Unit 4
The Brave Homing Pigeon
(Adapted from Ernest Seton's Animal Heroes)
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, 1862.
The captain sighed. This was the thickest fog he had ever seen. They were over 330 kilometres from the closest land, so he didn't know where to go. The ship was on its way to Europe. Just ten hours ago they left New York, but now the engine stopped working. Clearly, they needed help!
Suddenly, the captain remembered the homing pigeons. He ran to them quickly, wrote a message for help, and tied it to Big Blue's leg. Big Blue flew up and then returned almost right away.
The captain became more worried.
“You are our last hope, little guy,” said the captain as he tied a note to Arny, the smaller and younger of the two pigeons. The captain threw him into the air. Arny flew around and around, higher and higher. Soon, the bird was away from the ship, and the captain couldn't see Arny anymore.
“That's a good sign,” said the captain with more hope.
Almost 340 kilometres away, Billy heard fast-moving wings come into his building and go straight to the water bowl.
“Hi there, little guy. Well, aren't you the thirstiest bird!” Billy smiled. Then he saw the note.
Billy knew what to do. He took the note, running as fast as he could to the company office. There, he learnt Arny had flown in fog and over the sea, for more than four hours.
Thanks to Arny, people sent help to the ship.
The captain later explained, “Arny really is the most amazing bird!”