DEBUT AS A NATURALIST 341 



gust, 1824," his diary reads, "and never shall I forget 

 that morning." Captain Judd, of the United States 

 Navy, had sent a gig with six men to its relief, and 

 "my drawings," he continues, "were put into the boat 

 with the greatest care. We shifted into it, and seated 

 ourselves according to direction. Our brave fellows 

 pulled hard, and every moment brought us nearer the 

 American shore; I leaped upon it with elated heart. 

 My drawings were safely landed, and for anything else 

 I cared little at the moment." 



At this point Audubon set out with a fellow traveler, 

 who was also an artist, for Meadville, Pennsylvania. 

 The earliest version of his journal 17 which gives an 

 account of this experience reads as follows: 



On the shore of upper Canada, my money was stolen. The 

 thief, perhaps, imagined it was of little importance to a natural- 

 ist. To repine at what could not be helped would have been 

 unmanly. I felt satisfied Providence had relief in store. Seven 

 dollars and a half were left to us, two persons, 1500 miles from 

 home, at the entrance of Presque — Isle Harbor. 



Five dollars was paid to their driver, and when they 

 reached Meadville, and entered J. E. Smith's "Travel- 

 er's Rest," they had but one hundred and fifty cents be- 

 tween them. No time was to be lost, and Audubon at 

 once started out with his portfolio and his artist friend 

 to look for work : 



I walked up the Main Street, looking for heads, till I saw 

 a Hollander gentleman in a store, who looked as if he might 

 want a sketch. I begged him to allow me to sit down. This 

 granted, I remained perfectly silent till he very soon asked: 

 "What is in that portfolio"? This sounded well; I opened it. 



"Probably first published in a newspaper, and reprinted in pamphlet 

 form, dated "April 9, 1846"; see Bibliography, No. 42. 



