +flocking to Venice. Again gay laughter is heard on the Grand Canal. The +little shops that line the sides of the Piazza of St. Mark's are now bright +with glittering strands of beads, while the women are once more busy with +their bobbins. + +The clock tower, the Ducal Palace, the Campanile--they are all there, +beautiful as ever, and now as ever stands St. Mark's Church, sharing the +joy of her people as she has sympathized with them in their sorrow. + +Perchance, reader, you may yourself sometime visit this city of "Beautiful +Nonsense," and, if so, may call "Chico, Chico!" and look to see if one of +the fluttering pigeons that so contentedly coo about the Square will not +come and light upon your shoulder. + +Should you be so fortunate as to catch a glimpse of an aeroplane circling +in the blue sky, you may risk a guess that the aviator is Andrea, in the +government employ. + +You may even learn that he wears a medal ever about his neck and that +sometimes he carries with him Chico as a mascot: sometimes, but not always, +for little Pepita is sadly lonesome when her faithful mate is long away. + +Who knows but that in the future this story of a homing pigeon may have a +place with the other memories of this wonderful city, and that, five or six +hundred years from now, children may gather about some old caretaker of St. +Mark's and listen, with fascinated attention, as he tells of the service +rendered Venice by a homing pigeon in the time of the Great War? + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chico: the Story of a Homing Pigeon, by +Lucy M. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab83ab8 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #9605 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9605) diff --git a/old/chico10.txt b/old/chico10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2c25a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/chico10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3188 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chico: the Story of a Homing Pigeon +by Lucy M. Blanchard + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Chico: the Story of a Homing Pigeon + +Author: Lucy M. Blanchard + +Release Date: January, 2006 [EBook #9605] +[This file was first posted on October 9, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CHICO: THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON *** + + + + +E-text prepared by Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, Josephine Paolucci, +and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + +CHICO + +THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON + +By LUCY M. BLANCHARD + +The Riverside Literature Series + +1922 + + + + + + + +DEDICATED TO ALL WHO LOVE VENICE + + +FOREWORD + +As is well known, the time for haphazard reading in the schools has passed. +The carefully selected lists compiled by those who make the education of +children their life work are adapted to the needs of every grade. + +It is not enough that a book possess story interest and that it be worth +while from a literary point of view. The great consideration is its +influence upon the mental and moral development of the child. It must be +stimulating and present to the pupil such ideals as will have a permanent +influence upon the formation of character. + +In CHICO, THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON, I believe present-day requirements +have been met, and that the book will prove of real value as a +supplementary reader in the primary grades. + +It has been my aim to depict accurately the Italian atmosphere and to give +information in such a way that children unconsciously will learn much of +the country form a true idea of the scenes described. + +Explanations of Italian words and phrases have been given when needed. + +I believe that the book will be found particularly valuable from the +standpoint of visual education, and well adapted also for silent reading +and topical recitations. + +The story was written out of a full heart, with the hope that it might +foster the love and appreciation of birds, and that the boy's sacrifice of +his precious homing pigeon to his country at a time of peril might carry an +ethical appeal to every young reader. + +THE AUTHOR + + CONTENTS + + I. OLD PAOLO + + II. ANDREA'S WISH + + III. MARIA'S BIRTHDAY + + IV. CHICO + + V. THE MEANEST CAT IN VENICE + + VI. TRAINING + + VII. DANGER AHEAD! + + VIII. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE + + IX. "COO-OO, COO-OO-OO. RUK-AT-A-COO" + + X. A GALA DAY + + XI. A LITTLE JOURNEY IN THE WORLD + + XII. THE BLUE ROSETTE + + XIII. AND ALL FOR ITALY! + + XIV. EVVIVA VENEZIA! EVVIVA ITALIA! + + XV. THE HERO OF THE SQUARE + + +[Illustration: CHICO] + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OLD PAOLO + + +Some years before the Great War, there lived in a little house on one of +the side canals of Venice, an honest workman and his family. Giovanni +Minetti, for such was his name, was employed in a certain glass factory in +Murano, while, in all Venice, there was no one with fingers more deft in +the making of beautiful lace than Luisa, his wife. + +At the time of our story, Andrea, the elder child, was nearly eight, and +his little sister, Maria, two years younger. + +Consigning the children to the care of her uncle (old Paolo, the caretaker +of St. Mark's), Luisa would go each morning to the lace factory, returning +just in time to prepare the simple dinner, at eventide. + +Those were wonderful days for the children, for though they missed their +father and mother, they were always happy with old Paolo. + +"Buon giorno" [Footnote: Good-morning.] they would shout every morning when +he stopped for them on his way to the famous church, and Maria, holding +tight to one of the old man's hands, would trot along by his side, while +Andrea, more independent, would run on ahead in his eagerness to thread the +narrow streets catch the first glimpse of the Piazza, as St. Mark's Square +is called. + +Then, while the old man cleaned and dusted, the children wandered about +the dusky interior, touching the gold mosaic figures with awed fingers, or +gazing reverently at the great altar front of silver gilt. + +After a little, hand in hand, they would scamper out into the bright +sunshine where they never tired of the many wonderful objects that make St. +Mark's Square a fairyland for young and old alike. + +"'Roglo!" little Maria would cry, as she pointed upward to the great clock +with its dial of blue and gold. It was the nearest she could come to +pronouncing "orologio," the Italian word for clock. Then she would listen +as hard as ever she could, hoping the bronze figures would strike the hour +on the bell. + +But Andrea loved best the horses that stood above the entrance of the +church. In his little soul he almost worshiped the fiery steeds and loved +to fancy himself seated on their backs. He even went so far as to plan to +scale the wall in order to satisfy his ambition. + +"Sometime, I will do it," he used to say, as he struck a determined +attitude, and Maria would look at him with adoring eyes. How venturesome he +was! He was taller than she by half a head, and his added two years gave +him a place in dignity far above her. + +It was no wonder the boy should be so crazy over the great bronze steeds +when one remembers that Venice is practically horseless and that they were +almost the only ones he had ever seen. + +Perchance, even, as they talked, they would hear the flutter of wings, and +some half-dozen pigeons, with soft coos, would light on their shoulders. +Then Maria would laugh aloud with delight, and Andrea would forget his wild +dreams as they stroked the glossy wings and admired the bright eyes, all +the while feeding them dried peas or grain with which their mother never +forgot to see their pockets were supplied. + +If, by chance, they flung a handful on the ground, in a second there would +be a whole flock of pigeons, lighting on the pavement. + +Then Maria would clap her hands, and Andrea would have all he could do to +see that no bird, greedier than the rest, got more than its share. + +The children would be so absorbed that they would become quite unconscious +of the tourists that would gather to watch the pretty group, for Venice was +full of tourists in those days--people who came, even from far-off America, +to see the wonderful St. Mark's Square, and hard-hearted, indeed, was the +man or woman who could turn away without buying at least one bag of grain +from insistent vendors and join the children in feeding the pigeons. + +But I have not yet begun to tell the wonders of St. Mark's Square. This was +in June, 1910; the Campanile was being built to replace the old one that +had fallen in 1902, and to little Maria and Andrea, there was a fascination +in watching the workmen lift the great stones into place from the confused +debris at its base. + +If the Piazza was wonderful, so, too, was the piazzetta with the Ducal +Palace with the golden staircase and the two columns, the one surmounted +by the winged lion of St. Mark, the other by St. Theodore, standing on a +crocodile. + +Sometimes, after having wandered to the edge of the Grand Canal and looked +away to the blue dome of the church of Maria della Salute, they would run +back to the Square and, hand in hand, go window-wishing among the shops +that line its sides. No one who has never seen these shops of Venice can +form any conception of how fascinating they are with their strands of +glittering beads or yards upon yards of marvelous laces. + +Often Andrea would exclaim, as they flattened their noses against the +glass, "When I am a man, I will work in the glass factory as my father +does, and, perhaps, who knows, I shall discover some new glaze which shall +make all the world amazed?" He had never forgotten the day when his father +had taken him to the factory and shown him the molten glaze and the workmen +blowing the glass into marvelous shapes. That day he had decided upon his +future career. + +But little Maria cared more for the laces, and would shyly point to some +especially beautiful piece and say softly: + +"Perhaps, it was the madre who made that." + +Once she followed an American woman into the shop and stood by her side +watching her bargain for an exquisite collar. So intently she looked that +the woman turned and met her gaze, remarking to her companion: + +"Even the children have it in them--I mean the love for beautiful things; +and did you see her fingers?--any one could tell they were meant for +lace-making." + +Sometimes the children lingered so long in this way that the bronze figures +would strike twelve, and they would have to hurry back so as not to keep +old Paolo waiting for his noonday lunch. + +Then, in some little recess around the corner of the church, with countless +pigeons waiting for the crumbs, they would sit with him, sharing his frugal +meal. When they had finished, he would sometimes take them for a ride in +his shabby gondola on the Grand Canal, and on the way they would beg to +stop for just a moment at the famous well with two porphyry lions. Andrea +was tall enough to clamber by himself after the manner of young Venetians, +and nothing would do but Paolo must lift Maria, so she, too, would proudly +straddle one of the fierce figures. There they would sit while the old +caretaker would count the pigeons bathing and splashing in the water. + +But, better than anything else, the children liked to snuggle close to +their companion while he told them wonderful stories until it was time for +him to go back to work. + +While they watched with fascinated eyes, he would trace a diagram in the +pavement to show how the Grand Canal, in its wanderings, exactly describes +the letter "S." His eyes would glow as he told of the grandeur of Venice +in the time of the Doges, or cause the children to shudder at gruesome +accounts of how, in the olden time, the prisoners were thrown from the +Bridge of Sighs, into the water below. + +Perchance, he would tell of the wedding of the Adriatic and call Venice the +Bride of the Sea, or give a vivid account of how the body of St. Mark was +brought there in the long ago. + +In fact, his tales were so realistic, that it almost seemed as if he must +have been an eyewitness of every incident he narrated. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ANDREA'S WISH + + +Of all the old man's tales, there was not one the children liked so well as +the story of St. Mark's pigeons. + +It was strange that, as soon as he began to talk about them, there would be +heard the whirr, whirr of wings, and in an instant, countless birds would +light on every possible ledge, nestling among the statuary and filling the +air with the soft music of their coos. + +On this special day of which I am going to tell you, three of the very +prettiest flew straight into Maria's lap and settled there, to her delight, +with an air of proprietorship, while one particularly striking fellow +perched inquisitively on Andrea's shoulder. + +"See, Paolo," the boy cried, "isn't he--GREAT?" This was a new word that he +had caught from one of the American tourists and he was immensely proud +of having mastered its pronunciation. As he spoke, he pointed to the fine +glossy wings and the bill that arched so delicately at the point. + +"See," he cried again, calling attention to the iridescent colors, shining +green and purple in the sunshine, then sighed disconsolately. "I do wish he +belonged to me." And he stroked lovingly the feathered head. "I never have +had a pet of any kind." + +"Is it, then, a matter of such grief?" questioned the old caretaker, +surprised at the lad's desire. + +"Si," [Footnote: Yes.] he answered passionately, "I wish--oh, how I wish +that I might have one for my very own!"--and he held the captive pigeon +close against his cheek. "Do you understand?" + +Paolo's answer came slowly. He had not forgotten an incident in his own +boyhood when he had made a pet of a certain fledgling. It had been injured +in some way and would have died had it not been for the careful nursing his +rescuer bestowed. His eyes grew misty and, somewhat angrily, he hastily +drew his coarse sleeve over them that the children might not perceive his +weakness. It had been foolish enough to have grieved, as a child, because a +pet pigeon had been shot by some heartless fellow for a pot-pie, but, after +a lapse of over sixty years--He cleared his throat, then patted Andrea's +dark hair. + +"There is no reason why you should not have your wish. Patience! and the +next fledgling that falls from the nest shall be yours." + +"Grazie!" the boy cried joyfully; "mil grazie!" [Footnote: Thanks! A +thousand thanks!] And in a paroxysm of delight, he seized one of his good +friend's hands. + +Laughing, Paolo turned to Maria who had sat quietly all the while, fondling +the feathered creatures in her lap. + +"How about you, little one? Would you, too, like a pigeon of your own?" + +"No," she answered shyly, "I love them _all_ too much." And the soft coo, +coo-oo-oo from the lapful of birds seemed appreciative of her words. + +"Very well, my dear, it shall be as you wish, and now that I have it all +straight in my old head, what pleases each of you best, what say you, shall +I begin the story?" + +"Si! Si!" they cried in unison, settling back against the wall, anxious not +to lose a single syllable. + +"It was in the time of the Doge, Enrico Dandolo," he began, bending a +questioning look at his eager listeners; "of course, you know that in the +long ago, Venice was ruled by men who bore the title of Doge?" + +The children nodded assent, and he went on, impressively: + +"Dandolo was a great man. He was eighty years old at the time he came into +the office, and blind, as well, but he was not too old to undertake mighty +enterprises." + +"When was it he lived?" asked Andrea meditatively. + +"Oh, many, many years ago--I am inclined to think it must have been at +least five or six hundred." + +"Five or six hundred years ago!" repeated Andrea incredulously, his +childish mind refusing to compass so great a lapse of time. + +"Well--thereabouts," Paolo resumed, somewhat disturbed at the interruption; +"it was in the time of the crusades. Have you ever heard of the crusades, +my dear?" And he softly touched Maria's chin. Before she could reply, her +brother put in, proudly, "I know, they were wars to rescue the holy lands +from the--" he paused. + +"Infidels," supplied Paolo approvingly. "That's right." And any one seeing +the old man would surely have thought that he had himself fought against +the infidels, such fire shot from his eyes, and so tense became his +muscles. "It was in the Fourth Crusade that Venice played so mighty a +part." + +"Was Dandolo the leader?" asked Andrea, sitting bolt upright in his +excitement, and forgetting the pigeon which, loosed by the sudden movement, +escaped, and soared, with a quick spiral curve, to the blue sky. + +Regretfully, the child watched the flight, but settled back as Paolo went +on: + +"Old though he was, he was the hero of the whole expedition. Even the +French had no general to compare with him. And tell me, both of you, did +you ever see a picture of a Doge of Venice?" + +"I have!" Maria cried; "and he wore a coat all red and gold and a cap--" + +"Si! si!" the old man interrupted, almost beside himself with excitement; +"those were his robes