Their departure had such an air of determination and resolve about it, that I feared them lost to us forever.
Endeavoring to console ourselves by petting our four remaining birds, we could not forget this disappointment, and all day long the dovecot remained the center of attraction.
Nothing, however, was seen of the fugitive until about the middle of the next day; when most of us were hard at work inside the cavern, Jack sprang in full of excitement, exclaiming:
"He is there! He is come! he really is!"
"Who? Who is there? What do you mean?"
"The blue pigeon, to be sure! Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"Oh, nonsense!" said Ernest. "You want to play us a trick."
"Why should it be 'nonsense'?" cried I. "I fully believe we shall see them all soon!"
Out ran everybody to the dovecot, and there, sure enough stood the pretty fellow, but not alone, for he was billing and cooing to a mate, a stranger of his own breed, apparently inviting her to enter his dwelling; for he popped in and out of the door, bowing, sidling, and cooing, in a most irresistible manner, until the shy little lady yielded to his blandishments, and tripped daintily in. "Now, let's shut the door."
"Pull the cord and close the panel!" shouted the boys, making a rush at the string.