flock she were invoking a blessing from the sun. [85] The pigeons must have been accustomed to this. For they came out of their house and ranged themselves in a long, fluttering row on the eaves. But although they moved impatiently, they did not at once fly down. The birds were of several colors, white and black and a soft gray, yet the larger number were iridescent, shining like bright jewels under water. The girls discovered that carrier pigeons are a little larger than ordinary ones, with long wings reaching to the end of their tails. Then, at a little signal from Madame Bonnèt, they came, enfolding her in a moving cloud, setting on the edge of the bowl, eating the corn from her hand. Yet the most of them were on the ground where she scattered handfuls of grain. The group of Red Cross girls were fascinated, but Nona Davis particularly so. [86]Leaving Eugenia, she slipped over and stood next Madame. [86] “I wonder if you will do me a favor? Allow me to come over some morning and take your picture here with your pigeons? I have a friend in New York whom I should so like to have see it.” Madame Bonnèt smiled and then shook her head. “You can have my picture at any time you like, so far as I am concerned, my dear. But you see, my house has been given up to the army and several of the officers are quartered here. I am afraid Lieutenant Martin would object to photographs of any part of the encampment. We are having to be so careful that the enemy does not discover where the camp is located and there is always the danger from spies.” Nona flushed. She was glad that no one except Madame Bonnèt had heard her request. “Of course. I should have thought of that. One would suppose I was a novice and knew nothing of military requirements, when I have been nursing since the beginning[87] of the war. But tell, me, please, are the carrier pigeons ever used to carry messages of importance? I have heard of their being used and yet it seems almost absurd in a war of such amazing scientific inventions that one should employ such a messenger.” [87] Madame Bonnèt shrugged her shoulders in French fashion.
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