of state, but in armor, and on horseback before the +walls of Constantinople! Ah, then he must have been magnifico!" + +"On horseback, did you say?" repeated Andrea, and his eyes wandered to the +bronze steeds the manes of which glistened in the sunlight. + +Paolo nodded, "And I have no doubt but that the one great Dandolo rode was +like those very horses; and, by the way, my lad, did you ever hear that +they were part of the spoils he brought from the East in triumph and placed +above our own St. Mark's?" + +Without allowing Andrea time to comment on the amazing fact, he went on, +still more excitedly; + +"It is said that Dandolo, great as he was, would not have been able to +take the city had it not been for a messenger pigeon that brought him most +important information. Nor is that all the part the brave birds played at +this great time, for it was no other than some of our own fine homers that +conveyed the first news of glorious victory to Venice. Hence it was, that +when the Doge returned, in triumph, he issued a proclamation that the +pigeons should evermore be held in reverence." + +Paolo paused, well-nigh exhausted by his enthusiasm, and, reaching over, +laid his withered hand on the birds that still cooed contentedly in Maria's +lap. + +"It's no wonder they're so tame when every one has been loving them for the +last five or six hundred years!" she murmured. + +"Paolo!" Andrea suddenly asked, with sparkling eyes, "do you suppose that +we can teach my pigeon to carry messages?" + +"I shouldn't be surprised," replied the old caretaker, entering into the +lad's enthusiasm; "they're as intelligent now as they ever were. All they +need is the training. It's funny how their little heads can hold so much." + +Reaching over, he took one of the birds from Maria's lap and pointed to the +bulge just above the tiny ear: + +"Some people say that's where their sense of direction is located, but you +can't convince me it isn't in their hearts. It's the love they have +for their homes that makes 'em fly from any distance straight to their +nesting-places. I've noticed that a good homing pigeon has bright eyes, and +a stout heart, not to mention a keen sense of direction, and strong wings +to carry him long distances, but more than all else, there must be the love +of home." + +Andrea had lost not a syllable of what the old man said. For a long time +he had secretly cherished the desire to own one of the pretty fluttering +creatures, but not, until now, had the possibility occurred to him that he +might teach one to carry messages. + +Long after Paolo had returned to his duties in the church, the boy sat +watching the clouds of pigeons circling above, or flying double (bird and +shadow), against the walls of the church. + +He had made up his mind that as soon as Paolo fulfilled his promise, he +would begin to train his fledgling. + +"There's no knowing," he cried eagerly to Maria, "what important messages +my bird will carry!" + +In reply she only smiled--it was enough for her that the pigeons loved to +have her stroke them as they nestled in her lap. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MARIA'S BIRTHDAY + + +Andrea was so possessed with his idea that he ran every step of the way +home that afternoon, climbed up the narrow dark stairs, two steps at a +time, and burst upon his mother in such excitement that she feared some +misfortune had befallen the children. + +"What is it?" she cried, looking up from the stiff porridge she was mixing, +"are you hurt?--and Maria--where is she?" + +"Nothing has happened," was the breathless answer; "that is, nothing +dreadful, and Maria is behind with Paolo. It is only--" his dark cheeks +flushed. "It is only that he has promised me a pigeon of my own!" + +"Is that all?" Greatly relieved, his mother turned again to the polenta. +[Footnote: Cake, or thick porridge made of maize.] What a child he was, to +be sure, to be so pleased at the idea of the possession of a pigeon! + +"But, madre," he protested, "I am going to train it to carry messages. +There's no knowing what _my_ pigeon will do!" + +"Si! Si!" She replied absently as she turned to see if the charcoal was +right for the baking. + +It was a mean little house, at least so it would seem to most American +children--just three rooms overlooking one of the side canals, and over +a fish shop. It was built of brick (no one knew, how long ago), and was +wedged in between others, of exactly the same type. + +But it was home, and whatever else it lacked, it had a front window, with +shutters, and a balcony with an iron railing, and when tucked up in their +beds at night, in the tiny dark alcove, the children could hear the soft +swish of the water against the embankment. + +In spite of the window, even the best room was never very light, and only +an occasional streak of sunshine found its way in, but on those rare +occasions it fell upon the choicest treasure of the home, a rude colored +print of the Virgin, in a modest shrine, hung with gilded fringe. On the +shelf above, Luisa took care to see that a lamp was ever burning, and on +the table before it stood always a tiny vase of fresh flowers. What matter, +that the carpet was old, and the furniture worn, the Virgin's shrine was +there! + +Unconsciously, the children trod gently in this room, and their +laughter was subdued, but in the kitchen--ah, there, their spirits were +unrestrained. + +Maria was not long behind her brother, but the scampi,[Footnote: Fish.] +were already frying in the pan, before Giovanni, in his working shirt, +appeared in the doorway, hungry and ready for his dinner. + +"Padre! Padre!" cried Andrea; "only guess--the pet I am to have!" Then, +with scarcely an instant's pause, he went on, in a shrill voice, "A pigeon, +padre, isn't that--GREAT?" + +"Well, well!" Giovanni answered, taking his seat at the head of the table, +"and so you are to have a pigeon for a pet. I might have guessed anything +else--a parrot, a little singing bird, or perhaps, a couple of grilli +[Footnote: Crickets.] in a tiny cage, but a pigeon! Why, you play with them +all day long on St. Mark's Square." + +"But that is not like having one of one's own," the boy protested. + +He made a gesture of disgust. "A parrot, a singing bird, a couple of +grilli! What was his father thinking of?" and in another moment he was +explaining how he would train his bird to be a carrier pigeon, and how +bright its eyes would be, and how strong its wings, until his father +laughed and declared himself convinced that it would be the most wonderful +thing in all the world to own a pigeon. + +The fish had quite disappeared from the platter when Giovanni again spoke: + +"To-morrow is the Sabbath, and it is the little Maria's birthday--what say +you?"--he addressed himself particularly to Luisa--"shall we go to the +Lido?" + +To the Lido! The children's eyes sparkled. There was nothing they loved +more to do than to play on the sand at the Lido. + +"Si!" Luisa answered with ready acquiescence; "and on the way let us spend +a little time at the Accademia--it has been long since I have seen the +pictures of the great Titian and even Maria is quite old enough." + +So it was settled, and the children talked of nothing else the rest of the +evening, dropping off to sleep without once giving a thought to the lapping +of the water. + +When they woke, it was late; their mother had been up for a long time, +getting everything ready for the day's excursion. Already the lunch-basket +was packed, and as soon as the children were dressed and the breakfast +eaten, it was time to start. + +At first, Andrea walked with his mother, insisting upon carrying +the basket, but after a little his arms became weary and, without +expostulation, he allowed his father to take it from him, while he ran +joyfully ahead, eager to catch a glimpse of the bronze horses, and dabble +his fingers a few moments in the well with the bathing pigeons. + +As for Maria, she was most conscious of the fact that she was six years +old, and with shining eyes walked carefully by her mother's side. She wore +a string of gay beads about her neck (a birthday gift from her father) and +red tassels dangled bewitchingly from the tops of her new shoes. + +It was only a ten-minutes walk from St. Mark's to the Accademia, and after +a number of turns through one narrow calle after another, they came to the +bridge that led directly to the entrance. + +Maria was awed at the imposing doorway, but Andrea, boylike, marched in +unabashed, and, after a cursory glance in various directions, declared +himself ready to leave. He would far rather be outdoors and could scarcely +wait to get on to the Lido. + +"Not so soon, my lad, there is much that you should see." And, taking him +by the hand, Giovanni led him into a great room with two immense pictures. +One was the Assumption of the Virgin by the great Titian and before it even +restless Andrea was stilled, feeling a little of the spell that has made of +this place a world shrine for all lovers of art--the wonderful figure of +the Virgin, in billowy robes, rising to heaven, while countless angels, +each one seeming more adorable than the other, seem to bear her up in her +glad flight. + +"Listen," Luisa whispered, "do you not hear them singing 'Halleleujah'?" + +There were other pictures in the same room, and one especially that +interested Andrea. It was Tintoretto's Miracle of St. Mark, and he listened +attentively as his father told the story: + +How a certain pious slave, forbidden to visit and venerate the house of St. +Mark, disobeyed the command and went, notwithstanding. His master, angered, +ordered that the poor fellow's eyes be put out. But lo, a miracle stayed +the hands of those who were sent to carry out the cruel sentence. The slave +was freed, and his master converted. + +Then Luisa led Maria into another room, saying: + +"Here is the picture I most wanted you to see, for you are named for the +blessed Virgin. Have you not heard how, when Mary was scarcely more than a +child, she was taken to the temple and consecrated to the service of the +church?" + +Maria shook her head; her childish heart was full; and with solemn eyes she +looked long and earnestly at the little girl, with tightly braided hair, +slowly mounting the long flight of steps to the high priest who, though he +seemed stern and austere, held out his hand in kindly greeting. + +Long Maria lingered, noticing every detail, the blue dress, the lighted +taper, the halo round the head, and she was loath to leave, even when her +father came to the door, and her mother said gently: + +"Come, we must be off, if we would be at the Lido for our lunch." + +Soon they were in the steamer which chugged so merrily that Andrea forgot +all about the pictures he had seen in his interest in watching the wheels +go around and the white foam in the vessel's wake, but Maria sat in a kind +of dream until they reached the landing. + +Then, in the hurry that ensued and the many distractions on the shore, the +picture of the brave little girl, for the time, faded from her mind, and +she, too, gave herself up with undisguised pleasure to the fascinations of +the Lido. + +It is a strip of shore extending along the mouth of the Lagoon and forming +a bulwark of Venice against the Adriatic. It was here that the wedding +ceremony was performed in the long ago, and the view is most beautiful from +this point. + +They sat on a bench in front of the Aquarium to eat their luncheon, and the +children could scarcely wait to finish, they were so eager to press their +noses against the glass and watch the funny creatures swimming in the +tanks. Maria clapped her hands and declared the best of all were the +sea-horses--"Cavalli marini," she called them. + +Then, what a glorious afternoon they had on the smooth beach, hunting for +shells and digging in the sand. How Andrea laughed when his father took him +away out and let the breakers roll over him. Then Maria, holding tight to +her brother's hand, who still seemed much bigger and stronger, even if this +was her birthday, ventured far into the waves. + +Much too quickly the happy hours sped, and before they knew it it was six +o'clock. + +All the way home on the steamer Andrea held tightly to the dried starfish +he had found on the sand, while Maria was the happiest child in Venice, +with a brooch made from the pearl shell of the Lido, which Luisa called +"fior di mare," or flower of the sea. + +As they stumbled sleepily across the Square in the darkening twilight, +holding fast to the hands of their mother and father, their ears failed to +catch the faint cheep of a baby bird in distress, and they reached home +entirely unaware of the tragedy that had happened in pigeon-land. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CHICO + + +When Paolo called for the children Monday morning, there was an air of +mystery about him that was distinctly puzzling. Then, too, he walked +unusually fast, so that Andrea found it difficult to keep up with him, +and finally demanded curiously, "What's the matter?" without, however, +receiving any answer. + +"What's the matter?" echoed Maria, falling behind after a futile effort to +keep up, Paolo slackened his pace with a laconic "Wait and see," that was +even more mystifying. + +On reaching the Piazza, his manner showed still greater excitement. + +"Venite!" [Footnote: "come here"] he exclaimed, leading the way to a small +shed back of the church where he was accustomed to keep his tools. + +"Venite!" he repeated, entering by a rear into the gloomy interior. + +It was several moments before the eyes of the children became sufficiently +accustomed to the dim light to really see what was being pointed out. High +above their heads was a small window, close to which had been placed a +wooden box. + +The old man stopped a moment, listened, reached up his hand, then drew it +back with an air of satisfaction, while the youngsters, fascinated, watched +without in the least surmising what it was all about. + +With a finger on his lips to enjoin silence, he suddenly seized Andrea and +raised him to the level of the window ledge. + +"There!" he cried, "don't be afraid. Put your hand into the box." + +As the boy timidly obeyed, he went on, "Now tell me, what do you feel? +Speak!" + +The frightened look on Andrea's face gave way, first to one of +mystification, then to an expression of joy as his hand touched something +warm: + +"L'uccello!" [Footnote: The bird.] he cried; then, in an ecstasy of +delight, "Is it mine?" + +Paolo nodded, and, after putting the boy down on the floor, gently lifted +Maria so that she, too, might put her fingers into the nest he had made for +the fledgling he had found on the pavement the evening before. + +"It's a baby pigeon," she softly murmured. + +"Si! Si!" the old caretaker declared, delighted at the sensation he had +caused, "I came across him all huddled up by yonder column." + +"And may I really have him?" queried Andrea, finding it hard to realize +that he had gained his heart's desire. + +"Why not? I doubt if the old birds will even notice he has gone. You +know when the mother has other eggs to take her attention, she gives the +fledglings into the care of the father bird, and it isn't very long before +he pushes them out to shift for themselves. There is no reason why this +particular one should not belong to you: in fact, I imagine he's a bit +lonesome in this strange place, though, to be sure, I did all I could to +make him comfortable, with a wisp of hay and a few dried sticks, but, at +best, I'm not much of a nest-maker. Come now, would you like to have a look +at him?" + +"Si! Si!" the children cried together. And with that Paolo, after lighting +a bit of discarded candle and giving it to Andrea to hold, stretched up and +took the pigeon from the nest. + +In the flickering light the children bent lovingly over the little +fluttering thing in the old man's hand; they had never before seen a young +bird at such close range and they looked with wonder at the soft, shapeless +body, the big eyes, the ugly bill, wide open in insistent demand for food. + +"May I give him a crumb to eat?" asked Andrea in an odd tone. + +"Si," was the ready assent; "I expect he's hungry enough, with no one to +wait on him. By the way, did you ever see a baby pigeon fed?" + +The children shook their heads and listened most eagerly as the old man +went on: + +"This is a matter in which both father and mother take a hand, and the +first food is a liquid secreted in their crops and called 'pigeons' milk.' +When mealtime comes, the parents open wide their beaks, the little birds +thrust in their bills, and the fun begins. I tell you it takes a great deal +of effort and bobbing of heads for Baby Pigeon to get a satisfactory meal." + +"How can we--ever--feed him?" Andrea anxiously interrupted, as if he felt +that his charge might prove somewhat of a responsibility. + +"Don't worry," was the comforting response as Paolo nodded his wise old +head; "he may not be able to shift for himself, but I am willing to wager +he will manage to eat whatever you offer him. You see this particular +kind of infant food only lasts a few days; after that the milk gradually +thickens and becomes mixed with bits of grain. Almost before he knows +it, Baby Pigeon is independent of his parents and eats quite as if fully +grown." + +With that the old caretaker held out a piece of cracked wheat