86 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



verify a single habit of a little bird! My father is a won- 

 derful man. He ought to be recognized as a benefactor, 

 and he shall be if I have a chance for influence among the 

 picture-buyers of the times." 



" I am glad to hear you say that your father is a good 

 man. If he ever should wear a star, after all the ridicule 

 that has been heaped upon him, how glad we would be that 

 we have been so faithful to him! " 



" And if he should not win stars, or snuff-boxes, we will 

 also be glad, mother." 



" Victor, you have spoken well. It is the true life to 

 be doing that which will make us satisfied at last." 



Audubon made Victor his companion almost constantly, 

 as his work in the study of American birds grew. 



In their journeys when they stopped at the cabins of 

 the pioneers they became interested in Daniel Boone, who 

 was a naturalist and a famous story-teller. 



It was a delight to the boy to hear such men relate 

 tales of their adventures in the evening by the cabin door. 



In meeting Daniel Boone, " the first white man of the 

 West," Audubon found the one man who knew the birds 

 and beasts of Transylvania well. He could gain from him 

 a knowledge of rare birds and quadrupeds that could have 

 been obtained as well from no other white man. 



Boone had once gone on an expedition to the great 

 Blue Licks of Kentucky to obtain salt for the garrison of 

 the pioneer fort, and had been captured by the Indians. 



