46 Deane, Audubon's Labrador Trip of 1833. \j^n 



one day, if you are not tired of reading all this. I, however, am 

 delighted with the task I have set myself in writing this. 



Earlier than usual we set oflf for a long row to mainland. We 

 hauled the boat up high and men and boys scattered, but not so 

 very far apart as to be out of reach in an emergency. A pretty 

 extensive plain we had to cross to arrive at the foot of rather abrupt 

 ledges in which a little way in, there were trees of a stunted growth. 

 As to game, I think all our bags were empty as we found on assem- 

 bling at the hour agreed upon at the foot of the hill. To cross the 

 plain from where the most of us were there was one j)retty large, 

 damp looking area, with sparse grass and other growth upon it. 

 This spot was not especially avoided by us, some were one side and 

 some another. I happened to be the one who while going directly 

 across found myself over my ankles; suddenly a step or two more 

 and my knees were wet, in about two more I was down to my waist. 

 Now, I said to George Shattuck, "This seems to be serious, the flat 

 of my gun laid down does not help me and I am getting deeper." 

 By this time Shattuck, Lincoln, Coolidge and John Woodhouse 

 Audubon were looking around for something to afford me a pur- 

 chase. Fortunately, Tom found a bit of wood, some part of a 

 ship, and by this I was helped out of the quag-mire, a sort of boggy 

 mud sticking all over me and I was cold, but thankful. The 

 jolly tars launched the boat and as there was a breeze, set the sail. 

 In ten minutes the breeze became a wind, in ten minutes more 

 the wind became a tempest; William Ingalls shivering and wet. 

 Down came the sail, out the oars, I rowed but it did not warm me 

 and I returned to aft part of the boat. It blew harder and the waves 

 were higher; again it blew great guns and the waves were higher 

 yet. It seemed to me that njore than a third of the keel was out 

 of water at every recovery from a plunge. Stout four rowers; we 

 came abreast of a little island and near enough, so that some one 

 suggested camping there for the night. I noticed we did not gain 

 a foot for as much as twenty minutes while trying to get by the 

 island. At last we did move and got under the lee of some high land 

 and then went ahead until we gained the ship. I think every one of 

 us who were in the boat were conscious of being in great peril; there 

 was a subdued expression prevailing, if I may say so, and when we 

 struck the lee there were long drawn sighs; no word was spoken 



