the hour of ten
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 ! ''