258 AUDUBON 



arrived, the artist placed it in a proper position, and re- 

 tiring some yards, put out the light with a bullet, in the 

 manner which I have elsewhere in this volume described. 

 When light was restored, I observed the uneasiness of the 

 poor little Alligator, as it strove to effect its escape from 

 the artist's waistcoat. I mentioned this to him. "True, 

 true," he replied. "I had quite forgot the reptile; he 

 shall have a dram ; " and unbuttoning his vest, unclasped 

 a small chain, and placed the Alligator in the basin of 

 water on the table. 



Perfectly satisfied with the acquaintance which I had 

 formed with this renowned artist, I wished to withdraw, 

 fearing I might inconvenience him by my presence. But 

 my time was not yet come. He bade me sit down, and 

 paying no more attention to the young pupils in the room 

 than if they had been a couple of cabbages, said, " If you 

 have leisure and will stay awhile, I will show you how I 

 paint, and will relate to you an incident of my life which 

 will prove to you how sadly situated an artist is at times. " 

 In full expectation that more eccentricities were to be 

 witnessed, or that the story would prove a valuable one, 

 even to a naturalist, who is seldom a painter, I seated my- 

 self at his side, and observed with interest how adroitly 

 he transferred the colors from his glistening palette to the 

 canvas before him. I was about to compliment him on 

 his facility of touch, when he spoke as follows : — ■ 



"This is, sir, or, I ought to say rather, this will be the 

 portrait of one of our best navy officers — a man as brave 

 as Caesar, and as good a sailor as ever walked the deck of a 

 seventy-four. Do you paint, sir.? " I replied, " Not yet." 

 ■ — " Not yet ! what do you mean ? " — "I mean what I say : 

 I intend to paint as soon as I can draw better than I do at 

 present." — "Good," said he; "you are quite right. To 

 draw is the first object ; but, sir, if you should ever paint, 

 and paint portraits, you will often meet with difficulties. 

 For instance, the brave Commodore of whom this is the 



