286 AUDUBON 



aloud, " To be sure, the gentlemen will eat breakfast be- 

 fore they go, and I will show them the way to the road." 

 Excuses were of no avail. Breakfast was prepared and 

 eaten. The weather brightened a little, and by nine we 

 were under way. Willy, on horseback, headed us. In a 

 few hours our cart arrived at a road, by following which we 

 at length got to the main one, and parted from our woods- 

 man with the greater regret that he would accept nothing 

 from any of us. On the contrary, telling Mr. Flint, with 

 a smile, that he hoped he might some time again follow 

 the longest track for a short cut, he bade us adieu, and 

 trotted back to his fair Eliza and his happy home. 



NIAGARA 



After wandering on some of our great lakes for many 

 months, I bent my course towards the celebrated Falls 

 of Niagara, being desirous of taking a sketch of them. 

 This was not my first visit to them, and I hoped it should 

 not be the last. 



Artists (I know not if I can be called one) too often 

 imagine that what they produce must be excellent, and 

 with that foolish idea go on spoiling much paper and can- 

 vas, when their time might have been better employed in 

 a different manner. But, digressions aside, I directed 

 my steps towards the Falls of Niagara, with the view of 

 representing them on paper, for the amusement of my 

 family. 



Returning as I then was from a tedious journey, and 

 possessing little more than some drawings of rare birds 

 and plants, I reached the tavern at Niagara Falls in such 

 plight as might have deterred many an individual from 

 obtruding himself upon a circle of well-clad and perhaps 

 well-bred society. Months had passed since the last of 

 my linen had been taken from my body, and used to clean 