to the +fledgling who devoured it greedily and opened his beak for more. + +The children laughed aloud and clapped their hands in glee, continuing +to feed him until Paolo declared the bird had had a royal breakfast and +carefully replaced him in the nest. + +Then, with Andrea on one side and Maria holding tightly to the other hand, +he led them out of the shed and into the bright sunshine. + +They stopped for a moment under the window for a lingering glance upward +while Paolo called their attention to the dry-goods box he had placed on +end for their special convenience. + +"By standing on this," he explained, "you can get on a level with the nest +without being dependent on me." + +All the morning the children hung around the shed, delighted when there +was an occasional sound from the nest above, and from time to time they +clambered up to whisper soft nothings to the sharp ears of Baby Pigeon. + +At noon, when eating their luncheon, they plied the old caretaker with +questions some of which, it must be confessed, taxed all his ingenuity to +answer satisfactorily. + +"How long will it be before I can begin to train him?" interrupted Andrea, +on fire with his desire at once to realize his ambition. + +Paolo laughed. "One question at a time. I notice some soft down already +beginning to show, so I fancy it will not be many weeks until he can boast +as much in the way of fine clothes as his own father and mother. As for his +training, it's quite too soon to think of that; so, my boy, you will have +to possess your soul in patience for a while longer. By the way, your bird +should have a name. Have you any in mind?" + +"Not yet, although I've been thinking about that very thing," Andrea +answered meditatively; "no name seems good enough." + +"I think 'bambino' would be nice," suggested Maria; "he's such a darling +baby." + +"Si, but he will soon be grown up" put in Andrea; "I was wondering how +Marco would do." + +"Well, I don't say it wouldn't do," Paolo answered reflectively; "but it +seems to me something like 'caro' or 'amato' [Footnote: Dear--beloved] +might be appropriate for such a pet." + +Andrea shook his head. And, after again racking his brain in an effort to +suggest a really appropriate name, the old man finally slapped his hand on +his side: + +"It just comes to me this instant, something I heard one of those touristas +call a little curly dog by. At the time it occurred to me that it sounded +more like a name for a pigeon." + +"What was it?" Andrea inquired eagerly. + +"Chico," Paolo answered, lingering on the first syllable, exactly as the +tourista had done--"Chee-ko." + +Andrea was charmed, agreeing that there was something about it that seemed +to suit a saucy pigeon, and, vastly pleased, he repeated over and over, +"Chico, Chico," while Maria echoed softly "Chee-ko." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE MEANEST CAT IN VENICE + + +It is hard to imagine a more forlorn experience in the life of a young bird +than to be suddenly pushed from the nest and find himself alone on a hard +pavement. It is bad enough when it happens as the result of premeditation +on the part of an unfeeling parent who has made up his mind that his +offspring are quite able to shift for themselves, but, when it occurs from +accident, it is nothing short of tragic. + +Poor Chico, this was what had happened to him, and he had huddled, +shivering, close to the column of St. Theodore and tried in vain to reason +everything out in his pigeon mind. Many things had happened of late that he +had not been able to understand. His mother, hitherto most attentive to his +sister and himself, had suddenly ceased feeding them with the nice soft +food they loved so well, at the same time refusing to cuddle them under her +warm breast. + +He remembered vaguely hearing her impatiently coo to his father, that _he_ +would have to look out for the fledglings, her duty was to the eggs. At the +time he hadn't understood what she meant by eggs, although once or twice he +had caught a glimpse of two white oval things under her breast which she +seemed to be dreadfully proud of. + +It wouldn't have been so bad if his father had been as affectionate as +usual, but, on the contrary, he had treated his sister and himself as if +they were in the way, and it was easy to see Father Pigeon would have +greatly preferred crowding on the nest with his mate to getting food for +two greedy fledglings. + +In fact, that was how the accident had happened. Chico had been so +unfortunate as to get in the way, with the result that he had been pushed +out and had fallen to the ground. + +Poor little naked fledgling, he had shivered and huddled close to the +friendly column, for, even in summer, the breeze from the Adriatic often +blows fresh and cool. + +He had just begun to wonder how he should get anything to eat, when +suddenly a shadow had come over him, causing him to crouch low in even, +greater terror, while his heart thumped horribly, but before he could utter +a sound he had been seized by a big warm hand, and a voice that was not +unkindly had exclaimed: + +"Did the little pigeon fall from the nest?" + +In the warm comfort of Paolo's hand the bird had forgotten his fear, and +his little heart had ceased to thump as he reflected this must be a human, +and his mother had always taught him that "humans" were kind to birds in +St. Mark's Square. So, with a feeling akin to confidence, he had allowed +himself to be carried somewhere he did not know, and deposited In what he +supposed was meant for a nest, although it was not bit like the nice, soft +one to which he had accustomed. + +He had even managed to eat a crumb or two, and, in spite of the fact that +he was very lonely without his sister to keep him company, he had finally +succeeded in going to sleep. + +In the morning the big hand had grasped him again and had shown him to two +long-legged creatures who he had guessed were human children, because they +looked much as his mother had described them in one of her favorite lullaby +coos. He had not been afraid of them, but, flattered by their delighted +exclamations, had eaten everything they had offered him. + +By the time the second night had come, Chico had so far become accustomed +to his strange surroundings that he slept almost as well as if he had been +under his mother's wings. + +He was still dreaming when he heard a voice call, "Chico, Chico--are you +still there, Chico?" + +He roused instantly, reminded of his friends who had given him his +breakfast the morning before. + +He raised his head. There was a sound of other little feet climbing upon +the dry-goods box, and a softer voice called, "Chico, Chico!" + +Still he made no movement, listening while the children speculated as to +whether or not their pet had been spirited away during the night. + +"Chico! Chico!" There was something so pleading in the boy's voice that the +baby pigeon thrust his open bill out of the window on the ledge. + +"He's here, he's here!" Andrea shouted, almost losing his balance in his +excitement, but he saved himself in time to put a bit of cracked wheat into +the wide-open mouth. It was greedily swallowed and the open bill demanded +more. This performance was repeated until the boy's supply was exhausted. +Then the bill was withdrawn, and Chico disappeared from view. But between +the boy and the bird had been established a bond that would never be +broken. From that time on, Chico was his pigeon in every sense of the word, +and, at Andrea's first call, the greedy bill would immediately appear. + +So it went on, until one bright morning, when the children turned the +corner of the church, they found Chico, perched on the window ledge, faking +a sun-bath and waiting for his friends. + +My! what excitement there was! Andrea could scarcely wait to climb up on +the box, and was delighted when Chico cocked his head on one side and +actually permitted his caresses. + +"Bambino!" murmured Maria; "dear little baby bird. Oh, see! he's actually +getting feathers!" + +It was true, the soft down with which he was covered in some places was +beginning to give way to the first pin feathers, his bill did not seem +so awkwardly large, and the soft, shapeless body already showed signs of +developing future grace. + +After this Chico was always waiting for the children, and would cock his +head on one side when he saw them coming, uttering little squeaky noises +that did not sound in the least like cooing. All the time his feathers were +growing and his wings becoming stronger. + +Then came a day when Paolo declared that Chico must have his first lesson +in flying, and the children watched, with abated breath, as the old man +took the bird from his nest and placed him on the pavement, at the same +time stationing himself at a little distance and holding an enticing +morsel. At first the baby pigeon flopped aimlessly about when, suddenly, +Maria caught Andrea's arm, whispering excitedly, "He's going to do it, oh, +he's going to do it!" and, miracle of miracles! after awkwardly raising +one wing and then another, he actually mastered the first lesson and, in +consequence, was treated to a royal breakfast. It was a great exertion, +and, after satisfying his hunger, he then and there closed his weary eyes +and took a nap on the pavement, much to Paolo's amusement. + +"Well," he exclaimed, "it's the first time I ever taught a bird to fly. One +never knows what one can do until one tries." + +After that not a day passed that Chico did not make short flights, to +Andrea from Maria, and from her to the old man's shoulder, until, one +morning, he greatly amazed them by flying into his own window box. + +Gaining confidence, Chico must have had it in his pigeon mind one morning +to fly from his nest and greet his friends upon the pavement. But alas, he +miscalculated his strength, even as human beings often do, and while he +spread his wings most boldly, he lost his balance and fell ignominiously to +the ground. That would not of itself have been so bad, for, like children +learning to walk, baby pigeons must have many a disaster before the art of +flying is completely mastered, but, by some strange chance, it happened +that a lean tortoise-shell kitten was prowling about one of the side +streets and at that moment poked her head into St. Mark's Square. Now, in +Venice, there are very few cats--in fact, because of the esteem in which +pigeons are held, they are not popular pets. More than that, they are +positively prohibited from St. Mark's Square, as any well-trained feline +should know. + +Where this cat came from, and to whom she belonged, ever remained a +mystery, but as she curiously poked her head into the forbidden precinct +she caught sight of Chico, lying stunned and helpless from his fall. Here +was her chance. Straightway flinging caution to the winds, with a quick +spring she landed full upon the trembling bird, at the same time seizing +him with her paws and burying her cruel teeth in his tender flesh. + +What would have been the result I shudder to reflect, had not Andrea at +that moment appeared upon the scene. With a scream of terror he rushed +forward, clapping his hands and making such an outcry that the kitten, +frightened, dropped her prey and disappeared down the side street from +which she had ventured. + +When Paolo arrived on the scene a few moments later he found Andrea, +well-nigh distracted, hugging his wounded pet to his breast, and whispering +over and over again: + +"Chico, Chico, you mustn't die--you mustn't die!" + +It took Paolo but a few moments to assure himself that Chico was not +seriously hurt, although he bore the scar made by the cruel claws for many +a day, and it was weeks before he dared again to try the flight from his +nest to the pavement. + +As for the cat, although the old caretaker sallied forth vowing vengeance, +she was never again seen. + +Soon it was time for the children to go to school in the old building +situated some distance from St. Mark's, not far from the Rialto. + +There was now only time in the morning for a brief visit with Chico before +lessons began, and a hurried half-hour with him at luncheon. Hence the +moments after four o'clock and the full holiday on Saturday were most +precious, and on those occasions no one was happier than Chico, flying from +one to another, and usually ending by perching coquettishly on Andrea's +shoulder. + +"There isn't a pigeon in Venice to compare with him," remarked Andrea, +lovingly touching the daintily arched bill, and looking into the clear +eyes. "Tell me, Paolo, did you ever see so fine a bird?" + +In answer the old man thoughtfully stretched out the well-shaped wings, +saying, as the colors shone iridescent green and blue in the sunshine: +"They're as beautiful as any wings I ever saw, and better than that, +they're strong. Wings like that can carry a pigeon any distance. Yes," he +continued, more to himself than to the children, "if he's to be a homer, it +seems to me it's full time to begin his training." + +Andrea started in an ecstasy of delight. + +"Do you mean it, Paolo? Do you really mean it?" + +The old man nodded. "Yes, and if you have no objections, we'll give him the +first lesson next Saturday morning." + +As if surmising that he was the subject of discussion, Chico flew back to +Andrea's shoulder, where he coo-ooed blissfully, while Paolo unfolded to +his eager listeners the details as he had planned them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TRAINING + + +As a first step he had secured a wicker basket with a close-fitting cover +which roused the liveliest curiosity and caused Andrea to ask, doubtfully: + +"What has a basket to do with teaching a pigeon?" + +"Just about everything," the old man wisely replied. "By carrying the bird +in a dark basket to the place from which he is to make his flight, he will +have no way of acquainting himself with the direction in which he traveled, +and, when released, must depend entirely upon his homing instinct." + +"Chico won't like being shut up in a dark prison," interrupted Maria, +stretching up to caress the glossy neck; "it's like being blindfolded." + +"Perhaps not," was the rejoinder, "but if he is going to be trained to be a +faithful homer, he will have to spend a good deal of time in the same dark +prison. It's part of the discipline of his life." As he finished, he began +tracing figures on the pavement, and the children, wondering still more, +watched him, fascinated. + +"There's no doubt," he mused, more to himself than to his listeners, "but +that he could find his way from such near-by points as the Ducal Palace and +the Bridge of Sighs--I'm disposed to take him farther away for his first +trial--say to the Rialto." + +"Bene! bene!" [Footnote: Good! good!] shouted Andrea, clapping his hands. + +"Then," continued the old man, without paying any attention to the +interruption, "if he does well from such distances as that, we'll gradually +take him farther away--perhaps to the Lido and--" + +"To the Lido," repeated Andrea, to whom this seemed a great distance. "Do +you think he could find his way from there?" + +"Without the least difficulty," was the answer, "and within a few weeks, +unless I miss my guess; after a while we'll have to arrange to try him from +other parts of Italy--Milan, for instance." + +"Milan! Other parts of Italy!" The children found it hard to fancy cooing +little Chico finding his way home from distant cities, and in spite +of himself, Andrea's eyes filled with tears, as he faltered, +"I--wouldn't--want--him to get--lost!" + +"Not much danger of that, I fancy. If he doesn't fall down on the easy +flights, he'll be able to take the longer ones. + +"Why, lad," Paolo went on kindly, touched by the boy's dejection, "if you +want Chico to be a real homing pigeon, you must expect him to run some +risks. Don't you remember Dandolo's bird that carried the glad news from +Constantinople?" + +Andrea nodded, doubtfully. While he had thought much of the possible glory +Chico might gain as a faithful messenger, for the first time he trembled +lest, in realizing the ambition, the safety of the bird might be +endangered. Thoughts of possible perils filled his mind with foreboding, +but he didn't wish Paolo to think he was turning the white feather, so he +swallowed hard and forced himself to say: + +"I guess it will be all right." + +"All right! I should say it would be," was the hearty response; "and just +remember, my boy, if you expect your bird to have a stout heart you must +keep up your own courage." + +At last Saturday came, the day Paolo had set for the training to begin. +Andrea was so excited he had no appetite for breakfast and would have +rushed from the house without a mouthful if Luisa had not insisted that +he eat at least one piece of the hot polenta. But that was all--he almost +bolted it whole, and, without waiting for Paolo, was out of the house and +in St. Mark's Square at least half an hour earlier than ever before. + +Not that it was much satisfaction, for hardhearted Paolo had carefully +placed the pigeon in the basket the night before, saying as he secured the +cover: + +"He must not be allowed his freedom until we reach the Rialto, then he will +be hungry and doubly anxious to reach home." + +"Can't we give him anything to eat?" Andrea asked anxiously. + +"Not a morsel!" was the stern reply. "If he is to be trained at all, it +must be done