12 i IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



Mrs. Audubon made little preparation. She called a 

 driver and faced the wilderness. She heard the call of 

 " Mother, mother! " 



She traveled night and day. Food, sleep, and comforts 

 were nothing to her now. She said to the drivers, " Hurry, 

 hurry! " 



In the glimmering dusk of a silent twilight she reached 

 Beechwood. She dropped from the carriage and was met 

 by her husband. 



" So soon, Lucy? " said Audubon. " What brought you 

 here in such quick time? " 



" A mother's heart. How is Victor? " 



" Come and see — still." 



The boy lay outside of a forest home in a traveling 

 wagon under the trees. 



" It is better for him to be in the air," whispered Au- 

 dubon. " I hope he may know you. Do not speak at 

 first. He is in a stupor. It is a critical hour." 



There was a deep stillness in the red forests. A few 

 black ravens flew up into the twilight-flaming tree tops. A 

 dog barked, and was hushed. 



Victor lay as one dead, his white forehead burning 

 with fever, his neck open, his hair tangled. 



Mrs. Audubon laid her hand on his forehead and put 

 back his hair. 



He moved, but he did not open his eyes. His lips 

 parted. 



