94 AUDUBON 



cook, who claimed her as his property, was much attached 

 to her, as was also the mate. One morning she im- 

 prudently flew ov^erboard, while we were running three 

 miles an hour. The yawl was immediately lowered, four 

 men rowed her swiftly towards the floating bird that 

 anxiously looked at her place of abode gliding from her; 

 she was picked up, and her return on board seemed to 

 please every one, and I was gratified to see such kind 

 treatment to a bird ; it assured me, had I needed that 

 assurance, that the love of animals develops the better 

 side of all natures. Our hen, however, ended her life most 

 distressingly not long after this narrow escape ; she again 

 flew over the side, and the ship moving at nine knots, 

 the sea very high and rough, the weather rainy and 

 squally, the captain thought it imprudent to risk the men 

 for the fowl ; so, notwithstanding the pleadings of the cook, 

 we lost sight of the adventurous bird in a few moments. 

 We have our long boat as usual lashed to the deck; but 

 instead of being filled with lumber as is usually the case, it 

 now contained three passengers, all bound to Europe to 

 visit friends, with the intention of returning to America in 

 the autumn. One has a number of books which he 

 politely ofifcrcd me ; he plays most sweetly on the flute, 

 and is a man superior to his apparent situation. We have 

 a tailor also ; this personage is called a deck hand, but 

 the fact is, that two thirds of his time is spent sleeping on 

 the windlass. This man, however, like all others in the 

 world, is useful in his way. He works whenever called 

 on, and will most cheerfully put a button or a patch on 

 any one's clothing; his name is Crow, and during the entire 

 voyage, thus far, he has lived solely on biscuit and raw 

 bacon. We now see no fish except now and then a shoal 

 of porpoises. I frequently long for the beautiful Dolphins 

 in the Gulf of Mexico; Whales have been seen by the 

 sailors, but not by me. During this tedious voyage I 

 frequently sit and watch our captain at his w^ork; I do 