right. Come, children, give me your promise not to interfere." + +"We won't," they answered in unison, and though Andrea still thought +the treatment very harsh, he dared not again raise his voice in further +protest. + +It seemed very forlorn not to find Chico waiting on his window ledge +when he turned the corner of the church, and with heart aching for the +imprisoned bird, he entered the dark little shed and looked anxiously for +the basket. There it was, in the corner where Paolo had left it, but, as he +called once, and then again, there was no answering "coo." + +Andrea's heart sank; perhaps the bird was sick. Beset by anxious thoughts +he crossed the room, took the basket in his hand and held it to his ear. +Not a sound! Genuinely frightened, he regretted bitterly that he had +ever wished the bird trained. Why had he not been content with him as he +was--the most beautiful bird in St. Mark's Square? + +Turning the basket about, he looked it all over carefully. There was a +slight stir. He breathed a sigh of relief, then joyfully caught his breath +as he suddenly discovered two bright eyes looking straight at him through +one of the cracks. + +"Chico!" he cried joyfully; "Chico! Are you all right?" Placing his ear to +the wicker prison, he caught a faint answering "coo," and a minute later +the very tip of the bird's bill found its way through one of the cracks. It +was heartrending, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that Andrea +restrained himself from tearing off the cover of the basket and feeding +his hungry pet, but he had given his promise, so he was obliged to content +himself with holding the basket close to his cheek and murmuring soft words +into the responsive ears of the prisoner. + +So Paolo found him. Andrea started guiltily as the old caretaker stepped in +the door, but drew himself up proudly at the sharp inquiry: + +"Is it possible that you are feeding Chico?" + +"No," was the quick reply, "I am only talking to him. Surely there isn't +any harm in that!" + +"No harm at all," the old man answered; "and now I propose to take him to +the Rialto and there give him his freedom, while you wait here and see +if he knows enough to come home. Notice the time by the big clock; if he +returns promptly, you may reward him with a good breakfast and plenty of +water to drink, for he will be thirsty." + +Andrea's face lighted up with joy. He had a pocket full of choice morsels, +and, with a happy face, watched Paolo set out, carefully holding the basket +with its precious load, while he and Maria settled themselves to await +developments. + +The Rialto is one of the busiest spots in all Venice; especially is it +so at this time in the morning, for hither come the black boats from the +island laden with fruits and vegetables to provision the city. On +every side, amid the jostling throngs of people, one sees mountains of +watermelons, piles of garlic, old scows and worn-out gondolas, heaped with +all manner of strange-looking fish. Crossing over the bridge to the end +where the jewelers have their shops, and elbowing through the crowd of +young girls and matrons, with their gay-colored handkerchiefs and strands +of bright beads, Paolo came to a more secluded quarter. Here he stopped, +and, with careful deliberation, lifted the cover of the basket, saying as +he laid his hand affectionately on Chico's glossy head, "Now fly, my bird, +straight to your house!" + +Without a moment's delay Chico was out of his prison and with a quick, +spiral curve had soared into the blue Venetian sky. Pausing for an +imperceptible instant, as though in search of some familiar object, he was +off in the direction of St. Mark's Square. + +In the meantime Andrea and Maria waited impatiently enough. They knew it +would take time for Paolo to reach his destination, for the old man's steps +were not as quick as they had once been. And then the awful thought would +come that Chico might not fly straight home--might be beguiled elsewhere +for some reason. + +Full well Andrea knew how much depended upon this first flight. + +Just as the figures on the great clock struck the hour of ten there was a +whirr of wings. An arrow of silver shot through the air, and in another +instant Chico was in his nest. + +"Urra! Urra!" the boy shouted, throwing his cap into the air; then +boisterously seizing his pet, "You did it, you did it! Chico, old bird! My, +but I'm proud of you!" Then remembering that Paolo had said there would be +a message concealed about the bird's leg, his hand felt for the closely +wound bit of tissue paper, and tense with excitement he shouted aloud +Chico's first message: + +"Evviva Italia!" [Footnote: Long live Italy!] + +Again he hugged his pet until he suddenly discovered a hungry bill in his +pocket, and he remembered that Chico hadn't had his breakfast. + +When Paolo arrived upon the scene, puffing from his unaccustomed exertion, +he found Chico greedily eating while Maria was still repeating, "Viva +Italia!" + +Upon comparing his watch with the clock Paolo's delight knew no bounds at +finding that Chico had made the flight in one minute and a half, fully one +half a minute shorter time than Paolo had allowed. + +"Bene! bene!" he cried excitedly, "I told you he had the points of a good +homing pigeon. All he needs is training." Then, laying his hand on Andrea's +shoulder, he added, "My boy, you have a bird of which you may well be +proud." + +While he was thus under discussion Chico, seemingly unconscious that he had +done anything at all remarkable, with his crop fairly bulging with the good +things which he had eaten, perched serenely on the window ledge diligently +preening his feathers. + +This was but the first of many flights: the next time it was Paolo who +stayed to watch the nest while Andrea set off, carrying the bird in his +basket. He was especially delighted because the Colleoni statue was his +destination, for there was no place in Venice (except the Piazza of St. +Mark's) which possessed a greater fascination for him than the Campo of +Giovanni e Paolo. The sight of the stalwart figure of Colleoni in his coat +of mail astride the splendid steed never failed to rouse in his young heart +the fires of ambition. + +"It's a great thing, Chico!" he exclaimed, peering through the cracks at +the bright eyes--"a great thing to be so brave and do so much for Venice. +Perhaps, who knows, you and I may do as much some day." + +With that he loosed the prisoner who straightway flew into the air, and +after gracefully circling for an instant around the statue, without further +hesitation was off and was soon a mere speck in the blue sky. + +Once the boy had the felicity of keeping Chico in his home all night. Then +nothing would do but Luisa must admire his fine plumage, and his father +must declare that he was quite the finest pigeon he had ever seen. It took +the combined force of the family to consider what message they should send +old Paolo in the morning, and, after a great deal of discussion, Giovanni's +stiff old hand penned the simple words on a bit of paper: + +"Buon giorno!" + +So the days passed; every few mornings Chico essayed some new flight until +Paolo declared he was satisfied that the bird knew his way perfectly within +a certain radius and must now venture farther from home. After this it was +not so easy, and on several occasions Chico had adventures that tried even +his stout little heart, and brought many an hour of anxiety to his friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DANGER AHEAD! + + +The earnest little fellow carrying his bird in a basket was now a familiar +object in Venice and attracted much attention from tourists and bystanders +who often collected in little groups to watch the graceful flights. To some +it was the subject of jest, and to them it seemed nothing short of folly to +spend so much time in the training of a pigeon, while others were loud in +exclamations of delight. + +"Bello! Bello Colombo! [Footnote: Beautiful! Beautiful pigeon!] He's a +mighty fine bird, my boy!" + +As for Chico, one could see that he greatly enjoyed his experience. He no +longer showed resentment at being shut up in the basket, but evidently +considered that a necessary prelude to his glorious flights. + +One morning Andrea set out for the Arsenal, which is, as every one +acquainted with the city knows, one of the show places of Venice. In the +olden days, when the Venetians were first in the art of shipbuilding, it +was the working spring of their strength, their enemies looking upon +the stronghold with envious eyes as symbolizing her supremacy over the +Adriatic, and even now there was always a large number of strangers in its +vicinity. + +Andrea approached and took his station, near one of the two great lions +that guard the entrance. He was accosted by a well-dressed Austrian: + +"What have you there, my boy? Anything to sell?" + +"No, signore," was the quick reply. But Andrea, intent upon his mission, +felt vaguely disturbed, liking neither the looks of the man nor the tone of +his inquiry. + +Silently and with evident envy the man watched the pigeon's joyous spiral; +then he again addressed the boy: + +"Come, now, what will you take for him! Twenty lire! [Footnote: A lire in +ordinary times is worth about twenty cents.] A. hundred? You must admit +that is a high price for a pigeon when it would be so easy a matter to +replace him. There are hundreds of pigeons in Venice." + +"He is not for sale!" Andrea answered curtly, wishing the man would leave +him alone. + +The stranger turned sullenly, not liking to be baffled, muttering under his +breath, "That bird would be worth any amount of money to me if I could but +secure him for the War Department in Vienna!" + +As for Chico his troubles for the day had only begun. By chance he flew +somewhat lower than was usual with him, and thus attracted the attention of +a shabby, ill-looking fellow who with gun in hand was wandering about the +side streets, hoping he might be so fortunate as to get a shot at some fat +pigeon for a pot-pie. + +After a quick glance to be sure no sharpnosed guard was in sight, he raised +his gun and fired. Startled by the report Chico quickened his flight, and +the bullet whizzed past merely grazing one wing and inflicting a slight +wound on his left leg. The pain, however, was sharp and caused him to slow +down, so that he did not reach his destination until some time after Andrea +had returned, much to the anxiety of his friends. + +When he finally fluttered, exhausted, into the nest, the old caretaker +caught sight of the bloodstain, and exclaimed in alarm, "Chico, my bird, +what happened?" while Andrea, fairly beside himself, mourned as he stroked +his wounded pet. + +"It was the Austrian! I know It was! I liked not his words nor the +expression of his eyes. And now Chico is going to die!" + +"Nay, lad," Paolo answered, after carefully examining the leg. "It is only +a flesh wound, and he will soon be himself again. As for the Austrian--I +doubt very much if such was the case. I judge, from what you say, that +he is quite too anxious to get possession of the bird to run any risk of +harming him. More likely some greedy fellow shot him for a pie. I have +known such things to happen in Venice." + +"Shot for a pot-pie!" repeated Andrea, hot with indignation, while Maria +whispered, "Poor Chico! Poor Chico!" at the same time gently touching the +bird's head, who responded with a mournful "coo." + +For a few days the bird drooped and was quite an invalid: it was more than +a week before he ventured beyond the friendly precincts of St. Mark's +Square. + +But he had learned a lesson which, later on, stood him in good stead, for +ever after he took care to fly far above the reach of cruel gunners. + +Several weeks after this incident, Paolo himself took the pigeon to +Chioggia, some fifteen miles from Venice. However famous this little +Italian town may be because of the battle that was fought there in the long +ago, between the Venetians and the Genoese, it is now known chiefly as a +fishing village and a picturesque spot where artists love to congregate. + +On leaving the steamer the old man, not wishing to attract attention, +avoided the broad street, with its arcades and cafes, instead picking his +way along the canal, packed with fishing craft of every description, until +he to a superb white bridge, the pride of the little town. + +There he paused, and thinking himself quite away from inquisitive +spectators, loosed the bird and stood a few moments watching him speeding +his way above the beautiful white arch towards home. + +How strong were the graceful wings, and how steady the flight! + +It was a warm day in early spring; he threw himself on the bank of the +canal grass thinking how pleasant it was on the water's edge. Suddenly a +voice sounded in his ears causing him to start visibly: + +"Surely, it must be a pleasant occupation to be a pigeon fancier." + +The tone was ingratiating, but resenting the intrusion, Paolo looked +around and caught an expression that belied the smooth words, and made him +instinctively distrust the stranger who had accosted him. + +He did not answer, and the man pursued: "No wonder, when you have so fine a +bird. May I ask for what particular purpose you are training him?" + +"Only for a boy's pleasure," was the short reply. Paolo immediately +surmised that this was he of whom Andrea had told him. + +As he rose to go, the man went on, still more suavely: "By the way, I have +a very special reason why I should like a carrier pigeon." He lowered his +voice. "And am prepared to pay any amount for him; will you not set a +price?" + +Paolo emphatically shook his head. "He can't be bought! I tell you the bird +is not for sale!" And with that the old caretaker walked away. + +He was troubled, and the remainder of the time before the steamer sailed +walked the narrow streets, too much disturbed over the incident to notice +the women in the doorways making lace and the children sitting on the +ground beside the narrow footpaths, their fingers busy knitting or +stringing beads. + +He did not know that the Austrian followed him, and that, on reaching the +quay, the intruder chose a seat on the other side of the steamer. It is +no wonder that the artists go wild over the harbor, dotted as it is with +picturesque sails of yellow, blue, or red. Just beyond is Palestrina, +equally interesting, and known as the "narrowest town on earth," while a +little farther on the steamer skirts along manifold vegetable gardens, in +the midst of settlements whose simple homes are gay in their coloring of +pink, yellow, red, or white. + +By the time the Lido was reached, the sun was low in the heavens, and soon +the lagoon was before them, bright in the roseate rays. After this it was +not long before Venice came in sight, more lovely than ever in the first +twilight. + +With a sigh Paolo stretched his limbs, cramped by sitting so long in one +position. He was getting old, he reflected, and found even a few hours' +excursion tiring in the extreme. As he made his way towards the Piazza, he +decided positively that not one syllable would he breathe to the children +of his encounter with the Austrian. + +"It would only worry them, and what's the use?" he reflected. "It's old +Paolo who must guard Chico"--and he shook his head--"I fear it will be a +hard thing to do." + +At a safe distance the stranger followed until St. Mark's Square was +reached. There he concealed himself behind a column and watched to see the +location of Chico's nest. + +It was so late that the children had gone home, but Andrea had left a +folded paper, weighted by a stone, on the window ledge. Opening it Paolo +deciphered, without difficulty, the boy's writing. + +"Chico reached home at ten minutes to four." + +"Bene!" the old man ejaculated, forgetting his fatigue; "he made it in +thirty minutes, and it took me all of three hours." + +As he reached his rough hand in through the window and touched +affectionately the sleeping bird, the Austrian moved from his position and +slunk down a side street. He had found out all he wanted, and his malicious +expression changed to one of triumph as he muttered: + +"I'll have that bird yet, in spite of the old man!