138 AUDUBON 



and the rest of the day was employed in drawing. The 

 sketch I took was from "The Heights of Abraham," and 

 I copied it for Miss Hannah. About sunset we visited 

 the Rutland Cave, which surpassed all my expecta- 

 tions ; the natural chambers sparkled with brilliancy, and 

 lights were placed everywhere. I saw there some little 

 fishes which had not seen the daylight for three years, and 

 yet were quite sprightly. A certain portion of the roof 

 represented a very good head of a large tiger. I imitated, 

 at Mrs. Rathbone's request, the Owl's cry, and the Indian 

 yell. This latter music never pleased my fancy much, 

 and I well know the effects it produces previous to and 

 during an attack whilst the scalping knife is at work. We 

 had a pleasant walk back to the inn, for the evening was 

 calm and clear, and the moon shone brightly ; so after a 

 hasty tea we all made for the river, took a boat, and seated 

 ourselves to contemplate the peace around us. I rowed, 

 and sung many of the river songs which I learned in 

 scenes far from quiet Matlock. 



Jilanc/ustcr, October I4, ^/''. Dockrays House, Hardwick. 

 By five o'clock this morning I was running by the Der- 

 went; cver}'thing was covered with sparkling congealed 

 dew. The fog arising from the little stream only per- 

 mitted us to see its waters when they made a ripple 

 against some rock. The vale was all mist, and had I not 

 known where I was, and heard the notes of the Jackdaws 

 above my head, I might have conceived myself walking 

 through a subterraneous passage. But the sun soon 

 began to dispel the mist, and gradually the tops of the 

 trees, the turrets of the castle, and the church pierced 

 through, and stood as if suspended above all objects 

 below. All was calm till a bell struck my ear, when I 

 soon saw the long files of women and little girls mov- 

 ing towards Arkwright's Mills. Almost immediately we 

 started for Bakcwell, and breakfasted at the Rutland 

 Arms. Proceeding we changed our route, and made 



