brush, waded waist deep in mud and water, and 
climbed tall trees to various old crow and squir- 
rel nests, but without success. Every day for a 
week they explored the swamp before the pigeon 
owner would permit them to give up the search. 
Ill 
Tue birds that Mr. Percy Wing prized most 
were his homing pigeons. These pigeons have 
such strong love for their home cot that if taken 
away five hundred miles or more and then set 
free they will in a few days return to their homes. 
In this way pigeon fanciers often send messages 
to each other over long distances and take pride 
in seeing which birds make the trips in the short- 
est time. Among the birds he lost this spring 
were several of these precious homing pigeons, 
some of which had been sent him by friends to 
liberate. You will understand, therefore, why 
Mr. Wing began to lie awake at night planning 
means of killing Black Warrior, for he felt 
sure that this old robber was the bird that was 
giving him all his trouble. 
One day the fame of a great hawk-killer 
166 