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE + + +Ever since Chico had become grown he had been in the habit of flying from +his nest in the early morning for a brief survey of the Piazza. First, he +would make his way to the famous well and, after a refreshing bath, would +walk about on the ground for a while in search of stray morsels of food, +perchance left by tourists the day before. Then, on the way back to his +ledge, he would stop for a moment here and there among the statuary for +a gossipy "coo" with one and another pigeon friend. But no matter how +interested he became in the sights and news of the Square, he was always on +his ledge in time to greet his dear human friends, upon whose appearance +there would ensue such an excited fluttering of wings and such a delighted +cooing that Maria would laugh aloud in glee, while Andrea emptied his +pockets of choicest tidbits. + +One morning, a few weeks after the trip to Chioggia, as Chico was making +his customary early flight, his bright eyes caught sight of some enticing +crumbs on the pavement close to the steps leading to the new Campanile. +They seemed unusually good, and he lingered for some time pecking, first at +one and then another. + +Suddenly he was grasped by a strong hand and hastily thrust into a padded +dark box. + +Poor Chico! His heart fluttered so that he couldn't think. Not but what he +was used to being handled, and perhaps his prison was a new kind of basket, +but even so he rebelled. There were no friendly cracks through which he +could catch an occasional glint of light, but only a few airholes clustered +at the top. Then, too, his quarters were so cramped that even the slightest +flutter was well-nigh impossible; and, after a few struggles, utterly +discouraged, and fearing the worst, he gave up and crouched down, entirely +at a loss as to what had happened. + +The Austrian, angered at having been thwarted in every attempt he had made +to purchase the pigeon, had been watching the bird's habits ever since he +had followed the old caretaker, and had deliberately planned to capture him +in this way. His prize now secured, he made his way straight for a gondola +and gave orders to be rowed with the greatest possible speed to his +lodgings, and, on arriving, carried to his room the innocent-appearing +black box which resembled nothing so much as a folding kodak. + +How satisfied he felt with himself, and how he gloated over the way in +which he had outwitted the old man! For a moment he held the box to his +ear, as if anxious to assure himself that the bird was still there. Not a +sound came from the trembling inmate. Had anything happened? Cautiously +unfastening the catch, he reached in his hand and touched the soft head. +There was a slight quiver. + +Catching hold of the trembling body, he lifted out the bird and feasted his +eyes upon him. What a beauty he was! Not so large, to be sure, as some that +flit about Venice, but so perfectly marked, and with so broad a breast, and +such sweep of wings! He would profit richly by his morning's work. If only +he could get his prize safely out of Venice. There was no time to lose. He +might be tracked by that old fool of a caretaker, and in that case he would +have had his pains for nothing. And if by chance the matter should be +brought to the attention of the authorities, he might be arrested and +jailed; the Venetians make such a fuss over their precious pigeons. + +A knock at the door made him start guiltily and thrust the pigeon roughly +back into the box. After all, it was only a messenger with a telegram +recalling him immediately to Vienna, which, he reflected, fitted nicely +into his plans. He would start the next morning, he concluded, as he +carefully concealed the black box under the bed, and took more than usual +pains in locking the door when he went out for dinner and to complete his +arrangements in regard to leaving. + +Chico heard the door close and knew he was alone. What did it all mean? He +had never before suffered such indignities! To be placed by loving friends +in his dear familiar basket, while he was being taken to some point from +which he might make a glorious flight--he had long since become +reconciled to that experience; but to be seized by a stranger's hands and +ignominiously shoved into a black prison and hidden in a strange room--that +was an insult his free spirit could not brook. For a while he felt too +utterly despondent to make a movement, but after a little, very cautiously, +he began again to feel carefully with his beak around the box in search of +some crack. There was not one to be found. Next he tried with all his power +to enlarge the tiny airholes. It was impossible, and he gave himself up to +blackest despair. + +When his captor returned he opened the box, took out the bird, at the same +time placing some kernels of corn and a saucer of water before him. Chico +had no appetite for food, but parched with thirst drank feverishly. + +"Eat! can't you?" The man spoke roughly. What on earth was the matter with +the pigeon to be so obstinate? "Hang it, if he won't eat," he exclaimed +aloud, "he'll starve to death before I can get him to the War Department." + +With that he fairly forced the spiritless head into the pile of kernels on +the floor, but without avail; the bird, heart-broken, refused to open his +beak. His tail feathers drooped more mournfully than ever, and his captor, +thoroughly out of patience, angrily thrust him back into his prison. So the +rest of the day and night passed. + +The Austrian rose early the next morning and hastily throwing his +belongings together was soon on his way to the station, suitcase in one +hand and the black box in the other. + +At the depot there was more than the usual delay in procuring his ticket. +There was a crowd of men and women before him, and, impatiently enough, he +was obliged to wait his turn. Worse than anything, he found it necessary to +lay aside his possessions. He hesitated, then, after a quick survey of the +room, selected a corner near enough for him to keep an eye on his +precious box. It seemed an eternity before he could get anywhere near the +ticket-office window, and he completely lost what little temper he had when +a garrulous woman blocked his way and took fifteen minutes of additional +time in an interminable wrangle over change. + +In the meantime an inquisitive youngster, left to his own devices by his +mother who was also in line before the ticket-office window, was creeping +about the floor in search of diversion. After being foiled in +various directions, his sharp eyes caught sight of the suit-case and +interesting-looking box. Without an instant's hesitation he scrambled +thither. As it happened, the Austrian having at last attained his object, +was at that very moment engaged in folding the long ticket, his attention, +therefore, was diverted from watching his property. + +The child fumbled first with the suit-case. It was securely locked. Next he +seized the black box with his grimy fingers. It was fastened only with a +single strap. As this finally yielded, a look of rapture spread over his +Italian features, and with renewed zeal he proceeded to pry open the cover. + +Suddenly he gave a shriek, at the same covering his face in terror as +something sharp brushed against his cheeks and flashed upwards. + +It was Chico! He was free at last! For a moment, dazed by the sudden +release, the bird battered his splendid head against the ceiling, then, +before the roomful of travelers realized what had happened, he was out in +the open, spreading his glorious wings toward home. + +When the Austrian, on turning to gather up his possessions, realized what +had occurred, he turned in rage toward the frightened child: + +"You, you--" He choked in wrath, raising his arm as if to strike. But at +that moment the mother threw herself against him, screaming: + +"You touch my child! You touch--" + +The crowd by this time was closing in upon them, so that even the station +guard found it difficult to push his way through in his endeavor to find +out the cause of the disturbance. + +Suddenly the cry of "All aboard!" was heard, and instantly the excited +gathering dispersed, the enraged woman grabbing her child and leading the +procession. + +Just behind came the Austrian, bearing his suitcase and the empty black +box. Fortunate it was for him that the summons had come when it did, for +otherwise he might soon have found himself taken into custody on the charge +of disturbing the peace, and on the way to a cell in the Venetian prison. + +As it was, he sank into his seat in the little train muttering all sorts of +imprecations upon the whole Italian people, and thanking his stars he would +soon be out of the country. + +While all this had been going on, great had been the consternation in St. +Mark's Square over Chico's strange disappearance. When the children did +not find him waiting, as usual, for them, they were sure he must have been +shot, and Andrea mourned constantly, "E morte! E morte!" [Footnote: He is +dead.] + +But Paolo had his theory, and the more he thought the matter over, the more +he felt convinced that the bird was alive and in the possession of the +Austrian. Dropping his work for the day, he spent the weary hours going up +and down the narrow streets in vain effort to discover some trace of him. +From time to time he called, "Chico! Chico!" But, alas, no Chico answered. + +Then the night came. Still no news. The next morning Paolo resolved to go +to the authorities, and was about to set out when suddenly there was a cry +from Maria, who was sitting grieving on the lowest step of the church, +watching the pigeons flying about in the blue sky. + +"There's Chico!" she exclaimed, greatly excited, and pointing to a small +speck, far above them. "It's he! I know it's he!" + +"I'm afraid not," the old man answered, shaking his head; "we have been +deceived too many times." + +But Andrea was leaning forward, his whole form tense with emotion, and, in +another moment with radiant face he flung his cap into the air, and leaped +to his feet, shouting, joyfully: + +"Urra! Urra! It's he! It's he!" and so it proved. No other bird could fly +with such strong, sure strokes. + +Soon he was in his nest drinking eagerly the water Andrea had placed for +him. It was the first thing he always wanted when he returned from a +flight, but now he drank more thirstily than usual Then, how he did eat! It +was plain he was half starved. There was no mistake about it, he was thin, +and his feathers were so bedraggled that it was evident he had not preened +them since he had been gone. + +But he was home, nothing else mattered! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"COO-OO, COO-OO-OO. RUK-AT-A-COO" + + +There was no denying the fact that Chico was a handsome bird, and as time +passed, he became more and more careful of his appearance. He would spend +fully half an hour each morning over his toilet, smoothing every feather +into place with the most exact nicety, polishing his delicately arched +bill, and proudly spreading his tail. Then, when the sun shone full upon +him, the peculiar markings of his wings seemed fairly radiant in their +glorious iridescence. + +From the saucy tilt of his dainty head to his graceful feet, he was a Beau +Brummel among pigeons. + +It was no wonder that his little master's heart swelled with pride, and +that he repeated, over and over again, "My Chico is grande; my Chico +is--GREAT!" + +But there came a time when it was evident that, in spite of the gorgeous +appearance he presented, he was not altogether happy. + +While he polished his beak and preened his feathers more assiduously than +ever, there was a note of pleading in his cooing that puzzled the children, +and caused Andrea to remark: "I wonder what can be the matter with Chico!" + +In reply Paolo nodded his wise old head and answered, with a touch of +sympathy, "I know--he's lonely, and wants a mate." The old man even went so +far as to select a dainty little lady pigeon and place her on the ledge, +but alas! Chico resented what he evidently considered an intrusion, +retreated to the extreme edge, where he looked askance at his companion, +and refused, to be moved by her modest advances. Not a single "coo" would +he give, and to his everlasting disgrace finally gently but firmly pushed +her off the ledge. It was plain she had no charms for him! After one or two +further attempts, which ended in the same way, Paolo gave up and allowed +Chico to manage his own courting. + +When his gentle, beseeching cooing failed to attract, he resorted to bolder +methods, flying about the Square, and lingering longer than was his wont +among neighboring nests, until he chanced upon a pigeon that took his +fancy. + +She was a modest little thing, soft drab in color, and not as strikingly +marked as he, but she was popular with the birds about, and Chico had to +fight one or two lusty rivals before he won her for himself. + +The children watched it all with fascinated interest, and when one morning +they found her by his side on the ledge outside his nest, they were fairly +beside themselves with delight. + +All day long they perched together, billing and cooing to their hearts' +content, "the prettiest sight in Venice," as all agreed who saw them. + +"Coo-oo," he would begin, and she would answer softly. Then they would join +in "Coo-oos coo-oo-oo. Ruk-at-a-coo, coo-oo." + +Sometimes he would playfully ruffle her feathers, and she would respond by +turning to him so coquettishly that they would touch their bills together, +so the hours would as they billed and cooed in their love-making. + +It was Maria who named the dainty little mate, calling her Pepita, from the +first time she saw her by Chico's side. But it was Paolo who declared he +could give a pretty good guess as to what they were saying to each other in +their soft pigeon language. + +"Well, what is it?" Andrea asked incredulously. + +"She wants him to help her fix up the old nest," he asserted in a tone +of confidence that greatly impressed his audience; "like the rest of the +women-folks, she isn't satisfied with it as it is, I don't know as I blame +her--it's a pretty poor excuse for a home, even if Chico did manage to make +it do while he was a bachelor." + +The children's faith in the old man increased tenfold when, the very next +day, they discovered Pepita returning from a short flight with a few coarse +straws in her beak, while in another moment Chico came flying around the +corner of the church with half a dozen more. + +"You were right!" Andrea exclaimed, as he made an effort to restrain his +boisterous delight, and quietly looked in at the busy pair; "they are +working as hard as ever they can this very minute." + +After that there were more straws brought, besides other things evidently +intended for lining, and though their home, when done, was not as smooth or +fine a piece of workmanship as many other birds can boast of, at least it +was comfortable, and exactly according to their ideas. + +Chico had always loved his nest, but, with the appearance of two eggs under +Pepita's breast, he found it difficult to leave, even on necessary flights. +He was a devoted husband and was content to perch by her side the whole day +long, softly cooing in his efforts to entertain her, and always ready to +relieve her in keeping the eggs warm when she wished to take a turn around +the Square for exercise or in search of food. + +To the children the nest was a place of mystery, and the first thing in the +morning they would together climb up to the old box and whisper: + +"Buon giorno, Chico; buon giorno, Pepita; how are the eggs to-day?" + +And then the mystery deepened! It was Paolo who whispered the wonderful +news in their ears. + +"How do you know the eggs have hatched?" Andrea queried somewhat +doubtfully. + +In reply the old man pointed to the pavement where some broken shells were +a mute witness of the miracle that had occurred. + +They were wild with ecstasy, and could scarcely wait to see the little +fledglings, and the second morning after the old caretaker let them come +into the shed and, by the light of a flickering candle, showed them the +naked little bodies, just as he had shown them Chico, months before. + +Pepita had, from the first, accepted the children as her friends (probably +Chico had told her all about them in the early days of their courtship), +but she couldn't help showing her anxiety on this occasion, and flew +distractedly back and forth, while Chico kept jealous watch perched on +Andrea's shoulder. + +He was a good father, never failing in loving attention to his family, and +bringing the choicest tidbits to Pepita. + +He hovered anxiously about while she fed the greedy fledglings with the +soft pulpy mass she prepared so carefully, and was always ready to look +after the "bambini," as Maria insisted on calling the baby birds. + +Altogether, Chico was so taken up with his new cares that his training was +badly interrupted, and Andrea, especially, became greatly worried lest he +should forget all he had learned. + +"He'll be all out of practice," he mourned, "and the next time we try him +he'll forget and lose his way home." + +But Paolo was reassuring. "Never you fear," he replied; "I have heard that +the most important messages are entrusted to birds that have young in the +nest. That is when the love of home is strongest." + +And so it proved: when Chico was once more tried, he surprised them by the +swiftness of his flight. In fact, in some instances he actually made more +than thirty miles an hour. + +The spring advanced: there were other eggs in the nest, and other broods +to be cared for, and always Chico remained the faithful husband and +father--tender to his fledgling offspring--loving and true to his little +wife. + +And, whenever household cares permitted, the two could be seen on the +window ledge, billing and cooing: + +"Coo-oo, coo-oo-oo, Ruk-at-a-coo." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A GALA DAY + + +At last the new Campanile was completed. When the historic old bell tower +had fallen that morning in July, the people had been stunned and had given +way to such grief as only Italians feel over the loss of a thing of beauty. + +It had fallen at nine-thirty in the morning, and when the Town Council met +that evening, it had been at once decided that immediate steps be taken to +erect a new tower, "dov'era, com'era" (where it was and as it was). And in +this all Italy concurred. The first stone had been laid on St. Mark's day, +April 25, 1903. + +Slowly the graceful tower had risen from the confused mass of debris at its +base, no effort being spared to make it as strong and beautiful as possible +to conceive. Three thousand piles had been used in the foundation, and +almost every fragment of the old had been utilized in the effort to +reproduce, as nearly as possible, the much-loved structure. Carefully +the shattered pieces of bas-reliefs had been fitted together by trained +artisans, the figure of Venice on the east walls had been completely +restored, while one favorite group of the Madonna and Child had been pieced +from sixteen hundred fragments: the bells had been recast, and when +this gala day dawned, the same gold angel surmounted the top of the new +Campanile that had looked protectingly over the city for generations. + +What wonder that Venice was beside herself with joy, and that great +festivities had been arranged to celebrate the occasion--on St, Mark's day, +1912? + +The city was filled with visitors; the little steamers and motor-boats +chugged right merrily along the canals, laden with sight-seers, while the +gondoliers reaped a rich, harvest from the crowds of strangers. + +Among those who came to attend the festivities was the children's uncle, +Pietro Minetti. He was the elder brother of Giovanni, and was an important +personage (at least in his own estimation) for had he not left the little +Venetian home years before and become a citizen of the world? Andrea and +Maria were wild with delight when they heard he was coming, and speculated +much as to their rich uncle, for, of course, he must be rich as every one +was out in the great world. + +And at first sight it seemed that he must be even richer than they had +dreamed, so elegant did he appear in his checked trousers and starched +shirt. His mustache was waxed, and he walked with a swagger as he jauntily +swung a cane. + +All at once the little home on the side canal seemed poorer and shabbier +than ever, and Luisa couldn't help wishing the smells of fish and garlic +from the shop below were not quite so strong. + +But though Pietro looked somewhat superciliously at the plain surroundings, +after the strangeness wore off he proved to be a most entertaining guest, +with his stories of the great cities which he had visited. He had been as +far as London, and the children drew close in order that they might not +lose a single syllable of his wonderful tales. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, introducing the subject of the Campanile, "it +really seems as if the town is waking up! I hear there is a lift in the +tower, and the old angel on the top has been actually placed on a pivot, to +act as a weather vane as well as a thing of beauty. That's more than could +have been expected of slow Venetians. If it were only possible to get in a +few automobiles there might be some hope for the city." + +"Automobiles!" Giovanni was indignant, resenting even the mention of such +newfangled contrivances. "Venice wouldn't be Venice with automobiles!" + +"Well, motor-cycles, then!" laughed Pietro good naturedly; "anything that +would give some noise and ginger to the old town. Pep is what Venice +needs!" And he chuckled to himself at the thought of motor-cycles on St. +Mark's Square. + +Neither Giovanni nor Luisa had any patience with such talk, but the +children edged nearer, and their eyes grew bigger as they asked him eager +questions in regard to the marvelous things he had mentioned. + +"Have you ever seen horses?" Andrea ventured timidly; "I mean real horses, +not pretend ones like those on the top of St. Mark's?" + +"Horses!" he repeated, bursting into so loud a laugh that Maria shrank +away, half frightened; "horses! Why, they're so old-fashioned that no one +cares for them any more. They're quite too slow for the twentieth century!" + +Andrea's head swam--horses old-fashioned! What kind of a strange world was +it outside of Venice? All at once his childish air castles came tumbling +down. But before he could question further it was time for bed, and with +his imagination roused to the utmost he tossed uneasily until he fell +asleep to dream he was racing with the wind in a strange kind of car with +the Devil himself as driver. + +The exercises were to begin at ten o'clock the next morning, and the Piazza +was fairly packed with people hours before that time. Thanks to Paolo our +little group had a good place to view the proceedings in a certain musty +alcove of St. Mark's, and there they sat cramped through what seemed to +Maria like interminable hours. + +As for St. Mark's Square, even Pietro had only words of praise for its gala +appearance: from the three flagstaffs opposite the church fluttered the +colors of Italy. Everywhere was music, everywhere was gayety, and the +crowds of people united in glad cries of "Viva Venezia!" [Footnote: Long +live Venice!] + +For Venice, more than any other place in the world, belongs to rich and +poor alike, and in the midst of it all, sympathizing with every mood, is +St. Mark's Church, the pride of the Venetian people. Never did she seem +more glorious than on this gala day, never did her gold mosaics sparkle +more brilliantly in the sunshine than when the great high magistrate +pronounced the solemn words: "Dov'era, com'era," and the bells rang to mark +the completion of the exercises. + +Then, hark! a whirr, whirr of wings, a sudden darkening of the sky that +caused the joyful thousands to look into the heavens above them. + +In an instant the shadow resolved itself into over twenty-five hundred +pigeons that had been brought to Venice that they might carry the glad news +to every part of Italy. + +Then it was that the populace went wild with joy; thousands of +handkerchiefs fluttered, the cries of "Viva Venezia!" swelled and rent the +air, until they were drowned by the inspiring notes of the Italian national +tune, played by patriotic musicians in the bandstand at Florian's. + +Our little group shared in all the excitement, waving with the rest +and joining in glad cries of "Urra! Urra!" Even Pietro was aroused to +admiration, and as the music died away and the crowds began to disperse, he +exclaimed: "There's no doubt but that Venice has outdone herself, and it +was a master stroke to make such use of homing pigeons. These spoiled birds +that flutter about the Square have no spirit in them, and I doubt if one of +them could carry a message even from the Lido!" + +"Chico could," asserted Andrea stoutly, touched to the quick by the +sweeping declaration; "he could carry a message from 'most anywhere to +Venice!" + +"Who's Chico?" Pietro asked quickly, elbowing his way through the surging +mass of people in the church. + +"He's my pigeon!" Andrea answered, eager to defend his bird, and raising +his voice in an effort to make himself heard above the confusion. "I've +trained him, and I'll show you to-morrow! I don't suppose I could get to +him in all this crowd." + +"To-morrow will do as well," Pietro managed to ejaculate, as they found +themselves at last in the Square, which was still solidly jammed with +people. "I am somewhat of a pigeon-fancier myself, and if that bird of +yours is what you say he is we'll see, we'll see!" + +With this their conversation was interrupted and not again resumed, the +remainder of the afternoon being spent in promenading the Square, going up +in the lift of the Campanile, and managing to appease their appetites with +the various pastes and fruits which Pietro generously stood treat for. + +Almost before they were aware of it, the afternoon was drawing to a close, +and with the coming of twilight Venice became more of a fairyland than +ever. + +Outlining the buildings throughout the Square, throwing into prominence +every graceful point and cornice, were thousands of electric lights: St. +Mark's herself appeared more like a jewel box than ever, and was only +surpassed by the Campanile which was ablaze from top to bottom. + +Everywhere was music, everywhere was light, and in this new and splendid +setting, Venice looked a very gorgeous "Bride of the Sea!" + +The spirit of the old Carnival days was once more present: as women in +black shawls and strange masked figures threaded their way amid the throngs +of people accompanied by wild music, while confetti, thrown from every +balcony, caused shouts of laughter and fell harmlessly upon them. + +There were to be fireworks on the water, and Paolo had offered his old +gondola that they might join the gay crowds on the Grand Canal. Here Pietro +was supreme, and it required only the twisting of a scarf about his waist +to transform him into a gondolier, at least in the eyes of his not too +critical audience. + +So Giovanni and the children crowded into the shabby gondola and rowed with +thousands of others up and down, watching the rockets soaring into the sky +and bursting into myriads of dazzling stars as they fell into the water +below. + +Later, when the display was over, Pietro guided them among the storied +palaces of the long ago, now close behind some concert barge, playing +softest strains of grand opera, or answering the low call of passing +gondoliers with like musical response. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A LITTLE JOURNEY IN THE WORLD + + +The morning after the great Carnival day Andrea woke with a sense of +disquietude. Something was going to happen, but for a few moments he could +not think what it was. Then with a rush he remembered. He had promised to +show Chico to his uncle. Since the suggestion had been made he had not been +able to dismiss it from his mind and, even while watching the bursting +rockets the evening before, he had found himself wondering what Pietro +could have meant by his mysterious remark, "If the bird is what you say--we +shall see. We shall see!" + +Although he liked his uncle immensely, he had not been able entirely to +overcome a certain feeling of awe in his presence, and he shuddered at +thought of many scathing criticisms he had heard him make upon objects +which he had been brought up to regard with veneration. Suppose he should +make fun of Chico! The quick tears started at the thought. Then his eyes +flashed and he sprang out of bed, exclaiming to himself, "I don't care what +he may say, I know he's the finest pigeon in the world!" + +This feeling of confidence lasted until they finished breakfast and Pietro +had pushed back his chair, with the remark: + +"And now, my boy, we must be off to see that wonderful bird of yours!" + +Then his timidity returned, and beset by anxious fears, he walked silently +by his uncle's side. + +Pietro was in his most jocund mood that morning, jauntily swinging his +cane, joking about the Rialto as they crossed it, and talking a great deal +about London and Paris. His companion's courage gradually oozed away. In +fact it was completely gone by the time they rounded the corner of the +church and came upon the happy couple basking in the sunlight and cooing +affectionately to each other. + +"So that's the fellow!"--and Pietro pointed to Chico, entirely ignoring +little Pepita by his side. + +Andrea nodded, not daring to trust himself to speak. + +"Hum-mm." His uncle cleared his throat. "Suppose you call him that I may +see him closer." + +Andrea managed a faint "Chico," and in an instant the pigeon was in his +lap, burrowing in his pocket in search of the usual tidbits. + +"Hum-mm." Pietro caught the bird firmly in one hand, at the same time +swiftly running the other over the trembling body. + +"Long wings, bulge prominent over the ear, broad breast, a clear, keen +eye--" + +Andrea's heart almost ceased to beat. + +Then, very slowly, Pietro went on appraisingly. "Very good, very good, +indeed! And you say he has had some training?" + +"Oh, yes!" the boy answered, and with glowing face, vastly relieved, "he +has carried messages from ever so far, from the Lido, from Chioggia--" + +"Have you kept his record?" Pietro interrupted brusquely. + +At this the boy fished in one pocket after another, finally producing a +grimy card, covered with figures. + +His uncle took it and, after studying it over carefully, handed it back, +saying: + +"This is somewhat remarkable, and should be marked on his wings." With that +he produced a tiny bottle of India ink a rubber stamp, and while Andrea, +with fascinated interest, held the bird, Pietro copied the figures on the +primary feathers of the right wing, remarking as he finished, "There, I +guess that will attract attention from any fancier. You have really a fine +bird, my boy, and I would suggest that it might be well to exhibit him at +some pigeon show. There's to be one at Verona next week." + +Andrea's head swam. What was his uncle saying? Go to Verona? Exhibit Chico? +Impossible! Well he knew there was no money in the little home to pay for +any such expenditure, but Pietro was not yet through. + +"Your father and mother have treated me right royally ever I've been in +Venice, and I am sure they will not deny me this opportunity to make +some return. It will not cost you a single lira. What say you, will you +accompany me? I happen to be going in that direction and can arrange to +stop over as well as not." + +Andrea caught his uncle's hands in a paroxysm of joy. In his wildest dreams +he had never thought of ever going anywhere outside of Venice, and now, to +be thus calmly discussing an errand like this, it seemed as if he could +scarcely believe his ears. + +Then Pietro, taking for granted that the matter was settled as far as +Andrea was concerned, that very evening broached the plan to the boy's +father and mother, overruling all their objections with the result that the +following Monday found the two travelers, with Chico in his basket, on the +train bound for Verona. + +It is an interesting trip for any one through the plain towns of northern +Italy, and, needless to state, not the slightest detail of the passing +landscape was lost on Andrea. Not once did he take his eyes from the car +window save occasionally to look through the cracks of the basket into +Chico's bright eyes, as if to assure himself that the bird was still there. + +On, on they sped, catching glimpses of gnarled olive trees, silvery gray, +while Roman walls, centuries old, silhouetted against the horizon, spoke +of a civilization long past. There were rounded hill-slopes and ancient +castles, while the broad Adige dashed madly along the sides of the track. + +It was two o'clock when they reached their destination and rumbled into the +huge covered station of Verona. + +With beating heart, Andrea followed the business-like Pietro as he led the +way out of the station and hailed a vettura [Footnote: Carriage.] to take +them up the wide tree-shaded avenue. + +The boy paid little attention to the marble palaces by which they drove, +but was overwhelmed at the experience of actually being behind a horse. +He drew a deep breath--it was a dream come true; he was further amazed at +finding their conveyance but one of an endless throng of wagons, carriages, +and tram-cars. + +In many ways Verona is fully as old-fashioned as Venice, but to Andrea the +city seemed the personification of all that was progressive, and while the +horses were not the gay steeds of the boy's dream, they were really alive, +and wonder of wonders, as they drove over the grand arches of the historic +structure which bridges the muddy, swirling waters of the Adige, they +were suddenly outdistanced by what Pietro pointed out as one of the few +automobiles of Verona. + +The boy's eyes widened. What tales he would have to tell old Paolo and the +little Maria! When they came to the great Arena, in the heart of the city, +Pietro dismissed their vettura, and together they walked down the principal +promenade to the shopping center where they mingled with the endless crowds +of pedestrians and looked into the windows of the gay little shops that +made Andrea think of Venice. + +Not far from the imposing City Hall was an ancient red marble Gothic cross +about which were clustered hundreds of what looked like canvas toadstools, +but which were, in reality, immense white umbrellas, sheltering countless +market stalls. Here were gathered a motley collection of all sorts of +things for sale, ranging from boots and shoes to many kinds of provisions +and fruits. + +Through all this Pietro walked so fast that his companion had hard work to +keep up with him, and was glad when they finally stopped in front of an +enclosure sheltered by two large umbrellas. Then his heart sank and he +clutched his basket closer as he realized that here was where the pigeon +show would be held, and understood, from what a loud-voiced man was +calling, that the birds were already being entered. He wished--oh, how he +wished--he had not come, and was almost overwhelmed by the thought that he +would be obliged to leave Chico with these chattering strangers. + +There was no alternative--already many of the birds were in place. He +could see some of them and realized they were, for the most part, dejected +looking specimens. He touched Pietro's sleeve nervously and inquired +faintly, "Are you sure I shall get him back?" + +But on this point his uncle was most reassuring and replied confidently: + +"There's nothing at all to worry about. The bird will be perfectly safe. +They'll fasten an aluminum tag about his leg with his number on it and give +you the duplicate. A claim check, you know. Come, buck up and be a sport!" + +Still doubtful, Andrea sorrowfully relinquished his pet. From that time on, +his peace of mind was gone, and he mournfully studied the bit of aluminum +with the number--1104. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BLUE ROSETTE + + +Pietro noticed the lad's dejection and exerted himself to the utmost to +divert him. After a good dinner he proceeded to show him the sights of +Verona, at the same time telling him interesting tales about the Arena, +the beautiful gardens, and the palaces of olden time. But Andrea remained +listless, only rousing when his proposed a visit to the tomb of Romeo and +Juliet which was the one place his mother had charged him to see. + +The show was to open the next morning at ten o'clock, and long before that +time there was an eager crowd at the turnstile. + +All was in order--the birds of the various exhibits being arranged in cages +in different compartments. There were of every color variety, from big +fellows, brought 'way from London, to all white beauties. One corner was +devoted to the homing pigeons, and here Andrea discovered Chico in the same +cage with some highly trained racers from Belgium. His head had lost its +saucy tilt, and he was miserably pecking in the sawdust as if in search of +something to eat. But otherwise he seemed in good condition, and his master +felt a glow of pride as he mentally contrasted the appearance of "1104" +with those exhibited by the foreign fanciers, although, of course, he +supposed that, in all probability, Chico didn't have a ghost of a chance. + +All this time his uncle was excitedly bobbing back and forth, mingling with +the people and commenting on the points of one or another specimen. It was +a good-natured crowd, that had, for the most part, drifted in from the +poultry show that was being held in an adjoining tent. There was not much +enthusiasm until four judges made their appearance, and with notebooks +in hand, began their inspection of the cages. Then there was a stir; the +bystanders pressed more closely to the railing, and there was considerable +excitement as fluttering blue and white ribbons indicated the winners of +first and second honors. + +By the time the cage of messenger pigeons was reached, there was a ripple +of genuine excitement, and from one and another quarter bids were shouted +by those who knew the characteristics of a good homer. These began as low +as "Four lire" on a pigeon from Milan, "A hundred lire" on number "670," +an aggressive-looking Belgian, and then--Andrea's head swam as a burly +American called out, "fifty dollars on '1104.'" + +After that things became lively as the judges passed from one to another, +inspecting every bird most carefully and making note of individual +characteristics. When they seemed especially pleased, or stopped to confer, +as occasionally happened, over the record which, in every case, was marked +on the wings, then the bidding became fairly furious, "670" leading and +"1104" a close second. One of the judges took so long in his examination of +Chico that a fat German changed his bid, and an American called out, "Come, +get a move on you!" There was a long conference among the judges, during +which the people waited impatiently enough, and Andrea felt himself more +tense every moment. + +Finally, with exasperating deliberateness, one of them turned and announced +that the blue rosette was awarded to number "1104." Andrea's cheeks went +scarlet, and the air was rent by cries of "Urra! Urra!" "Bully for 1104!" + +The boy's head swam. CHICO HAD WON. It seemed as if he could scarcely +believe his senses. He looked around for his uncle only to find he had +leaped the railing and was shaking hands with the judges, and pointing +to Andrea as the owner of the bird. On every side could be heard excited +comments, and the American, just behind, was holding forth at a great rate: + +"I knew it--I knew it all the time; he doesn't make the show some of 'em +do, but look at his breast! Look at the length of his wings, and his eye! +There isn't a bird here with such a keen eye as he has! Then, did you watch +him? He wasn't half as scared as the other birds! Just kind of bored by the +performance! One can see he has a strong heart, and that's what counts in +a homer! Why, bless me, I'd like to get hold of that bird. Is the owner +anywhere around?" + +It was then Pietro reappeared, jubilant, of course. He wrung the boy's hand +until it ached, at the time exclaiming, "You're wanted on every side; you +can take your pick of chances to sell your bird, and if you ever wish to +engage as a trainer of pigeons, the way is open to you!" + +When Andrea presented his metal tag for "1104," the crowd fairly closed in +upon him, shouting offers. Altogether it was a great triumph, but he felt +tired, and his head ached so that it was a distinct relief when Pietro, +looking at his watch, declared there wasn't a moment to lose if he intended +to catch the noon train for Venice! + +He was glad it was over, and all the way down the tree-lined avenue, he +kept looking through the cracks of the basket, as if to assure himself that +Chico was really there. + +But at the station another ordeal confronted him. Pietro had insisted when +they were first discussing coming to Verona that Chico must fly home, and +to this Andrea, at the time, had consented. Now he wished he had not. He +felt it almost an impossibility again to relinquish his bird, and pleaded +with Pietro to release him from his promise. But, no, his uncle was +obdurate, and was moved by no entreaties. + +"Of what are you afraid? A bird which has the blue rosette can find his way +from Verona. He must carry the news of his victory himself, and I miss my +guess, if he doesn't reach home before you do." + +"But it looks most terribly like a storm," the boy expostulated, his eyes +resting uneasily on the angry clouds looming over the castled hills. + +"And what if it does rain? A homing pigeon has a stout heart and I warrant +it will take more than a thunder-storm to dismay our prize bird." And with +that he fastened to Chico's leg a little aluminum pouch, in which was a bit +of paper, containing the laconic message, "WON--THE BLUE ROSETTE!" + +Andrea made no further protest, and away flew the bird, circling into the +air above, then, by still wider circles, higher and higher until he was +finally off. + +Andrea watched until the mere speck in the distance had completely +disappeared. Venice seemed very far away! With a sinking heart he made his +way across the platform, and climbed into the little train from the window +of which he forlornly waved "good-bye" to the irrepressible Pietro, who, +after shouting a final injunction to the lad to "buck-up," and to be sure +and let him know how long Chico took to make the trip by his "air-line," +jauntily waved his hand, and the train, moved out. + +For fully half an hour Andrea crouched in his seat, altogether dejected, +watching the sky illuminated from time to time by flashes of lightning. A +man in the seat across the aisle leaned over to inquire the meaning of the +blue rosette he wore on his breast, but Andrea shook his head and with +blurred eyes looked out at the storm already breaking. Soon the thunder +could be heard above the noise of the train, and hailstones as large as +marbles rattled against the windows. + +Somewhere in all that darkness Chico was flying! The boy's heart grew more +and more heavy and was filled with bitterness against his uncle who had +been so insistent. Of what use were empty honors if his bird was lost +forever? + +In the meantime Chico was having his difficulties. For the first time he +was too far from Venice to catch even a glimpse of her domes or the new +Campanile. He was puzzled. + +But somewhere was Venice, _somewhere_ his nest--with Pepita and the +fledglings. The thunder rumbled, the lightning flashed, the rain fell. Yet +his heart was stout and his courage strong. + +Do they call it instinct that so unerringly guides the flight of the homing +pigeon? Was it the sea that called? Did the winds convey a message? I know +not, but, after that single moment of hesitation, the brave bird plunged +into the darkness and made his way to home and loved ones. + +At last the long afternoon was over and the slow Italian train pulled into +Venice. Andrea sadly picked up his empty basket. As it happened, at the +very moment he stepped upon the platform, the clouds parted and the sun +shone, lighting with splendor the rippling waters of the Adriatic, and +shining full on the golden domes of the churches. + +He expected Paolo and his sister would be at the station to welcome him and +to hear the result of the pigeon show. After all, what had it all amounted +to if the bird had been lost in the storm? At that point in his reflections +a little figure came rushing to him, all breathless with excitement. It was +Maria, with her father and mother just behind. They were followed by the +old caretaker, hurrying as fast as his rheumaticky limbs would permit, and, +wonder of wonders! Andrea had to look twice to be sure he was not mistaken, +perched upon his shoulder was--CHICO! To be sure, his feathers were a +little disheveled, for he had been too busy with Pepita and the fledglings +to take time to preen them, but apparently he was unharmed by the perils +through which he had passed, and there was as saucy a tilt to his as ever. + +"Urra! Urra!" the boy cried, throwing his cap twice into the air, while his +father wrung his hand excitedly, and Maria exclaimed: + +"He came into the nest more than an hour and a half ago. Oh, isn't he the +grande bird?" + +"He's the fast express all right!" put in Paolo, waving his cane proudly in +the air; "made the whole distance at the rate of over forty miles an hour." + +Then they all talked at once, asking questions, first about the pigeon +show, and then about the adventures in Verona. + +It seemed as if Andrea couldn't answer fast enough, there was so much to +tell, and he repeated more than once as he passed the blue rosette for +their closer inspection: + +"There wasn't a bird to compare with him!" + +"And you say you rode behind a horse?" Paolo questioned, as the entire +party crowded into the old gondola, and Chico flew into his master's lap. + +"Si! Si! And saw an automobile!" was the proud answer as Andrea went on to +describe how it "went like the wind," just like the one he had dreamed of. + +Unconsciously there crept into his demeanor a slight suggestion of Pietro's +swagger, and while he was glad to get home, and though St. Mark's Square +never seemed so beautiful before, still there was no denying it was a great +experience to have traveled and seen something of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AND ALL FOR ITALY! + + +Some years passed and Andrea was now a stocky lad with resolute walk and +steady black eyes. He was fourteen, the age to which he had long looked +forward as the time when he should realize his ambition to work beside +his father in the glass factory. Maria, too, was growing up: already her +fingers were almost as deft as her mother's in making lace, under +whose guidance she could even fashion the beautiful roses, the special +characteristic of Venetian point. + +As for Chico, he was constantly establishing new records, and his wings +bore witness to many triumphs. + +Then the Great War came, and the world shook with its thunders. On May 23, +1915, Italy had declared hostilities against Austria-Hungary, although the +Italian offensive did not begin until 1917. + +At first the victories were all on the side of Italy, when her brave +heroes broke through on the Isonzo front, it seemed almost as if they were +destined to sweep everything before them Then the tide turned: one town +after another was retaken by the Austrians, until, on October 29, 1917, the +entire Italian front on the Isonzo collapsed. + +Then came days of black despair: all Italy mourned, but in Venice +especially was the horror felt. From her situation she had always been a +bulwark against the Austrians, and not yet had she forgotten the hated rule +of her enemies. + +Nearer drew the lines until the roar of the cannon could be sometimes +heard, and there was scarcely a clear night that aeroplanes did not hover +over the terrified city. Dimmed were the lights that were wont to make a +fairyland of St. Mark's Square, and in the daytime the red, white, and +green of the Italian flag supplied almost the only color, while the only +music was the martial call of Garibaldi, to which countless marched to the +field of battle. + + "To arms! + Haste! Haste! ye martial youth! + On every wind our banners fly, + Rise all with arms, all with fire!" + +The glass factories were closed, and Giovanni went, with the rest of the +brave men, to fight for home and country. Even Pietro hastened from his +wanderings to offer his services. The lace factories were deserted, +and instead of the delicate threads and the bobbins, the women busied +themselves with bandages for the Red Cross. + +No longer did the canals echo the laughter of gay tourists, and desolately +the pigeons flew about St. Mark's Square, which was almost a deserted place +save for the workmen to whom had been assigned the task of protecting the +church by placing sandbags on the roofs and iron girders at the windows: +mournfully lapped the waters of the Adriatic. + +The bronze horses were transferred to Rome for safety; even the pictures by +the great masters were taken from their places and hidden, lest they fall +into the hands of the enemy. + +Old Paolo, who, for a year past had been decrepit, died, broken-hearted, +when the first news came of Austrian victories. He was sadly missed in his +accustomed haunts. A younger man succeeded him as caretaker of St. Mark's, +and Andrea, not old enough to be drafted for service at the front, was +appointed chief guard of the church by night. + +Sacrifice was the watchword of the hour. Men gave up the savings of years, +women brought their trinkets to be sold or melted down for the use of the +Government. + +And Andrea--what had he to give? + +One night, as he paced back and forth on his beat, listening for the +possible roar of an aeroplane or the sudden bursting of a bomb, there +flashed into his mind the story of services rendered Venice in the olden +time by homing pigeons. He seemed a child again, sitting close to old +Paolo's side and listening to his tales of happenings in the long ago. + +True, now there was wireless at the front, besides telephones and +telegraphs, and yet, even with all modern inventions, he wondered if the +War Department might not be able to find some use for a trusty pigeon. + +Though the boy's heart grew faint at the thought of the sacrifice, his +resolution was immediately taken, and as soon as he was released from duty +in the morning he made his way directly round the church to the bird's +nest. He was tall now and had no need of the box Paolo had placed so long +ago for use as a step: thrusting his hand through the aperture, he firmly +grasped Chico who happened at that time to be taking his turn with the eggs +while his mate enjoyed a much-needed constitutional. + +Naturally he resented the interruption and made futile efforts to free +himself. But Andrea was resolved on no delay, and without more ado bore off +the struggling bird, just as Pepita fluttered into the aperture, with an +apology for being late, and ready to assume her wifely duties. + +"Chico! Chico!" the boy exclaimed, gently smoothing the rumpled feathers, +"you mustn't mind, old fellow. I'm sorry to take you away, but you and I +have a duty to our country and we mustn't shirk!" + +Gradually the pigeon ceased to struggle, and while not in the least +understanding what it was all about, snuggled close to Andrea's breast, +putting his head confidingly inside his soldier's coat. + +"And, Chico," the boy went on, "you must do your part, no matter what +happens. And, if you"--he choked a little at the thought--"and if you +should never come back, it will be for Venice, and for Italy. We won't +forget that, will we, my bird?" + +As he spoke, he bent his head to listen caught a faint answering "coo," as +Chico snuggled his head closer. + +By this time he had reached the War Office which was located in one of the +buildings on the north side of the Square. In response to his knock he was +ushered into the presence of a kindly official who sat at a table littered +with maps and papers of every description. + +There was a moment's pause, during which Andrea stood uneasily fidgeting, +and his courage almost oozed away as he nervously twisted his cap. + +But at last the great man looked up, and somewhat abstractly asked, "Well, +my boy, what can I do for you?" + +"Please, signore," Andrea faltered, as he took from his coat the precious +bird, "please, I have a homing pigeon--" + +At once the officer became alert. "A homing pigeon?" he repeated quickly. +"Is he trained to carry messages?" + +"Si, signore." And the boy forgot his embarrassment in his anxiety to tell +of Chico's exploits. "He won the blue rosette at a pigeon show at Verona, a +few years since, and see, here is the record of his flights." With that he +spread out the wings and the officer studied them over thoughtfully. + +When at last he spoke, Andrea could not but note the light in the tense +eyes and the eagerness of his tone: + +"My boy, this well-trained homing pigeon will, indeed, be valuable to the +War Department. Tell me, what shall I give you for your bird? Name your +price!" + +"My Chico is not for sale!" the boy protested stoutly, "It is my wish to +give his services to my country!" + +"Think carefully, the Department is ready to pay well for this branch of +air-line service." + +But Andrea shook his head, "No, signore, it is for Italy. There is but one +thing I would make sure of." He paused. + +"And what is that?" the great official inquired kindly. He was beginning to +realize that this was no ordinary relation which existed between the lad +and his pigeon. + +"Please, I would ask that when the war is ended, I may have my bird again; +that is, that is--" and the boy's eyes were misty as he spoke. + +"To be sure, to be sure," the officer cleared his throat. "I'll see that +you have a written voucher to that effect." + +He touched a bell and gave the order in a business-like tone to the +respectful soldier who at once made his appearance. + +"We have a valuable addition to our air messengers in the shape of this +well-trained homing pigeon. Have you room for him in the next consignment +that is sent to the front?" + +"Si, signore, one will go to-morrow. The baskets have four compartments and +there is one place still vacant." With that he fixed the metal anklet, and +Chico was thereby enrolled as number 7788 in the air brigade of the Italian +army. + +But that was not all; a voucher was then and there made out that, after +hostilities had ceased, number 7788 should be returned to the owner, Andrea +Minetti. + +The great official affixed his own signature and, after handing the paper +to the lad, escorted him to the door and opened it for him. + +Though Andrea's heart was well-nigh bursting with grief, the parting words +brought a thrill to his whole being: + +"It is such sacrifices that will win the war for Italy and, believe me, +this act of yours will not be forgotten!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +EVVIVA VENEZIA! EVVIVA ITALIA! [Footnote: Long live Venice! Long live +Italy!] + + +Still nearer drew the hated Austrians: the roar of cannon could be heard +distinctly now, an air raid was no longer a novelty, and many a home and +public building showed ravages wrought by bursting bombs. + +The hospitals were crowded with maimed, among whom was Pietro who had been +gassed and wounded at the front, and was now slowly convalescing in Venice. + +The Piazza echoed the tread of marching feet, by day and by night, and the +battle hymn heard on every side: + + "To arms! + Haste! Haste! ye martial youth! + On every wind our banners fly, + Rise all with arms, all with fire!" + +The world thrilled with tales of bravery, the exploits of Italian soldiers +and aviators were quoted far and wide. But with all their heroism they +could not stay the Austrian advance. + +With the coming of 1918 deepest gloom settled over Italy as the people +girded themselves for what seemed a struggle for very existence: not the +slightest suggestion of luxury was permitted, even the making and selling +of cakes, pastry, and confectionery being sternly prohibited by government +edict. + +The Minetti family had fared as had the others, neither better nor worse, +and though one corner of the wall of the modest home had been torn away +in an explosion, the statue of the Virgin remained as if to protect from +further harm. No news had come from Giovanni since his return to the front, +over six months before, and Luisa, dry-eyed but worn and racked with +anxiety, worked far into the night on bandages for the wounded. Maria, +in common with others of her age, had lost the fresh prettiness that, +by right, belongs to youth, and her form was bent by work and her face +furrowed by lines of apprehension. + +Of Chico nothing had been heard since the morning, months before, when his +master had left him in the office of the War Department. One's heart ached +for the faithful little mate, as she brooded forlornly on the window ledge, +refusing to pay the slightest heed to any bold fellow who dared make +overtures to her. + +His bird was much in Andrea's thoughts as he paced back and forth each +night upon his beat and, gazing into the sky in his lookout for aeroplanes, +he would strain his eyes for a speck that might resolve itself into Chico's +wings. + +Possibly, he reasoned, the bird had not yet been made use of. Perhaps--and +at the thought, his heart would almost fail him--perhaps, it might even be +that he had been entrusted with some message, but had failed to reach his +destination. + +To the boy's other duties had been added that of watching the nest. He had +scorned the suggestion that an electric bell be placed there to attract +attention. + +"As if I should not hear the slightest flutter of my Chico's wings!" he +protested. But, to make sure, he even slept in the little room back of the +church and arranged that hither should his meals be brought. + +Poor lad! He, too, showed the strain of the Great War, and looked tense +and worn. He was not the same Andrea who had dreamed of inventing some +wonderful new glaze: now his ambition was to be an aviator in the service +of the Government and, like the bird he loved, fly through the blue +heavens. + +One evening (it happened to be a cloudless one, with the moon scheduled to +rise about one o'clock) he felt more than usually restless and on fire with +this desire. + +It was on such nights as this that the danger from air raids was especially +imminent, and the boy's senses were at tight tension. + +As the moon rose, Venice stood revealed an enchanted city, a place of +beauty, touched as of old with a magic wand. Hark--already the clock was +striking the hour of two! Andrea's eyes wandered from one familiar object +to another the Ducal Palace, the new Campanile, the column of St. Theodore, +and, beyond, the dome of Sta. Maria della Salute. He held his breath, it +was so wonderful. And to think--to-night, to-morrow, all might be in ruins. +Surely the great God would never permit it! + +Only a short time before, on June 15, the enemy had launched a new +offensive the Piave River, from the Asiago Plateau to the Adriatic Sea, and +though a few days later the news had reached Venice that their own brave +men had taken the offensive, nothing had since been heard. Would it be as +it had been before, a few spasmodic successes and then--loss and defeat? + +Suddenly (was he dreaming?) there was a whirr of wings; he rubbed his +sleeve across his eyes. Swiftly there shot across his vision something that +in the soft moonbeams seemed an arrow of silver--a flash of light! He was +dazed; could it be--Chico? At full speed he ran to the nest, and there, +close by the side of cooing Pepita, lay the exhausted bird, while a ray of +moonlight closed a stain of blood across his breast. + +Quick as a flash the boy reached in his hand, unfastened the little +aluminum pouch, and, without waiting to find out whether the pigeon was +alive or dead, fairly flew to the War Department where a light was burning, +as he knew it would be. In these days of strain the high official scarcely +closed his eyes and on this night he was tracing over and over again the +plan of the new offensive. + +Andrea rapped on the window--he could not wait to knock and be admitted, +neither did he dare to leave his watch for even a fraction of a second. + +"Who is it?"--the window was cautiously opened. + +"It is I, Andrea Minetti, number 7788 has just come in with a message from +the front." With that he thrust the metal cylinder into the officer's hand. +He tore it open and for one tense moment scanned the bit of tissue paper, +then, with tears of joy, he read aloud: "'Austrian offensive declared a +failure--Italians make sweeping victories along the Piave: Evviva Venezia! +Evviva Italia!'" Then added exultantly, "Buone notizie! good news, good +news!" and the tears coursed freely down his furrowed cheek, Andrea, beside +himself with joy, threw his cap Into the air, echoing; "Viva Venezia! +Evviva Italia! It was my Chico brought the message!" + +At mention of the pigeon the officer turned quickly, asking: + +"Your bird--tell me, is he alive and in good condition?" + +"I know not, signore, there was a stain of blood upon his breast, but I +stopped not to find the cause." + +"Then go, go quickly. I will have some one relieve you of your watch the +rest of the night. See that everything is done. Venice wakes from her +nightmare, and the faithful messenger that brought the joyful tidings must +not be neglected!" + +Andrea saluted and started away, but had gone only a few steps when the +officer recalled him: + +"Hold--you say there was a stain of blood! The Red Cross surgeon is not too +great a personage to save the bird. If you will take him to the hospital, I +myself will telephone the story!" + +With a look of gratitude in his dark eyes, and a "Grazie, signore," Andrea +was off as quickly as he had come, and fifteen minutes later was in the Red +Cross rooms holding out the suffering Chico to the great surgeon, who, in +less time than it takes to say it, had located the trouble, extracted the +tiny bit of lead that had come so perilously near piercing the brave heart, +bound up the wound, and handed the quivering bird back to his master: + +"There, I have done my best. A short time and he will be all right, +although his left wing will be crippled and his flights from now on can +only be short." As he spoke, he laid his hand on Andrea's shoulder: "My +boy, there is no greater hero in the wards of this hospital than this +faithful homing pigeon!" + +Tears blurred Andrea's sight as he hugged Chico close and with reiterated +expressions of gratitude made his way down the hospital steps. The heart +within his soldier's coat was pulsating with joy at the spontaneous words +of praise and the assurance that Chico would not die. Anything else +mattered little. + +Gently he laid the wounded pigeon in his nest, just as Maria came with his +breakfast. + +She was dazed, and at first did not understand what had happened; then +a light broke over her face and, reaching up, she smoothed the ruffled +feathers whispered, "Poor Chico! Poor Chico!" until a quiver of the eyelids +and the most pathetic of faint "coos" gave evidence that the sufferer +appreciated her sympathy. + +In the meantime the word had spread, and cries of "Evviva Venezia! Evviva +Italia!" rent the air. People, mad with joy, marched up and down the narrow +streets unfurling flags shouting: + +"Buone notizie! Buone notizie! Good news! Good news!" + +The piazza became an animated place as groups of men, women, children +gathered, embracing one another, and longing to hear further details. + +In the hospitals there was great excitement: it was difficult to restrain +the joyful demonstrations. When Luisa whispered the news in Pietro's ear, +he leaped out of bed in spite of his wounds, crying: + +"The grande bird! I always said he would be game! Oh, but he's a sport!" + +As for Chico, if he could have spoken he would have told a harrowing +tale. Thrown into the air with dozens of others, when all other means +of communication were interrupted, at first even _his_ stout heart was +appalled. One by one the others fluttered to the ground, afraid to attempt +the flight, and of the four who persisted, three fell, torn to pieces by +bullets. But Chico struggled on, on, in spite of shot and shell--on, on, in +spite of the fact that he was wounded, and the loss of blood made him weak, +while the crippled wing retarded the swiftness of his flight. Still he +carried on--his stout heart never wavering, until, in the distance, his +keen eyes detected the tall shape of the new Campanile. Then, on and on, in +spite of the great aeroplanes constantly threatening destruction. + +At last the domes of the churches came in sight, and the salt smell of +the Adriatic acted as a tonic to the weary bird. He was nearing home +and Venice. Another moment and he was safe--safe with Pepita excitedly +fluttering over him. + +In the rejoicing Chico was called for again and again, but for the first +time since Paolo had clumsily put together the rude nest for the forlorn +little pigeon he found upon the pavement, the window was closed that the +sufferer might not be disturbed. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE HERO OF THE SQUARE + + +It was some months before hostilities ended, but favorable word continued +to come from the front, and the gloom that had so long overhung Italy was +dissipated. Women worked with light hearts, men fought with the assurance +of victory. + +Chico was soon about again and was the hero of the Square. Although his +nights were now somewhat restricted, he found it very pleasant to fly about +the accustomed haunts, and if he was a little inclined to assume the airs +of a war veteran, no one criticized. + +When Pepita, amid the cares of domesticity, wearied a little of her +husband's oft-repeated tales of life at the front, he had only to repair +to the Piazza where, in the perches among the Statuary, he never failed to +find plenty of cronies eager to pay him fascinated attention. + +When the armistice was signed, Venice gave herself up to revelry, and the +scenes when the Piazza was once more illuminated were wilder than at any +Carnival time. + +Processions of people, mad with joy, marched up and down, headed by Chico +and his master, and shouting in praise of the brave bird. + +It was not long before the city began to assume her customary appearance as +greatly prized treasures were brought from their hiding-places. + +The Colleoni statue once more stood in place; Titian's famous Assumption of +the Virgin that had transferred to Pisa was returned securely packed in +a huge chest, some seven and a half meters in length, and amid the wild +excitement the bronze horses were restored to their position on the top of +St. Mark's. People thronged to witness the ceremony and afterwards flocked +into the church where the patricians of Venice intoned the Te Deum in +thanksgiving. + +When the time came for conferring honors upon the war heroes, Chico was not +forgotten. After some discussion as to whether it would be practicable for +the bird to wear a band of honor about his leg, the idea was abandoned, and +a special medal was struck off and given to Andrea. It bore the arms of +Italy on one side and a pigeon on the other, with the inscription, "De +virtute." [Footnote: For courage.] + +On the eventful day in the office of the War Department, after the +presentation had been made, the General further addressed the boy who +stood, all trembling at the honor that had come to his Chico. + +"Special orders, my lad, have come from Rome that something shall be done +for you." + +As he paused, Andrea protested, "No, No! it is enough--the medal is +enough!" + +"The orders on this point are most explicit." The General's tone was +positive. "Come tell us, what is your ambition?" + +"To be an aviator, signore, in the service of my country," was the +stammering answer. + +"Bene! It shall be done. Your expenses shall be paid to the best government +school of aviation, and, from this time on, an income of one hundred and +fifty lire a month shall be allowed your parents, for it is understood your +father has aged greatly in the service of his country." + +Andrea bowed his head. He had no words to express his gratitude. But, once +outside, he ran every step of the way home, in his eagerness to tell the +wonderful news. + + * * * * * + +The Great War is now a matter of history, and once more tourists are +flocking to Venice. Again gay laughter is heard on the Grand Canal. The +little shops that line the sides of the Piazza of St. Mark's are now bright +with glittering strands of beads, while the women are once more busy with +their bobbins. + +The clock tower, the Ducal Palace, the Campanile--they are all there, +beautiful as ever, and now as ever stands St. Mark's Church, sharing the +joy of her people as she has sympathized with them in their sorrow. + +Perchance, reader, you may yourself sometime visit this city of "Beautiful +Nonsense," and, if so, may call "Chico, Chico!" and look to see if one of +the fluttering pigeons that so contentedly coo about the Square will not +come and light upon your shoulder. + +Should you be so fortunate as to catch a glimpse of an aeroplane circling +in the blue sky, you may risk a guess that the aviator is Andrea, in the +government employ. + +You may even learn that he wears a medal ever about his neck and that +sometimes he carries with him Chico as a mascot: sometimes, but not always, +for little Pepita is sadly lonesome when her faithful mate is long away. + +Who knows but that in the future this story of a homing pigeon may have a +place with the other memories of this wonderful city, and that, five or six +hundred years from now, children may gather about some old caretaker of St. +Mark's and listen, with fascinated attention, as he tells of the service +rendered Venice by a homing pigeon in the time of the Great War? + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CHICO: THE STORY OF A HOMING PIGEON *** + +This file should be named chico10.txt or chico10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, chico11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, chico10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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